body; if not absolutely dead, it may be in a manner gasping, and ready to perish, through a neglect of the bread of heaven, and the water of life, beyond every human hope of recovery. -Such may be, such in fact is, the state of each individual soul, which hath not repented of its natural ignorance and corruption, and humbly betaken itself unto God, in order to be renewed, and live, by the daily influences of His Spirit. Dead, or virtually dead, in trespasses and sins, a soul, without this preparation, hath no power to accomplish its pilgrimage, but resembles a carcass in some desert place, exposed and abandoned to the devourers.

Nor are the devourers long in coming. The prince of the power of the air, and the spirits which have fallen with him from heaven, presently mark, and take possession of the prostrate sinner. Those foul spirits, being always watchful to glut their malice, soon discern, and fly to settle, like ravenous birds of prey, on every soul, which is left destitute of the life of God. And then, what is it which they proceed to do? Why, they take possession of the eyes which do not see, and the ears which do not hear, and the heart which does not understand to love it's Creator, and the tongue which does not call upon, nor praise Him. To speak more plainly, in case any soul of man,

either from the beginning will not, or, at a later period, will no longer live a spiritual life, but will entirely occupy himself with the world and the flesh,-from such an one his spiritual powers and faculties, infused into him by the Holy Ghost, shall be plucked away; contrary, and malignant influences-spirits of pride, and envy, and covetousness, and lust, and impatience, and uncharitableness-will come over him, and work their way into him, and abolish, as in a moment, or perhaps more often gradually, all the specious and hopeful parts of his character, and deface in him even his form of virtue. And afterward, within a short time, the last enemy, in some answerable shape, will seize his body. When that which is spiritual, or which ought to be spiritual, shall have been so fastened on and consumed, that which is natural shall not long survive. Destruction, sent from God, will approach on rapid wings, to make a full and a perpetual end of such openly reprobate and carnal persons; unless they be sooner wasted, and brought to the dust of death, by the corroding effects of their own vices. Frequently may it indeed be seen that the drunkenness of the drunkard suffices alone to consume him, and the unhealthy indolence of the slothful man to devour him. Each one's particular foolishness—I mean each

transgressor's inordinate affection or unruly passion-commonly wears away its owner, and reduces him, ere long, to a thing of naught; yea, and even the sinner, that for a time apparently thrives by his sin, is often, when least in fear, suddenly turned upon, and devoured by it. But, besides these ordinary results of giving place to worldly vanities, and fleshly lusts, besides also (let me subjoin in passing) the various evil accidents, and attacks, which the carnally-minded are apt to draw on themselves, by the offensive selfishness of their conduct, there are, according to Scripture, certain extraordinary occasions in reserve for the birds of prey to assemble themselves, and, in a manner, to banquet on sinful men. There is a vision of St. John to this effect described by him towards the end of his revelation: "I saw an angel standing in the sun; "and he cried with a loud voice, saying "to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together "unto the supper of the great God; that ye

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may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of "captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the "flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, "and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, "both small and great." (Revelation xix. 17, 18.) Who, (let me suggest to you the question,)

who, that may have survived until then, shall still survive, when God doeth this,-when He sendeth forth so universal an invitation, and maketh so large a slaughter? It is probably one of the grand transactions which are yet to come, and neither the period, nor the manner of it, can hitherto, with any precision, be declared. However, be the time of this vision most remote, and its exact meaning impenetrably obscure, nevertheless, you must surely adopt a conviction that the spiritually-minded alone can expect to be saved in that day, and that the horrible destruction therein portrayed, is nothing more than a just emblem of somewhat in store, for every soul and body alike of the many who will serve the world and the flesh. Having no incorruptible stay-no "life "hidden with Christ in God," the crowds who choose these masters, must needs turn miserably to corruption, and perish as totally vile and refuse, without any earnest of protection from above, or the consolation of a good hope in their deaths.

What therefore, you are ready to ask, shall we do, in order not to be thus cast out, and consumed? I will answer, my brethren, with a view profitably to conclude my discourse, "Watch and pray," and give continual diligence, that, according to the supplication made for

you in your baptism, all carnal affections may die in you, and all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in you. Bear in mind the Scripture which saith, that "whoso "liveth in pleasure is dead while he liveth,” (1 Timothy v. 6.) and consider it as fully applicable to every soul that liveth only unto earthly cares and occupations. Be sure, that every one of merely such a life, is dead in the judgment of his Creator, so as that he must, either presently revive, or become abominable, and be doomed to perish for ever; and, being sure of this, hearken instantly to the voice which crieth," Awake thou that sleepest, and "arise from the dead, and Christ shall give. "thee light." (Ephesians v. 14.) And take heed that ye bestir yourselves entirely to awake and arise, as you are called upon, in reliance on the gift of Christ. There is no safety in imperfect efforts, and half measures. Some per

haps would allege-" We are not far enough

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gone to require such a decisive mode of ad"dress; though fallen and sinful, and without "spiritual health and strength, still we are not "in a deep sleep, nor dead; we have remain

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ing in us some spiritual sense and thoughts.' But these may exist, and be experienced, and yet have no preserving power. It is a fact, which none are ignorant of, that birds of prey