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who are totally unprepared for heavenly felicity should even possess great joy, from viewing themselves about to make so profitable an exchange as to go from a state of pain and hopeless sorrow into a state of ineffable glory and blessedness.Numerous are the instances in which the sparing hand of God has shown us the deception of a sick-bed repentance. Among those who exhibit the greatest evidence of a saving change in view of approaching death, rare indeed is the instance that this evidence is not contradicted among those who are spared to recover. It naturally follows,

3. That we have reason to conclude, that some who appear to die without a satisfactory evidence of their good estate, may meet with a happy change.As we can give but little weight to a hope that is gained in the hour of death, by one who has spent his whole life in sin, so we are not called to give up those as lost who have lived a life of exemplary piety, even though they may die under great darkness and doubt.

As the wicked may be deceived respecting their good estate, why, on the other hand, may not the righteous be deceived? The proper time to form our judgment concerning characters in the sight of God, we have seen, is at an earlier period than at death. And must we not count him faithful who hath promised? "For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Nor shall any pluck them out of my hands." We may rest assured, that wherever there is a real union formed between Christ and the soul, while in life, it cannot be dissolved in death.

4. Is life a more important season than death;-then we ought ought to concern ourselves much more about living than about dying. Should not the most important object command our most special attention? If so, then, let the great inquiry be, how shall I live? What shall I now do, that my soul may be saved? And not, how shall I die, that my last end may be like the righteous? Let it be our earnest solicitude, how shall I now discharge my indispensible duty? How shall I improve the precious moments of life and health? And not, how shall I improve the distressing moments of death? Reflect how much more can be done to the honor of our Maker and blessed Saviour, in the season of life, than at the distressing scene of death. Hence, said an ancient saint, "Death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day." Hence the Apostle beseeches us, by the mercy of God, that we present our bodies a living sacrifice. Would it be wise in a husbandman, who had retired to his field for

the purpose of tilling his ground, for him to neglect his employment and busy himself through the day in reflecting how he should return home at night? If it would not, then we ought to concern ourselves much more about living than about dying. Hence,

5. It appears, we are now passing through the most interesting scene we shall ever behold. It is true we are not advancing through the dark valley of the shadow of death; nei

addressed them thus, "Think not to say, within yourselves, we have Abraham to our Father, for I say unto you, "That God is able of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham." This passage denotes, that God is able to convert sinners, and to build up his church, from the most unpromising materials.— And although it might have its accomplishment in the conversion of some of those hardened Jews, to whom John referred, was also illustrated in the success of the gospel, among idolatrous nations, under the ministry of the Apostles, after Christ's ascension into heaven. The Gentile nations had, for many ages successively, been involved in the most dismal state of darkness, superstition and idolatry. They are represented as sitting in the region and shadows of death. They committed every species of abomination of which they were capable.

ther are our ears saluted by the to the spiritual privileges of awful sound of the judgment God's people. John the Baptrumpet; nor do we see the si-tist, secing their error and folly, lent dead bursting from their tombs. The dreadful Judge is not yet saying, in view of the assembled universe, to those on the right hand, come ye blessed | of my Father-neither is he pronouncing to those on the left hand, depart ye cursed into everlasting fire. These awful scenes are yet to come. Still, the one through which we are now passing is far more interesting than either of them.The present is the season on which eternal life or endless misery is absolutely depending. It is acknowledged that these future scenes, which are before us, will be vastly solemn and trying; but reflect, that they will be joyful or dreadful accordingly as we now lay the foundation. The books out of which we are to be judged are now filling up. Would any one, therefore, have a view of the most momentous period of his existence, he need only look round him at the present moment. The period has commenced. The scene is now passing before our eyes! let us realize how great a thing it is to live!

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A very striking description is given of their character and conduct in the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans. They are represented as having "changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things.They worshipped all the hosts of heaven-offered their children in sacrifice to their idols. Yea, paid their homage to Devits.* Indeed we cannot gain a clearer idea of their character, perhaps, in any part of the sacred writings, than in Romans 1st chapter, and especially from

* I Cor. x. 26.

the 29th verse. Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant. breakers, without natural affection, implqcable, unmerciful. Yet among these abominable nations God raised up many spiritual children unto Abraham.

pondency, tho' they have long labored and prayed for the re vival of God's work, seemingly almost in vain. Since God has so frequently of stones raised up children unto Abraham, who can tell but this or that careless or hardened sinner may yet be arrested in his course of impiety, and be made a monument of sovereign mercy? How often have. those who have spent their substance in riotous living, and long withstood the calls and warnings of the gospel, been

Jesus of Nazareth? Many instances of the like nature, have taken place, in the late revivals of religion, in different places in these states. Numbers are

Upon the preaching of the gospel, by the Apostles, multi-brought to bow to the sceptre of tudes from among them were converted to Christ-forsook the worship of their dumb idols and demons-renounced their filthy practices and horrid impieties, and became the humble, penitent followers of Jesus Christ, and the true worshippers of the living God.

Churches were gathered to Christ-the holy institutions of the gospel, strictly observed, and many souls trained up for heaven, from those regions and shadow of death, where Satan's seat had so eminently been, and where he had long led souls captive at his will.

These marvellous effects of the gospel upon the minds of those once so inconcievably remote from all good, may serve as a very clear and striking illustration of the passage under consideration, “For I say unto you, God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

Some useful inferences may be made from this subject.

1. That Ministers and Christians ought not to despair of the conversion of sinners, in the most degenerate times. Nor should they sink down in des

now among the visible and the
sincere followers of Christ, who,
for many years appeared as un-
likely to become Christians,
were there nothing more than
mere human means,
as the
stones are to arise into living

men.

2. It may be inferred from this subject, that none should give up their attempts to Christianize the heathen nations, tho' their endeavors for that purpose have hitherto proved unsuccessful. Tho' considerable hath been attempted at different periods of time to propagate Christianity among the heathen nations in North-America, yet who can point out the season when ministers and Christians in general, have used their jomt and persevering efforts for the promotion of this great and blessed design. Have not those who profess to be Christians generally treated this important business with too much indifferency? Have they not considered the Indian tribes as irreclaimable, and with

held more than is meet, in regard to their charitable deeds, for the support of the Missionaries among them?

Is not God as able of these savages and barbarians, to raise up children unto Abraham, as he was to convert those in a similar condition, in the days of the Apostles? Has the promise, that he will give his Son the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, ever been accomplished in its fullest extent? Then who can determine what may not yet be effected for their salvation, if a permanent foundation should be laid, for the support of faithful preaches among them? And should all the churches in the American States, aid this glorious design by their liberality and by their prayers, God may yet do wonderful things for their perishing souls.

he was an hungered they gave him no meat: Or because they refused to improve their worldly substance and Christian privileges, for the promotion of his kingdom in the world, for which end every blessing, spiritual and temporal, is granted to men.

I entreat you, O ye Christians of every denomination, to take these things into serious consideration, and think while you are favored with a fulness of the means of religious instruction, multitudes of your fellow-men are perishing in sottish ignorance. Consider, also, that the small concerns and the little pains you take for their salvation, is a powerful witness against you, that you have but a small estimation of the privileges and blessings of the gospel yourselves. Such persons as place a true value on their spiritual privileges, and have a proper estimate of their own souls, are always solicitous that their fellow creatures of every nation, kindred, tongue and people, should share with them in the great salvation. It is their hearts desire and prayer to God, that the gospel of Christ might have

It is idle for the inhabitants of this flourishing country, to plead their inability to contribute a sufficiency for this purpose, when so much is expended yearly for the support of luxury and extravagance! It is truly an affecting thought, that the heath-free course, run and be glorified. en are going to perdition by hundreds, and by thousands, for the want of religious instruction, and yet multitudes are wasting large sums daily, for the gratification of their fleshly lusts.Nor will many persons spare a cent or lift a finger to rescue the benighted Pagans from darkness and ruin!

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Such ought to take hecd lest Christ, at the last day, shall sentence them to depart, forever from his presence, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Because, when

If you therefore have tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious; if you have become heirs of the purchased possession; if you have learnt the worth of your own souls-will not your bowels yearn over the poor heathen? And will you not exert your selves in every way, in which God in his word and providence directs, to promote, if possible, so benevolent and so glorious an object as that of Christianizing and saving the heathen in this land?

AMATUS.

A Letter to a Brother lately recovered from sickness.

I

DEAR BROTHER,

hear that you have been very sick. From this, I can do no less than offer to your consideration a few serious reflections. To glorify and enjoy our maker is the great end of our existence. In this way, and in this only, may we rationally expect any true and lasting happiness. Our state, by nature, is deplorable beyond all conception, and, unless we look well to the interest of our souls, the loss of them will very soon teach us their unspeakable worth. You will readily assent to all this, but my great object, in this letter, is to prevail with you to conduct accordingly.

When very young, you was brought down, by the providence of God, to the borders of the grave. However, in his tender compassion he spared your life, and restored you a gain to health. Since that time, he has followed you, every day, with his goodness, and has not been unmindful of you, even when you was most forgetful of him. While his hand has been laid heavily upon thousands around you, and many have been sent down to sleep in the dust, you have been defended both from sickness and death, and have had cause, above most others, of your acquaintance, to speak of the loving kindness of the Lord. You have enjoyed every necessary advantage for obtaining a saving knowledge of the truth, and laying a sure foundation for future and eternal felicity. God has not left you (to his praise alone be it spoken) to run so great lengths in exter

nal impiety, as he has many youth at the present day. And this is not all; his spirit has often moved on your heart, and tenderly solicited you to be wise for yourself to accept freely an interest in that Saviour, whose blood alone cleanseth from all sin, and to share forever in the unsearchable riches of his kingdom.---I intreat you to think seriously on these and innumerable other instances of divine kindness, which I cannot now mention; then ask yourself this plain, but solemn question, What returns have I made to the Lord for these unspeakable favors? Will it be dealing with too much plainness to say, that while you have offered a bleeding Saviour, the poor compliment of a few external services, you have cruelly denied him a place in your heart? What answer you are prepared to give to such queries. as these, is best known to God and your conscience. It is worthy of remark, that judgments as well as mercies proceed from infinite kindness. As tho' unwilling to let you alone, or to leave any method untried, which might be effectual to your salvation, God has at length visited you with the rod of affliction.If I was rightly informed, you was brought down to the side of the pit; at least you had reason to apprehend, that your sickness would be unto death.-What now would be your state had you gone a little farther, and launched into eternity?— Why did you not take the other step, and bid the world, your friends and all farewell? Was it because you had the keys of death in your own hand, and could go or stay at pleasure ? Oh, how astonishing the good

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