sweetest peace in their own souls, and shall never be suffered to fall. Finally, so an entrance shall be ministered unto them abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

PART III

An Address to Professing Christians.

DEAR BRETHREN,

THE people of God are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, designed to show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. That they should act up to this high character, and to the design of their vocation, is of incalculable importance. The honour of God and of the Redeemer, the credit of the gospel, the order and beauty of the church, the peace and joy of individuals, the general diffusion of Christianity, and the salvation of mankind, are highly concerned in it. To promote this great design it is commanded, That they should exhort one another daily that they should

consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. (Heb. x. 24.) They should consider one another as to the relation in which they stand to each other as brethren in Christ, and as under indispensable obligations to him, and to one another. They should consider each other with respect to their dangers, temptations, weaknesses, and tears, that they may counsel and warn each other against sin; that they may pray for each other; that they may encourage, assist, and stimulate each other to every Christian duty; to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time. They are not only required to exhort one another daily, but to do it so much the more, as they see the day approaching. (Heb. x. 25.) Time is short, and flies away with rapid wing. The momentous day of death and judgment is swiftly approaching us. A day when time and all opportunities will be no more. day in which all things shall be made manifest, and every man shall be rewarded according to his works. A day in which the world and all which is in it shall be burnt up. This awful, wonderful day is approaching nearer and nearer every hour and moment, whether we sleep or wake, whether we stand all the

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day idle, or whether we do the work to which our great Master hath called us. He hath not only commanded us to exhort and press one another to duty every day; but to do it more and more in proportion to the approach of that day when we shall stand together before the judgment seat of Christ. Our love, faithfulness, zeal, and energy in urging each other to duty, should increase and rise higher and higher in proportion as we see this day approaching.

This duty, this kind office, the writer has been attempting to perform in the preceding papers on covenanting with God, and is still further attempting to discharge in this address. This will naturally follow what he hath written on that subject, and may serve further to stimulate us to the duties already suggested. It behooves him to exhort you in realizing views of the day which is approaching; of its near and hasty approach to himself and you, and of its immense eternal consequences to us both. It is of high concern to you to receive this brotherly exhortation in the love of the truth, and in the near and realizing views of death and the judgment day; and to be quickened and animated to all holy living, so much the more as ye see the

day approaching. The belief of such a day, how it approaches, what a day it will be, and what its eternal consequences, should awaken in every breast the highest concern to keep covenant with God; to be circumspect, prayerful, sober, vigilant, steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. The apostle having spoken of this day and its concomitant events, observes, What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness! Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (Pet. iii. 11. 14.) In this day the secrets of the heart, the secrets of all men, will be revealed, and judged according to the gospel. Every deceit and specious pretence will be detected, and every mask and false covering removed: and how we have payed or neglected to pay our vows, will be made manifest, to our exceeding joy and triumph, or shame and contempt, before assembled worlds. No pleas of fair professions, of distinguishing privileges, of offices and high standing in the church, of common or extraordinary gifts, without grace, will be of the least avail. Unless we are born of God, united to Christ by faith,

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and live godly in Christ Jesus, the door will be shut against us. No pleas will ever avail to open it. What solemn and deeply affecting admonitions has our Lord and Judge given us of this! Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, (Matt. vii. 21, 22.) When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut too the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets: but he shall say, I tell you I know you not whence you are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of heaven, and ye yourselves thrust