DELAY OF REPENTANCE.

PSALM CXix. 60.

I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

"THE children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light."* In worldly matters men are wiser than in their spiritual concerns. This is a truth which the voice of inspiration hath pronounced, and which daily experience confirms. It is particularly verified in the conduct of which most men are guilty, the procrastination of their repentance, their delay on entering into a religious life. Propose to them some worldly object. which arouses their imagination and their passions; and though the attainment of it be uncertain, and the possession transitory, and unproductive of substantial enjoyment, you behold every desire and power of the soul enlisted in the pursuit. Delay in the use of any means likely to obtain this eagerly coveted object is branded with the odious epithet of a folly which deprives, in general estimation, him who is guilty of it of his title to common sense and common prudence. But propose to men those spiritual joys which religion confers; urge them to * Luke, xvi. 8.

the care of their souls, those imperishable principles which will exist when their corporeal part has mingled with its native dust; exhibit to their embrace those virtuous pleasures which, exalting their nature, will constitute their never-ending happiness, when the world, and all that it contains, shall be consumed in the fires of the last day—yes-propose to men objects alone worthy of their supreme pursuit, and gratifying to their immortal powersand you behold them indifferent to the offer, or tardy in the acceptance of it. You see them delaying, from day to day, the zealous use of those means which alone can secure to them these spiritual and enduring blessings. Instead of " making haste, and delaying not to keep the commandments of their God," they continue engrossed with worldly concerns; and postpone to a more convenient season that provision for eternity which should be the chief business of life.

Alas! that man, exposed to the just displeasure of an holy God, should for a moment delay to avert the wrath of him who " is able to destroy for ever both soul and body in hell."* Alas! that man, the fleeting periods of whose earthly existence may in an instant be terminated by a thousand accidents which he can neither foresee nor avert, should delay the securing of his eternal interest. Alas! that the heirs of immortality, to whom are offered joys as exalted in degree as they are endless in duration, should delay to secure them should for

Matt. x. 28.

a moment risk the loss of them, and incur the danger of endless woe.

This conduct is at variance with common sense and common prudence. And yet it is the conduct which characterises the bulk of mankind. How few even of us, my brethren, can plead exemption from the guilt of it, and with sincerity join in the humble declaration of the Psalmist to God, "I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”

By procrastinating our repentance; by delaying our entrance on a religious life

I. We incur the highest degree of guilt.

II. We render our salvation more difficult and hazardous.

III. We fail to secure our present felicity.

IV. We diminish our future rewards.

V. We even render our attainment of these rewards wholly uncertain.

By delaying our repentance, and our engaging in the service of God —

I. We incur the highest degree of guilt.

It is the command of God, that we turn from our sins, and engage in his service. He is supremely worthy of the constant homage of our hearts and service of our lives. All the excellences in the human character which excite our admiration and esteem, in an infinite degree centre in him; and there is no relation which can constitute a ground of duty and gratitude, which he does not sustain towards us.

He is our Maker, from whom we have derived

our being; our Sovereign, whose authority over us is founded on his wisdom, his power, and his goodness; our Judge, to whom we must render an account; our Father, who regards us' with infinite tenderness and compassion; our Preserver, who sustains and guards us through the numberless evils of life; our Benefactor, who dispenses to us all our enjoyments; and, including every relation of power, and of goodness, God, our Saviour - our Saviour from sin, from guilt, from endless condemnation our Restorer to holiness, to peace, to everlasting glory. These exalted relations impose on us the most imperious duty to love and serve the Author of our being and the God of our salvation. In delaying for a moment to render God this service, we disregard these infinite obligations. He who delays to turn from his sins and to serve God, defies the authority, the power, the justice, of his Maker, his Sovereign, and Judge; he contemns the kindness, the goodness, the mercy of his Father, Preserver, Benefactor, and Saviour. Higher relations he cannot disregard; stronger obligations he cannot violate.

Postpone not, then, your repentance, your engaging in the service of God. Every moment's delay stains your soul with deeper guilt, and renders you more exposed to the just displeasure of God. "Make haste, and delay not to keep his commandments." This is your supreme duty. To this you are bound by the highest obligations. The longer this duty is neglected, the longer these obligations are

violated, the greater will be your guilt, and the more obnoxious you will be to wrath.

And, let me observe,

II. The more difficult and hazardous will be your return to God, and the work of your salvation.

Consider the increase of your guilt by delay; the power of habit; the possibility of God's withdrawing his grace; the magnitude of the work; the certainty that no more convenient time will occur — and you will perceive that delay will render more difficult and hazardous the work of salvation.

1. Your guilt is increased by delay, and thus you are rendering more difficult your return to God.

As your guilt increases, so will increase your reluctance to consider it, and humbly to confess it. And yet he only who acknowledgeth his iniquity, and is sorry for his sin, can have any hope of receiving pardon. As your guilt is aggravated by a longer continuance in sin, and contempt of those numerous obligations that urge you to the service of God, so in proportion will be the pain attending the consideration of your guilt, and the humble confession of it.

Sinners, what hope you from delay? You are now averse to enter on the duty of repentance; because it is painful to contemplate the dark series of your transgressions, your numerous abuses of the mercy of your God, your presumptuous provocations of his justice. But, every day these transgressions are increased in enormity; and these abuses of the divine mercy, and provocations of divine justice,