could not humble himself, could not yield himself up unto God, as a man alive from the dead.

The truth is, Felix, though he trembled, did not sorrow. He was not so utterly dead in trespasses and sins as to hear with indifference the reasoning of the Apostle about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. But neither was he so far awakened, as to be ready to give up his sins. What he craved for was delay-a little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the arms to sleep. Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will send for thee!

Yes. That was it which hindered Felix from repentance, and, through repentance, from salvation. He dallied with the hour of grace. He let the good feelings which had been kindled in him grow cold. He did not follow on to know the Lord. He put back from him his good angel. He said to the Lord's messenger, "Depart; leave me alone, at least for the present-not for always-only for the present." When I have a convenient season I will send for thee!

My brethren, as we read his story, must we not see how nearly it touches ourselves?

Who is there amongst us of whom, at some period of his life, Felix is not a true likeness? For we, too, are glad to hear God's messenger.

We send to him, or we go to seek him, that he may discourse to us concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And then, when in so doing-when in unfolding the truth as it is in Jesus - the minister speaks to us of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, insists upon holiness as the accompaniment of a true faith, warns us against fleshly lusts, drunkenness, sensuality, and the like, which kill the soul-does it not happen that our heart is pricked, and we inwardly tremble at the sight of our danger? Are there not times when, sitting here, the arrow of the Lord hits its mark, and comes home to us, and we know the plague of our heart? But we lack the power and will to be healed. The sin of which we are convicted is a pleasant sin. It has wound its cords, fold upon fold, around our heart, and we cannot bring ourselves to part with it at once. We wish, like Felix, to be let alone, at least for the present; we quench in us the voice of conscience; we nip repentance in its first beginnings; we say to the disturber of our peace, "Go thy way; what you say is very true-I ought to do differently. I have left too long the Lord's bidding unregarded, but there is time enough yet at a more convenient season I may, perhaps, do as you advise."

I have ventured to put into words what I am sure are the feelings in some of your hearts, when

listening to God's minister, you are convicted of your sins of your sins of omission, as well as of your sins of commission.

The same conviction may come from other causes. Many a man, by private study of the Bible, by reading it by himself at home, has come across passages which have pierced him like a sword which have told him all that ever he did -which have set before him the awful danger of a life of sin. He has trembled at such passages -and he has not yet

He has shut the book,

- trembled for his own soulbecome a better man. perhaps with a sigh—a wish that he could amend, a half-resolve to do so by-and-by-at a more convenient season: but for the present he goes on as usual, and, with God's word on his shelf calling to him, witnessing against him, he yet dares to continue in his sin-yet defers the time of repentance!

Would that all who thus trifle with the day of grace, who know the right but delay to follow it, who quench the stirrings of conscience however awakened, might, before it is too late, see their danger and flee from it! Now, brethren, now is the accepted time; Now is the day of salvation! Put not off, I beseech you, till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day. It is a gracious moment, come when it may, when the heart of a careless

man is inwardly stirred. It is a sign not of condemnation, but of acceptance, when a sinner trembles at God's word. It is a token that as yet the way is open by which we may arise, and go and journey toward our Father's home. But if we let such moments go unimproved; if we are slow to act upon our better feeling; if we try to keep it down, and quench instead of nourishing and cherishing it, the effect will be most disastrous. By little and little we shall become hardened. The hold of God's word over us will grow weaker and weaker, till at length we shall hear wholly unmoved His messenger, when he reasons with us of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come!

Therefore, again let me say it, beware of deferring, putting off the duty of the immediate moment. Beware of trifling with the day of grace with those precious moments when, in whatever way, the heart is made tender, and we are possessed with a sense of sin. At such times, when our conscience has been aroused, and we inwardly ache at the recollection of some past misdoing, let us not seek to get rid of the pain, and to drive away all serious thoughts, by flying to company or pleasure. No; but let us deepen in ourselves those thoughts and that pain by retirement, meditation, and prayer. For so will it turn in the end to our profit. So, from those

thoughts and anxious questioning of our soul in secret, will spring up a good resolve for the future, so shall we be moved to cease to do evil, and to learn to do well. So shall the gracious Spirit of Godof whose presence those sad thoughts and fears are a true sign-not leave the chamber of our soul, but stay with us, and complete His work, purify our hearts from sin, cause us to grow a holy temple unto the Lord, and fill us with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God!