held. We deny them in words, but are influenced by them in fact. We allow ourselves, for instance, to feel as if the judgment were already passed. We draw a line between those who are religious, and those who are not, and we think the former are safe, and the latter in danger; and if it seem to us that we belong to the former class rather than the latter, we practically regard ourselves as saved already from the second death. Now, it certainly is one thing to be out of the state of salvation, and another to be in it; and no one can draw the line too distinctly between the two conditions. To fear God, and to love Him, to live in the light of His countenance, to enjoy the presence of the Comforter, and through His grace to keep the commandments of God, with a joyful spirit, to be an heir of heaven, and the friend of angels, is as far above the natural state of man, or the state to which irreligious men fall, as light is above darkness, life above death, and the favour of God above His wrath: but to be God's child on earth, is not to be in heaven; and to be justified here is not the same thing as to have passed the judgment hereafter, and have been acquitted: those who, in St. Paul's time, affirmed that the judgment was passed already, overthrew, we are expressly assured, the faith of many. We do not say, for we do not believe, that the judgment is actually past ; but constantly to indulge the feeling of security, and by indulging it, to foster irreverence even in our religious duties, comes practically to the same thing.

I will not here enter into any reasons why doctrines which we do not believe should exercise an

influence of this sort upon us. It is certain that our feelings and instincts are in some strange way moulded and fixed by the principles we are familiar with in our childhood; and if this is so, let those who have been imbued in early life with false principles, be upon their guard. It is not enough to have formally cast them off now, nor to have embraced those which are truer; we must beware, lest, after they lose their hold on our reason, they continue to bear sway over our imagination or our feelings. It is not enough to have disclaimed an unwarrantable and presumptuous assurance, nor to believe, as we say in the Creed, that Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead, unless we practically realize to ourselves that we must give account on that day, and be judged according to our works. If we are in the number of the elect, still we must be judged if we are more religious than the multitude, still we must be tried: if we persevere to the end, and die in the Lord, we shall not therefore escape the presence of the Judge, and the awful examination. If, then, in this we are all alike, young and old, and rich and poor, and good and bad; if all and each must meet his Judge, let each of us see that he prepare himself to endure that terrible trial. Let it not take us by surprise: let it not find us, when it comes (and how soon it may come we know not), with idols of silver and idols of gold (which each of us has made for himself to worship), concealed within our bosoms; nor the glory of His majesty then shine out upon us for the first time in destructive splendour.

But how shall we prepare ourselves for that day, that it find us not unready? There are many ways of making preparation, but there is one way peculiarly suitable to this season; I mean, contemplation of that day itself. By calling up the image of the Judgment Day now, we may diminish its terrors then not simply by habituating the mind to face them, though this is something, but by the effect such meditations will have upon our character and actions. He that loves money generally knows how to make it, and he that loves honour understands how to attain it, and he that fears danger is quick to escape it, and he that has strong hopes takes pains to accomplish them; so he that, by frequent meditation, realizes the awfulness of the Judgment Day, is least likely to put his trust in idols, and will bend himself most earnestly to make preparation for passing through it uncondemned.

Let us turn, then, for the short time that we shall be together in this holy house, to contemplate some portion of that awful scene. Here all is peace and quietness, and security: the very angels fold their wings in silence, while regenerate men worship the Lord, their Redeemer and for peace, and calm, smooth, everflowing, holy joy, we hope hereafter; but two scenes, each most unlike either of these, are first to be passed through-the hour of death and the Day of Judgment; in both of which we pray most fittingly that the good Lord would deliver us. Death may be calm and gentle: we may sweetly fall asleep, and rest in Christ. Some go so easily, and are so full of hope, so free from pain, so happy ere they die, so beautiful

when they are dead, that death in them seems no longer terrible; but the Day of Judgment must be awful to all, even to those chosen few, who, if we read Scripture aright, are then to sit on thrones, to judge instead of being judged; much more, to us miserable sinners, must that day of wrath be a day of fear.

Is it difficult to realize what that day will be? Let us try at least to realize its approach. As the sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar, and then the Lord rained down fire and brimstone from the Lord, so perhaps the sun may rise, on that last day, when the trumpet shall sound, and living and dead shall be gathered around the throne. The cold grey light of early morning will come first, and the labourer will go forth to his work; and when the first bright rays have spread themselves through the heavens, the multitude of men, having risen from their slumbers, will proceed about their several employments—one to his farm, another to his merchandize one will be intent upon some scheme of improvement in his land, another will be counting his profits, and another will be planning for his family: one will be making ready to bury his father, and another will have fixed that day for his wedding. Then when all are occupied, and least expecting it, the trumpet will sound, and the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the heavens; and the thrones will be set and the books opened. He who expiated our sins upon the Cross will then sit upon His throne, and the holy angels with Him; and before Him will be gathered all nations. Behold Him on His awful

But how shall we prepare ourselves for that day, that it find us not unready? There are many ways of making preparation, but there is one way peculiarly suitable to this season; I mean, contemplation of that day itself. By calling up the image of the Judgment Day now, we may diminish its terrors then not simply by habituating the mind to face them, though this is something, but by the effect such meditations will have upon our character and actions. He that loves money generally knows how to make it, and he that loves honour understands how to attain it, and he that fears danger is quick to escape it, and he that has strong hopes takes pains to accomplish them; so he that, by frequent meditation, realizes the awfulness of the Judgment Day, is least likely to put his trust in idols, and will bend himself most earnestly to make preparation for passing through it uncondemned.

Let us turn, then, for the short time that we shall be together in this holy house, to contemplate some portion of that awful scene. Here all is peace and quietness, and security: the very angels fold their wings in silence, while regenerate men worship the Lord, their Redeemer and for peace, and calm, smooth, everflowing, holy joy, we hope hereafter; but two scenes, each most unlike either of these, are first to be passed through—the hour of death and the Day of Judgment; in both of which we pray most fittingly that the good Lord would deliver us. Death may be calm and gentle we may sweetly fall asleep, and rest in Christ. Some go so easily, and are so full of hope, so free from pain, so happy ere they die, so beautiful