fection of character, which disqualifies him for reaping and enjoying the benefits of this present life, will preclude him, it may be feared, from the blessings of that which is to come.

Casual emotions of piety, short intervals of obedience, accompanied, perhaps, with alternating changes from faith to uncertainty, and all the evils of " a doubtful mind," will certainly avail us nothing. On the contrary, instead of being accepted, as our reasonable service, they will hereafter be made the just grounds of our condemnation and reproach. "He that wavereth," says the apostle, "is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed: let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." It was the complaint of the holy prophet against Ephraim and Judah, that "their goodness was as a morning cloud, and that it passed away, as the early dew." This, indeed, is too true a picture of the frailties of man, in all ages of the world. At the same time, no one can be so visionary, as to advocate the necessity of sinless perfection; for we all know that such constancy is impossible, and that due allowance will be made for the unavoidable infirmities of our nature but that which is so strongly condemned, in the Gospel of Christ, is such a change, or

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fluctuation of principle, as amounts almost to apostacy;-a voluntary, systematic desertion of duty at one period of life, and a short, uncertain return to it, perhaps, at another ;-lively professions of faith, in times of prosperity and enjoyment; but encouraging" an evil heart of unbelief" in the hour of suffering, temptation, and trial.

Let us hear some of those "things, which were written aforetime for our learning," or instruction, on this head. "No man," says our blessed Lord, "having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven." It is of little avail, therefore, that we begin our course well, unless by prayer for the gracious aids of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to persevere, and continue in well-doing." The promise of divine blessings on this, as on all other occasions, is conditional. Hence, we are exhorted" to stand fast in the faith," and are assured, that "we shall reap, if we faint not.".

Whatever difficulties, or impediments, may lie in the way of our practical duty, it will be virtue of no ordinary character to remove, or overcome them; and though the effort may seem to do a sort of violence to our corrupt nature, "we must not grow weary in well-doing:"

for" he that endures to the end," and he only, we may infer, "shall be saved." The exhortation of the Holy Spirit, as recorded by St. John, also, was, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Let us now briefly consider the " Patience," mentioned by the apostle in the text, as necessary to enable us to bear the many sorrows and calamities of our present state with meekness and resignation. In this point of view, it becomes a virtue of the highest rank; and, in the great day of retribution, we may rest assured, it will not be without its abundant reward. In order to exercise it, as becometh Christians, who ought always to "look forward to the prize of their high calling," we should consider that afflictions, in various forms, will furnish the best proofs of our obedience, and are the surest tests of our sincerity. Many of the fruits of the Holy Spirit could not grow to perfection, or be made manifest, without them: and though the visitations of Providence may sometimes be deemed peculiarly severe; yet let us not, on that account, suppose, for a moment, that "God has forgotten to be gracious, or that he will shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure." On the contrary, let us believe the declaration of the

apos

tle, that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

When once we can open our minds to the reception of these gracious truths, we shall learn to "possess our souls in patience;" and shall come to the same practical improvement, as the holy Psalmist; who said, in the true spirit of submission to the Divine Will," It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes."

Those who enjoy almost uninterrupted health, prosperity, and happiness, are apt to perform many of their devotional duties almost without a meaning. They bring to the holy task hearts that are swelling with vanity and pride;-selfwill, that knows no opposition ;-and headstrong passions still eager for gratification. It is not till they have felt the scourge of affliction, that "Patience can be said to have her perfect work," and that they can, in the fervency of prayer, look up to the Saviour on the cross,-imitate the great example of his meekness and resignation, and say to their heavenly Father, " Not my will, but thine be done."

Among the common inducements for practising Patience, we must not forget to mention, that it serves to mitigate the severity of what

ever sufferings the Providence of God may think proper to impose on us. This is a truth so obvious, that we may learn it from the pages of heathen poets; and yet we see poor weak mortals struggling against evils, which they have no power to remove ;-aggravating their sufferings by all the violence of sorrow, and sometimes, when lying on the bed of sickness, absolutely hastening the approach of death, either by their unavailing dread of it, or, by what is nearly equivalent, their excessive anxiety to live.

Let us farther reflect, that, by the goodness of our wise and merciful Creator, both the joys and sorrows of this probationary life are alike fugitive, and transitory. "Heaviness may endure for a night," says the Psalmist," but joy cometh in the morning;" and hence, as the preacher truly observes, "there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."

There are few persons, who have reached the meridian of their days, and who may now be in the full possession of health and happiness, who cannot look back to some gloomy period, when the heart" refused to be comforted," and when they were ready to come to the melancholy