ference as to all the objects of life,-but to induce us to learn and practise the lessons which they teach.

Let us now then briefly enquire what these lessons are.

If our lives are so frail, and the time of our death so uncertain, it is quite clear that we ought to live in a constant readiness for death. Since there is no repentance in the grave, since as the tree falleth so it must lie, since it is not only appointed unto men once to die, but after death cometh the judgment, and since in whatever state death leaves us judgment will find us, nothing is of so much consequence to us as to be always fit to die, always ready to go hence at a moment's warning. "Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is°." "Be ye also ready, for in such

• Mark xiii. 33.

an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh"."

The being ready, the being fit to die, consists in faith and repentance ;—in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the atonement for sin made by his death, and in a sincere heartfelt sorrow for all the sins of our past life, accompanied with a real stedfast purpose of amendment, in humble reliance on God's grace. If we are wilfully living in the habit of any known sin, in the wilful neglect of any known duty, we are unfit to die; and death, if it found us in such a state, would endanger our souls for ever. If we are wilfully living in a state of unfitness for the Lord's Supper, we are unfit to die; for fitness for death and for the Lord's Supper is the same. If this is the case with any of us, let us not continue in

P Matth. xxiv. 44.

such state a day or an hour longer; but let us endeavour to provide for our everlasting peace while we yet have time.

Another practical lesson which the subject which we have been considering may suggest to us, is, that if there is any thing that we wish to do, any thing that we ought to do, for the glory of God and the good of our fellow-creatures, we should not put it off, but set about it at once without delay. We may be very sure that we can have no time to lose. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest"." Most of us fall too easily into a habit of procrastination, a habit of putting off from day to day the doing of that which we acknowledge ought to be done,-which we intend

Eccles. ix. 10.

This

to do, at some time or other. habit, however, must be broken through by him, who really feels upon what a very precarious uncertain tenure he holds his present existence, and is sensible how suddenly he may be called to quit it.

Another lesson which we may learn from the shortness and uncertainty of human life, is, that we should be careful not to set our affections too eagerly and too strongly upon the things of this world. With respect to them all we should endeavour to acquire,-I will not say a spirit of indifference, but, that feeling which is produced by a practical habitual conviction that we may be called upon to part with them at any moment. "This I say, brethren, that the time is short; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced

not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away'.'

The fashion of this world passeth away; and therefore even the best things in it must not be suffered to occupy too large a share of our hearts and affections, must not be suffered to prevent us, from seeking our home and our rest, in that world which does not pass away.

Let us endeavour, my friends, to preserve upon our minds this practical conviction of our mortality, that thus habitually feeling "how frail and uncertain our condition is, we may so number our days, as seriously to apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 Cor. vii. 29.