tion, when the waters "come even to their souls," his Spirit is devoted to preserve them from fainting or sinking under the impetuosity of the waves. In the hour of death, when they are brought to the dark deep, at which nature shudders, but which all must pass, he has promised his staff to buoy his redeemed over the cold flood, and his Spirit to conduct them to the safe haven of the opposite shore. Thousands have realized the gracious promise, and the pledge of its fulfilment to all the upright is the bow that perpetually surrounds his throne. If they are faithful, he "will look upon it, that he may remember the everlasting covenant," and "will never leave them, nor forsake them."

But it is to the saints and spirits who have their abode in the mansions of his house, that this rainbow of the celestial world is of most precious significance. They, in the widest sense, survive the devastation of a world. They have passed the floods of vice, and the cold waters of death. From the awful vengeance upon the ungodly, before which "the heavens shall vanish," "the elements melt," and "the earth be burnt up," they are delivered. To them the Deity appears clothed in the emblems of love and salvation. While the token of covenanted mercy about him, tempers his ineffable perfections to their view, they behold in it the evidence that the storms have subsided by which they were endangered, and the sure pledge that none of the imperfections, troubles, dangers, and deaths which they have escaped, shall ever again disturb their minds, or endanger their existence. To them, therefore, it is of most delightful appearance, the seal and security of inconceivable bliss. They are made happy, beyond our conception, in the thought that the Deity, having graciously delivered them from the doom of a guilty world, looks always upon a remembrancer of that covenant with the Son, by which he hath obligated himself to perpetuate their felicity.

Such is the significance of that glory of heaven with a description of which we are furnished in the text. Confirming this illustration, it may be remarked that, to Ezekiel was vouch

safed a vision of the majesty of Deity in his high abode, who beheld with rapture the same glorious emblem about his throne, and thus depicts it: "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."

From the contemplation of this glorious object, which John beheld in the celestial world, we may learn the fulness of the felicity of "the saints in light." To escape the wrath of heaven, and stand saved by his mercy from the wreck of this world before the Most High; to dwell forever in his presence, filled with the transporting assurance that their sins are forgiven. them, that the bitterness of death is past; to see in "a rainbow round about" God's "throne," an infallible token that the floods of temptation, sorrow and death, shall no more come nigh them, but that the future shall be an eternal progress from knowledge. to knowledge, from glory to glory. This is the view which the Scriptures give us of the happiness to which their spirits are brought, "who are departed in the true faith of the holy name."

Which leads me to observe, secondly, from what has been said, the importance of having an interest in that covenant of safety, whose glorious token we have been considering. What are the perishable joys, the groveling pursuits, the fallacious vanities of this transient state, weighed in the balance of sober consideration, with the realities of heaven, which we have it in our power to secure? Do we flatter ourselves that it will be time enough by-and-by, and trust to the sincerity of our intentions? Time steals away faster than we leave our follies or can mend our pace; and ever and anon some solemn monitor echoes the inspired instruction, "Now is the accepted time." Do we trust that it will go well with us without our efforts? Unless a flood should execute vengeance on the ungodly, there would be little need of a bow, betokening safety to the upright. There is but one ark of preservation; it is that prepared by the Redeemer. "None other is given under heaven among men in which we can be saved." If in this we embark our

selves, our hopes, and our cares, we shall be safe amidst all the storms of life. Providence will make us his charge when he visits the earth with affliction. We shall ride triumphantly over death's dark waves, and, resting under the auspices of an olive branch, brought by the heavenly dove upon the mount of God, the transcendant beauty of the spiritual rainbow shall refresh our sight, and rejoice us with the assurance of eternal safety.

Which suggests to us the sweet consolation our subject affords under the departure of virtuous friends from our sight and embraces. How wisely does the apostle exhort, that we mourn "not as without hope, for those that sleep in the Redeemer." When the survivor of the flood was safely moored upon the peaceful mount, who could have wished the exulting patriarch back to the threatening of the tumultuous waves? When once he had beheld the bow, proclaiming his perpetual safety from the waters, who could have wished him again exposed to the cares and perils which he had escaped? And when our friends have "passed the waves of this troublesome world,” in the true faith and fear, and we have reason to trust that they have reached the celestial Ararat of rest and safety, who that does not think more of his own happiness than of theirs, would wish them back to the cares, the sorrows, and the dangers of this vain world? Escaped to heaven from the storms and tempests of the dark flood, and rejoicing with inconceivable joy in the bright token "round about the throne," that the waters of affliction and of death shall no more approach them, they rather demand our gratulations than our tears. Let us, then, my friends, cheerfully submit to the dispensations of God, whatever they may be, "knowing that all things work together for good to them that love" and fear him. The "rainbow" still glows "about the throne" of the eternal; and he who sits upon the throne, is still a covenant God with the children of Let us, then, with patient perseverance "seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness," assured from the experience of the faithful, as well as by the token which surrounds his throne, that he is faithful who has promised."

men.

SERMON XLVI.

ON THE DANGERS OF YOUTH.

PROVERBS, vii. 7.

I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding."

YOUTH is the most important part of man's life. If we compare life to a day, youth is the morning of it. The faculties and feelings are then strong and lively; the hours are favourable to activity, and he who wastes them in idleness or folly, will, probably, find his noon perplexed, and his evening destitute of the sweetest pleasure of the evening, a peaceful review of the day. If we compare life to a voyage, youth is the time of preparation. It is then we must choose our course, and provide the stores which may sustain, and the means which may improve or amuse us on our way; it is then our friends should be made glad by seeing us well furnished for our destination, and the credentials be obtained which may procure us safety, and favour, and distinction in the regions to which we are bound. If we compare life to a year, youth is its springtime, upon which the felicity of all the other seasons depends. It is then the seeds must be sown, and the plants cherished, whose fruits may delight us in summer, enrich us in autumn, and sustain and cheer us when winter shall have arrived. Whatever view we take of life, youth is its most precious period; a period which he who suffers it to go by unimproved, may afterwards bewail, but can never retrieve. The day may

revolve, and morning again return. The year may elapse, and other springs appear. Oceans may be crossed, and the voyager may set out anew. But to human life there is but one morning, but one embarkation, but one spring. Of the advantages which youth may furnish us, we must avail ourselves as it passes, or else be destitute of them forever.

The pictures which the author of the book of Proverbs has drawn, are most of them taken from real life. Amongst them I know not one more striking and affecting than this which is presented in the text. In the most interesting, important, and dangerous part of human life, there is seen "among the youths, a young man void of understanding." Before him is vice, beckoning him with alluring arts to her impure abodes. Behind him are advancing, obscurely indeed, but with sure and rapid step, shame and remorse, and misery and ruin. Over this youth, I imagine angels and spirits of the just, looking down from the skies with the most anxious concern. By his side I behold a father with a beating bosom and a furrowed brow, observing with unutterable anguish the destruction of his fondest hopes. In a retired corner I see a female figure. It is a mother on her bended knees. She is looking to heaven with tears upon her cheek, and supplicating the Almighty to forgive and save her child. Gracious God! Little do the young know how great is the interest they excite in heaven and on earth. Seldom do they consider how deep is the cup which their conduct may fill with wretchedness or bliss, both for themselves and others!

In looking round upon this assembly, I behold the greater part of it in the morning of life. For them the following discourse is particularly designed. In it I shall set before them some of the qualities which indicate in youth, a want of wisdom and understanding; and fondly I flatter myself that they will give me that attention, which a sincere regard for their welfare may claim, whatever the discourse may want of novelty in its doctrines, or beauty in its dress.

Foremost among the qualities which mark the unwise youth,