O then care for the soul!

2-Is the soul impe

rishable? and must it exist while eternity endures! Then let us be sure we well consider and adopt God's method of securing its final safety-an entrance into that 'rest which remains for the people of God! For we shall exist for ever in bliss or woe. And it is most certain that no other foundation of hope or preparation for eternity will stand, but that which the word of God prescribes. For God has not given us a book to deceive us, or to the decision of which we may safely object or remain ignorant; but he has given us the sacred volume as а spiritual compass and chart by which to steer our course to heaven-that haven of safety and rest. Now we say the value of the cargo (immortality) with which we are sailing to eternity, should make us look well to God's compass; and to beware, for we are greatly in danger of it, that we do not prefer our own schemes of salvation to God's. And so have reason through eternity to curse the day that we were created immortal; which we shall most certainly have dreadful cause to do, if we fail to attain that port for which possibly self-flattery and ignorance of God's word alone tempt us to believe we are prepared. Take care then to get grace in the heart. Be sure you are building your hope on Christ as the only foundation; that you are partakers of his spirit, and possess that' holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.'

3-Once more: let the consideration of your immortality induce you to prize the means of grace.

For to these we may apply the words of the woman of Tekoah: neither doth God respect any person, yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him.'* And how important the means of grace are, let the value of our deathless spirits say, whose eternal welfare is the principal design of their institution, 'remember,' then, 'the sabbath day, to keep it holy.'t Use it holily,' says a judicious writer, by careful abstinence from servile works, and worldly business, and by diligently employing it in holy thoughts, words, and works, in the worship of God both public and private, and the furthering of our own and others sanctification and salvation. For remember you are mortal and must die, and immortal and must exist for ever. Wherefore listen again to the word of God by the Prophet: If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,' (forbear any bodily employment whereby the sabbath may be profaned) from doing thy pleasure on my holy day,' (that which is pleasing and agreeable to thy own corrupt inclinations and affections,) and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath

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spoken it.'* The Prophet here teaches, that both the temporal weal of nations and the spiritual welfare of individuals, are influenced in no small degree by such an observance of the sabbath as is here prescribed. And surely in pressing upon your attention this all important duty and privilege, we may justly urge each of these grounds, especially the connection between the duty under consideration, and in short, all other means of grace, and our chief concerns. For who can conceive the worth of an immortal soul? 'Let us, then, not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some,' alas! how many in this nation 'is.' Moreover, if duly weighed and wisely improved, the consideration of our immortality, would make us not captiously but scripturally cautious respecting the character of the public services on which we attend; namely, whether what we hear be the true gospel of Christ. Whether we hear the truth of God fully, faithfully, and pungently preached For who that has any spiritual discernment or feeling, is not aware of the importance of this! What truly judicious christian knows not that effects diversified and important far beyond the utmost stretch of thought are by the Holy Spirit ordinarily produced by means of the plain simple preaching of the gospel. Nothing but truth, however, will the God of truth bless. It is only the gospel' which the Holy Ghost will make the power

Isa. lix. 13, 14 Jer: xvii. 19---27

of God to salvation.' Let us not then trifle with our immortality, and throw away our invaluable time and opportunities, by lending our ears to such public instruction as has no tendency to effect a true conversion, but which rather tends to cause us to err from the right way.'

4-Should not the physical dignity of our souls teach us with what feelings it behoves us to consider their depravity and moral degradation. For it ought to be remembered, that while it is true that the soul is in ruins, it is not like a cottage in ruins ; but rather comparable to a palace* in a state of desolation: : ought we not, then, to 'weep for our selves?' To weep for our souls which, while they are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,'† are immortal spirits. As to their future being-eternal spirits, capable therefore of being everlastingly sinful and miserable. Is it consistent, then, that we should feel no more sorrow for the sinfulness of our souls, nor any greater anxiety for their safety, than if they were shortly and for ever to perish as to their being?

The nature

5-In a word, and to conclude. of our souls should inspire us with a becoming and salutary self-respect. In a moral point of view, indeed, our character is such as ought to make us ' abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes:' away therefore with all self-applauding thoughts and proud pharasaical self complacency. A state - of mind which proves the total absence of true

religion and spiritual self-knowledge; and is opposed to every doctrine, precept, and principle, of true godliness. Still there is a self-respect which the nature of our souls, wisely improved, is calculated to inspire, which is obviously proper, and which therefore may be cultivated with advantage., With advantage in respect of its practical and salutary influence on our character, both in a moral and intellectual point of view. In the former respect, for does it become a being who, in respect of his soul is allied to angels, to have so little regard for himself, as to sustain a character and live a life as ignoble or more so than that of the beasts that perish? To live the life of a sensualist, a whoremonger, a drunkard, a glutton. Nor are they much better than those who merely live to heap up riches or acquire the honours, titles, or distinctions of this vain and transistory world. Do they 'whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things, and are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,' ever consider how they disgrace themselves? Namely, by addicting themselves to pursuits and practices so unsuitable to a spiritual nature; and which may vex but can never yield substantial happiness to an immortal soul. Surely they who do such things need to have addressed to them the admonition -respect thyself, and so consider what thou art and what is thy destination as no longer to stoop so far below the dignity of thy nature. For were an angel to become incarnate, who would not stand confounded were he to act as immortal beings do.

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