proved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. xxix. 1. "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; "When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord." Prov. i. 24—29. You see, my dear children, from these awful words, (and I could shew you many more such), that there is such a thing as calling upon God too late. ThereforeSeek ye the Lord while he may be found: call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah, lv. 6. "To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts." Heb. iii. 15. “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James, iv. 14. If you now feel some little desire to turn from sin, it is great encouragement for you. It is God's "special grace preventing" you which has put into your mind those good desires. And you may be sure that he who has given you the will to turn to him, will also give you the power. "For if indeed I would, Though I can nothing do; Yet the desire is something good, By nature prone to ill, Perhaps some of you may say: "But we feel no wish at all to turn to God: we do not like the thoughts of repentance, and it is of no use to ask God for what we do not really desire." Yes, it is of use. He has said: "I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." Ezek. xxxvi. 37. No one does like the thought of repentance, any more than a sick child likes to take his bitter medicine. But if he is wise, he will take it whenever the right time comes. And if we are in earnest in wishing to flee from the wrath to come, we must make up our minds to do many things which we do not like. "The flesh dislikes the way, But faith approves it well; And, besides, it is only at first that the way will be difficult. What did Solomon, the wisest of men, say about this? He first tried the paths of worldly pleasure: "I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity." Ecc. ii. 1. And then of gain: "I gathered me also silver and gold:" "and whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy. "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun." Ecc. ii. 10, 11. And then he says of religion: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. "For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. "She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.' Prov. iii. 13. But though this was Solomon's experience, and has been the experience of every good man since, you must expect to find some difficulties at first. For the devil and your own wicked hearts will always be tempting you to break your good resolutions. And when you begin to strive againt sin, you will feel more and more how utterly unable you are to serve God of yourselves. Many a time you will be tempted to think that it is all of no use, and that you will never be any better. But when you have thus fallen into sin, do not give up trying to be good, but go and confess it at once, and ask God to forgive you for Jesus Christ's sake. Do not go farther away from your best friend, but return to him as soon as possible, and ask him to wash you once more. Remember, for your comfort, that after all, your salvation does not depend on your own goodness. It depends on keeping close to the Saviour" abiding in" him, as the Bible calls it. So long as you are united to him you are safe. "For there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. viii. 1. Remember this, dear children, and when you have wandered away from him, make haste to return. Never doubt of his ability and willingness to receive you he has given you the parable of the Prodigal Son to encourage you, and many precious texts besides. He tells you that "he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Heb. vii. 25); and that "he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. iii. 9. "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever." Jer. iii. 12. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord.' Mal. iii. 7. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John, i. 9. Faithful, because he has promised to do it; and just, because Jesus has borne the punishment once, and he will not make us bear it again. Jesus has been punished for our sins; and, if we truly believe in him, we shall be rewarded for his righteousness. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. v. 21. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.' Rom. v. 18. 99 "Hasten, sinner, to be wise, Stay not for to-morrow's sun, Hasten, sinner, to return, Stay not for to-morrow's sun, Hasten, mercy to implore, Lord, do thou the sinner turn, Rouse him from his senseless state, Let him not thy counsel spurn, And lament his choice too late." Why should I say 'tis yet too soon To seek for heaven, or think of death? If this rebellious heart of mine I may What if the Lord grow wroth and swear, That he'll refuse to lend an ear What if his dreadful anger burn, And all his love to fury turn, And strike me dead upon the place! 'Tis dangerous to provoke a God; His power and vengeance none can tell; One stroke of his almighty rod Shall send young sinners quick to hell. Then 'twill for ever be in vain To cry for pardon or for grace, G |