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That point of time will result in the eternal salvation and happiness of the sinner, which is the moment when he seasonably begins to repent and be reconciled to God, or to trust in Christ. Or if the sinner neglects to do this, that point of time will result in his eternal perdition, which is the last moment in which he might have seasonably begun to pursue the way to heaven, but refused to do it. Oh, with what regret and anguish will the lost sinner reflect on abused time-not only the last moment in which he might have made his peace with God, but all the years, the weeks, the desecrated Sabbaths, which shall have filled up the season of his probation!

In conclusion-since this life is a season of probation for eternity, the condition of those who hear the Gospel preached is solemn and interesting.-If you have received the truth in faith and love if you have acceded to the terms of the Gospel, and thus secured an interest in its promises, that event which will terminate the season of your probation, will introduce you to the mansions of the blessed, where you will enjoy the presence, behold the glory, and participate in the everlasting love of your blessed Redeemer. But, in the meantime, let it be your aim to perform with fidelity the service which he requires of you. He has committed to you talents, and he requires you to occupy till he come. So live that you may adorn his doctrine, recommend his holy religion, and honor his name. While life lasts the season of your probation continues, and your conduct will effect your eternal condition. Great is your reward in heaven! But it will be more or less great according to the degree of your faithfulness. Especially consider the infinite worthiness of your Lord, and the preciousness of his cause, and realize the the obligations which you are under to him.

But the reflection that this life is a season of probation for eternity is unspeakably solemn to you who have not obeyed the Gospel. There is danger that the preaching of the Gospel will ultimately be to you a savor of death unto death. It will unavoidably be so, if you abuse the remainder of the season of your probation as you have the past. That remainder consists of fleeting time. It may be a short, a very short space. Whether you are aged or young, your probationary term may soon expire. Oh, beware lest you have occasion to lament at last that the accepted time and the day of salvation have for ever closed: "That the harvest is past, the summer ended, and you are not saved."

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treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Either this character, or that of the believer, every person is forming. The season of probation is to men of different characters, as the fertile soil and the genial climate are to the good tree and the corrupt one; causing the good tree to strike deeper and stronger its roots, to spread wider its branches, and to bear an increasing abundance of good fruit; while the same effect is produced in the corrupt tree, except that its fruit is evil. The only remedy for the sinner is to become a new creature in Christ.

4. Since this life is a season of probation for eternity, time is of immense value. If it could be occupied for.no more important end than to gain earthly good, to get worldiy riches and honors, even to secure the possession of a throne, a crown, an empire, it would not be sacrilege to waste it. But as a season of probation for eternity, it is sacred. Like the interests of the soul which depend on the right use of it, it is invaluable. It cannot be abused or wasted, except with loss or damage which will be felt through all eternity. A right use of it will be proportionally happy in its consequences. The Christian by occupying it in obeying the gospel, obtains salvation and eternal life. By faithful continance in well-doing he secures glory, honor, and a blessed immortality. He lays up a treasure in heaven. The more faithfully he improves his time, the greater will be the value of his heavenly treasure, the richer his reward; because every one will receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. But the Christian is liable to make an unprofitable or perverted use of time; and when he does, he suffers loss-loss which can never be repaired. His reward will be in eternity less than it otherwise I would have been. To every Christian, therefore, every portion of his probationary season, whether rightly employed or perverted, is of inestimable consequence. But to the impenitent sinner time is no less valuable. The consequences of his 1 past abnse of it involve evil from which nothing can deliver him but the blood of Christ. His destiny in respect to two worlds, both eternal, is to be decided; it is in the remaining part only, of the season of his probation in which he is to make the decision. He who can estimate the importance of being saved from eternal woe, and of inheriting eternal life, can ap preciate that remaining in time. Yet it may be only a day,

Ian hour, a moment.

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That point of time will result in the eternal salvation and happiness of the sinner, which is the moment when he seasonably begins to repent and be reconciled to God, or to trust in Christ. Or if the sinner neglects to do this, that point of time will result in his eternal perdition, which is the last moment in which he might have seasonably begun to pursue the way to heaven, but refused to do it. Oh, with what regret and anguish will the lost sinner reflect on abused time-not only the last moment in which he might have made his peace with God, but all the years, the weeks, the desecrated Sabbaths, which shall have filled up the season of his probation!

In conclusion-since this life is a season of probation for eternity, the condition of those who hear the Gospel preached is solemn and interesting.-If you have received the truth in faith and love: if you have acceded to the terms of the Gospel, and thus secured an interest in its promises, that event which will terminate the season of your probation, will introduce you to the mansions of the blessed, where you will enjoy the presence, behold the glory, and participate in the everlasting love of your blessed Redeemer. But, in the meantime, let it be your aim to perform with fidelity the service which he requires of you. He has committed to you talents, and he requires you to occupy till he come. So live that you may adorn his doctrine, recommend his holy religion, and honor his name. While life lasts the season of your probation continues, and your conduct will effect your eternal condition. Great is your reward in heaven! But it will be more or less great according to the degree of your faithfulness. Especially consider the infinite worthiness of your Lord, and the preciousness of his cause, and realize the the obligations which you are under to him.

But the reflection that this life is a season of probation for eternity is unspeakably solemn to you who have not obeyed the Gospel. There is danger that the preaching of the Gospel will ultimately be to you a savor of death unto death. It will unavoidably be so, if you abuse the remainder of the season of your probation as you have the past. That remainder consists of fleeting time. It may be a short, a very short space. Whether you are aged or young, your probationary term may soon expire. Oh, beware lest you have occasion to lament at last that the accepted time and the day of salvation have for ever closed: "That the harvest is past, the summer ended, and you are not saved."

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his Lord was severe and oppressive, went and hid his talent in the earth, and when his Lord came to reckon with him, said, "Lo there thou hast that is thine." To whom his Lord justly replied, "Thou wicked and slothful servant ;" and commanded, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." What instruction did our Saviour design to communicate by these parables, except that mankind are put on trial, and that when the term of probation shall have passed, they will be rewarded or punished according as they shall have been faithful or unfaithful?

Likewise the parable of the rich man and Lazarus was evidently designed to convey the same instruction. The rich man employed his treasures to gratify his pride and voluptuousness; he was hard hearted and unmerciful. He regarded not the cry of poverty and distress. Lazarus was afflicted with poverty and disease, but possessed qualifications for heaven. He died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. Their lifetime was the season of their probation. They received their retribution in eternity. To the rich man, when he said, "Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame" Abraham replied, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented..

Another comparison which is employed in the Scriptures, is that of the Olympic games; in which comparison, the motive presented to man to be faithful, zealous, and persevering in the service of Christ, is likened to that which influenced the competitors in those games. The apostle says, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Again, "Know ye not that they who run a race run all, but one obtaineth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible." But when will the faithful receive that crown? The same apostle informs us when he says, "I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course : I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." This shows the reason why he said at another time, "We are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." He believed in accordance with the Lord's parables which have been considered, that this is the season of man's probation, and that in eternity he will receive his corresponding reward.

IV. The promises, invitations, and warnings to induce men

to accede to the terms of the gospel, imply that this life is a season of probation for eternity. The promises and their conditions are comprised in the following examples: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." "Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." These conditions and promises imply that mankind are sinners, that they have forfeited eternal life, and are justly condemned. Compliance with these conditions is required of men in this life. The promises can be fulfilled only in eternity. The enjoyment of eternal life implies eternal duration. Every person, therefore, to whom the gospel is made known, is in a state of trial in respect to its terms. It is to be decided whether he will accede to them or not; and whether he shall receive remission of sins and eternal life or not. probation is in this life, and it is for eternity. The invitations of the gospel imply the same. me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." tion is tendered to those living in this world. which men need, and which is offered them in the gospel, is deliverance from the curse of the law, which is eternal punishment. Another invitation is, "Incline your ear and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." This is also addressed to men in the present life, while the blessing offered is everlasting. The sum of the invitations of the gospel is, Come now with believing hearts to Christ and accept salvation and eternal life: behold now is the accepted time: behold now is the day of salvation.

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The same doctrine is implied in the warnings of Scripture. In the following language addressed to those who had rejected divine mercy, God presents solemn warning to others: "Because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded: but ye have set at naught 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 as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you; then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." Is not this a

warning to all not to slight the calls, and not to reject the offers of God's mercy, lest remediless woe come upon them? Our Saviour'says, "He that believeth not shall be damned;" Again, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him." He thus warns sinners of the loss which they will sustain, and the fearful judgment which will come upon them in eternity, if they persist in unbelief. Not to see life, is to be excluded from heaven; to be damned is to be doomed to hell.

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