give the rest;-read it, beloved brethren, for yourselves, and O be warned against the appaling possibility of sinning away the day of grace. For to this end our Lord warns you to 66 walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." To this end he exhorts you to "strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many," saith he, "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Because, when once the Lord hath shut to the door of grace, in vain shall men knock-in vain shall they cry, Lord, Lord, open to us;' for he shall answer “I know you not whence ye are ; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity!" For this cause, our compassionate Lord wept over Jerusalem, and said "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes!" For the day of mercy was now gone by, and sentence of judgment was passed!

Brethren; of all that I have been saying this is the sum, it is a dangerous thing to put off repentance to neglect the present opportunity of turning to God. You may have no other opportunity given you, because-to-morrow may be too late ;-to-morrow the Spirit may have ceased to strive with you;-to-morrow the heart may be too hard;-to-morrow the disease of sin may

have taken deadly root;-to-morrow the door of grace and hope may be shut, and salvation may be past for ever! "To-day," therefore, "if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." But turn ye Now-this day-this hour; "for, behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

DISCOURSE VIII.

THE MESSIAH.

[FOR CHRISTMAS-DAY.]*

ISAIAH ix. 6.

For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

AT this season of festive enjoyment, when the gloom of winter is enlivened by social and family intercourse, it behoves us to reflect upon that description of joy which may at once be agreeable to God and profitable to ourselves. For, my brethren, there is no greater mistake in the mind of worldly people, in respect to religion, than

* This discourse, though preached originally on Christmasday, may, when used for assistance in divine worship at sea, be adopted either for that day, or for the Sunday following. The subject of a Christian's rejoicing in the Saviour, indeed, is always seasonable.

this, that it makes the partakers of its blessings gloomy or unhappy. So far from this being correct, the religious man is the only truly happy man. And if he be not so, it is not the fault of religion, but either of his natural disposition, the state of his bodily health, or the want of more religion. Hence, we find, that peace and joy are the prerogatives of the true Christian; and that it is at once his privilege and his duty to rejoice. But then, it must be acknowledged, that these happy endowments are not what irreligious persons esteem happiness;- his peace is in believing; his "joy in the Holy Ghost;" his rejoicing in the Lord. Therefore saith the apostle, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."

Whilst this state of mind, however, is the general privilege of the real Christian, the season at which we have arrived is a more special occasion for joy and gladness. "Behold," said the angel to the pious shepherds who kept watch over their flocks by night, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And such is the joyous occasion which we now commemorate. But, alas; how is that joy profaned! Instead of a sanctified gladness, we find this sacred season shamefully desecrated by every kind of

dissipation. We speak not of the joy of families in being now brought together, nor of the union of kindred in social enjoyment, nor of a Christian intercourse with our fellow Christians; but of those vile dissipations by which this interesting occasion for religious rejoicing is so shamefully prostituted. Instead of the holy enjoyments to which the season calls us, we find among thousands around us, only sensual indulgences and excess of viciousness. Do not multitudes of those who bear the Christian name, convert this holy festival into an unhallowed carnival? What mean the sounds we hear of boisterous mirth? What mean the gross indulgences of sensual men?-the bacchanalian revels,-the extravagant feastings, the unchaste dancing, the brutalizing intemperance, the vociferous laughter,the foolish and immodest singing? Are these the joys intended for the Christian? Brethren; follow me, whilst, with a humble dependance on the blessing of God, I consider the subject before us, in order that we may all learn to improve the season of Christian rejoicing; and that we may endeavour to attain to the elevated spirit of Isaiah when, rejoicing at the prophetic vision, he spake the exulting song, "Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,