cation of those faculties, which are indispensable prerequisites to the fruition of the joys of paradise. Not even pleasures sought in the walks of intellectual researches, have any alliance with, or induce any meetness for, the holy delights of the just made perfect. Nay, those who live in any of these pleasures exclusively, are dead while they live, and close mortal life only to begin the everlasting horrors of the second death. These pleasures are the wages, the best avails, the choicest revenue of sin, but they are death. This is a truth of revelation. God has declared that the end of all sinful pleasures, is death. It is written on the pages of his eternal truth. Nor is this all. He has allowed us to witness a confirmation of it, in what is almost continually passing beneath our observation in the present world. They who seek and know no pleasures but those of sin, have in their own bosoms now, and they cannot but occasionally reveal the fact, an earnest of the undying sorrows to which their course is leading them. In their keenest delights, is mingled the keenest anguish. They never find what they seek, and never cease to to meet what they would anxiously avoid. Wretchedness, despair, and remorse are imprinting their expressive characters, where they would gladly display only the indications of composure and peace. Nor let it be imagined that these busy foes to human happiness, are writing their image and superscription on the features of none but worn out voluptuaries. The person cannot be found who has not made the choice of Moses, in whose features and demeanor, this fearful revelation is not going on. That child who has but just begun to know that he ought to choose the portion of God's people, while his foolish heart effectually inclines him to choose the pleasures of sin, tells in the wordless language of his emotions, feelings, and conduct, that, though in the giddy career of sinful amusements and pleasures, he is no stranger to remorse, that despair has already built her nest in his bosom, and that his young thoughts have learned to travel onward towards eternity in a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. No! God has not left himself without a witness that never fails to manifest itself in every sinner who despises the heritage of the saints, that they, who choose THE PLEASURES OF SIN, are preparing to lie down in eternal sorrows. And what is the testimony of all the unquestionable facts with which inspired history abounds, on this point? Does it appear that a single sinner who continued to live in sinful pleasures until death, ever escaped perdition? Behold Dives, after having fared sumptuously to the last, lifting up his eyes in hell, and begging for a drop of water to cool the rage of his torments. Behold the rich fool, summoned away in the very moment when exulting in his hoarded treasures. Behold Ahithophel, after having gained the summit of political ambition, hanging himself for vexation-plunging himself from the high range of all his pleasing schemes of worldly policy, into the bottomless pit. But enough has been said on a point which no one respecting the authority of scripture, will venture to dispute. Say, then, beloved hearers, did not the adopted heir of Egypt's throne wisely prefer to SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, RATHER THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON? I cannot be speaking to a single individual, who is not convinced that his choice under his peculiar circumstances, indicated great wisdom and magnanimity. But I may be heard by not a few who, notwithstanding their conviction of this, will not go and do likewise. Some of you who would be thought prudent, and wise, and courageous, are not willing to take this step. Come, then, and look at it again. Consider well the circumstances. Count the cost. Compare the two things between which you are to choose. The affliction of the people of God is great. It is through much tribulation that they enter into life. They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. But the agony is short. It ends in glory evelasting. On the other hand, THE PLEASURES OF SIN are ONLY FOR A SEASON. Not longer than the affliction of the godly; and they end in eternal sorrows! Can you hesitate which to choose? Can there be a question in any of your minds which you ought to choose? Can you doubt which your safety, your interest, your happiness in both worlds require you to choose? Do you still hesitate? Go then, and take a turn in that gallery of scripture paintings. Go, and survey that grand historical picture, the power of faith in God. Behold that illustrious group of suffering and triumphing witnesses to the power of faith. See how they lived. See how they all died in faith. Would you not thus die? Live then, as they lived. Forsake all earthly endearments that are in the way of your believing obedience, as Abraham did; looking for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Refuse the honors and distinctions of worldly greatness, that lie in the way of your promotion to heavenly crowns, as Moses did; esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, having respect unto the recompense of reward. If you do not this, it can never be truly said of you these all died in faith. On the contrary, it will need to be said of some of you— these died in wilful ignorance'; of others, these died in stupidity, and of others, again, these died in false peace, and of others, these died in despair-while of the whole of you, the angels who rejoice over repentant sinners, will be constrained to utter the mournful story to the ear of glorified spirits-THESE ALL DIED WITHOUT HOPE ! Brethren in Christ, we profess to have chosen the lot of afflicted saints. In this election we have avowedly expressed a deliberate preference of suffering to sinning. Is there one of you that regrets the choice he has made? Would you rescind the vows made here on earth and registered in heaven, that you would link your destinies in both worlds with those of God's people? Does the solemn choice appear any the less wise, than at the decisive moment, when you joyfully bound yourselves to be the Lord's, and one of his afflicted people? Do afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions that fall upon you, make your hearts turn back, and covet the short lived pleasures of sin? Are Are any of you of the number of professed believers, who by some secret reservation, seem to think themselves released from following Christ and with his disciples, except on certain conditions-except he leads you through smooth paths-except he lays on you no heavy burden—except he requires of you no painful task-except he asks of you no acts of self-crucifixion-except he remits a part of his plan and order in respect to you? Then you had better keep away from this sealing ordinance, until you are prepared unconditionally to vow to your Lord and Master-as did Ruth to Naomi-Whither thou goest, I will go-and where thou lodgest I will lodge-thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God! But beloved, I trust this is the language of most of our hearts, although I thus speak. With this sentiment in your hearts, open your eyes on the great objects of faith. Behold the Saviour, and thence gain some new views of the lightness of your affliction compared with what he bore. Through the visions of a quickened faith, take a nearer and clearer view of the littleness of your earthly sorrows compared with the surpassing greatness of eternal pleasures at God's right hand. Look away to unseen things, and deepen the conviction of the wisdom of your choice. Gaze amidst these scenes, and afresh bind your souls to the cause and the people of God. Bend a believing eye on these objects, and learn a lesson of patience. It will soon be over. The warfare will soon be accomplished. The last agony will speedily wring your hearts. The last struggle in |