It would be well for us, if we could every morning say to ourselves when we awake, "I am one day nearer to the coming of the Lord:' and, perhaps, before I rise again, I may be called to stand in his presence!" This is the great secret of a Christian-to have Christ the Judge present in the conscience-'Christ in us, the hope of glory'-Christ in us, "the way, the truth, and the life:' to see him, by faith, coming on his 'great white throne' in the heavens, to be the judge both of quick and dead.'

The Carnal Professor cannot wait: the Antinomian Professor cannot wait, nor work, nor bear the cross: the Formalist cannot wait, nor submit to a life of faith the Stony-Ground Hearer cannot wait, nor endure the burning sun of temptation: the WorldlyWise Man cannot wait, nor understand this life of faith and patience.

If you are one of these characters, it is no wonder that you do not succeed; but, if you are living branches of the living vine, you will be willing to wait for Christ's coming-you will be willing to wait for his explanation of all your trials and temptations— you will ask, "How will he pronounce in that day?" for it is of no avail what man thinks: in that day, the Judge himself will hold the scales: and many, who now make a bold profession, will then be found wanting.

3. Let no man, however, be discouraged: but, since the Apostle introduces here a cloud of witnesses,

LET US ENDEAVOUR TO RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE SET BEFORE US.

The traveller sets forward on his journey: he means to attain a certain end: he has some great concerns to settle; perhaps an estate to receive, of which he is thinking day and night. Whatever be the weather, however dark the clouds, however threatening the face of the sky, this man will say, "I must press

forward, and that continually, if I would attain my end!"

He, who sets this race before us, says, 'So run, that ye may obtain.' He knows that we are soon disheartened; and, therefore, he points us to the footsteps of the flock!" Others have travelled before us : yea, and in much worse weather, than we have to encounter; and loaded with heavier burdens, 'enduring a great fight of afflictions.' You may say, therefore, I have a dreary path; but I must travel on with patience. I suffer; but I suffer with a 'cloud of witnesses.' I must be supported as they were. I must live upon promises. I must trust that word, which cannot be broken: as they did, who have now finished their course with joy."

Brethren! is it thus with you? Then shall you 'behold the king in his beauty.' You shall see the land that is afar off,' and have every tear wiped from your eye. You shall reap the harvest, as well assow in tears.' The corn, that is to produce bread is growing through the storm, through many a blustering and tempestuous night, through many a bitter blast: but, Be patient, brethren. Το them, who, by patient continuance in well-doing scek for glory, and honour, and immortality-eternal life' belongs.

In a word, whoever is taught of God, sees the success that attends walking in the path of patience, and has encouragement in his soul to believe that in the end it shall be well with him: and whenever he sees a suffering Christian, hanging on the word; taking hold of his Master, and saying, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" he knows that every such man has not only a spiritual perception, but a moral disposition : There is the man," he will say, "who has 'with him the secret of the Lord!' That man has the

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rock under his feet! That man shall weather the storm!"

May the Holy Spirit, therefore, give you to see, that Patience is the Child of Faith and the Parent of Success: for surely, the day of the Lord draweth nigh.' And, in that day, may you and I meet at the right-hand of Christ: as witnesses that the word of our God is Truth, and endureth for ever!

SERMON XXX.

A TRANSIENT WORLD AND ABIDING CHRISTIAN.

Preached on the last Day of the Year.

1 JOHN, II, 17.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he, that doethi the will of God, abideth for ever.

A THOROUGH and practical acquaintance with things is important to us in proportion to the interest which we have in them. Were any one able to give us a minute account of the planet Jupiter, it might amuse our curiosity, but could be of no material advantage; for what have we to do with the planet Jupiter? But, if any one come as a teacher from Godan infallible guide—and give me an account of that with which I have so much to do-an account of this world; and, if that account were accurate, and, at the same time, alarming; and yet he were to tell me how I might escape the evil-this is a messenger of a thousand! I am on board a vessel: it is of great importance to me to know in what state that vessel is: one tells me, not only that the vessel shall be dashed in pieces, but how I may escape:-such a friend, and in such a manner, speaks to us to-night-and says, 'The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he, that doeth the will of God, abideth for ever.'

This subject seems particularly suited, to us, now in the evening of the last day of this year. You will say, perhaps, "It has passed like a dream!" It has : and your whole life, when you reach its concluding

point, and look back on it, will appear a dream: but here is an account of the World itself—IT passeth away.'

Let us endeavour,

1. To enter into the MEANING of the Apostle in these words:

2. To make a PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT of them to our own hearts.

I. We will consider the MEANING of the Apostle. 'The world passeth away.' What is to be understood by the world here? It is plain that the Apostle principally means that part of the world, which men are most apt to covet and build on: for, in the verse preceding the text, he says, 'All, that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.' Take these things away from the natural man, and you have left him nothing! you have taken away his all! And what is his all?-It is the world, says the Apostle :-The world-not as God made it, but as sin hath made it.

And this world, says the Apostle, passeth away. "That, which has been, is that, which shall be; and there is nothing new under the sun.' The world is but like a theatre, in which the scenes are shifted every moment: it 'passeth away:' 'the pageant of this world passeth by! Look at it: it is gone! Like a man dreaming of fine scenes-he awakes! and they are all gone! When a man comes to die, the whole world will thus appear: whatever he may have seen, it is now passed: all the splendour and bustle, in which he has been engaged, is now passed; and it has been nothing! "What shall the man do," says Solomon, "that cometh after the king? and I have found the whole world to be vanity." Depend on it, the man, who has made the trial, will say, "It is passed by! I have seen it, and it was all vanity and vexation of spirit." It is just as the year, that is now depart