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awful words, "Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee?" They, who are at present acting the most brilliant parts on the great stage of existence, or who are revelling in luxury, shall soon close their short scene, and be forgotten by those who succeed them; and if they have neglected to secure to themselves an inheritance in that kingdom "which fadeth not away," how improvident have they been !-The pyramids of Egypt are still standing; but of them, by whom they were built, not a trace remains, Life is of little advantage to man, unless he makes use of it to prepare for death; and thereby to secure to himself, through Christ, an entrance into the everlasting and unspeakable happiness of heaven.

7. Our Saviour commands his disciples to take care that the light which is in them be not darkness. How vile must our faults appear in the when even our virtues are

sight of God,

not free from

imperfection! How ought we to tremble, when we remember that we must all appear before his judgment-seat !----How idly, how carelessly do we too often per form our services to Him! with what unconcern do we talk of him, as if we were no way interested in the existence of a God! Let us carefully look into ourselves, and, before all opportunity is lost for ever, let us take care that the light which is in us, be not darkness.

8. "Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord will come." These words of our Saviour are addressed to men of all ranks and ages; and yet we are so occupied with our vain projects, and worldly enjoyments, that sickness, or the approach of death itself, is often insufficient to awaken our attention to them. But why are we so fond of this life, so unwilling to think of quitting this world?-Alas! it is because the love of God is not in us; and because we do

not value, as we ought, the joys of heaven, or the promises of everlasting life.O wretched slaves of sin! whom not even a crucified Saviour dying for you, lifts above the corruption of your mortal state; a state, in which, by your own confession, you are miserable, awake from this sad delusion, before it is too late! Watch and pray; for ye know not the hour when your souls must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ.

ON THE PROPER USE OF OUR TIME, AND THE DANGER OF MİSEMPLOYING IT.

1. Ir is not necessary to enforce the absolute duty of employing your time well, if you have at all learned your duty to God: But there is still much to learn, concerning the disposal of that which (if well used) is to lead us to immortality. It always has been, and, alas! always will be, much easier to meet with good people in theory, than in practice; but we must remember, that in the proper management of our time, nothing but constant practice is of any avail in the sight of God.

2. To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under

heaven;" that is, for every thing that is good, and fitting for a Christian. We should lay it down as one essential and unerring rule, neither to waste our time in folly, nor destroy it by idleness. We too often hear the want of time pleaded in excuse for the neglect of duty; but we should find our time fully sufficient for all our occasions, if we would apportion it in a regular manner to our several duties and occupations; still, however, making our worldly cares and employments subservient to our duty to God, and to the furtherance of our everlasting hopes. From the moment in which we are capable of thought and reflection, to that in which thought and reflection cease, God will require from us an account of his most precious gift, our time. Is it not well worth our while to inform ourselves, early, in what manner we may best make use of it? We cannot be too earnest in our consideration of this subject, nor should we ever think ourselves

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