way for this time, when I have a convenient season, Iwill call for thee." Thus the matter has ended in a vain resolution, which has served only to harden the heart. No decided choice is yet made.

Now how long do you intend to conduct in this manner? "How long halt ye?" The text demands the time-I pause for you to fix the time now.

you that God sees you.

Let me remind Let me also remind

you that God's Spirit will not always strive. There is another consideration which you must not forget. Death is certain, and you have no security of life, for a single moment. With these considerations in view, fix the time now when you will attend to the concerns of your souls. And decide as you shall wish your had done, when you open your eyes on the dread realities of the eternal world.

My hearers, if there is nothing in religion, then renounce it. If the Bible is a fable, cast it away. But if it be true, as you profess to believe, why hesitate to obey its precepts? Being true, it is tremendously true.

Ye parents, who never worship God in your families-this subject speaks to you. Your consciences have often been alarmed. You have been almost persuaded to adopt the resolution, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." But hitherto you have neglected this important duty. Do you not see that you are likely to die as you are? Have you not the greatest reason to apprehend that you will go to the bar of God without having once prayed to God in your families? And yet you do not intend to neglect

this duty till you die. Why then, halt any longer between two opinions?

Our subject speaks to those who are in the morning of life. To you, my young friends, the present is a season of peculiar interest. Many of your companions are anxious for their souls. Some, we trust, have already come to a decided choice. They no longer halt between two opinions. They have chosen the good part which shall not be taken away. They are now ready to leave all for Christ. They no longer hesitate whether to pursue the vanities of the world, or engage in the duties of religion. They are now about to bid you a long-an eternal farewell. At such a crisis, many anxious thoughts arise in your minds. While you see one and another of your companions leaving you, you cannot but reflect that you too have souls to be saved or lost. But still you halt between two opinions. On the one hand, you are unwilling to leave your sinful pleasures and companions. You are afraid of incurring the displeasure of God's enemies. You are ashamed to have it thought that you have any concern for your souls. You are ashamed to come out from the world, and openly espouse the cause of Christ. You are ashamed of Christ. On the other hand, you know that "the friendship of the world is enmity with God;" and that "the companion of fools shall be destroyed." You know that the season of youth will soon be over and gone forever. You know that you must die, and go to the judgment. You know that the Spirit of God will not always strive-that your day of grace is limited, and that you will soon have passed the bounds of divine mercy.

At times, these thoughts alarm you. Is it not so, my young friends?

Perhaps, you are now upon the point of deciding. You have been before. Your condition is no better, but is continually growing worse. How long will you trifle with your souls? This indecision is the high road to perdition-It is the path which all the wicked have trod, who have gone down to hell before you. They went halting between two opinions-flattering themselves that they should escape the second death. And you are treading in their steps. My young friends, God will not be mocked. The business of religion, above all others, requires decision. God requires the whole heart. He will have that, or he will have nothing. You are required without delay to break off your sins to come out from the world-to leave all— to take up every cross, and follow Christ. If you halt at this, Christ will have nothing to do with you. If you are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of you.

You may think to obtain the favor of God by giving him a part of your services. Some have thus attempted to compromise with their Maker. Being ashamed of Christ, they have resolved to be religious in secret, and openly to serve the world. But you will not succeed in this attempt. "No man can serve two masters." You may in this way, obtain a false hope; but you will not secure the favor of God. God will abhor all that you do. If you are not willing to engage in all the duties of religion, and to make an unreserved consecration of yourselves to God, you may stop where you are. The path to heaven is too strait.

The righteous who take to themselves the whole armor of God, will be scarcely saved.

Do you fear the reproach of your companions? Are you so weak, and so timid? Think what is the breath of an enemy of God, to the blast of the soul by the breath of the Almighty. If you fear the frown of a fellow worm, how will you stand in judgment with an angry God? Be entreated to stand halting no longer. Go one way or the other, with all your hearts. Life and death are now set before you, and God is witness to the choice you make.

In view of all that God and religion require, "how long halt ye?" In view of all the scorn and contempt of wicked men, "how long halt ye?"

Finally :-If the joys of heaven will not allure—if a bleeding Saviour has no charms for you-if the thunder of his vengeance does not strike terror through your guilty souls ;-then halt no longer-go on"Rejoice, O young man in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth." Cast off fear and restrain prayer-trample under foot the Son of God-Resist the strivings of the Holy Spirit-Sport with eternal vengeance and defy the thunders of the Almighty-But remember, that your fair morning will soon be turned into darkness. When your course is run, your bodies will fall into the grave, and your souls into the hands of the living God.

SERMON IX.

The Fearful Condition of Apostates.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then he goeth, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.-MATTHEW Xii: 43-45.

In these words, our Lord describes the state of the unbelieving Jews. This he does by a parable, founded on the case of a demoniac.

Christ had just healed one possessed with a devil. But the pharisees, filled with envy, attributed the whole to Satanic influence. Our Lord repelled the blasphemous charge, and added a most solemn address on the unpardonable sin. At the close, he drew a picture of the state of that generation. The occasion furnished an example. After the description given in the text, he makes the application. "Even so also shall it be unto this wicked generation." The text is also equally applicable to individuals under the gospel at the present day. We shall then consider it applicable I. To the Jews.

II. To sinners under the gospel.

When he

Our Lord knew the hearts of all men. cast out devils, he knew what took place. Invisible