draw from it a rich harvest of knowledge, virtue, and true felicity.-If the sun refuse to stop, and the wheels of nature to stand still; yet is their course exactly measured by an unerring rule; and, if rightly used, will be found adequate to every valuable purpose.

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Youth is the blossom, the promise of mature years these are equally transitory with the former The sun loiters not any more in the middle than in the beginning of his career. In vain you implore his stay, but you may call him to witness a train of pious and charitable actions as he passes; you may crowd into a small extent a multitude of valuable labours; -it is not for us to fix the limits, but to fulfil the duties of life-well pleased to act in concert with the great first mover of all things, among the innumerable instruments of his benevolent designs; and not unwilling to cease from action, whenever he shall see fit to transfer the pleasing though arduous toil from ourselves to others.

No sooner has the sun passed his meridian, than the shadows lengthen, and night approaches. The dawn, the noon, the evening, all glide with uninterrupted speed; and the hour when we must bid farewel to all their successive scenes, Nature cannot now long delay. All that remains, is, by reason and reflection, by prayer and repentance, to calm the perturbation of our minds-by holy resignation to the will of God, and a cheerful performance of our remaining duties, to seek his aid and protection-then, though we cannot escape the stroke of death, we shall render it less painful and alarming; thus disarmed of its sting, it will lose its greatest terrors; and will appear somewhat like a sound and refreshing slumber, falling on the over wearied mariner, who is within sight of his desired haven; and who expects, with the dawn of the succeeding day, to meet the glad congratulations of all whom he loves.

With the same placid feelings, when God sees fit, may we behold the sun of life go

down; nor any longer wish to retard its wisely appointed course; happy in the reflection, that it has not shone upon us altogether in vain; blest with the hope, that it shall rise again, in serene and unclouded majesty, and, having risen, shall set no more!

SERMON. V.

THE FATAL EFFECT OF INDULGING WRONG

INCLINATIONS.

II. KINGS viii. 7-15. And Elisha came to Damascus, and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick, and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

8. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in

thy hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

9. So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present

with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

10. And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him,

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Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit, the Lord hath shewn me, that he shall surely die.

11. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until

he was ashamed: and the Man of God wept. 12. And Hazael said, why weepeth my lord? and he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. 13. And Hazael said, but what, is thy servant a dog

that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewn me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

14. So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, What said Elisha to

thee? and he answered, he told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

15. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his stead.

THIS story is in itself so interesting, and related with so much simplicity, that I have