fore I must get housed before night comes. How do merchants, and other men of business, calculate the value of the day? They all ask, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" and they take care to improve them, so as best to promote their worldly interests. But why cannot men see the importance of their opportunity in spiritual things? A child, who had well improved one year, might be considered to have lived long while the sinner, being an hundred years old, but who had not lived long enough to find out his opportunity, or to begin his day's work, must be accounted a mere child in understanding.

But

There is a great mistake which men are apt to make. They confound darkness with death and the grave. Wherefore they put off all thoughts of eternal things, as gloomy subjects, to be attended to by and by. Tomorrow, and to-morrow, is the fool's maxim. there is no such necessary connection: for death and the grave may be illuminated by the light of life. Job could look at death, and say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God." But let a man ask himself, Do I not now walk in darkness? Am I not so hindered by an incessant attention to my occupation, as to be perplexed, and blinded, to every thing besides? "I must work while it is day," says Christ. What says the sinner? Does he not say, I have a great deal besides to do! I have married a wife; I have a farm, and oxen to attend to!

Let us remember, that whether we improve the day or not, it goes on; our opportunity is passing away. The day is a picture of life; consisting of a morning, noon, and evening. We put off what we should do in the morning till noon; and what at noon, till the evening; and so on. Another great portion of our life is

gone in the past year: Oh what a picture does it present! How many that were here this day twelve months have gone into eternity! Our sand is running apace. "Woe unto us! for the day goeth away," saith the prophet! Should we not send up a prayer that we may be enabled to work while it is day?

The men of the world are like children playing with toys. They do not like to be bid to put them down. But the moment a spark of true light shines into their hearts, they wake as out of a dream, and say, What! have I never thought—

"That awful day will surely come,

Th' appointed hour makes haste,
When I must stand before my Judge,
And pass the solemn test."

The foolish go on carelessly hearing these things till the night actually comes. But though conscience is stupid through the day, it is very common to see such an one awake up at night, and then his language is, I have lived a rebel, and I must die without hope! It is not sufficient then to cry, "Lord, Lord!" for though God can display the glory of his grace in saving a sinner at the eleventh hour; yet this is not meant for us to ground presumption upon. This would be to sin that grace might abound.

If man lingers and loses his opportunity, no wonder if Satan in the meantime is busy. He will be overtaken by the twilight of doubt, so that the very light that is in him will become darkness: he will be under the jaundice of prejudice: he will become the victim. of some idle tradition: if a man by any mode says, I will not see-the Lord says, you shall not see! there is added a judicial blindness! When a man regards truth as a fable, he shall be led away by some delu

sion. There is no darkness like judicial darkness! "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." He shall not be so much as uneasy: but the time is coming when it shall be said, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness!"

And while this darkness is advancing through its various stages, what is the careless sinner about? He is going on in sin, in vain amusements, in the eager pursuit of trifles. He does not know what he is about: he is all wrong. What a danger is there, if we walk after the twelve hours are expired! "The night cometh when no man can work :" and "if a man walk in the night he stumbleth." See Prov. i. 24. Let me say, therefore, to every careless sinner, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Take heed lest it be said, You have had a warning this year, but you shall never have another!

If the importance of opportunity, and the danger of approaching darkness, should quicken the travellerthen let me seriously address myself to young persons. You are entering upon another year, and are pleased with its opening prospects. You say, perhaps, My health is good, my day is bright;, and you presume it will never be night. But remember, there are only twelve hours in the day. And, after believing a thousand lies, you will find old age stealing upon you. While you are young, I call upon you to regard "the day-spring from on high”—to behold "the Sun of righteousness;" then, whatever occurs, you will be able to say with David, "God hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; and this is all my salvation, and all my desire." I call upon you, while in the prime of life, to own this. Judge of things by this light; for it is the only true light.

St. Paul so estimated it, that he counted all things but dung and dross in comparison. Lean not to your own understanding: call things as God calls them; and then you will be right. Waste not your time in sleep; be like the ant, which layeth up her food in summer; waste not your time in speculation: what would you think of a captive shut up in his dungeon with only one inch of candle, and instead of using the light to read his Bible, in order to know what to do to be saved, was found reading a novel till the very moment when he was called to execution? Take care of the ignis fatuus, a fire which, as in nature so in morals, arises from a bog. In the twelfth chapter of St. John, you see a consequence: "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." The wise men, when they saw the star, not only rejoiced at it, but followed it; and it brought them to the place where the young Child lay. If you are led by true wisdom, it always leads to Jesus.

Remember, through this new year, that "before honor is humility." Set out, casting your care upon God. I recommend you to improve birthdays-special events in providence-death of relatives, friends, and neighbors; as well as New Years' days. Each has a voice in the ears of a wise man; and cries, “Walk in the light, lest darkness come upon you."

Finally, the text admonishes ministers it tells us that if we have any hope of looking Christ in the face with comfort, it must be by working while it is day. If our object be to please the world, it will make work for repentance. We must set our faces like a flint, if we would give up our account with joy. Let us consider the view which Christ had of his work, and the

shortness of time; which should be a powerful argument with us also to attend to our work.

PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE.

For thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.—PSALM xxxi. 3. [1795.]

THERE is a disposition in the heart of a true Christian, that whether it be called faith, or hope, or love, it leads to reclining the heart upon One that has made a proposal, and is willing to save; and this disposition is habitual. It is strongly exemplified throughout the Book of Psalms.

There is an old proverb, that when God means to destroy a man, he suffers him to be infatuated; that is, he leaves him to himself. On the other hand, it may be said, when God means to save a man, he teaches him that he can of himself do nothing, and leads him to adopt the language of the text: "Lead me, and guide me." I shall consider,

I. THE PETITION ITSELF.

II. THE METHODS BY WHICH GOD LEADS THOSE WHO

PRAY TO HIM.

III. THE ENCOURAGEMENT THUS TO PRAY.

I. THE PETITION ITSELF.

If a man sincerely means what he says when he makes this petition, "For thy name's sake lead me and guide me," it is evident, 1st, That he feels his need of being led; and that he has a sincere desire, like Abraham and David, to be led in any way that God pleases. It implies, also, that he has full trust in the ability of his Leader. A Christian