grow indolent, if there is no variety. Occasional interruptions teach us its value and sharpen our relish. We love life: But what is a life in this world, if none is expected in another ? Do we wish forever to tread the same dull round of occupations, amusements and pleasures of laboring in summer to provide for the consumption of winter, and of consuming in winter the fruits for which we labored in summer-of business by day to sweeten our sleep at night, and of sleeping by night to prepare us for the business of day?-It is the prospect of a future life, which dispels the gloom, enlivens the labor, and improves the pleasure of the present. It is death which introduces us to that better life, And the time which detains us from it, is short. Let us, then, no more rejoice in the world, as if it were our home; or in the goods of the world, as if they were our portion: But remember, this is not our rest; we must arise and depart; and when we go, we shall take nothing in our hand. So short is the present life, compared with the duration before us, that prosperity and adversity here are inconsiderable circumstances. They will but little affect our condition on the whole. All the good which we receive from God strengthens our obligations, and increases our accountableness to him. The good in which we now rejoice is a trifle compared with that which we have in prospect; and however it may cause present joy, too fond an attachment to it will be bitterness in the end. Let these sentiments possess our minds, and we shall rejoice, as if we rejoiced not-shall rejoice, not with a presumptuous confidence, but with serious gratitude, and sober con

tentment.

4. If the time is short, " it remaineth, that they who buy, be as though they possessed not," or retained not; so the word signifies.

What we acquire, we cannot retain longer than the short time allotted us on earth: We may not retain it so long, for it may take wing and fly away; some part of it we ought not to retain, for the poor have their claim.

It is lawful for men to buy-to increase their property and improve their circumstances by labor and commerce. But what they gain, they should freely disperse, when the cause of piety, or the necessity of the poor demands. "They who are rich in this world, must be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Yea, even the poor, having ability to labor, are to "work with their hands the thing that is good, that they may have to give to him who needeth;" to him who hath not ability to labor.

There are many who buy, as if they were always to possess, and lay up for themselves, as if they were always to retain; trust in their wealth, as if it were never to perish; and withhold from the poor, as if they themselves were never to want. But this their way is their folly. With all their riches they cannot secure themselves, or redeem a brother from the grave. They must die and leave their wealth to others. They can carry nothing away ;-their glory will not descend after them. Some surviving mortal will have dominion over all that they have left, and scarcely remember from whom he receiv ed it.

What is the world to those whose death is so certain, and whose time so short? It is our Savior's advice; "Give alms of such things as ye have s Thus provide for yourselves a treasure in heaven, which faileth not," "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness," or of the false and delusive riches of this world, "that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Does the man of charity and benevolence so bestow his earthly, perishing property as to provide a mansion eternal, and an inheritance incorruptible in heaven? In what a gainful commerce is he employed! What enriching bargains he makes ! Surely property was never laid out better.

5. As the time is short, "they who have the world, must use it as not abusing it, for the fashion thereof passeth away."

The world is given us to be used-not abused. When we apply it to our support and comfort, and bestow it in works of piety and beneficence, we use it as God requires. When we consume it in the gratification of vanity and pride, appetite and lust, or throw it into a useless heap to behold it with the eye, spurning in the mean time, the cries of poverty, and the demands of piety, then we abuse it; we pervert it from its proper use from its real design.

The world is given us in trust; we are stewards of God's manifold gifts; and we must be faithful. Our stewardship will end; the day of reckoning will come. The fashion of the world is changing; its property is shifting; we are passing away; and the time is short. Let us be diligent in the calling assigned us, wise in the application of the property given us, and fervent in the service of our Lord, that we may meet his approbation when he comes; for the day is at hand. "The faithful and wise steward he will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season. Blessed is the servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily he will make him ruler over all

that he hath. But if the servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink and be drunken; his Lord will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with unbelievers."

The time is short: An argument this, of which our blessed Lord felt the weight. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work." "I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected;" or shall have finished my ministry on earth. What was the work in which he was so deeply engaged? It was the work of our salvation. If he would not lose a day, which he could employ in the salvation of others, let us not lose a day which can be applied to our own. Dare we waste a day? We have a vast work in hand, a mighty interest depending; we are on trial for eternal glory, and the least delay may be fatal; life is short, time is swift, every hour uncertain. If this argument is unfelt, what other shall be found to awaken our diligence ?

How important is early religion? Time is short : Begin your work in season, lest, while you loiter, the day slip away, and the time for labor be ended.

Short is the winter's day: Unless you rise early, little can be effected. Short is this mortal life : Unless you begin the work of religion betimes, you will make little improvement. Your dilatory intentions may be wholly defeated; for you know not what accidents, or obstructions are before you. If you would lengthen the transient day, seize the morning hours. A diligent morning will forward the business, and facilitate the labors of the whole day, and give you a pleasant and cheerful evening. Though the sky may be dark and cloudy, storms may rave without, and winds may buffet your dwelling, yet you will have a secure retreat, review your work as finished, and find comfortable accommodations around you; and you may cheerfully resign yourselves to the long night's sleep, in hope of awakening to a calmer and brighter morning,