God's grace and long-suffering to usward, near
the end of another year, another vicious year; and why have we been borne
with through so many vicious years but that we should now cease from vice
and begin to learn virtue? Why are we here over Ill-pause this Sabbath
night? Why, but that we should shake off that varlet liar before another
new year. That is the whole reason why we have been spared to see this
Sabbath night. God decreed it for us that we should have this text and
this discourse here to-night, and that is the reason why you and I have
been so unaccountably spared so long. Let us select one vice for the axe
then to-night, and give God in heaven the satisfaction of seeing that His
long-suffering with us has not been wholly in vain. Let us lay the axe
at one vice from this night. And what one from among so many shall it
be? What is the mockery of preaching if a preacher does not practise?
And, accordingly, I have selected one vice out of my thicket for next
year. Will you do the same? The secret of the Lord is with them that
fear Him. Just make your selection and keep it to yourself, at least
till you are able this time next year to say to us--Come, all ye that
fear God, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul. Yes, come
on, and from this day all your days on earth, and all the days of
eternity, you will thank God for John Bunyan and his _Holy War_ and his
Ill-pause. Make your selection, then, for your new axe. Attack some one
sin at this so auspicious season. Swear before God, and unknown to all
men--swear sure death, and that without any more delay, to that selected
sin. Never once, all your days, do that sin again. Determine never once
to do it again. Determine that by prayer, by secret, and at the same
time outspoken, prayer on your knees. Determine it by faith in the
cleansing blood and renewing spirit of Jesus Christ. Determine it by
fear of instant death, and by sure hope of everlasting life. Determine
it by reasons, and motives, and arguments, and encouragements known to no-
one but yourself, and to be suspected by no human being. Name the doomed
sin. Denounce it. Execrate it. Execute it. Draw a line across your
short and uncertain life, and say to that besetting and presumptuous sin,
Hitherto, and no further! Do not say you cannot do it. You can if you
only will. You can if you only choose. And smiting down that one sin
will loosen and shake down the whole evil fabr