it is not wise to ignore as far off that which
for some of us may be here before this day closes, which will probably
be ours in some cases before the fresh young leaves now upon the trees
have dropped yellow in the autumn frosts, which at the most distant must
be very near us, and which waits for us all.

What would you think of the crew and passengers of some ship lying in
harbour, waiting for its sailing orders, who had got leave on shore, and
did not know but that at any moment the blue-peter might be flying at
the fore--the signal to weigh anchor--if they behaved themselves in the
port as if they were never going to embark, and made no preparations for
the voyage? Let me beseech you to rid yourselves of that most
unreasonable of all reasons for neglecting the gospel, that its most
solemn revelations refer to the eternity beyond the grave.

There are many proofs that man on the whole is a very foolish creature,
but there is not one more tragical than the fact that believing, as many
of you do, that 'the wages of sin is death, and the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ,' you stand aloof from accepting the
gift, and risk the death.

The 'times far off' have long since come near enough to those scoffers.
The most distant future will be present to you before you are ready for
it, unless you accept Jesus Christ as your All, for time and for
eternity. If you do, the time that is near will be pure and calm, and
the times that are far off will be radiant with unfading bliss.

THE HOLY NATION

'Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be
clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and
a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart
of flesh. 27. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause
you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments,
and do them. 28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave
to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be
your God. 29. I will also save you from all your
uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will
increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30. And I will
multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the
field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among
the heathen. 31. Then shall ye reme