though your situation is, perhaps, upon the whole, bimore exceptionable than any other, yet who among you are not convinced that you might be far more regular than hitherto you have been. And though you cannot be so regular as my present plan may suggest, yet I will tell you what you may do, you may form a method somewhat resembling that mentioned above, you may improve those portions of time in future which have formerly been occupied in unprofita ble conversation with your neighbours, and, in some instances, in speaking evil of absent persons, and, I know, if you are willing, and diligent, you will gain small portions from other quarters, and, with but few exceptions, be able to devote a given part of each day to the immediate service and worship of God. Do this, and you will soon reap the benefit of such conduct. Your heads will become wiser, and your hearts better; you will feel yourselves far more equal to your family exercises, and ultimately "your peace will flow as a river, and your righteousness abound as the waves of the sea." Having observed that the man by whom this lesson is practised judiciously, divides his time, I now proceed to notice,

2. He steadily resists evil. Though he has tasted of divine grace, and felt of the powers of the world to come, still he resides in a world of sin and folly. He stands in the field of battle, and has continual war with an host of spiritual foes. But he derives great comfort eine the assurance that the Captain of his salvation is mighty to save, and will give him the necks of all his enemies! This he knows was the subject of his living wishes, ands formed part of the matter of his dying prayers. Simon, Simon," said he to one of his tempted followers, "behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift your as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." "I pray not," said he, when addressing the Father a little before his passion, "I pray not that thou

shouldesto take them out of the world, but that thou thou shouldest keep them from the evil." Thus confident of success the good man resists all the evil amidst which he is placed. Does he dwell among a people of unclean lips? He says “O my soul come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united." He sighs because of their abominations, and so far is he from joining with them to do evil, that on their account rivers of tears run down his eyes. Is his adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, going about seeking his destruction? He listens not to his suggestions, but resists him steadfast in the faith. From his constitutional habit, and the levity of some around him, does he feel the influence of a trifling spirit? This he concludes is decidedly wrong. He knows it would carry him away into folly. Time, in his estimation, is too precious to be thus trifled away. Eternity, and its important concerns, rest with peculiar weight on his mind. He feels the force of these words:

ban. No room for mirth nor trifling here, For worldly hope, or worldly fear,

If life so soon is gone."

I do not however mean that he is gloomy and morose, but calmly serious and sweetly serene.-Does he at seasons feel heaviness of mind, which, like a spirit of infirmity, bows him down? Whether this arises from the state of the atmosphere, the weakness of his body, the temptations of satan, or the trials of life, he does not indulge it, but steadily resists it. He breaks the bonds by which he has been held, and, rising above his former depressions, rejoices amidst the cheerless scenes of a blossomless fig-tree, and a fruitless vine-Do his thoughts start from their proper centre of rest, and wander after objects poor and profitless? Whenever this is the state of his experience

he mourns on the account, and weeps over these turnings aside, and prays,

"Let every murmuring thought and vain,
Expire in sweet confusion lost."

He strives to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ, and to meditate on him by day and night.-In a word, does he, as a fallen being, experience the evils of a nature hostile to purity, the remains of a mind, which, when in its full vigour, was enmity against God, and does he now frequently feel its unholy stirrings? This produces within him much pain and uneasiness. But he is determined not to give place to them, no not for a moment. He is encouraged with the recollection that his past sins are all forgiven him; and he knows the gracious means of entire purification, even the blood of Jesus Christ. He contemplates, with animated feelings, the great privilege of being saved fully by the washing of regeneration, and being entirely renewed by the power of the Holy Ghost. His prayer is,

"Finish, Lord, the new creation,
Pure and spotless let me be,

Bless me with thy great salvation.
Fully now restor❜d in thee.

Change from glory into glory,
Till in heaven I take my place,
Till I cast my crown before thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise."

The prospect of this stimulates him to resist evil, and induces him to "crucify the old man with his deeds." Hence we may notice another feature in his conduct:

3. He perseveringly seeks after good. It is the fer

vent desire of his soul that each day may contribute to his spiritual profit; and that as time bears him along, he may increase with all the increase of God. This the Divine Being has required at his hands, and he views it as an object of supreme importance. God is the end of his wishes, desires and conduct; for he knows that he is the parent of excellence, and the fountain of all goodness. To this store he always has access: for he sees God in all around him, feels him in his approaches to a throne of grace, and often calls upon all within him to shout his praise. The good he has already received from him is a preparation for receiving more, and resting on the promises of the sacred Book, he aims at doing his will on earth as angels do in heaven. Thus his mind becomes impressed with the necessity of being diligent, and with the propriety of letting no hour pass but in purchasing its worth. Hence, he is more frequent in the use of meansand more fervent when engaged in them. He

More frequently uses the means of grace. If, in the course of his arrangements for pursuing his worldly business, any additional opportunities offer themselves for religious exercises, he gladly embraces them, and occupies larger portions of time in the immediate worship of God. He is not only desirous that a given portion of his time should be devoted to religious pursuits, but, as far as practicable, hé wishes the whole to be thus employed. It is his wish to "spend, and be spent, in service so divine." As fresh opportunities serve, he is more frequently in his closet devotions, in his family exercises, in the social circle, and in the house of God. Not only so, but he is,

More fervent when in the means. He does not merely spend a specified portion of time in the worship of God, as if his devotions were measured by the movements of his watch, but, in all these exercises, he endeavours to be increasingly animated and fervent. He is desirous that in

III. THE BENEFITS WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM THIS MODE OF PROCEEDING.

Such a character enjoys,

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1. The cheering testimony of a good conscience. When indifferent to this important lesson, and unacquainted with its sacred contents, he was a stranger to this divine testimony; and, no wonder, because then he was an enemy to God by sin and wicked works. His conscience, if beard, and felt at all, only uttered upbraidings, and produced uneasy sensations. When first his attention was earnestly turned towards this lesson, these upbraidings were more clamourous, and the uneasy sensations of his mind were fearfully increased. Soon he learned that his sins were numerous, his danger great, his responsibility important, and his time short. On account of these things he heaved many sighs and shed many tears. By faith he repaired to Calvary, and waited at the foot of the cross till God blotted out his sins as a cloud, and his transgressions as a thick cloud. Then it was he experienced, There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus; for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes them free from the law of sin and death." And having, from that period, attended to the lesson contained in our text, he has enjoyed an assurance of the Divine favour, and walked in the light of his reconciled countenance. Daily he searches his heart by the candle of the Holy Ghost, and, after the most scrutinizing enquiry, has the happiness to learn that his motives are pure, and his walk consistent. Comparing his conduct with the demands of revelation, and by faith, connecting that conduct with the merits of the atonement, he perceives that he is walking before God to all well pleasing. This affords him real and abiding comfort. His joy is solid. It arises from the witness of the spirit, and the testimony of an approving conscience. He knows that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly