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moved from the pains of hell-fire, who are rushing as fast as time and wickedness can hurry them to the sufferance of tormenting flames which shall never be quenched, and the stings of the worm that dieth not? Who can tell, O sinner, whether the tempest may not already have begun to gather, whether the billow may not already have received its commission, whether the rock may not already be prepared, which is to sink thee into remediless despair? Can imagination itself paint a situation more dreadful than thine, should this be the case? to be cut off even in the blossoms of thy sin, sent to render thy account, and no space afforded for repentance; not so much as a moment to cry for mercy. Yes, I can conceive one still more horrible vengeance may suffer thee to live, thou mayest be permitted to go on, and fill up the measure of thy iniquity, to sin away more precious time, more precious means of salvation, to walk in the imagination of thine heart, to harden thyself yet more and more against the motions of God's Spirit, to arm omnipotence with more vengeful fury against thee, and blow up the flames of thy torment to a seven-fold rage.

When I consider this, can I sit still and be silent? can I be at peace when I see you driving

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heedlessly to your ruin? No, let me now take to myself the trump of God, the word of this gospel, and sound an alarm in thine ears, lest I be prevented by the voice of the archangel rousing thee from thy prison, and hurrying thee to judg"What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, "call upon thy God: if so be that God will "think upon thee, that thou perish not: sinner, "awake, awake, awake, consider with whom thou "hast to do with him, who after he has killed, " can destroy both soul and body in hell. Who "ever hardened himself against God and pros"pered?" Canst thou pluck the Almighty from his throne? hast thou an arm like God? canst thou thunder with a voice like his? or hast thou deliberately taken up the horrid resolution of dwelling with "devouring fire," of fixing thy final residence in the midst of "everlasting "burnings?" O! yet bethink thyself before it be too late; while yet there is hope, while yet thou art recoverable: " Seek the Lord while "he may be found, call upon him while he is "near:" give thy soul no rest till thou findest it in God.

I am often witness to a scene which seldom fails to affect me in a very sensible manner; I mean the striking appearance of a stately vessel

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taking her departure, amidst the loud acclamations of the mariners on board, and of anxious relations and other spectators on shore; amidst the mutual expressions of affection, and prayers for health and prosperity. The pleasantness of such a scene to me is frequently overcast, from the melancholy reflection, that between some on board and on shore the separation may indeed be sudden and final. I tremble to think that the swift wings of the wind may be hurrying some one thoughtless, graceless, hardened creature to hopeless misery; to think how soon the cheerfulness of the jovial crew may be turned into heaviness, with some into the blackness of despair; to think how few are prepared for sudden death, and judgment, and eternity.

Suffer me then, my dear brethren, to charge, to exhort, to beseech you, as upon my bended knees to beseech you, by every dear, every tender name, by the infinite worth of your precious souls, by the ardent love I bear you, by the bowels and mercies of the compassionate Redeemer, before you venture to sea again, before you reimbark in your painful, your dangerous occupation, fly, fly to the mercy of God through Jesus Christ; fly to the wide extended friendly port of a Saviour's out-stretched arms; fly for

shelter to the covert of his blood and righteousness, lest the furious storm of divine wrath overtake you. Secure omnipotence for your safeguard; secure an interest in redeeming love, as your everlasting portion; secure the pardon and peace of God, the only balm for a wounded conscience; secure the blessed hope of glory and immortality, as an anchor for the soul, to establish you in safety and comfort amidst the wars of convulsed elements, and the agonies of approaching dissolution, and then go undismayed through winds and waves, through rocks and quicksands, for every element shall then become friendly, because God himself is your friend; then danger shall change its frightful aspect, distress shall smile, and death itself prove unspeakable gain.

Forgive my importunity, forgive my zeal; I cannot, must not think of parting with you, till I have gained my point; let me obtain some small reward of my labour; let me obtain your concurrence with my humble wishes and efforts to promote your spiritual interests; I ask no greater, no other recompence; let me be successful in bringing so much as one precious soul to God, and the fatigues of a whole life are more than repaid. Resolve at least to take these things under serious consideration; make a beginning,

and make it forthwith. Defer not, my brother, to cast thyself before God, to implore his mercy, his direction, his assistance. To the love of God I recommend you all, to the compassion and friendship of our heavenly advocate, and to the teaching and comfort of the Spirit of grace and truth. By his blessed influence may you be enabled to discern, having discerned to approve and choose, having chosen to pursue, and having pursued and persevered even unto the end, may you at length obtain the full reward of "wisdom's ways, which are pleasantness, and all whose paths are peace."

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