Thus we read

companies the preaching of the word, the effect of which may be entirely lost. that when Herod heard John, he did many things, and heard him gladly. But he cherished a criminal passion, which destroyed all these fair beginnings. Felix heard Paul. It was his own desire. He wished to be gratified by a relation of the peculiarities of a sect every where spoken against. But Paul instead of indulging his curiosity, addressed his conscience. He reasoned

of righteousness, temperance and judgement to come. And Felix trembled. The judge on the bench trembled before the prisoner at the bar. It was not the apostle's eloquence alone that produced this effect.-But instead of aiding this impression, he dismisses the preacher, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. But this season never arrived. He afterward saw the apostle, and conversed with him often, but he never experienced again the feelings he had subdued.

Let the hearers of the gospel remember this. Beware how you stifle your convictions, and do despite unto the spirit of grace. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. He has said my spirit shall not always strive with man. Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation,

DISCOURSE XXI.

THE ASCENSION OF ELIJAH.

And it came to pass as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.-2 Kings, ii. 11.

By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death hath passed upon all men, because all have sinned.

Death is called the the grave the house

way of all the earth: and appointed for all living. No distinction of age, of rank, of character, has secured the posseesor from the stroke of mortality. The young as well as the old, the rich as well as the poor, the honourable as well as the obscure, the learned as well as the illiterate, have successively gone down to the dust, and seen corruption. Yea, the righteous themselves die. Though infinitely

dear to God, and distinguished by inestimable privileges, even they are not exempted from the afflictions of life, or the necessity of dissolution.

This invariable law of mortality, has, however been dispensed with in two cases. Enoch lived before the flood. By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Two thousand one hundred and twenty-one years after, we behold in like manner, Elijah the Tishbite received up into glory. And it came to pass as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Observe First, how he was employed at the time of his removal: they were going on and talking. Without this information, many would have concluded, that after he had received the intimation of his speedy departure, he was engaged alone in meditation and prayer. But it is a mistaken sentiment, that a preparation for heaven is to be carried on only by abstractior, contemplation, devotion. No inconsiderable part of it consists in diligence in our stations,

and endeavours to be useful to our fellow creatures to the last. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. It is observable that our Saviour ascended while he was addressing his disciples. And he led them

out as far as Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And

A little of the conversation is recorded. it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what shall I do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. A veil is thrown over the remainder of this interesting discourse. Perhaps it turned upon the heavenly world; perhaps it respected the state of the church he was going to leave; perhaps it furnished instruction and consolation to his successor in office. However this may be, the conversation was doubtless such as became the solemnity of the occasion. For what could be more awful, and impressive? He knew that he was standing on the verge of eternity, and expected every moment the signal