has been slighted, the last advice scorned; I decided for God, immersed in worldly

Life closes, and the doom is sealed.

ease.

cares, and their consciences hardening from their very contact with truth, oh! then there is a swelling in the Jordan! The river is wide, and deep; and unless "underneath are the everlasting arms," oh! how can she do in the swelling thereof?

But suffer me to unburden my mind of one or two other thoughts, which give emphasis to the inquiry of my text. The inquiry relates not to the crossing of the river, but to the crossing it at the time it was "swollen." My brethren, it some- But again, and finally, under this times happens, that death is a wide stream. division of our subject-the swelling of When the Jordan was swollen, the val- Jordan is sometimes sudden. It might lies adjacent were covered with its waters; overflow its banks at other times, besides so that the river became in such parts a those of barley harvest. And the more mile broad. And sometimes death is unexpected aud sudden the swell, the protracted. Not a few cross the Jordan greater the desolation and terror it ocat the time of the swell. Where there is casioned. There was was no time to no preparation for death, lingering disease remove cattle, or implements of husmay be a great mercy; but this will de-bandry, or household furniture. And, pend much upon the nature of that dis- my brethren, death often comes at an More sudden deaths are some-hour when we think not. There are two times preceded by calmer moments. mourning families here to-night. Our More lingering deaths may be so painful, friend, Mrs. Moreland, had long been so stupifying, that so far as the final indisposed, and for some time her reco'account is concerned, nothing is done very was doubtful. She doubted it herself. after the first dreadful seizure. Oh! But on the same day there died one of what madness, though the choice were your number, Mr. Simpson, who had only allowed, to leave the great subject of been ill a week, and who was expecting, reconciliation with God to such trying and almost to the last moment, speedily to be distracting moments, as those which so restored to the house of God; who laoften precede our dissolution! But I was mented that he had never joined your thinking of lingering disease, as endured Christian society, and said, "As soon by one of the Lord's people; of "the king as I am better, I shall offer myself to the of terrors approaching with slow and Church; that shall be the first thing." measured steps; of death, long and But the water in the chest overpowered him clearly seen, advancing towards the couch without warning. He was borne away by an of the sufferer like the lion for his prey. unexpected "swelling of the Jordan." Ah! my brethren, protracted illness, O thou, his mourning widow-andye,.his connected with debility and pain, and its fatherless children! see the danger of inevitable termination-death, requires delay. Be it your concern to give yoursomething beyond the cup of earthly con-selves up first and at once to the Lord, solation. When the husband steadily and then to His Church according to His contemplates a widow, surrounded by will. Nor let any wait for "the barley dependent children soon to be called harvest" ere they prepare for " the swell'fatherless,' or when the wife and the ing of Jordan." A voice from the tomb mother is kept day by day pondering over cries-" Be ye ready, for in such an hour the circumstances and characters of "a as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." house not so with God," soon to have its Do I not address some, who are delaying mistress and its guide taken from its head; these concerns with the hope and expectawhen she knows that she leaves them un- tion of lengthened life? Until now, my

dear hearer, your heart is unsurrendered | PARATION, which these solemnities deto the Saviour. You have not embraced mand. "How wilt thou do?"

Him as your salvation. The shed blood is not yet sprinkled; but it is only the blood sprinkled the blood applied, that can speak peace. There is a robe of righteousness, seamless and spotless; but it will not cover your nakedness nor hide your shame, unless it is "put on." You are not "found in Him." You mean to be in earnest-but when? You mean to take Christ as "made of God unto you wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”—but when? In advanced age? In sickness? Before you die? But oh! "how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan ?" What, should there only be "a step between thee and death?" "Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee."

This is the practical part of our subject. Let it have your revived attention. Since the event is inevitable, does it not deserve your consideration? Surely, if a preparation may be made for such solemnities, it becomes us to inquire in what it consists and how it may be obtained.

Brethren, the very inquiry will furnish us with the first topic.

1. We say then, the solemnities of death demand consideration.

"Oh, that they were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end!" You are called upon to-night to put the inquiry to your own heart,' How shall I do when I come to die ?' To institute such an inquiry, will be your wisdom. To neglect it, your folly. Would you engage in a warfare without considering the cost? Would you go a voyage without considering your equip

I'well remember hearing, from my esteemed pastor, now the Minister of Surrey Chapel, of the death of a good man on the Bath road, near Reading, the circum-ment? Yet how commonly do men avoid stances of which much impressed my own rather than invite the consideration of mind with the importance of preparation death; as if it were the less certain or the or death. The coach was overladen with less near, because they shut their eyes at luggage, and in consequence of this cir- its approach! Consideration is the first cumstance, together with the power of the step heavenward. The prodigal never wind on an exposed part of the road, was goes to his Father, until he "comes to himupset. The good man to whom I refer, self!" All cannot be right when we dare was crushed beneath the luggage; his not think about death for death transbody was dreadfully bruised and mutilated lates the saint to his "Father's house." and several bones were broken; still, life Oh! if the preacher could only induce you was not extinct; he survived a short to think, he would have hope. Sirs, it is time-his senses were restored-and it God's complaint of man-" My people then appeared that he had left behind him will not consider!" I might say, there is a widow, and a family dependent upon no preparation for death without repenthim for their support. He was visited ance, without faith; but I choose first to by mypastor, and when made acquainted assert, there is no preparation for heaven with the fact that he was by his side, without thought. There is no repentance with his little remaining strength, he said-no faith without it. "I thought on my

do?" is the Bear it with Yea, let

"O sir! what should I do if I had not a ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testiGod to go to now?" My fellow-sinner, monies." place thyself in such circumstances and suffer the preacher to ask-"How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

"How wilt thou question. Do not evade it. thee to thy home, to thy closet. it haunt thee in all the transactions of the

II. But it is time to consider THE PRE- week, in health as well as in sickness

"If sin be pardon'd, I'm secure ;
Death hath no sting beside;
The law gave sin its damning power,

"How wilt thou do in the swelling of is sin." Yes, separation may be distressJordan?" Nothing is done till the questioning, the body may be racked with pain, is heard sounding in the innermost depths but these do not make the sting. No, of thy spirit. Nothing is done until the "the sting of death is sin." question is answered! Indeed, my dear hearer, I am longing to tell thee "the way of salvation," but thou wilt not regard me if thou dost not consider. Remember, that death closes thy probation; that after it is the judgment, that the soul is immortal, and that this vile body shall rise again. Think of the anguish of separation from all on earth. Remember how wide and sudden may be "the swelling of the Jordan." And then ask "How wilt thou do?" Art thou prepared to relinquish thy hold of earth-to enter eternity, to stand before God-to inherit eternal life? Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, “Consider your ways.”

But Christ my ransom died." There may be a moral character, devotional habits, yea, and much beside. But these alone will not "do in the swelling of Jordan." I am approaching God; am I like-minded with Him? for " can two walk together except they be agreed ?" What are my views of His laws, and do I love them? Of His Son? do I repose upon Him? Of His glory? do I seek it?

And here our subject would branch out into the two great essentials to this reconciliation. Pardon for sin; to be obtained "blood of the everlasting co

2. We remark, again, that the prepara-only by the tion which these solemnities demand is venant;" we can only be reconciled by Reconciliation with God. a Mediator, even Jesus: "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the And the regeneriches of His grace." ration of the nature-" Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again." How could we delight ourselves in the presence of God, if in our hearts we disJiked His essential purity?

"We pray you in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God." Yes, dear hearers, all you need is comprehended in this. It includes repentance for sin and faith in the dear Redeemer. Oh! why is it, that men dread death, when it is known that that river may be safely crossed, and that on the opposite banks lies the land of rest? Why do men shrink from God's presence? Oh! the whole secret may be disclosed by one verse, "The carnal mind is enmity against God." My brethren, many have not only been willing, but anxious to die. Some have even been "in a strait." Paul was. And why? Because he was reconciled to God, and because he knew he should "be with Christ," and that that was "far better." Oh! I would have you well consider this If I am reconciled to God, death is mine;

"The king of terrors then will be

A welcome messenger to me.

And nothing short of this can disarm that king of his terrors, that serpent of its sting. It is written, "The sting of death

You may

Yes, dear hearers, and if you rest short of this state, you are not prepared for "the swelling of Jordan." please yourself with your own righteousness, or confide in your own devout forms; you may "daub the wall with untempered mortar," but it will never withstand the descending storms, the swelling flood. If you stay short of a full Christ and a holy salvation, you stay short of the kingdom of heaven. My brethren, you can only cross the swelling Jordan in safety, as you tenant the ark, Christ. Trust in whatever else you may, you float in an ark of bulrushes, and Jordan's current will wash away your ark and your soul, down to the gulph of woe.

Brethren, do you ask me, How you shall Procrastination is not only "the thief of "do in the swelling of Jordan?" I point time," but the thief of souls. One of you to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ark, Satan's most successful devices is to delay. the only ark that can brave the flood. He filled the heart of Felix to say, "Go point you to the great Mediator, and tell thy wa for this time;" he asks no more, you that "by Him all that believe are only for this time. As if you would be justified." more disposed to pray to-morrow than you are to-day; as if repentance would be easier when the conscience has become hardened; as if sickness would be a better time to serve God than health; as if "running with footmen and weary," you might still hope to " contend with horses," or discomposed and terrified in a time of "peace," you would be calm and courageous "in the swelling of Jordan." Oh! my brethren

Still I cannot leave this part of the subject without remarking, that a believer should covet an actual as well as an habitual preparation for death. I mean, that he should seek a knowledge of his state and his safety, that believing he may "know that he believes," lest when the Jordan swells, even he should be surprised with any amazement. Oh! many of God's people die safely, who do not die happily; and many die happily, who do not die triumphantly. Yea, to their dishonour be it spoken, they are alarmed at "the swelling of the Jordan." We cannot think thereupon without ex-men."At what period but the present should claiming, "And if the righteous scarcely you think of preparing for an event, that be saved, where shall the ungodly and the may happen the next hour? I urge you sinner appear?"

"Be wise to-day; 'tis madness to defer."

Do you not see the hook, which the angler for souls has endeavoured to conceal with this bait? "In understanding be ye

to

"yield yourselves unto God" this night! this hour! this moment!

Christian hearer, do you ask me, "how thou shalt do in the swelling of What, if the Jordan should overflow beJordan?" See that you have nothing fore you have entered the ark? What, if else to do but to buffet the billows; you you should die before you are pardoned will find that enough. "Set your house and sanctified and saved? And why dein order." Oh! let not moments so lay? Will there be more probability of solemn, so precious, have to be disturbed thy acceptance with God next hour, than by the important, but unseasonable duty, there is this? Will Christ be more will-the making of a will. Your neglect dis-ing, heaven more blissful, hell less terrihonours your religion, and will embarass ble? And hast thou not sinned enough? and embitter your dying hour. Live for Oh! while thou tarriest, the angel of death, if you would die, not only with mercy would seize thy hand, and hasten safety, but with joy. Let a preparation thee away. Hark how he warns thee; for your dissolution be the great business" Escape for thy life, look not behind of your existence.

3. Finally, the preparation which such solemnities demand, should be entered upon immediately. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Do it well, and do it soon. Not one here will retire perhaps without some purpose for the future; but who will say, "From this time God shall be my guide?"

VOL. XIV.

thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."

You will expect of me some brief account of our departed sister. I am not partial to eulogies upon the dead; and from what I know of her, whose decease I have endeavoured to improve, I feel

G

assured that she would disapprove of them | the wise proved as nails and as goads." quite as much as myself; at the same Her pious grandfather conversed seriously time, so well was she known throughout with her at the close of this service, and our catholic Connexion, and so highly esteemed, I feel bound, for the gratification of many, to present some short sketch of her history and her decease.