one more experiment upon you, or to view you as abandoned of God and left only to fill up the measure of your iniquity. While you remain stupid there is not a particle of evidence that you are not abandoned. And if you can continue thus through the present revival, the evidence will be great that this is your fearful condition. But if not abandoned already, there is every reason to think that this is your last trial. Sleep a little longer and your case will be unalterably fixed, and you must inevitably make your bed in hell.

I would next apply the subject to those who were unmoved in former revivals and remain unmoved in this. I have two things to say of your case. The first is, that you have had abundant outward means. The second is, that God is not obliged to send his Spirit when men reject his other calls. Should he close your probation to-day you could not complain. It is by no means certain therefore but that, months ago, he raised his hand to cut you down, and mercy pleaded you off for one final experiment. If so, and this fails, you will either be soon cut down or left to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath. For millions of worlds I would not be in your condition a single day. Where is your reason? Are you resolved to go out of the world sleeping? If so the pains of hell will awaken you to purpose.

I would next apply the subject to those who have lived along with an uncertain hope, without acknowledging Christ before the world, or taking a decided part for him, or bringing forth fruit. There

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is solemn reason to believe that all the calls of God and all the motions of his Spirit have received nothing from you but resistance. Dare any of you then conclude that this is not your last trial? Cast away that delusive hope, and lay yourselves down at the feet of Christ, and there die that you may be made alive.

I will next apply the subject to unfruitful professors. The Church is emphatically the vineyard of God, and you are pre-eminently barren trees in the vineyard. So many years has God come seeking fruit on you and found none. Justice long ago would have cut you down, but mercy pleaded you off for one more trial. There is reason to think that this is the last. And when all hope of your fruitfulness is gone, God may say, Cut them down, why cumber they my ground? This stroke will be more likely to fall on you than on those who are out of the Church. The husbandman, though he lets dry trees stand awhile in his common field, will not long suffer them in the midst of his vineyard.

I will lastly apply the subject to all who are out of Christ and have not passed their last trial. By this gracious visitation you are all brought to a solemn crisis. There is reason to think that some of you in this season will pass your final trial; and all who remain unfruitful after this, will stand a greater chance for perdition than they ever did before. Could one of you think it strange if this should prove the last trial with you? Have you not had and misimproved as many means as you have reason to think the generality of men do be

fore they are given over? If the trial has been upon you for some time, and you have remained stupid, the proof of your incorrigibleness may be the sooner obtained, and the trial may be now drawing to a close. I put this question to you in the name of God: Will you improve the present season and live, or will you run the dreadful hazard of throwing away the price now in your hands? Heaven and earth unite in crying to you, Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Not always will he be near; not always will he be to be found. When your doom is once sealed, then he will no longer be near. When you have shot the gulph, no hope will visit you more; no sabbath will dawn upon you there; no mercy-seat will send out its inviting voice; no season of prayer will ever return. How will you then look back upon these assemblies in the house of God? how to these gracious visitations of the Spirit, when your hands had almost hold of the threshold of heaven? How will it rend your hearts to hear him say, "Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh." But I have done. My heart is ready to break, but it is nothing to what you will feel. For God himself has said, "If thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it." We can now weep over you and almost die in your death; but then-you alone must bear it. Amen.

SERMON XI.

HARVEST PAST AND BALM OF GILEAD.

JER. VIII. 20-22.*

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt. I am black. Astonish ment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

The Jewish prophets, born and educated among an agricultural people, borrowed many of the most striking images which adorn their writings from scenes of husbandry, and not unfrequently from the season and employments of harvest. By the latter figure is sometimes meant the proper season for activity in divine things: thus: "He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." At other times is meant by it the end of the world, when the wheat shall be gathered into the garner and the tares burnt with unquenchable fire. In our text it

• Preached in a revival of religion.