ber. To them death is no surprise. But with the unprepared it is otherwise: all with them is confusion and distress. In the time of their health and strength, they had never communed with their own hearts. If they had, a guilty retrospect might not now have alarmed them but they had run their course-their day was over- the door was shut-vain was their cry, Lord, Lord, open to us. A voice answered, “I know ye not depart from me all ye workers of wickedness." And yet, you see, these were not among the most heinous workers of wickedness. They had lighted their lamps with a full resolution to meet the bridegroom. Had they been desperate sinners they would wholly have kept back. But this was not the case. They did make a faint effort, but they had not resolution to pursue it. In short, these foolish virgins represent those chiefly who lead careless lives who wish, indeed, to go to heaven, but they wish to go thither along the high-way of the world and if that be not the safest road, it is at least the easiest, and the most pleasant. Thus, as both heaven and the world cannot equally be enjoyed, the future must give way to the present.

The

The great conclusion which our Saviour draws from the whole, should be an alarming lesson against sinners of all denominations:- Watch, therefore, for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh.

Since, therefore, my brethren, this is an hour which we must all, at one time, meet—since, with all our arts and deceits, we cannot escape it, let us prepare for it in time, when we may do it with ease, and comfort, and security. Let not a morning rise upon us without suggesting the awful question-Whether we are prepared to consider that day as our last? Let not an evening draw its shade around us without reminding us that the closing of our eyes this night may be the sleep of death. Thus let us commune with our own hearts. Of all the company we can keep, our own hearts are the most improving.The heart is one of those plain, sincere friends, which, unless it be deceived itself, will never deceive us. In communing with it, we find the truth. But the truth is not always agreeable. We go rather to the world for company. Here we pass the idle hour, the careless day, the joyous evening. We deal time away as if it were

of

of no value, and get nothing in return except dissipated habits. But in communing with our own hearts, we learn true wisdom-we become wise for ourselves, and wise for eternity. God grant we may all so commune with them that those hearts, so apt to wander among the sundry and manifold things of this world, may surely there at length be fixed, whose true joys are to be found through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON

SERMON VIII.

LUKE, xxi. 3, 4.

OF A TRUTH I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY ALL: FOR ALL THESE HAVE OF THEIR ABUNDANCE CAST IN UNTO THE OFFERINGS OF GOD, BUT SHE OF HER PENURY HATH CAST IN ALL THE LIVING THAT SHE HAD.

As our blessed Saviour was passing with his disciples through one of the courts of the Temple, he observed the people throwing their offerings into the treasury. The treasury here meant was a chest with an opening at the top to collect the alms of the people, which were intended to furnish necessaries for the Temple-service; the overplus was given to the poor. Into this chest many who were rich threw plentifully. But among them came a poor widow, we read, who

threw

threw in what she had, not more in value than a farthing. Jesus, turning to his disciples, said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

From these words I shall examine, first, what gave so singular a value to the slender offering of this poor woman; and shall, secondly, apply her case to ourselves.

In the first place, what gave value to her offering was, her giving all she could. But here is a little difficulty. It is said she gave all her living. Now, if she had literally done that, it is plain she would have made herself a greater object than those she wished to relieve, which there is no reason to suppose. Besides, the sum was so small that she could not possibly have lived upon it if she had kept it all to herself. For though the sum mentioned would have purchased considerably more at that time than the same sum would purchase now, yet it is mentioned as a very small sum, and undoubtedly was not proportioned to a livelihood. It will