ed with infallible accuracy in his book of judgment. In that day will many who now despise these warnings, cry aloud under the gathering terror of anticipated condemnation, and say, O that I had served God with the zeal, the wisdom, the management, the contrivance, the watchful diligence wherewith I served my worldly calling! O that I had planned and laboured for eternity, as I did for my country, my family, my reputation, my avarice, my ambition! O that I had been wise, that I had understood this, that I had considered my latter end! O that I had felt as it deserved, the simple but weighty question of Jesus Christ, "what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" I have been wise for the world, and I have had my reward. I have been a fool for eternity, and eternal ruin is my righteous sentence!

Do we then object to this diligence of wisdom in the things of this world? Do we condemn the man who has served his country or his family with judicious persevering zeal? No, by no means. When free from dishonesty or hypocrisy, or self dependence, when streaming from the fountain of Christian principle, such conduct is highly to be commended, "not slothful in business" is one feature of the Christian character as sketched by an apostolical pencil; but these things should be done, and the others not be left undone.

The children of this world are more consistent than the children of light; they are more uniformly influenced by what they profess to follow as their chief object: they keep it steadily in view; they rise early, late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness in pursuit of it: they plan and calculate: they anticipate every probable occurrence, provide against reverses and disappointments, eagerly seize upon favourable opportunities, and willingly adopt the most painful and self-denying remedies. Advancement in the world is their God, and Him only do they serve. Worshipping in the same idol's temple with the unjust Steward, they very naturally offer up the same sacrifices. Some of them will not indeed directly defraud their employers some of them profess to worship Jehovah while they are daily found within the courts of the house of Mammon, yet even these connive with secret satisfaction at the legalized impositions of their respective callings. The majority are less scrupulous worshippers of the god of this world, hearkening with attentive readiness to every call of temporal interest, and turning a deaf ear to the voice of inward principle; professedly from complaisance at the moment, but really with some ulterior view of gain, concealing their sentiments; and not only so, but frequently expressing the most disgraceful falsehoods, applauding what they se

cretly despise, and caressing what they cordially detest. With what pliancy of opinion, and artful affectation of dignified disinterestedness, does the statesman plan to get into office, or remain in office! With what paltry disingenuousness does the courtier plan to procure or retain the favour of his prince or patron! How does the lawyer plan to turn to account the mistakes as well as the litigating spirit of his neighbours, to take advantage of the omissions and the equivocal expressions of the legislature or the statute book! How does the physician plan to turn to his account the anxieties and whims and prejudices, as well as the complaints of his patients! How does the clergyman plan to gain the notice and approbation of those persons by whose interest or patronage he hopes to be advanced to temporal emolument! How does the dissenting minister plan to suit himself to the taste and temper of his congregation, that he may retain their good graces, and secure for himself a comfortable stipend! How does the merchant plan to obtain priority of information, and avail himself of it to turn to his private advantage the speculating spirit of his brethren upon Change! How does even philanthropy herself bow before the common idol, seeking to employ and educate the poor, that in the end their parochial charges may be diminished! and how does the

thankless indifference (sometimes even the wily suspicion) of the labouring classes, justify the severity of that celebrated definition which declares ingratitude to be" a keen insight into the motives of benevolence!" O, my dear brethren, who among the children of light ever planned for heaven, as these men plan for earth?

This supreme devotion to the Mammon of unrighteousness is not confined to the upper ranks of Society. The poor usually imagine that because they are not possessed of riches, they cannot be justly accused of avarice; that because they enter into no such plans as those just now mentioned, they ought not in fairness to be enumerated among the worshippers of money. But this is self-deception: the same spirit which keeps the complicated machinery of the monied world in motion, works also in them, though not under the same aspect.

They do not plan for riches, because they cannot plan much for any thing: calculation is out of their sphere; it requires too much thought for them. But their love of money, and the degree in which they are habitually influenced by their worldly interest cannot escape the notice of even a cursory observer. Behold the difference between that labourer's work yesterday and the day before! Yesterday he was engaged by the job, his wages varying in proportion to the quantity of his work; the

day before, he was engaged for the day at stated wages to be received in the evening: he did at least one third more work yesterday than the day before.

Observe the change in the conduct of that man and woman who had formerly a garden and cottage of their own, but who are now living as servants in a gentleman's family: formerly they were busy, now they are idle: formerly they cheerfully assisted one another in their work, now neither of them will put their hand to any thing that is not peculiarly in their own place; formerly they were careful of every article in use which might easily be injured or broken, now it is a matter of perfect indifference to them whether things are broken or not; formerly they were economical in the management of their food, their sleep, their clothing, their time, their fire, their candles; now they are careless, wasteful and extravagant. And why? Because their worldly interest is not now concerned, and therefore their worldly wisdom is not now called into exercise.

How humiliating when contrasted with all this, is the remissness, the inactivity, the want of lively interest and consequent want of prudent management betrayed by the children of light in reference to their christian experience