to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. To neglect the Cross is to neglect all; it is to go to the feaft without the wedding garment; it is to go forth to meet the bridegroom without light, and without oil in our veffels.

We may substitute fomething else for the Crofs; fuch as morality, philofophy, or even works of painful penance. It will be all vain; as long as we continue unwashed, unjustified, unfanctified, we are unfafe-in momentary danger of hell fire. There is no neutrality in this war. In revolutions of States and Empires, thofe who do not take up arms against the foe are deemed as enemies; it is fo here. "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." This is the conclufion of the whole matter. When Chrift comes to judge the world, all who will not now take up the Crofs will be regarded as enemies; instead of the Crown they will have the curfe; instead of Heaven, everlasting fire with the Devil and his angels.

many

Hence it is that fo "draw back to perdition." Ignorant of the great principles of religion, of its power to fave, they wear it as a cloak to hide the deformity within; fo inadequate are their conceptions of its excellency, that they will not facrifice a fingle luft, a momentary gratification, one darling idol, to enfure the "eternal weight of glory" which it promises.

"No Crofs, no Crown!" Some of the early difciples of the great Meffiah, when the spiritual

nature of Christianity was presented to them, were "offended." Their carnal ftomachs loathed "the bread which came down from heaven." Companions of the world, they rejected the "fellowship with the Father, and with the Son, Jefus Chrift;" the Crofs difpleafed them, and with their own hands they inscribed their names with those "who, having put their hand to the plough, looked back, and so became unfit for the kingdom of God.”

No Crofs, no Crown;" See! that young man running toward the great Teacher; what can he want with him? He is a noble man, a ruler of the Jews. Strange fight, indeed, to fee! A ruler of the Jews running after the defpised Galilean. What is his bufinefs? He inquires about the way to heaven; he seems a good deal in earnest; he runs, and kneels at the Saviour's feet; liften to him. O, fays he, "what fhall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" "Take up the Crofs, and thou fhalt have treafure in heaven," said the Saviour, as he looked kindly upon him. The The young man looks "fad," he is "fad," and 'tis a "fad" fight to fee. He wants the "treasure in heaven. But he wont take up the Cross, and they go together; God has joined them, and what God has joined no man can put asunder. He looks at the Saviour again inquiringly, as much as to fay, "Is there no other way?" ?" The Saviour understands him; he points him to the Crofs again, faying, "Except a man deny himself, and take up his Crofs, he

cannot be my disciple." Fearful crifis, what will he do? The Saviour is looking at himthe difciples-the multitude ftanding aroundGod-the holy angels-glorified fpirits-all are looking-yea, hell is looking on this spectacle. What is the iffue? O, dreadful infatuation; "heaven that hour let fall a tear." He who knew the commandments by heart, and who had kept them from his youth up—he turns his back on Chrift and heaven, and goes away "forrowful," to be yet more "forrowful" long as eternal ages roll.

Have the Cross and have the Crown. Look again at that young man walking boldly up to the Crofs; he lays hold of it exclaiming, "when I am weak then am I ftrong; I can do all things through Chrift ftrengthening me." He finds it

eafy" and "light," pleasant and delightful; he bears it faithfully in palaces and in prisons-in the wilderness and in the city—on the sea and on the land-among Jew and Greek-Barbarian and Scythian-Bond and Free-every where exclaiming as he goes, "God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the Cross of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift," and having carried it the appointed time lays it at the Saviour's feet, finging triumphantly:

"I have fought a good fight;

I have finished my courfe;
I have kept the faith :.

Henceforth there is laid up

For me-A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

"They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their diftreffes."-Ps. cvii. 28. "Then the waters had overwhelmed us."-Ps. cxxiv. 4.

Loud yell the winds efcaped from caves beneath,
And fummon Ocean to the Feaft of Death;

Ocean obeys, high lifts his hoary head,

With fearful roar, impatient to be fed ;

With maddened rage his mountain billows rise,
And shake the earth, and threaten e'en the fkies.
See the poor bark engulphed—with precious freight—
Who, who can save her from impending fate ?
Old Ocean strikes her with tremendous shock,
And, oh! she's stranded on a funken rock;
Horror and grief now feize the hapless crew,
To hope and life they bid a last adieu :
Thousands on shore behold their awful plight,
But cannot fave them; 't is a piteous fight.

At this dread crifis, on the mountain wave
Is feen the "Life-boat," with intent to fave;
Onward she dashes o'er that sea of strife;
Buoyant and hopeful, 't is a thing of life,
She makes the wreck, and from its drifting spars,
She takes on board the drifting mariners;
Trip after trip the makes-with mercy fraught—
Till they are fafely carried into port.

HERE is portrayed the life-boat haftening to the rescue; the winds, escaped from their prisonhouse, iffue forth roaring indignantly at having been confined fo long. Ocean is summoned to the feast of Death; Neptune obeys the fummons -instantly he is all commotion, ftirred up from his lowest depths, impatient to fatiate his devouring appetite; he dashes his billows against the earth-he affails the very heavens. Behold the frail fhip exposed to all the fury of his rage; fhe is laden with precious treasure. Her ruin appears inevitable. Loud roars Neptune; loud roar the winds; loud too, fnap and crack the cordage and the fails; high rises the mountain furf. The bark "mounts up to the heaven," deep yawns the gulph beneath; fhe goes down again into the