Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/56

 his own soul, who endows his people with immortality and eternal life in heaven. This charge next to its general use, seems to be particularly intended for the first evangelical ministry immediately after the apostles' age, which has been the time according to church history, when their first love had much subsided, when the church was infested by false apostles, the Moelatianes and other teachers of heresy of which, however, we now know little more than barely their names; and it is well that we do, seeing that our lives is so short, our time so scant, disasters awaits us, a frail nature shrinks, no lease of time that we dan confer from one moment to another with any safety to ourselves, therefore, let us all set out afresli for heaven, to seek pardon for our daily sins: freely pardoned, for Jesus can make a dying bed feel as soft as a downy pillow, and while the believer can lean his head on the Redeemer's breast, and with joy say, I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have done the work thou gavest me to do, and now with glory in ray soul I breathe my life out sweetly here, and to end all my sorrows for an endless crown of righteousness which the believer shall wear through the countless ages, of eternity, singing hallelujah, redeeming love, amen. The sinner will not come and go with us, therefore, we must bid him good by, mid escape to the mountains looking to the great helm of righteousness.

In a single state of life, or a marriage state, let virtue be our principal aim and object. We will ever find virtue to be its own reward, in time and eternity, for we often deceive ourselves in the choosing of evil rather than good, therefore, let us always try to be on our guard, and God will enable us, so by grace, not to deviate from the true path that leads to life everlasting Dear Brethren abroad, in the Lord, notwithstanding we are separated by the rigid mountains, rivers, rivalets, and the deep streams, that all-searching eye, with the hand of Ins love, will cheer our fainting hearts and give us a full assurance of faith, that when we put our trust in him we have nothing to fear while facing cold wind, frost and snow, to call our fellow creatures to the gospel feast. Let us act as wise men, and preach the word in its purity, and prove a blessing to the cause of God in which we have entered both in heart and