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And seeing we have so many testimonies afforded by the Church of God in successive ages, and in our own time, for the confirmation of our faith, and "we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Amen.

SERMON VIII.

Preached at Calcutta, 2 August 1795.

ST. JAMES iv. 13, 14. "Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow : For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

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AN this passage of scripture ever be more fitly applied to a whole class of people than to ourselves, who have travelled to this country from our far distant home? The vanity reproved by the apostle, exists among us in a much stronger degree than is expressed in the text. It represents travellers from no great distance, and as taking thought only for a year; whereas the most of us who come hither, propose a residence for many years, form extensive plans, and indulge high expectations. Indeed, though the subject comes with peculiar force home to our bosoms, yet human life at large is, in every sphere, generally expended in laying out and fulfilling a

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variety of little plans, the issue of which is as uncertain as we are blind to futurity. Boast not thyself of to-morrow, saith Solomon, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. "Come now, consider, saith St. James, ye who are quite immersed in worldly schemes, and promise yourselves assuredly an opportunity "to accomplish them; upon what an uncertainty do you proceed on such a supposition. "Instead of being able to reckon on a year to

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come, ye know not even what shall be on "the morrow; and much less what the days " and months of a year may bring forth. For "what is your life, upon the continuance "of which all your wordly projects depend? "It is only as a vapour, which appeareth for a "little while, and then vanisheth away, and " is seen no more; how gay soever its form might be, and how wide soever it might "have extended itself."-Vide Doddrige.

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Now my brethren, to bring the subject closer to ourselves, let us enquire: Do not the greatest part of those persons who arrive in India, calculate on three things, with an ardor -which one would think was inspired by certaínty? But the objects they rely on, are as uncertain as the breath of life.

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They calculate on gaining Riches; on possessing Time; and on reaping Enjoyment. Few set foot in this country, without sanguine hopes of an independence. It cannot be necessary to add, for the information of those who have resided long here; how many are much dis appointed; how few succeed at all. golden prospect vanisheth like the “baseless fabrick of a vision." Many are the unforeseen misfortunes and troubles, which involve, in inextricable difficulties, the most industrious and wary. These sad reverses so frequently happen, that one would think the confidence need well be abated of those who, on the full career, still seem to suppose that by their own power they can get wealth, and ensure prosperity by their own efforts. But vain the most promising situations; vain the most flattering connections; vain the most ardent exertions. Riches are the gift of God, as much as our health, or the breath of life; and with equal ease he can deprive us of either of them. However unwilling the men of this world may be to allow it, certain it is that they walk in a vain show, and disquiet themselves in vain ; and " heap up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them."

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The next presumption to be reproved is, they calculate on possessing Time. One says, in five years I shall make my fortune; another supposes in seven; and another, that ten years will complete his views. If St. James condemns those who calculate on one year, how censurable must those be who extend their plans, and act upon them, without adverting to a Divine Providence, for ten or a dozen years to come. Unmindful of their mortality, and confident that they shall succeed, within the term they have fixed upon for the attainment of a competence, they give themselves up to the completion of their schemes; they have no room for another idea. Business is their God. Their sabbaths, their bibles, and their souls, have not an hour consecrated to their use. They have an object; time is necessary to its accomplishment, and they will not give an hour to any other concern. One would imagine they had made an agreement with death, that he should not approach them for a limited period: They act with the confidence of immortals, and in ridicule of all recolleetions of their soon being humbled in the dust of death; and are displeased should any hint at such a truth: they are determined to live and thrive, and not to suffer melancholy

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