ness. The blessings of the kingdom are conferred by God. He has exalted his Son Jesus to give repentance and forgiveness of sins: faith is his gift, and holiness is the work of his blessed Spirit. Should you, therefore, neglect to seek these blessings at the present time, may not the Almighty righteously deprive you of them for ever?

I am this evening particularly addressing youth; but I would not pass by those more advanced in life. If this subject applies peculiarly to youth, it undoubtedly falls with still more force upon age. My aged friend, have you been so unhappy as to neglect attention to the kingdom of God until now? God, in infinite mercy, has spared you, and is again this very night visiting you. The important concern of your immortal souls should have been your care twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty years ago! You have criminally neglected to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; but the doors are not yet barred against you. The God of mercy still invites; O may you make it your very next concern. The voice addresses you louder than ever-Seek first, as the principal concern of your remaining days, the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

2. Secondly, our Lord's direction to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, implies, that we should seek it at the commencement of the different periods of our lives.

And such, my dear friends, is the day on which I address you. The eternal God has preserved your lives through all the dangers of another year; and

are you not laid under a thousand fresh obligations to love and serve him? You now stand on the threshold of a new division of time; and will you enter it, without looking to God for the blessings of his kingdom and righteousness? O let this day be distinguished by the surrender of yourselves to God. May you this evening be persuaded to give him your hearts, and walk before him in righteousness and holiness all your remaining years; bearing continually in mind the solemn consideration—this year I may die; but is the year to be commenced with holy resolutions and conduct, seeking first the blessings of the kingdom of God? So likewise begin every month. Hu

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man age is in some countries estimated by months; and to this circumstance allusion is made in the book of Job: "The number of his months is with thee." And again, "The number of his months is cut off in part the midst." A month is no inconsiderable the duration of human life; and as one after another commences, and is in its turn "cut off," seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. In the same manner also let the week begin. The first day of the week, the christian sabbath, is a time especially set apart for seeking the Lord and the blessings of his salvation. Sanctify then the sabbath, “calling it a delight, holy of the Lord, and honourable; not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words. A well-spent sabbath is often followed by a prosperous week, for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich, both in a spiritual and temporal sense; and how can we expect his blessing,

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while we neglect to seek him on his own appointed day? Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England, made the following observation respecting himself: “I have found,” said he, “that a due observing of the Lord's day hath ever joined to it a blessing upon the rest of my time; and the week that hath been so began, hath been blessed and prosperous to me; and on the other side, when I have been negligent of the duties of the day, the rest of the week hath been unsuccessful and unhappy to my secular employments." To refer to one more period: my dear young friends, seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness first every day. Let David's determination be yours: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Such previous devotion will best fit you for the duties, events, and trials of the day. Such intercourse with God, will best prepare you for intercourse with man.

3. Once more. Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness; as the chief good, and in preference to every other object.

Many of the ancient heathen philosophers professed to be in search of an object, which they called the summum bonum, or chief good of man. Some of these philosophers placed it in the enjoyment of pleasure; others, in freedom from pain; and others in an indifference or apathy in regard to all the events of life, whether pleasant or painful. In short, they sought it. some in one thing and some in another; but none of them ever found it. And why not? Because they

looked for it where it could not be found. The desire of happiness is a principle inherent in the mind of men, and still they pursue it as the chief good; but, alas! do the generality of them obtain it? No; because, like the ancient philosophers, they seek it where it cannot be found. Do you think that riches, pleasures, or amusements, can confer the blessing? Surely not; for how many possess these, who are at the farthest distance from happiness! Is it to be obtained with dominion and power? Was Alexander happy, who wept because there was not another world for him to conquer? No, my young friends, a crown brings no happiness to its wearer, though gained without bloodshed, and not dishonourably placed on his brow. But none of these attractions can conduce in the smallest degree to real happiness. Where then is the treasure to be found? In the blessings of the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and in no other objects. Man was originally placed in the kingdom of God; but he lost his situation by sin. In consequence of transgression and revolt against his Maker, he forfeited his privileges, and fell under the dominion of Satan, the prince of the power of the air. In the nature of things it is now impossible that he should be happy, until he is delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. To share in the blessings and privileges of that kingdom, is the chief good of man. Will you not then seek them, in preference to all earthly good! As the heavens are higher than the earth, so far superior are the advantages and enjoyments of this

kingdom to every thing that can be put in competition with them. For what can be compared to the pardon of sin, peace with God, joy in the Holy Ghost, the eternal glory of the heavenly and unfading inheritance? May God, my dear young friends, awaken you from the insensibility of sin, and enable you to pursue with all diligence the kingdom of God and his righteousness; since in a participation of them consists your present and eternal welfare. May you be found hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and waiting for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning." Take the kingdom of God by violence; fight the good fight of faith; run the race that is set before you; and labour to enter into his rest.

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III. In the third place, we will briefly consider the blessings connected with that attention which our Lord enjoins.

And here are two motives to animate and encourage you; one of which is implied in our text, and the other is expressed. If you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, our Lord's language implies that you will obtain these prime objects of pursuit; for in addition to these, all other things shall be added to you; and this promise is positively expressed. They shall be given to you over and above the invaluable blessings of the kingdom.

1. First, then, if you seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, in the manner required by our Lord, you will obtain them.

We have the plainest declarations on this subject