Second Day. Of the only way to heaven

I. " Strive to enter in at the strait gate.'' Matt. vii. 13. The kingdom of heaven is not to be entered but by violence,; i must be taken, as it were, by assault, like a besieged place. The gate is strait and narrow, we must bow, we must bend, we must make ourselves little to gain admittance. The great gate, which opens wide and is passed by multitudes, leads to perditiop All broad and smooth ways a. dangerous. Woe to us when the world favours us, and our life seems void of trouble. Crossesi and difficulties are the surest marks of the way to heaven. Let us be aware, therefore, of going on with the multitude, and let us seek the traces of the few; let us follow the footsteps of the saints along the craggy paths of repentance; climbing over the rocks, seekiug secure places in the sweat of our face, and expecting that the last step of our lives should still be a violent struggle to enter the narrow gate of eteinity.

II. We are not predestinated by God, but to be made conformable to the image of his Son; to be fastened, as he was to a cross: renouncing, as he did; all set' = treasures; and

be coTitentj like himj in the idst of sufferings. But, blind

;we are, we would get down

'om this cross, w hich unites us j our Master. We cannot leave "le cross, but we must also forake Christ crucified; for the cross and he are inseparable. Let us then live and die with him, who came to shew us the true way to heaven; and let our only fear be, lest we should not finish our sacrifice on the same altar, whereon his was consummated. Alas! ail our endeavours here, tend to be more at ease, and thereby to withdraw ourselves from the true way to heaven. We know not what we do. We do not comprehend the mystery of grace, which joins a beatitude with tears, pronouncing the mourners happy. The way which leads to a throne is delightful, although it should be rns. The way wliicli leads to a precipice is dreadful although it should he covered with roses. We suffer, but we see heaven open; we suffer, but w ith a willing mind; we love God, and are beloved of him.