minds against the Gospel of life. What is the reason that preaching the Gospel is so much opposed, and that storms of persecution are raised against it? Satan is afraid of losing his prey. He knows that "the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation;" he would, therefore, keep men from hearing it, lest any should be "turned from darkness to light, and from the power of the devil to God." Learn, then, the worth of your souls from the strife there is between heaven and hell to obtain them; and say, whether you would wish to gladden angels or gratify devils.

5. Above all, consider the immense value of the soul, in that vast eternity of bliss or woe that awaits it. We are but in an embroyo state at present, like a bird in the egg, or an infant in the womb. We shall soon die into eternity. We shall soon begin a state of being that will never end. The present life is merely the seed-time of eternity, and "what a man soweth that shall he also reap: he that soweth iniquity, shall reap vanity"—he shall meet with nothing but disappointment. "He that soweth to the flesh shall reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting." Gal. vi. 8. Considering the endless duration of a soul, the happiness or misery of one saved or damned sinner, will be far greater than the temporal happiness or misery of all the inhabitants of England for a hundred years. Eternity stamps infinite value on the soul; and this is the reason of the comparison made in our text between one single soul and the whole world, and of the question proposed in it, "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" The expression seems to allude to the custom of those countries which do not use money in their traffic, but exchange one article for another: now what can be exchanged for the soul? Can any thing be offered of equal value? Certainly not; for every thing in this world is temporal; but the soul of man is eternal. How dreadful, then, its loss! And this leads us to show,

II. That a man may lose his soul, and that he is in danger of so doing.

The soul of man cannot be lost by ceasing to be: for being immortal in its nature, that is impossible. And, oh, how gladly would a damned soul cease to be, if it were possible! But for a soul to be lost, is for it to be lost as to that happiness, here and hereafter, which is suited to its nature. It is to lose all the present pleasures of religion, "the consolation that is in Christ"-"the comfort of love"-" the peace that passeth all understanding," and "the joy of the Holy Ghost, which is unspeakable, and full of glory." Whatever Satan and wicked men affirm, we know assuredly that the truly religious man is the only happy man; and, therefore, he who lives without religion, lives without the true happiness of life: and though he may pretend to defy the danger that awaits him, yet conscience will sometimes speak, and in the midst of his sinful mirth will whisper in his ear-" What will all this profit if thy soul be lost at last ?"

But, oh, who can tell the fearful import of that word lost, as it respects the future and eternal world! I remember a few years ago that a boy, who was sent upon some errand on a cold winter's evening, was overtaken with a dreadful storm, when the snow fell so thick, and drifted in such a manner, that he missed his way; and continuing several hours in that condition, was ready to perish. About midnight, a gentleman in the neighbourhood thought he heard a sound, but could not distinguish what it was, till, opening his window, he heard a human voice, at a great distance, pronouncing in a piteous tone-Lost! lost! lost! The poor boy, in some hope of help, kept crying out at intervals, Lost! lost! lost! Humanity led the gentleman to send persons diligently to seek for the lad, who was at length found and preserved. Happy for him that he perceived his danger, that he cried for help, and that his cry was heard! So will it be happy for us, if, sensible of the value of our souls, and their danger of perishing in hell,

we now cry for mercy and help to that dear and gracious "Friend of sinners," that great and generous Deliverer, "who came to seek and to save that which was lost." But if this be neglected, the soul will be lost indeed-lost without remedy, lost for ever. He who is now a Saviour, and will shortly be a Judge, has marked out the characters of the wicked, and has said -"These shall go into everlasting punishment." Awful words!-Everlasting punishment! He will say to them, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." In the fearful expectation of this, a gentleman some years since, who had been a member of parliament, and was esteemed an orator; but who had neglected his soul and religion, kept crying out on his dying bed, "Lost! lost! my soul is lost for ever!"

Now, would we escape this dreadful end? Let us, then, seriously consider the danger of losing our souls. That there is danger of doing so, the word of God abundantly declares. Remember what Christ himself said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat." Is there not danger then? Mark again what is said by the Psalmist, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." The word of God describes the very people. See a list of them in 1 Cor. vi. 9, and mark, whether any of you are there described. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? be not deceived: neither fornicators nor adulterers-nor effeminate," that is, persons of lascivious tempers and practices, however private and alone-" nor Sodomites-nor thieves-nor covetous-nor drunkards-nor revilers—nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Look over this black catalogue again, and if you find your name there own it. Blush, and tremble to think what it must be to be shut out from the kingdom of God, and so lose your own soul; and then say, is it worth while

to lose your own soul for any of these sinful pleasures and practices? Will you, with your eyes open, exchange your soul for any of these things?

I find again, that all impenitent persons-all unconverted persons-all unregenerate persons, and all neglecters of the Gospel, will lose their own souls; and, that you may be sure of this, I will mention the chapter and verse where it is so declared. All impenitent people, Luke xiii. 3. "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish."-All unconverted people, Matt. xviii. 3. "Verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.-All unregenerate people, John iii. 3. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." To these characters we add— All neglecters of the Gospel, Heb. ii. 3. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" How can we in our consciences expect to avoid condemnation for our sins, if through carelessness and unbelief we despise and reject, or disregard, and do not embrace the Gospel which brings salvation to lost sinners? And again, 2 Cor. iv. 3. "If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." The Gospel is a glorious light and leads sinners to salvation; but if it be hid, if it be covered and concealed from the minds of them that hear it, so that they cannot understand or receive it, because of the veil of ignorance and blindness that remains on their hearts, it is a proof of their being yet in the lost and ruined state into which they were plunged by the fall; and if they die in that state, they will be lost for ever. The apostle adds- -"The god of this world," that is, the devil, whom the heathens worship, and carnal men obey, he "hath blinded the eyes of unbelievers, lest the light of the glorious gospel should enlighten them." If people who have the Gospel are lost, it is not the fault of the Gospel, but it is owing to men's wilful blindness, and the advantage the devil takes of it to keep them in the way to hell. Mr. Flavel illustrates this by the following comparison: "Let us

suppose a number of blind men on an island where there are many smooth paths, all leading to the top of a steep cliff, and these blind men going on continually in one or other of these paths which lead to the brink of ruin which they see not, it must needs follow, if they all move forward, the whole number will in a short time perish, the island be cleared, and its inhabitants lost in the bottom of the sea. This is the case of carnal men; they are now on this habitable globe, surrounded by the vast ocean of eternity: there are many paths leading to eternal misery, and every man turns to his own way; one to the way of drunkenness, another to the way of swearing, another to the way of lewdness, another to pride, another to covetousness, and so on. Forward they go, not once making a stand or thinking to what end it will bring them; till, at death, over they go, and we hear no more of them in this world. Thus one generation of sinners follows another; and they who come after, applaud the miserable wretches that went before them. So hell fills; and the world empties its inhabitants daily into it."

Thus it is plain that the soul may be lost, and that there is great danger of it. Why else did the Son of God come down from heaven? Why else has he sent his Gospel to us? Why else do the ministers of Christ cry aloud and spare not? Why else do they warn every man, and teach every man, but that they may convince sinners of their danger, and prevent them from losing their own souls? We now proceed to show, that,

III. The whole world can make no amends for the loss of a soul.

"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" It is not here supposed that it is in the power of any man to conquer or possess the whole world. No man ever yet saw all the world, and life would be too short for that purpose; much less is it possible for any one to possess the whole, or enjoy it; but it is to gain all the riches, honours, delights, and pleasures, that a man can pos