salvation, those which have only had for principle, ambition, pride, envy, and self-interest; and that he should reckon your vices amongst your virtues.
And what will you be able to say to him on the bed of death, when he shall enter into judgment with you, and demand an account of the time which he had only granted you to be employed in glorifying and serving him? Will you say to him, Lord, I have gained many victories; I have usefully and gloriously served my prince and country; I have established to myself a great name amongst men? Alas! you have never been able to gain a victory over yourself; you have usefully served the kings of the earth, and you have neglected, with contempt, the service of the King of kings. You have established to yourself a great name amongst men, and your name is not known amongst the chosen of God: — time lost for eternity. Will you say to him, I have conducted the most difficult negotiations; I have concluded the most important treaties; I have managed the interests and fortunes of princes; I have been in the secrets and councils of kings? Alas! you have concluded treaties and alliances with men, and you have a thousand times violated the holy covenant you have entered into with God; you have managed the interests of princes, and you have never known how to manage the interests of your salvation; you have entered into the secrets of kings, and you have ever been ignorant of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven: — time lost for eternity. Will you say to him, my whole life has been only an incessant toil and a painful and continued occupation? Alas! you have always toiled, and you have never been able to do any thing to save your soul: — time lost for eternity. Will you say to him, I have established my children in the world; I have exalted my relations; I have been useful to my friends; I have augmented the patrimony of my ancestors? Alas! you have bequeathed great establishments to your children, and you have not left them the fear of the Lord, by bringing them up and establishing them in faith and piety: you have augmented the patrimony of your ancestors, and you have dissipated the gifts of grace and the patrimony of Jesus Christ; — time lost for eternity. Will you say to him, I have made the most profound studies; I have enriched the public with useful and curious works; I have perfected the sciences by new discoveries; I improved my great talents, and rendered them useful to mankind? Alas! the great talent confided to you was that of faith and grace, of which you have made no use: you have rendered yourself learned in the sciences of men, and you have always been ignorant in the science of the holy: — time lost for eternity. In a word, will you tell him, I have passed my life in fulfilling the duties and good offices of my station; I have gained friends; I have rendered myself useful and agreeable to my masters? Alas! you have had friends to boast of on the earth, and you have acquired none to yourself in heaven; you have made every exertion to please men, and you have done nothing to please the Almighty: — time lost for eternity.
No, my brethren, what a frightful void the greatest part of men,
