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Religion has one undeniable advantage to recommend it — whatever it calls us to sacrifice or to suffer, it always ends well. On the other hand, sin has one undeniable evil to excite our aversion and horror — whatever sensual pleasures and imaginary profit attend its course, it always ends awfully.

I. THE SUBJECT OF THESE REGRETS. It is a man who has disregarded through life the means employed to preserve or reclaim him. Man's instructors and reprovers may be ranked in six classes.

1. Your connections in life. Father, mother, friend, etc.

2. The Scriptures.

3. Ministers.

4. Conscience.

5. Irrational creatures.

6. The dispensations of Providence.

II. THE PERIOD OF THESE REGRETS. It is a dying hour.

1. Such a period is unavoidable.

2. It cannot be far off.

3. It may be very near.

4. It is sometimes prematurely brought on by sin. Such a period, if it be not prematurely produced by irreligion, is always embittered by it.

III. THE NATURE OF THESE REGRETS. This mourning has two attributes to distinguish it.

1. It is dreadful. A dying hour has been called an honest hour.

2. It is useless. To the individuals themselves, whatever it may be to others.Lessons:

1. How good is God!

2. How fallen is man!

3. How important is serious thought!

(William Jay.)

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KJV: And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

WEB: You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,