joy of this lower world. "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; joy unspeakable and full of glory." "Thou shalt make them to drink of the river of thy pleasures, for with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light.", Our work will be the most desirable;-reflecting upon the wonders of redeeming love, the mysteries of providence, the discoveries of grace, the experience of our past lives; and then we shall tune our harps to praise, make heaven echo with a new song,-a song always the same, yet always new; there we shall no more discourse about mean trifling subjects.

Our company will be the most agreeable;-we shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom; here the saints are scattered, there they will be together, a general assembly, all harmony and love. "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise," said our blessed Lord to one who died believing upon him; and a sight of Christ is a sight worth dying for.

Our pleasure will be everlasting. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively. hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." There is nothing in this inheritance tending towards corruption: it is a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

6. Christ delivers his saints from the fear of death, by dealing in such a manner with them as is most effectual to wean them from life. He embitters our comforts, or else takes them away. Not a day without some gall and bitterness. Sin burdens the whole creation; this leprosy defiles our houses; we breathe an infected air. There is continual combat here; "the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to another, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would:" but he that is dead ceaseth from sin. The christian life is a state of warfare; we work like the Jews under Nehemiah, fearful of surprise. de ojo hohe

He smites with his rod: so that if in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. We are tossed here amidst rocks and shelves, compassed about with dangers and temptations. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of his water-spouts.

Christ gives us an insight into the emptiness of every thing here below; nothing is satisfying, all is stained with sin; we find no rest; we are made to confess that here we have no continuing city, and so to seek one to come, one that hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God. Were not God thus to deal with us, we should be ready to say, "It is good for us to be here," and not, When shall we come to thee?

He shows the evils of life to take off a fear of death. We groan, being burdened with the cares of life, a body of sin and death.

Lastly. Christ frees his people from the fear of death, by giving them some sweet views of heaven. As the prophet Ezekiel was in his spirit at Jerusalem, when his body was among the captives by the river Chebar, so is the saint sometimes enabled to ascend on the wings of faith to the New Jerusalem. Every glimpse excites a wish. "We groan," says the apostle, "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Moses was taken up into the mount before he died, and had a sight of Canaan. The Psalmist's experience of the Lord being the portion of his cup, encouraged him to think that his flesh should rest in hope. Good Simeon saw Christ, and then his desire was to depart. Stephen had a vision of Christ before he went to be for ever with him; and John had a vision of the souls under the altar before he joined their number, or was himself employed in their glorious work. He gives the earnest of the inheritance, the first-fruits of the Spirit.

Let us endeavour to improve the lessons taught us by this subject:

1. By loving life less. We read of some who loved not their life unto the death; and Paul says, "But none of

these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." What, indeed, is there in this state of perpetual agitation and change which can invite our stay!

2. By familiarising death to our minds. Let us consider it as present, certain, and inevitable; as God's messenger and as ours." For all things are ours, whether life or death, things present, or things to come."

3. By living in the hope of the glory of God, as also by quietly submitting when God takes our comforts away. He that takes away the fear of death, does it by taking away its evils.

4. By walking as redeemed ones. "What manner of persons ought we to be in all manner of holy conversation!" Christ did not only redeem us that we might die well, but that we might live well, and "in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life." Thus it was, we trust, that this privilege was improved by our deceased brother; and we have the greatest reason to hope, both from his life and death, the one honourable, the other peaceful, that he is now with the angelic host, the spirits of just men made perfect, crying out, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Death is no dreadful sound

To souls who love their God;
With joy they leave this thorny ground,

And seek a new abode.

Behold the dawning day,

The saint extends his wings;

With rapid flight he soars away,

"Farewell, ye kindred worms,

That feed on dust below; Yonder I see celestial forms, And haste to join them too.

"Farewell, deceitful earth,

No longer boast thy charms; In Christ I view superior worth, And rush into his arms."

Let sinners void of grace,

Fear their approaching end; Jesus gives death an angel's face, And makes the foe a friend.

THE END.

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD-STREET-HILL.