dawning of a spiritual glory yet to be inherited and revealed. The body may die-there is a spirit within us that defies the touch of dissolution-the body may fall, 'tis the summons for the soul to leap into life everlasting. Yes, and as its days are, so must be seen its advancement. O! and how rare, how rapturous the assurance, that neither our intellectual, nor our moral improvement shall be confined to the few short years of this our mortal pilgrimage. Like the departing orb of day, does that mind which is the man, gradually expand as it nears the verge of this world's horizon; or if it sink for a time mid the languors of the frame, it is only to shoot forth with a richer radiance in another and a brighter land. In pursuit of my subject, I overleap the gulph of death, and set foot on the shores of immortality-aye, and there find I the spirits of the just made perfect, standing in striking contrast with the highest excellence attainable by believers below, and which brings out the fourth fact suggested by the words of the Apostle. Clogged with this fleshly carcase, we can ascend but so far that eminence where such prospects are descried-nor have we the wings either of a dove or an angel to pass these cloudy regions, and so is it that our every expectation is so far enveloped in the gloom. Great as we may be, mighty as the Baptist himself, yet are we far excelled by the least in the kingdom of heaven. With all our efforts, no nearer can we come to God than the station be tokening his footstool-and immeasurable is yet the space that excludes us from his visible presence, so that him or his beholding it, is only as through a glass

darkly. But, admitted to the residence of his splendour, shall we stand all adoring-with clouds and vapours removed-shall we see him face to face, yea, and be satisfied with his likeness. Enveloped in the mists of earth, perplexed with mental dubities, and limited in the range of mind, even by the range of matter. "Now we know but in part, and we prophecy in part." But, freed from this corporeal encasement, and rejoicing in the exercise of pure mind in unison with a spiritual body—then "shall we know, even also as we are known." Unfettered shall fly our thoughts free as the expanse of ether-and upward shall rise our conceptions, ample as the arch of the sky. Ah! and as children still, justified and sanctified though we be, are we incapable of discharging the lofty functions of our manhood. Try us by the employments of heaven, in these we cannot engage-by the purities of heaven, among these we dare not appear-by the felicities of heaven, nor these are we able to enjoy. Nay, as to all the regions there, enquire of the highest saint, and thus is he forced to reply-eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God has prepared for them that love him. So when all this shall be fully disclosed, what a bright and a beautiful view; and when our minds are enriched, and our intellect strengthened, and our gaze quickened-when God, and Christ, and Seraphim, are exposed in beams of glory-when tongues become melodious, and hearts. with love are enlarged-when we step forth to angelic power, and angelic loveliness, and angelic rapture—

shall we not, then, and thus, and there, in surveying what we did not, could not know-did not, could not understand-did not, could not express, while yet in our militant condition-shall we not individually exclaim, then I was a child, though of God, and spake, understood, and thought as a child--but now, admitted within the portals of the celestial city, I have become a man, "for when that which is perfect is come, that which is imperfect shall be done away."

And shall we leave the matter thus-nor farther intrude into the secrets and the sanctities of Paradise? No, but with timid foot let us advance one step more, and so bring this discourse to a close. By such an allocation our mansion shall be fixed-our throne provided-and our crown of glory secured. Still, instead of aught like a pause in intellectual pursuit, or a stop to our progress in every attribute of godliness-methinks these will only advance with a more sure, a more swift acceleration. Would not the life of the soul be extinct, if destined no more to receive, or to repose in inglorious slumber? If minds immortal we possess, then must they take cognizance of all that is passing around them-then rapturously shall we dwell on those unnumbered modes in which God shall exhibit his power, his goodness, or his wisdom. Every new operation wrought by the omnipotent hand, will augment our mental store, and acquaint us more largely with the will of Him who indeed is excellent in working. Yea, and all thus acquired, and all thus ever-acquiring, will bring its accessions of power, for if knowledge is power on earth, it is also power in

heaven! And then the more clearly we perceive the amplitude and the equity of Jehovah's governmentthe more will his beneficence be developed, and the more will the sight of it awaken the purity of feeling, and all the more heighten the piety of those whom He hath glorified. And where is the believer even now who knows not how his happiness is confined with his praise-how his joy is increased, as his bosom expands with devotion? The more and the more knowing hereafter, the more the more brightly shall we shine and the more of redemption we see, the more ardently shall we strike the harp, while in concert with every inhabitant above, we shall sing the new song of Moses and the Lamb, and that with a novelty of theme, even for ever and ever.

And thus intimately conversant with the attributes of God and their displays, and free from the encumbrances of earth-with discernment all brightened, and emotions all refined; what must have been added to the knowledge of Noah, of Abraham, or David, since the moment they first opened their eyes on scenes we hope to behold? How much more must Paul now feel on witnessing the result of his mission in the arrival of thousands to the bowers of bliss-feel, I say, beyond what he experienced, ere yet such joy had begun? And let us be admitted there, and there remain till the final restitution of all things-and how much more shall we know, and by consequence of elevation have reached--after seeing the general assembly of the Church of the first-born-the grand consummation of all things; how much more than we

can do before the actual sight of those momentous events which shall characterize the terrible day of the Lord? And so, with deathless spirits constantly engaged in contemplating the works of Him who never faileth-shall we go on from age to age encreasing in knowledge, and in happiness, in piety as in power!

In all, have you witnessed a land of mountains, and have you toiled to reach yon pinnacle that bears up the pillars of the sky? One eminence is gained; but from it-lo! another appears. This is also reached; but still some turret, yet more aspiring, is before you. The firmament is above us; and how gorgeous the diadem of the stars! But give us those pinions which may bear us to their lofty abodes; and behold, at an equal height-an equal expanse of new, yet dazzling splendours. And so shall it fare with the dignity of the saints in light, and so shall the kingdom of the Father expand and flourish for ever. And, conscious of a course widening, and brightening, and rising, will the ransomed of the Lord, looking from above to the step they have left, or around on the platform of glory just gained, feel themselves ascending the heights of celestial exaltation; and remembering what they were at their entrance into heaven, and seeing what they are, and where they are, by this compared, after the lapse of unnumbered ages, will they breathe out the strains of a grateful recognition,-then we were children, though of Paradise, speaking, understanding, thinking as children; but now, in their comparative elevation, have we become men and “ put away childish things." Language they will be enabled to re