racters completed, and we shall be filled with knowledge, love, peace, joy, and purity; and then we shall fully understand the meaning of Paul, "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known." We wait also for the close, felt, uninterrupted, and perfect union of Christ and his people, with each other, and the Father. Who beside him who utterred them, can fathom the depth of meaning in those glorious words, "Neither pray I for these alone, but them also, which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may one in US: that the world may believe that thou has sent me and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as WE are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me ?" We wait for the enjoyment of the beatific vision, for the pure in heart shall see God; and then shall we possess the kingdom, and enjoy all that God has prepared for them that love him. Truly the best is all before us, and the prospect should cheer, animate, and embolden us, under all our sufferings, sorrows, and labours here below. None of these things are seen by us, they are objects of faith and hope at present;

but as we hope for that we see not, therefore with patience do we wait for it. This is our proper posture, waiting as servants for their master, or as the espoused bride for her bridegroom.

We wait, but how do we wait? We ought to wait in faith, believing the reality and certainty of these things. We should also wait with patience, doing and suffering the will of God, whatever it may be ; praying, to be made meet to enjoy the glorious object of our hope; mourning over our failures in duty, and undue attachment to earthly things; and fearing, lest a promise being left us, any of us should seem to come short of it. We should wait in profound humility, until the Lord's time comes; watching for the first intimations of the master's approach; longing for the period to arrive, and daily preparing for this august event. With the loins girt, with the lamp burning, with the heart longing, and with the eye watching, should we wait for the objects of our hope.

But if the Lord's people are waiting for such great, grand, and glorious things, for what are others waiting? Sinner! unconverted man! unconverted woman! what are you waiting for? You are only waiting for death to arrest you, and cast you into prison -or for the judge to come to try you at his bar-then you will hear your awful sentence, then will end all your pleasures, then will you be driven from the presence of God,

then will you taste, feel, and know what hopeless despair, endless torments, and the just wrath of an insulted God means. Think, O think of those terrible words which will be pronounced in your hearing, if you die out of Christ, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels! Everlasting fire! Everlasting fire prepared for God's chief enemy and his accomplices! For this to be your doom, your doom for ever, how dreadful! Ponder, ponder the terrific questions, "Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings P" Will this be your lot? Will this be your doom ? If you die in sin it must. Repent, therefore, believe in Jesus, and so escape the wrath that is to come!

What dost thou wait for, O my soul,

(Th' important thought regard;) Say, is it now for earthly good?

Or is it for the Lord?

'Tis for the Lord! the Lord of hosts,
I feel my spirit beat;
'Tis for the blessings of his grace;
I worship at his feet.

Though like a mountain sin appears,
Though men and devils frown,
Still to the Lord, I'll pour my cries,
And hang upon his throne.

I'll pray and plead, and wait, and hope,
My Lord will surely come;

And take me from this vale of tears
To my eternal home.

WHERE IS HE?

I HAVE just heard of another sudden death. How many have died suddenly of late! Sudden death is very solemn. We do not sufficiently think of its solemnity. Any one of us may be called away without a moment's warning. If we should be, what would be the consequence? A question proposed in the book of Job, impresses my mind at this moment: "Man dieth and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" Where is the departed one? He is somewhere, for the soul must live, must be conscious. Where, then, is he living? Let me look at two or three other questions which may help me to answer this.

Where was he? He was in a land of light, and within the sound of the gospel, but was he in the world or in the church? Was he in Christ, or in his natural state. What was he! Profane, or moral? Natural, or spiritual? Was he a Christian, or an undecided character? If he had never experienced the new birth, if he had not a living faith in Christ, if he was not a holy man, whatever else he may have been, he is not in heaven. For, "except a man be born again, he cannot

"He that "Without

enter into the kingdom of God." believeth not shall be damned." holiness, no man shall see the Lord." Nothing can be more positive, more plain, or decided, than these testimonies from God's word. He may have been moral, harmless, and a well-meaning man; but if he was not a new creature, he is not in heaven. Not in heaven! What, are none in heaven of all who have died, but such as were new creatures? Not one. The word of God is clear upon this point. But if not in heavenAh, the sentence may seem severe, but it is true; if not in heaven, certainly in hell.

where then?

Where is he? Is it possible for the man who died suddenly yesterday, to be in hell to-day? What, go from such a comfortable home, from such respectable connections, from such an honourable position in society, to hell? How dreadful the thought! To be mixed up with the devils, and the vilest of the human race. To be tormented in flames that cannot be extinguished, and by a worm that cannot die. To be accursed of God, and to be treated with contempt for .ever. O how terrible the supposition! It is terrible, but it is the doom of all who die unconverted, for the Lord Jesus has said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." There is but one way to hea ven, and Jesus is that way; no one therefore