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can go to heaven, but through Jesus. And it is not hearing of Jesus, or reading of Jesus, or talking of Jesus, or using the name of Jesus in our prayers, that will take us to heaven; we must have personal dealings with Jesus, we must be washed in his blood, we must be clothed in his righteousness, we must eat his flesh, and drink his blood; or our souls must live upon Christ, or we cannot be saved.

Have

Reader, suppose you were to die suddenly, to die to-day, where would you be? you secured an interest in Christ? Is your heart right with God? Are you fit to go direct to heaven? Remember, death does not fit us for heaven. It neither changes our state, nor our nature. It simply separates the body from the soul; and what the soul is when death finds it, such it will be when death leaves it. If death finds us pardoned, justified, and sanctified, it simply delivers us to the angel who is to conduct us to heaven, and if it finds us condemned, in our sins, or in our natural state, it delivers us to the devil, who is to drag us to the place of torment. It is therefore of the greatest moment that we should be found ready. And as death may suddenly meet us at any moment we should not delay an hour in seeking that preparation which would warrant our friends to say, if the question were proposed, "Where is he?" "IN HEAVEN! UNQUESTIONABLY IN HEAVEN!"

Who can tell the distress of a parent, weeping over the corpse of a beloved child, when left in a state of uncertainty: "Where is he? Where the soul of my beloved son? Where is she, the soul of my beloved daughter ?" If you would not therefore add to the pangs of a beloved parent, and almost break the heart that throbs with intensest love to you, seek and obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Or, think of a wife, or husband standing by the coffin that contains the corpse of one tenderly beloved, in a state of uncertainty as to the destiny of the immortal soul. What piercing pangs would the question produce, "Where is he? Where is she ?" The mere doubt would be dreadful. But to be obliged to fear the worst must be unspeakably dreadful. If you, therefore, O wife, love your husband-or if you, O husband, love your wife, and would not pierce the bereaved one through with many sorrows, then make sure to yourself, and evident to all around you, that you are saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. If I were to die suddenly, if I were to die suddenly to-day, where should I be ? Could I be admitted to God's holy heaven in my present state? Am I fit to meet the eyes of a just and holy God? Am I prepared to share in the employments and enjoyments of a world where all are holy, as God is holy? Have I a title to heaven, for there can be no admission there without? Am I made meet

for heaven, for I can never be allowed to enter there if I am not. Lord, impress these solemn questions on my mind, for Christ's sake. Lord, by thy Holy Spirit, prepare me, if I live, to live to thee; or if I die, to die to thee; so that whether I live or die, I may be thine.

Death! 'tis a melancholy day

To those that have no God,
When the poor soul is forc'd away
To seek her last abode.

In vain to heaven she lifts her eyes,
But guilt, a heavy chain,

Still drags her downward from the skies
To darkness, fire, and pain.

Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell,
Let stubborn sinners fear,

You must be driv'n from earth, and dwell
A long for-ever there.

See how the pit gapes wide for you,
And flashes in your face,
And thou, my soul, look downwards too,
And sing recovering grace.

He is a God of sovereign love

That promis'd heaven for me,

And taught my thoughts to soar above,
Where happy spirits be.

Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand,
Then come the joyful day,

Come, death, and come celestial band
To bear my soul away.

CHRIST A KING.

THE Lord Jesus has power over all flesh, all things are put under his feet, he is head over all things for the good of his Church. The Father says, "I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion." He has not yet received the throne of his father David. He does not reign on his own throne, as he will personally on earth before his ancients gloriously, as predicted but still he is king in his own Church, and rules over the world. Let us therefore daily look upon every thing as under the direction, control, and management of Jesus. He ruleth by his power for ever, and causeth all things to work together for the good of his people. Jesus as a king is

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POWERFUL AND PEACEFUL. Nothing can withstand his power, for he is omnipotentthe Almighty. He meets with no difficulties, but with perfect ease rules the elements, controls his enemies, and protects his friends. But he is peaceable as well as powerful. He loves peace. He made peace for sinners at the expense of his own life. He preached peace to sinners, first in his own person, and then by his ambassadors. He gives peace to

sinners when they believe his word, and trust in his most precious blood. He bequeathed peace to his followers, that they may be calm in tumult, constant in trial, and courageous in conflict. Yes, when we keep the eye fixed on Jesus as powerful and peaceable, as ruling and reigning, as managing and directing all things, we can live in peace, enjoy calm repose, and walk humbly with our God. Jesus as a king is

MILD AND MERCIFUL. He is more the lamb than the lion, being meek and lowly of heart. There is no boisterous wrath, or blustering rage about him; but with calmness and quiet, with patience and long forbearance, he rules among the children of men, and especially so in his church. He can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way. He feels for our infirmities, allows for our weaknesses, and mereifully pardons our transgressions. heart is large and tender, his mercies are new every morning, and his compassions fail not. O what a privilege to have such a king! To be in the hand, and at the disposal of one so mild and merciful. Jesus as king is

His

WISE AND HOLY. In him dwelleth all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He knows all that has occurred, all that is now occurring, and all that will occur; and he has wisdom to manage all with perfect ease. He can direct the whole machinery of providence, and infallibly accomplish his pur

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