as

the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The Israelitish pilgrims who halted in the valley of Baca for water, and who expected from the refreshing rains of heaven to be invigorated for the remainder of their journey, received strength in this way to proceed,-and the prophet Isaiah may be said to offer a beautiful spiritual commentary on the circumstance, when speaking of believers waiting upon the Lord for the strength of their souls," They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." And as still confirming the doctrine of progression in the divine life, what says the apostle Paul, writing in his second epistle to the Corinthians-" We all with open face, beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Happy are the souls, who, as they travel through the valley of this world, feel their hearts invigorated and strengthened by the communications of heavenly grace; and are thus enabled to advance "from strength to strength" in the ways of God. Their pilgri mage is brighter than the Israelitish pilgrimage through the valley of Baca to the city of Jerusalem; and of the former it may emphatically be said, that "their graces shine”—their faith also encreases, whilst their preparation for the heavenly Zion and its holier worship is daily advanced. Let us not forget however that it is God "who worketh all our works in us,”—that from Him our spiritual strength is derived—that He is the guidance of our spirit— that the progress which we make is the progress of His grace within us; and that as from Him we were first begotten to a spiritual life, so to Him every energy of that

life, and every desire of that life is made to tend as the attractive centre-point. Here then we remark

2. The final termination of the journey. "Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion." The psalmist prays in the forty-third psalm that the Lord would send out his light and his truth: "let them bring me," says he, "unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." Here in the experience of these Israelitish pilgrims was an answer to this prayer. "Every one of them," Every one of them," as the result of their journey, "appeareth in Zion before God." This was his "holy hill " upon earth-these were his "tabernacles." Their appearance there was according to the commandment of God—their coming up was for the purpose of worshipping God. What else was promised on the part of Jehovah? "I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory."-They were to be the witnesses of this salvation, and many were the subjects of it. Do we further enquire, what bearing this has on the subject of the Christian pilgrimage? It has just the same as before. The same words, and the same description are applicable to it. Our pilgrimage is to terminate,—“ every one" of the Christian pilgrims has his eye upon Zion, but it is the Zion that is above, whose mountain is higher than the earthly one, and whose "hill" is holier. Our appearance there will be different from that of the Jews at Jerusalem. O! the robes in which we are to shine! O! the transport with which we will be hailed-the hosannas we are to strike—the triumphs we are to shout! God appears in his glory there-ever appears in his glory there; and "the ransomed of the Lord" having then returned to Zion with songs, receive everlasting joy upon their heads, and sorrow and sighing flee away. With

reference to this latter return we would remark a few

things

1. The appearance will be as complete as the former. "Every" believer is to appear in heaven.

In this pilgrimage the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. "Every one appeareth" in God's appointed time; and if so, the feeblest believer is safe who hangs upon Christ. "Nor shall the weakest fail or die." We may all have something occasionally to depress and to try our faith, so long as we are in the valley of Baca ; but "be of good cheer" is your Saviour's language,— "I have overcome the world"—and "I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Many have already made their appearance there through the safe guidance of their divine Shepherd. Weary may have often been their feet, and sorrowful may have been their heart as they passed to the land of their final rest; but in the storm as in the calm, their progress was going forward; and he who had promised to be their Conductor failed not in any of the things that he promised. Their very troubles were sanctified, and at last they were made perfect in glory. Now we are exhorted to be followers of them, who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises. That they have been conducted in safety to heaven, is an encouragement to us, that we too shall be brought through all the trials of our earthly pilgrimage, and landed hereafter in the regions of peace, not one of the spiritual Israel being found wanting.

2. The place of our final appearance is also called Zion. It is the mountain of God's own holiness. It is really the city of the living God,-the place of his throne, the habi

tation of his glory. Our appearance there will be suited to the place. You are not to enter there in the garment of a pilgrim, neither with sorrow on your brow, nor furrowed with the blasts of the wilderness. Hunger and pain shall flee away. You shall hunger "no more," neither 66 thirst any more." Angels themselves are attracted with the appearance of the saints in heaven, for they are made like unto Christ. How shall I speak to you of the position you are to occupy in heaven? It is well that the text is prepared to unfold it as a delightful truth. Every one appeareth before God-yes before his divine presence with exceeding joy ; and so shall we be ever with the Lord.

You may see then that every part of the description holds good in reference to our present passage through the wilderness; but the last is even better than the first. To think of the employments of Baca being exchanged for the felicities of Paradise-sorrow for joy-fatigue for rest, and weeping for gladness, cannot but be reviving to the mind even now. The prospect of it all is before us. We hail it—we hope for it; and oh! let us pray to be made meet for it. "Blessed are the 'pure in heart, for Amen.

they shall see God."

SERMON IX.

THE HAPPINESS OF THE TRUE CHURCH IN HEAVEN MORE PARTICULARLY EXHIBITED.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

REV. VII. 17.

How sanctified were the feelings of the apostle when he could say "For me to live is Christ-to die is gain!" He was happy in the prospect of either state; although “to depart and be with Christ," the same apostle was free to admit it, was "far better." And to be with his Redeemer in heaven is the prospect of every believer. The prospect itself is not always equally bright; but there are times when earth's weariness is forgotten,—when the sorrows incident to the valley of Baca are shaded by the opening glories which faith introduces to our vision; and these are the times when the church is peculiarly animated in her pilgrimage to paradise. Many, in this way, are the tokens from God