in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 14.) Hence they heartily join in the anthem of heaven, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." (Rev. v. 9.) But there seems to be something peculiar in these words, "Each one walking in his uprightness. "In my Father's house," says Christ, "there are many mansions." We cannot say why there should be many, if all entered into the same degree of " the joy of the Lord." No: As there is "one glory of the sun, and another of the moon, and another of the stars, even so is the resurrection of the dead." There are peculiar rewards for those who have been most holy, most laborious, and greatest sufferers in their Master's cause. That the labour of such is "not in vain in the Lord," (though they say, "Not I, but the grace of God which was in me,") is evident from many passages of holy writ. With regard to labour, St. Paul says, "Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour." (1 Cor. iii. 8.) And what a wonderful description have we of those who are eminently holy! "And I looked, and lo! a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thou sand, which were redeemed from the earth. These were redeemed from among men, first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: For they are without fault before the throne of God!" (Rev. xiv. 1.) That sufferers in his righteous cause shall also, for the " light affliction which is but for a moment, receive a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," is thus magnificently stated: "And I saw thrones, and they that sat on them, and judgment was given unto them: And I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God," (and by parity of reason, those who have suffered in other respects shall receive proportionably,)" and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again, till the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." (Rev. xx. 4.) Let this mean what it may beside, it evidently expresses the great happiness of those, who Faithful to death, the cross endure, And make the crown by suffering sure. Thus, "each one walks in his UPRIGHTNESS." A beautiful word! Labour is nothing, suffering is nothing, if not the consequence of "uprightness." We may avoid both where duty calls not. In this sense also "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth," but of God that giveth the crown of life to him who is faithful unto death; "who hateth his life in this world, that he may preserve it unto life eternal." II. So are the words fulfilled in every righteous person. So were they fulfilled in the late eminent servant of God, so well known, and so highly valued in this city. There is no need that I should this day, like Samuel, in the case of Saul, (1 Sam. xv. 30, 31,) honour an unfaithful and rejected man, before the people, on account of his station. No: He was "a righteous man. He had put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And he had put on the new man," which "is created after God in righteousness and true holiness." He was not content with "making clean the outside of the cup." Though he was, as all his friends testify, of a very unblamable behaviour from his youth, yet this satisfied him not. He felt that "corruption of nature, whereby man is far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit." And therefore he pressed after those "great and precious promises, by which we are made partakers of the divine nature." He was 66 renewed in the spirit of his mind,” a child of God, by faith; "the Spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit, that he was a child of God." "And his conversation was as becometh the gospel of Christ. He adorned the gospel of God his Saviour." In this respect he triumphed over those who "speak evil of those things that they know not." When, in a remarkable case that occurred nearly three years ago, his Divine Master had greatly honoured him, "those on the contrary part were ashamed, having no evil thing to say of him.” They could cry out, "Fanatic! Enthusiast!" for this is easily done, and supplies the want of argument. But, even keen-eyed jealousy could fix no blot upon him, either as a Christian, or in his ministerial character. But nevertheless in this he gloried not. The language of his heart was, Whate'er in me seems wise, or good, Or just, I here disclaim; I wash my garments in the blood "The righteous," says Solomon, "is bold as a say, when tempted to fear or shame, To him I turn my steady face, Want, pain defy, enjoy disgrace, Glory in dissolution near! * See the case of George Lukins, published by Mr. Easter brook. As a fruit of this, a noble ingenuousness was manifest in him. As he "renounced the hidden things of darkness," so he "walked not in cunning craftiness." Even a superficial observer might see, that he was a man that had a window in his breast. He spake the truth from his heart. Guile, as a wise and good man has observed, is good for nothing but sin, and cannot be needed while we have a single eye. His whole behaviour was a comment on this. "By manifestation of the truth, he commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God." And he " was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; not even where it is attended with most of its original reproach. His spirit was truly catholic. He also could say, "Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? If it be, give me thy hand." He remembered the word of his blessed Master, "Whosoever doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my mother, my sister, and brother." This was And he was truly a "merciful man.' the distinguishing part of his character. He also, like his Master," delighted in mercy ;" and judgment,-severity of any kind,-" was his strange work." His ministerial office seemed to him (what it really is) only a means of more effectually dispensing that mercy which belongs to the christian character; and of which the souls and bodies of |