so now the life to come, a resurrection, and a future judgment, though the mighty price be already paid, rest all on promise also, and are articles of faith to us, which as far surpass our powers of explanation.

In our conception, however, of that blessedness which awaits an obedience to the faith, we are not left unassisted by the Holy Apostle, who describes those scenes of future bliss with a rapture that seems to indicate more than a prophetic view. Contemplating, therefore, the progressive appeal which religion has made by miracles to the senses of man; inferring, in faith, from what has happened, what will as surely cone to pass; assuring ourselves from prophecies accomplished, and promises performed, that He is faithful who promised, and that his word shall never pass away; let us commit our imaginations to the Apostle's guidance, and with him humbly approach that throne of glory on which our Redeemer sitteth, fulfilling every promise made to his church, and proving himself to be the strength of his people, and their portion for ever. Let us anticipate our final change

and transition through his blood, from darkness to light, from death to life, from sin to holiness, and to an union with Him who is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

Ye are come, then, says the Apostle, unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem. As our arrival at mount Sion is put into contrast with the trembling approach of Moses and the Israelites to the mount from which the law was given, we must naturally infer, that instead of encountering the terrors of darkness and tempest, or of a voice dismaying the spirit of all who heard it, the hill of Sion is a fair place, and the joy of the whole earth, and that God is known in her palaces for a refuge:-that as from Sinai a law was promulged, by which no man is justified in the sight of Gop, so now from Sion in the last days, comes forth a law proclaiming forgiveness to all that believe, and justification by faith in Jesus Christ from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; a hope that is the refuge and anchor of the soul, by which we draw nigh to

GOD. But, together with all nations that flow to the mountain of the Lord's house to learn his ways and to walk in his paths, we are now come to the King who is set upon his holy hill of Sion; and what is the blessed result of our confident approach to Him in full assurance of faith? Mercy to our unrighteousness, to our sins and iniquity oblivion; For I, even I am he, saith the Lord, that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

They were to come also unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem-here contrasted with the earthly Jerusalem, for the sake of carrying on the comparison between the legal bondage and the liberty of the gospel, the covenants of the law and of the promise. Of that great and glorious city, wherein the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are to be the temple of it; of the work of GoD by his Holy Spirit, in which it pleaseth Him to dwell; of the dominion and kingdom of his Saviour upon earth, when he shall set his throne upon the holy hill of Sion; the christian may surely, under the safe warrant of prophecy, be allowed to apply the several images to the state of the church tri

umphant, when God shall be in the midst of her, and she shall not be moved; when God shall help her, when the morning appeareth. But whether these blessed intimations are to be literally accomplished, or whether they are all to be absorbed in the possession of heavenly glory, though very excellent things are spoken of thee, O thou city of GOD, we may rest satisfied of one felicity to be there enjoyed by the faithful followers of our Redeemer-for GoD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

But on their arrival there they were to be welcomed by an innumerable company of angels, to be enrolled with them as fellow-servants and fellow-citizens under one head; nor can we reflect on the various offices which have been assigned to them in behalf of mankind, without anticipating our admission among them with exceeding joy. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round them that fear God, and him they have in charge who maketh GoD his refuge; they minister to such as are heirs of salvation. By angels the patriarchs were accompanied and

conducted; by the disposition of angels the law was received; by angels the birth of our Redeemer was predicted; and by the whole host of Heaven the tidings of great joy were announced, and hailed as resulting in Glory to God in the highest, and good-will towards men; by angels his resurrection was attended; and by angels, who witnessed his ascension, his return in like manner is foretold. When, therefore, we behold Him come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him; when we hear them sent to gather together his elect from the four winds, and find ourselves among the accepted number; from their predicted strains of gratitude to Him who has redeemed mankind to God by his blood, we may well infer our happy reception by these gracious witnesses of our final judgment; and from the strains of our own gratitude, though we cannot specify, we may calculate upon that boundless felicity with which we shall be excited with them, to ascribe blessing and honour, and glory, and power, to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.

We shall next find, as we approach mount Sion, that holy hill rendered accessible, and surrounded