tears from our eyes. And you will recollect how often in the scriptures heaven is spoken of under this image. "There (says Job) the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest;" and the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, after a long argument, comes to this conclusion, "There remaineth therefore a rest (that is a heavenly one) to the people of God." And Christians know and feel this, and amidst the trials and perplexities of life, lift up their eyes towards heaven, and say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest." But, my hearers, although when this exclamation results simply from the trials of this present state, and from peevishness of temper, it becomes totally unjustifiable; yet, on the other hand, we also some times employ it in our waking seasons. I do believe there are moments, and especially in our secret devotions, when we are ready to be gone. A man in these seasons, in which ресиliar light shines upon his soul, in which he is favored with ресиliarly distinct views of the glory of the Saviour, and that uninterrupted felicity which must be enjoyed in his more immediate presence-it is possible in such cases, with the best hopes and the most exalted views, to say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away, and be at rest!" But you observe that the Psalmist refers to it as a hopeless case when he uses the words of the text; it evidently implies he had no such hopes.

I notice, however, thirdly,-The reasons why neither of these wishes should be realized; and, in the first place, God has a work for you to do-none of us were sent into the world that we might be unemployed:-"Work (Christ says) whilst it is to-day, before the night cometh when no man can work." The scriptures uniformly speak of the present state as that of labour, toil, and conflict and what have we to do to secure the salvation of our own souls? To become instructed in the doctrines of the gospel. This we have to do in ourselves; this is a part of the work which regards our own persons. But we have a work to do for others -we have all of us connections in life-persons who are looking up to us, in reference to whom we have to discharge very important duties; and for their sakes, if not for our own, are we to be continued in the world; and the wish of the text, therefore, is not to be gratified. And then there is a work in reference to the church-we are to "shine as lights in the world," to hold forth the truths-to do all we can in our respective stations for the advancement of the cause of Christ: and there is not one of us but may, and can (and if we are indeed Christians, shall) fulfil the work of our generation, by the meekness and gentleness of our temper-in our honesty and sobriety-in our conscientious regard for the family in which we are employed :-and, in the same way, one might go through all the ranks and orders of society, till we reach the king upon his throne, and shew that we have a work to accomplish, and till this is done, we ought not to wish to be, neither should we be removed.

Secondly:-There are graces we are to exercise, such as patience, fortitude, faith, love, and hope. Hence the numerous admonitions of scripture on this subject:-" Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, and put on the whole armour of God; the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, and the helmet of salvation" We are to "stand, and having done all to stand, and fight manfully the battles of the Lord." And when we have done all this, we are not to be taken from the world;-but 'tis thus we are to improve our gifts and follow his precepts, till it shall please our God to take us to our reward.

Thirdly:-We are to stay until we are prepared to go. There is a work of humiliation to be carried on and perfected in us; we are to be taught, and be taught again, the helplessness of our nature, and the corruption of our hearts; we are to be placed very low in the dust, and made to feel again and again the bitterness of sin, in order that we may value and set a higher estimate upon the salvation we are to enjoy hereafter. God does not translate us to life eternal from our unrenewed state; He makes us feel our ruin, and mourn over our deformity; and this is the secret and the reason why there are so many conflicts in the Christian's life, and that we are so often walking in darkness;-'tis this, likewise, that will make heaven more sweet and rapturous, and until this purpose is sufficiently accomplished in us and by us, we shall not be removed; and so, instead of pathetically or peevishly exclaiming, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, that I might flee away and be at rest!" the duty of a Christian is rather to say," All the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change come:"-and happy will it be for us if, when we arrive at the close of our pilgrimage, we can say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory, which the Lord, the righteous Judge. shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all who love his appearance."

Finally:-From this subject let us learn a lesson of gratitude, let us be thankful that we have a sure and certain prospect of an everlasting rest, after the trials and conflicts of the present state are over. I may be speaking to some individual who does not understand this subject, who is totally unacquainted with the pleasure enjoyed by a renewed and enlightened mind! You know not the powers of his salvation, nor the energy of his doctrine; you have never yet said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, that 'I might flee away and be at rest!"-You have no concern about it: Oh, that I could awaken such a concern! that I could open the eyes of your mind, and shew you the importance of having a personal interest in this great salvation, and prove to you the joy, the pleasure, and the intense satisfaction connected with it, here as well as hereafter!

May God, the Holy Spirit, bless these remarks, and grant that they may be profitable to us all! AMEN.