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light of the Holy Ghost, it is comparatively dark and uninteresting: with that light, it is distinct in meaning, and radiant with heavenly glory. An undevout student of the Bible is an unsuccessful one. Read it on your knees. Surround the picture of revelation with the framework of prayer. Never will it be studied in vain by him who first cries, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

MEETNESS FOR HEAVEN THROUGH SORROW.

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GOD's people are dear to him. They are his because they are his creatures. He made them, and he made them "for himself." "The Lord, he is God; he hath made us, and not we ourselves." Before he formed them, they were nothing. Just as "the sea is his," because "he made it;" just as the heavens are his, and the earth also is his, and the world and the fulness thereof are his, because he has founded them, so his people are his, because he called them into existence. "O Jacob and Israel, thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant." His people are his absolute, inalienable property by this original and independent right of creation. They are and ever have been the objects of his preserving, watchful, and paternal care. His Son has redeemed them; they were given to him by his Father, and he bought them by his own precious blood. They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day that I make up my jewels." They are his peculiar treasure, vessels of mercy and honour, and their names are all recorded in "the Lamb's book of life." They are "comely through the comeliness he puts upon them;" a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God," and are destined to shine in his own kingdom for ever and ever. Yet by nature they are very unfitted for this high destiny. They scarcely thought of God, and never loved him. They cast off fear, and restrained prayer, and rebelled against him, though he nourished and brought them up as children.

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There is a wide difference between a man who is born in sin, and the same man who dies a Christian. The first thing, in order to fit him for heaven, is that a work of grace should be begun in his heart. There has been a movement in heaven towards him. "We love him because he first loved us." God himself is the author and finisher of man's

redemption. There is the work which Jesus Christ has performed for his people, and there is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in them. The work performed without them has its counterpart in the work performed within them. God himself alone has the power to change their hearts, to form them new creatures, to make them vessels of mercy, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the liberty wherewith Christ makes them free. "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." None are fitted for heaven unless their hearts are thus turned from sin to holiness, and receive this hallowed and heavenward direction and tendency. "Verily I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This is an important epoch in the history of every redeemed sinner, and the first effectual step in preparing him for heaven.

This work of grace must also be carried on; and he which "began it will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Succour in the time of need is without ourselves. If they are not overcome in the spiritual warfare, it is because the Captain of their salvation watches over them, cares for them, and throws around them the shield of his salvation. "In them, that is, in their flesh, there dwelleth no good thing." They are exposed to wander, to backslide, to plunge into fatal snares; nor would they ever return if he did not reclaim them; nor would they ever reach the celestial city if he did not "restore their souls, and lead them in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

In making his people meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, the God of all grace commonly makes use of his word and ordinances. But it is when afflictive dispensations run through and are intermingled with the means of grace and salvation, that they ordinarily enjoy heart-affecting views of invisible and eternal realities. Seasons of trial become seasons of Divine manifestation. God is pleased to manifest himself to them as he does not to the world. As such glorious glimpses are not essential to a state of grace, God only gives them as peculiar circumstances require. They are precious manifestations in the hour of trial; they leave lasting impressions on the mind, and are never forgotten. Sometimes they come unexpect edly, and almost unsought; it may be in the darkest night

of their sorrow, when they feel most like pilgrims and strangers on the earth, and are most oppressed by the solitude of the wilderness. The saddest hours are often cheered by the most hallowed themes. Hallowed moments of celestial visitation are they when faith, with more than ordinary vividness, realizes the unseen world and hope, full of immortality, sheds its fragrance over the soul and makes it long for heaven.

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It is true that seasons of affliction are not always thus favoured. They are sometimes seasons of darkness and sore temptation, as Christian biography teaches us. "Alas!" said Lady Russell, when her noble husband was sent to the block by the licentious and inexorable Charles, I want liberty to approach nearer my heavenly Friend. But my understanding is clouded, my faith weak, sense strong, and Satan busy in filling my thoughts with false notions, difficulties, and doubts respecting a future state and the efficacy of prayer. My thoughts fly everywhere but to God." This is a most unhappy state of mind; but it is by no means of so frequent occurrence as those bright views which discover the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night.

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If we ever get to heaven, we shall see that it was not our own wisdom or fidelity that brought us there. Every step we have taken would have been a false one, but for God. He moved first, and we did but follow as fast and as far as he drew us and led the way. Of all the events and circumstances which were either in themselves auspicious to our salvation or overruled to our spiritual welfare, our trials will never be forgotten. Thousands upon thousands have been made meet for heaven by their trials. The fetters of gold which bound them to earth have been thus sundered, and even the ties of nature have been held by a looser hand. They would "not live always," but desired rather to depart and be with Christ. This world does not compensate for the sorrow and pain and conflict and sin of living in it beyond the bounds of our appointed time. True Christians have more and better friends in heaven than they have on earth, and who wait to give them a joyful greeting. It is no marvel that they sometimes "struggle and pant to be free," and long to "put on their royal attire," and "wonder and worship" with those who, like themselves, are washed, and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

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How many, think you, are now in heaven who bless God even for the bitterest cup? How many can say, "I dallied with sin and trifled with the tempter; I cropped flowers on the brink of the precipice, but found a gravestone there which told me of one I loved. I had gone astray, but my grief agitated me, my depression humbled me, my sins alarmed me. My idol was slain, and my heart bled. I thought of death and eternity, and was separated from them only by the breath of my nostrils. God smote me, but he "made all my bed in my sickness." I was afraid to die, but when I came to the conflict, I found the foe vanquished. Death was swallowed up in victory. It is all reality now, all heaven, all joy, all praise to God my Redeemer, God allsufficient, God all in all."

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Sanctified afflictions will not be forgotten in heaven. "Thou shalt remember all the way thy God led thee in the wilderness.' To suffer God's will is as truly honourable to him and profitable to our own spiritual interests, as to do his will. They are equally acts of obedience. When sufferings are endured with a Christian spirit and wisely employed, not only is the work of God thereby manifested in the sufferers, but their own future blessedness is thereby promoted.. If they were not always happy in their trials, they will be happy in their triumphs, happy in their eternal home. When the exiled apostle was in Patmos, one of the elders before the throne said to him, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" The apostle was unable to answer the question, and replied, "Sir, thou knowest. "These are they," said the angelic messenger, "which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes? and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 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." The most afflicted and desolate will then prove the love and faithfulness of the severest chastisements. "There remaineth a rest for the people of God," a perfect and everlasting rest. If by marvellous grace in Christ Jesus you ever enter it, you will look back with grateful admiration at the tender care and

covenant faithfulness of Him who loved you. And as you look back and call to mind how often you grieved his Spirit and forfeited his love, and how, but for these desolating afflictions, you never would have entered the heavenly city, you may well say with Richard Baxter, "When he broke thy heart, as well as when he bound it up, thy blessed Redeemer was saving thee." With adoring surprise you may exclaim with him, "O blessed way, and thrice blessed end! Is my mourning and my heavy walking come to this? Are all my afflictions come to this? Blessed gales, that have blown me into such a harbour! Oh, what a God

there is in heaven!"

Such is the mission of sorrow. Its lessons cannot be learned from the teachings of human wisdom. It may be you have been thrown upon a bed of sickness, and even painful and lingering agony. The bloom of health fades on your cheek, and wasting debility premonishes you of the grave. God grant that celestial visions may throng around your pillow, and that underneath that aching head you may find the everlasting arms. It may be " a wife of youth" has sunk to the grave, and the heart that watched her lingering decay, amid its alternate hopes and fears, sinks under the blow. And can you not lean on an almighty arm, and make your refuge in the shadow of his wings? Perhaps you have seen a favourite child sinking under a disease that was appointed to do its fatal work. You have turned from the scene with sighing. Your fears have been realized. The flower is cut down, and withers in the grave. Mourning parent, strive to look upward. It may cost you tears; but God would teach you that his favour, without earthly comforts, is worth more to you than all earthly comforts without his favour. He sent this rushing calamity on purpose to throw a temporary cloud over the sun of time, and open to you the brighter scenes of a sinless world. He would cement rather than sunder the bond that unites you to the departed. That bright spirit has left you, and your fondest, proudest wishes-dust is upon them! These sorrows have their mission.

"Your God, to call you homeward,

His only Son sent down;

And now, still more to tempt your heart,

Has taken up your own."

Of such is the kingdom of heaven. Your jewel shines in your Redeemer's crown. Would you pluck that little star

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