die;" and this forms a gloomy boundary to all But blessed are the Lord-for they have

our prospects here below. dead that have died in the

met their last enemy-their last conflict is over, and has ended well! while ours is yet to come. "Thanks be to God, he hath given them the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is our Lord's own remark, "Neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."

Further, personal suffering can no more assail them. "The inhabitant shall no more say I

am sick."

They are subject to no more separations; to no more of those bereavements and other removals, which so often wring our hearts with anguish. It is observed concerning the inhabitants of that blessed world, " They go no more out." They "God more acquainted with sorrow. himself hath for ever wiped away all tears from their eyes." We may weep for them; but they have no more any thing to deplore.

are no

This is a world of toil, and labour, and trouble. and to find it so, every day till the

We must expect to find it so

more or less, to the end; and

end. We are to be willing that it should be so: and to prepare ourselves to perform our duties

diligently, though they may be laborious, and to bear our trials patiently, though they should be severe. We naturally long for rest; but we must not expect it here. "This is not our rest, because

66

it is polluted" by sin. "There remaineth," however, "a rest for the people of God. "And this idea is particularly held forth to us to encourage us. They rest from their labours." Let us then be willing now to bear the burden and heat of the day the time of rest will come; the rest-not of torpid inactivity-but of perfect enjoyment-if only we are found prepared for it.

:

"There" too, "the wicked cease from troubling"-as well as "the weary are at rest." Yes: if once we come to that blessed state, our hearts shall be no more pained and vexed at seeing the dishonour of God, and the the manifold mischiefs and occasions: for there "the righteous."

ruin of men, and

miseries which sin inhabitants are all

And better still than all, sin shall no more re

main in ourselves or others.

That great and

severe labour therefore of the Christian life-the conflict of the spirit against the flesh,—is for ever over, to them that have died in the Lord. They are now" the spirits of just men made perfeet. Yes, said an excellent Christian minister, to one whom he stiled his oldest and best friend,' after

expressing the delight it would have given him to see him once more on earth :-' We shall meet on better ground; we shall meet with higher powers; we shall meet with nobler affections; and there every note shall be love.'—Yes; if the short-lived communion of the saints on earth, themselves poor imperfect creatures in a sinful miserable world, be sometimes so delightful that "their hearts burn within them" at the recollection of it; what shall be the meeting of “the general assembly of the church of the first-born in heaven... in the presence of God the judge of all... and of Jesus the mediator of the new covenant," "who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and hath made them kings and priests unto God and his Father". where the inhabitants are all righteous," and each of them "made perfect," and where they

go no more out for ever!" What! shall we bemoan any who have been removed to this blessed company before us? No: let us neither sorrow for them as if we had not such hopes; neither let us envy them, (as there might be more reason for our doing) but let us endeavour so to follow their good examples, and their faith, and patience, and piety, that with them we may at length be partakers of God's kingdom and glory.

I need not add, that they no more walk in

darkness-are no more exposed to temptationthe light of God's countenance is no more hidden from them for ever. No : 66 they have come 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 amongst them. They 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."

"They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." That is, they are gone to receive their reward, and every good work which they have performed (secretly perhaps and unknown to man) from love to God, for the glory of his name, and the benefit of his people, or any fellowcreature-comes in remembrance before God, and is gloriously (though of grace alone) rewarded.

We need hardly here say, that their works are not the ground of their acceptance with God. No: it is their "being in the Lord" Jesus Christ by faith which saves them: They are accepted for his sake. But being themselves accepted through Christ, their works also (for his sake)

meet with divine acceptance, approbation, and reward.

Brethren-we must all soon die; others are now the dead, and we are the living. We have carried many to their tombs-have wept over them-and made our reflections upon them. Others will soon do the same by us. And what will then be the importance of a thousand things which now excite our cares and labours ? 1 What will it soon signify whether we have been successful in this and that pursuit, or the contrary? Whether we have been rich or poor, learned or unlearned, celebrated or unknown. If we die and sink into misery what will all our successes here avail us?

1 The following striking passage was thought too personal to be admitted into the body of the Discourse, but it is here subjoined to show the general tone of the Author's mind.

It is but a little time since those pews were filled by other occupiers-and their present possessors are fast changing, and going into eternity. It is but a few years since another held my place, and addressed you from this pulpit: and in a few years more, at furthest, some other preacher will from this place address another congregation. We are fast going hence: we shall be looked for and shall not be found: we shall be in eternity. Really when I indulge reflections of this kind, (which, thank God, I have no aversion to doing) when I look upon a large assembly like this, and think how soon all will be gone from this world-it makes all human pursuits which terminate with this world more insignificant than I have words to express."