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and "looking with them into the mysteries" of the manifold wisdom of God involved in the wonders of redemption:-encircling with them the throne of God, and "always beholding his face," 2 and contemplating his perfections, and celebrating his glory, and " serving him night and day in his temple,” 3 and worshipping him, and chanting forth his praise.

And there shall be "heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, and the voice of harpers harping with their harps." 4 And this shall be the tenor, and this, we are told, the very language of their song: "Allelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth: let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him." 5 "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." 6 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created."7 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests." "Amen. Alle

1 1 Pet. i. 12. 4 Rev. xiv, 2. "Rev. iv. 11.

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2 Matt. xviii. 10.
Rev, xix. 6, 7.
Rev. v. 12, 9.

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9 Rev. vii. 15.

• Rev. iv 8.

lujah. Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." 1

THE ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRST-BORN.

It were a goodly and a glorious sight,

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The assembled Church from time's remotest age! Priest, patriarch, ruler, lawgiver, and sage; And they who soar'd the poet's lofty flight, Psalmist or seer; or fought the Gospel fight, God's truth proclaim'd, or stored the sacred With all of less renown, who dared engage Sin, and were conquerors in the Saviour's might. Behold them there! They stand before the gate (In heav'n their names are writ!) for entrance there What time their Captain comes. Cast off the weight That stays thy course; like them right onward bear, So shalt thou swell with them their Leader's state, Partake his triumph, and his banquet share.

THE ANGELS.

They are God's minist'ring spirits, and are sent,
His messengers of mercy, to fulfil

Good for salvation's heirs. For us they still
Grieve when we sin, rejoice when we repent;
And on the last dread day they shall present
The severed righteous at his holy hill,
With them God's face to see, to do his will,

1 Rev. v. 13.

And bear with them his likeness. Was it meant,
That we this knowledge should in secret seal,
Unthought of, unimproving? Rather say,
God deign'd to man his angel hosts reveal,

That man might learn like angels to obey;
And those, who long their bliss in heaven to feel,
Might strive on earth to serve him ev'n as they.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN HEAVEN.

Yes, 'tis God's presence gives the welcomed blest
Their joy and bliss supreme. With him to dwell,
To see his glory, and his praises tell,
To copy him of perfectness possest,
The Holy, Holy, Holy! First and best

Of joys, fruition's base and pinnacle;

Without him, heav'n would more resemble hell,
Darkness with him were light, and labor rest.
God of my health, show me the way to bliss,

The way to Thee! Who slight thy proffer'd grace, Sin is their portion now, at last the abyss

Of woe. Thy image in my soul replace,

That I may serve thee here in time; nor miss,
When time shall fail, the brightness of thy face!

GOD'S PRAISES IN HEAVEN.

Methought I heard a voice to heav'n's high King
Shout" Allelujah!" From a host it came,
A countless number, which no man can name,
Of God's redeem'd, attemper'd to the string

Of harpers harping with their harps, that ring
Symphonious: "Worthy is the Great I AM,
Who us created; worthy is the Lamb,
Who died to save us:" and again they sing,
"Salvation, Allelujah!" Then I thought,

With such celestial song what earthborn lays Of meaner theme may vie, too oft o'erfraught With vice or folly! May heaven's concert raise Heav'nward my thoughts and hopes, till, thither brought, I hear and join in that immortal praise!

CHAPTER II.

APPLICATION OF THE FOREGOING PARTICULARS.

SECTION I.

GRATITUDE DUE TO GOD FOR THE REVELATION OF FUTURE

HAPPINESS.

In the former chapter it has been my endeavor to draw out from the word of God, and to place distinctly before the mind of the reader, the particulars which are therein contained, concerning the heavenly abode, and the blissful circumstances, and the personal condition, and the society and occupations of the blessed in the life that is to come. the succeeding chapter it is my purpose to take up the subject again in a practical view; and to aim at unfolding the PRINCIPAL USES, to which the previous inquiry may, I think, be most fitly and properly applied.

In

Beseeching, therefore, the blessing of Almighty God for his Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, to give efficacy by his Spirit to these our meditations, I observe, in the first place, that to Him also our GRATITUDE is due for this among manifold other instances of his " grace, which was given us in our

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