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should animate us to seek to enter into the promised rest. Be persuaded, beloved brethren, by what you have read and heard, to set your hearts and affections on things above! Here you dwell in the region of 'night;" and though some light may beam upon your path, yet ignorance, imperfection, danger, and sorrow, are the constant attendants upon all of us, in this world of darkness. It is no more possible to be completely happy upon earth, than it is to stay the sun in his course, or to hinder the returning shadows of evening. No change of clime or place-no condition, pursuit, age, situation, or enjoyment' in this world-can enable you to say, "No night is here." But in true religion you may enjoy the dawnings and the anticipations of eternal day. CHRIST says, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest:"-a present peace, a present joy to those who seek Him: and again He says, “I am the light of "the world: he that followeth Me, shall not walk in "darkness, but shall have the light of life." Be anxious, therefore, brethren, to become true and faithful followers of the SAVIOUR; for it is only by this means that you can attain to the glories of celestial day.

And let the real Christian be supported by the glorious hope of all this joy and happiness, amidst the ills and trials of this present evil world. Soon, every cause of anxiety and suffering will cease, and the believer will enter into rest. Let him therefore " press

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toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS:" and, as the heir of eternal light, let him "cast off the works of darkness." Hypocrisy, deceit, suspicion, concealment, and every dark and light-shunning principle and practice, are utterly at variance with the character and condition of that state where night shall be no more. Let us therefore, as candidates for immortal glory, renounce whatever is inconsistent with the high object of our highest efforts, and, even in this world, "walk as children of light, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

Finally, let the bright prospect of eternal day, which awaits us, if true believers in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, reconcile our minds to the thought of death, and relieve us from the terrors of the grave. Death is the birthday of the Christian, and it introduces him into the region of light and life eternal. Oh! then, let us hail the close of each day's course, with all its passing clouds of ignorance. and infirmities, and cares, and woes; and when the shades of evening wrap us in their gloom, reflect upon the speedy approach of that glorious dawn of everlasting blessedness. What a change the next hour may make in the condition of the Christian! Now, like Lazarus, destitution, and disease, and reproach, may lay him in the very dust; but ere another hour shall have passed, Angels may bear him to the realms of bliss, and he may be reposing in all the happiness of Abraham's bosom. Patiently, therefore, let the Christian endure his

allotted portion of sorrow and care; for soon the hour of his dismissal will arrive; and then there remaineth for him "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:" a few more shadows shall obscure his path, a few more griefs oppress his heart, a few more sighs and tears, for his own sins and for others' woes, shall escape him,-and then the splendour of Heaven shall burst upon his view, and the unutterable pleasures of the Blest shall be his eyerlasting portion. May such be the happy termination of all our ignorances, imperfections, trials, and troubles! May such be the future day of glory, that shall rise upon you and me, in the Kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST! to whom, with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, be ascribed all honour, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore.

SERMON XIX.

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF SAINTS IN GLORY.

1 CORINTHIANS Xiii. 12.

Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.

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In this chapter, the Apostle shows the absolute importance and the abiding duration of that charity, or love, which is the effect of genuine faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. To the attainment of this love he exhorts the Corinthians, by various considerations, which it would be impracticable now to enumerate; and I must confine myself to one topic only, which is— the imperfection of human and even Christian knowledge in the present life. Now we see through a glass, darkly:" here, all we know is but dimness and darkness, compared with the full and bright discoveries, reserved for the future state of the true Christian's existence, in the presence and kingdom of his GOD. This imperfection of those gifts, which too many value more than saving graces, is stated with the design of exciting us to the cultivation of those holy principles and feelings, which will ripen into all the perfection and blessedness of Heaven. There, the

true believer" shall see face to face, and know, even as also he is known." These words evidently describe personal sight, and personal knowledge. A clear apprehension of all things relating to the happiness of the Saints, is implied in the terms before us; but they express personal acts and recognitions, and warrant the persuasion, that much of our knowledge, in the state of blessedness, will be communicated through direct intercourse with those glorious Beings whom we shall see face to face, and whom we shall know, even as we are known of them.

Amidst the inhabitants of that blest world, our gracious REDEEMER reigns, in all the majesty of essential Deity. Yet, upon the throne of Heaven, He wears a human form; and there each of His redeemed people shall literally see Him face to face, and know far more of His doings, sufferings, care, and love, than it is possible for us now even to imagine. That every believer will know and see his beloved SAVIOUR in the world to come, cannot be doubted; for, among many declarations, we would specify only that of St. John, "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." And the Saints in glory will see and recognise one another, and thus, from mutual recognition, derive mutual delight.

It is to this animating subject, the mutual recognition of glorified Saints, that I wish now to direct your attention; and, in doing so, I would, 1st, Offer