changes of their frame to those final distinctions of happiness and misery which he hath declared to be reserved for obedience and transgression, for virtue and vice, for the use and the neglect, the right and the wrong employment of the faculties, and the opportunities with which he hath been. pleased severally to trust and try us. Neither can any one consistently doubt of this power who admits the power of creation; for surely He who made all things out of nothingness can combine separated particles, and, if he sees fit, endue the second form with superior perceptions and beauties. Here, again, we are called upon to exercise faith. Scripture is silent upon the condition of the body hereafter. Let us, however, be satisfied with Job, that in our flesh we shall see God in the person of our Redeemer. Enough is given us to know, as much as our weak minds can grasp, by St. Paul, in that splendid analysis of our faith found in the 15th chapter of the 2nd epistle to the Corinthians.

3rd. The life everlasting. This is the consummation of all things, fixed for that time when Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead, to be glorified by his saints and admired by alĺ them that believe. Yet, let us pause a moment; the resurrection and eternal life are to be the fate of all. Will they be to all a joy? If not, what will they be? A fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, The abode of the wicked and of the good, although we have applied terms to them, are quite unknown to us; we only feel assured that the good shall dwell in the presence of God and his Son for ever, being clothed in righteousness, and made like unto him in holiness, ever increasing in the

knowledge and love of his divine perfections, growing brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, while the wicked shall be cast forth from his presence for evermore. Never again shall they hear the sweet accents of mercy; never again know a single joy proceeding from love or virtue; never again experience a single hope; so that the Christian, indeed, looks with joy for the coming of the Lord Jesus, while the sinner trembles at the very name of that day. A day, indeed, of trembling; for who shall stand in the presence of the Lord of Glory, who appears in the midst of nature's death throes, armed with all the powers of his Father? The righteous must, undoubtedly, exceedingly quake and fear, but a certainty will arise in their bosom that He is faithful who promised. Almighty to avenge, Almightiest to redeem.

This great day of retribution shall settle all the long-standing accounts between God and man, and man and his neighbour. The Law shall be there to convict the Jew; the conscience of every heathen shall then recount to him every impression of right. The Gospel shall be there in characters of light to judge the Christian. The tyrant shall see the oppressed widow, and orphan, and slave; the cruel and malicious man shall behold the victims he has destroyed; the sensualist shall see his companions he has plunged in sin; the hypocrite shall see his private thoughts recorded in characters of flame; the scoffer shall see his God prepared to execute vengeance. Time shall bring before the throne all its myriads of the sons of 66 men, with its glory or disgrace, charge its spenders face to face." Then will it appear that every virtuous action, every holy aspiration, every suffering saint hath received or

shall receive a due reward. That as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are God's ways higher than our ways; that He hath done all things well.

Then shall all the promises be fulfilled; then shall our vile bodies be made like unto his glorious body; then shall songs of joy and praise proceed from our hearts for ever; then shall the garments of holiness clothe a holy spirit; then shall faith be swallowed up in sight; hope drowned in certainty; while love, uniting every heart, shall mingle with the love of Christ. There shall be no mere sorrow, for God shall wipe all tears from every eye. Yet stay one moment to ask, Am I a suitable inmate for this heaven of joy and love? Remember, without holiness no man shall see the Lord. You could not enjoy heaven, if you do not cultivate here those graces which make us meet for heaven. Be not discouraged if you feel that you long to experience your Saviour's smiles, to mortify your own inclinations for the love of his favour. He will perfect His work in you, but do not imagine that you can enjoy heaven, or attain it, with no desire whatever to be conformed to your Saviour's image.

"We may make this sweet remark at last, that Zion on earth shall be joined to Jerusalem (the Church) above. Jesus, the King of Saints, shall take this earthly Zion from the powers of this wicked earth, and shall build and adorn it around with glory and strength: with perfect beauty and complete grace, and add it to the Jerusalem which is above. Look upwards, O souls, which are full of praise; look upwards and rejoice to think that you shall be made inhabitants of that city, and united to that glorious Church. It is

the chief delight of happy souls, there to run over the glories of their God, and tell one another joyfully, and tell their God humbly, what a wise, what a holy, what an Almighty, and all-gracious God he is. In heaven the river of pleasure springs from God's right hand, because Jesus, the Saviour, sits there. It is a river that makes glad the city of our God; and every stream, as it flows along the golden streets, murmurs sweet praises to the fountain."-Dr. Watts.

CHAPTER III.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY.

THE third part of the Church Catechism is The Christian's Duty; being the third promise made in Baptism "to walk in God's commandments all the days of our life." These commandments were given to the Jews to be a test of their obedience. They contain the moral law, a law which was the study of philosophers, a law which finds an echo in some measure in every heart. For to break the letter of the commandment is to sin against the light of nature, against conscience. Murder and theft are detested and punished in degrees in every civilized nation. Lying, perjury, and false witness have, in all ages, been held in abhorrence by every noble mind. It may be observed wherever these vices have flourished or remained unpunished that state has declined, while wherever virtue has flourished the state has prospered, for, independent of the wrath of God, vice destroys, whilst virtue protects a nation. Virtue in itself is so vigorous, healthy, and dignified. Vice so weak, slavish, and unwhole

some.

We must not, however, compare the virtue of the heathen nations of antiquity with the high morality we now call virtue; that would be to depreciate the peculiar benefits bestowed with

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