the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ? If not, we can have no satisfaction in the contemplation of future rest. We cannot enjoy an earthly sabbath, much less delight in the prospect of a sabbath in heaven. The calmest sky will appear disturbed if seen reflected in troubled waters and the mind ill at ease in itself, and without faith and hope in Jesus Christ, to fix its thoughts and compose its fears, cannot understand the rest that remaineth to believers in heaven. To such a mind every thing seems clouded and confused but those who are at peace within, see all tranquil around and above. Their delight is in the Lord. To them His "service is perfect freedom" here, and His promise, the ground of their hope hereafter. Under the shadow of the cross, they find rest from the fear of death and judgment to come. They know that Jesus has entered into His rest as the forerunner of those that believe. They follow Him to heaven, as the Jews followed Joshua to Canaan: and in the peace of God that now rules their minds, and in His love shed abroad in their hearts, He has given them a pledge that they shall rest with Him for ever.

Think how this prospect must animate them in the duties of their way, and support them under its trials. The sight of the distant goal renews the hopes of the panting racer, braces his nerves afresh, and animates him to put forth his utmost strength. So run that ye may obtain. Jesus Christ, for the joy set before him, endured

the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. xii. 2.) Consider this-Look unto Jesus now at rest, and you will no more be weary and faint in your minds. The hope of deliverance, however slight, will sustain a man in danger so long as he has power to struggle for life. Then, in all the peril that may alarm you, remember the Saviour's words, Fear not, only believe. Think of the rest that remaineth to the people of God, and it will keep you from despair. And how will it support our minds, when deprived of those who loved and served the Lord; how will it tend to bind up the broken heart, and reconcile us to our bereavement to know that they are at rest! All we then have to do is, to seek help from above to follow them as they followed Christ, that we also may enter into His rest.

But, we are yet strangers and sojourners upon earth, and all have need of the apostle's caution, Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Heb. iv. 1.) Many of the Jews could not enter Canaan, because of unbelief: neither can any hope to enter heaven while devoid of faith in Him, Who hath opened its everlasting doors. It is only to believers, and it is to all believers," that the promise of admittance is given. Then, beloved, art thou a believer? Be not satisfied with a verbal, an inactive, an unfruitful profession; for this will

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not satisfy your Judge. Weighed in His balances, it will be found wanting indeed. Soon will our survivors say of us, as we say of departed friends-They are gone! But whither? Brethren, whither? If this night your souls were required of you, where would you be? be? Can you not tell? Must this remain a dark uncertainty till the event reveals it? To what purpose then are we instructed in the doctrines and precepts of the Bible? To the conscientious mind there need be no uncertainty in the matter. The character of your ways is the character of their termination. Let conscience confess what road you are travelling, and the Scriptures will declare whither you are going. If walking" according to the course of this world," your path, like all that is earthly, must end in death. The gay and heedless, the covetous and vicious, the proud and sensual, compose the multitudes in that road, which an infallible Guide has declared, leads to destruction. To dispute His word is madness. It may serve for a season to compose our fears; yet who that loves sin better than holiness, or pleasure more than God, can reasonably hope to escape the judgment to come? Knowing no happiness out of the course he has hitherto pursued, and determined not to be diverted from it, the votary of the world tries to persuade himself that he has nothing to fear, though he should persevere in it to the end. He professes to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation: yet he knows that he

gives no " diligence to make his calling and election sure." How awful then must be the disappointment in which his presumption will end, when he shall find himself excluded from that abode of peace which he expected to enter! It is written, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Really to believe this would make every unholy man tremble. Then can any one rest here, indifferent about the question whither he is going? O God, touch the hearts of the thoughtless and the wicked! Arouse them from the sleep of sin; call them to the life of faith: that, instead of the fearful disappointment that otherwise awaits them, they may find peace at the last, and enter into rest.

How indescribable the joy of the true believer on entering the presence of his Lord! May both hearers and preacher inherit that blessedness! and while detained here below from its fruition, let us be ever found among the humble, faithful followers of Jesus, "holding forth the word of life" in our walk and conversation, and enjoying that peace of God in our souls which passeth all understanding. May we daily grow in grace and truth, in holiness and love; and so finally have an abundant entrance ministered unto us, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

DISCOURSE XIII.

DETERMINATION TO ATTAIN THE REST OF

HEAVEN.

WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST. YEA DOUBTLESS, AND I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD: FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, AND DO COUNT THEM BUT DUNG, THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST, AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING MADE CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH; IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.-Philippians iii. 7—11.

No comparison can be formed between temporal and eternal blessings. If we sit down patiently and impartially to estimate the value of each, it will take but little time or skill to discover, that all the wealth or accomplishments, fame or titles