while our life is young, and while one has time enough to get the good of this world, and to enrich himself from its storehouses. Certainly the adjoining world will be all the better if we make a good use of this one in view of our promotion. It is in many respects a serious thing to move into another world. But it ought not to call for a reversal of the principles by which we have been living, a reconstruction of our plan, a transmuting of the purposes and motives which we have approved. These will be modified, probably, with the change of our body, and the passing into scenes which are different from these. But purpose and character do not anywhere depend upon circumstances, and need not change with them. If our present life is to have dignity and consistency, we must so fashion it that we shall desire its continuance.

It is of this world and of our years upon it that we are now thinking. We are to notice the permanent nature of the verities, the realities, with which we have to do. Many things are temporal, and these can be left without serious loss. The unseen things are lasting. The soul, the reason, the conscience: Truth, duty, virtue, are permanent; and are the same in all ages and all worlds. It is in these that the successful life is established. This has the earnest and the promise of the good to come. The future is substantial and alluring. To make it our own we must get hold of it now.

We shall be fitted for the college if we do the work of the preparatory school. The alphabet and multiplication table which we learn in the child's school-room will serve us through the university. We are bidden to "act in the living present." It would be difficult to act in any other time. Life is to be regarded as a whole. To be successful in our second century, and second world will not make the life successful if the earlier portion of our years has been a failure. No time will be more real than that which we spend upon this globe. To get the good of all the worlds there are, taking them in their order, is the rule by which the wise man will live.

It was a hard bargain which the Plymouth men were forced to make with the London merchants before they could set sail for the New England. The merchants sought immediate gain; the Pilgrims had better designs. Concerning the compact it has been wittily remarked, that the merchants were willing the Pilgrims should have the world to come, while they would take as their share the world that now is. The prudent man takes both, as every man ought to do.

We have no precise information regarding the method of life in our next world. But I have a strong persuasion that we shall not be greatly surprised when we awake and find ourselves there: and that whatever there may be of strange

66

ness will soon pass off. This persuasion rests. in part upon the belief that our next world will not be entirely different from this, and that we shall be the same persons we are now; and in part upon the facility with which we become accustomed to new places. The traveller in a foreign land is surprised at the rapidity with which he gets used to the scenes about him. He finds himself walking in Cairo or Damascus as if on the streets of his own town; and has to rouse himself to the consciousness of his position. 'Do you know that this is Jerusalem? Are you aware that this is the Alhambra, which you desired to see?" It is easy to think that something like this will be found when we have been but a short time in the adjoining world, of which we have been learning. If our works do really follow with us, there will be some things with which we are at once acquainted. We shall be impressed with the beauties which surround us. But here we have often seen splendour in the sun rising and in the sun setting, and the radiance of noonday, and the glories of the sky at night. The persons whom we meet will be in new forms; but we have already learned to look through the form. and to see and enjoy the soul of our friend. There will be much to surprise us, but the surprise will soon pass into delight. We shall wonder at the quietness and joy which prevail. If we inquire we shall find the reason of this in the love of man

for man, of angel for angel, and of all for Him who sits upon the throne and gives forth the light. We shall at once recognize the Commandments we learned in childhood; the first, and the second which is like unto it.

We shall notice that everyone is sharing and gladdening the life of his neighbour, and that those who excel in strength are giving to the younger and less strong. It will at once come into our mind, that this is the rule we were taught in the primary world. Doubtless we shall find that we have already been instructed in every principle, and that we are to live by these, though in more freedom. To do this will make that portion of life successful; but it will not make the whole life prosperous. If I may say it once more, we must make these years successful, or the life cannot be so. If all this be true, when we are brought to the question of success we are prepared to say that we must take the law of the next world for our governance here. We do not wish to change it, for we see its perfection as we look before us. Let us then at once settle ourselves in the principles which commend themselves to our thought, to our reason, and conscience, and to our knowledge, in anticipation of the worlds and years to come.

Passing to some applications of this rule, we perceive that we may have now the occupations which can be transferred with us. Here we are

apprentices, there master workmen. This must be taken in a natural way, for evidently the forms of our occupation will be altered. For instance, the musician will not have his organ or harp; but his skill in music will find use, and his enjoyment of it will be extended where much of the delight is represented as singing, and the melody of harpers harping with their harps. The Artist will find that which will gratify his taste, and he will be able to teach others. The Lawyer will maintain the right; or if this be not necessary, he can show the beauty of holiness. The Physician cannot heal the sick, but he can make life stronger and promote the health of the mind. The Merchant, the Architect, the Minister, will find a use for the personal endowment, the professional ability. We cannot tell exactly how this will be arranged. We have no need to be informed at present. But there will be no waste of good. The experience and discipline we have acquired, and which have become a part of us, will not be lost. If the broken fragments are not to be wasted, we may be confident that the whole loaves will not be cast away. The representation of a city where we shall reside suggests that the citizens will have various employments, adapted to their ability. We have different talents now, and shall have different positions in the coming city. We do not know all that it means, but there is a distinct illustra