recompense of reward will make death itself pleasant, and hang out a lamp sufficient to enlighten even that dark valley. Can none get admission into this city of habitation but the redeemed of the Lord?" Let this lead us to Jesus Christ, the only person "Who is of God, made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins," Acts v. 31. No one can save us from our sins, but He whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for our sin, through faith in his blood. Hither, then, must the convinced sinner fly, as his city of refuge; on His righteousness must we all depend for a right and title to life; and his spirit alone can fit and prepare us for it. If we have not on us Christ's perfect righteousness, we are not his people; none but they who are arrayed with this fine linen, clean and white, shall be thought worthy to enter into this city of habitation. Let us, therefore, be importunate with God to lead us unto Christ, and enable us to believe in him to the saving of the soul. Such he has purchased glory for, and he lives to prepare them for it. There, as their forerunner, he is for them already entered; and thither, as the captain of their salvation, will he at last bring them, and present them faultless before the throne of his Father's glory, with exceeding joy." EAST. SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.-James v. 7, 8. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-Isaiah xxxv. 8-10. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.-John xiv. 2, 3. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.-Rev. xxii. 14. HEAVEN. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away.— REV. XXI. 4. No sickness there, No weary wasting of the frame away, No fearful shrinking from the midnight air, No hidden grief, No wild and cheerless vision of despair, No vain petition for a swift relief, No tearful eyes, no broken hearts are there. Care has no home Within the realm of ceaseless prayer and song: Its billows break and melt away in foam, The storm's black wing Is never spread athwart celestial skies; Its wailings blend not with the voice of spring, No night distils Its chilling dews upon the tender frame, No moon is needed there. The light which fills That land of glory, from its Maker came. No parted friends O'er mournful recollections have to weep; To watch the coming of a pulseless sleep. No blasted flower, Or withered bud celestial gardens know; No scorching blast, or fierce-descending shower Scatters destruction like a ruthless foe. No battle word Startles the sacred host with fear and dread; Let us depart, If home like this await the weary soul. Look up, thou stricken one! Thy wounded heart Shall bleed no more at sorrow's stern control. With faith our guide, White-robed and innocent, to lead the way, IV. THE WHITE-ROBED THRONG. "I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."-REV. VII. 9. WHAT a different scene, what a different world, WHAT separated only by a slight veil from that which we inhabit, is here exhibited to our view! a world into which we may enter by a single step, and in a moment of time! Here we see a busy world, eager in vain pursuits, agitated by mere trifles, contending about objects of no moment, and immersed in things which perish with the using. All is noise, and confusion, and vanity, and sorrow, and evil. But behold another world nigh at hand, composed of different beings, governed by different principles; where all things are as momentous, as here they are frivolous; where all things are as great, as here they are little; where all things are as durable, as here they are transitory; where all things are as fixed, as here they are mutable! That world has also its inhabitants -so numerous, that the population of this world is but as a petty tribe compared to them. It has its employments; but they are of the noblest kind and weightiest import; and compared with them, the whole sum of |