are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. iv. 13-18.

:

"Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Phil. iii. 20, 21.

"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. iv. 6-8.

[This reflection is a grand source of most abundant consolation to the people of God, under all manner of trials,-and especially

under reproach and persecution. The Lord is at hand; and at His coming every enemy will be subdued, and trampled underneath His feet and ours; and He Himself, in the fulness of His glory and His love, will wipe all tears for ever from our eyes. He also will raise from the grave, and glorify, the body: for of this it is expressly written :]

:

"It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

[So that the Christian may sing, even here upon earth,-]

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But

thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. xv.

42-44; 53-57.

[It is not needful or proper here, to enter into any controversies respecting the times and seasons "which the Father hath put in His own power." The grand practical point is this,that to Faith, these great events are always close at hand. They were close at hand to the Apostles and Primitive Christians (notwithstanding so many intervening Centuries) because they had Faith in exercise respecting them. To us they are far off (though nearer by eighteen hundred years, in point of time) because that Faith is wanting. It matters not whether our calculations and interpretations make out that they shall take place to-morrow, or more than a thousand years hence; if Faith be not in exercise, we shall have no profit, no edification, no comfort, support, or encouragement from them; but shall remain carnal, worldly, and wretched, in spite of any opinion we may embrace, as to their nearness in time.]

Will not all soon end in joy?

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wrath with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah liv.

7-10.

"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm xxx. 4, 5.

"For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But

though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies." Lam. iii. 31, 32.

[What can be more certain than the speedy and blessed end of afflictions, to all that are indeed Christ's people? (see Rom. viii. 28, and 2 Cor. iv. 17.) Therefore the humble believer, while all things are withering around him, may sing in his pilgrimage to this effect

A little while, and then my race is run,
My toils are ended and my conflicts done :
For looking in the glass, from day to day,
I seem to trace the progress of decay
That slowly wears this mortal frame away.
And (though not unrefresh'd by sacred song,"
Murmur'd by Angel hosts that round me
throng,

Here on life's rugged path I creep along,
Feeble and faint,-alone and friendless too,-
A weary traveller; but with HOME in view!
Then welcome every trial may befal!

That HOME will more than make amends for all.