have gradually descended into that poor and low estate, in which he is here presented to our view. All things in this world are in a state of mutability and fluctuation and the divine wisdom might see it good, that this man should inevitably sink into circumstances of remarkable poverty and insignificance. He who gives us our being, appoints also the bounds of our habitation during our sojourn in the present world. He lifteth up, and he casteth down; he maketh rich, and he maketh poor; the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away:

blessed be the name of the Lord.

To the privations of poverty there was superadded, in this case, the sad accompaniment of grievous and incurable disease: he was full of sores, afflicting to himself, and rendering him an unsightly object to every beholder. He was, moreover, utterly helpless; as we learn from the circumstance of his being daily laid at the gate of an affluent neighbour. This was probably his station throughout the the station of his pe

year,

culiar choice, and where he was accustomed to obtain more favour than

where else expect to find.

he could any

At the
At the gate of

the sweet songs of paradise strike on our ear, and feast our ravished souls. All heaven seems then approaching to salute us in our course, to cheer us on our way, and strengthen us with prelibations of its own superior blessedness. And though these golden intervals are as unfrequent in their recurrence as they are rapid in their passage, yet do they never fail to sweeten our travail, to quicken our pace, and to increase our desire after divine enjoyments. This is what the Scriptures term, drinking of the brook by the way. But, when we reach our home, we shall find our dwelling fixed where there is fulness of joy, and where rivers of pleasure flow for evermore.

To this blessed state the favoured John alludes in the following passage- And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. 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 are passed away.

Such, my brethren, are the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. And with such a weight of blessedness in view, it becomes us at all times and in all places to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving, still holding on our course in full assurance of faith, and daily rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

But, alas, how few can be found thus happily engaged, or in any reasonable degree qualified for these spiritual exercises! The discordant voices of an unruly and tumultuous world threaten wholly to overwhelm and silence among us the voice of adoration and praise. Here and there, perhaps, a solitary individual may sit and tune his soul to sacred themes; and now and then a select assembly may unite their better powers to raise his triumphs, who is King of kings and Lord of lords: but these are to be considered, for the most part, as striking exceptions to the common practice of mankind. May the voice of love and peace, of adoration and praise, at length prevail; charming the unquiet multitude to attention and acquiescence, till the name of

Jehovah shall be sounded through the world, from the rising up of the sun to the going down thereof!

Saints above and saints below form but different parts of the same family. They now surround the throne of God rejoicing; and we are in training for the same sublime station. The militant and triumphant parts of this family are separated from each other by only a very slight partition, and such a one as is not totally impervious to the eye of faith. For, as the apostle speaks, we are already come unto mount Sion, unto the city of the living God, to the new Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. In these circumstances, we are not only warranted, but required to join our elder brethren in the upper courts of our Father's house, to catch their spirit, to swell their hallelujahs, and to sing as loud as they the praises of redeeming love. And this is more especially required of us, as we behold the day ap

proaching, which is actually to associate us with that glorified throng, among whom we shall finally take our appointed places, ascribing with them Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, unto Him who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.