On errands of his grace.

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we
sleep."

No just objection to this soothing doctrine can arise from the acknowledged truth, that God, being every where present, can easily take care of us himself, without the assistance of angels: for so he could have destroyed the Assyrian army, without an angel, by the breath of his mouth. God can do all things by his own immediate act, without difficulty; for, his power is every where alike. But, as he is pleased, in many cases, to make use of created human agents in accomplishing his will; so he may employ divine ones, for reasons at present utterly unknown to us, and for which we shall, doubtless, praise him hereafter.

Imperceptibly drawn, by a pleasing subject, into somewhat of a digression, I return to the great argument before us, impressed with holy awe at its grandeur, and

If the

not without a feeling of reluctance now to leave it; being conscious that much more yet remains to be advanced on so important a theme: a theme, like that of salvation, concerning which we may say "I know no end thereof." Nor shall we know it, till the wondering soul enter that state, where we shall know such sublime truths, even as also we are known. angels themselves desire to look into them, how gratifying will it be to the children. of mortality, then to be made acquainted with such mysteries of godliness! to know, for instance, why "God was manifest in the flesh," and why, in that body which he assumed, he became a sacrifice for sin; to see the self-devoted Paschal Victim, the great vicarious High Priest himself; to "look on Him who was pierced" for the transgressions of a whole world; to behold that head, which was once, in cruel mockery, encompassed with lacerating thorns," adorned with many crowns;" to see all the kings of the earth casting their ensigns of sovereignty at his feet, as "the only wise Potentate-the King of

4

kings, and Lord of lords;" to view a great multitude which no man can number, surrounding his throne "high and lifted up," and to hear their voices, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Allelujah! salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever!"

CONCLUSION.

Reader if a perusal of these pages shall have kindled within thee but one edifying or consolatory thought, praise Him for it, who is the giver of every thing that is good. Then, haply, by His Grace, the smallest beginnings of earthly piety may, to thy unspeakable blessedness, terminate in heavenly Allelujahs with Saints and Angels, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen, Amen.

APPENDIX.

IT being so strenuously asserted by Materialists that, after the dissolution of the body, the soul remains in a state of temporary annihilation, during the interval between death and the day of judgement-some additional arguments to those already adduced against such a cheerless doctrine, will here be subjoined from in telligent writers, whose view of the subject may still further demonstrate on what visionary ground is reared an hypothesis, so unsupported by reason or analogy, and so repugnant to revelation.

In a work, intituled "An Essay on the Identity and Resurrection of the Human Body," &c. by Mr. SAMUEL DREW, there are some passages, so excellent in themselves, and so apposite to the subject in

which we are engaged, that I shall take the liberty of transcribing, or, more correctly speaking, of abridging them, for the edification of the reader.

"Whatever difficulties seem to clog the doctrine of the Resurrection, they are neither greater in themselves, nor more in number, than nature exhibits in almost all her works. It is true, that the constant repetition of a wonder, invariably tends to lessen our astonishment; and we continue to gaze, till we behold with the most perfect indifference, the most astonishing events, as the common occurrences of our present state.

"The power and process of vegetation, which are constantly exhibited before our eyes, include secrets which we cannot unravel; and, when viewed with an attentive observation, discover mysteries, which are far more unaccountable than any which are contained in the belief, that our bodies shall be re-animated in some future period, after the great recess of nature in the grave shall have passed, and be totally done

away.