CONVERSATION III.

"Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." Isaiah XXX. 26.

WHILST contemplating the sun as eclipsing every lesser light, let us carry on the simile, and regard that glorious orb of day as a type of the Sun of righteousness, declaring the glory of God, while he diffuses light and heat around a dark cold world. That material light rises in the east, and travels with indescribable swiftness over all the dark corners of the earth. Wherever there is speech or language, the sound is gone forth and declares, 'the hand that made me is divine.' In the eastern extremity of the globe, in Asia, the Sun of righteousness arose; and

here we contemplate the meridian of divine light" which lighteth every man that cometh into the world: "-that world which was made by Him, yet knew him not, that world lying in wickedness; which He came to redeem ; He, who was the true light, and in him was no darkness at all. He was the life, and gave his life a ransom for many.

Do you recollect, papa, St. Paul's description of the Lord's appearance, as exceeding the sun in brightness, shining round about him?

I do, Georgiana, and also the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the rising of the true light. "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall appear upon thee; and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." Here is clearly depicted,

"the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star." "Whereunto (St. Peter says) ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts."

What a beautiful description is given in the last two chapters of Revelation, of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, papa! "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof: and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or a lie but they which are written in the Lamb's

book of life. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Oh! papa, what happiness to be an inhabitant of this city!

Yes, Georgiana, the whole church of Christ shall assemble there. You should not have omitted the first appearance of the holy city, "coming down from God

out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Such is the tender relationship which Christ bears to his church, she is called, the " Lamb's bride :" and also, "the King's daughter, all glorious within," being the temple of the Holy Ghost; "her clothing of wrought gold." "She shall be brought to the king in raiment of needle work ;" this identifies the pure robe of Christ's righteousness, wrought out by his own hands as the ornament and glory of his church. Being "of wrought gold," signifies "the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy." "The virgins her companions that follow her," means the gathering in of the Gentiles. 66 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace." These are "the ransomed of the Lord," who shall " come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Each one may say, as