which is far better." Thus may we try to measure the depth of our piety, and the strength and healthfulness of our Christian life. In proportion to its energy, it will aspire after the place and the condition most suited to the development and satisfaction of its

nature.

To be with Christ is the perfection of manhood. Well, therefore, and with earnestness, may the Christian desire it. The great mystery of godliness is seen in "God manifest in the flesh," and dwelling with men; the great triumph and consummation of godliness will be seen in man being raised to be with God, and dwelling with Him. Christ assumed our nature and wedded it to Himself for ever, that He might raise us with Him to eternal glory. The perfection of manhood, therefore, is in being with Christ, in being like Him, entirely conformed to His image, and ultimately fashioned like unto His glorious body. He is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; and this redemption will be manifested, and find its consummation, in our complete likeness to Christ and enthronement with Him in celestial glory. Perfection can nowhere be reached by man but through Christ, in Christ, and with Christ, as the God-man; so that to be perfect, and to realise the full restoration of our fallen nature, and the complete development of our regenerate being, we must rise to be with Christ, which is far better. For these reasons the Christian desires it; and the measure of his desire will largely be the measure of his spiritual life and godliness. To live to be useful, to die and be with Christ; these express the sum and substance of the believer's view and feeling with regard to the present and the future.

No life that I have ever personally known more fully illustrated these principles than the life of our late friend Mr. East. He lived to do good, yet desired to be with Christ, which he believed to be far better than even the state of happy enjoyment which the

He is now gone

Christian realizes here. to be with his Lord. He died on the anniversary of his wedding day, and joined the church above in the same month as he joined this church below, eight-and-forty years ago. We are not here this morning to eulogize the dead, but to speak to the living. Yet for this very end some aspects of the life of the deceased must be referred to. Many of those who have only recently become connected with this church did not, and could not, know much of him: others, who have known him longer, and have had opportunities of estimating his worth, will never forget him. He has been connected with this house of God from its foundation, and with the church worshipping here when it worshipped in its former sanctuary. During the whole of this lengthened period he maintained a beautiful Christian consistency, distinguished by sincere devotedness to the cause of God; and for thirty-four years he honourably and usefully sustained the office of deacon. He was a man of simple, earnest, and intelligent piety. In some respects he reminded one of what we read of the old Puritans, with something occasionally of the severity of their religiousness, but with all their faithfulness to truth, to conscience, and to God. Yet he had a heart full of the milk of human kindness, and rejoiced in seeing and making others happy. He clung with fond and firm faith to the great facts and doctrines of the Gospel, not merely for the sake of orthodoxy, but because they were his life and strength as a Christian; and he was fully able to give a reason of the hope that was in him. His attachment to evangelical truth was the dictate and necessity of his own spiritual life, so that his orthodoxy was neither bigoted nor blind. He was a man of singular integrity of purpose. There was nothing of pretence, or sham, or equivocation, about him. He might not be always right, but if he differed from you, the very difference and the way in which he maintained it, compelled you to respect him, and even to reverence his motives,

where you could not follow him. His character was marked by unbending adherence to principle. Now and then we might be disposed to think that in some things his principle was a little too narrow; or that he made a principle of what to others would have been a matter of indifference; but no fear or frown, no smile or allurement, would prevail to turn Joseph East aside from what he judged to be right. He would neither be drawn nor driven from what he regarded as principle; and you could not fail to see that his principle, even occasionally with some sharpness of manner in asserting it, steadily pointed to what he considered to be the glory of God and the true prosperity of His church. It was manifest to all who knew him that his attachment to the church, and word, and house of God, was fervent and strong. You have seen how constant and regular has been his attendance in the sanctuary. He was here often in a state of bodily illness and infirmity which would have kept many men at home, if not in bed. His love to this church and all its interests was very great; and few know how much he did, for many years, to maintain the public worship of God, and support His cause in connexion with the Poultry Chapel. But while, in this respect, his charity began at home, it did not end here. He loved the religious denomination to which he belonged, was jealous of its honour, and anxious for its useful

ness.

Nor was his zeal confined to his own fellowship; his Christian affection and lively interest extended to the whole church of God, and to the ends of the earth. The London Missionary Society had no warmer, and, according to his means, no more generous friend than Mr. East. For many years he was one of its trustees, and repeatedly chairman of its board of directors. That board can testify to the value of his unobtrusive and earnest services. He was also well known on the committees of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Home and Colonial Missionary Societies, and the Irish Evangelical Society; and

for a long period he was officially connected with the Congregational Union of England and Wales. His loss, therefore, will be felt far beyond ourselves, and a hearty tribute of sorrowful affec tion will be paid to the memory of Mr. East by many who have been associated with him in some of those Institutions and Societies which are the honour of our land. I have referred to his liberality. He was unusually generous in helping the work of God, and spreading the Gospel in the world. His highest enjoyment was in connexion with the kingdom of Christ, and its extension on the earth, and he was ever willing to pay for that enjoyment; ready, according to his means, to further any good work which commended itself to his judg

ment.

There was no ostentation about his generosity. He never wished himself to appear, unless it might be occasionally to stimulate others to give; and he has often placed a large gift in the collection plate, that the special donor might be overlooked in the multitude of givers. His good deeds in this respect were many and various; the last day only will reveal them. I never knew one who seemed to act under a juster estimate of the comparative, or rather contrasted value of things temporal and eternal. His main interest in the property of this world was that he might do good with it. He evidently regarded himself only as a steward of what he possessed, and endeavoured to discharge his obligation as in the sight of God. I never knew him make a promise to give, or the amount to be given, conditional and dependent on the donations of others. Yet how often this is done. It was not his custom to say, "I will give so much, if such an amount can be raised, or if so many others will give a like sum." No; he never made his duty to his Lord, or to the church, dependent on the duty or faithfulness of other men. He endeavoured to realize his own obligation, and resolved, as in the sight of God, to do his duty and exercise his privilege, irrespective of the liberality or parsimony of others.

An illustration of the character of Mr. East is within the recollection of many of you. A few years ago, during our Sabbath evening service, in the summer time, he was suddenly summoned from his place in the sanctuary. He went out, but after a brief interval he came back and resumed his seat in the pew. At the close of the service he told us who were in the vestry that he had been sent for, because his premises in Abchurch Lane were on fire. On expressing our surprise that, under these startling circumstances, be should have returned to the chapel, he quietly said, in his own decided way, What could an old man like me do there? I found that the fire brigade were present, attending to their duties; and I felt that I should do better to come back to the house of God!" How few men could or would have acted so!

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But in the providence of God he is gone from us, and it is ours to magnify the grace of God in him, and to profit by the bereavement. Brethren beloved, of this church and congregation, we shall no more see his face, or hear his voice, in this house of God; but though gone from us, and gone before us, he still speaks to us. Let us hear the voice of his devoted life, telling us to seek and find our highest blessedness in the cause of God, and in doing good to men; urging us to strive to serve our generation by the will of God. This alone will make life a holy beauty and a pilgrimage of light to the land of glory.

To all of us his death speaks loudly. It was very sudden, and it calls upon us, with a voice which we cannot mistake or misunderstand, "Prepare to meet thy God." There is but a step between us and death. We cannot tell what a day may bring forth. The Judge standetl. before the door. Blessed are they whose loins are girt and whose lamps are burning and who are found waiting when their Lord cometh. It is Christ alone that can make our lives truly happy and useful; and Christ alone that can make our death triumphant. All who trust in Him and follow Him here, shall reign

with Him hereafter. In the providential event which claims our thoughtfulness, and calls forth our sorrow, He says to us, as if with renewed impressiveness and point this morning, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."(Mark xiii. 37.)

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS
COMFORTER.

"I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." "I will pray the Father, and He shall send you ANOTHER Comforter."JOHN xiv. 18, 16.

THIS is a world of trial, of trouble, of sorrow. These come upon all. They come so frequently, and oftentimes so suddenly, that men need continually to be prepared for their presence. This being so, there is no part of God's word more precious, to those that receive it as God's word, than those passages which speak of the means He has provided to alleviate sorrow and distress.

There is no relation which the blessed Redeemer sustains to His people, that brings Him nearer to their hearts than the one indicated by the term Comforter. That He does sustain the official relation of Comforter to His people, the passages above quoted prove. He will not leave His people comfortless; for HE will come to them. His coming to them, therefore, is synonymous with comforting them. The Holy Spirit is spoken of as "another Comforter." This language, in its connexions, clearly shows He referred to himself as the first Comforter. The Lord Jesus Christ is therefore THE Comforter of His people, and the Holy Spirit is the other Comforter.

How does the Lord Jesus Christ comfort His afflicted, troubled, sorrowing ones? The field opened up before us by this question is a large one; and we must content ourselves, in this paper, with a few gleanings from its precious fruits.

The Lord Jesus Christ comforts His people in affliction BY CAUSING THEM TO REALIZE HIS PRESENCE WITH THEM.

The presence of the Saviour can make

joy anywhere, and in any heart that truly loves Him. The storm may rage, the tempest howl, the sky be darkened, the floods overflow: but let the sun only burst forth upon the scene, and what a change his rays produce! Though the storm may continue, the heart is cheered by those rays; and under their influence all things wear a different aspect from that which they previously exhibited. So is it with the human soul in times of affliction. If the rays of the Sun of Righteousness but enter its darkened chambers, if Jesus but shines into the soul, hope takes the place of despondency; and the dark cloud which before completely overspread the heavens, becomes only the background to display more vividly the brilliant hues of the bow of peace.

He may, however, be present without His presence being at the time realized. The full benefit of His loved presence is not then experienced; but He will cause His sorrowing ones to realize that He is with them, "I will manifest myself to them!" He will sit down with them in their sorrow and commune with them. However humble their lot, He will not disdain it; but will seat himself with them. However mean their fare, He will sup with them, and permit them to sup with Him! It is this condescending sympathy that attached the suffering to Him in the days of His flesh. And the same attracts to Him now. Oh! to have His loved presence in the scenes of sorrow and trial, is indeed to have a source of comfort the world can never give, and which the world can never take away.

He comforts His people by the assurance that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE THEM.

Present trials can be borne; for we know what they are. It is the future that renders the picture so exceedingly dark and gloomy. When we are in serious trouble, every object around us seems shrouded in gloom. The mind presages new and undefined trials still future, and these throw back their cold and deathlike shade upon those we are at the moment experiencing. The future

thus adds to the sadness of the present. Fear of the future more deeply embitters the present. And the mind sinks deeper beneath anticipated trials, than it would do with the weight of those really present. How comforting, in such circumstances, is the promise He gives, "I will never leave nor forsake you." Though you may not realize always my presence, still I am ever near. I will never even temporarily leave you; I will never finally forsake you. "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." In every trial, in every sorrow, as well as in every joy, He is present with His people; and not only with those whom He personally addressed, but all His people, even to the end of time. He will not leave them comfortless. If He be for a time withdrawn from their view, He has not really left them. Only His manifested presence is withdrawn. He is still near, though unseen; and He will quickly re-appear to their sorrowing eyes.

""Tis only tears that hide the sight
Of His life-giving smile."

He comforts His people by the assurance of His word that ALL IS FOR THEIR PROFIT; THAT ALL THINGS SHALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THEIR GOOD.

How difficult this is at times to realize! Truly, no affliction for the present is joyous, but grievous. Sometimes, how grievous! When the loved are taken from our embrace and consigned to the narrow house appointed for all living; when our earthly possessions are ruthlessly borne from us, or take to themselves wings and fly away as an eagle towards heaven; when disease seizes upon our frail bodies, and our strength lies prostrate; when the tongue of calumny has blown its foul breath upon the fair mirror of our character, and tarnished it for a time in the view of others: when any or all of these things come upon us, how difficult it is for us to realize that all this is permitted for our good. How difficult to feel that the hand of a tender and loving Father has been concerned in it

all. Yet He distinctly tells us in His word that none of these things come by chance. For "not a hair of our head can fall to the ground without our Father." The afflictions of life, the sorrows of the heart, and the buffetings of Satan, are all wisely permitted. He condescends to tell us why these things are permitted. All our trials form a part of His all-wise plan concerning us. These things are permitted that we may learn the insufficiency of earthly good to satisfy an immortal spirit; the fleeting character of earth's joys; and the hidden sinfulness of our own hearts that cleave to these things, instead of to those which are enduring.

The object of their being permitted to come upon us, is summed up by an inspired Apostle in a few words. It is, "that we might be partakers of His holiness." Holiness and happiness. are indissolubly united. So are unholiness and unhappiness. God would make all His people happy. This is the desire of His heart. But to be happy, they must be holy. Their affections must be fixed upon Himself, in order to be channels of blessedness. They must, therefore, be detached from all inferior objects. The tendrils of the vine may enclasp the weed or the bramble, and to disentangle them may require the removal of that around which they had twined. The human affections may twine around earthly objects; and if the mind is not to remain ever "fallen and prone upon the ground," the objects around which its claspers had twined themselves must be removed. God distinctly tells us this. And the Lord Jesus Christ comforts His tried ones as a tender mother comforts her sick child, when about to administer some nauseous medicine, with the assurance that it will do the little sufferer good. things shall work together for good to them that love God."

"ALL

The Lord Jesus Christ comforts His people, further, BY THE ASSURANCE OF

PERFECT AND EVEN SPEEDY DELIVERANCE.

The deliverance shall be perfect. He

has gone to prepare a home for His servants; and He will come and take them there, "to be with Him, and to see His glory." In that loved home neither sin nor sorrow can enter. His own gentle hand will wipe the last tear from sorrow's eye. "And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." The deliverance from all these is perfect and complete.

"A hope so full of bliss,

May trials well endure."

But not only does the Saviour comfort His loved but sorrowing ones with the assurance of complete deliverance from their griefs; He further assures them that such deliverance is already at hand. It is only for "a little moment" that He hides His face from them, but " with everlasting kindness will He have mercy upon them." And again He assures them that “these light afflictions" are but "for a moment;" they shall nevertheless "work out for them a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of glory."

The Lord Jesus Christ comforts His people, finally, BY THE ASSURANCE OF

THE JOY WHICH SHALL SUCCEED THESE TRIALS.

He has left on record the promise, "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am ye may be also." "In His presence is fulness of joy, at His right hand are pleasures for evermore." After He has prepared His people, by the discipline of trials sanctified by the Holy Spirit, for their eternal home, He will take them to himself. There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Palms of victory over the last of every foe shall wave from their hands. harp of joy, attuned to the praise of redeeming love, shall give expression from its strings to feelings too deep for utterance in words-feelings of intense, unmixed, ecstatic joy. A crown of gold, studded with gems, each of which represents a soul won for Christ, shall adorn the brow of each, now become a

A