"joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday."* Frequently we miss, amidst our assemblies, those who are not permitted to continue by reason of death. "The fathers, where are they; "and the prophets, do they live for ever?" and not withstanding the consolatory thought that they see his face in the high and holy temple not made with hands, we acutely feel their absence, and are cheered by the happy prospects of re-union, when his servants in one grand, harmonious, and indissoluble association shall serve him.

Too often are the effects of the curse visible, in the voluntary separations of the servants of God on earth. Ephraim vexes Judah, and Judah Ephraim. Minor points of difference alienate the affections, and inflame the passions. There are divisions and contentions among the saints; the same thing is not spoken, nor are they perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement. The most entire contrast appears in the harmonies of the blessed-his servants serve him

"Thus on the heavenly hills,

"The saints are bless'd above,

Where joy like morning dew distils,

"And all the air is love."

III. The curse shall no longer influence the ser

*Psalm vlii. 4.

vice they render to God."His servants shall "serve him."

Our obedience on earth, scarcely deserves the name; our sinful dispositions render it more like slavery. Certainly, under the gospel, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light; but it is still at the best-a yoke which, through the remains of the curse, galls us—a burden which oppresses, wearies, exhausts.

Let it not be supposed that we consider the master as austere, or his commands grievous, yet truth compels the confession, that the service we render is characterised by the curse. We no sooner began to live unto God, but conflict, toil, and fatigue, distinguish our services. So difficult are the duties we have to discharge, that our strength is as perfect weakness. So imperfect is the performance, that under the first dispensation, propitiatory sacrifices were appointed, in which a remembrance of sin was made; under the law, once a year the high priest entered into the holiest of holies, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people; and now, brethren, we have boldness to enter into the presence of God only through the atonement of Jesus. So polluted are these services, that we wonder that our blood is not mingled with our sacrifices; in fine, as that which is corrupt cannot produce what is pure, ser

vants so feeble and unholy, must render of necessity an unprofitable obedience.

IV. The curse pronounced on man, when banished from Paradise, concluded with these words: "In "the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till "thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast "thou taken for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt "thou return :"* but in heaven, they die no more. There is no more curse, and ever will these words be true, there his servants shall serve him." Eternity is the very essence of celestial bliss. The very possibility of losing this Paradise, as Adam did that of Eden, would make us dread to possess it. Indeed earth would be an heaven, if established holiness, undeviating obedience, and eternal service were practicable. But alas! how short-lived are our better feelings here; of our best services, like the moments of their duration :

God has graciously engaged, that in the expected Canaan, our powers shall be so perfected that we shall offer him a pure oblation; and this not as an occasional act, but as our permanent privilege. They shall certainly, acceptably and perpetually serve him.

*Genesis, iii. 19.

Finally. It may be observed, that as soon as the first malediction was heard, the hallowed historian of that event adds-" So he drove out the man." Exiled from God his Creator, he was condemned to the severest toil; as a contrast to this most direful part of the curse, our text says, " and they shall "see his face;" shall render their service in his immediate presence, cheered by the complacent smiles of his gracious approbation.

We

In this world of our exile, we look for him, but cannot behold him, and with Job say, "Oh that I "knew where I might find him! that I might come ❝even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments."* obey the voice of the messengers, but walk in darkness and have no light. In consequence of our guilt, frowns cloud his face; disheartened and fainting, like the Ethiopian Queen who saw in feeble type the happiness of the higher world; we adopt her words and say, Happy are thy men! Happy are those thy servants which stand continually before thee! Shortly shall this happiness be that of every saint. Death, the fruit of the curse, shall become the cause of this greatest blessing. Having beheld Him, by faith, who died for sinners, and is now the consolation of Israel, your language may be,

Job, xxiii. 2, 3.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen thy salvation.

In the mean time, let each of us address ourselves to our respective toils, while we wait for this redemption. Here, it is true, we labor on an accursed soil, with bodies weakened and corrupted by our apostacy; we render services not deserving the name, amidst divisions, and separations, and death; and to complete our infelicity, absent from him whose presence alone can cheer and enliven; but "there shall be no more curse: but the throne of "God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his ser"vants shall serve him. And they shall see his "face." Wherefore comfort one another with these words:" Beloved, now are we the sons of "God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall "be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we "shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. "And every man that hath this hope in him puri"fieth himself, even as he is pure.

By way of improvement, let me urge on you,

1. The necessity of enquiring whether you are the servants of God?" And how shall we know ?" is your language. In one sense you are his servants,

* 1 John, iii. 2, 3.