alifed; he was even impeached with blafphemy againft heaven, by declaring himself to be the Son of God. It was not until his departure from this world, and his afcenfion on high that his glories burficd forth in their real effulgence.As it was with Jefus their Lord, it is alfo with his difciples while they continue in the world. They are confidered as weak and contemptible; their fincerity is ridiculed as hypocrify; their experiences as delufion; their zeal for their Mafter's honor as phrenzy, and enthusiasm; their tenderness of confcience, and fear of grieving the divine Spirit as mere affectation, In oppofing the corruptions of others they are derided as difturbing the peace of fociety, and even turning the world upfide down. The apoftles were thus efteemed as the off-fcouring of all things, as a fpectacle of fcorn to the world, and all who walk in their footsteps must become fharers with them in perfecution. But, at the manifeftation of Jefus Chrift, this offence of the crofs fhall cease for ever, and all his ranfomed fhall appear with him in glory. If we honeftly confefs him, he will openly confefs us; if we be reproached with him, we fhall also reign with him; if we fuffer with him, we fhall hereafter be glorified together. The ridicule which his followers are called to encounter now fhall then be rewarded by that gracious plaudit, Well done good and faithful fervant ; the neglect to which they are expofed for his name's fake will be compenfated by the fellow

thip of his Father and the holy angels: The facrifices which are made for the advancement of his caufe fhall be rewarded by an inheritance that fadeth not away. Becaufeye have followed me in the regeneration, the judge will publicly announce in his immenfe condefcenfion, becaufe ye have followed me in the regeneration I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Father alfo hath appointed un

to me.

PERSEVERE then, ye redeemed of the Lord, in your fpiritual conflict however arduous it may appear. If your path be thorny, thanks be to God, it is fhort; is your warfare keen, and, as an apostle expreffes it, fiery, it will foon be accomplished, and iffue in victory and triumph: Do your heart and your flesh occafionally fail in the ftruggle, Jehovah him felf will be the ftrength of your heart, and your portion for ever. Belocking and longing for this appearing of your Lord as the hour of your complete confummation.Is the affectionate wife anxious for the return of an absent husband; does the wait with impatience for the day, or the hour when his arrival may be expected? Much more ardently fhould the bride, the Lamb's wife, be longing for the approach of her glorious bridegroom, that fhe may enjoy his immediate prefence, and be for ever fatisfied with his joys. This is called in fcripture, looking for, and hafting unto the coming of the day of God: Looking for that bleffed hope,

and the glorious appearing of the great God, even our faviour Jefus Chrift, and is perhaps the higheft attainment of a believer upon earth. There is no greater evidence that he is conformed to the image of God, and ripened for the enjoyment of heaven, than this ardent, difinterested defire to depart, and to be with Chrift: When, fatigued with the corruptions and vexations of life, he longs for the joys of his Lord, and groans, earnestly defiring to be clothed upon with his houfe which is from heaven. Elevated thus above the world, and its delufive profpects, and captivated with thofe glories that are to be revealed, the apoftle exclaims, I look at the things that are not feen, and are eternal: I am willing rather to be abfent from the body, and to be prefent with the Lord: I prefs toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Fefus. May fuch, through the purifying, elevating influences of Godthe Spirit, be our attainment, and to thofe whe thus look for him the Son will fhortly appear without fin unto falvation. Even fo come, Lord Fefus.

"O glorious hour! O blest abode,

We shall be near, and like our God;
And flesh, and sin no more controut,
The sacred pleasures of the soul.

Our flesh shall slumber in the ground,
'Till the last trumpet's joyful sound ;
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in our saviour's image rise,"

The fuperior Privileges of the Heavenly World.

PHILIPPIANS i. 23.

HAVING A DESIRE TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER.

THE traveller looks forward with

anxiety for the end of his courfe; he anticipates with pleasure that hour when the fatigues of his journey fhall terminate; when he shall reach his own habitation, and be restored to the enjoyment of his family, and friends. The foldier waits with impatience for the period when the perils of the campaign will be over; when every enemy to his country shall be subdued, and he receive a reward for his fidelity and fortitude. The mariner cafts a "longing look" to the wish. ed for haven; he expects upon reaching that to be relieved from the toils and dangers of the deep, and to enjoy each defirable accommodation. With an ardor, an impatience incomparably greater may the fpiritual pilgrim long for his father's house, or the fpiritual foldier for that crown which the righteous judge fhall award to each faithful follower. Such is the frame, and the exercise recommended by our divine redeemer, Let your loins be girded about, and ye your

felves like unto men that wait for their Lord. Such are the defires which the holy apostle ardently breathes in the verfe now chofen for confideration. Having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift which is far-beller.

THE word which we tranflate, depart, may be rendered to loofe anchor, or fet fail. There may be an allufion to a mariner who wishes to exchange one port for another; to quit one harbor, where he is liable to inconveniences, or expofed to the affault of fome adversary for another more hofpitable and fafe, where no enemy can invade, or tempeft annoy. The apostle, fatigued with the corruptions, and croffes of this world, expreffes a defire to exchange it for that peaceful fhore, where no tempeft hurls its fury, where no enemy fhall ever difturb, but all will be fafety and quietnefs forever.

Bur our own tranflation of the original word is perhaps more proper, and fhall therefore be retained. Death in fcripture is frequently compared to a journey, or departure. Man is reprefented as going to his long home.

Simeon,

the aged, venerable Simeon, devoutly expoftulates, Lord, now letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word; and this apoftle mentions in the profpect of his diffolution, I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.