from which he delivered them, and the unspeakable favours he has conferred upon them, the bursting joy shall issue forth in notes of highest praise to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.

It is said, that in heaven the saints shall be as angels.— Mark xii. 25. Now we find from Scripture, that the angels increase in knowledge, by attentively studying the divine dispensations to the church.-1 Peter i. 12.-Eph. iii. 10. May not the spirits of the just made perfect continue to advance, in a similar manner, in knowledge of the manifold wisdom of God, and rejoice at every new discovery? Thus one blessed employment of heaven, will be the acquirement and communication of the infinite knowledge of God, his attributes, works, and government. Besides, as angels are ministering spirits, and thus perform important services to the heirs of salvation, glorified saints may be also employed on errands of kindness to the inhabitants of other worlds. Their happiness may thus be enhanced by active services rendered to their much loved sovereign: and they may have at once the blessedness of those that give, as well as of those who receive.

"None idle here: Look where thou wilt, they all
Are active, all engaged in meet pursuit;
Not happy else. Hence it is that the song
Of heaven is ever new; for daily thus,
And nightly, new discoveries are made
Of God's unbounded wisdom, power, and love,
Which give the understanding larger room,
And swell the hymn with evergrowing praise."

5. This happiness will be the more sweet as it will not depend upon second causes, but will emanate directly from God himself.

In the present world, the enjoyments of the saints generally come through secondary means. Their instruction, consolation, and edification, are usually afforded them through the instrumentality of men of like passions with themselves. Books, and men, and ordinances, though all legitimate and important means to promote our spiritual good, yet have the imperfection of creatures attached to them, and, therefore, only permit us to see as through a glass darkly. But how different will it be when we shall see face to face! Here our purest pleasures are those which come most immediately from God; and Christians

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who are much in secret prayer and contemplation, are men of the greatest liveliness and joy, as they drink more directly from the fountain; but the fulness of joy will be in God's immediate presence. The heavenly city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. There shall be no night there; for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6. To complete the happiness of the righteous, it will be eternal.

As it would soothe the sorrows of hell, to entertain a hope of ever being delivered from that place of torment, so would it embitter the joys of heaven, could a dread of losing them enter into the mansion of glory. But the crown of glory that shall there be worn, fadeth not away. The kingdom which the saints shall then possess, will be one that cannot be moved, eternal in the heavens.—Heb. xii. 28. The saints shall then become pillars in the temple of God, and shall go no more out.-Rev iii. 12. Oh! happy abode of endless blessedness. In this world our joys are short lived and our pleasures perish in the using. The fear of change often disquiets our souls, and deprives us of the full enjoyment of our present comforts. But in the bright world of glory, care, and fear, and every painful sensation, shall for ever pass away into the full assurance, that the happiness of the saints shall be everlasting. Hence unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, they render glory and honour, adoration and praise, for ever and ever.

II. Let us examine the characters of the heirs of this eternal inheritance.

1. None but those who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ shall enter there. Guilt cleaves to all the fallen children of men, and if not removed, there is no possibility of entering heaven. Ye shall die in your sins, said Christ to the unbelievers, and whither I go, ye cannot come.―John viii. 22. But by the shedding of his precious blood, Jesus has opened a fountain for sin, and uncleanness. Thither all who feel and lament for their sins are invited with anxious, expecting, and confiding faith, to wash away their sins. Hence it is said of the saints in glory, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in theblood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and

night in his temple.-Rev. vii. 14, 15. And the universal song of the redeemed will be, "unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."-Rev. i. 6.

2. They only can inherit glory, the pollution of whose hearts is here removed by the Spirit of God. We are all naturally as an unclean thing; and nothing that defileth can enter into the holy city.-Rev. xxi. 27. Hence the necessity of being renewed; for except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.-John iii. 5 Are ye then renewed in the spirit of your minds? If not, ye are out of the way to the kingdom of glory. Remember that only the pure in heart shall see God.-Matt. v. 8. Remember, that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.-Heb. xii. 14.

And now ye pardoned and redeemed children of God, we beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul, and to have your conversation in heaven; to live, like the expectants of such glory, in the exercise of a joyful hope, and in the practice of universal holiness. Ye are not your own, but bought with a price; glorify God then with your bodies and spirits that are his. Ye are the children of a King, and the heirs of a kingdom; rejoice in the Lord; rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks": for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thes. v. 16. And may the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Harp! lift thy voice on high! shout, angels, shout!
And loudest, ye redeemed! Glory to God,
And to the Lamb, all glory and all praise,
All glory and all praise, at morn and even,
That come and go eternally, and find
Us happy still, and Thee for ever blest!
Glory to God, and to the Lamb.
For ever, and for evermore.

Amen.

Amen."

QUESTIONS ON THIS ESSAY.

WHAT is the subject? What is the text? What are the divisions of the subject? in the happiness of heaven? 6th-Who shall enter this what their second character?

What is the first ingredient What the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, rest? What is their first,

A PRAYER ADAPTED TO THIS ESSAY.

O THOU who dwellest in the heavens, let thy name be adored, for the discoveries which thou hast made to man, bringing life, and immortality, and glory to light by the Gospel. Thou hast sent forth thy Son Jesus, the resurrection and the life; and he that believeth in him, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth and believeth in him shall never die. O grant us aliving faith in the ever-living Saviour. And amidst the tribulations of this present world, comfort us with the assured prospect of the land where sorrow and sighing shall never come. In the midst of labours, teach us to look forward to eternal rest. Amidst the scanty enjoyments of this world, teach us to look for the fulness of joy in heaven. While vexed with the ungodly conversation of the world, give us pa. tience and hope to look and wait for the happy day, when we shall sit down in the blessed company of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God.

O Lord, wash away all our sins in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness; and purify our hearts by thy renewing Spirit, that we may be presented faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding great joy; and unto the only wise God our Saviour, be honour and glory, dominion and power, both now and ever.-Amen.

REVIVALS OF RELIGION IN AMERICA.
(FROM THE "LONDON RECORD.")

[We have much pleasure in subjoining the following statement of the effects of a religious meeting at Boston. It reminds us of the blessed revival in Scotland, at Cambuslang. O! that the Lord would give a similar blessing to Ireland.-EDIT.]

"A RELIGIOUS meeting was held at Boston, on Tuesday, the 12th of April, and lasted for four days. The arrangements for this meeting were announced from the different pulpits of the Orthodox congregational churches of the city. The services were to be the same as usual on the Sabbath. Prayer-meetings, for an hour each, at the several vestries, at half-past five in the morning; prayer-meetings, in which the different churches were to unite, at nine, A. M.; preachings and prayers, in the afternoon and evening; At the close of each service, a short time was to be spent with the inquirers, giving them instruction specially adapted to their circumstances. It was then earnestly requested, that all persons who desired the progress of vital religion in the city, would endeavour to make such arrangements, in regard to business and other ordinary engagements, that they might give as much attention as possible to these meetings. It was stated, further, to be the object of these meetings,

with the blessing of God, to arrest, for a few days, that tide of worldliness, which carries with it the current of the affections, and to give oppor tunity for thoughtfulness, and saving impressions concerning God and the interests of the soul, that men might be assisted to do effectually the work of repentance, and lay hold on eternal life."-Agreeably to these arrangements, the meetings commenced on Tuesday. In the afternoon, Dr. Beecher preached from 2 Cor. v. 20, and exhibited the importance of immediate submission to the Gospel, and the mctives which should operate to produce an entire and cordial reconciliation to God. In the evening, Dr. Wisner preached from Psalm i. 21, 22. The false estimates which unregenerate men make of their own characters and the characters of others, and the erroneous standards by which they judge, were contrasted with the judgment and unerring decisions of Almighty God, who determines character by the holy requisitions of his righteous law.

"On Wednesday, forenoon, Dr. Jenks preached from 2 Cor. v. 11.— 'Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.' After this sermon, Dr. Beecher made an address. In the afternoon of Wednesday, the Rev. Dr. Taylor, of Newhaven, preached from 2 Cor. vi. 12.Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' The doctrine of the discourse was-the obligation of sinners to immediate repentance. This was urged from the language of Scripture, which admits of no delay in this great duty. Many objections were discussed, and considered as of no validity.

"In the evening, Dr. Taylor preached again from John iii. 20.'Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' His discourse was solemn, argumentative, and awakening.

"Dr. Beecher rose, after Dr. Taylor's sermon was concluded, and observed, that there would immediately be a meeting for inquirers. All were invited to stay who were in doubt whether what are called revivals of religion are of God; and all who believed the salvation of their souls of great importance; and all who would stay, if they did not fear that some of their friends at home might be offended; and all who intended to seek religion now, or at some future time, not meaning to die without it; and all who believed that there might be a reality in religion; and all who had passed through several revivals, and though partly awakened, remained unconverted; and all who had been concerned for their souls at several different seasons, and felt discouraged about taking up the subject again, being almost hopeless; and all who felt determined to consider religion now as a personal concern; and all who had imagined they had been waiting for the Spirit of God to awaken them, but had never actually moved, in the work of conversion; and all who would stay, if they thought this were the last opportunity they should have to attend an inquiry meeting; and also those who had recently cherished a hope in Christ. It is believed that 1,000 persons tarried.

"Notice was given on the next evening, (Thursday,) that there would be preaching in three different meeting-houses.

“A similar meeting, which lasted five days, was held in the Baptist congregations at Deckertown, N. J. The closing scene is described as follows:-" On Monday we met at ten o'clock, A. M., and although it was the fifth day of meeting, it was well attended. This was really a Pentecost-the meeting was commenced with prayer and conference, in