with what anxiety, what pleasure do we look forward. Do we trace in our minds the same "pleasing hope, the fond desire, the longing after immortality?" Do we feel through all the clouds of earth and earthly feelings, the settled sunshine of heaven in our hearts? No doubt there are those who do-yet, are they the few or the many? And why should not all, seeing that the gracious promises of God are made equally to all, without distinction of persons, on the sole condition of love to Him, shewn, as it only can be shewn, by obedience to His will, and faith in the redeeming mercy of our blessed Saviour. It would seem to follow, that such promises are either not understood, or not regarded.

Can they be disregarded?

Let it be our present object, therefore, to consider, what these promises are, (rather than how they may be obtained) and with this purpose, examine those texts of holy scripture which appear more particularly to have reference to a future state, and which have here been brought together under one view. It is a body of evidence which will richly repay our fixed and devoted

attention.

Turning first to the Gospel of St. Matthew, we read,

Matt. v. 3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven."

S. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for

they shall see God."

10. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for their's is the kingdom of Heaven."

11, 12. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall

*Difficult indeed is it for finite minds to comprehend, even remotely, the happiness involved in this promise, for "no man hath seen God at any time." We can but approach its conception through the imperfect medium of earthly feelings, but these may teach us something. The holy psalmist has written, "My soul thirsteth for God, the living God." "Like as the hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God! "My soul is athirst for God, yea even for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God." (Ps. xlii.) And even among the less gifted of mankind, what heart is a stranger to some paramount affection, some earnest and longing desire to see, and intense happiness in seeing, one fellow being at least, in the sphere of our social relations? And may we not reason thus, that by as much as the boundless love and perfection of our Heavenly Father and Creator are necessarily and immeasurably above those of the best among His creatures, by so much must the happiness conveyed in the expression of seeing God, be transcendantly beyond anything within the range of human experience, and therefore, also, by so much the more to be desired, and looked forward to.

Mat v.11,12. say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be

exceeding glad for great is your re

:

ward in heaven."

19. "Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: `but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

vi. 4, 6, 18. "Thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."

20. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."

vii. 2. "With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you."

11. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him."

21. "Not every one that saith unto me

Matt. vii. 21. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth

the will of my Father which is in heaven."

ix. 13. "Go ye and learn what that meaneth, 'I will have mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea vi. 6.) for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

29. "According to your faith be it unto you."

x. 32. "Whosoever shall confess me before

men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."

40 to 42. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me. He

that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold

Matt. x. 40 water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall

to 42.

in no wise lose his reward.

xi. 28 to 30. "Come unto me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

xii. 20. "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not

quench."

31, 32. "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

35 to 37. "A good man out of the good trea