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how little do we indeed know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. "What man knoweth the things of a man, save the Spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." May that divine Spirit take of the things of Christ and show them to us.

And now that our blessed Saviour is no more seen among men, what are we told of His present employment? We are told, that "He is at the right hand of God, making continual intercession for us." And He also tells us here, "I go to prepare a place for you." How He is now preparing that place, may be among the things we are not yet fitted to know; but is it not a touching and joyful thought, that far from forgetting us during our earthly struggle, He is even now preparing a dwelling-place for us? And if He is preparing a place for us, will He not also be preparing us for that place, for being with Him? And what a work of preparation must that be. To prepare such as we are for His holy presence; what cleansing; what awaking to the sense that God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ; what slaying of the old man; what renewing of the heart and spirit in the image of God. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature." What a working out of our salvation with fear and trembling, and yet

knowing that it is God that worketh in us ;' that it must be His work. How many sorrows and troubles over which we are shedding tears now, are sent to us, just to hasten on this work, to deliver us from the love of this evil world; to keep our eyes, and our hearts, fixed on that blessed promise, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." Let us continually meditate this promise; let it be to us as a light shining in a dark place. He will come again,-come to that earth where he sorrowed, and suffered, and died; where His precious blood was shed. He shall come to take possession of it as His purchased inheritance. The kingdoms of this world shall then become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. And we read of a holy city which cometh down from God out of heaven, the tabernacle of God which shall be with men, and He will dwell with them; and the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honourintoit. "And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face, and His name shall be ou their foreheads. And there shall be no night

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there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.

Blessed shall the earth then be, when the Lord Jesus takes to Him His great power and reigns, “Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all ends of the earth shall fear him."2 Blessed shall the earth be then; but how unspeakably blessed beyond all our thoughts, shall they be who have their place within that holy city, in the immediate presence of their King, who see His face, and who reign with Him.

Oh, heavenly Father, deliver us from our carelessness, deadness, and worldliness; may our hearts be earnestly set upon having our place in the holy presence of Jesus. May the Holy Spirit prevail to deliver us from every thing that hinders us from running the race set before us; give us grace to lay aside every besetting sin, and grant us to win the prize of our high calling, to enter into the joy of our Lord. Hear us for His sake. Amen.

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THIRD SERIES.

VIII.

Che Lord's Supper.

1 Cor. xi. 23-32.—“ I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread : and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh amnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weakly and sickly among you, and many

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