Analysis of Homily the Thirty-eighth.

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne," &c.-Rev. vii. 13–15.

SUBJECT:-Humanity in Heaven.

THERE is one book, and but one, that presents to us humanity in heaven, and that is the Bible. This passage

gives us a vision of unnumbered multitudes of men who once traversed this earthly scene of sin and sorrow, now in the bright world of the good. It teaches three facts concerning them.

I. THAT THEIR EARTHLY LIFE WAS DISTINGUISHED BY TRIAL. An "elder" in those high realms of blessednessstruck, it may be, with certain peculiarities in their appearance and worship-puts to John the interrogatory what they were, and whence they came, and the reply he receives is, that they had come out of great tribulation, &c. Tribulation is the common lot of humanity, and ever the discipline of the good. (1) This should teach us contentment under our trials. "No temptation has happened unto us," &c. (2) This should inspire us with magnanimity under our trials. These tribulations are useful. Like the gales of the mariner, they bear us away from scenes on which our hearts are set. The darkest thunder-cloud terrifies but for an hour; it soon passes away, and leaves the air clearer and the heavens brighter than before.

II. THAT THEIR CELESTIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PREEMINENTLY GLORIOUS. Look at their appearance-employment-companionship-blessedness. They are "in white robes," emblems of purity and conquest; they are "before the throne," a situation of high dignity in the Divine Empire; they "serve him day and night,"-indicating the entire consecration

of their time and powers; "he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them"-they enjoy intimate communion with the Sovereign of all; "they hunger no more," &c.;-they are freed from evil, and brought into the full enjoyment of all blessings.

III. THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY CONDITION IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHRIST. They have washed their robes,' and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. THEREFORE are they before the throne. Three things are here implied:-that they were originally pollutedthat the death of Christ has a purifying influence; and that their cleansing by this influence had taken place when on

earth.

Ye modern Pharisees, who base your hope of heaven upon your own works; ye children of superstition and priestly imposition, who anticipate heaven because of your connexion with the ceremonies of certain churches; ye thoughtless worldlings, who ground your expectation of a happy futurity on the mercy of the everlasting Father; mark well the THEREORE of the text. Why is this "great multitude, which no man could number," in heaven? Because they were great patriots who had battled for their country's political weal?—or philanthropists, who had made sacrifices for the improvement and elevatiou of their race?—or eminent seers, who, standing on the mount of prophecy, pointed their generation to glorious events that were marching on?-or sages, who explored vast regions of truth, and propounded discoveries that helped on humanity in its career of intelligence and civilization ?-or men, who preached eloquently, prayed earnestly, and lived morally? No; no; and again no. All these things are good, and in heaven they will have their reward. But Christ is the reason of man's heaven. Every human spirit traces its heaven up to Christ. Therefore are they, &c.

D

Analysis of Homily the Twenty-ninth.

"Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."-2 Pet. i. 13-15.

We have here a view of our earthly mode of being. The body is not us, it is ours-our residence; a residence not built of marble, and founded on rock, but a temporary "booth," pitched here during our short pilgrimage, rocking in every breeze, and destined to come down.

SUBJECT:-Man's Earthly Mode of Being.

I. HERE IS A FELT DUTY CONNECTED WITH THIS MODE OF BEING. "I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up,” &c. What was the work the apostle felt he had to do? The spiritual excitation of the Christian soul. He sought to put Christians in mind of five things which he refers to in the context:-That spiritual excellence is the great end of Christianity (3rd and 4th verses); that spiritual excellence is progressive in its nature (5th and 7th verses);— that it requires very diligent cultivation (5th and 10th verses);that it is the only guarantee of salvation (9th verse); and that it will ultimately meet with a glorious reward (11th verse).

Now, there are three important things implied in the apostle's aim :-(1) A paramount necessity for the Christian ever to feel these things. His own progress and the conversion of the world depend upon this. (2) A sad tendency in the Christian to forget these things. (3) An obligation which one Christian has to endeavor spiritually to excite others by these things.

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II. A DESTINED CHANGE THAT AWAITS THIS MODE of being. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle." There are three things to be observed here:-(1) The nature of the change. It is a putting off the tabernacle. It is but

the soldier laying by his panoply, or the tenant changing his house. (2) The nearness of the change. "Shortly." (3) The assurance of the change. Knowing." It is not a subject of doubt.

III. A GLORIOUS CAUSE THAT MUST OUTLIVE THIS MOde of BEING. "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." Three things implied:-(1) The necessity of Christianity to posterity. All generations require it; therefore it must be handed down. (2) The felt interest of the good in posterity. They are far more anxious to bequeath truth and godliness than estates or empires. (3) The capacity of men to help posterity. Through a holy life, and instructions oral or written. A book is a kind of ark, which will convey a man's thoughts, sympathies, and soul, over the flood of centuries to new generations of men.

Properly estimate, my Christian friend, thy mortal mode of life. Thou art dwelling in a tabernacle. I would not have thee ascetically to despise thy body, for it is the workmanship of God; an exquisite instrument of the soul; that through which it receives and communicates; the inlet of the material, and the outlet of the spiritual. But I would have thee to remember that it is not thyself, but a temporary habitation of that soul of thine, which is identified with a gospel in which the universe is interested, and upon which the salvation of thy race depends. Realize the vastness of the work thou hast to do while in thy frail tabernacle, and do it; and then thou shalt put it off, as the conqueror doffs his armor, with exultant heart;-then thou shalt pass away from earth

"As sets the morning-star, which goes not down
Behind the darkened west, nor hides obscured
Among the tempests of the sky, but melts away
Into the light of heaven."

Analysis of Homily the Fortieth.

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy, &c.-Rev. v. 1-7.

SUBJECT:-The Government of God.

I. THAT IT IS CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO A VAST PRECONCERTED PLAN. There was a book-seven pieces of parchment rolled together, and each one sealed-in the hand of him that sat upon the throne. The Almighty never acts from impulse or caprice, but ever from plan or law; and this plan is truly vast-wonderfully comprehensive. "It is written within and on the backside." This book contains the germs of all books-the archetypes of all existences-the outlines of all histories. "In thy book all my members were written when as yet there was none of them" All that shall happen through the vast futurities of individuals—families—nations— worlds are mapped out on the pages of this wonderful book. The universe, in all its parts and complicated movements, is but the practical and palpable working out of its contents.

"The world is God's great will in action."

Predestination is no special doctrine of the Bible; it is written on every part of nature; it includes as truly the motions of an atom as the revolutions of a world—the growth of a plant as the conversion of a soul. True philosophy, as well as Christianity, resolves everything but sin into the predestination of Infinite love.

II. THIS VAST PRECONCERTED PLAN IS SEALED IN MYSTERY. Two thoughts are here suggested concerning its mystery :First. That it transcends all finite intelligence. Some high spirit in the Divine empire is here represented as exclaiming,