saw Lazarus comforted, while he was tormented. He beheld Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, while he had not even a drop of water to cool his tongue. This sight must doubtless have increased his misery.

The recognition of the saints will thus operate upon all who neglect so great salvation. When they behold some one of the sincere disciples of our Lord, whom they had known upon earth, and despised as an enthusiast: when they behold him standing before the throne, “a partaker of the "glory that will be revealed,” they, groaning for anguish of spirit, will be ready to say, "We fools accounted his life to be madness, and his end without honour. How is he numbered among the saints, and his lot among the children of God? But as for us, What hath pride profited us? Or, what good hath riches, with our vaunting, brought us? Here we are for ever shut up in this prison house, where the worm dieth not, and where the fire never is extinguished.”

Who does not feel a deep and mournful sorrow at the thought that any one of our fellow-sinners should thus suffer? and, more particularly, that so dreadful a state should be justly assigned to any one who had been sitting under the sound of the full, free, and everlasting Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Ere the door is shut, then, use,

my beloved friends, all your influence to bring in those who are without, and to lead them to that Redeemer who came "to seek and to save that "which was lost."

It may be, that hitherto some persons that you know may have resisted the cheerful piety of a tender sister, the pressing entreaties of a loving mother, the wise counsel of an excellent father, or the faithful exhortations of an affectionate minister. Still make trial of "the unanswerable "argument" of earnest prayer to God for them, accompanied by a conversation becoming the Gospel. If there should be present this night only one thoughtless sinner; yes, only one such character in this large assembly, an individual who, until the present time, has turned a deaf ear to all that has been addressed to him, O, hear for once the voice of a father who loves you; of a friend whose desire is to do you good; of a servant of the Lord, who would gladly have you for his "hope, and joy, and crown of rejoicing at "the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." Let me, then, persuade you to "seek the Lord, while "he may be found; call upon him while he is "near." Remember His gracious promise, "Let "the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous 66 man his thoughts, and let him return unto the "Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and

"to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

offer.

"Incline your

Profit by his encouraging "ear, and come unto me. Hear, and your soul "shall live: and I will make an everlasting

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covenant with you, even the sure mercies of "David." Oh, that the Lord would grant you this spirit for his dear Son's sake!

Finally, my beloved friends, How powerfully should the mutual recognition of the saints operate to lead us assiduously to cultivate mutual forbearance and brotherly love.

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To use the language of the text, "What is our

hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing at the coming "of the Lord?" Is it not the society of the saints,—the complete union and fellowship of the redeemed in all the blessedness of brotherly love? May we not believe from the conversation held by our Lord with his disciples, when He gave them His new commandment, that they should love one another, and offered up that memorable prayer, that all who believed in Him might be one even as the Father and Himself are one,-may we not, I say, believe that it was His purpose to give His disciples a foretaste of the bliss of Heaven by the exercise of this love on earth, bringing them into a union so perfect, as fit to be compared only to the union of the Father and the

Son? Surely, we may consider that it was His gracious design, that while the world, by this loving union of His true disciples, should be brought to believe on Him, they themselves might, by the continued exercise of this love, have that delightful word fulfilled, "Their days "shall be as the days of Heaven upon earth."*

Thus it was, in a measure, when the first Christians were of one heart and of one mind, and continued daily with one accord in the temple; then "they did eat their meat with gladness and

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singleness of heart, praising God, and having "favour with all the people: and the Lord added "to the church daily such as should be saved." And thus it will be again when the Lord shall pour out the Spirit of love upon His Church, and His sincere followers make it their great study to anticipate the day when the ransomed of the Lord shall be one as the Father and the Son are one,—one King, the King of Kings, ruling over them one sacrifice, the atonement of Christ, taking away their sin: one righteousness, His spotless robe, forming their beautiful garment: one city, and that a city not made with hands, their everlasting dwelling-place: and one song, "Salvation to God and the Lamb," their united chorus. If it be possible, that any discomfort * See John xiii. 12-17; xv. 11.

:

can be felt when the saints meet before the throne, and their mutual recognition takes place; it will be, that they had manifested so little of brotherly love while living upon this earth: and that they had allowed trivial differences to separate them while they were in truth, one in heart.

We bless God, that these sentiments are now beginning to prevail among spirituallyminded believers. More attention having been paid to the second coming of the Lord, Christians have been led to anticipate this perfect union of the saints; and a strong desire has arisen, that an end might be put to all strife and bitterness, and that the servants of Jesus forbearing one another in love, should "endeavour "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 66 peace."

An attempt has been recently made to promote this union, which as yet has not obtained general acceptance; but hindrances and difficulties, instead of damping the ardour of the friends of peace and love, whether they approve or not of this particular movement, should lead them only with greater self-abasement to confess their past deficiencies, and humbly to entreat forgiveness, through the precious blood of their great High Priest and loving Saviour; while, with still more