garments were white and glistening; or, as Mary and the other women saw him after he rose from the dead, when he said, "All hail!" and they kissed his blessed feet; or as he is at this moment, King of kings, "the altogether lovely" one, with "many crowns on his head!" Oh, to see him face to face, to see the goodness, the grace, the majesty of his countenance, to press the very hand which has the scar of the nail, to look at the very head once crowned with thorns, to hear him speak, to be led by him to fountains of living waters, to follow whithersoever he goeth: this is heaven, and this is what all in heaven enjoy. Again, the holy angels are there. Of course we have never seen an angel, but many people have, and they have told us how bright and beautiful they are. They are different creatures to us; they have never been children; God made them just as they are, to be his messengers, and to do his pleasure; and he sends them forth on errands of love to this world. He could easily make them visible to us if he chose (for they are frequently on earth, in our streets, and houses, and schools, and congregations), but he does not, and it is best. But, dear readers, we shall be acquainted with them in heaven. We shall see them "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;" (Rev. v. 11), bright as flames of fire, in snow-white robes, with golden harps in their hands! And they love those for whom Jesus died, and have them in great honour, and seem to forget, as Christ also does, that they were once rebels," alienated in their minds by wicked works." Again, all the saints of the Old and New Testament are there. We are apt to forget this. We seem not to realize that any day we may be called to join "the general assembly and church of the first-born," the spirits of just men made perfect. (Heb. xii. 23.) I am serious in saying that my young readers have walked and talked with those who are now walking and talking with Abraham, who saw the smoke "of the cities of the plain going up like the smoke of a furnace;" with Joseph, who told Pharaoh his dreams; with Moses, who marched through the Red Sea on dry ground; with David, who slew Goliath of Gath; with Isaiah, who sang so sweetly of the coming Saviour; with Daniel and his three fellow captives, who for their Lord's sake braved the lions' den and the fiery furnace; with the four Evangelists, who tell us of the birth of Jesus, his miracles, sermons, wisdom, love, faithfulness, purity, sufferings, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; with Peter and Paul and others, who were abundant in labours, planting and establishing churches, counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord; with a noble army of martyrs and confessors, who counted not their lives dear, but welcomed torture and death for Christ's sake; there, too, are some of our parents, brothers, sisters, children, and many of our old companions; there they are, and will be for ever with the Lord. "Here they suffered grief and pain, Some of our readers love singing. All the blood-washed throng are singers; they sing with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb." 66 While on earth their conversation was in heaven. They declared plainly that they sought that new and better home. They said "they would be glad to stay with us a while longer, if it pleased God, but, if not, they were quite willing to go," and one by one they were not, for God took them." And now we speak of them as dead; and, indeed, their outward man has decayed, and we have buried it out of our sight; but "I heard a voice from heaven, saying, write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord!" Blessed, for they have done with death now! Blessed, for they have done with sin now! Blessed, for they rest from their labours! Blessed, for they are present with the Lord! They used to listen to sermons about Jesus, but now they are with him. They used to talk about the "many mansions," but now they are in them. They used to go with us to the house of God, and kneel by our side, and sing from the same book with us, but now they are before the throne, singing, "Glory! glory! glory!" Oh yes, there they are, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, enjoying all the delights of the New Jerusalem! We may be sure they often think about us, and wonder what we are doing, and when we shall be announced as in sight of the glittering battlements, they will be expecting our arrival, and ready to give us such embraces, and to tell us such wonders! "Oh! what are all our sufferings here, With that enraptured host to appear, For this let one and all repair to Jesus, the sinner's friend; turning from all sin, believing his promise, they shall find redemption in his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, and, if steadfast to death, become inhabitants of heaven. HOPEFUL. GOD IS A REFUGE FOR US. ONE autumn day, says a late writer, I stood upon the sea coast, where the waves, stirred by a recent tempest, dashed furiously upon the rocks. The great ocean waves, rolling in with full sweep from the Atlantic, leaped upon the coast with terrific roar. In one place, rushing into a cavern, the surge, through an opening in the top, sprang, in a column of spray and foam, a great height in the air. The sight was so sublime that many persons came from the neighbouring city to witness it. While looking upon the scene, exhibiting the ocean in such power and grandeur, I observed that the rocks, even those upon which the surf broke with most fury, were covered with multitudes of very small shells. So, in the very presence of the stormy sea, smitten every instant by the thundering surf, the little shells, clinging with trustful fingers to the great rocks, found shelter and life. There was the great ocean in its wrath, the symbol of resistless might, rushing upon the cliffs as though it would break over its ancient barriers. Here were creatures, symbols of frailty, having no strength of their own, finding complete safety and refuge by clinging to the immovable rock. So, my dear readers, is it between Jesus and our souls. Our only safety is in clinging to him who is the Rock of Ages. In the sixty-second Psalm, David speaks out his experience as being upon this rock when he exclaims, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and glory; the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times: ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. In severe trial, and the fierce onset of many difficulties, you are exhorted to cling the closer to the Rock of your strength. He has promised that he will not allow you to be tried above that which you are able to bear. Remember, even in the days of most dreadful trial, that all things work together for good to those, and to those only, who love God. In trial God is a refuge for us. Does the world allure you, or do your former companions tempt you to forget your religious vows? Are many snares spread for your feet? Does Satan endeavour to overcome you by the fierceness of his subtle temptations? Then cling to the Rock of your strength; and while the enemy of souls is trying to disengage you from Christ, the everlasting Rock, may you be more invigorated by grace to stick fast to the Rock cleft for you. Nothing can pluck you from thence while you trust in him. Even the gates of hell shall not prevail against you if your hopes are thus founded upon the Rock of ages. God is a refuge for us. MATTHEW W. HESLOP, who was he suffered persecution from the the son of Matthew and Jane boys who worked with him in Heslop, of the Shotley Bridge the coal mine. But cheerful and Circuit. His parents being re-blithe he kept singing his favoligious, he was led to the Sab-rite hymns, such as bath school at a very early age, and was taught the grand truths of divine revelation, which had their influence on his young and tender mind; and during a glorious revival of God's work at Muley-hill, under a sermon preached by the writer, he was led to the Saviour, and found the pardon of all his sins. The change was real, and soon made itself apparent in his life, conversation, and company. He "Come sinners to the Gospel feast, Let every soul be Jesu's guest;" and the chorus"And above the rest, this note shall swell, My Jesus hath done all things well." His pilgrimage was a short one, and suddenly ended. On the Sabbath he attended a love feast, where he told the friends that although he was young, God, for Christ's sake, had pardoned all his sins. Between that time and the Thursday following, he seemed to enjoy much of the divine presence, and to rejoice in the God of his salvation, amid storms of persecution from manifested great delight in attending the house of God, and was always ready, whether there or elsewhere to confess his Lord and Master, and in consequence other boys. On the morning of |