any melancholy circumstance should suddenly snatch you from them, and they should stand alone in the world to-morrow, with tearful eyes. Hope not that you may have time enough, in a long sickness, to set your house in order. Do you not every week see men disappear in their full vigour? Do you not see others, whom a painful sickness has robbed of the inclination and capacity for all serious business?

But in this the true Christian proves his Christianity; that in all his relations as a citizen of the earth, and of eternity, he is equally well regulated and prepared. He goes on joyfully and collectedly through life-his reckoning for the world and eternity is at all hours ready for its completion.

Oh! so let me be, so let me become, my God, my Father! The best Christian is the greatest being upon earth. He stands in a happy relation to the past and to the future-in happy contact with them. He is a true hero; for while he thankfully enjoys the pleasures of life, which Thou, O gracious God, hast caused to bloom in his varied path, his spirit dwells already in the plains of Heaven. He is superior to every chance, for none surprises him, he is superior to every fate, for, sustained by his confidence in Thee, O God, his mind soars above its present scene.

So let me be, so let me become! From my

death shall men learn to live-from my life shall they learn to die, in peace and joy. So lived, so died my divine teacher, Jesus. He was the truest friend to the sick-their adviser, their consoler. I will also become so, as far as my weak abilities

extend.

XXXV.

IMMORTALITY.

MARK XVI. 9-15.

"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it to the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."

THE festival of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who had been crucified and dead, is, in some respects, the festival with which we celebrate on earth the joyful remembrance of our own immortality. His rising from the grave reminds us of that great change which is impending over our own soul. It is not dust like our body-it cannot become dust. Eternally active as are all the powers in the universe created by our Almighty

Creator, our soul also shall remain eternally active. Jesus, our model in life, our example in death, has also foreshown what we have to expect after death.

There are three great objects,—the most sacred concerns of mankind, compared with which all other things are insignificant-three objects to which the spirit of man can already rise, but no other known creature of God on earth;-three objects which form the sanctuary of souls, and without which man would cease to be man. These are thought on an all-ruling Deity-the endeavour to approach nearer to God through progressive Perfection-and the hope of Eternity.

And whoever preserves these three holy deposits in his heart, he follows the footsteps of the blessed Jesus-he is in the way of salvation;-from his breast will never depart that peace of God, which is a foretaste of the higher blessedness that awaits us.

If our thoughts on the imperishable nature of our soul, and the infinite goodness of God, were sufficiently alive at all times within us, we should see fewer acts of levity, vanity, and uncharitableness; we should observe less fear of death.

Therefore will I, to-day, wholly occupy myself with this glorious reflection: "There is a Godand I am His work, and for ever incapable of anni

hilation." I will reflect on my better destination, on my more sublime existence; and encourage myself with the hope which Jesus Himself has granted me; and which God Himself has revealed, not only in the heart of the Christian, but in the mind of all men who dwell on earth.

I am born for immortality. Christ has promised it to His disciples. The day will come, when I shall no more belong to this world-but to another, wherein I shall attain to a higher or lower degree of blessedness, according as my spirit has already in this earthly life prepared itself for the future one. (JOHN v. 28. 2 COR. v. 10.)

I am called to immortality. This body in which I now walk is taken from the earth: it will again become dust and ashes. But the incorruptible shall not perish. The Holy Scriptures assure me, that my spirit shall enter a new state; and shall be endued with a more noble clothing-shall participate in more noble enjoyments. Our inquiries and speculations are superfluous, as to how these wonderful changes shall be effected. It is folly to wish for a disclosure with regard to the state of the soul after death-that is to say-to wish to penetrate, with human weakness, into the secrets of eternal Omnipotence-with human blindness, into the unfathomable depths of Divine Wisdom. How shall that be made clear to us of which no similitude