Believers on earth, and saints and angels in heaven, are all one family. They are servants of the same Lord, and children of the same parent. From him the whole family in heaven and earth is named. The saints in this world are strangers and pilgrims. They have here no continuing city. But they will soon be called home to join their brethren in the upper world. They are here training up for heaven; and when their course of discipline is finished, they will be received to those blessed mansions, which Christ has prepared, and into which those have entered who are already dead in Christ.

It may be useful to contemplate the relation between believers on earth, and saints and angels in heaven.

1. They all spring from the same common parent. They have all one father; one God has created them. Angels are an order of beings superior to men; they are endued with larger powers, and raised to higher glory But still they are dependent creatures. They owe their existence, their powers, and all their glory to the same God, to whom we are indebted for our inferior station in the scale of being.

2. The family in heaven and earth are all governed by the same general laws. There are indeed some laws peculiar to the present state. In a family of children, the younger are under a certain discipline suited to their tender and unexperienced age. So the saints in this world are under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father. But the main substance of religion is the same, both in heaven and in earth. The moral kingdom of God is a kingdom which cannot be moved. The laws of it are immutable; and they are all suited to the nature and condition of his subjects, and need no revision or amendment. love, reverence, worship and serve the Supreme Lord, and to promote the glory of his kingdom, and the hap

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piness of their fellow subjects, are obligations common to all rational and moral beings in heaven and in earth.

3. As children of the same family, they share in the same pleasures and enjoyments. The glorified spirits are represented as surrounding God's throne, and pouring forth in his presence their songs of adoration and praise-as celebrating his perfections and works, the wonders of his providence toward themselves and other beings, and especially the glories of his grace toward fallen men. The saints below taste a sweetness and delight in the same devout and pious exercises. "It

is good to sing praises to the Lord: It is pleasant, and praise is comely." The angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. They are highly gratified in beholding the methods, and in serving the designs of divine love toward our guilty race. When the Saviour was born, heaven was moved with joy: There was a multitude of the heavenly host, who came down to earth, and sang, "Glory to God in the highest; on earth peace; good will to men," True Christians here below partake of the same benevolent temper. They rejoice in the good done, and in the opportunities to do good to their fellow mortals. There is joy in heaven, when a sinner repents. There is joy in the church, when religion prevails, and sinners are converted from the error of their ways.

4. As among the members of a family there is usually a general resemblance of features, speech and manners, so the saints above and below have the same general temper; the same distinguishing complexion.

Man, at first, was made little lower than the angels. He bore the same divine image. This was lost by the apostasy. It is in a degree restored by regeneration, which renews the soul after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness. This image will be perfected in heaven, where the children of God shall be made equal to the angels-not, indeed, equal in the

degree, but equal in the integrity of the moral char

acter.

There are belonging to the Christian temper here, some virtues and graces, for which in heaven there will be no room; such as penitence, selfdenial, temperance, forgiveness, faith and hope. But the main, governing features of the religious temper, are the same in believers here, and in saints and angels above; such as love and gratitude to God, benevolence and goodness to fellow creatures, humility in their views of themselves, and cheerful subjection to the divine will. In heaven charity never fails-God's will is done there -boasting is excluded-all glory is given to God.

5. The saints, in heaven and in earth, have one common interest. In this respect they are like a well regulated family. The glory of God, the advancement of religion, and the promotion of the general happiness of the moral world are the objects on which their hearts are placed. When the Apostle John fell down before the angel who shewed him the things relating to the church of God, the angel said to him," See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the sayings of this book; worship God."

6. The members of a family, however diversified in age, condition, abilities and improvements, agree in this, that they look to, rely upon, and are guided by the same head. It is so in God's great family. Angels and glorified spirits are as much dependent on him, as are the saints below.. They have their being in him, and are directed by him. To him they owe, not only their natural existence, but the continuance of their ho ly and happy state.

7. They are all objects of God's love.

In a virtuous family, there are different measures of virtue in the different members; and the parent, while he loves them all approves some more highly than others. So it is in this large family. There are dif

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ferent degrees of goodness in the saints here. The best of these fall below the measure of those who are made perfect in heaven. And the highest human saint above must be inferior to the angels, who, having kept their first state, have been in continual progress from their creation. Consequently some of God's family are more excellent and amiable in his sight than others. But yet he loves them all. The smallest measure of grace in the humble believer is pleasing to God; and every work and service which he performs will meet a suitable reward. "Whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." He who only gives a cup of cold water to a needy brother, from love to Christ, shall in no wise lose his reward. The saints are called his treasure-his jewels. He will gather them to himself. None of them will be lost.

8. At the last day, all the saints, these who are now on earth, and those who are in heaven, will meet in God's presence, be openly acknowledged as his children, and admitted to dwell together in his house for

ever.

'Heaven is remote from this earth-remote in its nature, if not in its situation. The saints are here in an evil world-a world of corruption, temptation and sorrow. Into heaven nothing enters which defiles or afflicts. The day is fast approaching, when the saints here, will rise up and ascend on high, to meet and mingle with the saints above; and all will unite together in one great family, never to be dispersed. The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. He will come with ten thousands of his saints. The dead in Christ will be raised; they who are alive and remain will be changed; they all will mount up together to meet the Lord, coming with his numerous train, in the air; and thence they will ever be with the Lord.

We have seen, in what respects the saints in heaven and earth constitute one family.

Let us attend to the reflections which this subject suggests to us.

1. If we estimate the dignity of men from the families with which they are connected, how honorable is the believer? He belongs to the family in heaven. He is a son of the most high God. He is a fellow ser

vant with angels. He has an inheritance with the saints in glory. He has a possession purchased for him, not with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of God's beloved Son. He has a house in reserve for him, which is builded, prepared and furnished, not by human hands, but by a divine power. How should all earthly riches and honors be despised by the Christian, who is born to such noble prospects, and entitled to such glorious possessions? May he not be contented in poverty, and patient in adversity, when he believes, that heavenly riches and everlasting felicities nearly await him, and that his present light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working for him a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory!

2. We see our obligations to mutual condescension, peaceableness and love.

The family in heaven are all of one heart, and one soul. They are united in the worship and service of God, and in the designs of benevolence toward one another. If we profess to belong to that noble family, let us learn to imitate their temper and manners. Let us love one another with a pure heart fervently, and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If the church of God on earth is one family, and a part of the great family which is in heaven; if even the angels are willing to be ranked with the saints below, as members of the same household, and employed as fellow servants with them, and even as ministering spirits to them; how unchristian, how unheavenly,