glorious body, such has undoubtedly been given to the glorified Redeemer. And is it true, my fellow-Christians, that we shall have bodies like his ? Can our utmost wishes go farther? Though the glory of Jesus is not yet manifested, yet we know that it is infinitely great. If our mean body is to be refashioned into the likeness of his glorious body, it is not possible to raise our expectations too high. Away, wild fancy, away, ye flights of enthusiasm. Stern reason, examine this conclusion, by thy most rigid rules.

So much for the conviction of our understanding; let us a moment gratify our imagination with a glance at the anticipated glory of Christ's body in his transfiguration." And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain a part; and was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." Hide your heads, ye children of pride. Compared to this, what is your beauty, your ornaments, your pomp Where is the glory of the majesty of this world! Where is the lustre of your purple, the brilliancy of your diamonds, the glare of your burnished gold? Look here, ye vain things of fashion; what is your frippery compared to this? Why such arrogance in that brow? That mean cottager whom you despise, will have a body like that of the Son of God on the throne of his glory.

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Followers of Jesus, amidst the reproach of the cross lift up your eyes to view this glorious prospect. Revive your drooping spirits by looking at the glorious body of Jesus. "When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." At his coming "the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father." What object in nature is so glorious as the sun? Who can look on the brightness of his beams? Who can measure the extent and the distance of his shining? Such shall be your glory, ye servants of the Lord, who despise the glory of this world, through faith in his word. Look up to that heaven studded with stars. See these bright orbs darting flames. This is but a faint image of your glory. "They that be wise shall shine as the firmament, and

they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

That the future happiness of the saints is exceedingly great, we may learn from the contrast between this and their present calamities. The Apostle Paul asserts that our light afflictions, work for us a far more exceeding weight of glory. He says also; "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Now we know that the sufferings of God's people in this world are in themselves heavy afflictions, and to some grievously heavy. If, then, the afflictions of the most afflicted among the saints, are light contrasted with their future happiness, how great must that happiness be!

It is sometimes said that existence even in misery is a thing desirable. I cannot think so. It is said that a short time of pleasure is an equivalent for a long time of preceding pain. On the contrary I think that a slight and short pain, is a dear price for a long time of exquisite pleasure. It is true, indeed, rather than go out of existence, we are willing to submit to great sufferings. But this results from a natural horror we have at nonexistence, and not from a conviction of the value of simple being. In my opinion, there are so many evils attached to human nature in its present state of degradation and sin that without a view to future existence in glory, existence in this life is not an object of rational desire. I have never admired the wisdom of some sages, who have left this world professing that they were happy. Their happiness, in my opinion, was the result of the blindness of their minds with respect to the real state of human nature. Their happiness is the happiness of insanity. It is an insensibility to the misery of their situation, and a misconception of the true dignity of man. All men in one way or other, are miserable, and any happiness they enjoy is a happiness not suited to their rational nature. But the Christian has peculiar sufferings, which nothing but the hope of being acquitted at the bar of God, and of reigning with Jesus could make him patiently endure. If, then, these sufferings are not worthy to be compared

with the glory that shall be revealed in them, that glory must indeed be great.

We may be assisted in estimating the future glory of Christians, by the relation which they are said to bear to God, and the titles bestowed on them from that connexion. They are called the children and heirs of God. It is not possible for the Almighty God to invest created beings with higher honour. Had the utmost exertion of infinite power been put forth in the creation of any being, could he have been made worthy of higher honour than this? There is a sense in which Adam, when created, was the son of God: there is a sense in which men are still the sons of God, as being created by him. But it is not as the objects of his creation that the saints are called his children. It is as they are born again of the incorruptible seed of the word, that testifies of the atonement of Jesus. He hath begotten us again to a hope of life by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. We are his children as we are the brethren of his only begotten Son. The passages that mention this title, show that it is the utmost dignity. "Behold," says John, "what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." This title, therefore, we enjoy in a sense in which it is not due to the highest angel in heaven. We are connected through our participation with Jesus, in a relation to God, that no other created beings can boast. As the brethren of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are nearly related to the throne of heaven. This sets us, beyond comparison, above the highest of the angels of God. These are the servants, but they are not the brethren of Jesus. In the sense in which we claim the title, they are not the sons of God. Nor are they ever called his heirsa title which belongs exclusively to his redeemed from among the children of men, as his children through Jesus Christ.

Children of God, what a transporting view does this give you of your dignity? Compared with you, what are the descendants of kings? Ye base things of

this world, you are the high-born sons of God. Even in heaven, among created beings, you have no superiors. What amazing love hath the Father thus bestowed upon us, in advancing us from wretchedness to the highest dignity? Oh, how besotted are we ever to forget this high relation! Why do we not exult with ecstatic joy? Why are not our hearts for ever in heaven? Why are we led astray by the allurements of the vain things of this world? Why are we tempted by any earthly honours? Why do we ever sigh on account of the reproach of the cross, or regret the loss of the honour that cometh from men? Why are we heavy on account of our present afflictions? Why are we at any time ready to be ashamed of such a glorious connexion? Why should we be ashamed of obedience to such of his commandments as are offensive to the world? Why do we not glory in being reproached for manifesting love to such a Father? We despise a man who disgraces high descent by mean sentiments or habits. What a disgrace in any of the children of God, to manifest a low attachment to this world, or any of its vanities! The son of a nobleman, who should manifest a low taste for the sports of the vulgar, who should be found associating with the scurf of society, instead of attending to the high concerns of his country, would be justly the contempt of all men. And what are you, my fellow Christians, when you turn aside from the truth, and mix in the follies of men? It would not be so inconsistent in the heir of a throne, to associate with a company of strolling gipsies, as for you to join with the world in their sentiments, interests, and ways. You are the sons of the King of kings be ye therefore holy, for he is holy. "Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Ah, my brethren, why will you, by your misconduct, bring a reproach on the name of Jesus? Why will you give occasion to men to speak evil of the way of truth? Why will you stumble the world by your inconsistencies, and thus counteract the gospel of Christ? Ah, shame, shame! Is this the return for so much love, for so

much honour? Walk worthy of the Lord, or renounce his name.

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As children of God, they are heirs of all things. Instead of glorying in being the disciples of eminent men. Paul informs the Corinthians, these very men were made eminent on their account, and given to them for their service. He goes farther, and tells them that all things, both in this world and in the world to come, are theirs: "Therefore let no man glory in men. all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." Even this world is theirs. Though they actually possess little of its wealth or power, yet he that rules the rulers of the world, makes all things subserve his own cause, and contribute to the ultimate good of his people. Even in their persecutions, their enemies are ministers to them of good. They suffer, not from the indifference or weakness of their heavenly Father, but that they may be made perfect like their great head. Shall the Duke of Wellington regret the strife of nations, through which he is placed at the head of the children of renown? Shall the Christian not rejoice when he is called to suffer for Christ's sake, knowing that his reward will be great in heaven? Death itself, as well as life, serves these heirs of God. It is the vestibule of glory. To die is their great gain. Their greatest enemy is constrained to serve them. Things present, and things to come, all, all, are theirs.

This relation, and the consequences of it, are exhibited, Gal. iv. 6-" And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." As the sons of God, Christians in this state of minority enjoy the first-fruits of the Spirit of God. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." This gives them a filial boldness and confidence in approaching God through the atonement of his Son. Now the above passage infers, that they are heirs because they are sons. If so, this