saith the beloved John, who in a vision saw the New Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God, “behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."*" And there shall in no wise enter into it,"-let the sentence of exclusion, brethren, be considered well!" there shall in no wise enter into it, any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they who are written in the Lamb's book of life."+

To be accounted "worthy," then, "to obtain that world," and the "resurrection from the dead," we must, by the profession of our faith in Christ, as crucified for sinners, have our names "written in the book of life," of "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world ;" and, renewed to righteousness, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, we must walk worthily of our profession. Theirs is a dangerous error, then, who speak of heaven as if it were a thing of course, and who expect to enter it with no more preparation than if they were but passing from one earthly kingdom to another. It is a new world, let us remember, "wherein dwelleth righteousness;" and, in the sight of Him who fills it with his presence, even "the stars are not pure." Of them who belong to it, and whose pre-eminent blessing it is,

* Revelation xxi. 3, 4.

+ Revelation xxi. 27.

+ Job xiv. 5.

that, like their Saviour, they can die no more, he declares that they are "as the angels of God." Christian brethren, are we living as becomes so high a destination? Are our aspirations after their resplendent purity? And is their prompt obedience to his commandments, the object of our holy emulation?

My brethren, to the worthiness to obtain that world of which the Saviour speaks, literally construed, we can make no claim. It must be purchased for us by the blood of the Son of God. It must be wrought in us by the indwelling power of the Spirit of God. It is faith, working by love, and purifying the heart, that is to make us "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light ;" and being found meet, we shall, in God's great mercy, be" accounted worthy” to obtain it. "Eternal life," let us remember, that we may not despair, is "the free gift of God." That we may not presume, let us also remember, that it is given only "through Jesus Christ our Lord."* He is "the WAY." He is "the TRUTH." He is "the LIFE."+ Going to him in faith, clinging to him in love, walking with him in holy obedience, he will reveal to us the truth, he will direct us in the way, he will bestow on us the life. So shall we, in patience and in hope, pursue the path of our brief mortal being. So shall we follow on in pious joy the holy footsteps of our departed friends who "sleep in Jesus." So shall we join at last "the Forerunner," who has gone in be

fore us, and with the joyous host of them who are as angels, and can never die," be ever with the Lord"*

With these expressive emblems of mortality about us, that new-made grave within our sight, and the sad notes of the funereal dirge still lingering in our ears, there needs not,-if indeed for dying men preaching to dying men there ever could,—one word in explanation of the subject thus presented for your consideration. The consolations which our religion throws around the passage to the tomb, at all times fitted to the uncertain tenure of our life, have special welcome in the hour when fainting nature mourns her loved and lost. To know that Jesus is "the resurrection and the life," must ever be the Christian's crowning joy. But when, "with solemn step and slow," he follows to the grave all that was mortal of some dear departed friend, is there not, Christian mourners, a pathos in the words, unknown, unfelt before? And fall they not upon the heart that breaks and bleeds, like precious balsam, with celestial virtue to soothe the anguish, and to heal the wound? Blessed be God, that in the retrospect of his whole life, whom now we mourn as children for a loved and venerated father, there rises not one doubt or fear to check the exulting confidence of that triumphant strain-"he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die!" Blessed be God, that from the recollection of that serene and peaceful

* 1 Thess. iv, 17.

death, we are enabled to look forward with unflinching hope to that all-glorious day, when "them who sleep in Jesus, God will bring with him!"* "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptible, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory! Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

My brethren of this congregation, there is not one among you, whom time and opportunity do not better enable to commemorate the character, the virtues, and the services of our lamented friend, than him on whom the office has devolved. And yet to no man living will he yield in reverential and affectionate regard, and in sincere desires that a memory so precious should be worthily embalmed. The offering which I bring, then, you will accept as the offering of love. Its errors and deficiencies you will supply, or overlook. And you will unite your prayers with mine, that as our beloved followed Christ, so we may be followers of him,-as upright, as sincere, as humble, as benevolent, as blameless in our life; as tranquil, as resigned, as full of faith, and hope, and love, and joy in death. So shall the departed spirit of our friend and father, be to us as a new

* 1 Corinthians xv. 53-57.

treasure laid up in heaven, bearing our hearts with him from this vale of misery and tears, to that better world in which they are unknown; and beckoning us onward, by the winning loveliness of his example, that,—justified by faith in the same precious Saviour in whom he trusted, and saved by the blood of that Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which alone he gloried,-we too may swell the choral song of that great company, who evermore before the throne proclaim His praises, who loved them, and washed them from their sins.

CHARLES HENRY WHARTON was born in St. Mary's county, in Maryland, on the 25th of May, O. S. 1748. His ancestors were Roman Catholics; and the family plantation, called Notley Hall, from a Governor of that name, was presented to the grandfather of our friend by Lord Baltimore. From him it descended to the father, Jesse Wharton; and at his death, in 1754, became the property of Charles Henry, his elder son.* His mother, Anne Bradford, like his father, was descended from a respectable family among the first settlers of the province. He describes her as a woman of sweet manners, and uncommon beauty;" and is to be added, on his own testimony, to the host of great and good men who have owed their greatness and their goodness, under God, to a mother's precepts, piety, and prayers. "Many of her maternal precepts and tender

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* Jesse Wharton had but two children. The younger son was born, I am inclined to believe, after his father's death.