than those of earth; far better delights are yours than you ever found in wandering, in conversing, in resting with us. "Worlds would not bribe you back to tread "Present with the Lord." Ye dear departed, destined to outlive a falling world! ye are not lost! Fain would we have had you continue longer here; but why continue? What is taken from your time is added to your eternity. Our memories tell us of prospects you indulged in for earth and timeand these views are blasted. Yes, blessed disappointment! earth is changed for heaven, and hopes of transient comfort for the fruition of unfailing joy. You formed plans for the voyage, but God took you to the harbour. You sought tranquillity through a few declining days on earth; but he has called you to" rapture and bliss" in the skies. You expected to pass a few more days with beloved friends below; but he has snatched you hence to join with nobler friends above. You bless that friendly wave of time, which, while you thought it was bearing you to some earthly attainment, landed you in heaven. "Present with the Lord." Blessed conquerors, then are you safe! Had you continued longer here, temptation might have seduced you, Satan might have overcome you, or pernicious error have led you astray; but no temptations now seduce you, no enemies assault you, no errors now mislead you. "Present with the Lord." Ye dear departed, why do we mourn your happiness? What was it that you prayed for? To be "present with the Lord." What was it that you sought? To be " present with the Lord." Your prayers are answered, your desires fulfilled. And shall we regret this? The children of this world lament not when the labours of their friends are concluded, when the voyages and the battles of those they love are over. But, alas! the children of this world are wiser than the children of light! What is it that we seek? to what most earnestly aspire? for what most anxiously hope? To be present with the Lord." Beloved, lamented friends, is this the summit of our own desires? and was this the summit of yours? and yet shall we regret your de "PRESENT WITH THE LORD." 371 sires gratified? Rather should we congratulate your departure, while our faith pursues you to your heavenly dwellings. "Present with the Lord," but not with us; yet may we ere long be so with you. You cannot come again to us, but we may shortly go to you. Our loss is the loss of your beloved society for a little span; but soon will that little span be past. Then we too will leave our feeble, clay-built tabernacles, we too be “absent from the body and present with the Lord." § 24. Admitted to that happy home, and blessed with "the crown, not of merit but of grace," the Christian will find all his toils and labours amply recompensed. Where but one talent has been possessed, and well improved, the gracious Saviour will manifest as much approbation, as he will to those, who may have had many, but not have made more improvement of them. Perhaps, if your abilities are small, and your opportunities of doing good very limited, you may be disposed to anticipate a less share of the Saviour's favour, than you imagine will be the happiness of those who have many more talents than you. But it is not the number of talents you possess, but the improvement of them, which the eternal Master notices. To him who had five talents intrusted to him, and who could say, "Behold, I have gained beside them five talents more;" his Lord said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." But to him who had made an equal improvement of two talents, his Lord said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." The number of talents possessed was different, but the improvement was equal, and their lord's expressions of approbation equal. Though all that the blest in heaven will enjoy is undeserved, and all flows from heavenly * Perhaps there may be a propriety in the writer observing, that most of this section appeared in a periodical publication. It was written on the evening previous to the funeral of a dear and affectionate, a kind and valuable, father, John Baxter Pike; a father, to whose care and kindness he is unspeakably indebted-a father, who, to promote the welfare of his family, struggled hard through a chequered and stormy life; and who, after manifesting much peace in the prospect of eternity, exchanged this mortal for an immortal state (on December 11, 1811. (c) Matt, xxv. 20-23. 372 HEAVENLY REWARD OF CHRISTIAN LABOURS. grace, yet the Saviour does teach us, that he will make that reward proportionable to the diligence of his servants. In the parable of the ten pounds delivered to ten servants, the Lord said, to him who had made the one pound ten, Have thou authority over ten cities; and to him who had made the one pound but five, he only said, Have thou authority over five cities. În the great reckoning day, and the eternal state, events the most unexpected will take place. Even of those admitted to heaven, many of the first may be last, and the last first. Many wealthy Christians, who were applauded, and eminent in their day, may sink far below the poor believer, who toiled through life in obscurity and want, but whose piety was more fervent, whose heart more liberal, than were those of his wealthier brother. The unfamed tenant of the cottage will often rise higher in glory than the possessors of stately mansions and extensive fame. For in many instances his single talent will be found to have been better improved, than their five, or ten, or twenty. The pious female, only known in the narrow circle of domestic life; the laborious sabbath-school teacher, all whose energies were employed in training the young for heaven, may, in numberless cases, rise far above ministers of the gospel, popular and admired in their day, but whose activity in doing good was not proportioned to their opportunities; whose more splendid talents were not improved so well as the humbler ones of their more pious friends. Whatever be your situation, let considerations of this kind thus animate you to press forward to eminent piety. The Lord will approve of your feeble attempts to honour him. If all you can do is little, yet do that little, and he will esteem it much. Where nothing more can be imparted, “ a cup of cold water only," given to a disciple, “in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward." You cannot exert a humble endeavour for the Saviour's glory, however unsuccessful, that will not meet his approbation. With what delight may the Christian exclaim, Compassionate Saviour! wilt thou, when seated on thy glorious throne, own my humble attempts to please thee? Shall I share in the honours of thy kingdom? and then be welcomed with thy approbation? Condescend HEAVEN THE DWELLING OF SAINTS. 373 ing Redeemer! I know I may, and O let this condescending love of thine, constrain me to lay at thy feet whatever I possess. § 25. Are these your hopes? O soul-reviving hopes! Such blessings might seem all we want, yet more will the Saviour's bounty give. To enjoy his presence, to be for ever with the Lord, is the height of heavenly happiness. But another source of joy, shall be the company of all the spirits of the just. The heavenly home is described as their abode. In sweet eternal union there are joined all the angels of light, and all the ransomed heirs of glory. "The holy host of saints, that once have known "With harpings high of inexpressive praise." Of them the word of truth declares, They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world-are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God.' "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect."s "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."h What glorious joy will union to this blessed family impart! There dwell the great benefactors of mankind, apostles and evangelists, who sacrificed every earthly good to lead immortal multitudes to heaven. There martyrs, dear to our hearts for their faith and patience, rest in eternal repose. There those, the memorials of whose piety has animated ours, all are assembled ; and shine far brighter in their Father's kingdom, than they ever shone on earth. Unnumbered millions that never met below, there meet never to part. Amidst that goodly company are doubtless found a Baxter and a Howe, an Elliott and a Brainerd, a Martyn and a Ward, and millions more, perhaps less known on earth, but not less happy in heaven. And now their piety glows with purer lustre; and all the lovely graces that religion produced in their dispositions and characters, are far more lovely there. O glorious happiness, to join that blissful throng! and far from all (f) Luke xx. 35, 36. 374 UNION OF THE PIOUS IN HEAVEN. these polluting and sinful scenes, to spend eternal day with happy myriads of spotless saints and exalted angels! $26. But when you contemplate this happiness, perhaps the inquiry arises, May I hope there to meet the dear companions of my earthly course? May I hope there to know and love those valued, pious friends, whom I have known and loved upon earth? The Scriptures furnish reasons for believing, that the happy inhabitants of heaven shall enjoy this addition to their happiness. The word of God represents some eminent saints, who have left this world, as recognized long after their departure hence. Thus the ransomed are represented as sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.i Lazarus is described as conveyed to Abraham's bosom, and Dives as knowing Lazarus and Abraham. And at the time of our Lord's transfiguration, the distinguished saints who appeared in glory, (probably as they appear in heaven,) and who conversed with him, were known to be Moses and Elijah. There is no reason for supposing, that while these are recognized in the world of glory, it should be altogether unknown who others are, and whence they came. We may rather believe, that as Abraham is there known to be that Abraham who once forsook his country at God's command, saints of later days enjoy the mutual happiness of knowing and being known. A still more conclusive argument to prove that the blest shall be acquainted with each other, arises from the language of the apostle Paul, in which he expressed his confidence of seeing and recognizing his Christian friends," For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"m As he expected in a happier state to renew his intimacy with those who had been converted under his ministry at Thessalonica, they must mutually know him. The apostle does not mention this as a privilege peculiar to himself; other labourers in the Saviour's vineyard would, without doubt, enjoy a similar felicity. But if the minister shall recognize his flock, can we think the pious parent shall be unacquainted with the pious child whom he trained for heaven? Can we suppose that brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, relatives and friends, (i) Matt. viii. 11. (*) Luke xvi. 22, 23. (1) Luke ix. 33. |