Future glory is here set forth by the "joy of the Lord." It is the joy of the Lord,

1. Because procured for them by His sufferings, freely and gladly endured. Our blessed Redeemer, "for the joy that was set before Him, despising the shame, endured the cross, and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God."

2. Because there will be an eternal exemption from all sorrow, and all that is productive of sorrow. "When the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to this heavenly Zion, they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Here the servants of

the Lord endure afflictions. Paul testifies, "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart." And he was not an isolated case. It is common to man, as it is written, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble." But when the redeemed shall have entered that heavenly world, they shall sorrow no more. They shall abide in the peace of God.

They will be tempted no more, persecuted no more, endure afflictions no longer, will rest from all their labors, and never again suffer the pangs of dissolution. Their probation over, their sorrows terminated, their bliss commenced, they enter into the joy of their Lord.

3. Because it contains all that can impart pure and permanent bliss to a rational, immortal being. Heaven is a glorious place. Paul, who was privileged to view that heavenly world, upon his return to earth and reunion with the body, was not able to describe the future residence of the good. Thought is inadequate to conceive. words to express, that "eternal weight of glory" which remains for the faithful.

How

Holy society, and none but such, will be found in heaven. Here, however pleasantly we may be situated, we must necessarily mix with an impure society, which saddens the heart and offends the conscience. But in heaven all will be of one heart and one mind-pure, loving, wise, happy. delightful to associate with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all the lovers of Jesus, among whom will be found those who were here united to us by ties of blood and affection. Their employments will be joyous and delightful. They will be constantly advancing in holiness and happiness, approaching ever nearer to the Fountain of all love and wisdom. And having once entered the blessed City of God, they shall go out no more forever. The gates of pearl shall be closed to shut out sin and sorrow, and close in the ransomed of the Lord. Then shall their Master

say, "Well done, ye faithful; enter into My joy." And they shall join in songs of praise to Him that loved them and redeemed them unto Himself. O that I may so live as to hear the Master say, "Well done."

SALEM, NEW JERSEY, July 21st, 1847.

ON CONSTANCY.

"Now WHEN DANIEL KNEW THAT THE WRITING WAS SIGNED, HE WENT INTO HIS HOUSE; AND, HIS WINDOWS BEING OPEN IN HIS CHAMBER TOWARD JERUSALEM, HE KNEELED UPON HIS KNEES THREE TIMES A DAY, AND PRAYED, AND GAVE THANKS BEFORE HIS GOD, AS HE DID AFORETIME."- Daniel vi. 10.

HERE shall we find a more illustrious example of experimental and practical piety than in Daniel? From early life to advanced age, he was the faithful, the devoted servant of the Lord. Through all the vicissitudes of life, his confidence in God was unshaken-his intercourse with heaven was uninterrupted. sterling was his integrity, so firm his purpose, that nothing could cause him to depart from the well-known path of rectitude. The malice

So

of envious courtiers, the law that could not be repealed, the lions, their ferocity intensified by confinement, all served but to illustrate the fidel

ity of Daniel; he served his God in the face of danger and of death.

O that we who are more favorably situated, to whom the lines have fallen in pleasant places, we who have a goodly heritage, were more like the devoted Daniel!

Let us consider,

I. Some of the circumstances under which Daniel worshiped the God of Israel.

1. Daniel worshiped the God of his fathers

in the days of his youth.

The book of Daniel, which is rich in prophecy, also presents us with a biographical account of its author. We here learn that Daniel was but a lad when taken captive to Babylon. He was among those who were called children by the king; and together with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, was selected to be about the king's court, and received an education suited to his position. At that early period he gave unquestionable evidence of his piety by faithful observance of the law. Hence, when directed to eat of the food of idolatry brought from the king's table, he had the firmness to say to Melzar, under whose whose supervision he was: "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. Then