and sighing shall flee away. "* 3rd. That it will spring from service to God. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple." 4thly. That it consists in being like Jesus. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 5thly. That it will be glorious. "Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly of the church of the first born, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect."§ 6thly. That it will be com * Isa. xxxv. 10. 1 John iii. 2. + Rev. vii. 15. § Heb. xii. 22, 23. plete. "In his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore."* And 7thly, it will be "So shall we be for ever perpetual. "Oh! glorious hour, oh! blest abode, Such, my readers, are a few of the enrapturing thoughts that occupy the mind, when we meditate upon the great and glorious God, as a sun. There is another lovely Being presented to our contemplation, under the striking figure of a sun. This is the Lord of life and glory, Christ the righteous. Malachi says, "unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing on his wings." *Psa. xvi. 11. +1 Thess. iv. 17. Consoling, blessed declaration! In it we trace the superaboundings of eternal love, and the overflowings of almighty tenderness. In it all the gracious purposes of sovereign mercy are declared, and the fulness of infinite pity promised. As God in creating the world made the natural sun the centre of attraction, support and brilliance to inferior orbs, so in the glorious scheme of redemption Christ was appointed to be the refuge, strength, righteousness, and glory of poor degraded sinners. Without his righteousness we are lost, for our righteousness is as filthy rags, but the righteousness of Christ is perfect, and whoever is clothed in it God will not condemn. Oh! that every one would be looking and longing as much for the glori ous Sun of righteousness to arise to bless their souls, as they desire the daily rising of the natural sun! From the Sun, Christ Jesus, flows blessings which are unspeakable and divine. It is he alone possesses the unspotted robes to adorn our bodies, without which we never can stand with acceptance before God; and it is he only who has the precious balm to heal our wounded souls, and save us from the bitter sorrows of hell. Let us then apply to him by faith, trust him by faith, and lean on him by faith. If the Lord grant us the assistance of his grace thus to act, faith the eyesight of the soul will be ever stretched towards heaven, till it enjoys the glorious prospect of Christ the Saviour, rising in all the richness of his mediatorial character, to take away our foul |