do us good with regard to our latter end. But for these, how unwilling should we be to go. How vain would the admonition be, "Arise and depart;" unless it were enforced with the conviction-"This is not our rest."

Let this, therefore, keep us from the murmurings of discontent, and the forebodings of despondency. Though serious, let us not be gloomy. And while free from delusive hopes, let us not yield to unbelieving fears-but thank God, and take courage.

OCT. 11." And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Luke xxiv. 50, 51.

- FROM another Scripture, it would seem that he ascended from Mount Olivet. But there is no contradiction here. The same eminence is intendedOn the one side of it, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he suffered; on the opposite side, stretching down to Bethany, he was received up into glory. And we see the latter was some considerable distance from the former for, of the attendants at his ascent, it is said, "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath-day's journey."

Thither he seems to have led his disciples, for the sake of abstraction and privacy. He had said before his death, "The world seeth me no more." They had seen him, and believed not. To what purpose should other proofs be displayed before those on whose minds all his miracles had made no impression? And here was a sufficient number to attest the fact and reason cannot question the

competency of these witnesses, either as to capacity or sincerity.

But how wonderful and pleasing is the manner in which he took his leave! His disciples had often tried him. They had always betrayed great imperfections; and, after all their professions of attachment to him, as soon as he was apprehended, they all forsook him, and fled. He might well have cast them off: but he loved them unto the end. He might have forgiven them; and yet have left them unseen-or silently-or with a frown-or with a rebuke-and this would almost have broken their hearts: but "he lifted up his hands, and blessed them!" Thus proclaiming the most cordial forgiveness; thus assuring them, that they might rely on his remembering them when he was come into his kingdom.

Dr. Priestley is much perplexed about his present residence and employment. It would appear, he says, from some intimations in the Epistles, as if he still had occasionally something to do with the Church; but what this is, we cannot conjecture. And there is no doubt, says he, but he is now somewhere on earth for what relation can he have to any other planet?-But we are assured that, while he blessed his disciples, he was parted from them, "and carried up into heaven." Where this is we are not informed. But it is obviously a place: for he was clothed in a body like our own; and, corporeally, he cannot be everywhere. But wherever he thus But wherever he thus is, there is heaven. And this accords with his own language-“I go to prepare a place for you." And though heaven is to be considered more as a state than a place; and though even now our happiness does not depend essentially upon local situations; yet these have their importance-And what beautiful and enchanting places have we seen, and heard of, and imagined! But "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God

hath prepared for them that love him." What a
residence was Eden, before the fall of the first Adam!
But this fell infinitely short of the excellency of the
abode of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven-
"Oh! the delights, the heavenly joys,
"The glories of the place,

"Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams
"Of his o'erflowing grace!

Well, let us think of him where he now is; and let us inquire what is our duty with regard to him. Hear Paul "Seeing, then, that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." We need not be afraid to own him-for he is able to take care of us however we may be exposed. We need not be ashamed to avow him-for he has every thing to induce us to glory in him. Some comparative excuse might be made for Peter. When he denied him, he was a prisoner at the bar, and going to be crucified, as a malefactor. But where is he, when we deny him? In the midst of the Throne -crowned with glory and honour-the Lord of all.

Let us follow him in our thoughts and affections. Why seek we the living among the dead? He is not here. He is in heaven: and where our treasure is, there should our hearts be also. Let us therefore have our conversation in heaven; and seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. There, some of us have much to interest us now-We seem more related to another world than this-and, reflecting upon our losses, we sigh, and say, "What do I here? and what have I here ?" How many among the blessed can we reckon up, who we feel are drawing us after them! But here is the principal attraction

"Jesus, my all, to heav'n is gone;
"He whom I fix my hopes upon :
"His tract I see, and I'll pursue
"The narrow path, till him I view."

And let us rejoice in the expectation of being for ever with him. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus." The anchor that holds the ship is cast out of it: and our hope must go out of ourselves. The anchor lays hold of something invisible: and our hope enters heaven. Yet it would find nothing as the ground of its grasp there, if he was not there-But he is there-and there for us-and his being there, insures our arrival. He is the forerunner of the whole company: and said he, as he entered, "I am come; and all my people are coming." Unless we are there also, he would be disappointed-for he prayed, Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, to behold my glory. He would be unfaithful-for he said, "Where I am, there shall also my servants be." He would be imperfect-for he is the bridegroom, and they are the bride; he is the head, and they are the members of his body.

O blessed confidence! let me feel thy influence in every duty and in every trial. Henry, after a sweet representation of the place, exclaims, "If this be heaven, O that I was there!" How matchlessly simple and affecting does Bunyan end his story of Christian and Hopeful, after they had passed the river, and approached the Shining City, the object of all their solicitude!" Now just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them. And beheld the city shone like the sun. The streets, also, were paved with gold. And in them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one to another, without intermission, saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord.' And after that, they shut up the gates-WHICH WHEN I HAD SEEN, I

WISHED MYSELF AMONG them."

OCT. 12.-" I am the good Shepherd." John x. 14.

To prove, or rather to exemplify his goodness, let us consider his sheep in three periods and conditions; and observe his conduct towards them in each.

First. See them in their natural state. Thus they were fallen and guilty creatures; in want and danger; and ready to perish. Here his goodness appeared in undertaking their cause, and engaging to be their Shepherd. For nothing but goodness could have induced him to do this. He was under no power or authority to constrain him-He was influenced by no application or desire in the subjects of his pity-And he was not ignorant of what the interposition would cost him. He knew that if he would be their Shepherd, he must bleed and die. What says the Church? "All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own. way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." What says he himself? "The good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."-And all this he suffered, not complainingly, but with inexpressible alacrity and pleasure-I delight to do Thy willHow am I straightened till it be accomplished !—Nor was this all. After he had redeemed them by his blood, he had to search, and find them; and bring them from their wanderings into his fold. Hear his own representation-He goeth after that which is lost in the wilderness until he find it. Well, and when he has traversed the desert, weary, and wounded by the thorns and briers, and has found it; what does he? Does he complain of his privations, fatigues, and sufferings? No: he layeth it on his shoulder REJOICING: and when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found the sheep which was lost.

Secondly. View them in their restored estate. Here his goodness appears in making such ample 2 R

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