from the page of revelation, a confined and narrow heritage? Vast as will be the capacities of the spirits of just men made perfect-numerous as will be the inhabitants of heavenand eternally as they will continue to receive the glory that shall be revealed, will not that dwelling which the immensity of God alone can fill, amply supply the wants of every one who shall be admitted within its borders? Even now, in the unsearchable breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, countless as are the thousands whom it has embraced, there is a place for more. Even here, in the present kingdom of heaven, as it is exhibited in the Saviour's gospel, there is a pale wide enough-there is a provision liberal enough to admit and cherish every individual who professes to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life. Fear not then, that your portion in these blessings shall be withheld. Yet there is room-room enough for you; and God himself invites you to enter and take possession. The Canaan of eternal rest will be peopled with mingled inhabitants. Angels, and Archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, all the hierarchies of the blessed, with all the ransomed and holy people of God, from the east and from the west, from

the north and from the south, from every age, and climate, and tongue, and nation, and language,-prophets, and apostles, martyrs, and confessors-the princes of the earth, and the lowliest of its inhabitants, whose names-elsewhere long forgotten, are written in the book of life-a great multitude whom no man can number, will receive their portion of those blessings that are at God's right hand for evermore. None will be straitened, none dissatisfied. That eternal Saviour, whose kingdom is to be the abode, and whose love is to be the portion of his followers, will fulfil to the uttermost the most enlarged interpretation of his promise"In my Father's house are many mansions." When the fountain of eternal life is opened in heaven, and its stream flows without ceasing, into the soul of every inhabitant there, he will possess as much of the fulness of joy, as his nature can comprehend; and the utmost ambition of bliss in that world of light can ask no more. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God-O land of the risen Immanuel, which only the ages of life everlasting can fully verify; but which Christian faith in some degree apprehends, even from the darkness and distance of this sinful, low, and gloomy world. None who enter there shall hunger or thirst, any more: for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne

shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters. The tree of life shall yield its unfailing fruit, and the river of life, clear as crystal, shall pour forth its full stream for ever.

(2.) This division of Canaan was made with the utmost impartiality. The lots were drawn in Shiloh, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.' His immediate eye watched over the process-his unerring wisdom directed the result. The boundaries of each portion were distinctly drawn, and the inheritance of every tribe exactly defined. A carnal, selfish race, like that of Israel, eager only for present good, and prone to murmur, and rebel upon every imaginary disappointment, would have been watchful, each to take advantage of his neighbour. Each would arrogate the fairest portion to himself, and advance a claim for compensation, to which his services were ill entitled. All this evil was prevented by the wise appointment of God, who allotted the hill and valley, the corn and pasture, the brooks and rivers, the towns and cities, with a perfection of righteousness, against which it was the highest absurdity, as well as the most daring impiety to murmur. Envy and malice, strife and civil war, hatred and bloodshed, were thus shut out by an appeal

1 Joshua xix. 51.

to that unanswerable question, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Survey, my brethren, your heritage of present mercy—your prospect for the land of promise, eternal in the heavens. Is God any respecter of persons? Is it not better, that your earthly condition, your place in the appointments of temporal good or sorrow, should be determined by the infinite wisdom of your heavenly Father, than by your own ignorance? Is it not more desirable, that your religious distinctions, and the mansion in which you are to repose, through the unbroken day of heavenly bliss, should be appointed by him who knows your wants and capacities with infallible certainty, than if the choice rested with yourselves? Ye discern less of the plans of eternal wisdom, than the insect, whose eye scarcely takes in the surface of the clod on which he stands, can see of the world around him. How then could ye discover what your own best heritage may be, and the mode of securing it, in entire harmony with all the purposes of God? Is every hair of your head numbered? Doth not a sparrow fall to the ground without the knowledge and permission of your heavenly Father And shall not they for whom the great mystery of godliness was exhibited--they whose redemption was purchased by Jesus Christ, thankfully refer their state to his appointment?

Whatever be the issue, may not they cry with the chastened patriarch, The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away—blessed be the name of the Lord? May not each of them look forward in the full assurance of hope, and say, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day? Devote yourselves to the service of your heavenly Father and you shall have a due reward. "Go ye into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive." What, let me ask, are your circumstances? Are you straitened in the portion of worldly good which you expected? It may be so; but if ye be the servants of him, "who is able to supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus," the lines are fallen to you in a pleasant place, and you have a goodly heritage. They that love the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good. Learn, "in whatsoever state you are, therewith to be content." Here you have no continuing city, but you seek one to come; one which will neither elude your search, nor disappoint you when you take possession of it, and dwell in it for ever. Suppose ye, that a faithful Israelite whose dwelling had been appointed at Shiloh would have murmured, if to him had been awarded the very worst of all the subdivisions in the