all things are ready! the oxen and the fatlings are killed!" My soul! prepare for the meeting; suitably attire thyself for such a glorious banquet. Put on thy beautiful garments that righteousness of Jesus, without which thou canst not be accepted—that holiness of heart, without which thou canst not be an acceptable guest. Soon shall the little hour of life's unquiet dream be over; and then, O the glorious surprise of being ushered into that banqueting-table-to know forever the blessedness of those "who are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb !"

With the prospect of such joys awaiting me in the morning of immortality, with the dark nights of death before me, and the grave my couch, I shall be able to say even of its lonely chamber—

"I WILL BOTH LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE AND SLEEP; FOR THOU,

ON THY PRESENCE.

"In Thy presence there is fulness of joy."-Ps. xvi. 12.

EVEN in this world, where there is much of God, how sweet to the Christian is the sense of His presence, and friendship, and love! What will it be in that world, where it is all of God? The foretaste is blessed-what must be the fruition! The rays of the Divine glory are gladdening—what must be the full blaze of that Sun itself!

My soul! dost thou often delight to pause in thy journey?-does faith love to ascend its Pisgah-Mount and get a prospect of this Land of Promise? What is the grand feature and element which swallows up all the circumstantials in thy future bliss? Let Patriarchs, Pro

phets, and Apostles, answer-It is "Thy Presence." "In my flesh, I shall see God!" says one. "I shall be satisfied," says another, "when I awake, with Thy likeness." "They shall see His face," says a third. Amid all the glowing visions of a coming Heaven vouchsafed to John in Patmos, there is One all-glorious object that has ever a peerless and distinctive pre-eminence—God himself. There is no candle-Why? "For the Lord God giveth them light?" There is no temple-Why? "For the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple thereof!" The Saints dwell in holy brotherhood; but what is the mighty bond of their union-their "chiefest joy?""He that sitteth on the Throne dwells among them!" They have no longer the intervention of ordinances and means-Why? Because "the Lamb that is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, and lead them to living fountains of waters !" They no longer draw on the storehouse of the Promises-And why? Because "God himself shall wipe

away all tears from their eyes!" "No napkin," says a holy man, "but His own imme diate hand, shall wipe my sinful face !"

My soul! here is the true "Peniel"where you will see God face to face !" Here is the true "Mahanaim"-where "the Angels of God meet you!" Here is the true Communion of Saints-" The glorious fellowship of the Prophets the goodly fellowship of the Apostles-the noble army of Martyrs !" Yet all these latter will be subservient and subordinate to the first-the vision and fruition of God! Even the recognition of the death-divided (that sweet element in the Believer's prospect of bliss) will pale in comparison into a taper-light before this "Glory that excelleth !"

Reader! art thou among these " pure in heart," who are to "see God?" Remember the Bible's solemn interdict-" Without holiness no man shall see the Lord!" Remember its solemn admonition-" And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself even

as He is pure !" To "see God !" O what preparation needed for so august a contemplation! Infinite unworthiness and nothingness to stand in the presence of Infinite Majesty, Purity, and Glory!

Can I wonder at the much discipline required ere I can be thus "presented faultless before the presence of His glory?" How will these needed furnace-fires be dimmed into nothing when viewed from the Sapphire throne! "Heart and flesh may be fainting and failing;" but, remembering that that same God is now "the strength of my heart,' who is to be my "portion forever," I may joyfully say—

"I WILL BOTH LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE AND SLEEP; FOR 1HOU,