command the admiration of the redeemed, and swell the arches of heaven with shouts of adoration, and thanksgiving through eternity. They now sing, and will be ever singing, "unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.' Again, they turn their faces towards the throne, and say with loud voices, "thou art worthy-for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." What What mingled emotions of wonder, and gratitude, and joy must they ever feel when they behold in the midst of the throne "a lamb as it had been slain," and then reflect that their joys had been procured by his sorrows; their glories by his reproach; their life by his death; their crowns by his cross; their elevation to thrones by his degradation to the manger.

2. "The love of Jesus" is manifested by what he is now doing as our advocate in heaven. After he had, by his vicarious obedience and sacrifice, laid down the full price of our redemption, constrained by the same love he ascended to the higher court to see that every blessing should be applied: "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us;" and the same love to his people, the same concern for their salvation which he felt and manifested on earth, he now feels,

and manifests amidsts all the splendors of the throne. Our Lord, before his departure from his apostles, fully assured them of his gracious design in going to heaven, and of the benefits which he should procure by residing there in our nature and name. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away." It was expedient for us that he should continue on earth until our redemption was finished, and sin put away by the sacrifice of himself, and afterwards it was no less expedient that he should "enter the most holy place, and there appear as our Forerunner and Advocate." "If I go not away the Comforter will not come, but if I depart I will send him unto you." He sends down the Holy Ghost in his varied influences to seal, to console, to sanctify, and prepare them for the posses-. sion of that kingdom which he procured on

his cross.

"He possesses all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and from this fulness he imparts to his favored members more life, more light, more love, more joy, until they receive the end of their faith even their full and final salvation. "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, because he ever liveth to make intercession for them." This passage is peculiarly instructive, and affords a display of the Redeemer's concern for our interests altogether incredible, had not Jehovah revealed it. It appears to intimate that the great design of his life in heaven is to inter

cede for his church upon earth, to manage all her concerns, and perfect her salvation. Although he is there "exalted far above all heavens, angels and principalities and powers being made subject unto him," yet his eyes are constantly fastened upon his living members: "In all their afflictions he is afflicted:" Every reproach that is cast at them he feels as cast at himself: Every tear he notices as it starts in the eye, and tenderly wipes away: Every arrow that is shot at them by the archers of hell he wards off, unless necessary for the more perfect trial of their faith and patience. This "Keeper of Israel neither slumbers, nor sleeps." "Having loved his own which were in the world, and given himself an offering without spot for their reconciliation he loved them unto the end." He never ceases to watch over them; to guide and guard, and sympathize, and support while they are exposed to the sorrows or toils or perils of this wilderness.

But the Saviour's love to his people, his solicitude for their welfare is not confined to the present world.

3. It will be illustriously displayed in supporting them during their last conflict, and giving them a safe, triumphant entrance to the possession of all that glory which is reserved for them. "I go to prepare a place for you: And if I go, and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Next to the glory

of his Father, their felicity and glory in his presence were the great purposes which he contemplated in his undertaking from eternity; in all the sufferings which as their Surety he endured on earth, and in every plea which he offers up as their Advocate in heaven, and he will never rest until these purposes are fully accomplished. While he intercedes, “ holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth," he adds with equal affection for them, and zeal for their welfare, "I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me." Such is his prayer before the throne in their behalf, and when the moment of their translation arrives he sends forth his angels, as ministers of state, to take charge of their departing spirits, and conduct them safe to his communion. With what expressions of love will he then receive and welcome them to those mansions which he had obtained at the expence of his own blood? With what affection will he introduce them to his Father by whose hands their names had been written in the volume of life from eternity, and the pledges of whose favor they had frequently enjoyed upon earth? With what delight ineffable will he lead them along, introducing them to the various orders of elect, unsinning angels who had invisibly guarded them in this world, and ministered to their

wants? How affectionately will he then invite them to a seat with himself and all the kindred spirits before the throne, that innumerable throng of all nations, "who came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and are therefore before the throne of God?" "Behold, what manner of love, but its displays will not terminate then. He will hereafter descend from heaven; he will raise up their bodies which had slumbered for ages inactive in the grave; "he will fashion them like unto his own glorious body," and render them a fit partner for the perfect spirit in the joys of the heavenly world. "This corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality." It was necessary that they should be "conformed to the Lord Jesus in the likeness of his death:" It was a part of his humiliation that he "should become obedient unto death," and it is a part of theirs in consequence of sin that the relation between soul and body must be dissolved by dying; but if they are "conformed to him in the likeness of his death they shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection." The little reproach of falling victims to the King of terrors" will add to the triumphs of that hour when they shall rise from his dominion "more than conquerors through him that loved them :" the pain which the soul and the body experienced in being separated from each other will