among assassins, and been gashed and wounded, or into a bed of filth, where his garments are soiled? So long as the child retains his filial spirit, or the brother his fraternal love, he will be pitied for his sufferings, and carefully cleansed from his defilements. Thus does the Christian, while absent from his father's house, fall often into the robber's hand, and into the mire; his soul is impoverished, his peace is wounded, his garments are defiled; but he is a Christian still, his heart is on God, he is one with the friends of God, and labors to be holy, as God is holy.

Of course, I shall not be understood to say, that such is the character of all professed Christians. Many are deceivers or deceived, like Judas and Demas, like Simon Magus and Alexander the coppersmith. Who they are, is known to God. And as chaff they will be blown away, when he gathers the wheat into his garner. Still, all true Christians are one wherever they live, what name soever they bear, and whatever sufferings they endure.

IV. It is the blessedness of saints on earth, that they have communion with saints in heaven. They are come "to the spirits of just men made perfect."

There is no difficulty in having communion with friends on earth, while they are far away from us. Though we see not their forms, nor hear their voices, we can bring them into our presence at any moment by the power of thought, con over our intercourse with them in times past, and so abstract ourselves from things around us, as to hold protracted and delightful communion with them. No one can be ignorant of this. And why not hold similar communion with our friends in heaven? We have known them, loved them, communed with them here, and in essential characteristics, they are still the same as ever. Death is but a narrow sea, dividing their land from ours. Communion with them is no more difficult than if they yet dwelt on earth, out of our sight and reach.

Want of faith is the only difficulty in our way. Believe the apostle's testimony, that we are "come to the spirits of just men made perfect," i. e., that they surround us, though we see them not; that they contemplate the same God that we do, that they adore the same Saviour, that the great end of their being is the same, and that they do whatsoever they do for the glory of God and the welfare of the intelligent universe; and have we not communion with them as truly as with the Father of our spirits, and the Lord Jesus Christ?

What if they dwell in light, that mortal eyes have never seen, and amid glories that surpass human powers of conception, and have a strength and clearness of vision peculiar to the heavenly state, does all this cut them off from cominunion with such as are still contending with principalities and powers? Have they no fellow-feeling with those they have left behind them, to maintain

the conflict with sin and hell? Do they forget the trials and sorrows of this impure state of being? Are they not our brethren still?

Whoever has the consciousness of devotement to God, and of self-consecration to the work he has given man to do, sympathizes with every being in the universe, who lives for the same end. And that the spirits of departed saints are thus devoted to God, who doubts? The object of every holy being in the universe is, to show forth God's glory by the increase of holiness and love; it is to accomplish the same work that Christ came from heaven to accomplish, and to which the saints on earth sincerely consecrate their powers. For this the spirits of just men made perfect, labor without fatigue, without disappointment, and without intermission. Must there not, then, be communion between saints on earth and in heaven? They fight against sin and Satan, as we do, only that they never "become weary nor faint in their minds." They rejoice over one sinner that repenteth, and over all penitent sinners, as we do, only with far greater intensity and purity of affection.

There is communion, then, between saints on earth and saints in heaven. It might be more perfect. It would be so, if the fact were more firmly seized. Cherish the thought, beloved brethren, and hold more frequent and intimate communings with friends and dear ones, who have fallen asleep in Jesus; nor only with those you have personally known and loved, in the several relations of life, but with saints of other generations and other lands, who, with apostles, prophets, and patriarchs, are ever bending before the throne, and ascribing glory and honor to the Lamb that was slain !

V. It is a further blessedness of Christians, that they have freedom of access to the eternal throne. They are come "unto God the Judge of all." Suffer as they may, from the suspicions of their brethren, from the violence of the ungodly, from the chastening hand of God, or from the malice of the great adversary, they still have a sure refuge in the bosom of Him who judgeth every man according to his works. Is God terrible in judgment?'tis only to his enemies. To those who love him, it is a consolation inexpressibly sweet, that his eyes are upon all the ways of men, for the defence of his people. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

No attribute of God is more dear to the Christian than his justice. That he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and of great goodness, is a truth full of sweetness; but even this exhibition of his character is fearfully incomplete, till it is added, "he will by no means clear the guilty." A God who does not maintain unimpaired the majesty of his law, and vindicate the right against all who would trample it in the dust, is a God un

merciful and unkind. Though he hath no delight in the death of the sinner, but that he should turn and live, yet he hath infinite delight in his own perfect law, and cannot permit its honor to be tarnished. This fact is the grand security of every holy intelligence in the universe.

Whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecu tion; it is not possible to escape a measure of obloquy and contempt, even though exempt from violence. The universal conviction of this truth explains the fact of unwarranted conformity to the world on the part of Christians generally; and hence the apostle affirms, that had we hope only in this life, we should be, of all men, most miserable. The Christian's hope takes hold on another life, and draws its nourishment from the sure word of promise, brought home by daily communion with "God the judge of all." His cause will be vindicated. Satan may stand at his right hand to resist him; but the Lord that hath chosen him will rebuke the adversary, saying to him, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" The perfect righteousness of Jehovah is the safeguard of the humble. The Lord is his fortress, his high tower, and his deliverer forever. And in the way prepared by infinite wisdom, he has access, at all times, with boldness, into the very holy of holies, where he may spread out all his wants and sorrows, and plead with an importunity that cannot be denied, for succor and consolation.

VI. Another blessedness of the Christian is, that he ever has a prevalent intercessor at the right hand of God. He appears not before the throne in his own name: he makes no mention there of his own righteousness. Wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, his whole reliance is on the advocacy of Jesus Christ the righteous. "Ye are come," saith the Apostle,"to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel."

"Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." Whatever this curse may be, every child of Adam lies under it. What it is, the Apostle informs us, when he declares that "the wages of sin is death"-the death opposed to that eternal life, which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ--consequently, eternal death. Such is the curse resting on every man, till, by faith he becomes one with Christ. This law, of which sin is the transgression, was the original cove nant under which man was placed. Had he obeyed it, he had needed no mediator. Perfect obedience is equivalent to justification. But disobedience must receive a just recompense of reward; and that recompense is death eternal. The new covenant is established on other principles. Not that it lowers the law's demands, or diminishes the obligation to perfect obedience; but

that when the law has been violated, provision is made for magnifying and making it honorable, by other means than the destruction of the sinner.

A mediator is appointed. He is God's fellow-God's equal— one with God. He is the creator of all things. The government of the world is on his shoulders. Angels, principalities, and powers, are all subject to him. Heaven, earth, and hell, alike belong to his dominion.

Though thus exalted, he has voluntarily humbled himself. He hath given his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He hath ascended Calvary, bared his bosom to the spear, poured forth the blood of his heart in sight of the universe; said, "Father, forgive"-"It is finished"--and given up the ghost, amid the sympathies of nature, and the wild storms of human and infernal passion.

Thus has he become the mediator of the new covenant. The demands of the law are so far satisfied, that now, whosoever believeth shall be saved. Let self righteousness be renounced, and self-abasement take its place; let all hope, grounded on obedience to the law, be abandoned; and let the affections of the soul cluster around the cross, and hope plume its wing on Calvary, and the blood of Christ will speak better things than the blood of Abel.

Not only hath he shed his blood for our redemption, but he hath ascended to heaven to make continual intercession. And there he ever appears, at the right hand of the throne; touched with the feeling of our infirmities; sympathizing in the sorrows of his people; able and ready to succor them when tempted; and to pour the oil of joy into their hearts when wounded and bleeding. The Holy Spirit is their Comforter, leading them into green pastures, and beside still waters; reminding them of their sinfulness, reproving their waywardness, assisting their devotions, and supplying them with sweet prelibations of heaven's happiness. Christ sends the Spirit; and every blessing enjoyed by the Christian, is the fruit of his mediation. The blood of Abel called for vengeance on the murderous Cain. The blood of Jesus calls for mercy and grace on every believer: the blood of Abel's sacrifice could avail only to his own benefit, as an expression of his faith the blood of Jesus avails to the benefit of all nations, as the ground of justification to as many as believe.

Thus the blood that flowed on Calvary speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, precious as his blood was, to the judge of all the earth. And this is the blood to which the Christian has come, and in which lies deep and firm, the foundation of all his hopes.

CONCLUSION.

And what shall I say to you more, my brethren, in relation to the blessedness found in your present condition? It were easy

to enlarge it is difficult to array before you distinctly, and at once, the mass of blessing which gracious heaven has bestowed. All, indeed, is summed up in the words of the text; and yet, I despair of producing an impression so clear, so full, so living, as God requires us to receive. Let the subject be pondered, prayed over, and inwrought into the framework of our spiritual constitution. God has not only established a church, but planted us within its inclosures, and done to his vineyard all that he could have done in it. He has assigned to the angels of heaven the duty of watching over us, and aiding our conflicts with sin and hell; he has united us with each other, and with all Christians on earth, by bonds that neither life nor death can break; he has given us the privilege of holding communion with friends who have fallen asleep in Jesus, and with the spirits of all just men made perfect; he has authorized the utmost freedom of access to his throne, at all times, and under all trials; and, to complete the whole, has announced his only-begotten and well-beloved Son, to be our continual advocate, when charged with guilt, either by our own consciences, or the great enemy of the soul.

Beyond these, what blessing can we ask?-Any other than a grateful heart-a heart more perfectly subdued to the love of God, and the faith of Jesus? If we are Christ's, all things are ours; the world, things present, things to come, God with all his riches, heaven with all its glories-all are ours!

One thought more! This being true, how gross and contemptible is the spirit that wraps itself up in the vanities of time and sense, and goes about inquiring, "Who will show me any good?" How vain and frivolous are the eager strifes of thousands of professing Christians, to gain the perishable trifles that heaven scatters along man's pathway for the comfort of all, and the lasting pos session of none! Brethren, rise superior to this grovelling spirit; rebuke it in your own hearts, and whenever you see it. Fix your eye permanently on heaven, remembering, that to aid you in doing this, the Supper of the Lord is appointed; and never forgetting that "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 and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."