This world will soon be to me a mere nothing. I shall exist: but I shall be a stranger to the plans, cares, sorrows, and vicissitudes of my successors in this vale of tears. I shall soon be forgotten; and ages will revolve, and generation succeed to generation, while this dust and ashes shall be mingled with the clods of the valley, and with the ele ments of nature.

But while I meditate on what lies before me, let me not fail to gather substantial improvement, from the subject. Lessons of piety are the valuable lessons. While, then, I look upon the grave, let me learn the necessity of dying to the world, before I die in it. Let me be urged to lay up treasures for that state of being where there is no change and no end.

Is the grave to be ere long my dwelling? How then can I fix my heart on earthly things? The rich, and great, and wise, and powerful among men go down to the chambers of silence. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." The shroud, the coffin, the bier, and the grave-these teach me the emptiness of the world, and the vanity and folly of ambition and avarice. I think of these, and the pageantry of the world melts from my view as a gilded shadow.

Is the grave to be ere long my dwelling? How can I regard pleasure and gratification as my chief good! How can I be anxious to adorn the body with fashion and finery! I think on the grave, and I am compelled to own that I act a most unworthy part, if I allow for a moment the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to be my masters.

Is the grave to be ere long my dwelling? Then let me look to things that survive the desolation of the grave. The immaterial soul is to act its part in an imperishable world, where it will be rich or poor, glorious or degraded, happy or miscrable for ever. The body shall slumber in the grave for a season; but the soul is immortal. It is, then, my wisdom to love, and seek, and esteem, and pursue those things which will never decay; over which death and the grave have no dominion; that I may be rich, and happy, yea blessed, for evermore.

It is easy in a pensive hour to think and speak as a mortal and immortal being. The thought of mortality solemnizes the mind and softens the heart. It compels us to turn away from alluring vanities. Immortality is a sublime theme, which leads us to the heights of magnificence, and to the perfection of beauty. But, alas! how forgetful am I of both these subjects in the ordinary course of life! I reason and feel as if the years of human life were nothing, and then I go and act as if they were every thing.

Here is my sin, folly, and perverseness. But shall I not labour to correct it? Shall not thoughtfulness supersede frivolity? Shall I not quit my tenacious hold of earthly things? Shall I not be in heart and life what I am in ideas and language, a stranger, a sojourner, a pilgrim upon earth? Shall I not renounce pride, ambition, avarice, hatred, anger, and all unholy feelings, when I consider that I am soon to lie down in the grave?

It is easy to think and speak well; but it is dif ficult to act well. So strong is the inherent evil, so powerful is the attraction of the world, and so numerous are the objects that distract the human mind, that we are far, very far indeed from being

what we ought to be. But divine grace is omnipotent. If we seek it, we shall obtain it; and then we shall be "wise, and consider our latter end."

O my Soul! let me often meditate on the grave. There, indeed, thou wilt not enter; for when the frail dust lodges there, thou wilt be in another world. Let thy attention, then, be faithfully given to the gospel of Christ, to the great things of religion, that it may be well with thee. Strive to live more and more as one who is to live here only for a little time, and who is to live in another state for ever. In the strength of divine grace, rise more above the world; rise more above the hostile power of flesh and blood; rise higher towards thy God and Saviour, and things invisible; press nearer to them. Then thou mayest view the brevity of time, the decay of nature, and the triumph of the grave, with dignified serenity; for eternal life is thy inheritance.

O blessed and glorious God, the author of all good, enable me not only to meditate on serious things, but also to profit by my meditations on them. Enable me, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, so to believe and live, that I may go down to the grave in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

JONES,

RESURRECTION.

"MARVEL not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done

good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation." Such is the declaration of our blessed Lord, and it leads us to consider a most glorious and solemn subject. If we regard the power of God, it is not incredible that he should raise the dead: and if we regard his truth, it is certain that he will raise them.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth," and that He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself." I will perplex myself with no vain speculations: I know but little of the human body; of its materials, and of its wonderful and fearful make the more I reflect, the more I am a mystery to myself.

Man will go down to the grave, and he will rise again. O what a solemn and glorious day, when the purpose of God respecting our race upon earth shall be completed; when the voice of the trumpet shall be heard through creation, and the dead shall hear its summons and come forth; and when we all shall see the morning of eternity! The kingdom of grace now merges and is lost in the kingdom of glory.

What a day of anguish will this be to the ungodly! In the time of their probation they refused divine mercy: and when the season of retribution arrives, they rise to "shame and everlasting contempt." But how glorious will this day be to the faithful servants of Christ! They stand before their approving Judge, and are received into celestial habitations.

Who can declare the blessedness of the righteous! Here they have a body of infirmity; here

they are defiled with sin. Disease, and pain, and weariness, and sorrow, are their portion on earth. The flesh is an enemy to the soul; at the best it is an impediment to all its nobler workings; and it is our duty to keep it in subjection.

But when they rise in the last day, they rise spiritual bodies. I cannot know at present what these are; but the words of Scripture are clear"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." The raised body will be immortal, pure, the fit abode, through eternal ages, of a redeemed, sanctified, and exalted soul; it will be capable of enjoying the glory and felicity of heaven in the presence of God.

Here I may rest with unshaken faith. In the risen Saviour I see the pledge and pattern of my own resurrection. He descended into the grave; and we shall descend into it. He did not see corruption but this we shall see. He rose again: and we shall be raised by His power, and shall then be with Him for ever. Such is the prospect that lies before His true followers.

How painful is the hour of death! How dark are the chambers of the grave! Thus I exclaim; and feelings of sadness and alarm rush upon my anxious breast. Where is light? Where is consolation? They are found in those words of Scripture,-"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Thou, O Saviour, who hast tasted the bitter cup, wilt not forsake me in death: and when the appointed time shall arrive, Thou wilt bid my slumbering ashes to quit the prison of the grave.

O my Soul! often think of that day when thou shalt see the Lord Jesus as the Judge of all man

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