schools on the morning of "the pearl of days," and listen to their treble voices, pouring into the ear of Incarnate Love the glorious melodies of redeeming mercy, and to be welcomed with their sunny smile to the holy duties of the Christian Sabbath! We have often thought that such sights are strikingly emblematical of the heavenly condition, and such engagements typical of the employments of the Sabbatical rest of the skies. The late Rev. William Jay, in endeavouring to console bereaved Christian parents with the hope of meeting again and recognising their departed offsprings, made use of the same idea." And may you not," says he, "indulge the expectation, not only that you will know them, but be serviceable to them -be employed in forming and in teaching them? O the pleasing work of a mother, to rear a child in that better country, free from sin, perverseness, pain ;-without anxiety, and without fear !" The late Christian poetMontgomery-also entertained the same views of the employments of the world to come, both as it regards those of little children and adult believers. Both the divine and the poet, long ere this, have, doubtless, had their views

ratified by a personal participation in the blessed state of "the whole family in heaven."

"Beneath the shadow of the Tree of Life

I mark'd those rescued infants, in their schools, By 'spirits of just men made perfect' taught The glorious lessons of Almighty love,

Which brought them thither, by the readiest path,
From the world's wilderness of dire temptations,
Securing thus their everlasting weal.

Yea, in the rapture of that hour, tho' songs
Of cherubim to golden lyres and trumpets,
And the redeemed upon the sea of glass,
With voices like the sound of many waters,
Came in mine ear, whose secret cells were opened
To entertain celestial harmonies ;-

The small, sweet accents of those little children,
Pouring out all the gladness of their souls

In love, joy, gratitude, and praise to Him ;HIM, who had loved and washed them in His blood;

These were to me the most transporting strains, Amidst the hallelujahs of all heaven!

Had lack'd its least, but not its meanest string, Had children not been taught to play upon it, And sing, from feelings all their own, what men Nor angels can conceive of, creatures, born Under the curse, yet from the curse redeem'd, And plac'd at once beyond the power to fall."

CHAPTER VI.

CHRISTIAN RESIGNATION.

"When I can trust my all with God,
In trial's fearful hour;

Bow all resign'd beneath His rod,
And bless His sparing power;
A joy springs up amid distress,
A fountain in the wilderness.

O blessed be the hand that gave,
Still blessed when it takes :
Blessed be He who smites to save,

Who heals the heart He breaks:
Perfect and true are all His ways,
Whom heaven adores and death obeys."

THERE is nothing strange in the fiery trials which are continually happening to the saint: they are necessary to him; and are heavenstamped badges of his discipleship with Jesus. Was his path without piercing thorns-his life without deep sorrows-his voyage undisturbed by fierce gales, such exemption would be demonstrative of the non-possession of the

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principle and life of Christianity. Earthly trials are chief parts of divine discipline, and may truly be regarded as confirmations of the reality of our adoption and sonship. They are also, as we have already shown, some of the richest and most profitable channels of spiritual and immortal good. It is when the fierce storm has raged, and spent itself by its own violence, and the rain has fallen long and heavy, that the river no longer ripples murmuringly over its stony bed, but sweeps along in deep and noiseless volume. And it is generally after the heavy strokes of the chastising rod, and the bereaving dispensations of Divine Providence, that the peace and joy of the believing soul is the sweetest and most profound. Gifford tells us of a pious gentleman who, when a few kind friends offered him condolence on the loss of a beloved son, said,-"I would be content, was it possible to lose a son every day in the year, might I but be favoured with such manifestations of God's presence and love as I have experienced on the present occasion." The way of the God-favoured Hebrews from Egypt to Canaan lay through a wilderness of briars and thorns; and many were the difficulties and

the foes with which they had to contend, and over which they had to triumph, ere they could reach that goodly country. But how transcendently glorious the finale! When heaven was unveiled to the rapt gaze of the banished disciple of Patmos, he beheld "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, who stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."-REV. VII. 9, 10. The grand reasons assigned for their contiguity with the throne, and their distinct beauty and splendour, are-" These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." They once drank deeply of the brimming cup of terrestrial sorrow: they had waded through deep waters: and many afflictions had been laid upon their loins. But the draught of earthly gall made them to pant and thirst for the crystal stream gushing from beneath the throne, like the exhausted hart, for the cool and refreshing water