smiling in every nook and cleft of this rough world. Does not all direct your thoughts upward, with ardent longing for its holy rest? If such be earth smitten, shattered earth- what must heaven be? When earth and all the works that are therein shall be burned up, there will be a new heaven and new earth unspeakably more glorious than the present, in the sanctified recollection of saints on highl

5

CHAPTER IV.

GLIMPSES OF THE LAND.

The soul's dark cottage, battered and decayed,
Lets in new light through chinks that time has made
Stronger by weakness, wiser men become,

As they draw near to their eternal home.

Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view,
That stand upon the threshold of the new.

WALLER.

"As I

"It is the most beautiful island that eyes ever beheld." arrived at this cape, there came a fragrance so good and soft of the flowers and trees of the land, that it was the sweetest thing in the world." "The singing of the birds is such, that it seems as if one would never desire to depart hence.”

COLUMBUS.

It is worthy of remark, that in the New Testament we have only one account of a saint's departure to the Better Land. One reason, doubtless, is that attention may not be unduly turned to the closing scene; that a natural curiosity of that kind need not become excessive and profitless. The circumstances and feelings of a man in the hour of death merely are not of the greatest moment. It is to Christ's death and the Christian's life that the

word of God gives special prominence.

One in

stance of dying repentance is given, that of the crucified thief, in order that no one may presume or despair; one instance of the experience of a departing Christian is supplied, to teach believers how to die. "He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." This vision was not addressed to the outward eye so much as to the eye of the soul; it was a parting of the veil, which up to that moment had hidden the world of glory from his view. Hitherto he had walked by faith; now there was a partial vision, spiritual vision of that world into which he was soon to enter, a preparatory glance, foretokening what his disembodied spirit was about to enjoy fully and forever. Such discoveries are not appropriate at earlier periods; they are not compatible with the design of discipline, except near its close. It is, in the divine appointment, more a matter of epoch than of bodily condition. The martyr Stephen was in full possession of his powers. Violent hands had not yet been laid upon him when he saw the heavens opened. He was neither under the influence

of disease nor of drugs; nor does there appear to have been the slightest degree of unhealthy mental excitement. If ever complete self-control and calmness were exhibited in the midst of surrounding tumult, they were by the protomartyr. Dissolution had not commenced when his inward eye began to gaze on the glories of the other world.. The silver cord was not loosed, nor the golden bowl broken, for the first stone had not yet been thrown. Still he was on the very eve of departure. It was not martyrdom, nor was it perhaps miraculous inspiration, that so clarified his mental eye. Often is there something analogous in the later experiences of God's people, though more usually when the process of dislodgment has actually commenced; when the first steps at least have been taken into the waters of Jordan.

"I have been," said one of England's and one of Christ's choicest ministers, Walker of Truro, "I have been upon the wings of cherubim! Heaven has in a manner been opened to me! I shall soon be there!" And again: "O, my friend, had I strength to speak, I could tell you such news as would rejoice your very soul! I have had such views of heaven! But I am not able to say more." The jubilant testimony of John Janeway was:

"Methinks I stand, as it were, with one foot in heaven, and the other upon "earth. Methinks I hear the melody of heaven, and, by faith, see the angels waiting to carry my soul to the bosom of Jesus, and I shall be forever with the Lord in glory. And who can choose but rejoice in all this?"

And, in cases where dissolution was at hand, and the power of speech had failed, more than once have we seen a preconcerted signal given, pressure of the hand and the like, as the departing believer seemed to behold the heavens opened; and the face, pallid and distressed, has appeared "as it had been the face of an angel." That last lingering smile was a reflection of His smile who stands at the right hand of God.

Often, too, we doubt not, is the apparent confusion and incoherency of a Christian's death-bed simply the blending of impressions derived from the other side with those derived from this; for the soul seems to pass almost unconscious of the moment of a transit, and probably does not take note of the exact line of demarcation between two worlds. Often does the spirit seem to cross, and then retrace her steps along the neutral ground; or return briefly to her tabernacle, as you may yourself,