be like him, for we shall see him as he is." He is our great Head, our surety, and representative; and the glory of the incarnate Jesus is the glory of redeemed man. Like us, he was made for a season lower than the angels. It was for a little season, but that season is past, and we see Jesus crowned with glory and honour. All things are not yet subject unto man, but "Jesus hath a name above every name." His elevation is the elevation of his people; for both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. And unto him that overcometh will he give to sit down with him before his throne, even as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne. The throne of the Lamb is the throne of redeemed and exalted man. "And they shall reign with him for ever and ever." What the nature of these spiritual kingdoms will be we do not understand; but there is a narrowness in the ordinary interpretation of these phrases the scriptural expressions will not justify. They partake, however, in some sense of the nature of Christ's kingdom, for we shall reign with him; and they are above angels, because the apostle asserts, "Unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak?" and in another passage he inquires, "Know ye not we shall judge angels ?"

Moreover, we learn that the subject of man's redemption is that into which the angels desire to look. There is much taught us in this brief expression. Those angelic students have large experience in the investigation of the divine glory. It has ever been the constant occupation of their delighted existence. Before them are spread out the glories of the universe. Every radiant orb has for them a language eloquent and instructive. All God's dealings with all his intelligent creatures are the subjects of their study. But the leaf in the mighty Volume over which they love most to ponder, and a more intimate acquaintance with whose meaning they desire most to obtain, is that

which treats of man's redemption. There the highest revelation of God is given, and to this every eye is turned with insatiate delight. There is no object which so attracts their gaze as Jesus, the Incarnate God, the Representative of redeemed man upon the throne of his glory. There he is "seen of angels." Nor is it in the person of the Redeemer alone they delight to witness this display of the divine glory. So intent is their observation, and so profound their interest in the transactions of earth, that not a single soul can turn to God but a delight above heaven's ordinary rapture pervades the celestial regions, and "the multitudes of angels with a shout utter joy!" And even when time and earth have passed away, man, redeemed and glorified, will be the object of their contemplation throughout eternity. The Redeemer, the apostle assures us, "will be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe." The adoring hosts will turn from the glory of the throne, too bright to look upon, and before which they veil their faces, and see it reflected from the face of the redeemed and glorified saints.

And now again, we ask with the Psalmist, What is man that God is thus mindful of him, and the son of man that he visits him? What is the mighty purpose, reaching from eternity to eternity, conceived in infinite wisdom and executed by infinite power, enlisting in its progress all the holy intelligences of God? Must it not be important above every other?

It is for this he made man; for this he is mindful of him; for this he visits; for this he crowns him with glory and honour. It is that he might display in him his chiefest glory, that he might be the subject of the highest study to the holy angels, and that his history might instruct the universe of intelligence, and bind the worlds of his creation to himself and to his throne ; that in his ruin they might see the glory of his justice, and in his redemption the glory of his grace.

Said we not rightly then that man holds a place of great importance in the universe of God?

APPLICATION.

First: How grateful should we be for this distinguishing grace of God!-Is there anything in us which merits such special care and kindness? Have we not been modelled from the clay in such fashion as God chose to give us? Are not our frames fearfully and wonderfully made, our minds capable of such extension, our affections of such expansion, and our immortality of such glory, God's own sovereign works and gifts? Nay, is not our very sinfulness and desert of ruin the occasion of the richest display of all? Ah! brethren, when we contemplate what we were made, what we are, what we shall be, should there be a limit to our humble gratitude! "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness; for his wonderful works to the children of men !"

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Second: What manner of persons should we be in all holy conversation and godliness.-We are the subjects of God's loftiest decrees. Every soul of us is girt about with purposes mighty as omnipotence and lasting as eternity. The vehicles of the divine glory-the purchase of the Redeemer's blood-the habitations of the Holy Ghost-the object of angelic service.

With what a crowd of witnesses are we compassed about-where every eye of the intelligent universe is fixed upon us, with an intensity which no other object can excite. Who can say his example is unimportant? that his position is too insignificant for care? Angels are studying you for the manifestation of God's richest grace.

For what are we intended? To be the judges of angels; to be kings and priests with Christ for ever; to be the mirrors from which the glory of the Godhead is to be reflected over all heaven.

Oh! beloved brethren, let us walk worthy of the high vocation wherewith we are called. How mean beside such considerations are all the things of this lower world, the petty trifles about which the men of this world busy themselves! Every thing rebukes our

regard for them. Every gift of blessing reminds us of our purpose. Not a star that twinkles above our heads but reminds us of our end. Not a ministering angel but rebukes us. The incarnation, the life, the death of Jesus, rebukes us. The work of the Spirit, rebukes us. The glory of our heavenly home, our throne, our priesthood, our song, rebukes us. Contemplate these truths, and you cannot live for earth and its meanness as you have done in the past.

Third: How certain the triumph of the Church. -Feeble as it is, lukewarm as it is, faulty as it is, God will have his glory, and he has purposed to have it by his church. It is his truth, not our infirmities, his wisdom, not our folly, his strength, and not our weakness, which is to get the victory. Over all the purposes and resistance of men, God's cause must and will roll on. The kings of earth may set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and his anointed, saying, let us break his bands asunder, and cast his cords from us; but he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. He must reign until he hath put all things under his feet, and become head over all things to his church. Many and confused, and conflicting are the elements of this moral chaos, our fallen world—but the Spirit of God broodeth upon the waters. Order and beauty, and life and glory, shall come out of all. Oh! what an encouragement to labour ! We labour not alone. All heaven laboureth with us. The whole creation travaileth and groaneth with us. Every successful effort (and what faithful effort under such auspices can be unsuccessful) adds a living stone upon the rock Christ Jesus. The building shall be completed. The topmost stone shall be placed upon it amid the thunders of countless worlds, shouting Grace, grace unto it, and the church remain in all eternity a living temple, in which the glory of God will ever dwell, and the sacrifices of thanksgivings and praise for ever ascend.

Fourth: Impenitent man, God is mindful of you.

-Think not you are forgotten amidst the countless millions of his creatures. His daily mercies prove that he visits you. The angels of heaven are mindful of you. Your repentance this moment would agitate heaven with joy. Hell is plotting your ruin. God will have his glory out of you. If it be not in your brightness in his glory amidst the redeemed; it will be in the exhibition of his wrath in your endless sufferings. You cannot resist his will. O then accept that rich grace which is in Christ. Yield to the spirit which now strives within you. Escape the hell yawning at your feet. Enter the heaven open to your entrance. Believe and you are saved. Repent and live. Say not that you cannot. You must, or perish. May God visit you this day with his grace. Amen.

XXVIII.

TWO DISCOURSES

ON THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES.

(BY THE LATE DR. WINTER.)*

1 PETER iii. 7.

"As being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered."

THE former, and indeed by far the larger part of the exhortation preceding this passage, is addressed to females who had been led to assume the highly honourable character of christian wives. The apparent disproportion between this branch of the address and that which respects the other sex, perhaps originates in the

* These affectionate and judicious discourses are inserted by the kind permission of those friends who were more immediately interested in their delivery, in the hope of their proving hereby more generally useful.

NO. VI.

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