our scarcely grasp. Now, this great central sun is, as it were, the capital of the universe. It governs all the rest, and it is a beautiful theory that it is the seat of heaven. What if here be erected, so far as locality can be supposed to be connected therewith, the throne of God? What if in this magnificent world, which is indeed "far, far away," to a degree unconceived when we sing of the "happy land" in our childish hymn, be the place of which Master made on our behalf the memorable request" Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which Thou hast given me!" (John xvii. 24). To dogmatize on the subject would, of course, be folly. But if, as we hope we have proved, there be a definite locality called heaven, if this heaven cannot possibly be on this earth, or in any of the celestial bodies which circle immediately near it, if it is, as the apostle declares, “far above all the heavens," it may possibly be that in this grand central metropolis of the universe. is to be found "that radiant shore" which we think of and speak of as "the better land." CHAPTER III. THE KING OF THE COUNTRY. WE E have now, as it were, sighted the heavenly world. We have clearly ascertained that there is such a "better country." Though we are not able certainly to fix its exact position, as one can fix upon the map the position of an earthly region, yet we are as sure that somewhere among the multitude of worlds which God has made, somewhere in the unexplored regions of space, there is such a "land that is very far off," as Columbus was, that away beyond the ocean in the then undiscovered West lay a new world. He had never seen that new world. Neither have we seen heaven. But though we have not seen, we believe in its existence, and are as sure that after our rough voyage over the sea of time we shall land upon |