CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE.

THERE is not a Doctrine or a Duty of Religion that does not imply that we are born to live for ever. There is a life to come, and God would have us all so pass through this mortal life that we fail not finally to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Here then is one certain mark of the true spiritual church-the members of it are preparing for, and living for, eternity; whilst they who live only for this world, live really without God, and without solid hope: (Ephes. ii. 12).

In one sense ALL men are pilgrims on earth, for all are daily drawing nearer to the grave, and none can stay here a day beyond the appointed time, short enough to look back on, even if it reach to a hundred years.

But let us take the case of those who look forward with hope and desire, their hope being founded on God's love and Christ's redemption: who not unwillingly but gladly feel that this world is not their home.

WHY is this world unfit to be our home and portion ? It is only a temporary abode at the best: we must leave it, and we know not how soon, Job xxi. 23-26; Eccles. ix. 12. We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, Heb. xi. 13, having here no continuing city, but seeking one to come, Heb. xiii. 14. And the reason why we should not make our home here, is that the world is polluted and wicked, 1 John ii. 15-17, and must not engage our affections if we are to live a life of faith. 1 John v. 4, 19. Much less will it satisfy us, for in the weakness and corruption of our human nature we are not fitted to enjoy perfect happiness in this life, even if the things of the world were in themselves capable of conferring it.

But if we contrast these points with THE LIFE TO COME, we shall see why it is that Christ's people delight to look forward to another world, as their inheritance, And the chief reason is that while here below, all things are transitory, pass away, and fail us, even if we ourselves abide ;-there happiness is everlasting, joy is never-failing, and there can be no decay, no sorrow, no death, 2 Cor. v. 1, Rev. vii. 15-17. There, in that heavenly country, we know that we shall be free from all temptation, for no evil can approach us, and instead of being in the midst of a world lying in wickedness, we shall be surrounded by all that is pure, as well as free from all inclination to evil in ourselves, 2 Pet. iii. 13, Rev. xxi. 27. For we who enter there will be perfect, and capable of enjoying perfect happiness,— clothed in the pure robes of Christ's righteousness, cleansed from all that is sinful in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. vii. 13, 14, and able to share in the joy and glory of the angels around the throne of God. Then will Christ's people reach the place which He went to prepare for them in his Father's heavenly mansions and find their delight in serving and praising Him continually, John xiv. 2, 3, Rev. iv. 8-11, v. 11—14.

As such is our state in the present world, and such to be, by God's infinite mercy, our condition in that which is to come, how careful ought we to be, as Christian pilgrims, to avoid all contamination from the evil around us, John xvii. 15, 16, 1 Pet. ii. 11; and to watch that our necessary and lawful duties and enjoyments in the world, do not so engross our thoughts and engage our affections as to draw away our hearts from the constant looking forward to the hope set before us in our future home! Heb. xi. 10, 17. Let us do our duty, in whatever station of life we are placed, with diligence, Rom. xii. 11; let us use the world and all enjoyments that it may properly afford us as not abusing it, 1 Cor. vii. 31, but let us live for ETERNITY. John vi. 27, 1 Tim. vi. 12, 19.

DEATH.

DEATH may be little dreaded by the young believer in the glow of his first love; and the aged Christian may even welcome him as a friend, Phil. i. 23; 2 Tim. iv. 6. The martyr may face it with calm heroism, Heb. xi. 32-38; Acts xx. 24; xxi. 10-13. The pious soldier risks his life without a regret, and even men who have no such ground of confidence, may be upheld by some strong passion, or thoughtless courage. But for all this, death is nevertheless justly called, "the King of Terrors," and the rending asunder of soul and body, the unknown pains and agonies of death, cannot be otherwise than a part of the curse that man incur. red when he fell from holiness and happiness.` So fearful is death, unless cheered by the Christian's hope, that the torments of hell are described as "the second death," as though no stronger term could be found.

WHAT ARE THE TERRORS" OF DEATH? To all men it is repulsive, although it is known to be the lot of all, Heb. ix. 27. It is terrible, for there is a dread of a pain yet unknown and unfelt in the body; it puts an end to all earthly projects, Eccles. ix. 10; it strips us of all our earthly possessions, 1 Tim. vi. 7; levels all ranks, Job i. 21; separates us from all those we love, and whose lives are bound up with ours; and in the case of the ungodly, there is a dread of an unknown future beyond the grave, something more than going down into silence, Ps. cxv. 17, or simply returning to dust, Gen. iii. 19;-a fear that as death is the consequence of sin, Rom. v. 12, it is the approach of a judgment for which they are UNPREPARED, Luke xii. 20; Heb. x. 27.

Even the Christian feels these terrors to a certain extent. His nature shrinks from dissolution, even though he has hope of resurrection to succeed it; and although he knows that it will be followed by rest and comfort, and a crown of life in the presence of his Saviour. His natural affections are not deadened, in parting with those whom he can no longer help, direct, or guide, even though he knows that they will meet again, and that the God who has been his own preserver, will keep them unto the end of their earthly pilgrimage; and as he looks back upon his past life, he recals with sad but unavailing regret, the time which has been wasted, and mourns over the opportunities of serving God, and doing good, and growing in grace and holiness, which have been neglected.

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But the Gospel CHEERS HIS DYING BED, for it reminds him that Christ has died before him-that He tasted death for every man-took away its sting, bore its bitterest agony in his own person, and has alleviated its sufferings to all who follow Him, besides promising them his own especial support and presence in the dark valley, Ps. xxiii. 4; 1 Cor xv. 22, 54-57. That which makes death most terrible to others, the dread of judgment to come,-cannot affect the Christian, for he feels that his sins are forgiven by and for the merit's sake of his Saviour, and that there is no condemnation for him, Rom. viii. 1, 11. Temptation can have no more influence over the soul when death is passed, for "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," 1 Cor. xv. 26, and there is nothing before us but the pros. pect of an eternal life of glory in heaven, 2 Tim. iv. 8; Rev. ii. 10; Phil. iii. 20, 21, where we shall be received and welcomed by Him whom we have loved and served on earth, Ps. xvi. 11; where we shall see Him as He is, 1 John iii. 2; and where we shall constantly dwell in union with those whom we have known and loved in this world, 2 Thess. iv. 13-17, who have shared our peace and joy in believing here, and will partake of our glory in the presence of God for evermore.

JUDGMENT.

"AFTER DEATH THE JUDGMENT" is the clear warning of Scripture: Eccles. xi. 9, xii. 14, Rom. ii. 16, and, as we have seen, the chief pang of death to the ungodly sinner is the fear of wrath to come. The Bible reveals only the general features of the unseen world and our future in it, but the passages that relate to this judgment are very clear and very solemn in their meaning.

WHO WILL BE THE JUDGE? One who KNOWS all, and whose remembrance of all things is represented by a written book, Dan. vii. 10. The time of this judg ment has been already appointed by God, Acts xvii. 31, and the Judge selected, even his own beloved Son whom He sent first into the world to save it, John. v. 22, Acts x. 42, 2 Cor. v. 10. We know how compassionate the Divine Saviour was in his first advent, and how he has provided means whereby all may be saved from the wrath to come in the interval before He comes again: if then, when He sits upon the throne of judgment, we find Him an angry Judge, it can only be our own fault, in having neglected the means of salvation.

WHAT WILL THE PROCEEDINGS BE? The recall of our whole life,—all actions done in the body, Rev. xx. 13, all words spoken by the lips, Matt. xii. 36, 37, Jude 15, all thoughts cherished in the mind, 1 Cor. iv. 5. Such a scrutiny we should none of us dare to make even of ourselves now-what will it be when the whole is brought back to our remembrance at the judgment of the great day? when all men, small and great, quick and dead (2 Tim. iv. 1, 1 Pet. iv. 5), are assembled before God to receive their final sentence according to their deeds, Heb. ix. 27, Rev. xx. 12. None can stand, by nature, in that day, Rom. iii. 19, 20, Ps. cxliii. 2.

WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED? Ps. cxxx. 3. For that Day is for the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, punishing the wicked for the sin which they seemed to think He did not regard on earth, Matt. xxv. 41—46, and for the neglect of those advantages which might have secured to them the blessings of salva tion, Matt. xi. 20-24.

Let us thank God that He has ordained our present Saviour to be our future Judge. For He who died to redeem us will be ready to receive those who have accepted his offers of mercy, and will put away their sins, by applying to them the merits of his own all-sufficient sacrifice, Heb. ix. 26-28. The Saviour who 66 ever liveth to maketh intercession for us" will not condemn us in that day, Rom. viii. 33, 34, but on the contrary will be ready to acknowledge his people, and receive them as his own, Matt. xxv. 34–40, Rev. iii. 5, bestowing upon them, at that time, the promised reward of their faith and trust in Him in this life, 2 Tim. iv. 8, Rev. xi. 17, 18. Even more than this, Scripture shows us that Christ's servants, whose sins have all been blotted out through his own blood, are to take part in that judgment, with Him, 1 Cor. vi. 2, Rev. xx. 4. So that the loving, obedient child of God need fear NOTHING, not even the recollection of his many sins, short-comings, and failings in duty, since Christ will then remember our iniquities no more, having united us to Himself by his own Spirit, and assured us of his love and mercy preserving us to the end, 1 John iv. 16-18.

But what can equal the importance of THE ISSUE of that judgment day? Eternal joy, or eternal misery, will then be the sentence on each human soul. Surely the certainty of such an ordeal and such a result for each one of us, should be a motive to repent, Acts xvii. 30, 31, to believe in Christ and to accept the Gospel covenant, 2 Cor. v. 9, 10; 2 Pet. iii. 10-12, and to exercise constant watchfulness and prayer, Mark xiii. 33.

HEAVEN.

THE Christian is a stranger and pilgrim on earth: Ps. cxix. 19, Heb. xi. 18, but there is a HOME for him, unseen, and in one sense far off, but to which a day or hour or still more sudden summons may bring him. The Bible closes with some descriptions of that home, the END of earth and of all God's dealings here with His people, and it fitly closes our series of Lessons on the Doctrines and Duties of Christianity, for it is the crown and reward of them both, and the more it dwells in our hearts, the more will the hope of entering there influence our lives. What does the Bible teach us as to Heaven? It is the grand ENDING OF EARTHLY LIFE, to all who believe. Look through the Word of God, then look around on the world, and see in the latter the struggles, the temptations, the sufferings described in the former. Is this to last for ever? No indeed-the end of all such things is at hand; God's work of Redemption will be completed, and His tried and tempted and persecuted servants find rest in heaven. To what purpose our Faith, Hope, Patience, Perseverance, but for a glorious future in store? IS HEAVEN A PLACE? The answer to this question involves much that we cannot yet understand, but the plain language of scripture is not to be lightly explained away as mere figures of speech: and we are repeatedly told of Heaven as a place, where Christ waits and intercedes, where angels worship, (Isaiah vi.), and whither Saints are carried up, (2 Kings ii. 11; Luke xvi. 22; John xvii. 24). It is perfectly true that if an unconverted man could enter there, it would be no Heaven to him—he would find no happiness from a change of place,—but as our real bodies are to rise again, it seems clear that they must have a real and material home. WHAT MAKES HEAVEN SO HAPPY AN ABODE?

PERFECT PEACE. The BODY will be at peace-no single pang can ever touch the glorified body-no weariness-no disease-and NO DECAY, Rev. vii. 16, 17. Such relief is almost beyond our comprehension, Isaiah lxiv. 4, but the hope of it soothes the diseased, sustains the weary, and comforts the sinking. All this will soon be over. Christ will give us REST, begun on earth, perfected in Heaven. The SOUL will be at peace: no angry passions, no strife, no ambition, no selfaccusing thoughts. None of the sins that ruffle even the deepest love on earth, will ever break the calm peace of Heaven.

PERFECT HOLINESS. We know that there could be no perfect happiness without this. The heart must have no single evil left to disturb itself or others: and it WILL HAVE NONE. To bear the image of Christ, as promised in 1 John iii. 2, is to be like Him, pure and spotless. See also Rev. xxi. 27; temptations “defile” us-they can never enter there: inbred sin defiles us—we shall have parted with that for ever: spiritual enemies that harrass us now, will then be unknown. Let us think of the happiness of never having one evil thought!

PERFECT SAFETY, depending on the FAITHFULNESS and the POWER of Him that hath promised; and that FOR EVER! Our highest present bliss is alloyed by the fear of losing it: but they that enter there, GO NO MORE OUT FOR EVER.

WHO SHALL ENTER THERE? Not all, alas! Rev. xxii. 15, 16, but the hum. blest, the poorest, the weakest, the once most guilty, will be found there, giving all the glory to Him whose blood alone redeemed them, and whose Spirit prepared them.

Plans and Entelligence.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

No. III.

As the biography of an individual is more interesting than a general description of a race of people, simply because the precise details enable us more exactly to realize the character of a single person than of a multitude,-so too, we hope that by adding another historical sketch of a Sunday school to those already given, we shall be able to interest our readers, although there must necessarily be much in our account of it analagous to what has been already told of the other Sunday schools noticed in this series of papers.

The school of which I propose to speak was established, nearly 30 years ago, in the north-western suburbs of London, by a clergyman who had then been recently appointed minister of a chapel connected with a large parochial burial ground, but having no district assigned to it. This gave a peculiar character to the school, since it was not the Sunday school of the parish, and the clergyman had no spiritual charge of the locality, but only over the congregation attending the chapel. Of the formation of the Sunday school, he once wrote to the author of this paper, "I may claim the honour of having founded the Sunday school of. Believe me, my dear friend, it is among the choicest recollections of my earlier years that I was permitted to give existence to this school. It was commenced under most discouraging circumstances. The chapel stood isolated, in the midst of a parish not its own. But it was found to give out light. It did give out some, and it brought about it many meek and loving spirits, and so a Sunday school was soon established. You, of all others next to myself, can best tell how it has flourished."

My own connection with it commenced some eighteen years ago, and until within the last four years, I had the privilege of forming one of the members of the congregation of the beloved minister by whom the school was founded. Since his removal to another sphere of duty, it has gradually changed its character; but my attachment to the school, and my regard for the teachers in it, led me to remain with it until a very recent period; and hence I am enabled to record, from personal knowledge, a large portion of its history.

The circumstance that there was no school-room, led to the children being taught in the galleries of the church, which some would consider an objection, both as confining the children in one place for a long time, and also perhaps as unconsciously attaching the idea of school with the house of prayer. In practice, however, it did not prove so: the wide separation between each class, when