God, their suitable, satisfactory, never-failing, and all-sufficient portion: above their felicity flows from the same inexhaustible fountain.

But, however pleasing to worship the Lord in His earthly courts, the righteous have a strong desire for that better house above. Here the society is of a mixed nature: there they are all of one mind and heart. The Church militant is divided into many sects: the Church triumphant shall never be separated by those little marks of distinction. Here the Church is tried and tempted: there "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." Here their joy is mingled with sorrow so much so that the most devoted have cause to exclaim, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing": there the cup of bliss will be unmixed, for "the ransomed of the Lord shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Here they labor to cultivate Emmanuel's vineyard: there they participate in "endless rest." "I heard," says one who was favored with a glimpse of the heavenly land, "a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." (Revelation xiv. 13.)

Here they meet and part: there they meet

to part no more forever. No wonder, then, that Job should say, "I would not live alway"; and Paul should testify, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I desire to depart and be far better."

with Christ, which is

Dear friends, you have erected this house to the name of the Lord. Here may the sacrifices. of prayer and thanksgiving be acceptably offered. Here may the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ be plainly, fully, persuasively, and powerfully proclaimed. Here may the Lord's ministering servants be ever

clothed with salvation," and here may His "saints ever shout for joy." Here may the Word, accompanied by the Spirit's energy, prove instrumental in awakening the sinner to a sense of his lost condition. May this altar be surrounded by true penitents, seeking redemption. through the blood of the Cross. Here may liberation be proclaimed to the captives. Here may the followers of Jesus be strengthened to cheerful performance of every good word and work. May you who worship to-day, and those who shall worship in this house hereafter, know "that God loveth the gates of Zion more than all the tents of Judah." May the benediction of the Most High rest upon you and your children. And when you shall have been gathered to your fa

thers, may this house, the result of your toil and labor, still remain and prove a lasting blessing to the rising generations. Yea, may generations yet unborn here participate in the benefits of the purchased Redemption.

And when the consummation of all things shall come, and houses are no longer needed for the followers of Jesus upon earth, may we all be so unspeakably happy as to have a lot among the blessed, and dwell forever before Him in whose presence is fullness of joy, and at whose righthand are pleasures forevermore. Amen and Amen.

THE WORK OF GOD.*

"WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT!"— Numbers xxiii. 23.

S the children of Israel journeyed towards the promised inheritance, they came into the plains of Moab, and there pitched

their tents. When Balak, the king of the Moabites beheld their number, and took into consideration what they had done to the Amorites, he was afraid. Unwilling that they should pass unmolested, and dubious how a battle might terminate, he sent for Balaam, the prophet, whom he desired to pronounce a malediction upon Israel; supposing this could be effected, then all his doubts respecting certain victory over them would disappear.

Balaam complied so far as to come, and he

*The substance of a Discourse on the Centenary of Methodism, delivered at Swedesboro, New Jersey, 25th of October, 1839; written from notes, at Burlington, New Jersey, 2d of November, 1844.

would for "he loved the wages of unrighteousness"-have granted the request of the king in full, but was prevented by the God of Israel, and instead of pronouncing a curse, he was constrained to pronounce a blessing.

There is one thing, however, in the conduct of this prophet which is worthy of commendation. Happy for all who profess to be the prophets of the Lord, the ministers of Jesus at the present day, were they to act in like manner. Though urged by the king to accomplish the object for which he had been called, yet did he nobly say, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak."

After many efforts made by the king, through the prophet, to accomplish what he most ardently desired, all of which proved abortive, the prophet exclaims," Behold, I have received commandment to bless, and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel; according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"

What hath He accomplished for Israel, in