peace and harmony, where charity never faileth, where all is love and happiness for ever: in short, he hath informed us that for those who love him is laid up glory, honour and immortality, pleasures such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.-On the dark side of the picture, the gospel dwells not so long. In general, it represents the torments of the wicked by the images of those things which are most dreadful in this life: by the worm which dieth not, and the fire which is not quenched. It warns us to flee from the wrath to come; from that judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries; from that tribulation and anguish which shall come upon every son of man who doeth evil. How - much, then, hath Jesus revealed to us concerning the existence and nature of the life after death. What advantages have we not in the practice of our duty! How much stronger motives to obedience have we than those who lived in the former times of ignorance!

But, there is still another truth regarding a future state, for the knowledge of which we are entirely indebted to Jesus Christ; viz. the resurrection of the body. In nature, nothing

But

is perpetual. Every thing changes, decays, and advances by hasty steps to dissolution. most things, which come under our observation, are again renewed, and, after a short period of dissolution, revive to a new life, under a new form. The herbs and flowers which wither at the approach of winter, again put forth their leaves and blossoms at the return of spring. By the side of the tree whose blasted trunk inspires melancholy reflections, we behold another plant springing from its roots and flourishing under its protection. To this the human race appear a striking exception. One generation goeth, and another cometh: Man, after having slept for a few years with the clods of the valley, can no more be distinguished from the common mass of matter; and, before Jesus, the world knew of no spring which would revive his ashes. But He hath assured us, that not only our souls, but our bodies also shall exist for ever in another life. He hath told us that the grave, that gulf of the human race wherein, as was formerly believed, the bodies of men were swallowed up in succession and lost for ever, shall, at his command, yield up those who have been intrusted to its charge. He

hath assured us, that, this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruptible shall put on incorruption. He hath declared, that, when he shall appear in the glory of his Father and his holy angels, his voice shall be heard throughout the regions of death; at the sound of the trumpet, the tyrant shall shrink from his throne and abdicate his dominion, the subjects of his power shall be released from their bondage, and those who are in their graves shall come forth.

These are some of the most important of those religious truths, of which the knowledge has been improved, enlarged, or communicated by Jesus Christ. From this rude and imperfect sketch of them, we cannot consider the conduct of Pilate, upon this occasion, without the greatest wonder and astonishment. Jesus Christ, in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, stands before him, ready to explain unto him, the newest, the most wonderful, the most sublime and the most interesting truths which ever engaged the attention of the world; and he contents himself with asking a general question in a careless and insulting manner, and without waiting for an answer, goes out!-Let not us imi

tate his example: but let us search the scriptures wherein those truths are contained; let us study, seriously and diligently, to acquire that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation. Great is the light which is come into the world: If we love darkness rather than light, it must be because our deeds are evil.

The goodness of God, as displayed in his works, not impaired by the existence of natural and moral evil.

I JOHN, CHAP. 4, VER. 8.

"God is love."

WHEN we look abroad through nature, and behold the sun, the moon, and the stars walking in their brightness, when we contemplate this earth, and consider the order, harmony, beauty, and grandeur which every where prevail, where is the man whose thoughts do not, involuntarily, ascend to the great first cause of all, who spoke, and it was done, who commanded, and it stood fast! God has not left himself without a witness; his works speak in an universal language, intelligible to every nation, and heard throughout every land. In them he has displayed the perfections of his nature; and, though abstract and general rea

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