according to the degree of conformity to the image of God to which they attained in this life.

This, I think, is not only implied but directly asserted in the reply which our Saviour made to the two of his disciples who desired to sit, the one on his right hand and the other on his left, in his kingdom: Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." * The attentive reader will, at once, perceive that the Saviour does not affirm there are no such places of honour to be occupied by any of his servants as those which they desired; and if they did not exist, he would have corrected the mistake into which the disciples had fallen. Instead of doing that, however, he admitted that they were right respecting the existence of the places of official dignity which they wished to occupy; but he intimated that, in the bestowing of them, he would be guided by considerations of a very different nature from those by which they imagined he would be influenced; and that these places were

* Matt. xx. 22, 23.

destined for the persons who should drink most deeply of the cup of his sufferings.

This shows, as clearly as anything can well do, that the happiness which shall be enjoyed by redeemed men in the future state, will spring from the character which is formed in this life; and that it will be modified by the particular way in which the character is formed, and the degree of resemblance which it bears to the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. All the excellencies of his character were exhibited under his sufferings, and it was by them that he was consecrated to the high office which he now sustains in the upper sanctuary. It is true, the holy principles which regulated his conduct required no such ordeal to try their strength or bring them to perfection; but as he is the first-born of the redeemed family, and is designed to be an exemplar to all who shall follow him to glory, the happiness he now enjoys in the heavenly kingdom, as Mediator, arises from the holy principles which were developed by his actions while he tabernacled upon earth, and the honours he now wears were bestowed as the reward of his sufferings. Indeed, the connexion betwixt his humiliation and his exaltation, betwixt his cross and his crown, is distinctly recognized in the holy scriptures. And if such a connexion exists in the case of the Master, we may reasonably conclude that it exists also in the case of the servant.

Although I am far from wishing it to be understood by this remark, that the sufferings of Christ

resulted from a cause similar to that from which the sufferings of his people arise, or that they were inflicted for a similar purpose; yet their sufferings resemble his in this particular, that they are an order of means by which they are prepared for the sphere in which they shall move in the heavenly state. They are not, in any degree, nor in any sense in which the word can be used, meritorious; but they exercise and bring to maturity the holy principles which are implanted in our nature by the agency of the divine Spirit. And it is obvious, that the more vigorous these principles are, so much the more will they who are under their influence be fitted for engaging in the noble pursuits which shall occupy their attention in the future world, and of sharing the hallowed enjoyments which shall be experienced by the righteous throughout eternity. This is the sentiment contained in the language of Paul :-" For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" and it is evidently to it that James alludes when he says:"Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Now, since the principles of some are more severely tried, and brought into a vastly more vigorous state than are the principles of others, they are qualified for higher exercises, and are capable of more exquisite pleasure than they can possibly be whose principles are not so fully exercised, nor brought to such a state of maturity upon earth.

Thirdly, The rewards which shall be bestowed upon them, will be proportioned to the use they make of the talents committed to their trust.

We should find it exceedingly difficult to conceive of a principle more equitable than this, or more likely to answer the high purposes which the Almighty has in view in the government of the universe. It com. mends itself to every enlightened mind, and the righteous Judge of all the earth has established it as the rule according to which he will pronounce the decisions of the great day. Our Saviour, in different ways, and on different occasions, illustrated this great and important principle in the instructions which he imparted to his disciples while he was upon the earth. It was evidently for that purpose that the following parables were delivered :-" For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents : behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that

had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."- A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities." * There can be no question, that these parables were intended to describe the circumstances in which the servants of God are placed in this world, and to encourage them to activity in his service. They represent their responsibility as being commensurate with the amount of their trust,

Matt. xxv. 14, 15, 19-23; Luke xix. 12, 13, 15—19.