the dim ether, which the naked eye sees not. Are these worlds inhabited? What kind of beings are there? What is their mental and moral character? Have they ever sinned? How do they stand related to us, and to God? These, and a thousand other inquiries that rise instinctively, are unanswered, in all that has, as yet, been revealed to us. But shall these questions never be answered? Shall endless ages continue to roll over us in Heaven, during which we shall grow in knowledge, and shall we still remain ignorant of all these worlds, and those that dwell on them? Who can believe this? The Saviour who created them and us, and who is the visible medium between an invisible God and all His creatures, will show us all things; and it will be part of our delightful employment to learn their history, and the economy under which they stand in a world without end!

We will, in Heaven, learn more about the boundless works and ways of God, in the glorious system of Redeeming Love. Here, emphatically, do we know in part, and prophesy in part. Even an inspired Apostle was led to exclaim, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." Rom. xi. 33.

one.

The vast moral economy of God, as it extends over the inhabitants of all worlds, is no doubt in its substance There is no doubt an intimate relation between us and the inhabitants of all worlds. We have an interest in them, though its nature be now unknown to us. They have an interest in us, and in the history of our world. If not, why did the morning stars sing

together, and all the sons of God shout for joy, when God laid the foundations of the earth? We are told that He who is the Saviour of our world, is also the Creator of all worlds, and the King over all. “God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." Phil. ii. 9, 10. In another passage we are told that God has set Him "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Eph. i. 21–23. Being thus over all, and over all to the Church, we must be related to all through Him.

What the nature of this relation is, it will no doubt be our privilege, and if our privilege, then certainly our happiness, to discover. If we are now, and are to be still in future, thus associated with other realms of creation, in one Head and Ruler, it seems certain that we shall become acquainted with the nature and history of these other economies. It seems evident, from Scripture, that other orders of beings are in some way interested in the work of redemption by Christ; and that they are to become wiser by their future fellowship with us, as well as by their present relation to us, who are now, and shall remain, members of the Church which is His body. Paul tells us plainly, that principalities and powers in heavenly places shall learn by the Church the manifold wisdom of God! Eph. iii.

10. Into these things the angels even now desire to look; and over one sinner that repents there is joy in their presence! If they shall learn from us, why not we from them? If they are interested in us, we certainly sustain such a relation to them, as makes us interested in them. We know it not now

we have only obscure hints of it, and a sweetly subdued presentiment of it. We shall know it hereafter. Mutually shall we teach each other, and mutually shall we be taught, the manifold mysteries which have been hidden in God from the foundation of the world; and mutually shall we rejoice together in the notes of the everlasting song, ever loving Him better as we know Him more!

What a field will also lie open before us in the history of God's providential dealings with us, as connected with the history of this world!

The children of Israel, after they were in quiet possession of the Land of Promise, were frequently reminded of the way in which God had led them. Such dealings of God as were at the time dark, mysterious, and inexplicable, were afterwards made plain to them; and they were thus led to praise His wisdom, and to repent of their murmurings against Him. Deut. viii. 2, 3. God ever says to his people, while he leads them about in strange ways, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

All those dealings of God with us, which remain dark and mysterious, and often apparently contradictory, to

the end, will be made plain to us in Heaven. When our expanded minds shall be able to take in a wider range of God's economy, all will be seen to be harmonious, and right, and good.

In how many ways are we blest in the Providence of God, by means of others whom we may never know, and of whose acts towards us we may never be informed in this world! Shall we never be permitted to know those who have thus blest us, that we may express our gratitude to them, and rejoice with them in that grace which wrought good for us by their hands? Who can doubt it? May it not be a delightful part of heavenly employments and enjoyments, for saints to relate to each other, amid raptures of gratitude and love, the peculiar circumstances in which they were sweetly forced to yield to each other's influences, and to trace the strange winding providences through which grace pursued them, until they were safely embraced in the eternal kingdom!

In all these excursions through the fields of celestial science we will become more and more acquainted with God- His nature, His attributes, His works, and His ways. There He, who is God manifest in our flesh, will declare Him to us. For, hear how he prays, and in that prayer promises: "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 for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it!" John xvii. 24-26.

With such facilities for acquiring heavenly knowledge, and with such fields of inquiry before us, the

most lively imagination cannot draw a picture of the length and the breadth, the height and the depth of that wisdom to which the saints shall attain in the future life. It passeth all understanding!

Think, oh! my soul, of the increased powers with which thou shalt enter this field of endless inquiry! Think of the ages upon ages which are before thee, and in which thou shalt be occupied in diving deeper, soaring higher, and winging a wider flight over the bright realms of the blest, to make new discoveries of the highest wisdom! Think that there, no interruptions, from a languid body, from obstructing difficulties, or from distracting cares, shall distress thee more! Think of the high order of intelligent and holy associates, with whom thou shalt explore the wide-spread kingdoms of the great God! Think, too, that all which thou shalt ever learn and know, will point toward God the Father, Son, and Spirit, as its ever glorious centre: furnishing ever new, and yet more captivating exhibitions of His goodness and love! Then, as thou art blest in these high and happy employments, thou shalt join in praise with those who "rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!" And thou shalt worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast thy crown before the throne and before the LAMB, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created!"