world, there we see the unholy and the impure casting their shadows over the place; there we see much to grieve and much to tempt the good; there we have other than holy men around us; there the evil are mingled with the good; the just and unjust live side by side. Not so in paradise; those alone who have led risen lives, those alone who were on earth children of the cross, and "children of the resurrection,' ""children of the light," rest therein. If we fall asleep in Christ we are suddenly in the presence of the whole company of the saints; we are under the same spiritual roof; with them we wait for the still better change when the full number of the elect shall be complete.

And what makes this a most affecting truth as concerns ourselves, not only shall we there be brought near all the holy men of old, the saints

of

every generation, but we shall be joined again to the saints of our own household who have gone before us to their rest. There will our souls tarry with those of our kindred and our brethren, with whom we once walked in the House of God on earth as friends, with whom we once took sweet counsel together, who once were gathered round the same fireside, who once shared all our sorrows and all our joys, and

whose going from us made our head to be a fountain of tears and caused our hearts almost to burst for grief. These, these are in paradise; unknown on earth, having lived it may be in lowly and humble homes, having faithfully served their Saviour in some obscure and unnoticed lot, these our holy friends and kindred rest in peace; and if after their example we persevere in Christ's blessed ways even to the end, our souls will be joined to theirs, father and child, wife and husband, sisters and brethren, will be together once more.

We know not, indeed, what manner or degree of intercourse soul has with soul in paradise, yet we know they are in one place, a place of blessed rest; and surely, taking the lowest view of that state after death, the mere consciousness of being together, of being with Christ, of being safe from all power of evil, of being sure of heaven, is ground for very high and holy joy. How different is it upon earth. Even while our households are entire, before death begins to thin our homes, before any fall off and die, we have the knowledge that our home will one day be broken up, that change will come upon change, that first one and then another will be carried hence, that this seat will be va

cant and then that, the father going from the child or the child from the father, the wife from the husband or the husband from the wife. But in paradise no such thoughts cloud the souls that are united there. Once there, there is indeed a change, but not a parting; a change to a still brighter and more blessed state, a change from paradise to heaven; but from paradise all will go forth together, all will in one great brotherhood be raised into the city of God, when their mortal bodies are quickened by the power of Christ's resurrection and are glorified.

Lastly, supposing paradise to have but little active joy for the soul, supposing that it is little more than some state of holy quietness and rest, of calm repose, consider how great is the gain of such a state after death. Contrast it with the state into which every soul must have gone, if Christ had not died and risen again. Into torment must every soul have passed; and though the fulness of the torment will not be developed till the resurrection of the flesh, yet the soul must have reached pains such as are not known on earth. It is from this state that Christ has set us free; if we have nothing more than rest in paradise, that rest is gain beyond all words. Here then are Easter thoughts, thoughts concerning those things after death which first take place.

From step to step should we trace the power of Christ's death and of His resurrection from the dead. In this world He enables us to lead a risen life. He gives us heavenly consolations; He fills us with holy hope. After death greater blessings are bestowed, and richer fruits of His dying and rising again; while for a time we leave our bodies in the dust, our souls pass into paradise; paradise is our portion first, and all who have here walked after the Spirit and risen with Christ to newness of life, may now hopefully meet the awful hour of death, and with a good hope commend their souls into the hands of God, trusting to be carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.

We must not however content ourselves with pleasant thoughts about paradise; we must not think that as a matter of course we shall have its

good things after death; many build upon going there and take life easily, as if they must by a sort of necessity of mercy be in bliss hereafter. There will be no place in paradise but for those who strive to enter in, who live holily, who watch and pray, who wait for their Lord in all faith and godliness.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

PARADISE is the blessed resting-place of all holy souls; thither do the spirits of the just wing their way, and there do they first taste of the blessedness of the world beyond; it is the first state after death; and whatever fruits they may have reaped on earth from the death and resurrection of their Lord, they then drink more deeply of the cup of salvation; they then have more joyful experience of the things which Christ has done for their souls.

And yet paradise is but a resting-place after all; it is not home; it is not the chief object of Christian desire and hope; it is not the final goal of the Christian race, nor the prize of his high calling in Christ Jesus; of the things after death it is the beginning, not the end; it is, so to speak, the spring ushering in the eternal summer of heaven; all who reach it will reach