duct is harmonious: He confesses that he is a stran ger and pilgrim on the earth; and, while he says these things, he declares plainly that he "seeks a country, a better country, that is, an heavenly." 2d, The figurative language of the text intimates, that heaven is the residence of the Christian's Father and friends. The situation of the saint may, at first view, appear void of comfort, and full of misery. To be without a country and a home, is a prominent fea ture in the picture of the consummation of human wretchedness: But this is by no means the situation of the saint of God; he has a country, though it is a distant one; he has a home, though he is not yet arri ved at it. Though an alien on earth, he is a citizen of heaven. If we trace those pleasurable feelings which are connected with the ideas of country and home to their source, we will find, that they principally originate in their being associated with all that is interesting and delightful in the relations and affections of consanguinity and friendship. There is, perhaps, no word in any language, which calls up such a variety of pleasing thoughts and feelings, as the English term home; and why? but because home is conceived of as the abode of relative love and mutual kindness; because there we have met, and expect to meet, with the care of a father, the tenderness of a mother, the affection of a wife, and the veneration of children. It is on much the same principle that the feeling of patriotism is founded. It is not the mildness of our climate, nor the fertility of our soil, nor even our civil and religious liberties, which chiefly bind our attachments so closely to our sea-girt isle: It is, because it includes within its limits almost all who love us, and all that we love. The consideration of heaven, then, as the country of Christians, naturally suggests the idea of its being the residence of his Father and friends. There, indeed, has the Father of mercies established his throne, and reared his house of many mansions, for the eternal residence of all his children. There dwells Jesus, the Mediator of the better covenant, and that Holy Spirit, who is the author of knowledge, and purity, and happiness. There reside "the general assembly and church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven-an innumerable company of angels, and of the spirits of just men made perfect." With all these illustrious personages, the Christian on earth is closely connected. The Eternal Father is not ashamed to be called his God," - Jesus is his Elder Brother, Saviour, and Friend, -the Holy Spirit is his Advocate and Comforter, the perfected spirits of the just have but finished the course in which he is engaged, and as to the angels, "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation?" The saints on the earth and the saints in heaven form one great family-bound together by the closest relations-children of the same Father-citizens of the same state. " 3d, The figurative language of the text intimates, that the Christian is possessed of peculiar immunities. It is not unlikely, that when Paul wrote these words, the important privileges of Roman citizenship were present to his mind. In the more flourishing ages of the Roman republic, the name of a citizen of Rome was a safeguard, through a large portion of the world, from injury and insult; and the apostle himself had, in the course of his travels, on more occasions than one, found the possession of this character of high importance to his safety. But the honours and privileges of the citizen, even of imperial Rome, dwindle into insignificance, shrink into nothing, when compared with the immunities of the citizen of Heaven. The citizen of the New Jerusalem is, indeed, "a citizen of no mean city." The immunities of celestial citizenship are enjoyed in the greatest number, variety, and perfection, in the better country. But, as a powerful state not only provides for the happiness of its subjects at home, but stretches forth its protecting arm around such of them as are in foreign countries; so, even during his state of exile and pilgrimage, the Christian derives guidance, and safety, and comfort, from his connection with the kingdom of heaven. God sends forth his light and his truth, they lead him and guide him. The good Spirit conducts him through all the dangers of life, to the land of uprightness. An unseen guard of angels surrounds him : "The angel of the Lord encamps round about those who fear God, and delivers them." His celestial citizenship does not, indeed, secure him from the ordinary evils of life, but it secures him from being in any degree injured by them; it does more, it converts them into important blessings for "all things work together for good to them who love God, and who are the called according to his purpose." "He Instead of farther illustrating the privileges of the Christian as a citizen of heaven, I shall direct your attention to a scriptural delineation of them. that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrors by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation : There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call on me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." "All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Such are the immunities of the citizens of heaven. 4th, The figurative language of the text intimates, that the Christian is distinguished by a peculiar mode of conduct. Out of the relation of citizenship arises a variety of important duties, by the discharge of which every good citizen is distinguished. Among these, a due respect for the sovereign, a strict regard to the laws, a warm attachment to his fellow citizens, and a zealous and active support of the interests of the state, occupy a prominent place. Heavenly citizenship is by no means a mere name, and every person who is possessed of it, is distinguished by the discharge of the duties which flow from it. He maintains a supreme reverence for his Divine Sovereign. He " sanctifies the Lord God in his heart, and makes him his fear and his dread;" and takes every opportunity of testifying his respect for his authority, and his love to his law. -The Christian does not live at random. As a citizen of heaven, he regulates his conduct according to the laws of the kingdom of God: He is "not without law to God, but under the law to Christ." He lives his time in the flesh, not to the lusts of the flesh, but to the will of God." He takes God's law "as a light to his feet, and a lamp to his path, accounting it concerning all things to be right, and sincerely hating every wicked way."-A warm attachment to his fellow citizens, is another distinguishing character of the true citizen of heaven: "Having purified his soul in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, he loves them with a pure heart fervently." "Hereby," said our Lord, "shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another."-Farther, the citizen of heaven is distinguished by a zealous and active support of the interests of the kingdom of God. He is not a good citizen who is destitute of public spirit. He is no Christian who cares not for the things of Christ. The citizen of heaven earnestly desires, and fervently prays for, the advancement of the interests of the Saviour's kingdom among men ; and, not content with this, he proves the sincerity of his desires and his prayers, by cheerfully devoting his time, his talents, and his property, to this purpose. His motto is "To me to live is Christ." To promote His honour, in the salvation of mankind, is the only object he thinks worth living for; and, in his estimation, to gain this object, ease, and health, and life itself, are by no means too costly sacrifices. |