August 19

1 For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being clothed; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now be that hath wrought us for the self

same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight.)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9 Wherefore we labour, treat, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

What home-sickness is to the child away at school, that to the soul is heaven-sickness, which sets us free from the ten thousand joys and sorrows of this world, if we really are heaven-sick

"Shall we say the Christian is dead because the tabernacle is rent? No! The inhabitant of that clay-house home has only moved out of his temporary shanty into his 'house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'"—Rev. B. Penning.

(430)

One look into heaven pays better than the whole experience of a life of joy here.

"The places that know you will soon know you no more forever. The cares that made you fret yesterday are already below the horizon. The troubles that make you anxious to-day will not be troubles when you meet them. But what if they were? A cloud no bigger than a man's hand is swelling and filling the whole heaven. What then? To-day its bolts may smite you; but to-morrow you will be in heaven. Your children have died and gone home; but what of that? Soon you will follow them. Your friends have gone on before; but what of that? You will soon be with them. Your life is full of troubles and mischiefs; but what of that? Those mischiefs and troubles are nearly over—nearer than you think. The glorious future is almost yours."—H. W. Beecher.

*Closet Promise.—Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.—1 John iii. 2.

"What must it be to dwell above, At God's right hand, where Jesus reigns, Since the sweet earnest of his love

O'envhelms us on these dreary plains. No heart can think, no tongue explain, What bliss it is with Christ to reign."