light, than that the hosts of the redeemed, as they had been rescued from the bitter pains of everlasting death, should testify to one another, each perfect in sympathy, how much they were indebted to that matchless Saviour who humbled Himself and became obedient unto death for their sakes. What should hinder, that even in the mansions of never-ceasing felicity, they should let the memory rest for awhile on the grace they had long resisted, the dying love they had despised, the patience they had abused, the efforts they had scorned. All this retrospection, instead of producing unhappiness, would but magnify the grace of God. What should hinder, that, as they walk the golden streets, or recline under the shadow of the tree that bears twelve manner of fruits, or lave in the river that makes glad the city of God, they should tell to one another the marvelous loving-kindness of the Saviour; how He Himself subdued their unbelief, and by what processes, tender or severe, He let down into their souls the light of spiritual life? What hinders that they should animate each other, and stimulate each other in their ceaseless progression in holiness and happiness, by a growing acquaintance with the riches of the love which redeemed them; how He protected them, and com. forted and sanctified them; guarded them from dangerous snares; kept them from the power of temptation; reclaimed them when wandering; snatched them from many a peril, and led them in His hand to glory? Then, kindling as the theme goes on, of what they were, and are, and still may be, they ever and anon shall cease the social communications, and render their pure and perfect praises to Him who is the author of all their happiness! As I anticipated, I have mingled the enjoyments and the employments of heaven together. They can not be sundered. The happiness of heaven consists in its employments; all, all centering upon God, the only object of a supreme and unceasing regard. There are other emblems used in the Scriptures to express the glory and happiness of the redeemed, as in the closing chapters of the book of Revelation; but the language used is so highly figurative, that the only idea which can be gathered is, that the glory is beyond description, the happiness beyond conception. The work of religion, truly commenced, and truly carried on, issues in the happiness which I have feebly attempted to describe. Tell me a greater work than that whose end is salvation-the happiness of heaven beyond description or conception-the happiness of heaven without alloy-the happiness of heaven without termination the immediate society of that God in whose presence there is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for ever more-ceaseless progression in a knowledge which shall be capable of satisfying the immense desires of an immortal mind; ceaseless advancement from one state of glory to another, each perfect in its kind; ceaseless accumulations of happiness, flowing from all the resources of an infinite God! My friends, when I think of the character of heaven, its society, its business, its enjoyments, I am at no loss to discover a very decided reason why the great work of personal religion, which issues in that happiness, is neglected and despised. There is no unconverted man who has the least wish for such a heaven as has been described; and who will be religious for an issue which is not desirable? I am perfectly willing to admit, my brethren, that there is even in the unconverted heart, a certain undefined desire after an unknown happiness beyond the grave, but it is not the kind of happiness which God has provided. Tell me, ye worldlings, is there any thing in the felicity of heaven as the Scripture unfolds it to your view, which suits the taste and habit of your souls? Is there any thing in the society, the business or the enjoyments of the place which brings itself down to the level of your earthly desires and your groveling pursuits and pleasures? How strangely would the man of warlike ambition feel, were he ushered into a society where perfect peace and love sincere have their eternal and uninterrupted reign. How strangely would the man, who seeks the honor which cometh from his fellow, feel in that place, where it is among the highest glory of the redeemed to cast their crowns at the feet of Him who made them kings and priests unto God. How strangely would the man, ambitious of the honors of intellectual worth and scientific attainments feel, were he to enter among those whose highest glory is that they know the Lord as they are known of Him. In heaven, the merchant, who is absorbed in his business, would find no means of gain; and for the careless child of pleasure there would be, in heaven, no brilliant assemblies of the votaries of folly such as he loves, no soul-ruining theaters, no gaudy decorations of the person to minister to pride and vanity. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the Scripture representation of heavenly felicity, to make it in the least degree desirable to one solitary soul among you, who is yet in the slavery of the world, led captive by the devil at his will. Heaven would, indeed, be a sad, and sorrowful, and solitary place for every individual of an earthly taste and an unchanged heart. And ought I to expect you to engage in a work of religion for an issue which you can not possibly desire? What is heaven? It is essentially the conformity of the mind and heart to God! What is the work of religion? The process of that conformity beginning with a change of heart. My dear friends, it is a most solemn and serious business to you, that in your state of unconcern and sin, you have no moral fitness for the enjoyment of God's glorious presence. Small would be the consequence of this, if this earth were destined to be the whole thea. ter of your display. But you are born for immortality. An undying spirit occupies the tabernacle of clay which is destined to perish, the food of corruption and the worm. In a very short period, every eye in this assembly shall be closed in death; the busy must leave his business, the worldly his pleasure, the gay his gayety, and the thoughtless his unconcern. I do confess to you, my brethren, that it fills my soul with melancholy beyond expression, to think that of those by whom I am now surrounded, the great majority are living only for time and sense, while they neglect eternity; and that while doing this, you are standing on the narrow isthmus, which, but for a moment, divides the two. In a few short years, not an individual now here, will be seen in these pews. They will be occupied by another generation. But where will you be, when another generation has taken your places in the house of God? Where will you be? In the heaven which I have described as the issue of the work of religion, or in that dreadful hell which awaits the neglecters and despisers of a Saviour's mercy. This is the record of God! The time is coming, when the dead shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. "Beyond this vale of tears There is a life above, Unmeasured by the flight of years; And all that life is love. "There is a death, whose pang To one or the other you are going; and soon, very soon, will the question be determined. But by the mercies of God; by the dying love of Jesus Christ; by the worth of your souls; by the untold happiness of heaven; by the unutterable miseries of hell, I beseech you leave not the determination of that question till it must be settled in the bitter tears and the unavailing regrets of the world of eternal woe! Now is the time of your merciful visitation; now is the time to repent and be converted; to lay hold on Christ, to make Him your wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemp tion; to work while it is called to-day; to acquire the qual fications of heaven-a spiritual taste. Then, and only then, can you expect to see the King in His beauty; enjoy the society of heaven; mingle in its hallowed employments; tune your hearts and your voices to its melodies; take your part in its anthems, and become partakers in its inheritance-incorruptible, undefiled, unfading perfection. This is the issue of the work of religion! Earth knows none so great. THIS distinguished scholar and divine, who has been called the Chalmers of the Methodist churches, was born in Leicester, Vermont, on the second day of March, 1797. His father, Judge Olin, was for some time Lieutenant-Governor of that State; and secured for his son the advantages of Middlebury College, where he graduated with the highest reputation for talent. After this he went to South Carolina to engage in teaching for a time, where he was converted, and received into the fellowship of the Methodist Episcopal Church. From this time he began to preach as occasion offered, and was soon received by the South Carolina Annual Conference of 1824, as a Methodist probationary traveling preacher, and stationed at Charleston. It was said, by one at the time, that never in the memory of the oldest Methodists, had so powerful a preacher, "burst with so sudden a splendor, and so tremendous an effect upon the Church." He was received, in 1826, into full connection as a preacher, and ordained deacon; but his very feeble health compelled him to locate; and it was not until 1832 that the state of his health allowed of the duties of traveling preacher, when he was received into the Georgia Conference. In 1830, Dr. Olin was elected Professor in the University of Georgia; and three years after, President of Randolph Macon College, Virginia. In 1837, his failing health led him to set sail for an extensive tour in Europe and Asia, the prosecution of which qualified him to write his well-known "Travels in the East." Upon his return to America, he was elected President of the Wesleyan University, in Connecticut, in 1842, over which he presided for nine years, and until the time of his death, which occurred on the 16th of August, 1851. Dr. Olin was a man of great piety and humility, and was endowed with an intellect of the imperial order, at once acute, penetrating, and profound. As a teacher, he was eminently successful; and in the abili ties of a pulpit orator, he is said to have had few equals. Rev. Dr. Wightman of South Carolina, observed, of his sermons, that they were "the grandest exhibitions of intellectual power and gracious unction |