Behold! 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. What I here enjoy is but a fore-
taste of what awaits me in the Church
above. When that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done
away. For now I see through a glass darkly;
but Thee face to face: now I know in part,
but then shall I know even as I am known.

Glorious is the feast which Thou hast left
us, dear Lord, and blessed the communion
we have in it with Thee. But even better
than this is the blessedness promised us in
those farewell words of Thine: But I say
unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this
fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink
it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Thou wilt drink it new with us! What is
this Thou sayest, blessed Lord? Thou
wilt drink it new with us in Thy Father’s
kingdom! Is it so, that something better
still awaits us. From a communion which
is so heavenly in Thy Church on earth, Thou
dost point our souls away to a communion
still better in the Church in Heaven. This
bread cometh down from heaven as a fore-
taste of what is there in reserve. This is as
manna in the wilderness, but Thou tellest us
of the fruits of Canaan.

If these are the first-fruits what must be
the harvest! If this is the earnest, what
must be the glorious purchased possession!
If this that we see and handle of the bread
of life is so blessed, what must that be which
eyes have not seen, of which ears have not
heard, and which hath not entered the heart
of man, prepared of God for them that love
Him.

If such the sweetness of the stream,
What must the fountain be;
Where saints and angels draw their bliss,
O Lord, direct from Thee!

Now are we saved by hope; but we look
for that blessed hope, and the glorious ap-
pearing of the great God, even our Saviour
Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, we
love; in whom, though now we see Him
not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy un-
speakable and full of glory.

O glorious day when Thou shalt appear
for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Till Thou come we show Thy death; and
when Thou shalt come to be glorified in Thy
saints, we shall fully know what that
means: I will drink it new with you in my
Father’s kingdom. Surely, Lord Jesus,
Blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb!

II.