als, and the very mud under
foot can, as men of science tell us, be turned into gleaming metal, and
sparkling gem. The fair colours which dye our clothing can be formed
from defiling pitch, and some of the most exquisite perfumes are
distilled from the foulest substances. My brother, the same God who
brings beauty out of ugliness, and fair purity from corruption, can so
change our vile nature, and our vile body, that they may be made like
unto Him. The work of the Blessed Trinity, of the Creator, the
Saviour, the Sanctifier, is day by day operating on the children of
God, and making all things new in them. And remember that work is
gradual. A man can make a sham diamond in a very short time, a real
gem must lie for ages buried in the earth. So, if we are really and
truly God's people, we must grow gradually, and bear all the cutting
and polishing which God sees right, before we are fit for the royal
treasury.

The same Divine Hand which changed Mary Magdalene to a loving penitent,
and the dying thief to a trusting disciple, and lifted Augustine from
the foul grave of lust to be a pillar of the Church, can likewise
change us, and make us to shine with the light of a stone most
precious. Once again, as we gaze through the open door, we hear of
music in Heaven. Those who have wrong ideas of the life to come seem
to imagine that the Heavenly existence consists in minstrelsy and
nothing else. Surely the song of the redeemed, and the music of the
golden harps, are a type of the perfect _harmony_ of Heaven. This life
is often full of discords, the life to come is perfectly in tune. Here
on earth our lives are very like musical instruments. One plays
nothing but dirges of sorrow and discontent. Another life is made up
of frivolous dance music; another is hideous with the discord of "sweet
bells jangled, out of tune, and harsh." The life to come is one of
perfect harmony, for each servant will be in complete accord with the
Master's will and pleasure. And I think the vision of those who play
upon their harps, and sing their song before the throne, show us that
the life to come is one of _occupation_. There will be, doubtless,
growth, progress, experience, work in Heaven. But there we shall be
able to do what we so seldom do here--all to the glory of God. Here we
work so selfishly, there all work is worship. Here we struggle for the
crown that we may wear it, there they cast down their crowns before the
Throne