once begin the praises of the Green Isle. The love of home is
the very root and core of our nature. Well, if we love our earthly
home, where we stay for so short a time, where, after all, we are but
strangers and pilgrims, we ought still more to love Heaven, whose
citizens we are. A child was once asked where his home was, and
answered with eyes full of love--"Where mother is." Brothers, our home
is where Jesus is.

Next, I think we ought to be _proud_ of being citizens of so fair a
city as Heaven. A Greek of old was proud to belong to a country which
could boast of the learning of Athens, the wisdom of Plato, the courage
of Leonidas. If a Roman in former days was asked to do a mean, or
dishonourable action, it was enough for him to answer, "I am a Roman
citizen!" A burgess of London City to-day is proud of the position
which he holds, and of the rights and privileges gained by many an
ancient charter of freedom. But what ought we to think of the
privileges and glory of belonging to that City which is God's Home; of
being fellow citizens with the saints in light; of claiming as our
brethren that great multitude which no man can number? Each town and
city of earth is proud of its most famous citizens, but what city can
show such names as our City, Jerusalem on high? What streets are
crowded with such a goodly company as the streets of Heaven? All that
is great and good, glorious, pure, gentle, self-sacrificing, finds a
place in Heaven. Mighty Preachers and Apostles, like S. Paul or S.
Chrysostom; simple girls, like Naaman's maid, or Veronica, the
farm-servant; brave women who died martyrs for Jesus in the Arena, and
those who _lived_ as witnesses for Jesus, like Grace Darling, and
Florence Nightingale, and Sister Dora; these, and such as these, of
whom the time would fail me to tell, form the company of Heaven.
"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, think on these things." And think, too, "'Tis mine, 'tis mine,
that country, if I but persevere."

We must remember, however, that a citizen has certain duties, as well
as rights and privileges, and if he neglects the former he forfeits the
latter. We, as citizens of Heaven, though exiles here in earth, have
certain duties and responsibilities laid upon us; if we fail to perform
them, we lose our position as God's people. When an Englishman goes
abroad t