HEAVENLY SUBSTANCE. ] 25 



close over Creation, permitting but occasional rays 

 to struggle beneath its fringes. 



Little, indeed, my dull eyes can see of heavenly 

 teachings in earthly things ; but there is one resem- 

 blance to a high and holy mystery that I have de- 

 lighted to trace in one of the lowliest forms of 

 sentient being. 



There is a City hidden in heaven, but destined, by 

 and by to come down to earth ; it rises street above 

 street, and wall above wall, and battlement above 

 battlement; its streets are of gold transparent as 

 glass, its gates are of pearl, and its foundations and 

 walls of crystal are garnished with precious stones. 

 It is peopled by happy spirits in resurrection bodies, 

 by star-crowned men who have washed their robes 

 and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, — 

 iy none else. Nay, the City is composed of these, it is 

 made of living stones, built up one by one in slow 

 and gradual progress, each with an individual con- 

 sciousness, an individual life. 



But (here is the mystery) the City is an individual 

 being, it is a Bride, a Wife. It is the Church of the 

 living God, the Bride of Christ, the Lamb's Wife. 

 One life runs through the whole body, the life of 

 Christ, communicated in resurrection power and per- 

 petuity to her. He bought her, — a pearl of great 

 price, — with all that He had; He nourishes and 

 cherishes her, and He will soon raise her to share his 

 throne. 



Is it fanciful to discern a faint shadow of these 

 glories in a poor Polype. If it is, bear with the fancy, 

 for it is not lost time to turn our thoughts heavenward 



