MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. Home. [Substance of a Sermon.] To the weary pilgrim in the journey of life, there is, perhaps, no word which sounds so sweet, which falls so like angelic melody upon the ear, and which causes such thrilling sensations to pervade the bosom, as the short syllable, Home. It awakens the fondest recollections, and revives the most hallowed and endearing associations. Go where we may be our situation in life prosperous or adverse-though we may flee to the land of strangers, and there be greeted by all the charms of friendship and social intercourse - be surrounded by lovers, companions, and friends, and enjoy all the bessings which tend to render life desirable, still, the thought or mention of home, will be life anew to the soul. - What emotions fill the throbbing heart of the weary wanderer, as he returns home, and again looks upon the countenances of those he loves, and hears the emphatic welcome pronounced by every lip. What music to his soul! He feels that "there is no place like home." Ask the poor exile on a foreign shore, what visions flit across his bosom, and enchain his fancy, and cause the deepdrawn sigh, as he gazes silently and lonely on the midnight moon,—and he will tell you in the fullness of his heart, they are the visions of his once happy home. He can never out-travel never forget the delights of his early home. Though ambition leads him far away, or fortune tempts him into the world of business, he will often pause, even when success has gratified his wishes, and linger whole hours over the memory of bygone days. He will delight in every bush, and flowery landscape, and singing bird that resembles those he saw and loved in early youth. It is at home that the bright flowers of friendship bloom in perennial beauty. It is there that we can flee for protection, when the thunders are heard, and the roar of distant winds bespeak the coming tempest. There, if anywhere, we look for safety and repose; we anticipate the faithful expression of love, of kindred sympathies and affections; and there, if anywhere, the toil-worn and sorrow-stricken spirit finds rest and comfort. Home is a place of confidence, security and love. There we fear no evil. There the shafts of slander will fall harmless at our feet; and there the thorny bed of sorrow may be cheered by a fa ther's affectionate, and a mother's tender love. Surely, if happiness is to be found in the wide world if man is destined to enjoyment in any I spot this side the tomb, it should be at home. know not what others may feel, but, to me, there is music in the word. I love to look back and reflect upon the pleasing scenes the sunny days of childhood. I love to think of those halcyon moments spent beneath the smiles of parental love. And though these scenes of bliss have gone, and gone forever though the father that then watched over and protected me, is now reposing in the silent slumbers of death-though I have entered, as it were, upon a new existence formed new connexions and shared in the love of new and valued friends, --still home is dear to my heart. The sacred writer utters a beautiful thought when he says, "Man goeth to his long home." The truth of the gospel justifies such language. It tells us that beyond the confines of time, and the troubles of earth, there awaits us a glorious, an immortal home! That though earthly homes. will cease to exist, and earthly friends must die, yet that God hath prepared a better, an abiding home for the pilgrims of earth, where friends will meet never to be separated, and where love. divine will be the theme of all, through a long, happy eternity. "Man goeth to his long home." Sweet expression! We have a home on high, "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." To go to this home is to meet our heavenly Father, our unchangeable friend; to greet all whom we have loved on earth; to dwell forever with the wise and good of all past ages; to join the society of our Saviour with the heavenly host, and all the innumerable company of the redeemed. This is our final home; and towards this we are all hastening as fast as time can carry us. The inspired writers invariably represent man, in the present world, as a child from home far from his father's house as a stranger in a strange land; and, when he dies, as retiring from an eventful, a wearisome journey, and arriving at home, the place of his permanent residence. And is not this a fair representation? Does not every man in the present life exhibit the characteristics of a stranger? No one appears stationary or at rest. Crowds of busy mortals are urging their way onward, anticipating great attainments at some future stage of their journey; but no one appears to have reached the object of his pursuit. "Man never is, but always to be blessed." 66 This is his fate during his whole pilgrimage on the earth. The Apostle tells us, that "here we have no continuing city; but we seek one to come." We seek a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." This city he considered our final home. The earth is the home of the body but heaven is the long, the everlasting home of the spirit of man. When we think of a good earthly home, we think of serenity and peace. So of our immortal home. There we shall rest, secure from the influence of unholy affections. There those sinful passions, which here make the human bosom the abode of wretchedness, can never intrude. There peace shall ever reign, and love, and joy eternal. Again. Home is the common and endeared residence of our family and friends. There are our parents, and the children of their care and love. So of our "long home." There we shall meet and associate with our heavenly Father with all his children, from the oldest to the youngest with all the members of his household. Not one shall be excluded. "We'll all rejoice, no wanderer lost; Some will arrive sooner than others; but, eventually, all will reach home. With much propriety, then, the Scriptures declare that when man dies, he goes home. The doctrine here advanced is very different from those views of death entertained by many. It is generally believed that while death shall introduce a part to the mansions of bliss, the remainder must go away into endless perdition; and that the horrid destiny of these latter will augment the happiness, and increase the joys of those who dwell at the right hand of God. Is this home? Is this |