Ah! whence come all these rumors of wars—these unlawful strivings after power—these convulsions of governments—this inordinate seeking after riches? Why art thou, oh earth, so disquieted within thee, when so many centuries ago angels came unto thee, singing “_peace_ upon the earth?” The Prince of Peace has lived and died, and now reigneth forevermore in glory; the Prophets are also dead; and the Apostles—what, _are_ they dead to us? Not so! they are “alive unto God!” and behold what they have left to us in this world! A treasure-house, where are garnered riches they have bequeathed to all posterity, which are vast enough to ransom an enslaved world! Within those jeweled gates, glistening and glowing in the light of the Father’s smile, we may enter, we may take to ourselves what shining gems we will, for, enriched as we shall be, the treasury will not be impoverished—the riches there are exhaustless as is the compassion of God. Then why is it that we consume our years, our hopeful youth, our powerful manhood, our perfected age, in a search that never yet, in any case, has proved successful; hunting forever amid the sandy wastes of time for what is constantly eluding our grasp? Why is it that we seek continually a good that never satisfies? Why is it that we are ever so averse to entering that place which is so radiant with the purest gold and gems magnificent? Oh, can it be because the portal is so narrow and so low, that we must bend to the dust if we would enter, or because our worldly garments must be flung aside, that we may say with truth, “we are miserable, blind, and naked?” Is it because we are required to give to the winds the dust which we have gathered through years of wasting toil? For, bearing only the olive branch, freed from pride, from disbelief, from ingratitude, thus only, _thus only_, may we enter the treasury of God! By wisdom we shall seek the entrance-gate in vain. Faith and Love alone can guide us. Had it been possible that the world should by the light of wisdom know God, then had the multitudes who have followed the plausible imaginings of their own hearts never perished so miserably! the Celestial city had at this hour been revealed for the misguided ones, who for years sought it carefully and with tears! Oh! let us remember that it was Love that created us; it was Love that redeemed us! And shall we madly refuse to know aught of that Divine effulgence—that centre of all life—that light of the world—that God? Through the coming ages, by the light of Revelation I behold the day when He shall come again in power and great glory, to judge the world—and it will be in _righteousness_! Let us not deceive ourselves! God is Love, but He is also Justice! If one of earth is saved, it will be through His boundless mercy; if we are lost, only upon ourselves can be laid the burden of such unaccountable folly. * * * * * THE ORPHAN.