One thought more. The seer beholds the immense multitude of the redeemed. The angel asks him who they are; but he does not know them. Many of them perhaps are persons whom he had known on earth; but they are so changed that he does not recognise them now. He used to know them by their imperfect Christian virtues; but now they are "without fault." And so they seem strange to him, just as sometimes even here the transformations of virtue and of joy make us say of well-known faces that we hardly recognise them again. A hint of this we often see in the faces of the dead; so like, yet so unlike. Is there any doubt, then, as to our recognising them at the last? None. We may, perhaps, fail to identify them at once, but they will not be strangers to us long. We shall look upon them with opened and purified eyes, and shall know them, even as the disciples on the mount knew Moses and Elias, notwithstanding the glory. Oh, it will be good for us to be there! Good for us to remain there for ever! Read: "These are they who _are coming_"--not "who came." They began to come with Abel; and the procession is not yet closed. Among the last are those over the loss of whom we are weeping now. Let us brush away our tears; for at least we may say to ourselves this-- One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o'er and o'er: I'm nearer my home to-day Than I've ever been before! Nearer my Father's house, Where the many mansions be; Nearer the great white Throne; Nearer the jasper sea! Nearer the bound of life, Where I lay my burden down! Nearer leaving my cross! Nearer wearing my crown! Transcriber's Note Archaic and variable spelling is preserved as printed. The following typographic errors have been fixed: Page xiv--repeated 'not' deleted--... if it did not actually reach, its maturity. Page 46--repeated 'in' deleted--Observe what in that case must follow. Page 62--repeated 'are' deleted--... towards those who are around us. Page 195--inmediate amended to immediate--... on the direct and immediate control of God, ... Page 227--trimphant amended to triumphant--... furnishing a triumphant and lasting reply ... The frontispiece has been moved to follow the title page. The illustration caption in {brackets} has been added by the transcriber for the convenience of the reader. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sermons, by Clement Bailhache