family—called by his grace, gathered by his power, and named by his
perfection; and there will be new parts of service called for then, which we know not now. But still we may say that the service to which we were set apart, when first the blood of the covenant was sprinkled upon us, is in substance the same as shall be developed hereafter.
In describing the glories of the heavenly Jerusalem, the apostle says, "His servants shall serve him" (Rev. 22:3). This was one of the features in that scene of glory which struck his eye—the service which was rendered to this King of kings by his servants, —"Thousand thousands ministered unto him" (Dan. 7:10); or, as it is elsewhere written of them, "They serve him day and night in his temple" (Rev. 7:15).
Service hereafter as well as here,—service in the midst of the everlasting glory, is that to which we are called.
1. It is household service.—The redeemed form a family—God's family—called by his grace, gathered by his power, and named by his name. They are "the household of faith,"—a household made up of believing men—men drawn together and knit inseparably as brethren, by their recognition of one great truth or fact—the death of the Son of God as the atoning substitute. Thus, though many in number, and separated by clime and age, they form one family. As partakers of this common brotherhood, they have mutual service to render in many ways here as they are fighting their way to Canaan. They have to bear each other's burdens, to soothe each other's cares, to lift up each other's hanging hands, to guide each other's steps, to calm each other's tremblings, to wipe off each other's tears, to share each other's joys, and, by various offices of love gladly rendered and lovingly received, to shew how truly they are servants of the Lord, and servants to each other in him.
Many of the kindly offices of service performed to each other by the different members of this family will soon cease. All those that relate to sorrow and weariness and sin will end with our deliverance from