Salvation  to  our  God,  which  sitteth  upon  the
Throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb."  And  further-
more on  each  saintly  brow  shall  rest  a  crown

54


palms  ot  IDfctori?,  Crowns  of  (Blot^     33

of  never  fading  glory. They  who  in  this
life  have  been  reviled  and  lightly  esteemed,
and  have  endured  many  privations  and  per-
secutions for  Christ's  sake,  shall,  in  the  life
to  come,  be  ^^  heirs  of  God  and  ]oint==heirs
with  His  Son,"  Jesus  Christ,  and  with  Him
reign  in  Glory  forever  and  ever. To  him
who  hath  believed  on  His  name  and  enlisted
in  His  service. He  says,  '^Be  thou  faithful
unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of
LIFE."  And  again  He  says,  ^'  Behold  I  come
quickly:  hold  that  fast  which  thou  hast,  that
no  man  take  thy  crown."  How  precious  the
promise!  a  crown  of  life!  Who  can  fathom
the  depth  of  meaning  these  words  are  de-
signed to  convey?  Who  can  comprehend  their
sublimity?  How  inadequate  the  capacity  of
mortal  man  to  estimate  the  value  of  such  a
crown !  What  is  it  that  earthly  potentates  have
not  done  for  the  sake  of  a  crown?  And  yet
what  a  bauble,  what  a  mere  nothing,  what
a  mockery,  what  a  delusion  is  such  a  crown,
compared  to  that  which  Christ  the  King  of
Glory  has  in  reserve  for  you,  and  for  me,  and


56  Ube  ©lories  of  Ibeaven

for  every  one  of  His  followers  who  ''  over-
cometh ''  the  world!  Ours  will  be  a  Crown
of  Life  Everlasting,  of  Glory  Unceasing,  of
Rejoicing  and  Gladness  Unalloyed,  of  Holi-
ness Immaculate,  of  Triumph  and  Victory
Complete;  yes  Complete  through  ''Him  who
hath  loved  us,  and  hath  washed  us  from  our
sins  in  His  Own  precious  blood! ''  A  Crown
that  will  never  grow  heavy,  or  be  a  source  of
weariness  to  the  brow  that  wears  it. A
Crown  whose  jewels  never  tarnish,  and  whose
lustre  never  grows  dim. A  Crown  not  sullied
by  use,  but  which  grows  brighter  by  being
often  cast  in  grateful  homage  at  the  feet  of
Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  Throne. 