these are brought together； they will be 〃a multitude which no man can
number。〃
（d） There will be 〃many〃 when the true Christians are gathered
together； who are now scattered over the face of the globe； and not
known either by the Church or the world。 There are not a few who belong
to no congregation； and are not numbered on any list of municants；
though their names are in the Lamb's book of life。 Some of them live
and die in great neglected parishes unknown and unvisited。 Some of them
get hold of the truth by hearing the gospel preached by missionaries at
home or abroad； though the preacher has never known them； and they have
never been formally enrolled in the list of converts。 Some of them are
soldiers and sailors； who stand alone in regiments and on board ship；
and are not understood by their panions。 There are myriads of such
persons； I believe； who live the life of faith； and love Christ； and
are known to the Lord； though not known by men。 These also will make a
large addition to the 〃multitude which no man can number。〃
The plain truth is； that the family of God will be found at last much
larger than most of us suppose it is。 We look at the things； we see
with our own eyes； and we forget how much there is going on in the
world； in Europe； Asia； Africa； and America； which our eyes never see
at all。 The inner life of the vast majority of all around us is a
hidden thing； of which we know nothing。 We do not think of the ages
that are past； and the countless millions who are now 〃dust and ashes；〃
though each in his turn fell asleep in Christ； and was carried to
Abraham's bosom。 No doubt it is perfectly true； that 〃 wide is the
gate； and broad is the way； that leads to destruction； and many there
be which go in thereat〃 （Matt。 7：13）。 It is fearful to think what an
immense majority of all around us appear dead in sin； and utterly
unprepared to meet God。 But； for all that； we must not underrate the
number of God's children。 Even supposing they are in a minority； when
judged by human estimate； they will still prove at last to be very many
in the kingdom of glory； an enormous pany； 〃a multitude which no man
can number。〃
Is any reader of this paper disposed to laugh at religion； because
those who profess it decidedly are few in number？ Are you secretly
inclined to despise those who read their Bibles； and make a conscience
of keeping their Sundays holy； and trying to walk closely with God？ Are
you afraid of making a profession yourself； because you think there
will be so few with you and so many against you； and you do not like to
be singular； and stand alone？ Alas！ there have always been many like
you！ When Noah built the Ark； there were few with him； and many mocked
at him； but he was found to be in the right at last。 When the Jews were
rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon；
Sanballat and Tobiah scoffed at them； and said； 〃What do these feeble
Jews？ 〃When the Lord Jesus Christ left the world； only a hundred and
twenty disciples met together in the upper chamber in Jerusalem； while
the friends of the unbelieving Pharisees； and scribes； and priests were
numbered by tens of thousands。 But the disciples were right； and their
enemies were wrong。… When bloody Mary sat on the throne； and Latimer
and Ridley were burnt at the stake； the friends of the gospel seemed
very few； and their enemies were a great majority。 Yet the Reformers
were right； and their enemies were wrong。Take care what you are
doing！ Beware of judging vital Christianity by the small number of
those who seem to profess it。 You may have the crowd with you now； and
the laugh may be on your side。 But a day is ing when you will open
your eyes with amazement； and find out； perhaps too late； that the very
people whom you despised were not few； but 〃many；〃 a vast pany； 〃a
multitude which no man can number。〃
Is any reader of this paper disposed to be cast down and discouraged；
because he loves Christ； and tries to serve Him； but finds himself
almost entirely alone？ Does your heart sometimes fail you； and your
hands hang down； and your knees wax faint； because you so seldom meet
any one whom you can pray with； and praise with； and read with； and
talk with about Christ； and open your heart to without fear？ Do you
ever mourn in secret for want of pany？ Well； you are only drinking
the cup which many have drunk before you。 Abraham； and Isaac； and
Jacob； and Joseph； and Moses； and Samuel； and David； and the prophets；
and Paul； and John； and the Apostles were all people who stood very
much alone。 Do you expect to fare better than them？ Take fort； and
have faith。 There is more grace in the world than you can see； and more
Christians travelling towards heaven than you are aware of。 Elijah
thought he stood alone； when there were 〃seven thousand in Israel who
had not bowed the knee to Baal。〃 Take fort； and look forward。 Your
good time is ing。 You will have plenty of pany by and by。 You
will find many and not few in the kingdom of heaven； many to wele
you； many to rejoice and praise with many with whom you will spend a
blessed eternity。 How pleasant it is to meet a single saint now for a
few short hours！ How it cheers and refreshes us； like snow in summer or
sunshine after clouds！ What； then； will it be when we shall see an
enormous pany of saints； without a single unconverted sinner to
spoil the harmony； all men and women of faith； and none unbelievers；
all wheat and no chaff； 〃a multitude which no man can number〃！ Surely
the 〃many〃 we shall see in heaven will make ample amends for the 〃few〃
that we now see upon earth。
II。 We have； secondly； in our Lord Jesus Christ's words； the dwellings
and position of those who shall be finally saved。 It is written 〃that
they shall e from the east and the west。〃
There can be little doubt that this expression is a proverbial one。 It
must not be taken literally； as if the saved were not to e from the
north and south； but only from the rising and setting of the sun。 We
find the same expression in Psalm 103：12； where it is said； 〃As far as
the east is from the west； so far hath He removed our transgressions
from us。〃 The meaning is simply this： The saved shall e from
different places； from distant places； and from places where you would
have thought it most unlikely they would be found。
（a） They will not all have belonged to one Church。 There will be
Episcopalians； and Presbyterians； and Independents； and Baptists； and
Methodists； and Plymouth Brethren； and many other kinds of Christians
whom I have neither space nor time to name。 However much they may
disagree and dispute now； they will have to agree at last。 They will
find to their amazement that the points upon which they were of one
mind were a vast quantity； and the points on which they differed were
very few。 They will all be able to say with one heart； 〃Hallelujah！
praise to Him who loved us； and washed us from our sins in His own
blood！〃 And they will all be able to reply with one voice； 〃Amen；
amen！〃 The anthem in heaven； said good George Whitefield； will be to
all eternity； 〃 What hath God wrought！〃 The points of earthly
disagreement will have dropped off； and melted like snow in spring。 The
mon teaching of the Holy Ghost will stand out clear and plain before
every eye in heaven。 At length there will be one real 〃Holy Catholic
Church；〃 without spot or blemish or any such thing； without
quarrelling； controversy； or dissension； all wheat and no tares； all
sound members and none unsound。
（b） They will e from various countries in every part of the globe；
from Greenland's icy mountains； and the scorching regions of the
tropics； from India and Australia； from America and from China； from
New Zealand and the Islands of the Pacific Ocean； from Africa and from
Mexico。 Some will have laid their bones in solitary g