carnal pleasures in heaven. Tlie Turks, liis sweetness, — not only inspection hut pos- in their Alcoran, speak of a paradise of jilea- sure, where tliey have riches in ahundance, and red wine served in j^olden chalices. Here is an heaven, consisting of pleasures for the body ; the epicures of this age would like such an heaven when they die. Thouj^h indeed the state of filory be compared to a feast, and is set out by pearls and ])recious stones, yet these metaphors are only to be helps to our faith, and to shew us that there is superabundant joy and felicity in the em- pyrean heaven ; but those are not carnal, but sacred delig^hts, — as our employment shall be spiritual, it will consist in adoring and praising of God; so our enjoyment shall be spiritual, — it shall consist in having the perfection of holiness, in seeing the pure face of Christ, in feeling the love of God, in conversing with heavenly spirits. Tliese delights will be more adequate and proper for the soul, and infinitely exceed all carnal voluptuous delights. — 2. We shall have a lively sense of this glorious estate. A man in a letharg}'^, though he be alive, yet he is as good as dead, because he is not sensible, nor doth he take any pleasure in his life : we shall have a quick and lively sense of" the infinite pleasure which ariscth from en- joyment of God, — we shall know ourselves to be happy, — we shall reflect with joy upon our dignity and felicity, — we shall taste every crumb of that sweetness, every droj) of that pleasure which flows from (iod. — 3. We shall be made able to bear a sight of that glory. We could not now bear that glory, — it would overwhelm us, as a weak eye cannot behold the sun; but God will capacitate us for glory ; our souls shall be so heavenly and perfected wnth holiness. that they may be able to enjoy the Ijlesscd vision of God. Moses in a cleft of the rock saw the glory of God passing by, Exod. xxxiii. 21. Through our blessed rock, Christ, we shall behold the beatifical sight of God. — 4. This enjoyment of (iod shall be more than a bare contem])lati()n of him. Some of the learned move the question, Whether the enjoyment of God shalk be only by way of contemplation ? .Ans. That is something, but it is but one half of heaven ; there shall be a lo\'ing of God, — an acquiescence in him, — a tasting
session : John x\ni. 21., " That they may behold my glory,"— there is inspection; V. 22., " And the glory thou hast given me, I have given them," — there is possession. " Glory shall be revealed in us," Rom. viii. 18. ; not only revealed to us, but in us. To behold God's glory, there is glory revealed to us; but, to partake of his glory, there is glory revealed in us. As the spuiige sucks in the wine, so shall we suck in glory. — 5. lliere is no intermission in this state of glory. We shall not only have God's glorious pre- sence at certain special seasons, but we shall be continually in his presence, continually under di\ane raptures of joy. There shall not be one minute in heaven wherein a glo- rified soul may say, I do not enjoy haj)pi- ness. The streams of glory are not like the water of a conduit, often stopped, that we cannot have one drop of water; but those heavenly streams of joy are continu- ally running. O how should we despise this valley of tears, where we now are, for the mount of transfiguration ! How should we long for the full enjoyment of God in paradise ! Had we a sight of that land of promise, we should need patience to be con- tent to live here any longer.
2d. Let this be a spur to duty. How di- ligent and zealous should we be in glorify- ing God, that we may come at last to enjoy him? If Tiilly, Demosthenes, and Plato, who had but the dim watch-light of reason to see by, and did fancy an elysium and hapj)iness after this life, did take such Her- culean pains to enjoy it, O then how should Christians, who have the light of scripture to see by, bestir themselves that they may attend at the eternal fruition of God and "lorv ! If anv thing- can make us rise off our bed of sloth, and serve Ciod with all our might, it should be this, — the h(q>c of our near enjoyment of God for ever. W hat made Paul so active in the sphere of reli- gion ? 1 Cor. XV. 10., " I laboured more abundantly than they all." His obedience did not move slow as the sun on the dial, but swift, as the sun in the firmament. Why was he so zealous in glorifying God, but that he might at last centre and termi- nate in him? 1 Thess. iv. 17., " Then shall we be ever with the Lord."
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OF THE SCRIPTURES.
3d, Use of CoTisoiaiion. Let this comfort die godly in all the present miseries they feel. Tliou complHiiiest, (Christian, thou dost not enjoy thyself, — fears disquiet thee, — wants perplex thee, — in the day thou canst not enjoy ease, in the night thou canst not enjoy sleep, — thou dost not enjoy the