4. In the kingdom of heaven, we shall be freed from original corruption; this is causa causati, the root of all actual sin. There would be no actual sin, if there were no oriffinal ; there would be no water in the stream, if there were none in the fountain. Original sin is incorporated into our na- ture; it is as if the whole mass of blood were corrupted. This makes a Christian weary of his life ; he offends that God whom he loves. What would a Christian give to liave his chains taken oft", to be rid of vain thoughts? How did Paul (that bird of paradise) bemoan himself for his sins ? Horn. vii. 24. We cannot act either our duties or our graces without sin. The soul that is most refined and clarified by grace, is not without some dregs of corruption ; but in the kingdom of heaven the fountain of original sin shall be quite dried up. What a blessed time will that be, never to grieve God's Spirit more ! In heaven are virgin-souls; there is beauty which is not stained with lust ; nothing enters there that defiles. Rev. xxi. 27.
5. In the kingdom of heaven we shall be freed from all sorrows. Rev. xxi. 4., " There shall be no more sorrow." Our life here is interlarded with trouble, Ps. xxxi. 10. Either losses grieve, or law-suits vex, or
unkindness breaks the heart. We may a well separate moisture from air, or weigh from lead, as troubles from man's life Q///V7 est (tin vivire, nisi diu torqucri ? Aug But, in the kingdom of heaven, sorrow and sigliiiig sjiall fly away. Here the saints sit by the rivers weeping, but one smile from Christ's face will make them forget all their sufteriiigs; their Avater then shall be turned into wine, tlieir mourning into music.
G. A\'e shall in the kingdom of heaven be freed from the immodesty of temptation. Satan is not yet fully cast into prison ; but is like a prisoner that goes under bail, — he walks about tempting, — he labours to tre- j)an us into sin, — he is either laying of snares, or shootiisg of darts. Stat in pro- cinctu cliabuliis. He laid a train of tempta- tion to blow up the castle of Job's faith. This is as great a grief to a believer to be followed with temptations to sin, as it is for a virgin to have her chastity assaulted ; but in tlie kingdom of heaven the saints shall he freed from the red dragon ; he is cast out of ])m'adise, and shall be for eyer locked up in chains, Jude 6.
7. In the kingdom of heaven we shall be freed from all vexing cares. The Greek word for care, comes from a primiti\e which signifies to cut the heart in j)ieces. Care discruciates the mind, it wastes tiie sjiirits, it eats out the comfort of life. Care is an evil spirit that haunts us : care to prevent future dangers, and preserve present com- forts. All care is full of fear, and fear is full of torment, 1 John iv. 18. God threa- tens it as a judgment, Ezek. xii. 19., " They shall eat their bread with carefulness. E- very comfort hath its care, as every rose hatli its prickle ; but in the kingdom of heaven, we shall shake off" this viper of care. What needs a saint glorified to take any care, who hath all things provided to his hand ? There is the tree of life bear- ing all sorts of fruit. When the heart shall be freed from sin, the head shall be freed from care.
8. AVe shall, in the kingdom of heaven, be freed from all doubts and scruples. In this life the best saint hath his doublings, as the briHitest star liath his twinkling. If there were no doublings, there would be DO unbelief; assurance itself doth not
OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
excliulo all douhtiiijr, Ps. xwi. 3., " Thy thouorh lie liath the heart of a father, he
hnin^ kindness is before mine eyes :" l)iit may have the look of an enemy ; this U
at another time, Ps. Ixxxi.v. 40., " Lord sad. As when ihe sun is p^one the dew
where are thy former lovin<r kindnesses?" falls; when tlie li<rht of God's face is gone,
A Christian is like a ship at anehor, which tears drop from tlie saints' eyes. But in
thonoh it be safe, yet it may sometimes be the kinjjdom of heaven, there shall be no
tossed upon the water. Sometimes a Chris- tian rpiestions his interest in Christ, and his title to the promise ; and these doubtings, as they eclipse a Christian's comfort, so they are a bearing false witness against the Spirit. 13ut, when the saints shall come into the kingdom of heaven, there shall be no more d»»ubtings ; then a Christian shall sav, as Peter, " now I know of a sin-etv that the Lord hath sent his angel, and de- li\ered me," Actsxii, 11. So, now 1 know, that I am passed from death to life, and I am got beyond all rocks, I have shot the gulf, now I am in my Saviour's embraces ^or ever.