6. Branch. It shews us what little cause the children of God have to envy the pros- perity of the wicked. Qnis csrario qnis pie- nis loculis indiget, Sen. The wicked have the " waters of a full cup wrung out to them," Ps. Ixxiii. 10. As if they had a mo- no})oly of happiness, they have all they can desire ; nay, they have " more than heart could wish," Ps. Ixxiii. 7. They steep themselves in pleasure, Jobxxi. 12., "They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ." The wicked are high, when God's people are low in the world ; the goats clamber up the mountains of preferment, when Christ's sheep are be- low in the valley of tears ; the wicked are clothed in purple, while the godly are in sackcloth ; the prosperity of the wicked is a great stumbling-block : this made Aver- roes deny a providence, and made Asaph say, " Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain," Ps. Ixxiii. 13. But there is no cause of envy at their prosperity, if we consider two things.
1. This is all they must have, Luke xvi, 25., " Son, remember that thou in thy life- time receivcdht thy good things," — thou hadst all thy heaven here. Luther calls the Turkish empire a bone which God casts to dogs.
2. That God hatli laid up better things for his children ; he hath prepared a king- dom of glory for them ; they shall have the boatifical vision, — they shall hear the angels sing in concert, — they shall be crowned
nearer to the kingdom. Finis dat amabili- with the pleasiu'cs of ])ara<lise for ever. O takm nicdiis. He whose heart is set on [ then envy not the flourishing prosperity of
OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S rRAYER.
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the wicked; they go tlirouj^li fair way to execution, and the godly go tlirougli foul way to coronation !
7. Branch. Is there a kingdom of glory a-coming? Then see how haj)))y all the saints are at death, tl»ey go to a kingdom ; they shall see God's face, which shines ten thousand times hrightcr than the sun in its meridian glory. The godly at death shall be installed into their honour, and liave the crown royal set upon their head. Tliey have, in the kingdom of heaven, the quint- essence of all delights, — they have the wa- ter of life clear as crystal, — they haA'e all aromatic perfumes, — they feed not on the dew of Ilermon, but the manna of angels, — they lie in Christ's bosom, that bed of spices. There is such a pleasant variety in the happiness of heaven, that after mil- lions of years it will be as fresh and desir- able as at the first hour's enjoying. In the kingdom of heaven, the saints are crowned with all those perfections which the human nature is capable of. The de- sires of the gloritied saints are infinitely sa- tisfied ; there is nothing absent, that they could wish might be enjoyed, there is no- thing present that they could wish might be removed. They who are got into this kingdom would be loath to come back to the earth again, it would be much to their loss; they would not leave the fatness and sweetness of the olive, to court the bramble ; the things Avhich tempt us, they would scorn. What are golden bags to the golden beams of the Sun of Righteousness ? In the king- dom of heaven there is glory in its highest elevation ; in that kingdom is knowledge without ignorance, holiness without sin, beauty without blemish, strength without weakness, light without darkness, riches without poverty, ease without p.iin, liberty without restraint, rest Avithout labour, joy without sorrow, love without hatred, plenty without surfeit, honour without disgrace, health without sickness, peace without war, contentation without cessation. O the hap- piness of those that die in the Lord ! they go into this blessed kingdom. And if they are so happy when they die, then let me make two inferences.
1. What little cause have the saints to
kingdom
^^'hat is there in this world should make us desirous to stay here? Do we not see (iod dishonoured, and how can we bear it? Is not this world "a valley of tears," and do we weej) to leave it? Are we not in a wilderness among fiery ser- pents, and are we afraid to go from these serpents? Our best friends live above; God is ever displaying the banner of his love in heaven, and is there any Jove like his ? Are there any sweeter smiles, or sof- ter embraces than his? What news so welcome as leaving the world, and going to a kingdom ? Christian, thy dying day will be thy wedding day, and dost thou fear it ? Is a slave afraid to be redeemed ? Is a virgin afraid to be matched into the crown ? Death may take away a few world- ly comforts, but it gives that which is bet- ter ; it takes away a flower, and gives a jew- el ; it takes away a short lease, and gives land of inheritance. If the saints possess a kingdom when they die, they have no cause to fear death. A prince would not be afraid to cross the sea, though tempes- tuous, if he were sure to be crowned as sooa as he came to shore.