(3.) Complete union with God and fruition of God : see 2 Cor. v. 6, Phil. i. 23. Here we are imited by faith ; but that is nothing to sight and immediate tuition. We lay hold upon Christ, but have not such an absolute possession of him ; he is a head that gives out himself not by necessity, but choice and [)leasure ; therefore our communion with liim is not so high and sweet as then. The iron that lieth long in the fire seems to be changed into the nature of it ; we are, then, more conformed and changed into the likeness of Christ. All the comforts that we have in this life, we enjoy in God's absence, and by the ministry of the creatures. Now, the creatures are not vessels capacious enough
4G3 TOE BLESSED ESTATE OF THEM [ReV. XIV. 13.
to convey po much of God to us as we Khali receive when he is all in all iinineili:it(.'ly, 1 Cor. xv. 24. There is no temple nor ordinances, but Uud is inslead of all, witiiout means or the intervention of such eui)itlies. We feed among the lilies, but it is but till the day break, and the shadows lly away.
3dl v, la our comjiany we must be blessed. There is God, and Christ, nnd siiints, and angels, lleb. xii. 2G. We shall see God in Christ. The bt>dily eye, that cannot look upon the sun, shall be perfectly sanctilied, glorified ; thougli it cannot see the essence of God, yet it shall see greater manifestations of glory. How will the Father wel- come us as he welcomed Christ ? Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me and I will give thee,' &c. So ' Well done, good and faithful servant' We shall not come into his presence with shame ; sin causcth shame, and maketh us ishy of God. As the eye cannot endure the light if it be wronged, 60 wronged conscience makes us afraid of the i)resence of God. But when sin is done away, we shall have boldness in that day. As we shall have the company of God, so of Christ : he cannot be contented with- out your company ; you should not be satisfied without liis : John xiv. 3, ' I will come again and receive you to myself, that where 1 am you may be also.' Oh ! what a joyful meeting will it be between us and our Redeemer, much sweeter than the interview between Jacob and Joseph. Christ longs for the blessed hour as much as you do. The wise men came from far to see him in a mnnger ; Zaccheus climbed up into a tree to see him in the days of his flesh. He is another manner of Christ in heaven than he was in the days of his abasement. When Joseph discovered himself to his brethren, ' 1 am Joseph,' it revived their hearts. When Christ shall say, I am Jesus, your brother, your Saviour, your Redeemer ; when he shall lead us to God in a full troop and goodly company, and say, ' Behold I and the little ones which thou hast given me,' Heb. ii. 13, what a blessed sight will that i)e ! Then the angels, what welcome will there be between you and them ! When Christ entered into heaven, Ps. xxiv., they enter- tained him with applauses and acclamations: 'Stand open, you doors, stand open ; here is the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty in battle.' So will they welcome the saints to heaven with acclamations. They delight in the good of men. When man was created, ' The morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy,' Job. xxxviii. 7 ; that is, the angels rejoiced and praised God. When Christ came to redeem man, a heavenly host fell a-praising God, Luke ii. 13, 14. When man is converted, the 6cri[)ture tells there 'is joy in heaven,' Luke xv. 7. So when we come to be glorified, Christ Bhall come with troops of them to conduct us into those everlasting mansions. The saints, your acquaintance, with whom you i)rayed, Bufl'cred, familiarly conversed — memory is not abolished in heaven, but perlected — tiiose whom we knew here, we shall know again. A minister shall see his crown, and the fruit of his labours: 1 Thes. ii. 19, ' You are our crown,' &c. And those that have been relieved by us shall welcome us into heaven, who, therefore, are said to receive us into everlasting habitations, Luke xvi. I) ; yea, we shall know those whom we never saw ; why else is it made a ])art of our })rivilege to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob? Mat. viii. 11. As Adam
EeV. XIV. 13.] THAT DIE IN THE LORD. 469
knew Eve, and, in the transfiguration, Peter knew Moses and Ellas, dead many luindred years before, so sliall wc know one another. We shall not g'o to a strani^e ])eo[)le, where we know nobody. As men at a feast are social and lamiliar one with another, we shall be discours- ing of God's wisdum, mercy, justice, in the work of redemption — so did Moses and Elias wilh Christ, Luke ix. 31— of the wonderful provi- dence of God in conducting us to glory, as travellers in their inn take pleasure to discourse with one another of the dirtiness and dangers of the way. And these saints are clothed with majesty and glory, more lovely objects than ever they were upon earth ; and there is an innu- merable company of them. They were rapt for joy when they saw but two prophets, Moses and Elias, Mat. xvii. 4. But heaven is not only called a i)alace, but a city, a world to come. There is a multi- tude which none can number.