But have we not assurance by the most infallible principles of faith that the Son of God came down from heaven to live with us and die for us, and that he rose again to confirm our belief in his ' exceeding great and precious promises ' concerning this happiness in the future state ? And do not the most evident principles of reason and universal experience prove that this world cannot afford true happiness to us ? How wretchedly do we forfeit the prerogative of the reasonable nature by neglecting our last and blessed end ! If the mind be darkened that it does not see the amiable excellences of God, and the will so depraved that it does not feel their ravishing power, the man ceases to be a man, and becomes like the beasts that perish ; as a blind eye is no longer an eye, being absolutely useless to that end for which it was made. And though in this present state men are stupid and unconcerned, yet hereafter their misery will awaken them, discover what is that supreme good Avherein their perfection and felicity consists. When their folly shall be exposed before God, angels, and saints, in what extreme con- fusion will they appear before that glorious and immense theatre ! Our Saviour told the unbelieving Jews, ' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves turned out.' They shall be tortured with the desire of happiness without possible satisfaction. It is most just that those who err without excuse should repent without remedy.
2. Let us be excited seriously to apply ourselves in the use of effec- tual means for the obtaining this happiness. Indeed the original cause of it is the jDure, rich mercy of God ; the meritorious is the most precious obedience of our Saviour, by whom we obtain plenteous redemption. His abasement is the cause of our exaltation. The wounds he received in his body, the character of ignominy, and footsteps of death, are the fountains of our glory : ' Eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' But the gospel declares, ' that without holiness no man shall see God.' An holy change of our natures, and perseverance in the course of universal obedience, are indispensably requisite in order to our obtaining heaven : ' Those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, honour, and immortality, shall partake of eternal life.' Now, were there no other reason of this constitution but the sovereign will of God, it were suffi- cient. But the foundation of it is laid in the nature of the things themselves. Therefore our Saviour does not simply declare that an unregenerate person shall not see the kingdom of God, but with the greatest emphasis, cannot, to signify an absolute impossibility of it.. Beside the legal bar that excludes unsanctified persons from the beatific vision of God, there is a moral incapacity. Suppose that justice should allow omnipotence to translate such a sinner to heaven, would the place make him happy ? Can two incongruous natures
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<1eUght in one another ? The happiness of sense is by an impression of pleasurefrom a suitable object. The happinessof intellectual beings arises from an entire conformity of dispositions. So that unless God recede from his holiness, which is absolutely impossible, or man be purified and changed into his likeness, there can be no sweet communion between them. Our Saviour assigns this reason of the necessity of regeneration in order to our admission into heaven : ' That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' According to the quality of the principle, such is what proceeds from it. The flesh is a corrupt principle, and accordingly the natural man is wholly carnal in his propensions, operations, and end. The disease is turned into his constitution. He is dead to tbe spiritual life, to the actions and enjoyments that are proper to it. Nay, there is in him a surviving principle of enmity to that life ; not only a mortal coldness to God, but a stiff aversion from him, a perpetual resistance and impa- tience of the divine presence that would disturb his voluptuous enjoy- ments. The exercises of heaven would be as the torments of hell to him, while in the midst of those pure joys his inward inclinations vehemently run into the lowest lees of sensuality. And therefore till this contrariety, so deep and predominant in an unholy person, be removed, it is utterly impossible he should enjoy God with satisfaction. Holiness alone prepares men for the possession of celestial happiness that is against the corruption and above the perfection of mere nature. 'Let us then, having such a joy set before us, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.' Methinks the sight of worldly men, so active and vigilant to prosecute their low designs, should quicken us to seek with the greater diligence and alacrity 'the kingdom of heaven, and the right- eousness thereof.' A carnal wretch, urged by the sting of a brutish desire, with what impatience does he pursue ' the pleasure of sin, which is but for a season ! ' An ambitious person, with what an intemperate height of passion does he chase a feather ! A covetous man, how greedily does he prosecute the advantages of the present world that pass away, and the lusts thereof ! Ah ! how do they upbraid our indifferent desires, or dull delays, and cold endeavours, when such an high prize is set before us ! Who is able to conceive the excess of pleasure the soul feels when it first enters through the beautiful gate of paradise, and sees before it that incomprehensible glory, and hears a voice from him that sits upon the throne, ' Enter into thy Master's joy,' for ever to be happy with him ? The serious belief of this will draw forth all our active powers in the service oi God. The feeding by lively thoughts on this supernatural food will add new vigour and lustre to our graces, and make our victory easy over the world. If we beheve indeed that our bodies shall be spiritual, and our souls divine in their perfections, it will make us resolute to subdue the rebel flesh and rescue the captived spirit from all entanglements of iniquity : ' Having the promise of such an excellent reward, let us always abound in the work of the Lord.'