God is so far in love with his children that he keeps not all their com- forts for another world, but gives them a taste of the sweetness here. But what are all refreshments below to that which we shall have above in God's presence ? As John saith, ' We are the sons of God, but we know not what we shall be,' 1 John iii. 2. Only this we know, that when Christ our head appears, all his members shall be like to him. Our life may well be said to be hid with Christ in God, because flesh and blood discerns not the things prepared for those that love him. We lead a hidden life. We cannot see God face to face, or know him so perfectly here as one day we shall do. All that we have now is a taste of the good things to come, and but a taste.
The life which we now live is a life of faith, and we are to walk by faith, not by sight. Therefore, if God did give us all here, what need have we of faith ? It were no commendation for a Christian to abstain from the sinful courses of the world, if he did see the glory that he shall have pre- sent before him. But God will manifest to the world that he hath a people whose comforts are higher and greater than the world afibrds, who live by faith and not by sight.
God doth not reveal to us now all that we shall have hereafter, because we are not capable of such delicates, we cannot digest them ; as Peter and John, they could not see Christ's glory in his transfiguration, but they must be spiritually drunk with it : ' Master, it is good being here : let us build tabernacles.' Oh but saith the Holy Ghost, ' They knew not what they said,' Mark ix. 5. So likewise St Paul, when he was caught up into the third heaven, and heard unspeakable words, he could not digest them, they did so ravish him ; therefore God gave him ' a prick in the flesh,' that he might not be exalted above measure, 2 Cor. xii. 7. Are we sti'onger than * That is, ' desirable.' — Ed.
882 THE LIFK OF FAITH.
Potor antl Paul, to bear those revolutions from above ? Is it not j^oodncss in God to I'cservo them till such time as we are able better to relish them ? Moses, dcsirinfT to see the face of God, had this answer, ' No man can see my face and live,' Exodus xxiii. 20. So he that would conceive aright of the joys of heaven must die first.
Though wo cannot sec or understand these spiritual excellencies, yet let us often think of them. The life of a true Christian is taken up with the consideration of those thinc;s which ho shall hereafter have in heaven. There is no grace in a Christian, but it is set a- work this way. What is faith without this ? The chief work of faith is about things not seen. It makes absent comforts to bo in a manner present ; and so overcomes the world by seeing these things above the world. How is patience strcngihenrd, but by ithe consideration of future relief? If there were not better times hereafter for the gotfty, they were of all creatures most miserable ; but the thought of that makes them wait with patience. What makes men so tender in conscience, and so fearful to sin, but the ej'eing of him who is invisible ?.
And have we such glorious comforts in another world ? Let this cheer up our hearts with joy against all contempts and slighting here below. The world knows not God, nor us, neither doth it not know what things are prepared for us ; and shall we care for their abuse and scorn ? "WTiat though we walk up and down here unknown, our condition shall one day be manifested with glorj' in the sight of all, and then we shall esteem of things below as they arc. The consideration of this should raise up the spirit of every Christian. What makes us do things that are excellent, but our believing an excellency in such ways and courses ? He that sees an excellency in God, you may turn that man loose to any temptation ; for if Satan tempts him to any sin, he thus considers with himself. Shall I lose the sweet contentments of heaven for a base lust? Shall I lose my peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, for the satisfying of my unruly corruptions ? Consider what we lose in the committing of any sin. The profit and pleasure that a man gets in following the world, alas ! what is it to the precious comforts which we lose ? Who would be beholden to Satan for anything ? Is it not a disparagement to go from God, as if there were not sufficient in him to quiet the soul ? Hath not God enough, but we must be beholden to the devil our enemy ?
Oh, then, let us admire the love of God to his poor creature, in pre- paring such great things for him. Let us say with David, ' Lord, what is man, that thou art so mindful of him ? or the son of man, that thou so regardest him ?' Ps. viii. 4. How wonderful is thy mercy in having such high thoughts towards lost sinners ? ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that hath thought us meet to be partakers of an inheritance, immortal and invisible, reserved in the heavens for us,' 1 Pet. i. 4. A sound Christian begins his life in heaven here upon earth : he praises and glorifies God by a holy and fruitful conversation. This is our best way of blessing God. Praise in the heart will soon break forth in the tongue.