happiness, often prove only a fleeting meteor, or a delusive vapour. But a sight of Christ, of his fulness, his suitableness, his all-sufficiency, affords a ground of comfort, firm as the rocks, and lasting as eternity'^ — ]
3. Our hearts shall be " renewed in righteousness
and true hoUness'" —
[Nothing produces such effects as a sight of Christ. We may hear the law proclaimed in all its terrors, and yet expe- rience no abiding change. But a view of Christ as crucified for us, will break the most obdurate heart' — raise the most desponding soul™ — inspire the selfish with unboiuided love" — and fill the mourner with imutterable joy ° : In a word, it will change a sinful man into the very image of his God and Saviour P.]
4. The light of glory itself shall also be enjoyed by us —
[Christ is the one source of happiness to all the hosts of heaven 1. To behold his beauty, to taste his love, to cele- brate his praises, this is their employment, this their supreme fehcity''. Such too is the occupation, such the happiness of every true believer : he has an earnest of heaven in his soul ; and this earnest is a pledge that, in due season, he shall receive the consummation of all his wishes in the immediate vision of his Saviour's glory, and the everlasting fruition of his love ^ — ]
Infer,
1. How great is the folly of seeking happiness in the creature !
[Created things, in comparison of Christ, are no more than a broken cistern to a fountain*, or than a star in com- parison of the meridian sun. Let us then seek our happiness in Christ, and in him alone. In him, as in the sun, there is a fulness and a sufficiency for all". And to him all may have access, if they will not obstinately immure themselves in im- penitence and unbeliefs. Let us not then " kindle sparks for ourselves, or walk in the light of our own fires y," but " come forth to his hght,"'and " walk in it" to the latest hour of our lives ^.]
k 2 Cor. i. 5. 1 Zech. xii. 10. "^ \ Pet. i. 3.
n 1 John iii. 16. « 1 Pet. i. 8. p 2 Cor. iii. 18.
' q Rev. xxi. 23. ^ Rev. v. 8 — 13.
s Eph. i. 13, 14. and 1 John iii. 2. *' jgr. ii. 13.
a Col. i. 19. X Eph. V. 14. y Isai. 1. 11.
z John xii. 35, 36.