blessing which your souls can desire : and ye shall finally possess all the glory and felicity of heaven.
Think now what, in the view of these things, should be the state of your minds. If those who have never yet experienced one of these benefits, have yet abundant reason to celebrate the goodness and mercy of their God, have not ye much more ? O " let the redeemed of the Lord say so :" let them sing his praises day and night : let them adore him with their whole hearts ]
Address —
1. Those who are yet insensible of God's goodness —
[Alas ! how great a portion of every assembly are com- prehended under this description ! Well, know ye then
that we require no other proof of your perishing condition. Tell us not from what sins ye are free : we will grant all that ye are pleased to say: but we declare you to be blind, ignorant, base, ungrateful creatures : ye have no hearts to adore your God ; and therefore if ye die in your present state, ye can never enter into the kingdom of heaven, where the one employment of the blest inhabitants is to sing the praises of redeeming love. If ever ye be truly converted unto God, this new song will be put into your mouths, and be sung by you day and night f ]
2. Those who love the blessed work —
[Some there are, and may God increase their number an
hundredfold ! who delight to bless and praise their God
Go on then, dearly Beloved, and abound more and more. Though your songs are as yet but faint, they are truly pleasing in the ears of your reconciled God and Father. This song in particular is grateful to him. Mark what notice he took of it
when sung by Solomon s So will he come down and fill
your souls with his glory Mark also what honour he put
upon it when sung by Jehoshaphath So will he defeat all
the confederacies, whether of earth or hell, that may be formed
against you Sing on then with increasing gratitude,
even to the end ; and soon shall the golden harp be put into your hands, and you shall join with that heavenly choir in that more perfect song in which they all unite, even in singing, " Salvation to God and to the Lamb for ever and ever."]
f Ps. xl. 1 — 3. with Jer. xxxiii. 11. 62 Chron. v. 13.
11 2 Chron. xx. 21, 22.
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PSALMS, CVII. 8, 9. DCLXXXII.