no glory by reason of that which excelleth' : here our best frames have an alloy of sorrow, and are of short continuance : but there our happiness will be without mixture, intermission, or end.]
This subject cannot fail of suggesting such reflec- tions as follow :
1. How evidently is religion a source of happiness!
[It is intolerable that men should asperse religion as a source of melancholy. What if men's sins, or mistakes, or bodily infirmities make them melancholy ; is this to be imputed to religion ? Is Reason to be decried because all persons do not exercise it as they ought ; or the sun in the firmament to be abhorred, because all do not make a just improvement of its light ? If they who despise religion would seek to attain it in their hearts, they should soon find that all creature-comforts are, in comparison of it, but as the taper before the meridian sun. As for the benefits arising from it in the eternal world, we forbear to mention them : for if it will not make men hap- pier, even in this present state, than any thing else can do, we will be content that it shall be utterly abandoned. But we have no fears on this head : and the very people that deride it, know, that they envy in their hearts the happiness of the saints. O that all would seek their happiness in God, in God supremely, and in God only !]
2. What a different world will this be when the
promised period shall arrive !
[So eminent and universal will the piety of mankind then be, that it will appear as if all the holy martyrs were risen from the dead, and brought to live again on earth; and as though Christ himself were come down again from heaven to reign visibly in the midst of themk. Instead of such a general neglect of God as now obtains, a supreme regard to him will universally prevail, and a holy glorying in him be heard on every side. Surely the saints will then enjoy a heaven upon earth. Nor do we apprehend this period to be very distant. O that God would hasten it ! O that we could see the dawn of that glorious day ! But, if it be not permitted to us to see it, let us hope that we shall be still better employed, and be reaping the full harvest of what they will gather only the first- fruits. Let us in the mean time set our affections on things above, and, in reply to that question, Who will shew us any good ? let us be ever ready to answer with the Psalmist, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us1.]
I 2 Cor. iii. 10. k Rev. xx. 4. ' Ps. iv. 6, 7.
1004. J Christ's commission.
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