now, that you may be counted worthy to dwell with him in a better world.]
2. As expectants of it — [Strange it is that every one conceives heaven to be his portion, though he never in the whole course of his life made one effort to obtain it. But, Beloved Brethren, you have al- ready heard the character of those who are in heaven; and that to those only will heaven be assigned. Inquire then whether you have attained this character ? What have you experienced of that great work, the work of redemption? Have you been delivered from the yoke of sin and Satan ? Have you been brought out from an ungodly world, as the Israelites were from Egypt ; and are you living like them un- der the guidance and goveriunent of Jehovah? Does your conscience bear witness for you, that you have presented yourselves to him as the first-fruits, desiring to be wholly and altogether his? When have you so surrendered up your- selves to him? Do not imagine that your dedication to him in baptism, or in any other public ordinance, is any evidence of your having personally fulfilled this duty, unless you are yet in the habit of renewing that dedication of yourselves to him in secret fl^^m day to day. And, supposhig that you have given yourselves to him, have you been faithful to your en- gagements, so that in the last day, when the time for your everlasting union with the heavenly Bridegroom shall come, we may " present you as a chaste virgin to Christ ?" Have tlie world and the flesh so far lost their ascendant over you, that you no longer comply with their solicitations, or yield to their temptations? Finally, Can the heart-searching God at- test, that, as far as respects any wilful sin, you are blameless and harmless, and shining as lights in the midst of a dark world? These things are indispensably necessary to any M'ell- grounded expectation of the heavenly glory : and if, whilst destitute of these essential marks, you buoy up yourselves with the hopes of heaven, you do but deceive your own souls to your eternal ruin. I even appeal to yourselves : would you who have never touched a harp be able at a moment to ac- company with it a band of music, and to join harmoniously in the subhmest strains? How then shall you, if undisciplined and unprepared, accompany the heavenly hosts in all their songs of praise ? Their song, as you have before heard, is one which none but the sealed can learn: and Avere you ad- mitted there in an unconverted state, your harp would yield nothing but discordant sounds, nor would a single note of your voice be in unison with the heavenly choir.
But I would hope and trust, that there are many here who on good grounds are expecting a portion among the saints in
light.