2. Their graces will be more vigorous—
[They will be "blessed and holy;" and blessed, because holy. This indeed will be a necessary consequence of the fore- going ; for the more " any man beholds the Saviour's glory, the more will he be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of our God°." The whole vineyard of the Lord will (hen be watered more abundantly ; and such ** showers of blessings " will be poured out upon it, that every plant in it will grow, and " be fruitful in all the fruits of right- eousness, to the praise and glory of our God." We may form some idea of their state from what is recorded of the saints on the day of Pentecost: what exalted piety did they manifest towards both God and man! So will it be also in that day : " for brass they will have gold, and for iron silver, and for wood brass, and for stones ii'onP :" and that prayer of the Apostle will in a more ample measure be answered to them ; " The God of Peace, that brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, will make them perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ''."]
3. Their consolations more abundant —
[As their communications from God will be increased, so will their fellowship with him be more intimate and abid- ing. Their communion with each other also will be most profitable and endearing. Wherever they turn their eyes, they will behold a brother, or a sister, a partaker of the same faith, an heir of the same glory. If even now the communion of the saints be so sweet, that it is almost a foretaste of heaven itself, what will it be in that day, when the loveliness of each, and the disposition of all to exercise the principle of love, will be so greatly augmented? And what will the ordinances be in that day? What, but " the very gate of heaven?" Me- thinks, the Pentecostal out-pouring of the Spirit will then be a daily occurrence; and the language of earth be like that of heaven, one continued effusion of praise and thanksgiving. The descriptions given of that period in the Scriptures are precisely similar to those which are given of heaven itself; because the state of the Church then will be an emblem, and an earnest, of heaven. So happy will they be in their intercourse with God, that " the sun will be no more their li</ht by day, neither for brii^htness will the moon give light unto them ; but the Lord will be unto them an everlasting light, and their God their glory'.']
4. Their
» 2Cor. iii. 18. " Isai. Ix. 17. i Heb. xiii. 20, 21.
' Compare Isai. Ix. ig. widi Rev. xxi, 23. & xxii. 5.