4. Their progress more easy —
[" Satan %vill then be bound, and sealed up in the bot- tomless pit, so that he can have no access to harass and deceive tlH'ni\" Now it is mcII known, that this subtle enemy presents more formidable obstacles in the Christian's way than all other enemies together ; as the Apostle says, " We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against princi- palities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places'." How rapid then will l)e the progress of those who have not this tide to stem, and at the same time are carried forward by breezes the most favourable that heaven can bestow, and amply sufficient to fill all their sails 1 To this subject we may well apply that ])eautiful description which the prophet Amos has given of that period; " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, tliat the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed ; and the mountains shall drop wine, and all the hills sliall melt " :" for in a spi- ritual, as well as temporal view, so fruitful shall be the seasons, that the blessings of heaven shall almost supersede the labours of cultivation. And all who are bending their course heaven- ward will fl}' with the celerity of " doves to their windows," and without interruption, as the clouds of heaven*.]
5. Their prospects more glorious —
[Breathing thus, as they will do, the atmosphere of hea- ven, they will be ever ready to take their flight, and to wing their way to their celestial abodes. From the top of Pisgah they vrill view their promised inheritance : and when the Lord Jesus says, " Behold, I come quickly," the united cry of all will be, " Amen: even so, come, Lord Jesus y." In a word, their whole spirit and deportment will evince the presence, and the re'tgn, of Christ in all their souls.]
Application — -
But may not this period be anticipated ? May we not at least have the commencement of it amongst ourselves ? Yes, surely we may. We may assuredly enjoy the dawn of that light, which they will behold in its meridian splendor. With a view to assist you in the noble enterprize of forestalling and anticipating that blessed day, I would say,
1. Improve the privileges which you do enjoy — - [These, let me say, are equal to any that have been en- joyed since the Apostolic age : for the light of the Gospel
shines
vcr.'i, 3. 'Eph.vi.l2. "Am.ix.l3.
"Ih.-ii.lx. S. " Kcv. xxii. 20.