But in heaven God displays all the full radiance of his glory. He is seen there, not in a mere symbol, like the bright cloud, nor through the dim vision of faitli ; ])ut clearly, as with our bodily organs we behold the sun in the firmament. Nor are his communications there any longer partial, scanty, and occasional ; but constant and full, according to the mea- sure of every one's capacity to receive them.
The consciousness which every one will then have of his
interest '' ver. 10 — 23. " Acts x. 9—I6.
412 REVELATIO>f, XXI. 1—6. [1218.
interest in God ; of the relation which lie bears to him ; and of the indissolubleness of that bond which has united him to God ; Oil ! what a source of joy wiH this be ! But on a subject like this, " we only darken counsel by words without know- ledge." We have no conception of the presence of God. A new-boi*n infant is not less capable of appreciating the sub- lime exercises and enjoyments of spiritual perception, than we are of comprehending the felicity of lieholding God face to face.]
2. The perfection of it — [The neffat'we felicity of heaven comes more within tlie grasp of our feeble minds. We know here, by sad experience, what pain and sorrow mean : and frequent are the occasions on which tears flow down our cheeks. Death too, that king of terrors, warns us of the pains which we shall speedily en- dure in our conflicts with him. This whole world is little else than a vale of tears. At best it is a checquered scene, and sorrows are continually intermingled with our joys. But in heaven there will be no more pain, or sorrow, or crying ; our happiness will be uninterrupted, and without alloy. Nor will there be any termination of it ; for " there will be no more deatii." Whatever tears bedewed our cheeks in our depart- ing hours, they will all be wiped away by God himself; who will, from the instant of our entrance into his presence, seat us on his throne, and put a crown of pure gold ujion our head, and invest us with all the glory ami felicity of his kingdom. When Joy and gladness have thus taken possession of our souls, not only will " sorix)w and sighing flee away," but all occasion for them, all scope for the exercise of them, will vanish for ever. O Beloved, what a state will this be ! Would to God we were able to speak of it as we ought ! But we feel the subject far too great for our feeble grasp.]
Lest this vision should appear to exceed what will ever be realized, let me draw your attention to, II. The confirmation of it — •
" God, in giving us his covenant, confirmed it with an oath, in order that we might have the stronger consolation :" so here, he confirmed this vision to the Apostle by an audible voice, declaring, that the things which he had seen,
1. Were really true —
[" Behold, I make all things new. Write ; for these words are true and faithful." God v/ould have this vision recorded for the benefit of the Ciiurch : nor would he have
any