could not be happy even there, unless he was made a new creature : for, being enslaved by all manner of evil dispositions, and under the influence of all his malignant habits, he would, though in heaven, be a devil still ; and consequently far from any thing approximating to real blessedness. The very essence of happiness lies in a conformity to the Divine image : and he only who possesses that, is happy. The truly blessed man, and the only man that can be called " blessed," is " the Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile."]
The words of my text being thus explained, I proceed to,
II. Confirm the sentiment contained in them —
Here I speak without hesitation. The man thus justified through faith in Christ, and thus renewed by the Holy Spirit, is blessed. For,
1. In him are all the wonders of redeeming love accomplished —
[What did the Father design in giving his only dear Son to take our nature upon him ? What, but that we might be " saved from wrath through him1?" And for what end did the Lord Jesus Christ shed his precious blood for us upon the cross, but " to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works k ? " And for what purpose did the Holy Ghost come down and dwell in our hearts, but to transform us into the Divine image, and to " make us meet for the inheritance" which Christ has pur- chased for us ? Now in the person before described, all these tilings are already attained. His sins are pardoned : the robe of Christ's righteousness is put upon him1 : and he is " sancti- fied throughout in body, soul, and spirit1"." Is not he then " blessed? " If not, I only ask, where will you find a " blessed" man on earth?]
2. In him all the great ends of life are answered —
[For what has God preserved our souls in life unto this hour, and given us so many opportunities for spiritual improve- ment ? Has it not been that we might be brought to the knowledge of him, and into a state of acceptance with him, and to a conformity to his blessed image ? That God has assigned us many works to do, and many duties to perform, I readily acknowledge : but they are all in subserviency to the great work of salvation. That is "the one thing needful:"
1 John iii. 16. and 1 John iv. 10. k Tit. ii. 14.
1 Rom. iii. 22. m 1 Thess. v. 23.