and research. But it is not to be regarded by any one in that light : it is not a subject to occupy the meditations of a theorist, but to engage the devoutest affections of the soul. It is our very life : it is that in which the eternal welfare of our souls is bound ups. It prescribes the only possible way of acceptance with God : and he who will not walk in that way, not only renounces all hope of heaven, but plunges himself infallibly into all the miseries of hell. Dear brethren, awake to your duty : awake to your most urgent and important interests: and let the salvation of Christ become the one object of your pursuit. You perceive that St. Paul was sent to preach, that " all men " might know the fellowship of this mystery. Seek, then, to answer the ends for which it is trans- mitted to you in the written word, and the ends for which it is preached to you by every minister of Christ.]
3. What happiness is reserved for the saints in heaven —
[The happiness of the holy angels consists mainly in this, in singing, " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing4." And how much more must this be the case, with those who can say, " He hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood u! " There can be no doubt but that our happiness will consist in contemplating all the wonders of Christ's love, and in beholding the glory of God's perfections as displayed in the great mystery of redemption. And if here, in this world, a little glimpse of Christ is sufficient to fill us " with joy unspeakable and glorified," what must a full discovery of his glory effect upon our souls ? Here even Paul himself saw Christ only "as in a glass darkly :" but in heaven, the least and meanest of the saints shall behold him " face to face." Shall we not, then, long for the time when we shall be translated to that blissful place, where we shall have the full vision of his glory, and see him as we are seen, and " know him as we are known x?" Let us, then, contem- plate this blissful scene, till we have already obtained Pisgah views of its excellency, and foretastes of its blessedness. And, whatever hastens us to that land, or prepares us for it, let us welcome it from our inmost souls; " looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of Christ;" that " when his glory shall be revealed, we may rejoice before him with ex- ceeding joyy."]
» Deut. xxxii. 47. * Rev. v. 11, 12. u Rev. i. 5.
* 1 Cor. xiii. 12. > 1 Pet. iv. 13.