2. The connexion between duty and happiness —
[The greater part of the world expect happiness in the ways of sin : but God has warned us that there is " no peace to the wicked." There is no real happiness but in fellowship
y " Cleansed." z Eph. v. 26, 27- a Jude, ver. 24.
with God : and there is no fellowship with him, without a conformity to him. If then we would be happy in this world, we should be religious: we should study to know and do the will of God. Then we should he happy in sickness as well as in health, and in the prospect of death no less than in the midst of earthly enjoyments.]
3. The connexion between grace and glory —
[The saints in glory are called "saints in light;" and in order to partake of their inheritance, we must he " made meet for itb." An unregenerate sinner would not be happy, even if he were in heaven. There is a total difference of character between them that are saved and them that perish : those who are saved, love God, and delight in him, and make it the lahour of their souls to glorify him: whereas they who perish, would, if they were able, pluck him from his throne: it would be glad tidings to them if they were informed that he exists no longer. Such precisely is the difference between saints and sinners in this world ; the one find all their happiness in serving God ; the other say in their hearts, " We wish there were no God." Neither the one nor the other indeed attain the same degree of holiness or wickedness in this world that they will in the next : but in all other respects their characters will continue the same that they are in this life. If ever then we would have fellowship with God in heaven, we must begin it here : and, if ever we would dwell with him in the regions of everlasting light, we must now be " brought out of darkness into the marvellous light of his Gospel c," and " walk hence- forth as children of the light and of the day d."]
b Col. i. 12. <• 1 Pet. ii. 9. a Eph. v. 8.