Part 133

§ 12. (7.) He that hath his conversation in heaven, is the profitable Christian to all about him. When a man is in a strange country, how glad is he of the company of one of his own nation? How delightful is it to talk of their own country, their acquaintance, and affairs at home? With what pleasure did Joseph talk with his brethren, and inquire after his father, and his brother Benjamin? Is it not so to a Christian, to talk with his brethren that have been above, and inquire after his Father, and Christ his Lord? When a worldly man will talk of nothing but the world, and a politician of state affairs, and a mere scholar of human learning, and a common professor of his duties; the heavenly man will be speaking of heaven, and the strange glory his faith hath seen, and our speedy and blessed meeting there. O how refreshing and useful are his expressions! How his words pierce and melt the heart, and transform the hearers into other men! How doth his _doctrine drop as the rain_, and his _speech distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass_, while his _lips publish the name of the Lord_, and _ascribe greatness unto his God_! Is not his sweet discourse of heaven, like the _box of precious ointment_, which, being _poured on the head of Christ, filled the house with the odor_? All that are near may be refreshed by it! Happy the people that have a heavenly minister! Happy the children and servants that have a heavenly father or master! Happy the man that hath a heavenly companion, who will watch over thy ways, strengthen thee when thou art weak, cheer thee when thou art drooping, and _comfort thee with the comfort wherewith he himself_ hath been so often _comforted of God_! This is he that will be always blowing at the spark of thy spiritual life, and drawing thy soul to God, and will say to thee, as the Samaritan woman, "_Come and see one that hath told me all that ever I did_; one that hath loved our souls to the death. _Is not this the Christ?_ Is not _the knowledge of God and him, eternal life_? Is it not the glory of the saints, to _see his glory_?" Come to this man's house and sit at his table, and he will feast thy soul with the dainties of heaven: Travel with him by the way, and he will direct and quicken thee in thy journey to heaven: Trade with him in the world, and he will counsel thee to buy _the pearl of great price_. If thou wrong him, he can pardon thee, remembering that Christ hath pardoned his greater offences: If thou be angry, he is meek, considering the meekness of his heavenly Pattern: Or if he fall out with you, he is soon reconciled, when he recollects that in heaven you must be everlasting friends. This is the Christian of the right stamp, and all about him are the better for him. How unprofitable is the society of all other sorts of Christians in comparison with this! If a man should come from heaven, how would men long to hear what reports he would make of the other world, and what he had seen, and what the blessed there enjoy? Would they not think this man the best companion, and his discourse the most profitable? Why then do you value the company of saints no more, and inquire no more of them, and relish their discourse no better? For every saint shall go to heaven in person, and is frequently there in spirit, and hath often viewed it in the glass of the gospel. For my part, I had rather have the company of a heavenly minded Christian, than of the most learned disputants, or princely commanders.