§ 18. Yet proceed on. The soul that loves, ascends frequently, and runs familiarly through the streets of the _heavenly Jerusalem_, visiting the Patriarchs and prophets, saluting the apostles, and admiring the armies of martyrs: So do thou lead on thy heart as from street to street; bring it into the palace of the Great King; lead it, as it were, from chamber to chamber. Say to it; "Here must I lodge; here must I live; here must I praise; here must I love, and be beloved. I must shortly be one of this heavenly choir, and be better skilled in the music. Among this blessed company must I take up my place, my voice must join to make up the melody. My tears will then be wiped away; my groans be turned to another tune; my cottage of clay be changed to this palace; my prison-rags to these splendid robes; and my sordid flesh shall be put off, and such a sun-like spiritual body be put on: _For the former things are_ here _passed away_.[383] _Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God!_[384] When I look upon this glorious place, what a dunghill and dungeon, methinks is earth? O what difference betwixt a man feeble, pained, groaning, dying, rotting in the grave, and one of these triumphant, shining saints? Here shall I _drink of the river of pleasures, the streams whereof make glad the city of God_.[385] Must Israel, under the bondage of the law, _serve the Lord with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things_.[386] Surely I shall serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart, for the abundance of glory. Did persecuted saints _take joyfully the spoiling of their goods_?[387] And shall not I take joyfully such a full reparation of all my losses? Was it a celebrated _day wherein the Jews rested from their enemies_, because it _was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day_?[388] What a day then will that be to my soul, whose rest and change will be unconceivably greater? _When the wise men saw the star_ that led to Christ, _they rejoiced with exceeding great joy_.[389] But I shall shortly see him, who is himself _the bright and morning star_.[390] If the disciples _departed from the sepulchre with great joy_, when they had but heard that their Lord _was risen from the dead_;[391] what will be my joy, when I see him reigning in glory, and myself raised to a blessed communion with him? Then shall I indeed have _beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness_; and _Sion_ shall be _made an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations_.[392] Why then do I not rise from the dust, and cease my complaints? Why do I not trample on vain delights, and feed on the foreseen delights of glory? Why is not my life a continual joy, and the savor of heaven perpetually upon my spirit?"
[Footnote 383] Revelation xxi, 4.
[Footnote 384] Psalm lxxxvii, 3.
[Footnote 385] Psalm xxxvi, 8. xlvi, 4.
[Footnote 386] Deuteronomy xxviii, 47.
[Footnote 387] Hebrews x, 34.
[Footnote 388] Esther ix, 22.
[Footnote 389] Matthew ii, 10.
[Footnote 390] Revelation, xxii, 16.
[Footnote 391] Matthew xxviii, 7, 8.
[Footnote 392] Isaiah lxi, 3. lx, 15.
§ 19. Let me here observe, that there is no necessity to exercise these affections, either exactly in this order, or all at one time. Sometimes one of thy affections may need more exciting, or may be more lively than the rest; or, if thy time be short, one may be exercised one day, and another upon the next; all which must be left to thy prudence to determine. Thou hast also an opportunity, if inclined to make use of it, to exercise opposite and more mixed affections; such as—hatred of sin, which would deprive thy soul of these immortal joys;—godly fear, lest thou shouldst abuse thy mercy;—godly shame and grief, for having abused it;—unfeigned repentance;—self-indignation;—jealousy over thy heart;—and pity for those who are in danger of losing these immortal joys.
§ 20. (III.) We are also to take notice, how heavenly contemplation is promoted by soliloquy and prayer. Though consideration be the chief instrument in this work, yet, by itself, it is not so likely to affect the heart. In this respect contemplation is like preaching, where the mere explaining of truths and duties is seldom attended with such success, as the lively application of them to the conscience; and especially when a Divine blessing is earnestly sought to accompany such application.