Part 171

§ 6. Compare also the excellencies of heaven, with those glorious works of creation which our eyes now behold. What wisdom, power, and goodness, are manifested therein? How does the majesty of the Creator shine in this fabric of the world? _His works are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein._ What Divine skill in forming the bodies of men or beasts? What excellency in every plant? What beauty in flowers? What variety and usefulness in herbs, fruits, and minerals? What wonders are contained in the earth and its inhabitants; the ocean of waters, with its motions and dimensions; and the constant succession of spring and autumn, of summer and winter? Think then, "If these things, which are but servants to sinful man, are so full of mysterious worth, what is that place where God himself dwells, and which is prepared for _just men made perfect_ with Christ? What glory is there in the least of yonder stars? What a vast resplendent body is yonder moon, and every planet? What an inconceivable glory hath the sun? But all this is nothing to the glory of heaven. Yonder sun must there be laid aside as useless. Yonder is but darkness to the lustre of my Father's house. I shall myself be as glorious as that sun. This whole earth is but my Father's footstool. This thunder is nothing to his dreadful voice. These winds are nothing to the breath of his mouth. If the _sending rain, and making the sun to rise on the just, and on the unjust_, be so wonderful; how much more wonderful and glorious will that sun be, which must shine on none but saints and angels?"—Compare also the enjoyments above, with the wonders of Providence in the church and world. Would it not be an astonishing sight to see _the sea stand as a wall on the right hand and on the left, and the dry land appear in the midst, and the people of Israel pass safely through, and Pharaoh and his host drowned_? or to have seen the ten _plagues of Egypt_? or _the rock gushing forth streams_? or _manna and quails rained from heaven_? or _the earth opening and swallowing up the wicked_? But we shall see far greater things than these; not only sights more wonderful, but more delightful: There shall be no blood, nor wrath, intermingled; nor shall we cry out, as _the men of Bethshemesh, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?_ How astonishing, to see the _sun stand still_ in the firmament; or _the dial of Ahaz go back ten degrees_? But we shall see when _there shall be no sun_; or rather shall behold forever a sun of infinitely greater brightness. What a life should we live, if we could have _drought or rain_ at our prayers; or have _fire from heaven_ to destroy our enemies, as Elijah had; or raise the dead, as Elisha; or miraculously _cure diseases_, and _speak all languages_, as the Apostles? Alas, these are nothing to the wonders we shall see and possess with God; and all of them wonders of goodness and love? We shall ourselves be the subjects of more wonderful mercies than any of these. Jonah was raised but from a three day's burial _in the belly of a fish_; but we shall be raised from many years rottenness and dust; and that dust exalted to the glory of the sun; and that glory perpetuated through eternity. Surely, if we observe but common providences; as, the motion of the sun; the tides of the sea; the standing of the earth; the watering it with rain, as a garden; the keeping in order a wicked confused world; with many others; they are all admirable. But what are these to the Sion of God, the vision of the Divine Majesty, and the order of the heavenly hosts?—Add to these those particular providences which thou hast thyself enjoyed and recorded through thy life, and compare them with the mercies thou shalt have above. Look over the mercies of thy youth and riper age, of thy prosperity and adversity, of thy several places and relations; are they not excellent and innumerable, rich and engaging? How sweet was it to thee, when God resolved thy doubts; scattered thy fears; prevented the inconveniences into which thy own counsel would have cast thee; eased thy pains; healed thy sickness; and raised thee up, as from death and the grave? Think then, "Are all these so sweet and precious, that without them my life would have been a perpetual misery? Hath his providence on earth lifted me so high, _and his gentleness made me great_? How sweet then will his glorious presence be? How high will his eternal love exalt me? and how great shall I be made in communion with his greatness? If my pilgrimage and warfare have such mercies, what shall I find in my home, and in my triumph? If God communicates so much to me while I remain a sinner; what will he bestow when I am a perfected saint? If I have had so much at such a distance from him; what shall I have in his immediate presence, where I shall ever stand before his throne?"