Chap. 11.] LIFE UPON EARTIT. 179 upon the grass, while his lips publish the name of the Lord, and ascribe greatness unto his God !" His sweet discourse of heaven is like the " box of precious oint- ment," which, being " poured upon 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 where- with he himself" hath been so often comforted of God ! This is he that will always be 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 bath told me all that ever I did ;" one that bath lovedour souls to the death. "Is not this the Christ ?" Is not "the knowledge of God and him eternal life ?" Is itnot 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 bath pardoned his greater offences. If thou be angry, he is meek, con- sidering the meekness of hits 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 better for him. How unprofitable is the society of all other sorts of Christians, in comparisonwith this! If a man should come from heaven, howwould 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 dis- courses 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 bath often viewed it in the glass of the Gospel. For my part, I had rather have the company of a heavenly,
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