140 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. after that state with the strongest hopes ; where thou shalt not be rich, and see thy neighbors poor about thee ; nor be poor, while they are rich ; nor be well while they are sick, or sick while they are well ; but their riches, their health, their joy, will be all thine, and thine will be all theirs, as the common light; and none will have the less for the participation of the rest; yea, communion will be part of every one's felicity ; it constituteth the very being of the city of God. This celestial communion of saints in one holy church, above what is here to be attained, is now an article of our belief ; but believing will soon end in seeing and enjoying. V. The Constitutive Reasonsfrom the Heavenly Life or Practice. Seeing and loving will be the heavenly life ; but yet it seemeth that, besides these,.there will be executive powers, and, therefore, some answerable practice. There are good works in heaven, and far more and better than on earth. For, 1. there will be more vital activity, and, therefore, more exercise for it ; for the power is for action. 2. There will be more love to God andone another; and love is active. 3. There will be more likeness to God and our Redeemer, who is communicative, and Both. good, as he is good. 4. Our union with Christ, who will be everlastingly be- neficent, as well as benevolent, will make us in our places also beneficent. 5. Our communion in the .city of God will prove that we shall all bear our part as the members of the body, in contributing to the welfare of the whole, and in the common re- turns to God. . . , But what are the heavenly works we must perfectly know when we come thither? In general, we know, 1. That they will be the works of love to God and to his creatures; that is, such as love inclineth us to 'exercise.' 2. And they will be works of obe- dience to God ; that is, such as we shall do to please his will, and because he willeth them to be our duty. 3. They will be useful works to others. 4. They will be pleasant to ourselves, andpart of our felicity. 5. And they will carry all to God, our end. And somewhat of them is particularly described- in the Holy Scriptures ; as, 1. We shall, in concord with the holy society, or choir, give thanks and praise to God and our Redeemer; Rev. xix. 5. 1 Pet. iv. 11. Rev. vii. 4. and iv. 7. 11. and v. 13. and vii. 12. and xix. 1. Phil. iv. 20. Whether there be any voice, or only such spiritual activity and exultation as to man, in flesh, is not to be clearly understood, is not fit for us here to presume to determine : it will be: somewhat more high and excellent than our vocal praise and singing is ; and of which this beareth some ana-
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