HEAVENLY LIFE UPON EARTH. 235 steps to advance us to our rest, and by which, in subor- dination to Christ, we might daily ascend in our affec- tions. Let this be thy end in using them, and doubt- less they will not be unsuccessful. How have you been rejoiced by a few lines from a friend, when you could ,not see him face to face ! And may we not have intercourse with God in his ordinances, though our pergons be yet so far remote? May not our spirits re- joice in reading those lines, which contain our legacy and charter for heaven ? With what gladness and tri- umph may we read the expressions of divine love, and hear ofour celestial country, though we have not yet the happiness to behold it ! Men that are separated by sea and land, can by letters carry on great and gainful trades, and may not a Christian, in the wise improvement of duties, drive on this happy trade for rest? Come, then, renounce formality, custom, and applause, and kneel down in secret or public prayer, with hope to get thy heart nearer to God before thou risest up. When thou openest thy Bible, or other book, hope to meet with some passage of divine truth, and such blessing of the Spirit with it, as will give thee a fuller taste of hea- ven. When thou art going to the house of God, say, " I hope to meet with somewhat from God, to raise my affections, before I return ; I hope the Spirit will give me the meeting, and sweeten my heart with those ce- lestial delights ; I hope Christ will appear to me in that way, and shine about me with light from heaven ; let me hear his instructing and reviving voice, and cause the scales to fall from my eyes, that I may see more of that glory than I ever yet saw. I hope, before I return, my Lord will bring my heart within the view of rest, and set it before his Father's presence, that I may re- turn, as the shepherds from the heavenly vision, glori- fying and praising God for all things that I have heard and seen." When the Indians first saw that the Eng- lish could converse together by letter, they thought there was some spirit enclosed in them. *So would by- standers admire, when Christians have communion with God in duties, what there is in those scriptures, hi that sermon, in this prayer, that fills their hearts sip
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