r 316 HEAVENLY MEDITATION' himself, and answerable to his principles and profes- sion, is when he is most serious and lively in this duty. As Moses, before he died, went up into mount Nebo, to take a survey of the land of Canaan; so the Christian ascends the mount of Contemplation, and by faith surveys his rest. He looks upon the glorious mansions, and says, Glorious things are deservedly spoken of thee, thou city of God ! He hears, as it were, the melody of the heavenly choir, and says, " Happy is the people that are in such a case.! Yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord !" He looks upon the glo- rified inhabitants, and says, " Happy art thou, O Israel : Who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excel- lency !" When he looks upon the Lord himself, who is their glory, he is ready with the rest to fall down and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and say, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come ! Thou art worthy, O Lord, to re- ceive glory, and honour, and power !" When he looks on the glorified Saviour, he is ready to say Amen to that new song, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sifted] upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever : For thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests ! When he looks back on the wilderness of the world, he blesses the believing, patient, despised saints ; he pities the ignorant, obstinate, miserable world; and for himself, he says, as Peter, It is good to be here; or as Asaph,. It is good for me to draw near to God ; for, to ! they that are far from thee shall perish. Thus, as Daniel in his captivity daily opened his window towards Jeru- salem, though far out of sight, when he went to God in his devotions.; so may the believing soul in this cap - tivity of the flesh look towards Jerusalem, which is above. And as Paul was to the Colossians, so may the believer be with the glorified spirits, though absent in the flesh, yet with them in the spirit, joying and be
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