Chap. 1.] THE SAINTS' REST. 19 saints behold as in a glass, which makes us capable of some poor, dark apprehensions of what we shall behold in glory. If I should tell a worldling, what the holiness and spiritual joys of the saints on earth are, he cannot know ; for grace cannot be clearly known without grace; howmuch less could he conceive it, should I tell him of this glory ! But, to the saints I may be somewhat more encouraged to speak; for grace gives them a dark know- ledge and slight taste of glory. If men and angels should study to speak the blessedness of that state in one word, what could they say beyond this, that it is the nearest en- joyment of God ? 0 the full joys offered to a believer in that one sentence of Christ; " Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me !" Every word is full of life and joy, If the queen of Sheba had cause to say of Solomon's glory, " Happy are thymen, happy are these thy servants, who stand continually be- fore thee, and hear thy wisdom ;" then, surely, they that stand continually before God, and see his glory, and the glory of the Lamb, are more than happy. To them will Christ give to eat of the tree of life, and to eat of the hidden manna; yea, he will make them pillars in the temple of God, and they shall go no more out; and he will write upon them the name of his God, and the name of the city of his God, which is New-Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from his God, and he will write upon them his new name; yea, more, if more maÿ be, he will grant them to sit with him in his throne. " These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. The Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." 0 blind, deceived world ! can you show us such a glory ? This is the city of our God, where the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. The glory of God shall lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
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