234 CONTEMPLATION ASSISTED [Chap. 15. What if I had seen, with Paul, those ' unutterable things?' Or, with Stephen, had seen ' heaven opened, and Christ sitting at the right hand of God?' Surely that one sight was worth his storm of stones. What if I had seen, as Micaiah did, ' the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand, and on his left V Such things did these men of God see ; and I shall shortly see far more than ever they saw, till they were loosed from the flesh, as I must be." Thus you see how it excites our affec- tions in this heavenly work, if we make strong and familiar suppositions, from our bodily senses, concerning the state of blessedness, as the Spirit bath in condescending language expressed it. 2. The 'other way in which our senses may promote this heavenly work, is, by comparing the objects of sense with the objects of faith. As for instance : You may strongly argue with your hearts from the corrupt delights of sensual men to the joys above. Think with yourselves, " Is it such a delight to a sinner to do wickedly ? and will it not be de- lightful indeed to live with God? Hath the drunkard such delights in his cups, that the fears of damnationwill not make him forsake them ? Will thewhoremonger rather part with his credit, estate., and salvation, than with his brutish delights ? If the way to hell can afford such pleasure, what then are the pleasures of the saints in heaven ! If the covet- ous man bath so much pleasure in his wealth, and the am- bitious man in places of power and titles of honor, what then have the saints in everlasting treasures, and in heavenly honors, where we shall he set above principalities and pow- ers, and be made the glorious spouse of Christ ! How de- lightfully will the voluptuous follow their recreations from morning till night, or sit at their cards and dice nights and days together ! O the delight we shall have, whenwe come to our rest, in beholding the face of the living God, and in singing forth praises unto him and the Lamb !" Compare also the delights above with the lawful and moderate delights of sense. Think with thyself, " How sweet is food to my taste when I am hungry ; especially if it be, as Isaac said, such as I love,' which my temperance and appetite incline to ! What delight, then, must my soul have in feeding upon B Christ, the living bread,' and in ' eating with him at his table in his kingdom !' Was a mess of pottage so sweet to
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