260 CONTEMPLATION [Chap. 16. tentions, law-suits, factions, or divisions, but every man loving his neighbor as himself, thinking they can never do too much for one another, but striving to go beyond each other in love ; how happy, how delightful a sight is this ! O then, what a blessed society will the family of heaven be, and those peaceful inhabitants of the New Jerusalem, where there is no division nor differing judgments, no disaffection nor strangeness, no deceitful friendship, no, not one unkind expression, not an angry look or thought; but all are one in Christ, who is one with the Father, and all live in the love of him, who is love itself ! The soul is not more where it lives, than where it loves. How near, then, will my soul be united to God, when I shall so heartily, strongly, and in- cessantly love him ! Ah, wretched, unbelieving heart, that can think of such a day, and work, and life as this, with such low and feeble joys ! But my future enjoyments will be more lively. " How delightful is it to me to behold and study these inferior works of creation ! What a beautiful fabric do we here dwell in ; the floor so dressed with herbs, and flowers, and trees, and watered with springs and rivers ; the roof so widely expanded, so admirably adorned ! What wonders do sun, moon, and stars, seas, and winds, contain ! And hath God prepared such a house for corruptible flesh, for a soul imprisoned ? and doth he bestow so many millions of won- ders upon his enemies? O what a dwelling must that be, which he prepares for his dearlybeloved children ! and how will the glory of the New Jerusalem exceed all the present glory of the creatures ! Arise, then, O my soul, in thy con.. templation, and let thy thoughts of that gloryas far exceed in sweetness thy thoughts of the excellencies below ! Fear not to go out of this body, and this world, when thou must make so happy a change : but say, as one did when he was dying, 4 I am glad, and even leap for joy, that the time is come, in which that mighty Jehovah, whose majesty in my search of nature I have admired, whose goodness I have ,adored, whom by faith I have desired and panted after, will now show himself to me face to face.' "Howwonderful, also, are the works of Providence ! How delightful to see the great God interest himself in the safety and advancement of a few humble, praying, but despised persons ; and to review those special mercies, with which
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=