{! iÌ 23 THE PREPARATIVES [Chap. 2. of that last and great meeting. Yea, more; as God doth mutually love and joy, so he makes this his rest, as it is our rest. What an eternal Sabbatism, when the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification, is all finished, and perfected for ever ! " The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy, hewill rest in his love, he will joyover thee with singing." Well may we then rejoice in our God with joy, and rest in our love, and joy in him with singing. Alas ! my fearful heart scarce dares proceed. Methinks I hear the Almighty's voice saying to me, " Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge ?" But pardon thy servant, O Lord. I have not pried into unrevealed things. I bewail that my apprehensions are so dull, my thoughts so mean, my affections so stupid, and my expressions so low, and unbecoming such a glory. I have only heard by the hearing of the ear : O let thy ser- vant see thee, and possess thesejoys; and then shall I have more suitable conceptions, and shall give thee fuller glory; I shall abhor my present self, and disclaim and renounce all these imperfections. " I have uttered that I under- stood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not." Yet " I believed, and therefore have I spoken." What, Lord, canst thou expect from dust, but levity ? or from cor- ruption, but defilement ? Though the weakness and irre- verence be the fruit of my own corruption, yet the fire is from thine altar, and the work of thy commanding. I looked not into thy ark, nor put forth my hand unto it, without thee. Wash away these stains also in the blood of the Lamb. Imperfect, or none must be thy service here. O take thy Son's excuse, " the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." INNISMOSSIONSERI CHAPTER II. THE GREAT PREPARATIVES FOR THE SAINTS' REST. There are four things which principally prepare the way to enter into it ; particularly, 1. The glorious appearing of Christ; 2. Thegene- ral resurrection; 3. The lastjudgment; and, 4, The saints' coronation. THE passage of paradise is not now so blocked up, as when the law and curse reigned. Wherefore finding, be-
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