SERM. XI.] 'THE FELICITY OF CREATURES. 199 to the blessedness of saints arid angels. God sent his word after Adam the sinner, when he fled from him in 'paradise, that he might retal man back to himself; and he has been ever since sending messages of peace, and invitations of love, to a ruined and rebellious world. Happy sinners, who hear the voice of an inviting God, who turn their back upon the perishing vanities of life and time, who forsake the creatures, and return to their Creator again ! Thousands of the sons and daughters of Adam have accepted the messages of this grace, and have been by these methods trained up for glory : Bycon- versing with God in his ordinances, and dwelling in his courts on earth, they have been happily prepared fel- on everlasting habitation in his court of heaven. We this day are favouredwith the same divine call in the gospel ; let every soul of us rejoice and follow. V. Reflection. The true value of things on earth may be judged of and determined by their tendency to bring us near to God and heaven. The common measure. of our esteem of things, is the influence they have to pro- mote what we think our happiness. Now, if our judg- ment be set right in this point, and we . are convinced that an approach to God is the way to be happy, then whatsoever leads us nearest to God, will rise in value in our esteem. Then our hearts will set a high esteem on those friends or relatives who draw us to the knowledge and love of God : Then we shall prize the ministrations of the gos- pel in England above.the riches of both the Indies ; then we shall not think the ministry of the word a mean and contemptible employment, nor delight to hear scandals thrown on the persons or the characters of those who are engaged in it; fòr these are the servants of the living God, who shew us the way to be happy. Then we shall commend those sermons, and those writings most, not that have most wit and fancy in them, but those. which we feel and find to draw our hearts farthest off from sin and the creature, and bring them nearest to God; and then, if there were but one bible in the world, we should all agree to say, tl`tat there is not treasure enough in all the material creation to purchase it out of our hands, VI. Reflection, All the means of separation from 04
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