SEEM. XIV., HERE AND HEREAFTER. t51 orierfection, ofthose thoughts which God himself would impress upon us. Now in the letters of the bible we read the good-will and mercy ofGod to sinners ;. but there, ina far brighter manner of. conveyance, in thy light shall we see light, Ps, xxxvi. 9. Here we seek the Father and the. Son; the one as happiness, the other as the way to the en- joyment of,err that happiness, as they are usually repre- sented in the wordof God : There we shall say, "We have found him whom our souls desire and love, and shall be for ever happÿ in his presence." Our business now in this world is to get a right temper and frame: there to practise and indulge the joy. Happy souls, who are thus prepared in the outer courts to draw nigh and wor- ship within'the veil! 4. Now we appear with imperfect services, and poor improvements, therewith glorious andcomplete worship : For here we see God but as in a glass darkly, there face to face, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Nowwe ca.n have his glory, or his grace represented to us but in part, in a small measure, and according toour poor Capacities of receiv- ing; there we shall see him as he is, and know as we are known. What are our prayers, what are our praises here ? our praises when offered up in a song, or in plainer language, in comparison with those that are paid to God above? Now we speak of him whom we have not seen, therefore we speak in so imperfect a manner: There we shall hear and speak of him whom We .see. and know more in- timately: Now we appear before God, and bring too much of the world with us; there we leave the world, and go to the Father. 'God and Christ are too much forgotten, or they are too often thrust out of our minds by vain thoughts, even when we ourselves are ever so desirous to spend an hour or twowith God what inter- ruptions do we find ? What long blanks divide. the several petitions of our prayer, and break off the medi- tationwhile we stand before God to worship him ? We have many enemies within and without, who stand ready to seize away our souls from God, and to rob hirn of our devotion : Vain fancies call us aside, and our senses turn off our minds from heaven. There shall be everlast- ing worship above, without one impertinence interpos-
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