tfIBC. v2lt1 NO NIGHT IN HEAVEN. 455 The sun, in the natural world, is a bright emblem of divinity, or the ,godhead; for it is the spring of all light and heat and life to the creatioh. It is by the influences of the sun, that herbs, plants and animals are produeed in their proper seasons, and in all their various' beauties, and they are all refreshed and. supported by it. Now if we should suppose-this vast globe of fire, which wwe call the sun,' to be inclosed in a huge hollow sphere Of chrys- tal, which should attem-per its rays like a- transparent veil, and give milder and gentler influences to the burn ing beams of it, -and "yet transmit every desirable and useful portion of light or heat, this would be ,a happy em blèm of the plan "'Christ Jesus, in whom dwells all the fulness of the godhead bodily," Col. ii. 9.- It ,is the Lamb of God, who, in a mild and gracious manner, conveys the ,blessings originally derived from''God; his Father, to all the saints. We partake of them in our measures in this lower world, among his churches- here on earth; but it is with a nobler influence, and inamore sublime degree, the blessings of : paradise are diffused, through all the mansions of glory, by this illustrious nie- diumof conveyance, Jesus; the. Son of God; and there can be no night nor coldness, death nor darkness, in this happy state of separate souls. When the bodies of the saints shall be raised again, and re- united to their proper spirits, when they shall ts-,- cend to the place of their final heaven, and supreme happiness, we know not what manner of bodies they shall be, what sort of senses they shall befurnished with, nor how many powers of conversing with the corporeal world shall be bestowed upon them. , Whether they shall have such organs of sensation as eyes and ears, and stand in need of such light as we derive from the sun or moon, is not absolutely certain. Thé scripture tells us, it shall not bea bodyof flesh and blood : These are not materials refined enough for the heavenly state; " that which is corruptible cannot inherit incorruption," 1 C'or. xv. 50. But, this we May be assured of, that whatsoever inlets óf knowledge, whatever avenues of pleasure, whatever de- lightful sensations are necessary omake the inhabitants of that world happy, they shall be all united in that spi- ritual body, which God will prepare for thenew-raised saints. If eyes and ears shall belong to that glorified 2'G 4
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