474 A. SOUL PREPARED FOR HEAVEN. [DISC. VIII: maybe prepared to dwell with him in the world to come ;" Rom. viii. 29. I John iv. 17. We must have the same temper and spirit of holiness wrought in us, that we may be imitators of all theholy ones that dwell in heaven, and that we may be followers of the saints, who have been strangers and travellers in this world in all former ages. How can we hope to have free conversation with glo- rious beings, which are so unlike to ourselves, as God, and Christ, and angels, are unlike to the sinful children of 'men ? How can we imagine ourselves to be fit com- pany for such pure and perfect beings, beauteous, and shining in holiness, while we are defiled with the iniqui- ties of our natures, and ever falling into new gùilt and pollution ? Happy souls, who can say, through grace, I have " walked in the light as God is in the light ;" I John i. 7. and I trust; O Father, I shall dwell for ever with thee there. I have been a follower of the Lamb through the thorny and rugged passages of this wilder- ness, and I humbly hope I shall sit with thee, O Jesus, upon a throne, glorious and holy. I have been a com- panion of them who have finished the christian race, who have fought the good fight, andobtained the victory, and Í trust I shall have a name and a place amongst all you holy ones who have fought and overcome. O for a heart and tongue furnished for such appeals to all the blessed inhabitants of paradise, the possessors of those mansions on high ! 6. The grace of God works us up to a preparation for heaven, " by carrying us through those trials and suffer- ings, those labours and conflicts here in this life, which will not only make heaven the sweeter- to us, but will make it more honourable for God himself to bestow this heaven upon us? When the spirits of a creature are almost worn out with the toilsome labours of the day, what an addi- tional sweetness does he find in rest and repose ? What an inward relish and satisfaction to the soul, that has been fatigued under a long and tedious war with sins and temptations, to be transported to such a place where sin cannot follow them, and temptation can never reach them ? How - will it enhance all the felicities of the heavenly world when we enter into it, to feel our- selves released from all the trials and distresses, and suf- ferings which we have sustained in our travels thither
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