Disc. VIIi.] A SOUL PREPARED POR HEAVEN. 475 wards ? The review of the waves and the storms wherein we had been tossed for a long season, and had been almost shipwrecked there. will make the peaceful haven of eternity, to Which we shall arrive, much more agree- -able to every one of the sufferers ; 2 Gor. iv. 17. Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are in this way working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and preparing us for the posses- sion of it. But it should be added also, that the prize of life, and the crown of glory, is much more honourably bestowed on those who have been long fighting, running, and labour- ing to obtain it. Heaven will appear as a condecent re- ward of all the faithful servants of God upon earth, and a divine recompence of their labours and sufferings; 2 Tfiess. i. 6. As " it is a righteous thing with God to re- compense tribulation to them that troubleyou, so to give to those who are troubled rest and salvation." This is that equitable or condecent fitness that God, as Gover- nor of the world, has wisely appointed and made neces- sary before our entrance into heaven. Christ himself our forerunner, and the Captain ofour Salvation, was made perfect through sufferings ;" Heb. ii. 10, and was trainedup for his throne on high " by enduring the con- tradiction of sinners," and the variety of agonies which attended his life and death in this lower world, this stage of conflict and sufferings ; Heb. xii. ì -3. Though we cannot pretend by our labours in the race to have merited the prize, yet we must labour through.the race before we receive it. Our conflicts cannot pretend to have deserved the crown which i$ promised, but we must fight the battles of the Lord before we obtain it. This was St. Paul's encouragement and hope, 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, " I have fought the good fight, I have finished my' course, I have kept the- faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown pf righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me, and not to me only, but to all those who love his appearance." There is a great deal of divine wisdom in this appointment, that the chil- dren of God may be counted in this sense worthy of his kingdom for which they also suffer ;" e Thess. i. 5. and that the relish of those satisfactions maybe doubled to all the sufferers.
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