D1SC. 1-x.] No rA:: A1ioN,G Tiír sLSSSfin. slant manner in the heavenly world; They relish the sweetness of all those words of mercy, in reviewing the means whereby divine grace sustained them in their former state of trial, and in the complete accomplishment of the best of those promises in their present situation amidst ten thousand endless beings. And if any of them were too cold and remiss, and infrequent in their applications to the mercy-seat by prayer, when they were here on earth, and stood in need of chastisement to make them pour out their prayers to God, yet they can never forget the value of this privi- lege; while they themselves dwell round about the throne, and behold all their ancient sincere addressees to the mercy-seat answered and swallowedup in the full fruition òf their present glories and joys. Praise is properly the language of, heaven, when all their wants are supplied, and their prayers on earth are finished ; and whatever further désires they may have to present before God, the throne of grace is ever at hand, and God himself is ever in the midst of them to bestow every proper blessing in its season that belongs to the heavenly world. Not one of them can any more stand in need of chastisement'or painful exercises of the flesh to drive to the throne of God, while they are at home in their Father's house, and for ever near him and his all -sufficiency. It is from thence they are constantly deriving immortal supplies of blessedness, as from a spring that will never fail. SECTION V. I proceed now to consider in the last place, what are the practical lessons which painmay teach us while we' are hereon earth, in our state of probation and disci- pline, and shall afterward make it evident, that there is no need of pain in heaven for the same purposes." 1. The frequent returns of4pain may put us in mind " to offer to God his due sacrifices of praise for the Months 'and years of ease which we have enjoyed." 'We áre too ready to forget the mercy of God herein, unless we are awakened by new painful sensations; and w.ien we experience new relief, then our lips are openedwith thankfulness, and our mouth chews forth his praise Then we cry out with devout language, " Blessed be the Lord that has delivered us !" When we have been op- pressed for soirie time with extreme anguish, then on £L4
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