-i,rsc. x.] THE FORETASTE OF ItEAVEI$. $1I titude, is an everlasting preservative to holy souls against the admission ófan impure or unholy thought : and there- fore some divines have supposed, that the angels at their first creation were put into a state of trial before they were admitted to this full sight of the beauty of God in his holiness, which would have secured them from the least thought or step towards apostasy. " O my soul, of what happy importance is it to thee to maintain, as long aspossible, this sense of the purity, rectitude and perfection of the nature of the blessed God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity," with the least regard of approbation Or allowance ? Hab. is 13. And what infinite condescension is it in such a God to find out and appoint a way öf grace, whereby such shame- ful and polluted creatures as we are should ever be ad- mitted into his presence to make the least address to his majesty, orto hope for his favour. Besides, in this sublime view of the holiness of God, we shall not only love God better than ever, as we see him more amiable tinder this view of his glorious attri- butes, but we shall grow more sincere and fervent in our love to all that is holy, to every saint in heaven and- on earth : We shall not bear any estrangedness or alienation from, those who have so much of the likeness of God in them. They will ever appear to be " the excellent of the earth, in whom is all our delight ;" Ps. xvi. 3. Their supposed blemishes will vanish at the thought cif their likeness to God in holiness : And especially our blessed Lord Jesus, the Son of God, will be most preci- ous and all-glorióus in our eyes, as he is the most perfect image of his Father's holiness. There is nothing in the blessed God, but the man Christ Jesus bears a propor- tionable resemblance to it, as far as a creature can resemble God, and he will consequently be highest in our esteemunder God, the Lord and Father of all. 9. The ever- pleasing attribute ofdivine goodness and_ love is another endless and joyful theme or object of the contemplation of the heavenly world. There this per- fection shines in its brightest rays, there it displays its moist triumphant glories, and kindles a flame of ever- lasting joy in all the sons of blessedness. But we in this world may have such glimpses of this goodness and love as may fill the soul with unspeakable
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