]nsc. x.] THE FORETASTE OP HEAVEN. 547 make them happy in perfection, and for ever ? All crea- tures are under his present view and immediate com- mand ; there is not the least of them cangive disturbance to any of the favourites of heaven, who, dwell in the midst of their Creator's love ; . nor is there any creature that can be employed towards the complete happiness of the saints on high, but is for ever tinder the disposal of that God who has made all things,' and it shall be em> ployed upon every just occasion for the displayof his love to his saints. Some have imagined that that " perfect satisfaction of soul which arises from a good conscience, speaking peace, inwardly in the survey of its sincere desire to please God in all things, andhaving with uprightness of heart_fulfilled its duty," is, the supreme delight of heaven but it is my opinion God has never made the felicity of his creatures to be drawn so entirely out of themselves, .or from the spring of their own bosom, as this notion seems to imply.' God himself will be all in all to his creatures ; 'and all their original springs of blessedness as well as being, are in him and must be derived fromhim : It is therefore the overflowing sense of being beloved by a, God, Almighty and Eternal, that is the supreme fountain of joy and .bless-) edness to every, reasonable nature, and the endless secu- rity of, this happiness is joy everlasting in all the regions of the blessed above. Now a taste of this kind is heavenly blessedness even on. this earth, where God is pleased to bestow it on his creatures ;. and the glimpses of it bring such extasies into the soul as can hardly be conceived, or revealed to others, . but it is bestfelt by those who enjoy. it. SECTION VII. " Foretastes of heaven in the fervent emotions ofsoul in love to Jesus Christ." What the love and strong affections of the blessed saints above ,towards Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour may impress of joy on their spirits, is not possible for us to learn in the present state ; but there are some who have even here on earth felt such trans- cendent affections to Jesus the Son of God, even thóugh they have never enjoyed the sight of him, yet they love him with most intense and ardent zeal ; their devotion almost swallows themup and carries them 2N2
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