406 THE HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS [DISO.IL' cred commissions and embassies, their governments, and their holy conferences as well as their acts of worship and adoration. That heaven is a place or state of worship, is certain, and beyond all controversy ; for this is a very frequent description of it in the word of God. And as the great God has been pleased to appoint different forms of wor- ship to be practised by his saints, and his churches under the different oeconomies of his grace ; so it is possible he may appoint peculiar forms of sacred mag- nificence to attend his own worship in the state ofglory. Bowing the knee, and.prostration of the body, are forms and postures of humility practised byearthly worshippers. Angels cover their faces and their feet with their wings, and cry, " holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts !" Is. vi. 2, S. But what unknown and illustrious forms shall be consecrated by the appointment and authority of Christ, for the unbodied or the bodied saints in heaven to adorn their sacred offices, is above our reach to de- scribe or to imagine. Let us consider nowwhat parts of worship the blessed are employed in. The various parts of divine worship that are practised on earth, at least such as are included in natural reli- gion, shall doubtless be performed in heaven too ; and what other unknown worship of positive and celestial appointment shall belong to the heavenly state, is as much above our present conjecture, as the formsof it are. Heaven is represented as full of praises. There is the most glorious and perfect celebration of God the Father and the Saviour in the upper world : And the highest praise is offered to them with the deepest humility. The crowns of glory are cast down at their feet, and all the powers and perfections of God, with all his labours of creation, his cares of providence, and the sweeter mysteries of his grace, shall furnish noble matter for divine praise. This work of praise is also exhibited in scripture, as attended with a song and heavenly melody. What there is in the world of separate spirits to answer the repre- sentations of harps and voices, we know not. It is pos- sible that spirits may be capable of some sort of harmony in their language, without a tongue, and without an ear,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=