410 THIF. HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS. DISC. Ir. fully engaged in recounting to each other the wondrous steps of providence, wisdom and mercy, that seized them from the very borders of hell and despair, and brought them through a thousand dangers and difficul- ties to the possession of that fair inheritance. When the great God shall unravel the scheme of his own counsels, shall unfold every part of his mysterious conduct, and set before them the reason of every temptation they grap- pled with, and of every sorrow they felt here on earth, and with what divine and successful influence they all wrought together to train them up for heaven, what mat- ter of surprising delight and charming conversation shall this furnish the saints with in that blessed world ? And now and then in the midst of their sacred dialogues, by a sympathy of soul they shall shout together in sweet harmony, and join their exalted songs to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb. " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy power, to thy wisdom, and to thine abounding mercy, be renown and honour to everlasting ages." Nor is it improper or unpleasant to suppose that among the rest of their celestial conferences; they shall spew each other the fair and easy solution of those difficulties and deep problems in divinity, which had exercised and perplexed them here on earth, and divided them into little angry parties. They shall look back with holy shame on some of their learned and senseless distinctions, and be ready to wonder sometimes what trifles and im- pertinences had engaged them in dark and furious dis- putes. Darkness and entanglement shall vanish at once from many of those knotty points of controversy, when they behold them in the light of heaven : And the rest of them shall be matter of delightful instruction for su- perior spirits to bestow upon those of lower rank, or on souls lately arrived at the regions of light. In short, there is nothing written in the books of na- ture, the records of providence, or the sacred volumes of grace, but may minister materials at special seasons for the holy conference of the saints on high. No history nor prophecy, no doctrine nor duty, no command nor promise, nor threatening in the bible, but may recai the thoughts of the heavenly inhabitants, and engage them in sweet conversation. All things that relate to
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