1 SECT. 1lí.1 THE HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS. 4U the affairs of past ages and past worlds, as well as the present regions of light and happiness where they dwell, may give them new themes of dialogue and mutual in- tercourse. And though we are very little 'acquainted whilst we are on earth, with any of the planetary worlds besides that which we inhabit, yet who knows how our acquaint- ance may be extended hereafter, amongst the inhabitants of the various and distant globes ? And what frequent and swift journies we may take thither, when we are disencumbered of this load of flesh and blood, or when our bodies are raised again, active and swift as sun- beams ? Sometimes we may entertain our holy curiosity there, and find millions of new discoveries of divine power and divine contrivance in those unknown regions; and bring back from thence new lectures of divine wis- dom, or tidings of the affairs of those provinces, to en- tertain our fellow- spirits, and to give new honours to God the Creator and the Sovereign. So a pious traveler in our lower world visits Africa or both the Indies : At his return he sits in a circle of attentive admirers, and re- counts to them the wondrous products of those climates, and the customs and manners of those distant countries; He gratifies their curiosity with some foreign varieties, and feasts their eyes and their ears at once : Then at at the end of every story he breaks out into holy language, and adores the various riches and wisdom of God the Creator. To proceed yet one step farther. Since there are dif- ferent degrees of glory, we may infer a variety of honours as well as delights prepared for the spirits of the just made perfect. Some part of the happiness of heaven is described in scripture by crowns and thrones, by royalty and kingly honours : Why may we not then suppose that such souls, whose sublimer graces have prepared them for such dig- nity and ounce, may rule the nations, even in a literal sense ? Why may not those spirits that have past their trials in flesh and blood, and come off conquerors, why may they not sometimes be appointed visitors and super- intendants over whole provinces of intelligent beings in lower regions, who are yet labouring in their state of probation? or perhaps they may be exalted to a presi-
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