430 TITE IidPPII.VESs OF SEPARATE splRlfis. tDtSi'.St. twining the knowledge of the nature and will of God, according to the utmost of its own' present capacity, and the means of discovery which it enjoys, and in the vari- ous exercises of love to,God in an exact proportion to its knowledge : or w express it briefly thus, an . innocent creature is perfectly holy, when it knows and loves God to the utmost reach of its present powers. If this be done, there is no sinful defect, no guilty imperfection ; andyet there may be almost an infinite difference in the various degrees of power and capacity, of knowledge and love, amongst innocent spirits : One spirit may he formed capable of knowing much more of his maker than another, and may be favoured with richer discoveries. Now if every new divine discovery raise an equal pro- portion of love in the soul, then it is possible that any soul might be perfectly holy at its first entrance into hea- ven, and yet may make sublime advances in holiness hourly. Can we suppose that innocent Adam, at his very'for- mation in paradise, knew all the wonders of divine wis- dom and goodness, that ever he was designed to attain, had he lived sinless and immortal ? And then can we believe since his knowledge of his Maker's goodness and wisdom'wäs to receive continual advances, that he should admire him no more, and love him no better after a thou- sand years converse with hirn, than he did at his first creation ? Now thecase of the saints in' heaven is much the same. The rule and measure of their duty is their knowledge, and the rule and Measure of their knowledge is their own capacity, and their means of discovery. They never fall short of their duty, and therefore they have no sin : And thus their holiness may be every mo- ment perfect, and yet perhaps every moment increasing, as their capacities are enlarged, and receive new disco- veries, through all the ages of their immortality. Happy souls, whose aspiringknowledge, and love, and zeal, move onward hourly, and get still nigher to see their God ! Surely while they behold his face in the, unveiled beauties of his holiness, they shall love him with warmer zeal, and be more abundantly satisfied with his likeness; Psalm. xvii. 15. After all that I have said on this subject, some will insist, on this objection, vi,z. Can there be any such thi.ñg,
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