458 THE HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS. DISC. II. glory is but grace perfected. The saints above have the same divine nature, the same sanctified inclinations, and are engaged in many of the same sacred,employments with the saints below, but all in a superior degree, and in a more transcendent manner. As for you, my friends, who have the happiness and honour to be descended from such parents, or, to be nearly related to such saints, you have seen the virtues and graces, the exemplary character and piety of them who are gone before : you have had many bright and shining examples in your family; you are the children of the blessed of the Lord, and may you for ever he blessed with them ! and in order to it, see that you are made like them now, that ye may be followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. This is a proper season to examine yourselves, and call your souls to account in such language as this : My fa- ther, my mother, my honoured and superior kindred are gone to glory. Their graces are perfected ; and are not mine begun ? What, have I no evidences for heaven yet ready ? no exercises of faith, of love, of repentance, of true holiness ? Are they arrived at heaven, and am I not yet travelling in the same road ? They were convinced of sin, and the danger of eternal death, so as to give themselves no rest till they found salvation. Have I ever been convinced of the sin of my nature, and the guilt of my life ? Have I beheld myself exposed to the anger of God, and in danger of everlast- ing misery, so as to cry out with myself, 'What shall I do to be saved ? They have seen Jesus the Son of God, the all - sufficient Saviour, and have committed their souls by humble faith into his hands, to obtain pardon for the sake of his atone- ment, to be justified through his righteousness, to be renewed and made holy by the grace of his Spirit, and to be preserved to eternal glory. Now what have I seen of the excellency, or the all-sufficiency, or necessity of Christ as a Mediator ? Have I been persuaded to trust in him for my acceptance with God, to give my soul up to him as my guide, guard and ruler, to be formed after his image, and to venture all my immortal concerns with him to be brought safe to heaven ? Have I ever re- ceived him as my Lord and my Saviour, under those con-
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