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164
THE HIDDEN LIFE
Oì`
A
CHRISTIAN.
[SEAM.
IX.
self revealed
but a
very small
part of
the
things
he
hath
prepared,
in
the
future
world, for them
that
love
him,
i
Cor.
ii.
9,
10.
It
doth
not
yet
appear
what
we
shall
be;
the
glory
of
that
state
is
yet
a
great secret
to
us,
1
John
iii.
2.
We
know much
better
what
it
is
not,
than
what
it
is:
we
can define
it
best
by
negatives. Absence from
the
weaknesses,
sins,
and
sorrows
of
this
life,
is
our
best and largest account
of
it,
whether
we
speak
of
the
separate
state, or the heaven
of
the
resurrection.
The
veil
of
flesh
and blood
divides
us
from the world
of
spirits
;
we
know
not
the
manner of
their
life in
the
state
of
separation
;
we
are
at
an
utter
loss as to
their
stations and residences; what relation
they
hear
to
any
part
of
this
material
creation;
whether
they
dwell
in
thin
airy
vehicles,
and are inhabitants
of
some
starry
world,
or
planetary
regions
;
or
whether
they subsist
in
their
pure
intellectual nature,
and have nothing to
do with any
thing corporeal,
till
their dust
be
recalled
to
life.
We
are unacquainted
with
the
laws
by
which they
are go-
verned, and the methods
of
their
converse
:
we
know
little of
the
businesses they
are
employed
in,
those glo-
rious
services for
their God and their
Saviour,
in which
they
are favoured
with
assistant
angels;
and little
are
we
acquainted
with
their joys,
which
are unspeakable
and
full
of
glory.
The
very
language
of that
world,
is
neither
to
be
spoken,
nor understood
by
us;
St.
Paul
heard
sonic
of
the words
of
it,
and had
a
faint
glimpse
of
the
sense
of
them
;.
but
he
could
not repeat
them
again
to
mortal
ears;
nor had
he power,
nor
leave, to
tell
us
the
meaning
of
them,
n
Cor.
xii.
4.
For,
whether
he
was in
the
body,
at
that
time,
or
out of
the
body,
he
himself
was
not
able to
determine.
And
as
for the heaven
of
the resurrection
;
what
sort
of
bodies shall
be
raised
from
the
dust, for
perfect
spirits
to
dwell in,
is
as
great
a secret.
A
spiritual
body
is
a
mystery to
the wisest divines
and philosophers
;
where
our
habitation
shall
be,
and what'
our'
special
employ-
ment through
the endless ages
of
immortality, are
among
the hidden
unsearchahles.
The
most
that
we
know,
is,
that
we
shall
be
made like
to Chrisf,
and
We
shall
be
where
he
is,
to behold
his
glory;
1
John
iii. 2.
and John
xvii.
M'4.
If
the
eternal
life
of
the saints
be
so
much
a.
secret