549 / 674
DISC.
-X.1
THE °FORETASTE
OF
HEAVEN.
the
gifts
of
the
spirit,
such as
the
gifts
of
tongues,
or
of
healing,
or of
miracles,
nor the
gifts
of prophecy,
preaching, or
praying,
because these are
not
the employ
nients,nor
the enjoyments
of
heaven.
The
first
fruits
of
the
spirit
must
rather
refer, therefore,
to
the
knowledge
and
holiness,
the graces
and
the joys,
which
are
more
perfect
and glorious
in
the heavenly state, than
they were
designed to
be
here upon earth. Now
these first
fruits
of
graces and joys are
sometimes
bestowed
upon
christians
in
this world,
in such
a
degree
as
brings them
near
to
the heavenly state. And
that
is
the
chief
ob=
nervation
I
design
to
draw from these words,
viz.
"
That
God
has been
pleased
to
give some
of
his
children
here
on
earth
several
of
the foretastes
of
the
heavenly
blessedness,
the graces
and
the joys
of
the
upper
world,"
as
they
are
the
first- fruits
of that
paradise
to which
we
are
travelling
:
and these
privileges
have
brought
some
of
the saints
within
the confines
and
borders of
the celestial country.
What
these are,
Ì
shall shew immediately,
but
before
I represent
them,
I
desire
to lay down these
few
cautions
:
Caution
1.
"
These
sensible
foretastes
of
heaven do
not
'belong to
all
christians:
these are
not
such general
bles-
sings
of
the
covenant
of
grace,
of
which every
christian
is
made
partaker;" but
they
are special favours
now
and then
bestowed
on some
particular
persons
by
the
special
will
of
God.
1.
Such as
are
more eminent
in
faith,
and
holiness,
and
prayer.
than others
are;
such
as
have
made
great
advancements
in
every
part
of
religion, in mortifi-
cation
to
the
world,
in
spiritual-
mindedness,
in
humility;
and
in
much converse with
God,
&c.
Or,
2, Some--
times these
first
fruits
may be given
unto
such as
are weak
both in reason and
in faith,
and
may be
babes
in
Christ,
andare
not
able
by
their reasoning
powers to search
out
their
evidences for heaven, especially tinder some
prey
sent temptation
or darkness. Or,
3.
Sometimes
to
those
who
are
called
by providence
to
go
through
huge
and
uncommon
trials and
sufferings,
in
order
to
support
their
spirits,
and bear
up
their
courage,
faith,
and pa-
tience.
It
is
true, the
more
general and common
way
whereby
God
prepares
his
people for
heaven,
is
by
leading them
through
several steps
of
advancing
holiness, sincere
re-
YOL.
II.
2
BI