395 / 652
SECT.
II.]
THE HAPPINESS
OP
SEPARATE SPIRITS.
38$
sions
of
them
return,
every
spirit there would exercise the
same grace,
and
that
in a
more glorious
and perfect
man.
tier, fin-their
very
natures are
all
over
holy.
III.
The last
thing I
shall
mention, wherein the
per-
fection
of
the saints above
consists,
is,
their constant
peace and
exalted,
joy, without
any
mixture
of
sorrow
or
uneasiness
:
and
this
is
joy
and
peace
in
perfection.
If
our
knowledge,
our
love,
and our
-
holiness
are
im-
perfect
on
earth,
our joys
must
be so.'
The
Mistakes
and
the
follies
to
which
we
are
liable here
below,
the
guilt
that
pains the conscience,
and
the
sin
that
is
restless
and
ever
working
within
us, will
bring forth fruits
of
present
sorrow, where they do
not produce
the
fruit of eternal
death.
A saint
in this
world
will
groan under
these
bur-
dens;
and it
is
divinely
natural
for
him to
cry
out, O
wretched
man
!
who
shall
deliver
me
from
the
body
of
this death?
Rom.
vii. 24.
Thus
there are many things
that
are
within
us,
and
that
belong to
us in
this world,
that
forbid the perfection
of
our joys.
And besides all these,
we
are
attached
and
tied down
to
many
other
uneasinesses,
while we
dwell'on
earth.
'I
his
world
is
a fair theatre
of
the
wisdom
and power
of
God, but
it
is
hung
round and replenished
with
temp-
tations
to
fallen man,
proper
for
a
state
of
trial
;
soft
and
flattering temptations,
that
by
the
senses
are ever draw-
ing away the soul from
God
and heaven,
and
breaking
in
upon
its divine
repose and
joy; and
while
we
are sur-
rounded
with
a thousand dangers,
we
cannot
be said
to
dwell in perfect peace.
The
follies
and
the crimes
of
others
afflict
the soul
of
a
good man, and
put
hirn,to
pain,
"
as
the righteous.
soul
of
Lot
was
vexed
in
Sodom
from day to day
with
their unlawful
deeds;"
2
Pet,
ii. 8.
The greater
vexations, and the
little teazing accidents
of
life
that
attend
us,
disturb the sacred
rest
of
the
'saint,
and
ruffle
or
wound
his
spirit.
And the best
of
men
on
this
account are
sometimes
ready
to cry
out with David
;
Psal. cxx. 5, 6.
Woe is
me
that
I
sojourn
in
Meshech,
a#Td
dwell in
the
tents
of
Kedar
:Iy
soul
bath long
dwelt with
them
that
hate
peace.
O
that
I
had
win
4.
like
a
dove,
for
then
would
Illy
away,
and
be
at
rest
;
Psal.
Iv.
6.
And sometimes
God himself
is
absent
froal the soul
VOL.
III.
C