405 / 652
THE HAPPINESS
OF
SEPARATE
SPIRITS.
395
of
souls,
though
with much
more
success
in
the last
than
in the first.
Now,though
all ,the
spirits
in
heaven enjoy the
general
happiness.
of
the
love
of
God
and
Christ,
and
the
plea-
surable
review
of providence
;
yet.
inay
we
not,su
ppose
these spirits have
some special
circumstances
of sacred
pleasure, suited
to
their labours and
studies
in
their
state
of trial
on
earth
?
.Por the
church on
earth
is
but
a
train-
ing-school for
the
church
on high,
and
as
it
were a
tiring
room
in
which
we
are
Brest in
proper
habits
for
our ap-
pearance and our
places
in
that
bright
assembly.
But
some
will
reprove
nie
here,'
and
say,
what must
none but ministers,' and authors,
and
learned
men have
their
distinguished rewards
and-
glories
in
the
world
of
spirits? May
not
artificers,
and traders, and
pious women
be;
fitted
by
their character and conduct
on
earth
for
pe-
culiar stations and
employments
in
heaven
?
Yes
doubtless,
their
zeal
for.
the
honour
of
God,
their
fervent
love to
Christ,
their
patience
under
long trials,
and
the variety
of their
graces exercised
according
to,
their stations
on
earth,. may
render
Ahem
peculiarly fitted
for
special
rewards
on
.
high
:
The
wisdom
of God
will
not
be
at
a
loss
to
find
out
distinguishing pleasures
tò
recompense them
all;
though where
the
very
station
and,
business
of
this
life
is
such
as
makes
a nearer approach
to the blessedness
.
and
business
of
heaven,
it
is
much
easier for
us
to.guess
at
the
nature of that future
recom{
pence..
Let
me
ask my
own
soul
then.,
"soul
what
art
thou
busy
about? What
is
thy
chief employment during thy
present state of
trial.?
I hope thou
art
not making
pro
-
vision'
for the
flesh,
to fulfil
the lusts
thereof;
for
then
thou
art
fit
for
no
place in heaven, the doors
will.
be
for
ever
shut
against
thee.
But what,special
works
of the
spirit
art
thou
engaged
in
?
:
Dost
thou
redeem.,
what
hours thou
art
able
from
the necessary
businesses
of
life,
to
do
more immediate
service.for
God, to converse with
things heavenly
?:.
Art
thou seeking to gain
a
proper,
rneetness for the
sublimer
employments
of that upper
world,, and
a.
relish
of
the most
refiined.
pleasures
?"
But
I
proceed
to the
second
particular:
II.
The
perfection
of
the spirits above,
not
only
ad-
mits
of
a
rich variety
.Q
f.entertainments, according
to
the