435 / 652
SECT.
THE
HAPPINESS
OF
SEPARATE SPIRITS.
425
For
every such
convert
is a
new
trophy of
divine grace.
And
when
the spirits of the
just
in heaven
shall
in
silt-,
cessive
seasons
behold
one and
another
of
their
old
rela-
tives
and
acquaintance
on
earth
entering
in
at
the gates,
and
received
into heaven, can
we
imagine there
is
no new
joy
amongst
them
?
Do
the
pleasures of
,angels
increase
when they
see
a
man
brought into die
state of
grace,
and
shall not
the souls
of
men testify
their exultation and de-
light, when
they
see
one of their
fellow-
souls,
perhaps
a
dear
and intimate
friend,
translated
to
the state
of
glory!
Surely every increase
of
that happy
world shall diffuse
increasing
joy
through the
holy
ones
that
dwell in
it;
and
those shall have the
sweetest
taste
of
this
joy,
that
had
the
dearest concern
in
it.
O the
transporting and
celestial gratulations
that
pass between
tsvo
souls
of
in-
timate endearment at their
first
meeting there
!
The last argument that
I
shall
use,
.
and it
is
also
the
last instance I
shall
mention, wherein the
knowledge
and
the
pleasure
of
glorified saints must receive
addition and
improvement,
is,
the great resurrection
-day.
The
spirits
of
men
are formed
on
purpose
for
union
with bodies,
and if they
could
attain
complete
happiness
in the highest degree without
.
them,
what need
would,
there
be
of
new
creating their
bodies from
the dust
?
Upon
this
supposition
the
resurrection itself
must seem
to
be
almost
in
vain.
But it
is
evident
from
the word
Of
God, that
the spirits
of
the
just,
with
äll
the perfec-
tions
that
belong to a
separate
state, wait yet for
greater
perfection
when
their
bodies shall
be
restored to them
;
for
as
they suffered
pain
and
agony
in the
body,
they
shall have a
recompence
of
pleasure too.
"
All
the
days
of
their appointed
time they wait, till this blessed
change
shall
come
;"
Job
xiv
14.
"
God
shall
call and
the
dust
of
the saints
shall
answer; God
the
Creator
will
have
a
desire again
to
the work
of
his
Own
hands," verse
15.
and the happy
souls
will
have
a desire
to
be
rejoined
to their old companions.
O
glorious
hour
!
O
blessed
meeting-time
!
a magni-
ficent and divine spectacle,
worthy
to
attract
the
eyes
of
all
the
creation'.
When
the long-divided
parts of human
nature
shall
be
united
with
unknown
powers and glories
F
When
these bodies shall be
called
out
of their
long
dark
dungeon,
all
fashioned a
-new,
and
all
new.
dressed
in
im-