453 / 652
T.
v.)
THE HAPPINESS
OF
SEPARATE
SPIRITS.
44
other
wiib
notices
of
the
affairs
of
-the
tipper and lower
worlds.
Nor
must
we
suppose
stich
sort of historical converse
among
the
blessed
spirits
is
merely designed
tó
fill
the
mind
with new
and
strange
ideas.
This pleasure
consi-
dered
by
itself,
is
not
sacred enough for the spirits
of
the
just
inade perfect.
rere
is
not
a
narrative
in the
world,
but
shall disclose some
wondrous instances
of
divine
wis-
dom
or
mercy,
power
or
faithfulness,
patience and
for=
giveness, or
wrath
and
justice The speaker
shall feel
the workings
of
all
proper
reverence,
zeal and love
;
and
every
hearer
shall
be
impressed
with
correspondent
affec-
tions,
and
join
in
adoration and
holy
wonder.
And
while
we'speak
of
the means and advantages
that
glorified
spirits enjoy
for
their improvement
in
all
the
parts
of
their
felicity, surely
we
may
expect the greatest
and the
best assistances,
even those
of the
Holy Spirit, to
render
all
these means more effectual.
Is
he
not
pro=
mised to
" abide
with
us,
to
be in
us,
and
dwell
With
us
for ever
;"
John
xiv. 16,
17.
Is
he
not represented
as
dwelling
in
the spirits
of
the
just
made perfect,
when
it
is
said,
the
Spirthat
dwelleth
in
them shall
raise
their
mortal
bodies fro the dead
?"
Rom.
viii.
11.
May
we
not
then
reasonably
infer,
that
that
glorious Spirit,
whò
bath been our
enlightener, our comforter, and our sanc-
tifier
on
earth,
will
be.
our perpetual
enlightener,
our
eternal
sanctifier, and
our everlasting comforter; Hè
that
bath so:wonderfully begun the divine
work
in
ùs,
land
laid
foundations
of joy
in
knowledge and holiness,
will
he not
finish
and perfect
his own
work,
and add the top
-
stone to crown
the
heavenly
building?
.
O
blessed
state of
spirits discharged
from
the prison
of
flesh
and
this world
!
this wicked
world, where
Satan the
evil
spirit
has
so
wide a
range, and so poisonous
an
iifiu-
ence,
and
where 'sinful men
swarm
on
every side, and
bear
the
largest.
sway
!
What
divine
advantages
are
you
'possessed
of,
for
the
improvement
of
all
your sacred
excellencies
.and
joys
!
When
we
can
raise
our thoughts
a
little, and
survey your
privileges,
we
feel
somewhat
of
an
inward
wish
to dwell
among
you,
and send 'a
breath-
ing-
meditation, or
a
glance
of
warm
desire towards
your
world
and your
society.
We
poor prisoner
-
spirits, when
we
hear
such tidings
from.the
country
at
which
you
are