!ART I. SERMON IX. 135 side ; his holy meditations will be endangered by his eyes, fair figures and colours attract the sight, and tempt the soul off from refined devotion. I. cannot think it any advantage to christian worship, to have churches well adorned by the statuary and the painter; nor can gay altar-pieces improve the communion service. While gaudy glittering images attract and entertain the , outward sense, the soul is too much attached to the animal,' to keep itself at a distance ; while the sight is regaled and feasted, the sermon runs to waste, and the hidden life withers and starves. When the ear is soothed with a variety of fine har- mony, the soul is too often allured away from spiritual worship, even though a divine song attend the music. Our Saviour therefore, in much wisdom, and in much mercy, has appointed blessed ordinances for his church, with such plainness and sim- plicity, asmay administer most support and nourishment to the secret life. Thus I have finished the remarks On the 'hidden life of a christian, considered as to its spiritual exercises in this present world. I proceed to consider, inwhat respects this life is hidden, as it is more usually called eternal life, or to be exercised and en- joyed in heaven. And here we must confess, that we aremuch at a loss-to say any thing more than the scripturebath said before us. Life and immortality, indeed, are brought to light by the gospel of Christ, in far brighter measures than the former ages and dispensations were acquainted with ;'1 Tim. i. 10. But still, what the apostle says concerning all theblessings of the gospel, wemay repeat em- phatically concerningheaven, that eye bath not seen, that earbath not heard, thatithathnot enteredinto theheart of manto conceive ; nor indeedhath God himself revealed but avery small part of the things he bath prepared, in the future world, for them that love him; 1 Cor. ix. 10.' It Both not yet appear what we shall be ; the glory of that state is yet a great secret to us ; 1 John iii. 2. We know much better what it is not, than what it is : we can define 'it best by negatives. Absence from the weak- nesses, sins, and sorrows of this life, is our best 'and largest account of it, whether we speak of the separate state, or the heaven of the resurrection. The veil of flesh and blood divides us from, the world of spirits ; weknow not the manner of their life in the state of sepa- ration : we are at an utter loss as to their stations and residences ; what relation they bear to any part of this material creation ; whether they dwell in thin airy vehicles, and are inhabitants of some starry world, or planetary region ; or whether they sub- sist in their pure intellectual nature, and have nothing to de
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