PART I. SERMON 1X. 137 glorious pursuit ; but it is not brought within the reach of sense, for we are now in a state of trial ; and this is not the proper time nor' place for sight andenjoyment. II. Inference. How little is death to be dreaded by a be- liever, since it will bringthe soul to the full possessionof its lud- den life in heaven ! It is a dark valley that divides between this world and the next ; but it is all a region of light and blessedness beyond it. We are now borderers on the,eternal world, and we know but too little of that invisible country, Approaching death opens the gates to us, and begins to give our holy curiosity some secret satisfaction ; and yet how we shrink backward when that glorious unknown city is opening upon us !' and are ready to beg andpray that the gates might be closed again : " O ! for a little more time, a little longer continuance in tins lowervisibleworld !" Thisis the language of the fearfulbeliever : But it is better to have our christian courage wrought up to a divine height, and to say, " Open ye everlasting gates, and be ye lift up, O ye immortal doors, that we may enter into the place wherethe Kingof Glory is. There we shall see God, the great unknown, and rejoice in his overflowing love. We shall see him not as we doon earth, 'darkly, through the glass of ordinances ; but inferior spirits shall converse with the Supreme Spirit, as bodies do with bodies ; that is face to face ; 1 Coe. xiii. 12. There shall we behold Christ our Lord in the dignityof his character as Mediator, in the glory of his kingdom, and the all- sufficiency of his godhead ; andwe shall be for ever with him. There shall we see millionsof blessed spirits, who have lived the saine hidden life as we do, and passed through this vale of tears, with the saine attendingdifficulties andsorrows, and by thesame divine assistances. They were unknown, and covered with dust as we are, while they dwelt in flesh, but they appear all-glorious and well known in the world of spirits, and exult in open and immortal light: We shall see them, and we shall triumph with them in that day ; we shall learn their language, and taste their joys : we shall be partakers of the saine glory, which Christ our life, diffuses all around him, on the blessed inhabitants of that intellectual world. III. Inference. How glorious is thedifference between the two parts of the christian's life, viz. the spiritual life on earth, and the perfection of eternal life in heaven; when all that is now hid- den shall be revealed before men and angels L Come now, and letus take occasion from this discourse, to let loose our medita- tions one stage beyond death and the separate. state, even -to the morning of the resurrection, and the full and publicassembly of all the saints. O what an illustrious appearance 6 Whata nu- merous and noble army of new creatures ! Creatures that were
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=