paar [. SERMON IX. 139 What isall the dead lustre of metals, and silks, and shining stones, to the living rays of divine grace springing up, and shooting into full glory ? Faith into sight, hope into enjoyment, patience into joy and victory, and love into its own perfection ? Then all the hidden virtues and graces of the saints, shall appear like the stars at midnight, in an uneloudy sky. Then shall it be- made known to all the world, these were the men that wept and prayed in secret ; it shall be published then-in thegreat assembly, these were the persons who wrestled bard with their secret sins, that sought the face of God, and his strength, in their private' chambers, and they are mademore than overcomers through him that hath loved them. The -poor trembling christian who lived this hidden and divine life, but scarce knew it himself nor durst . appear among the churches on earth, shall lift up his head, and rejoice .amidst the church triumphant ; and the hidden seed ofgrace, that waswatered with so many secret tears, shallspring up into a rich and illustrious havest. This is the daywhich shall bring to light a thousand works of hidden piety, for the eternal honour of Christ and the saints; as well as the hidden things of darkness, to the sinners' everlasting confusion; Mat. xxv. and 1 Cor. iv. b. Thus the spiritual life of christians, which was concealedin this world, shall appear in the other in full brightness ; and they themselves shall be amazed to see what divine honours, Jesus the Judge shall cast upon their poor, secret services and sufferin gs. But in what supreme glory shall their life display itself, when both parts of thehuman compoundarerejoined after so long a separation ! This is life eternal indeed, and joy unspeakable. Ilow gloriously shall the perfections and honours, both of body and mind, unfold themselves, and rise far above all that they heard, or saw, or could conceive ! Eachof them surprised, like the queen of Sheba in the court of Solomon, shall confess with thankful astonishment and joy, that not one half of it was told them, even in the word of God. "And was this the crown, shall the christian say, for which Ifought on earth at sopoor and feeble a rate ? And was this the prize for which I ranwith a pace so slow and lazy ? And were these the glorieswhichI sought with so cold and indifferent a zeal in yonder world ? O shameful indifference ! O surprising glories ! O undeserved prize andcrown ! Had I imagined how bright the blessing was, which lay hidden hi the promise, surely all my powers had been animated to a warmer pursuit. Could I have seen what I ought to have believed ; had I but taken in all that was told me concerning this glorious and eternal life, surely I would have ventured through many deaths
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