1112 NEARNESS Tß eon. darkness destroyedhis ownkingdom, bypersuding men to put the Son of God to death. What adivine pleasure is;it to converse with that wisdom which laid theeternal scheme of all these wonders, and of ten. thousand moreunknown beautiesin the transactionsof providence and grace, with which theblessed minds above are feasted to satisfaction ! And besides all these God has reserved in himself ahidden world of new scenes to open hereafter, 'and an everlasting profusionof new wonders to display before the eyes of his favourites. Heaven is described by seeing God, by behold- ing himface to face,, and by knowing him inthe way and manner in which we areknown; 1 Cor. xiii. 12. And he is pleased to . indulge some taste -of this felicity-tohis children inthis life, by me- diums and glasses, by types and figures, by his word and or- dinances, under the enlightening beams of his spirit. This ie the beautyof the Lord, for the viewof which David desired to, dwell in the. sanctuary ; Ps.. xxvii. 4. that he might see the power and glory of God continually, as he had sometimes seen it there that he might behold his beauty, and talk ofhis glorious goodness in his holy temple. O. how great is his goodness and how great ishis beauty; Zech. ix. 17. But contemplation alone cannot make a creature happy This onlyentertains the understanding, which is but one faculty of our natures :. the will and affections. must have their proper entertainment too. Their beatific exercise may, be comprized in. the word love, either in the out goings, or the returns of it :. And this. leads me to the following particulars : H. The next ingredient of a creature's.happpiness, 'is) the, love of the chiefest good. And those whomGod chooses, and, causes to approach himself, when they are under divine illumina- tions, see so much beauty and excellency in his nature, hie power and wisdom, and so many lovely glories in his overflowing grace, that they cannot but,love him above all things; and this, love is. a great part of their heaven. What sweeter pleasure is. there in this lower world, than togive a loose to the affectionate powers of the soul, to converse with the most amiable and most desired object,. to feedupon it without ceasing, and to dwell with . it perpetually ? But the most relishing enjoyments of this kind . that mortality admits of, in the pursuit or possession of created good, are but faint and feeble shadows of the blessedness of holy souls in the love of God, who is the most amiable, and the best of beings : Therefore they love him with all their heart and soul, with all theirmind andstrength.; and if theyhad more powers in. nature that could.be employed in love, they should all be laidout. in the search and fruition of this first and best-beloved : for there are endless stores, and treasures of unknown loveliness in the godhead, to.excite and entertain for 'ever the fresh efforts of the,
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