SERMON XL. 577 dead, Here an objection or two will arise that may require an answer. Objection I.But is not heaven always represented as a state of perfection ? Is not grace and holiness more complete there than ever they have been, or can be in the time of our mor- tal life ? And yet how can it be a state of greater perfection, if so many graces are wanting there ? Answer.These graces which belong td the living saint; and have no place among the happy dead, are but the varions exercises of a sanctifiedmind, arising from some imperfections in our present state. Faith isowing to our want of sight : Hope is owing to our want of enjoyment : Patience, courage, compas- sion, forbearance, forgiveness, repentance, and such like graces, are owing to the sins, the sorrows, or the temptations that are found in this world only. The follies, the mistakes, the infirmi- ties of ourselves, or our fellow-christians, or the wickedness of the world whereinwe live, are the only things thatgive occasion for the exercise of such graces as I havenowmentioned; there- fore in aperfect state there is no room for theme Yet every saint in heaven has a sanctified nature, which is the root and spring of all these graces, and they would appear inglorious exercise again, if therewere any objects, or occasions, or seasons proper to excite them. Therefore the saints above are not defective in any virtue or grace, though they have no actual exercise of several of them in heaven. So God himself would not be in himself less merciful if he appeared in any pro- vince of his dominion where there was no creature in misery, and consequentlyinoproperobject for mercy. He is a God of infi- nite compassion and forgiveness still, though he has no immedi- ate new exercises of them in heaven, in a world where no sin- ners are : for sin and misery are the only proper occasions of forgiveness and mercy. Thus the saints in heaven are per- fect in grace and holiness, even though there are no proper objects or occasions, for this holiness or this grace to manifest itself in such peculiar instances as I have been describing in this discourse. II. How can it he said, that a living christian has any ad- vantage above the dead ? Is not heaven better than earth ? And upon that account, is not death often represented to us under most pleasing colours in the gospel, as it is an escape from the sins and sorrows of this present state, and as it conveys us into the world of blessed spirits, where there are infinite advantages above any thing to be enjoyed in this life ! Answer.Though the living saint lias some advantages which the dead cannot partake of, yet it is very true, that the ßp2
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