DISCOURSE IL 38g of Israel, the chosen flock of God. And may we not suppose them also trained up in the hearts of holy, government on earth, to be thechiefs of some blessed army, some sacred tribe in hea- ven ? They were directors of theforms of worship in the church below under divine inspiration : And might not that fit them to become leaders of some celestial assembly, when a Innititutle of the sons of God above come at stated seasons topresent them- selves before the throne? Both of them knew how to celebrate the praise of their Creator in sacred melody ; but David was the chief of mortals in this harmonious work : And may we not imagine that he is or shall be a master of heavenly music, before or after the resurrection, and teach some of the choirs above to tune their harps to the lamb tlaät was slain? But to come down to more modern times, is there not a Boyle, (a) and a Ray, (b) in heaven ? Pious souls who. were trained up in sanctified philosophy ; and surelythey are fitted be- yond their fellow-saints, to contemplate the wisdom of God in the works of his hands. Is there not a More, (c) and a Howe, (d) that have exercised their minds in an uncommon acquaintance with the world of spirits? And doubtless their thoughts are re- fined and improved in the upper world, and yet still engaged in the samepursuit. There is also a Goodwin, (e) and an Owen, (f) who have laid out the vigour of their enquiries in the glories and wonders of the person of Christ, his bloody sacrifice, his dy- ing love, andhis exalted station at the right-hand of God. The first of these, with a penetrating genius, tracedout many a new and uncommon thought, and made rich discoveries by digging in the mines of scripture. The latter of them humbly pursued and confirmed divine truth ; and both ofthem were eminent inpromo- ting faith and piety, spiritual peace and joy, upon theprinciples of graceand the gospel. Their labours in,some of these subjects, no doubt, have prepared them for some correspondent peculiar'- ties in the state of glory. For though the doctrines of the pet- son, the priesthood, and the grace of Christ, are themes whichall the glorified souls converse with and rejoice in ; yet spirits that (a) The honourable Robert Boyle, Esq.'a most pious enquirer into nature, and an improver of the experimental philosophy. (b) Mr. John Ray, one of the ministers ejectedfor nonconformity 1662, he employed most of his studies afterwards in the cultivationof natural philoso- phy, in collection's and remarks on the variety of plants, birds, beasts, fishes, &c. and writ several treatises to improve natural philosophy in the serviceof religion. (e) Dr. Henry More, a great searcher into the world of spirits, and a pious divine of the church of England. (d) Mr. John Howe, a name well known and highly honoured for his sagacity of thought, his exalted ideas,and converse with the spiritual world, as appears in his writings. (e) Dr. Thomas.Goodwin. And (f) Dr. John Owen, two famous divines of prime reputation among the churches in the last century.
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