DISCOURSE II. 391 %%bout? What is thy chief employment during thy present state of trial ? I hope thou art not making provision for theflesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof; for then thou art fit for no place in hea- ven, the doors will be for ever shut against thee. But what spe- cial works of the spirit art thou engaged in ? Dost thou redeem what hours thou art able, from necessary businesses of life, to do more immediate service for God, to converse with things hea- venly ? Art thou seeking to gain a proper 'fleetness for the sub- limer employments of that upper world, and a relish of the most refined:pleasures." But I proceed to the second particular: II. The perfection of the spirits above; not only admits of a rich variety of entertainments, according to the various relish and inclination of the blessed, but it is such a perfection as al- lows of different degrees even in the same blessedness, according to the different capacities of spirits, and their different degrees of preparation. The word perfection does not always require equality. If all the souls in heaven were of one mould, and make, and inclination, yet there may be different sizes of capacity even in the same genius, and a different degree of preparation for the same delights and enjoyments ; therefore though all the spirits of the just were uniform in their natures and pleasures, and all perfect ; yet one spirit may possess more happiness and glory than another, because it is more capacious of intellectual blessings, and better prepared for thsm. So when vessels of various size are thrown into the same ocean, there will be agreat difference in thequantity of the liquidwhich they receive, though all might be full to thebrim, and all made of the richest metal. Now there is much evidence of this truth in the holy scrip- ture. Our Saviour intimates such differences of rewards in se- veral ofhis expressions. Mat. xix. 28. He promised the apos- tles, that they shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel: And it is probable this may denote something of su- perior honour or dignity above the meanest of the saints. And even among the apostles themselves he seems tö allow of a dif- ference'; for though he would not promise James and John to sit next to him, on his right-hand and his left in his kingdom, Mat. xx. 20, &c. yet he doesnot deny that thereare suchdistinct dignities, but says, It 'shall be given to themfor whom it is pre- paredof his Father, ver. 23. " Again our Lord says; Mat. x. 41, 42. he that receives a prophet, and entertains him as a prophet; shall have a prophet'sreward ," andhe that entertains a righteous man, agreeable to his character, and from .a real esteem of his righteousness, shall havea righteous man's reward : And even the meanest sort of entertainment, a cup of coldwater given to adis- ciple for:the sake of his character, shall not go without some re- ward. Here are three sorts of degrees of reward lsentiened,
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