DISCOUIttSE II. 399 priests in his temple, and as kings, or viceroys, in his wide do- minions : for they are made kings andpriests unto God for ever; Rev. v. 10. But let us dwell a little upon their active employments, and perhaps a close and attentive meditation may lead us into an un- expected view and notice of their sacred commissions and embas- sies, their governments, and their holy conferences as well as their acts ofworship and adoration. That heaven is a place or state of worship, is certain, and beyond all controversy ; for this is a very frequent description of it in the word of God. And as the great God as been pleased to appoint different forms of worship to be practised by his saints, and his churches under the different eeconomies of his grace so it is possible he may appoint peculiar forms of sacred magnificence to attend his own worship in the state of glory. Bowing the knee, and prostration of the body, are forms and postures of humility practised by earthly worshippers. Angels cover their faces and their feet with their wings, and cry, holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! Is. vi. 2, 3. But what unknown and illustrious forms shall be consecrated by the appointmentand authority of Christ, for the unbodiedor thebodied saints in hea- ven to adorn their sacred offices, is above our reach to describe or to imagine. Let us consider now what parta of worship the blessed are employed in. The various parts of divine worship' that are practised on earth, at least such as are included in naturalreligion, shall doubt-. less be performed in heaven too ; and what other unknown wor- ship of positive and celestial appointment shall belong to the heavenly state, is as much above our present conjecture, as the forms of it are. Heaven is represented as full of praises. There is the most glorious and perfectcelebration ofGod theFather and theSaviour in the upper world : And the highest praise is offered to them with the deepest humility. The crowns of glory arecast down at their feet, and all the powers and perfections of God, with all his labours of creation, his cares of providence, and the sweeter mysteries ofhis grace, shall furnish noble matter for divine praise: This work ofpraise is also exhibited in scripture, as attended with a song and heavenly melody. What there is in the world of separate spirits to answer the representations of harps and voices, we know not.* It is possible that spirits may be capable of some sort of harmony in their language, without a tongue, and with- out an ear, and there may be some inimitable and transporting modulations of divinepraise, without the material instruments of stringor wind. The soul itself by some philosophers is said to be mere harmony ; and surely then it will not wait for it till the
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