414 HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS. Abraham and Israel are so ignorant of the affairs of the church, as they werein the days of Isaiah. And not only the greater and more extensive dispensations that attend the church on earth, are made knowu to the spirits of the just made perfect ; but even some lesser and particular con- cerns are very probably revealed to themalso. Is it not said, that when one sinner ont earth, repents, there is joy among the angels inheaven? Luke xv. 7, 10. For every such convert is a new trophy of divine grace. And when the spirits of the just in heaven shall in successive seasons behold one and another of their old relatives and acquaintance on earth entering in at the ,gates, and received in heaven, can we imagine there is no new joy amongst them ? Do the pleasures of angels increase when they see a man brought into the state of grace, and shall not the souls of men testify their exultation and delight, when they see one of their fellow -souls, perhaps adear and inti- mate friend, translated to the state of glory ! Surely every in- crease of that happy world shall diffuse increasing joy through' the holy ones that dwell in it ; and those shall have the sweetest taste of this joy, that had the dearest concern in it. O the tran- sporting andcelestial gratulations that pass between two souls of intimate endearment at their firstmeeting there ! The last argument that I shall use, and it is also the last instance I shall mention, wherein the knowledge and the pleasure of glorified saints must receive addition and improvement, is, the great resurrection-day. The spirits of men are formed on purpose for union wills bodies, and if they could attain complete happiness in the highest degree without them, what need would there be of new creating their bodies from the dust ? Upon this supposition the resurrec- tion itselfmust seem to be almost in vain. But it is evident from the word of God, that the spirits of the just, with all the perfec- tions that belong to a separate state, wait yet for greater perfec- tion when their bodies shall be restored to them ; for as they suffered pain and agonyin the body,they shall have a recompence of pleasuretoo. All the days of their appointed time they wait, till this blessed change shall come ; Job xiv. 14. God shall call and the dust of the saints shall answer ; God the creator will, have a desire again to the work of his hands, verse 15. and the happy souls will have a desire to be rejoined to their old com- panions. O glorious hour ! O blessed meeting-time! A magnificent and divine spectacle, worthy to attract the eyes of all the cre- ation ! When the long-divided parts of human nature shall be united wills unknown powers and glories! When these bodies shall be called out of their long darkdungeon, all fashioneda-new, and all new dressed in immortality and sum-beams! When these
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