ESSAYVIII. 231 the sermons of Paul himself unto that sacred touch-stone, to see . if the things which he spoke were true or no : And after all our study, we shall find such difficulties that will convince us of the necessity of depending upon a higher teacher, even the Holy Spirit. Our blessed Saviour commands thatwe search the scrip- tures, and pray for the Spirit too; John v. 39. Luke xi. 9, 13. And St. Paul prays unto God that he would give to the saints which were at Ephesus, that Spirit of wisdom and revelation to enlighten the eyes oftheir understanding; Eph. i. 17. This unc- tion which true believers havefrom the Holy One, makes known to them all things necessary to salvation ; 1 John ii. 20. And though we have no ground to expect that he will unfold to us every lesser difficulty, while we live in this world ; yet we may humbly hope that iu those thingswhich regard the forms of Isis awn worship, and the means of his own visible glory amongst men, he will by degrees let some divine rays of light into the mind of him that seeks after truth with great diligence, fervent prayer, and most sincere designs. There are many instances to be given of plain ehristians that have been made the favourites of the enlightening Spirit, and have arrived at uncommon know - ledge inchristianity by these methods. A fifth blessed end, and which is certainly attained in the providence of God, by leaving so many disputables in religion, is, that our souls are hereby drawn out. to long for heaven, and pant after the state where there is uo contention, no dispute. This prospect renders those happy regions more desirable whilst we are here, and more abundantly welcome hereafter. It is impossible that any controversy should there arise to interrupt the worship of the church triumphant. It is eternally impossible to divide them into parties, or to disturb their repose. The doctrines of their profession are all written as with sun- beams, theyare no longer the articles of faith but the objects of sight : We shall be all taught ofGod, we shall see face to fate, and know as we are known. So muchof the Holy Spirit dwells in all the saints, as a perpetual spring ofrevelation and wisdom. The discipline of that church can occasion no disputes, for the Son of God, in our nature, is the pastor or bishop, he keeps the keys of heaven in his own hands, and the keys of belland death. The soul that is once admitted into that fellowship shall abide like apillar in the temple ofhis God, and shallgo no more out ; Rev. iii. 12. but the hypocrite and the unclean shall never enter there. The worship that is paid there is with perfect uniformity of mind and affection amongst all the happy spirits ; an unani- mous consent in self-abasement, divine honour and love; and perhaps when our bodies shall be raised again to make a visible church in heaven, worship may be performed with a glorious liberty, and with such a pleasing variety of form as glorifiedna-
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