414 Iin, Tllñ WORLD TO CORM. the blessings of his eye is their everlasting and chosen joy: O that our world were more like it t 7. When the night returns upon us here on earth, the plea- sures of sight vahish and are lost. Knowledge is shut out at one entrance in a great degree, and one of our senses is with- held from the spreading beauties and glories of this lower Crea- tion, almost as though we were deprived of it, and, were_ grown blind for a season. It is true the God of nature has appointed the moon and stars to relieve the darkness at some seasons, that when the sun is with-drawn, half the world at those hours may not be in confusion : And by the inventions of men, we are furnished with lamps and candles to relieve our darkness within doors : But if we stir abroad in the black and dark night, instead of the various and delightful scenes of the creation of God, in the skies and the fields we are presented with an universal blank of nature, and one of the great entertainments and satisfactions of this life is quite taken away from us. But in heaven, the glories of that world are for ever in view : The beauteous scenes and prospects of the hills of paradise are never hidden : We shall there continually behold a rich variety of things which eye bath not seen on earth, which ear hath not heard, and which the heart of ,nws hatte not conceived 1 Cor. ii. 9. Say, ye souls in paradise, ye inhabitants of that glorious world, is there any loss of pleasure by your absence frein those works of God which are visible here on earth, while you are for ever entertained with those brighter works of God in the upper world ? While every corner of that country is enlightened by the glory of God himself, and while the SQn of God with all his beams of grace shines for ever upon it ? 8. It is another unpleasing circumstance of the night season, that it is the coldest part of time. When the sun is sunk, below the earth and its beams are hidden . from us, its kind and vital heat as well as its light, are removed from one side of the globe ; and this gives a sensible uneasiness in the hours of midnight to those who are not well provided with warm accommodations. And I might add also, it is too often night with us in a spiritual sense, while we dwell here on earth: Our hearts are cold as well as dark : How seldom do we feel that fervency of spirit in religious duties which God requires? How cool is our love to the greatest and the best of beings ? How languid and indif- ferent are our affections to the Son of God, the chiefirst of ten thousand and altogether lovely? And how much Both the devo- tion of our souls want its proper ardour and vivacity. But, when the soul is arrived at heaven, we shall be all warm and fervent in our divine and delightful work. As there shall be nothing painful to the senses in that blessed climate, so
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