160 . Tn$ WORLD TO COME. tioned before, as necessary to our entrance into the heavenly. state ; and we must walk through this world, this defiling world, with all holy watchfulness, lest our souls be blemished with new, pollutions, -lest new guilt come upon our consciences, and the thoughts of appearance before God.be terrible to us. That soul is very much unfit for an entrance into the presence of a holy God, who is ever plunging itself into new circumstances of guilt, by a careless and unholy conversation. To stand upon the borders of life, and the very edge of eternity, will be dreadful to those who have given themselves a loose to criminal pleasures, and indulg- ed their irregular appetites and passions. But it is not only a conscience purged from the guilt of sin, by the blood of Christ, but a soul washed also from the defiling power and taint of sin, by the sanctifying Spirit, that is neces- sary to make us meet for the heavenly inheritance. This is that purification which "now chiefly intend ; Mat. v. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Nothing that defiletla must enter into the city of God on high, nor whosoever malceth a lie, or loveth it : Rev. xxi. 27. No injustice, no falsehood, no guile or deceit, can be admitted within those gates ; They must be without guile, both in their heart and tongue, if. they will stand before the throne of God ; Rev. xiv. 5. Sincerity and truth of soul, with all the beauties of an upright heart and cha- rooter, are necessary to prepare an inhabitant for that blessed. state: 'There must be no envy, no wrath or malice, no revenge, nor any`of the angry principles that dwell in our flesh and blood, or that inflame and disturb the mind, will be found in those regions of peace and love. There must be no pride or ambition, no self - exaltation and vanity that can dwell in heaven, for it cast out the.angèis of glorious degree, when they would exalt them- selves above their own station. " -Pride was the condemnation of the devil," and it must not dwell in a human heart, that ever hopes for a heavenly dwelling place ; 1 Tim. iii. 6. and Jude verse 6. There, inust be no sensual and intemperate creature there, no covetous selfishness, no irregular passions, no narrow- ness of soul, no uncharitable and party spirit, will ever be found in that country. of diffusive love and joy. And since the best of christians have had the seeds of 'many of these iniquities in their hearts, and they have made a painful complaint of these rising corruptions of nature upon many occa- sions, these iniquities must be mortified and slain by the work of the Spirit of God within us, if ever we ourselves would live the divine life of heaven ; ROM. viii. 13. There is a great deal of this purifying' work to be done in the souls of all of us, before we can be prepared for the heavenly world, and though we'cannot arrive at perfection here, yet we must be wrought up to a temper in some measure. fit to enter into that blessedness ; And God is
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