DISCOURSE VIII. 165 have been long fighting, running, and labouring to obtain it. Heaven will appear as a condecent reward of all the faithful servants of God upon earth, and a divine recompence of their labours and sufferings ; 2 These. i. 6. As it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you, so to give to those who are troubled rest and salvation." This is that equitable or condecent fitness that God as Governor of the world, has wisely appointed and made necessary before our en- trance into heaven. Christ himself our forerunner, and " the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings ;" Ileb. ii. 10. and was trained up for his throne on high " by en- during the contradiction of sinners," and the variety of agonies which attended his life and death in this lower world, this stage of conflict and sufferings ; Heb. xii. 1 -3. Though we cannot pretend by our labours in the race to havemerited the prize, yet we must labour through the race be- fore we receive it. Our conflicts cannot pretend to have deserved the crown which is promised, but we must fight the battles of the Lord before we obtain it. This was St. Paul's encouragement and hope, 2 Tim. iv. 7, S. " I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give mc, and not to me only, but to all those who love his appearance." There is a great deal of divine wisdom in his appointment, that the children of God may be counted in this sense worthy of his kingdom for which they also suffer ; 2 Thess. i. .5. and that the relish of those satisfactions may be doubled to all the sufferers. 7. God yet further prepares and works ap his people for heaven by " teaching them some of the employments of the heavenly world, and initiating and inuring them to the practice thereof." Is the contemplation of the blessed God, in his nature, and his various perfections, the business of glorified souls ? God teaches his children whom he is training up for glory, to practise this holy contemplation : He fixes their thoughts upon the wonders of his nature and his grace, his works of creation and providence, the blessings of his redeeming love by his Son Jesus, and the terrors of his justice which shall be executed by the same hand, while the soul at the saine time can appeal to God with holy delight, lily meditation of thee shall be sweet in- deed ; Ps. civ. 34. 0 may I dwell for ever in the midst of thy light, and see all thy wondrous glory diffused around me, and make my joys everlasting ! Are we told that heaven consists also in " beholding the glory of Christ ; John xvii. 24. And how happily does God prepare his saints for this part of heaven, by filling their thoughts with the various graces and honours of Jesus the Saviour ? And L3
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