DISCOUR'SI3 IX. 2,01 heavenly,world. They relish the sweetness of all those words, of mercy, in reviewing the means whereby divine grace sustain ed them in their former state of trial, and in the complete acoom- plishment of the best of *hose promises in their present situation amidst ten thousand endless blessings. And if any of them were too cold and remiss, and infre- quent in their applications to the mercy-seat by prayer, when they were here on earth, and stood in need of chastisement to maké them pour out their prayers to God, yet they can never forget the value of this privilege, while they themselves dwell round about the throne, and behold all their ancient sincere ad- dresses to the mercy -seat answered and swallowed up in the full fruition of their present glories and joys. Praise is Properly the language of heaven, when all their wants are supplied, and their prayers on earth are finished ; and whatever further.de -. sires they may have to present, before God, the throne of grace is ever at hand, and God himself is ever in the midst of them to bestow every proper blessing in its season that belongs to the heavenly world. Not one of them can any more stand in need. of chastisement or painful exercises of the flesh to drive to the throne of God, while they are at home in their Father's house; and for ever near him and his all- sufficiency. It is from thence they are constantly deriving immortal supplies of blessedness, as . from a spring that will never fail. SECT. V. -I proceed now to consider in the last place, what are the 00 practical lessons which pain may teach us while we are here on earth, in our state of probation and discipline, and shall afterward make it evident, that there is no need of pain in heaven for the same purposes." 1. The frequent returns of pain may put us in mind " to offer to God his due sacrifices of praise for the months and years of ease which we have enjoyed." We are too ready to forget the mercy of God herein, unless we are awakened by new pain- ful sensations,; and when we experience new relief, then our lips are opened with thankfulness, and our mouth spews forth his praise : Then we cry out with devout language; Blessed be the Lord that has delivered us! When we have been oppressed for some time with extreme anguish, then one day, or one hour of ease fills the heart and the tóngue with thankfulness ; .qc Blessed be the God of nature that has appointed medicines to restore our- ease, and blessed be that goodness that has given success to them !" What a rich mercy is it under our acute torments, that there are methods of relief and healing found among the powers of nature, among the plants and the herbs, and the mineral stores which are under ground? Blessed be the Lord, who in the course of 1is providence has given skill to physicians to compose and to apply the proper means of relief ? Blessed In
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