DISCOURSE X. 211 into an angel of light; 2 Cor. xi. 14. And there have been some who at first hearing of the gospel have had wondrous rap- tures. Heb. vi. 4, " It is said, they have tasted of the powers of the world to come ; who have yet fallen away again, and having lost all their sense and savour of divine things, have become vile apostates. IV. " If you seem to enjoy any of these affectionate and rapturous foretastes of heaven, be jealous of the truth of them, if they have not a proportionable sanctifying influence upon your souls and your actions." If you find they incline you to negligence in duty, to cold- ness in the common practices of religion and godliness, if they make you fancy that common ordinances are a low and needless dispensation, if they seem to excuse you from diligence in the common duties of life towards man, or religion towards God, there is great reason then to suspect them : There is danger lest they should be mere suggestions and deceitful workings either of your own natural passions, or the crafty snares of the artful and busy adversary of souls, on purpose to make you neglect solid religion, and make you part with what is substantial for a bright and flashy glimpse of heavenly things. But on the other hand, if you find that these special favours and enjoyments raise your hearts to a greater nearness to God, and more constant converse with him ; if they keep you deep in humility, and in everlasting dependence on the grace of Christ in the gospel, and warm and zealous attendance on the ordinances of worship ; if they teach and incline you to fulfil every duty of love to your neighbour, and particularly to your fellow- chriátians, then they appear to be the fruits of the Spirit; and as they fit you for every duty and providence here upon earth, there is very good reason to hope they are real visits from heaven, and are sent from the God of all grace to make you more meet for the heavenly glory. SECT. II. These are the four cautions. I proceed now to describe some of these foretastes of the heavenly blessedness, and shew how nearly they resemble the blessedness and enjoy- ments of the heavenly world. First, " In heaven there is a near view of God in his glo- ries, with such a fixed contemplation of his several perfections, as draws out the heart into all correspondent exercises, in an un- common, transcendent, and supreme degree." It is described as one of the felicities of heaven, that we shall see God; Mat. v. 8. That we shall behold him face to face ; and not in sha- dows and glasses ; 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Let us exhibit some parti- culars of this kind, and dwell a little upon them in the most easy and natural method. 1. " In heaven the blessed inhabitants behold the majesty o 2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=