222 THE WORLH TO COME. 3. By the sanctification of our nature. There is also ano- ther remarkable harmony between the holiness of God and his mercy in this work of the salvation of sinful man. The guilt of sin is not only to be forgiven and taken away by a complete atonement and sacrifice, but the sinful nature of this ruined creature is to be changed into holiness, is to be renewed and sanctified by the blessed Spirit, and reformed into the image of God his maker : He must not only,be released from punishment by forgiveness, but he must be restored to the image of God by sanctifying grace ; so that he maybe fit company for the rest of the favourites of God in tite upper world ; that he may be qua- lified to he admitted into this society, where perfect purity and holiness are necessary for all the inhabitants of this upper world, and for such near attendants on the blessed God : In that happy state nothing shall enter there that defileth ; Rev. xxi. 27, and therefore concerning the criminals among the Corinthians, as "vile and as offensive to the pure and holy God as they are represent- ed ; 1 Cor. vi. 9 -11. viz. Fornicators, idnlators, adulterers, drunkards, Sic. but it is said, they are washed, but they are sanc- tified, but they are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Now when the souls of the saints here on earth are raised to such divine contemplations, what transporting satisfaction and delight must arise from the surprising union and harmony of the attributes of the blessed God in these his transactions ? And especially when the soul in the lively exercise of grace and view of its own pardon, justification, and restored holiness, looks upon itself as one of these happy favourites of the majesty of heaven : It cries out as it were in holy amazement, " What a divine profusion is here of wisdom and power, glory and grace, to save a wretched worin from everlasting burnings, and to advance a worthless rebel to such undeserved and exalted glories In SECT. V. " The wonders of divine perfections united in the success of the gospel" give an extasy of joy sometimes to holy souls. Not only do these views of the united perfections of God, as they are concerned in the contrivance of the gospel, entertain the saints above with new and pleasurable contem- plations, but the wonders of divine wisdom, power, and grace, united and harmonizing in the propagation and success of this gospel, become a matter of delightful attention and survey to the saints on high. This is imitated also in a measure by the children of God here on earth. Have you never felt such a surprising pleasure in the view of the attributes of God, his grace, wisdom, and power of snaking these divine designs so happily efficacious for the good of thousands of souls ? If there be joy in heaven among the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=