tience; Hezekiah, of his uprightness; and all the saints, the end of their faith. Not only our old acquaintance, but all the saints of all ages, whose faces in the flesh we never saw, we shall there both know, and comfortably enjoy. Yea, angels as well as saints will be our blessed acquaintance. Those who were willingly our ministering spirits, will willingly then be our companions in joy. They, who had such joy in heaven for our conversion, will gladly rejoice with us in our glorification.'

Whether we shall know each other in heaven is a question of profound interest; and therefore very frequently asked. Divines, I believe, have invariably anwered it in the affirmative; and their reasoning is certainly very strong. First-the inconceivably rapid intercourse that shall subsist between the heirs of salvation will occasion a perfect intelligence concerning all that shall occur in their blessed society. Again-the disciples of our Lord knew Moses and Elias on the Mount of transfiguration. Now our future knowledge shall not be less, but vastly greater than any previous. Our present knowledge shall be done away, only in respect of its imperfection. Lastly-the rich man knew Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. If, then, they in hell recognise those in heaven, much more shall the latter recognize each other. 1

On their arrival in "that happy region, what mutual congratulations shall pass between the re

See the works of BAXTER and Bishop HALL.

deemed. How will they exult in their mutual felicity, while, standing upon the "sea of glass," they look back upon the long, dark, and ruffled ocean, from which they have escaped; and recount all the multiform and powerful temptations out of which the omnipotent arm of their loving God hath at length delivered them. Then shall they seal the veracity of that promise-(may we believe it to our comfort now!—) “ Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

But the soul shall have, in heaven, communion not only with saints and seraphim, but also with their great KING himself. "He will dwell with

them, and they shall be his people."

He will "They

cause them to approach unto him." 2 shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads." 3 What an inconceivable blessedness shall this be! It is accordingly called by divines "the beatific vision." How exalted a privilege to see the king in his beauty;" yea, to dwell in his house throughout eternity-" to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”

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Unspeakable is the pleasure which the pious experience here in divine contemplations. They sit, at such seasons, in heavenly places. But their brightest present views are confused and dark, compared with those they shall enjoy hereafter, "For now they see through a glass darkly, but

1 Rev. xxi. 3.

2 Psalm lxv. 4.

3 Rev. xxii. 4.

then face to face; now they know in part, but then shall they know, even as also they are known.” "In the heavenly paradise, the tree of knowledge shall not be a forbidden tree.”

North or south of the equator, only a portion of the stars of the firmament is apparent. At the line, all of either hemisphere are visible. So we, in this present world, have but a partial view of spiritual things. We see, as it were, but a single hemisphere; and even that but indistinctly. Hereafter, however, we shall stand at the equator; and view the whole system of providence and grace, unfolded in its full magnificence.

The various excellences, which compose the supreme character, shall then be unveiled with a vividness and splendour, of which we can form, in the mean time, no adequate conception: and these shall be constantly increasing, according as our spiritual eye becomes more strong, and our spiritual capacity more expanded. "O blessed state! O glorious felicity! They behold the beauty of the Lord, transported in divine contemplations, infinitely various and immortal. They feed upon his goodness with all the raptures of refined love, and are held long in extasy under the permanent sensations of the love of God.” 1 The very meditation of such things edifies and delights the spiritual mind; what then must the beholding of them do! What their fruition! ?

1 Dr. WATTS's Sermons.

2 Note XXVI

But all this vision and enjoyment of GOD shall be given" in the face of Jesus Christ,"-the image of the invisible GOD, "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person." Accordingly, our Lord, desiring the consummation of his people's joy, prays for them, "that they may be with him where he is, that they may behold his glory." 1 And what an astonishing consideration it is, when we come to realize it, that creatures so plunged and drowned in depravity as we are, in our natural state-all but devils on the verge of perdition-should yet be translated to the heaven of heavens, there to behold "the excellent glory," and to bask in its beams for ever and ever! Well may we exclaim"Lord! what is man, that thou art thus mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou so regardest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." 2 But let us remember, that all is owing to the merits of CHRIST, that "worthy is the Lamb that was slain; nor let us rest in mere exclamations; but see that these blessed truths sink deeply into our hearts, and become constraining principles of love and devotedness to Him, who hath manifested towards us a benevolence so amazing. In the vision of the SAVIOUR, both the understanding and the affections-the two grand constituent portions our nature-shall be fully exercised and gratified,

1 John xvii. 24.

2 Psalm viii. 4, 5.

and the enlightening of the former shall be the means of enlivening the latter. The " eye will affect the heart." The saints shall adore their King, not only for what he hath done for them, but also for what He is in himself. Their spirits shall be completely entranced and swallowed up in the captivating sense of his loveliness. As they behold him, shining as the Sun, among that innumerable multitude of morning stars, "casting their crowns before Him," they shall exclaim, "Thou art the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely!"

I sum up this feeble attempt to describe what is indescribable, in the few following observations. The happiness of heaven will be pure, satisfying, uncloying, and everlasting. These four characteristics comprehend every thing that is to be desired.

First-it will be pure. Heaven is the Holy Place; an "inheritance undefiled." "And he showed me a pure river of water of life." It shall issue immediately from the incontaminate source, and be eternally unpolluted by any taint, contracted from an impure channel. The purity of that blessedness shall constitute its very essence. This salt shall preserve it from corruption: for holiness is the synonym of happiness, as sin is of misery.

Secondly, it will be satisfying. However varied and extensive our present possessions may be, still there is an aching void' in the heart, crying out insatiably, Give, give! But in God's presence