them, "he thanked God, and took courage," Acts 28:15. It is said of Cæsar, that he cheered the drooping mariners in a storm, by minding them of his presence, you carry Cæsar; how much more should the in-being of Christ solace saints? "Lo, I am with you." O my soul was it not a cordial to the disciples in a storm, that Christ was with them, whom the winds and waves obeyed? Cheer up now, for if the Spirit be in thee, Christ is with thee.

2. Christ's complacency. If his Spirit dwell in us, How should he but be well pleased with us? A man cannot be properly said to dwell in a prison, in which he taketh no delight; the Spirit's indwelling imports a delight of Christ in such a soul, "Here will I dwell, for I have desired it, or delighted in it," saith God of Zion, Psa. 132:14. though many times drooping Christians, viewing their own beggarliness and vileness, judge themselves to be worthy to be detested and deserted, and would relinquish themselves if they possibly could, yet Christ looketh to the poor and contrite soul, as a meet habitation for himself to dwell in, "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit," Isa. 57:15

3. Christ's communications. Union is the ground of our communion with Christ; and the nearer our union, the greater is our communion. If Christ were only in a believer by the habit of grace, the union would not be so great, but if Christ be in us by his Spirit, the union is nearer, and therefore the communion will be greater; O my soul! remember this in all thy straits; there can be no creature-want or danger whatsoever, wherein the improvement of this indwelling of the Spirit may not refresh thee. Art thou sick? The physician both of soul and body is within thee; art thou sad? The Comforter himself that supplies the stead and room of Christ, inhabits in thee; art thou in exile, in banishment, imprisonment, at greatest distance from thy dearest friends? See Paul's refreshment, when they were ready to pull him in pieces, and threw him into the castle, even "the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, be of good cheer, Paul," Acts 23:11. Christ will stand by thee, nay, Christ by his Spirit dwelleth in thee, and will speak to thee comfortable words in thy greatest pres

sures.

4. Christ's witnessings of his Spirit dwell in us, we may then be assu red of future glory. "Christ in you the hope of glory," Col. 1:27. It is a sweet note of a divine upon it, *« The existency of Christ's Spirit in believers, giveth existence to their hopes of glory. The Spirit in us is God's earnest of glory, the Spirit in us doth prepare us for participation in that glory." I look upon this indwelling of the Spirit, as that which no hypocrite in the world can lay any claim unto, as for gifts, or graces, an hypocrite may attain them, or something like them; it is said of Simon Magus that he believed, Acts 8:13. It is said of Judas that he repented, Matth. 27:3. And of Esau, "that he sought the birth-right with tears," Heb. 12:17. It is said of some," that they partook of the heavenly gift, and of: the powers of the world to come, and yet fell away," Heb. 6:5,6. And it is said of such others, "That they trampled upon the blood of Christ wherewith they were sanctified," Heb. 10:29. Thus we find in scripture phrase, that in a hypocrite or wicked man, there may be a kind of faith and repentance, a taste of heaven, and of sanctification: but where do we find in all the Bible, that Christ or the Spirit of Christ is said to dwell in an hypocrite, or wicked man? This only is the great privilege of a true be

*Mr. Ash in his serm. of Christ the riches of the gospel.

liever, "Christ in him the hope of glory.-O the comfort of this indwelling of Christ! if Zaccheus hearing that Christ would abide in his house, received him joyfully," Luke 19:6. How much greater cause of joy have they who have already lodged him in their hearts? These things have I spoken to you, (said Christ,) that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full," John 15:11.

And now, O my soul, spread thyself on this great good, Christ's ascension, Christ's session, and Christ's mission of his Holy Spirit. What is joy, but an effusion of the appetite whereby the soul spreads itself on what is good, to possess it more perfectly? the object is sweet, and large, and therefore the soul bath need to spread itself, that it may be more united to the object, and touch the good in more of its parts, yea, if it were pos sible in every part, there is not any particular here before thee, but it is fuel for joy; O what joy was in heaven, when Christ ascended, and when Christ sat down at God's right hand, and when Christ sent down the Holy Spirit? How stood the angels wondering and admiring at these several passages? How did they stoop, "and look with the bowing of the head, and bending of the neck?" 1 Pet. 1:12. As the word implies, and is not thy interest in these transactions more than angels? O rejoice, and again rejoice! Suppose thyself in heaven, and that thou hadst a vision of Christ ascended; say, Is he not a pleasant object? "In his face there is fulness of joy," Psalm 16:11. Suppose thyself to have been in heaven when he first entered into it, and when he first sat down at God's right hand, and sent down the Comforter to his saints, Was not heaven full of joy? Methinks the very thought of Christ's bright face, and Christ's white throne, and Christ's harpers, and heavenly troops surrounding the throne, and Christ's welcome to his Father, both for himself, and all his saints, and Christ carrying thy name upon his breast before his Father, should fill thy soul as full of joy, as possibly it can hold. O the first-fruits of Emmanuel's land, that lies beyond time and death! O the joys that were in heaven at Christ's first entrance into heaven! O my soul! why dost thou not check thyself, and lay aside thy sad complaints, and forget this earth and earthy troubles? Why dost thou not look up to Jesus Christ, and rejoice in him who hath done all this for thy salvation? Either the Spirit of God is not thy Comforter, or thou canst not but receive comfort in these passages.

SECT. VIII. Of calling on Jesus in that respect.

8. LET us call on Jesus; I mean-1. Let us pray that we may have our part in these transactions; or let us pray for more and more assurance thereof unto our souls; for though we do believe, yet we may not be without our doubts, and in case of doubts, What better means than prayer? "I believe, Lord help my unbelief; Lord strengthen my faith, till I come to that plerophory, or full assurance of faith, that I may know my interest in the ascension of Christ, and session of Christ, and in the mission of Christ's Holy Spirit." And if once we are but assured, then,

2. Praise God for these great transactions of his Son: are they not mercies like mountains lying one upon another, and reaching up to the very heavens? Did not love break out at first in a direct line? And as it went along, hath it not wound up itself, in such a variety of unthought of discoveries, as that it amazeth men and angels? What, that Jesus Christ should not only act for us here on earth, but also ascend for us into heaven, and sit down there at God's right hand above the heavens? What, that all this should be for us and our salvation? And to that purpose, that he.

should send down his Spirit into our hearts, to fit us, and prepare us for his glory: "Now bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Psa. 103:1,2.-I will extol thee my God, O King, and I will bless thy name for ever and ever, Psa. 145:1.-Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever, verse 2.-One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts, verse 4.— I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works, verse 5.—I will utter the memory of thy great goodness, and I will sing of thy righteousness, verse 7.-Thy saints shall bless thee, verse 10. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, verse 11. And make known unto the sons of men thy mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of thy kingdom, verse 12.-Thy glory is above the earth, and heaven, thou also exaltest the horn of thy people, the praise of all thy saints, and people near unto thyself," Psa. 148:13,14. O that my soul were but in David's temper, thus to breathe out the praises of Jesus, and to bless his name.

SECT. IX. Of conforming unto Jesus in that respect.

9. LET us conform to Jesus in the foresaid respects. A serious behold. ing of Jesus in his ascension, session, and mission of his Spirit, is enough to change us into the same image from glory to glory. It was the sweet saying of an experienced saint, "View a glorified Christ, see him as in that relation and condition, and you will soon have the sparkles of the same glory in your hearts." Christ is now exalted, he is now in glory at the right hand of God; O let all our actings be glorious! let all our walkings, joys, breathings, be as in glory, "If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth," Col. 3:1,2. I shall not in this transaction lay out many particular conformities to Christ's actings, but gather all into one, contained in this text, which is heavenly conversation; seek things above, set your affections above; Christ is gone up, and Christ is set down at God's right hand; and herein if you will conform, let your hearts be in heaven, let your affections be in heav. en, let your conversations be in heaven: it is the apostle's own practice, wherein stood his conformity to Jesus Christ, "For our conversation is in heaven," Phil. 3:20. I do not know any one thing wherein we can be more like to Christ exalted, whilst we are upon earth, than to have our hearts, our conversations with Christ where he is; now then if we be virtu ally risen with Christ, and ascended with Christ, and set down with Christ in heavenly places, let us spiritually ascend, and sit down with him in these respects: certainly there is a proportion in our heavenly conversations; Oh! let our conversations be in heaven.

In prosecution of this, I shall examine these queries,

1. What do we mean by our conversation in heaven?

2. Why must our conversation be in heaven?

3. By what means must we come up to this conversation in heaven? 1. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our aim at heaven; as heaven is our home, so our eye is there; whatever we do, our end, our scope is to fit us for heaven, and to lay in for heaven; "We look not (saith the apos tle) at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal," 2 Cor. 4:18. We look not, that is, we aim not at things which are seen; invisible things are the only scope and aim of a gracious soul.

2. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our communion with Christ in heaven, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ," 1 John 1:3. As it is amongst friends that converse togeth er, they act mutually for the comfort of one another, there is a mutual em. bracing and opening of their hearts to one another at every turn; so in our conversing with Christ, there is a communion, or a mutual acting of the soul upon Christ, and of Christ upon the soul; we let out our hearts to Christ, and he lets out his heart to us, especially when we are with Christ in his ordinances; it is not enough to call upon God, and to use some ⚫ broken-hearted expressions, But, "Oh! What communion have I with Jesus Christ? I cannot be satisfied except I taste and see how good the Lord is; I cannot be quiet, except I hear something from heaven this mor. ning." Why, this is an heavenly conversation.

3. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our living according to the laws of heaven; in all our ways we must still inquire, What rule is there from heaven to guide me in these ways? Such and such a thing I have a mind to, but will the law of heaven justify me in this? Have I any word from Jesus Christ to guide me in this? Sometimes indeed my lusts, my own ends, and the common course of the world was my rule, but now I dare not act, but according to the will and sceptre of Jesus Christ, now I am guided by the law of heaven. Why, this is a heavenly conversation.

4. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our thoughts and meditations of heaven and heavenly things, "When I awake (said David) I am always with thee." Ps. 139:18. The hearts of believers are frequently upon their heavenly treasures: as it is storied of queen Mary, that a little before her death, she told them, "If they ript her open, they would find Calais in her heart." So it may be said of them, whose conversation is in heaven, if you rip them up, you shall find heaven in their hearts; not a day passes over their heads without some converse with heaven, without some thoughts or meditations of heaven and heavenly things.

5. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our affections on heaven, or on Christ in heaven, "Set your affections on things above," Col.3:2. i. e. Set your desires, loves, hopes, joys, breathings on heavenly things: our af fections are precious things, and are only to be set on precious objects: Oh! what a shame is it to set our affections on the things of this life? Have we a kingdom, a God, a Christ, a crown in heaven to set our affections upon? And shall we set them upon dross, and dung, and such base things? Are not all our pleasures and vanities base in comparison of Christ! O! be not we so base to set our affections on earthly things, but rather on God and Christ; and this is our heavenly conversation.

6. By our conversation in heaven, I mean our tradings, our negotiations for heaven, even whilst we are upon earth: the word in the original points at this hunon gar to polituteuma en ouranois, our trading is in heaven; though our bodies be not there, yet our trading is there; we carry and be. have ourselves in this life, as free denizens of the city of heaven, our city whereof we are citizens, and whereunto we have right, is in heaven above; in this respect we trade not for trifles, as other men do, but we trade for great things, for high things, we merchandise for goodly pearls, even for We see now God, and for Christ who sitteth at the right hand of God. what we mean by our conversation in heaven.

2. Why is the conversation of the saints in heaven?

1. Because they know full well, that the original of their souls came from God and heaven; the body indeed was of the dust of the ground, but the soul was the breath of God; so it is said of the first man, "Ged breath..

ed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul," Gen. 2:7. The soul had a more heavenly and divine original than any of the other creatures that are here in this nether world; and when God works grace in the soul, and so it begins to know itself, and to return to itself, it then looks on all things here as vile, and as contemptible things; it then looks upwards, and begins to converse with things suitable to its original. As it is with a child that hath a noble birth; if transported into another country, and there used like a slave, there set to rake channels, or (as the prodigal) to feed swine; while he is there and knows not his original, he minds nothing but to get victuals, and to do his work that he is set about; but if once he come to know from whence he was, that he is indeed born heir to such a prince in such a country, O! then his thoughts, and mind, and longings, will be altered; "O that I were in my own country! ( that I were with my father in his conrt!" Even so it is with the souls of the sons of men, they are the birth (as I may so speak) of the great King of of heaven and earth, and though by the fall of man they came to be as slaves to Satan, yet when God is pleased to convert the soul, then he discovers thus: Oh man! thou art born from on high, thy soul is (as it were) a sparkle of God himself, thou art come from God, and thou art capable of communion with God, even with God the Father, and God the Sou, and God the Holy Ghost. O! consider of thy country whence thou camest at first, certainly thou never hadst such a di. vine and excellent being given thee, to delight only in the flesh, to be serviceable only to thy body, O! look up unto Jesus. Why, this it is that turns the heart, and sets the conversation on heavenly things.

2. Because their best and choice things are already in heaven. As their Father is in heaven, and their Saviour is in heaven, thither he ascended, and there no he sits at the right hand of God; their husband is in heaven, their elder brother is in heaven, their King is in heaven, their treasure is in heaven, their inheritance is in heaven, their hope is in heaven, their mansion is in heaven, their chief friends are in heaven, their substance is in heaven, their reward is in heaven, their wages are in hea ven: and all these things being in heaven, no marvel their conversations be in heaven.

3. Because they are going towards heaven, even whilst yet they are on earth. If the nobleman (as we formerly supposed) do once know his condition, and begins his travel homeward towards his father's court, will he not every morning that he rises, converse with them that come from his father to conduct him home? Doth it not do him good to hear any man speak of his father's country? Is it not in his thoughts, in his talk, in his eye, in his aim, at every step? O my soul, if thou art indeed travelling towards heaven, how shouldst thou but have it in thy motions, affections, conversations? How shouldst thou but daily commune with thy own heart? "Heaven is the place that I shall come to, ere long I shall be there; I know that in this world I am but for a while, but in heaven I shall be for ever and ever; we shall be caught up into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord," 1 Thess. 4:17. Our very travel towards heaven, implies a heavenly conversation, "They go from strength to strength, till every one of them in Zion, appears before God," Ps. 84:7.

4. Because much of heaven is already in the saints, "The kingdom of heaven is within you, saith Christ, Luke 17:21. And knowing in your selves that ye have a better and an enduring substance," Heb. 10:34. Surely, if the saints have much of heaven within them, it must needs be