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delicious fruits, and gentle zephyrs. 2. From a natural desire in mankind after happiness, and which is universal; and yet it is certain it is not attained in this present life, though eagerly sought for, in one way or another. Now either this desire of happiness is implanted in vain, or there must be a future state, in which this happiness will be enjoyed. 3. From the unequal distribution of things in the present state; which makes the providences of God very intricate, and perplexed with difficulties not easy to be solved. But this more abundantly appears, II. From divine revelation; by which life and immortality are brought to light; or an immortal life of happiness is set in the clearest light; and which may be strongly concluded, 1. From the promise of God; He hath promis ed us eternal life, 1 John ii. 25. 2. From the predestination of men unto it; Whom he did predestinate—them he also glori. fied. Rom. viii. 30. 3. From the preparation of this happiness for them; it is a kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. 4. From Christ's actual possession of it for his people; That where he is, they may be also, John xiv. 2, 3. 5. From the effectual vocation of men to eternal life and happiness; Whom he called-them he also glorified, Rom. viii. 30. 6. From the grace of God implanted in the heart, and the earnest of the Spirit there; he is said to be given as an earnest, and to be the earnest of the inheritance, until the re demption of the purchased possession, Eph. ii. 14. 7. From the present experience of the saints; like the Israelites, they have seen clusters of Canaan's grapes, some of the fruits of the good land, by the way as a specimen and pledge of what they shall enjoy. 8. From the desires of the saints after future happiness, Phil. i. 23. and iii. 14. 9. From the assu rance of it some of the saints have had; we KNOW, that we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, 2 Cor. v. 1. 10. This happiness is begun already in this life, John. v. 24. Lastly, There are instances of saints already in heaven, and some in their bodies, as well as in their souls, as Enoch and Elijah. I go on to consider,

II. The names, phrases, and epithets, used of his happiness. 1. The names by which it is called; both as a place and as a state. As a place, 1. It is called heaven; the hope laid up in heaven. 2. It goes by the name of paradise, in allusion to the garden of Eden, a place of pleasure and delight, Luke xxiii. 43. 3. It is represented as a place of light, Rev. xxi. 23. 4. It is signified by an house to dwell in, John xiv. 2. 5. It is said to be a city, Heb. xi. 10, 16. 6. It is called the better country, Heb xi. 16. As a state it is sometimes called an inheritance, Acts xx 32. A kingdom, Matt. xxv. 34. a crown, 2 Tim. iv. 8. It is expressed by glory itself, Psal. lxxxiv. 11. It is said to be a weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17. in allusion to the ponderous crowns of princes; it has the name of peace; it is signified by a rest, which remains for the people of God, after this toilsome life is over, Heb. iv. 9. It is called the joy of the Lord, Matt. xxv. 21, 23. 11. There are are various phrases also by which this happy state is expressed, as by being in Abraham's bosom,; and sitting down as at a table and a feast, but more especially by being with Christ, and sitting with him on his throne, Phil. i. 23. Rev. iii. 21. It is, as yet, an unseen happiness: it is future, a glory that shall be revealed; grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Christ. It is enduring, a crown of glory that fadeth not away. I proceed to shew,

III. The parts of this happiness, or wherein it will consist. 1. In a freedom from all evils, both of soul and body; from all evils that affect the soul. From the evil of evils, sin: From all temptations to it; from the dominion and the commission of it: yea, the saints in heaven will be free from the very being of sin; they will be rid of an evil heart of unbelief, and be no more distressed: from the evil one, Satan, and his temptations; and from evil men: there will be no more tares among the wheat, nor goats among the sheep, nor foolish virgins among the wise; they that offend, and do iniquity, will be gathered out of the kingdom of Christ.

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This happiness will consist in a freedom from all bodily evils. No more penury, nor straitness; no more want of food, of drink, and of clothing; no more racking pains, nor loathsome diseases; no more sickness; no more death. II. This happy state will consist in the enjoyment of all that is good. In the enjoyment of God himself; Father, Son, and Spirit, in the highest perfection, and without any interruption, and to all eternity. In being with Christ, and beholding his glory. In having the company and society of angels, and of one another. They will now be come, in the fullest sense, to an innumerable company of angels; and will converse with them, and join them in adoring the divine perfections, and blessing and praising God and the Lamb. The communion of the saints will be with the utmost peace and concord; they will dwell together in unity, in the highest perfection; there will be no jars nor discord among them; no envy and vexa. tion among brethren; love will be arrived at its greatest pitch of vigour and glory, and continue so forever. This happiness will consist in perfect holiness. Sanctification will now be completed in soul and body. There will be a glory revealed in the saints, which is beyond all comparison; and a glory put upon them that is inconceivable. From all which will arise the greatest joy and felicity: the redeemed of the Lord shall now be come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, Isai. xxxv. 10.

IV. It may be considered, whether there will be any de grees in the final happiness of the saints; or whether one saint will have a greater share of happiness than another, It appears, there will be degrees in the punishment of the wicked in hell; and some think there will be degrees in the happiness of the saints in heaven; and others not: and there are some things advanced on both sides not to be despised. The arguments against degrees in glory are, That all the people of God are loved by him with the same love all chosen toge ther in Christ, equally interested in the same covenant of grace, equally redeemed with the same price, justified by the

same righteousness; equally the sons of God, and all kings and priests. The future glory and happiness of the saints, is frequently expressed by words of the singular number; shewing, that though it belongs to more, it is the same to all.

It is a question moved by some, whether there will not be an increase of the happiness of the saints in a future state, or some addition made unto it, and improvement of it, by fresh discoveries of the mysteries of grace and of providence, that may be gradually made, which may afford new pleasure and delight. This is not easy to determine; much may be said for the growing happiness of the saints onward in eternity; but the determination of this question, must be left till we come into that state when we shall know even also as we are known.

The eternity of this happiness is the next and the last thing to be considered, this happiness will never have an end; as appears by its names. 1. By its being frequently called eter nal life. 2. It is a glory, and it is called eternal glory, an eternal weight of glory, a crown of glory that fadeth not away: 3. It is an house eternal in the heavens; everlasting habitations, Luke xvi. 8. 4. It is an inheritance, and an eternal one; 1 Pet. v. 4. 5. It is a city, and a continued one, Heb. xi. 10. 6. It is a kingdom, and an everlasting one. 2 Pet. i 11. 7. It is a country in which the saints are not sojourners, they will for ever dwell as in their own native land. 8. It is expressed by being with Christ, and which will be for ever. 9. The eternal purpose of God, which first gave birth to this state of happiness; the everlasting covenant of grace, in which it is secured; and the promise of it, made before the world began, confirm and ensure the everlasting continuance of it. 10. Were there any fears of its ever ending, it would not be perfect happiness; but as perfect love casteth out fear, so the full evidence that is given of the eternity of the saints happiness, casts out all fear of its ever coming to an end.

BOOK I.

OF THE WORSHIP OF GOD, OR PRACTICAL RELIGION.

OF THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP.

TWO things are to be observed and considered,-That the Lord God is the object of worship,-that he alone is the object of worship, to the exclusion of all others.

I. The object of worship is the Lord God, God essentially and personally considered. 1. God essentially considered, or as considered in his nature and essence which is the founda tion of worship, The Lord is to be worshipped, whose name alone is Jehovah, Deut. vi. 4. Thus Jacob invoked God, Gen. xlviii. 15. David says, his prayer should be to the God of his life, Psal. xlii. 8. The name of God, the very first name by which he is called in scripture, Elohim, Gen. i. 1. implies worship, and that he is to be worshipped who created the heavens and the earth, for it comes from a word which signifies to worship. 11. God personally considered, or God considered in the three persons, is the object of worship. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one, are one God, and so equally the object of divine worship. The Father, of whom Christ expressly says, that men shall worship the Father, John iv. 21. 23. Baptism, which is a solemn act of religious worship under the New Testament dispensation, is administered in his name. Prayer is made

to the Father, Eph. ii. 18. and thanksgiving; Giving thanks always for all things, unto God and the Father, Eph. v. 20.

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