in this its present infirmity. But, when we shall have put on immortality, the delights of heaven, instead of impairing, shall refresh the faculties that are to enjoy them for such is constantly the effect of intellectual pleasures even here. They never leave satiety or distaste behind them; mind to further desires, and very soul itself with new life. will be as various, as boundless, as endless, as glorious, as are the objects there to be enjoyed.

but stimulate the feed as it were the But in heaven they

We are

Our future happiness is represented to us under the notion of power and dominion. told that the upright shall have dominion over the wicked in the MORNING; that is, in the resurrection. I appoint unto you a kingdom, says Christ to his disciples. And those who are rich in faith, are said, in the Epistle of St. James, to be heirs of the kingdom, which God hath promised to them that love him.

There is in man a natural desire of power; which, in this life, degenerating into ambition, amuses itself with such a shadow of power, as the principalities and sovereignties of this world set before it.

But, in the life to come, the soul, having the full use of all its faculties, shall be exalted to a post of trust and power, equal to its high endowments. We find, in the Book of Daniel, that nations had their guardian angels to rule over them: and nothing can better agree with nature and rea

son than the supposition of such a guardianship. It is not likely, that the blessed spend their whole eternity in merely singing hymns, or in inactive contemplations. It is infinitely more probable that they have certain stations assigned them, where, in subordination to the King of kings, they bear great rule, and execute great achievements: where they combat the great dragon, and the powers of darkness; where whole nations, and, perhaps, whole worlds, are committed to their care and protection; where, in gratitude to their infinite benefactor, and out of love to their fellow-creatures, they rejoice to carry on the glorious schemes of Providence; to promote virtue, to suppress vice, and to fill the kingdom of their master with beings happy as themselves. Is it not on this account that they are called, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ministring spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? The unexpected reformation of particular persons, and the unaccountable revolutions in states and kingdoms, are probably brought about by these invisible agents; who, at one time, promote the liberty and wealth of a virtuous people, and, at another, pour out the phials of God's fury on a degenerate age, or on a guilty nation.

Again, the happiness of our new state is recommended to us by the promise of honour and glory. Glory, honour, and peace, are promised to every one that worketh good. They that have the true

wisdom, says Daniel, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.. Blessed is the man, says St. James, that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. St. Paul reckoned that the sufferings of this PRESENT time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be REVEALED. And he tells us in another place, that, when the veil shall be taken away, we shall all, with open face, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, be changed into the same image; still improving, and rising from glory to glory. How does it dilate the heart, to look forward to that happy time, when, laying aside our load of corruption, dishonour, weakness, and mortality, we shall rise from the earth, and shall clothe ourselves with incorruption, glory, power, and immortality!

SERMON XL.

FROM SKELTON.

PART II.

COLOSSIANS iii. 2.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

THE Conversation of angels and of good men made perfect, will form no considerable share of our happiness in heaven. Our fellow labourers here are to be our co-heirs and fellow-citizens in that glorious kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even while we live on earth, we, in some sense, indeed, have our conversation in heaven. But, when we come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels, THEN how great will be our enjoyment of that celestial conversation! Then those benevolent beings, who, during our warfare in this nether world, looked down with sympathy upon our

trials, lent us perhaps a friendly hand, in our dangerous encounters with our baptismal enemies, who, after our lapses, rejoiced at our rising and repenting-THEN will these heavenly beings bid us a kind and joyful welcome to the mansions of eternal bliss.

Further, the contemplation of God's works will be another source of endless happiness. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. How manifold are

his works in wisdom hath he made them all. As we are naturally led to meditate on the works of God even in this life, where we see and know so little; we surely may presume, that, when our senses, and other faculties shall be enlarged, and the universe itself be opened to our observation, we shall be for ever making new discoveries; and delight to lose ourselves in the contemplation of wonders without end.

In this world we are confined as it were but to a single corner of creation; and our senses are so limited that they afford us but a scanty prospect of the rest. We see a few of the neighbouring stars, or worlds, that lie around us; yet so imperfectly, that they seem but like so many scattered sparks of fire. What fills the boundless residue of space we know not. But of this we may be sure, that even there also infinite wisdom, goodness,

and power, have been manifested and employed;

and are there obeyed and praised. If it be a plea