And if we die in peace, then shall we be more than ever convinced of the truth of the text; we shall then perceive, how little we comprehended, in our mortal state, of the blessedness of the saints at rest, of "the rest that remaineth for the people of God." And, at the resurrection, other scenes will follow, with more abundant tokens of confirmation: who can conceive the happiness of rising with the just; of hearing with joy the trumpet of the archangel; of beholding, with an eye of rapture, the beaming of that glorious morn; of meeting the smile of a compassionate Judge and Saviour; of being called to His right hand, "come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"* what mind on earth is equal to these things? And then will succeed the consummation of our felicity, "the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness;"+ the enjoyment of the † 2 Pet. iii. 13. * Matt. xxv. 34. presence of God and the Lamb the personal sharing of the service, the honour, and the delight of angels and archangels, through all eternity. Of this we cannot pretend to form an estimate in our mortal condition; while the veil is hanging before our eyes; the holy Spirit, by manya sublime image, lifts our imagination as high as it can be carried; but still, the representation must be feeble, when com pared with the glorious reality; after all that has been said, if we arrive at the heavenly city, the appearance will be new, the happiness new to us all. Unsearchable it is now, unsearchable it will be then; a wonder of love that will never be satisfied, a mansion of glory that will never be completely surveyed. But we shall doubtless behold, on seeeing "face to face," more of the fulness of the riches of Christ; shall penetrate further into that mystery of divine love, which planned the merciful work of our redemption before the foundation of the world; shall see more of the meetness of the Saviour's sufferings; of His mighty conquest over sin and death; of the greatness of His kingdom and the" majesty of His glory." We shall then see and admire that now invisible bond, by which the whole company of the Lord's servants and people, heavenly and earthly, have been sustained and kept together: how men below, and saints at rest, and angels in heaven, have been bound in spiritual union, through all the ages of time; how the vast multitude of holy creatures in the universe have felt a common interest and benefit in their blessed Lord.* When they are all assembled together in adoration round His throne, we shall know more of this endearing bond; it will then be manifest, and be perfected for ever. I need not attempt to go further; certainly none of us will deny the unsearchableness of the riches of Christ. Certainly every one of us is ready to exclaim, O that I may be partaker of them; all this * Col. i. 12-20. world, nay, a thousand worlds are nothing in comparison. These riches are now offered to you: they are waiting your acceptance; receive them with all your heart, and they are yours; you do not expect them to be forced upon you; you do not expect this happy portion without choosing it, without prayer and without striving for it; ask earnestly, seek diligently, and it shall be yours; your inexhaustible treasure, in time and to eternity. E SERMON III. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLOOD. GENESIS vi. 6. 7. It repented the Lord, that He had made man upon the earth and it grieved Him at His heart; and the Lord said, I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth. THE expression in the former clause of the text has, to some persons, afforded matter of surprise; and certainly the language is remarkable; representing the Almighty as repenting of the work of creation, and grieved at the heart, not merely on account of the wickedness of man, but that he was ever made. the language, when properly considered, is no more remarkable, than that of num Yet |