to the actual possession of it. "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom." They are the children of God by regeneration and adoption: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. viii. 17. Now is the general assembly of the first-born before the throne: their minority is overpast, and the time appointed of the Father for their receiving of their inheritance is come. The Mediator

purchased the inheritance for them with his own blood; their rights and evidences were drawn long ago and registered in the Bible; nay, they had enfeoffment of their inheritance in the person of Jesus Christ, as their proxy, when he ascended into heaven, "whither the forerunner is for us entered," Heb. vi. 20. Nothing remaineth but that they enter into personal possession thereof, which begun at death, and is perfected at the last day, when the saints, in their bodies as well as their souls go into their kingdom.

LASTLY, They are introduced to it, as these it was prepared for, from the foundation of the world. The kingdom was prepared for them, in the eternal purpose of God, before they or any of them had a being; which shews it to be a gift of free grace to them. It was from eternity the divine purpose that there should be such a kingdom for the elect, and that all impediments which might mar their access to it, should be removed out of the way; and withal, by the same eternal decree, every one's place in it was determined and set apart, to be reserved for him, that each of the children coming home at length into their Father's house, might find his own place awaiting him, and ready for him, as at Saul's table, David's place was empty when he was not there to occupy it himself, 1 Sam. xx. 25. And now that the appointed time is come, they are brought in to take their several places in glory, set apart and reserved for them, till they should come at them.

USE. I shall shut up my discourse on this subject, with a word of Application. (1.) To all who claim a right to this kingdom. (2.) To these who have indeed a right to it. (3.) To these who have not a right thereto.

First, Since it is evident there is no promiscuous admission into the kingdom of heaven, and none do obtain it, but these whose claim to it is solemnly tried by the great Judge, and after trial sustained as good and valid; it is necessary that all of us impartially try and examine, whether according to the laws of the kingdom, contained in the holy scriptures, we can verify and make good our claim to this kingdom? The hopes of heaven which most men have, are built on such sandy foundations as can never abide the trial, having no ground in

the word, but in their own deluded fancy: such hopes will leave those who entertain them, miserably disappointed at last. Wherefore it is not only our duty, but our interest, to put the matter to a fair trial in time. If we find we have no right to heaven indeed, we are yet in the way; and what we have not, we may obtain: but if we find we have a right to it, we will then have the comfort of a happy prospect into eternity; which is the greatest comfort one is capable of in the world. If ye inquire "How ye may know whether ye have a right to heaven or not?" I answer, ye must know that, by the state ye are now in. If ye are yet in your natural state, ye are children of wrath, and not children of this kingdom; for that state, to them who live and die in it, issues in eternal misery. If you be brought into the state of grace you have a just claim to the state of glory; for grace will certainly issue in glory at length. This kingdom is an inheritance which none but the children of God can justly claim: now we become the children of God by regeneration and union with Christ his Son: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. viii. 17. These then are the great points upon which one's evidences for the state of glory do depend. And therefore I refer you to what is said on the state of grace, for clearing of you as to your right to glory.

If you be heirs of glory, "the kingdom of God is within you," by virtue of your regeneration and union with Christ. (1.) The King of heaven has the throne in thy heart, if thou hast a right to that kingdom: Christ is in thee, and God is in thee; and having chosen him for thy portion, thy soul has taken up its everlasting rest in him, and gets no kindly rest but in him, as the dove, until she came into the ark. To him the soul habitually inclines, by virtue of the new nature, the divine nature, which the heirs of glory are partakers of, Psal. lxxiii. 25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." (2.) The laws of heaven are in thy heart, if thou art an heir of heaven, Heb. viii. 10, "I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts." Thy mind is enlightened in the knowledge of the laws of the kingdom, by the spirit of the Lord, the Instructor of all the heirs of glory: for whoever may want instruction, sure an heir to a crown shall not want it. "It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God," John vi. 45. Therefore, though father and mother leave them early, or be in no concern about their Christian education, and they be soon put to work for their daily bread; yet they shall

not lack teaching. Withal thy heart is changed, and thou bearest God's image, which consists in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. iv. 24. Thy soul is reconciled to the whole law of God, and at war with all known sin. In vain do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not holy in heart and life; for, "Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord," Heb. xii. 14. If heaven be a rest, it is for spiritual labourers, and not for loiterers. If it be an eternal triumph, they are not in the way to it, who avoid the spiritual warfare, and are in no care to subdue corruption, resist temptation, and to cut their way to it through the opposition made by the devil, the world, and the flesh. (3.) The treasure in heaven is the chief in thy esteem and desire, for it is your treasure; and, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," Matth. vi. 21. If it be not in the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, which thy heart is in greatest care and concern to obtain; if thou art driving a trade with heaven, and thy chief business lies there; it is a sign thy treasure is there, for thy heart is there. But if thou art one of these who wonder why so much ado about heaven and eternal life, as if less might serve the turn; thou art like to have nothing ado with it at all. Carnal men value themselves most on their treasures upon earth; with them, the things that are not seen, are weighed down by the things that are seen; and no losses do so much affect them, as earthly losses; but the heirs of the crown of glory, will value themselves most on their treasures in heaven, and will not put their private estate in the balance with their kingdom: nor will the loss of the former go so near their hearts, as the thoughts of the loss of the latter. Where these first fruits of heaven are to be found, the eternal weight of glory will surely follow after: while the want of them, must be admitted, according to the word, to be an incontestible evidence of an heir of wrath.

SECONDLY, Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themselves suitable to their character and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom: Let your conversation be in heaven, Philip iii. 20. Let your souls delight in communion with God, while ye are on earth, since ye look for your happiness in communion with him in heaven. Let your speech and actions savour of heaven; and in your manner of life, look like the country to which ye are going, that it may be said of you, as of Gideon's brethren, Judges, viii. 18. Each one resembled the children of a king. Maintain a holy contempt of the world, and of the things of the world. Although

others whose earthly things are their best things, do set their hearts upon them; yet it becomes you to set your feet on them, since your best things are above. This world is but the country through which lies your road to Immanuel's land: therefore pass through it as pilgrims and strangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of it, so as to retard you in your journey. It is unworthy of one born to a palace to set his heart on a cottage, to dwell there: and of one running for a prize of gold, to go off his way to gather the stones of the brook, but much more is it unworthy of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the stuff of this world, when he should be going on to receive his crown. The prize set before you, challengeth your utmost zeal, activity, and diligence: and holy courage, resolution, and magnanimity, become those who are to inherit the crown. Ye cannot come at it without fighting your way to it, through difficulties from without and from within: but the kingdom before you is sufficient to balance them all, though ye should be called to resist, even unto blood. Prefer Christ's cross before the world's crown, and wants in the way of duty, before ease and wealth in the way of sin: "Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," Heb. xi. 25. In a common inn, strangers (perhaps) fare better than the children, but here lies the difference, the children are to pay nothing for what they have got; but the strangers get their bill, and must pay completely for all they have had. Did we consider the wicked's after-reckoning for all the smiles of common providence they meet with in the world, we would not grudge them their good things here; nor take it amiss that God keeps our best things last. Heaven will make up all the saint's losses; and all tears will be wiped away from their eyes there.

It is worth observing, that there is such a variety of scripture notions of heaven's happiness, as may suit every afflicted case of the saints. Are they oppressed? The day cometh in which they shall have the dominion. Is their honour laid in the dust? A throne to sit upon, a crown on their head, and a sceptre in their hand, will raise it up again. Are they reduced to poverty? Heaven is a treasure. If they be forced to quit their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's house is ready for them. Are they driven to the wilderness? There is a city prepared for them. Are they banished from their native country? They shall inherit a better country. If they are deprived of public ordinances: the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple there, whither they are going: a temple, the doors of

which none can shut. If their life be full of bitterness, heaven is a paradise for pleasure. If they groan under the remains of spiritual bondage: there is a glorious liberty abiding them. Do their defiled garments make them ashamed? The day cometh, in which their robes shall be white, pure, and spotless. The battle against flesh and blood, principalities and powers, is indeed sore; but a glorious triumph is awaiting them. If the toils and labours of the Christian life be great, there is an everlasting rest for them in heaven. Are they judged unworthy of society in the world? They shall be admitted into the society of angels in heaven. Do they complain of frequent interruptions of their communion with God? There they shall go no more out, but shall see his face for evermore. If they are in darkness here, eternal light is there. If they grapple with death, there they shall have everlasting life. And to sum up all, in one word, "He that overcometh, shall inherit all things," Rev. xxi. 7. He shall have peace and plenty, profit and pleasure, every thing desirable; full satisfaction to his most enlarged desires. Let the expectants of heaven then lift up their heads with joy, gird up their loins, and so run as they may obtain, trampling on every thing that may hinder them in the way to the kingdom. Let them never account any duty too hard, nor any cross too heavy, nor any pains too much, so as they may obtain the crown of glory.

LASTLY, Let those who have no right to the kingdom of heaven be stirred up to seek it with all diligence. Now is the time wherein the children of wrath may become heirs of glory: and when the way to everlasting happiness is opened, it is no time to sit still and loiter. Raise up your hearts towards the glory that is to be revealed, and do not always lie along on this perishing earth. What can all your worldly enjoyments avail you, while you have no solid ground to expect heaven, after this life is gone? These riches and honours, profits and pleasures, that must be buried with us, and cannot accompany us into another world, are but a wretched portion, and will leave men comfortless at long run. Ah! why are men so fond in their life-time to receive their good things? Why are they not rather in care to secure an interest in the kingdom of heaven, which would never be taken from them, but afford them a portion to make them happy through the ages of eternity? If you desire honour, there you may have the highest honours, and which will last when the world's honours are laid in the dust: if riches, heaven will yield you a treasure: and there are pleasures for evermore. O! be not despisers of the pleasant land, neither judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life; but marry