sure, and perfection of delight to be so intimately joined to the Lord, as to become one spirit with Him: such do deliciously "taste" and fully "see how gracious the Lord is"."

There is no earthly pleasure like the taste and sense of the Lord's grace and favour to us it is yet a greater pleasure to enjoy the Lord as the only object of love and delight it is yet more sweet and pleasurable to acquiesce and be fully satisfied in the enjoyment of the Divine Majesty. But the fulness of joy is not only to enjoy, but to know that we shall ever enjoy the beatifical vision, and have the fruition of the supreme beauty and Divine goodness for ever and ever.

Now then, O my soul, "Delight thou in the Lord, and He shall give thee thy heart's desires:" in the satisfaction and peace of thy desires does thy happiness consist, and this is alone in the Lord obtainable: "Blessed are the people, O| Lord, that can rejoice in Thee; they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance; their delight shall be daily in Thy Name, and

in Thy righteousness shall they make their boast for Thou art the glory of their strength"."

But the soul that will rejoice in God, must be stamped after His image, and be like unto Him, pure as He is pure, holy as He is holy, merciful as He is merciful.

"Be ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love";" and so thou mayest hope to enjoy the Lord as the supreme object of love and delight in Heaven.

How infinite is the goodness, and how exceeding the bounty of the Lord to His good and faithful servants, to admit them into the same joy which Himself enjoys! for so shall it be said to each of them, "Well done, good and faithful servant -enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

The joy and felicity of God does consist in the contemplation and fruition of His own perfections and felicities and such is the happiness of the Saints in Heaven, to contemplate and enjoy the Divine Majesty in the fulness of His joy and pleasure for evermore.

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Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not

yet appear what we shall be: but we know when He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is." To see God as He is in Himself, clearly, fully, and with fulness of satisfaction, is the happiness both of God Himself, and of all His Saints in Him.

O Lord, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee, such good things as pass man's understanding; pour into our hearts such love towards Thee, that we loving Thee in and above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ.

MEDITATION III.

Of the Company of Heaven. 1. Of God's Presence there.

1. God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is the chief and principal inhabitant of the Heaven of heavens: God, indeed, is every where, in respect of His essence, presence, power; but in Heaven in respect of His glory, and the supereminent brightness of His Majesty, which is in Heaven most conspicuous, full, and rav

71 John iii. 2. Isaiah vi. 2.

ishing: nor could Heaven be called so, it were not Heaven, if not enlightened and enhappied by God's superlative presence there : "And wherever, O Lord, Thou art present, either in grace or glory, there is Heaven: and death and hell is every where, where Thou art absent"."

2. But what doth it avail the company of Heaven, that God is there especially present, since" God dwelleth with the light which no man can approach unto, Whom no man hath seen or can see1?" The very Angels of Heaven cover their faces with their wings, in the presence of God, that the excessive brightness of His Majesty and great glory overwhelm them not. It is true but however, so much of this eminent glory shall appear, and so fully the splendid rays thereof be displayed in Heaven, as shall ravish all the blessed beholders thereof" with a joy unspeakable and glorious."

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They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of Thy house," viz. of celestial glory, "and Thou shalt give them drink of Thy pleasures as out of a riverd" so full

and overflowing shall be their satisfaction and contentment.

"For with Thee is the well of life,” and of all the joys and consolations of life: " and in Thy light shall we see light," even the ravishing light of glory in the light of God's countenance, "in Whose presence is fulness of joy.'

2. The Angels of Heaven. Next to the blissful presence of God, the society in Heaven is Angels and Archangels, cherubims and seraphims, thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, and all the several orders of celestial spirits.

The very sight of one blessed Angel upon earth, would be more joyous and ravishing than to behold the greatest beauty and most splendid excellency that is liable to the eyes of flesh: yea, all the pomp and glory of the world is not comparable to such a sight: how much more joyful and glorious will it be, not only to behold, but to enjoy the society of those innumerable ministering spirits of whom we read, "Thousand thousands ministered unto Him,

• Psalm xxxvi. 9. f Col. i. 16.

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him!"

"These rest not day and night, crying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaothh" "Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy gloryi:" to make one in this hymnidical choir, and to be received into one of these mansions of glory from whence the apostate angels fell, is such an astonishing joy as cannot by the tongue of men and Angels be expressed.

3. The Saints in Heaven.

To these angelical spirits are joined in society, as members of the same Church triumphant in Heaven, "The glorious company of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs,' the innumerable train of holy confessors, priests, and people of each sex, and of every condition, of whose numberless number we read, "And I beheld, and lo a great multitude which no can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white

man

Dan. vii. 10. h Isa. vi. 8, &c.

robes, and palms in their hands and cried with a loud voice, Salvation to our God'."

"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple and He that sitteth upon the throne shall dwell amongst them'."

They shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more"."

"The Lamb in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to the living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes"."

Blessed souls, in whom the King of Glory placeth His throne, and reigneth in them for ever: blessed are those mouths which shall taste and be satisfied with the waters of life everlasting; and blessed are those tears which shall be wiped away with the right hand of God Himself, and everlasting joy succeed in the stead thereof.

Into this glorious Communion of Saints in Heaven, there daily are and daily

Rev. vii. 9, 10. m Rev. vii. 16.

shall be for ever received, all such true servants of God, and stout soldiers of Jesus Christ, who under this banner have" overcome the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, all the sinful lusts of the flesh :" who have warred a good warfare over these their ghostly enemies, and kept the faith whereinto they were baptized, without any tincture of heresy or schism, observing God's holy will and commandments, and walked in the same all the days of their life.

All of these returning from their wearisome pilgrimage through the wilderness of this world, to their native home of Heaven. shall be received into, and rejoice in their proper and peculiar mansions of peace: each differing indeed in the degrees of glory, according to their difference in the degrees of grace; but all shall enjoy their full proportion of happiness, and with common joy shall sing together perpetual Hallelujahs to "Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever"."

And it

is wonderful

1 Rev. vii. 15.

• Rev. v. 13.