(Jude 14, 15; Rev. i. 7.) Bear up your hearts ye mourners, and support your hopes with the promise of the Lord," Again, a little while, and ye shall see me; ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the throne of his glory." (Matt. xxv. 31.) "Then shall your hearts rejoice," in his honours and your own; and this joy no man taketh from you." (John xvi. 19—22.) And while he repeats his promise with his last words in the Bible," Surely, I come quickly,” let every soul of us echo to the voice of our Beloved. "Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus."

THE FINAL STATE OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN, The righteous into life eternal.—Matt. xxv. 46. THERE is a state of happiness, which the spirits, or souls, of just men enter into, immediately after their separation from the body. But after the resurrection (which is of the saints into everlasting life, and therefore called the resurrection of life,) and the general judgment is over, and the invitation given, “Come, ye blessed," &c. then the righteous shall go into life eternal; which is the state we shall now consider: and, I. The state of happiness itself.

That good men shall enjoy a state of happiness in the world to come, is evident; for "godliness has the promise of that life which is to come," of happiness in it. And this may be made to appear in some respects,

1. From the light of nature and reason.

Though the kind of happiness is not to be discovered and demonstrated by it, yet some general notion of future happiness may be evinced from it.

1. A general notion of happiness after death has obtained among the wiser sort of heathens, who have had only the light of nature to guide them, unless some general traditions transmitted to them, especially among those who have given any credit to the immortality of the soul. Hence they speak of the Elysian fields, and islands of the blessed, as the seat and habitation of the pious after death, and which they described after a carnal and earthly manner; as grassy plains and flowery meads, and as abounding with all manner of delicious fruits, and as in a most temperate climate, free of all wintery weather, and blustering storms, and scorching heats.

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. Some seek for it in natural wisdom, some in wealth, others in the honours of the world, and others in the gratifications of sensual appetites: but is never found to satisfaction in either; and, as abundantly appears, from the first and second chapters in Ecclesiastes, this is only found in God, the chief good; and that not to perfection in this life. Now, either this desire is planted in vain, which is unreasonable to suppose, or there is a future state of happiness for the virtuous.

3. From the unequal distribution of things in the present state, which makes the providence of God often very intricate, and which cannot be solved without admitting of a future state. Here wicked men are often exalted, and the righteous afflicted. (Ps. Ixxiii.) It is reasonable to suppose, that those who have suffered in the cause of virtue should afterwards be rewarded.

2. 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 concerning it. This is the promise, the grand and principal promise, and which includes all the rest, He, i, e. "God hath promised us," in the covenant of grace,

66 even eternal life." (John ii. 15; Tit. i. 2.) This promise was given early, even before the world began, and by that God that cannot lie.

2. From the preparation of this happiness for be lievers. This consists of things unseen, unheard of, &c. prepared for them that love him. “A kingdom

prepared."

3. From Christ's actual possession of it for his people, in their name; and from the preparation he is making of it for them. He is entered into heaven as their forerunner; has taken possession of it in their name, as their head and representative. "He is gone to prepare a place for them." He will, he has assured them, come again, and secure them to himself, that where he is there they shall be also.

4. From the gospel call to eternal happiness. Lay hold on eternal life. Whereunto thou art also called. "The God of all grace, that hath called you to his eternal glory."

5. From the grace of God implanted in the heart; and the earnest of the Spirit there. A well of water springing up into everlasting life. The earnest of your inheritance.

6. From the present experience of the saints, from those foretastes they sometimes have of future glory; like the Israelites, they have some clusters of Canaan's

grapes, some of the fruits of the good land; they now receive the first fruits of the Spirit, which encourage them to hope for the glorious harvest. At certain seasons, they have such communion with their God, that they are at the gate and suburbs of heaven.

7. From the desires of the saints after future happiness. They desire to be with Christ, to be present with the Lord. They press toward the mark.

8. From the assurance some of the saints have had of it. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and others, all died in the faith of the better country they were seeking. The Psalmist expresses a strong faith, that God would receive him to glory. The apostle says, we know, we are well assured, that we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

9. This happiness is begun already in this life; in regeneration men pass from death into life; and this is life eternal to know thee the only true God.

10. There are instances of the saints already in heaven; and some in their body, as well as souls; as Enoch and Elijah; and, as it is highly probable, the saints that arose at Christ's resurrection, and went with him to heaven. Luke xiii. 28; xvi. 22.

Various are the names by which this happiness is expressed It is called heaven, for there is this happiness reserved in heaven; it goes by the name of Paradise, in allusion to the garden of Eden, a place of pleasure and delight: it is represented as a place of light, the light of life, the inheritance of the saints in light. It needs no artificial light to illuminate it; God and the Lamb are the light thereof: it is signified by a house; a Father's house; a house not made with hands: it is said to be a city; a city of God's preparing; it is called the better country; and as a

state, it is called an inheritance, in allusion to the land of Canaan, which was distributed by lot: a kingdom, the kingdom of God; a crown, a crown of righteousness: it is expressed by glory itself; a weight of glory: it has the name of peace: mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: it is signified by rest, which remains for the people of God: it is called the joy of the Lord, a joy that cannot be taken from them, a fulness of joy, a joy unspeakable and full of glory.

All of which certainly imply a freedom from all evils, afflictions, temptations, persecutions, and the possession of all good, the enjoyment of God himself as their portion, a being with Christ; having the society of angels, and the spirits of just men, and joining them in adoring the divine perfections, from which will arise the greatest joy and felicity; joy unspeakable. The redeemed of the Lord shall now come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy.

II. The eternity of this happiness.

Which will appear,

1. By its being frequently called eternal life, ever. lasting life, a life that will never end. It is said of Methusalem, the oldest man, that he lived so many years, and that he died; but he that liveth and believeth in him shall never die.

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.

4. It is an inheritance, and an eternal inheritance, incorruptible, and that fadeth not.

5. It is a city, and a continuing city; here the saints have none.