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torments of hell, and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom? Or was it not the soul, or immortal spirit, of the rich man, that felt these torments?

But, this was a parable-I do not know that. I do not find that the evangelist calls it a para、 ble; and we are, in all places, expressly told when our Lord spake a parable, unless this is one, which I have a right to dispute. I believe it to be a piece of real history, known to our Lord, and by him communicated to the people, to warn them against covetousness, voluptuousness, and hard-heartedness; and to comfort the poor and miserable to teach them to bear their afflictions with patience, in hopes of a blessed reverse hereafter.

But if this was a parable, it does not help the matter for parables were similitudes, all taken from matters of fact that constantly happened; as the sower that went forth to sow, &c. But I have spent more time than I intended upon this part of my subject, upon which a few words might have sufficed.

I am to consider eternal life, as a state of well-being, or happiness.

Three things are necessary to a state of wellbeing on earth: 1. Peace; 2. Health; and, 3. Competence. Take either of these away, and you cannot enjoy the others. We will consider each of these, as composing part of the happiness of Heaven.

1. PEACE. There shall be eternal peace between the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the heavenly inhabitants. They

aving been all reconciled to him through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Ghost, shall never feel any lisposition towards their Creator, but love and doration. The carnal mind, which is naturaly enmity against God, shall never find an enrance into the regions of bliss: not one enemy o God or goodness, shall ever have an entrance here. All shall be at peace with Jehovah, the God of peace.

All shall enjoy peace in their own hearts. No guilt, no fear, no sin, no shame, shall have any place in the hearts of the celestial inhabitants.They shall be all at peace, one with another.No selfishness, envy, pride, or wrath shall have a dwelling there; as not the least enmity can subsist in that glorious life.

All shall be love, and peace, and harmony, among the blest inhabitants.

No enemies to each other shall have an admittance there.

2. HEALTH. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein, shall be forgiven their iniquity." Isaiah, xxxiii. 24. As no sin shall enter the heavenly land; so, no pain, sickness, sorrow, or death, shall ever find a dwelling there; for these all are the consequences of transgression.

3. COMPETENCE. The least that can be undersood by Competence, is, food, drink, and raiment. If any person has a source from whence he can certainly and regularly derive these, and be not indebted to any man, I consider that he hath a bare Competence: but certainly, he is in a state of indigence that hath them not. '' Having food (in which drink is in

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cluded) and raiment, let us be therewith content:" 1 Tim, vi. 8. The Holy Ghost accommodates himself to this idea, while he promises the righteous man, in the heavenly land, that "bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure" Isaiah, xxxiii. 16. Our Saviour uses this manner of speaking, both when he was on earth, and after his ascension.

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Blessed, (says he) are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. Verily, I say unto you, That he shall gird him. self, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth, and serve them :" St. Luke, xii. 37.

And-"Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God;" was a Jewish phrase, which our Redeemer was far from disapproving of: See St. Luke, xiv. 15.

And the last time he sat down to eat and drink with his disciples, before his sufferings, he said unto them-" With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suf fer. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God" St. Luke, xxii. 15, 16.

And when he gave them the cup, he said"I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom :". St. Mat. xxvi. 29. St. Mark, xiv. 25.

And farther, he says-"And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father appointed unto me: that ye may eat and drink at my table, in

my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the tribes of Israel:" St. Luke, xxii. 29, 30.

And in the divine book of Revelation, which Jesus sent to his beloved servant John, he says; "To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life; which is in the midst of the paradise of God. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden manna :" Rev. ii. 7, 17.

John saw a great number, that no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples,and tongues, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands; who came out of great tribulation, washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. In the account one of the elders gave of their happiness, he says" They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" Rev. vii. 16, 17.

It is said "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, who have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment:" Revelations iii. 4, 5.

Many other passages might be quoted; but these are fully sufficient to to prove, that the ideas of food, drink, and clothing, stand as constantly connected with the happiness of the next state, as with the comfort of the present; and

are always considered as some of the blessings of -eternal life. Whether these expressions are used only as metaphors, to convey the ideas of fulness of all good, and that we shall not need these comforts of life; or whether we shall, in reality, eat the fruits of the tree of life, and drink of the river of the water of life, and be clothed in white garments, I shall not positively determine --but am strongly inclined to believe, that we shall actually eat, drink, and be clothed: as there is no inconsistency in such an opinion, nor a single passage of scripture to contradict it, while there are many expressions that seem evidently to declare it.

But the desires of men do commonly extend beyond these bare necessaries of life: They are not content with Peace, Health, and Competence and though they have in abundance food to eat, water to drink, and raiment to put on, they now think lightly of the heavenly blessings -they feel new appetites; and the fantastic mind is now aspiring after the Riches, the Honors, or the Pleasures of life! Who will shew us any good? is the question which goes roundwhile the soul is swallowed up between desire and expectancy. All are rejoiced, when their corn, their wine and oil, their flocks and herds, are increased, and their silver and gold are multiplied. No sooner are they able to resolve those questions; What shall we cat? and what shall we drink? and wherewithal shall we be clothed?-but they begin to enquire how they shall get riches, rise to preferments and honors, or walk the path of ease, pleasure and happiness..

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