of infinite compassion and forgiveness still, though he has no immediate new exercises of them in heaven, in a world where no sinners are; for sin and misery are the only proper occasions of forgiveness and mercy. Thus the saints in heaven are perfect in grace and holiness, even though there are no proper objects or occasions for this holiness or this grace to manifest itself in such peculiar instances as I have been describing in this discourse.

OBJECTION 2. How can it be said that a living Christian has any advantage above the dead? Is not heaven better than earth? and upon that account is not death often represented to us under most pleasing colours in the gospel, as it is an escape from the sins and sorrows of this present state, and as it conveys us into the world of blessed spirits, where there are infinite advantages above any thing to be enjoyed in this life?

ANSWER. Though the living saint has some advantages which the dead cannot partake of, yet it is very true that the honours, the pleasures, the joys, the perfections, and the advantages of heaven when summed up together, are far more and greater, and are infinitely preferable to those on earth; but they are not all of the same kind. When we compare the state of grace and the state of glory together, we may boldly say, the state of glory has vastly the preference; and St. Paul himself thought so, Phil. i. 21, 23. To be dissolved and to be with Christ is far better than to dwell in this sinful world. He asserts it, that death would be his own gain, yet still he allows there are some advantages of this life which death would deprive him of; for (says he) for me to live in the flesh will be for the honour of Christ in his churches; and I shall have this fruit of my life, even the furtherance of your faith and joy, ver. 22, and 25.

When we are encouraging Christians to live

above the fear of death, we represent to them all the glories and felicities of the future world, which are infinitely superior to all things we can enjoy in this life. But while we continue here on earth, under the difficulties and hardships of the present state, we have need of patience, that when we have done the will of God we may receive the promises, Heb. x. 36. And we have need of all those peculiar advantages to be set before us which can belong to our stations here on earth, on purpose to support our patience, to bear us up under present burdens, and make us active in present duties; although, it must be still confest, that all those advantages of this life joined with our present sins and sorrows, are much inferior to the actual taste and fruition of the joys of heaven, where sin and sorrow are known no more.

This thought very naturally leads me to the improvement and conclusion of my discourse, which I shall wind up briefly in these four practical inferences.

INFERENCE 1. Since there are many virtues and duties which belong only to this present life, let us Jose no opportunity for the practice of them, for the next day or the next hour may put it for ever out of our power to practise them. Eternity is a long duration indeed, but it will never afford us one season for visiting the sick, for feeding the hungry, or for charity and meekness toward those who injure us; eternity itself will never give us one opportunity for the pious labours of love toward the conversion of sinful acquaintance and relatives. O let us not suffer this precious lamp of life to burn in vain, or weeks, and days, and hours to slide away unemployed and useless. Let us remember, that while we are here we work for a long hereafter, that we think, and speak, and act with regard to an eternal state, and that in time we live for eternity. Let us

call up all our powers to action and diligence, that not a day of our short lives may pass away but what may turn to our account in the years of eternity. While God is pleased to delay our heaven, let our continuance on earth be filled up with the various exercise of such graces as are suited to our present stations. Let this be a new spring and motive to our zeal, that we are doing such honours to God and our Saviour here on earth, of which none of the saints above are capable, and for which this life is the only season; and let it appear in the day of retribution, that the length of our life on earth, has been a great, and real, and everlasting advantage to us, by preparing us for a higher station after death, and a fairer inheritance in that world which is everlasting.

INFERENCE 2. Though your hopes of heaven be never so well grounded, yet be not too impatient of dwelling longer on the earth; and though your burdens and sorrows may be very great in life, yet be not too hasty and importunate in your desires of death. Support yourself under all the fatigues, trials, and difficulties of the present state with this consideration, that you are now employed in such service for God, and paying such a tribute of honour to him in your suffering circumstances, as all the saints in heaven cannot do. Some of the children of God in this world have been too impatient of life, and too eager in their importunities for death and the grave. Job and Elijah were great favourites of heaven, but they failed a little in this point; and God in the course of his providence, afterward made it appear what eminent service he had for them both to do before they left this world. Elijah was, designed to reform the whole nation of Israel from idolatry; and Job to be the parent of a new large family, and give the world an example of God's rewarding providence. If life be yours, O Christian,

and be numbered among your possessions, be not too hasty to part with it, nor to throw away that talent which may yet in days to come be employed to the signal honour of thy God and Saviour.

INFERENCE 3. If life be almost spent, and you have done little for God, see that in your last, your dying hours, (if possible) you speak and act for his glory. Let not the whole season of life quite pass away, and be turned over like a blank leaf which has none of the praises of God *written upon it. A word of warning from a death-bed may make a deep and happy impression on those that hear it, and through divine grace may save a soul; and if so, thou shalt hear of it again with honour and applause in the great day. The thief that was converted upon the cross, spoke a word for Christ in his last moments, and it has been blest to rescue many from the jaws of despair. That dying creature had done nothing for God in his life; a vicious life, and a wicked creature! But the profession of sincere faith and repentance which he made at his death hath been richly honoured in the kingdom of grace; and I am persuaded it has helped many a fearful Christian on toward the kingdom of glory.

INFERENCE 4. If so many valuable works are done, and so many graces are exercised on earth which have no place in heaven, then the lives of the saints are worth praying for. Precious in the eye of God is the life of his saints, and they should be precious in the eye of man too. When an active

*It was a custom in former days for merchants in their books of accounts to have Laus Deo, or praise to God, written in the beginning of every leaf, and it stood on the head of the page in large and fair letters, to put them always in mind that in all their human affairs they should carry on a divine design for the glory of God,

useful Christian when a pious magistrate, when a zealous and faithful minister goes down to the dust, alas, how much good ceases from the earth for ever! The world knows not what it loses by such a death.

Let not children be impatient at the length of life which their holy parents enjoy: you know not, children, what benefit ye may reap from their example, their counsel, their earnest prayers, and secret wrestlings with God for your souls: let us have a care that we do nothing that may break the spirits of our pious friends, or that may hasten the departure of holy persons from this lower world, whose virtues and graces are of eminent use among us. Let us rather pray earnestly that God would lengthen out the days of those who speak and act with a useful zeal for the honour of Christ, and for the welfare of the souls of men. When death once has put a period to their days, all this sort of service is finished for ever; and we ourselves may sustain unknown loss by their speedy departure out of this world.

THE RECOLLECTION.

Is not this a strange doctrine which I have heard to-day, that a Christian on earth has many privileges which can never belong to the saints in heaven? Is it not strange tidings to hear, that there are many graces to be exercised in this life, which neither saints nor angels can practise in the holy and heavenly world? And yet the evidence is so strong, and the truth is so plain and certain, that I see it, and I must believe it. Remember then, O my soul, thou hast one more motive to diligence in all the duties of life than ever thou hadst before: and thou hast also one more support under all thy sorrows, beyond what thy former days were ever acquainted