or three in a wide district are in harmony with each other—what may we not expect from the intercourse of thousands of glorified spirits, with whom we may suppose friendship may be enjoyed in all its purity-where in our mutual gratifications no mixture will be found of envy, dissimulation, or other corrosive ingredient?

Lastly, when we see in this world such various pursuits of knowledge- so much wisdom, and sagacity-so much ingenuity, and informationwhat may we not expect when all our faculties are enlarged and every field of knowledge that is worth cultivation laid open before us?-Some modes of knowledge seem confined to this world -as the study of languages-logic-criticism, and several others. They seem not, therefore, to afford so noble a pursuit as those studies which we may probably pursue hereafter-such as investigating the works of creation-the wonders of redemption-and the attributes of the Almighty, in their several modes of justice and mercy, of punishment and reward.

Thus the two worlds unite gradually with each other like the blossom and the fruit-the seedtime and the harvest-one gives the happy earnest, which the other fulfils.

LXXIII.

There must be heresies among you, that they, who are approved, may be made manifest among you.-1 Cor. xi. 19.

UNDER the word heresy is commonly understood every thing contrary to true religion, both in practice and principle.

As this world is a state of trial, God hath appointed that religion, among other things, should make a part of that trial. The religious man, therefore, has a great variety of temptations to combat-the plausible objections of designing men-the loose practice and example of the world-the high pretensions of reason-and the obscurities of Scripture; all of which are only various modes of trial.

As the means of repelling these various attacks, the religious man has sufficient evidence for the truth of his religion, and the integrity of Scripture; and his trial consists in stripping all this falsehood of its disguise-or, if objections,

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—as it may be, are too hard for him, in resting them on his own ignorance; and in building his faith firmly on the evidences of religion. Thus his faith, like the scriptural house, is founded on a rock. Objections and difficulties, like storms and floods, may assault it; but unless they can overthrow the foundation-unless they can dissolve the evidences of religion, their efforts are ineffectual.

Thus, then, there must be heresies-that he who is approved, may be made manifest.- Not that God over-rules the hearts of these heretical corrupters he only turns their wickedness and perverseness, as he does the fury of the elements, into the appendages of a state of trial.

LXXIV.

When ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars, be not troubled; for such things must needs be.-Mark, xiii. 7.

THERE must be wars, as there must be heresies. Yet when we survey all these dreadful calamities brought on mankind by themselves-and then consider the trifling causes which gave birth to them, we are utterly astonished and dismayed. Yet, in the midst of our distress, let us not be cast down. It is a comfort to hear the voice of inspiration, whispering, Be not troubled; for such things must needs be. It is not for us to investigate the secret purposes of Providence. These calamities are often, we know, the means of trial -of punishment of purifying sinful nationsand often of bringing about happy revolutions. God, no doubt, has his wise reasons for permitting them.-For us, let us take care, if we are involved in them, not to be involved in the guilt they occasion; and if we are among the melancholy sufferers, let us bear with fortitude, and religious resignation, the calamities which it pleases God to lay upon us.

LXXV.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.2 Peter, ii. 9.

THE word, which is here translated temptation, does not mean temptation to sin-but the trial, which the religious man undergoes in passing through the afflictions of life.

As the world is a state of trial, and abounds with evils of various kinds for the punishmentthe reformation and the trial of man, it necessarily happens, that the good, and bad, who live promiscuously, must often occasionally be involved in the same calamities - but still God makes a distinction: and knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.

In the first place, God can easily, by disposing circumstances, lead them out of the way of general ruin. Thus Noah and Lot were delivered: and thus Christians, at the destruction of Jerusalem, fled under the impulse of prophecy, from Judea; and were secured from those calamities in which the rest of their countrymen were involved.