for it is positively declared, that nothing which defiles shall enter those most holy abodes. If men, therefore, refuse to open their hearts for the reception of his grace, it is his unalterable purpose to exclude them from all the joys of heaven. Oh what a loss this will prove to an immortal soul!

Now, though it is not possible for any man fully to describe this palace of the ever-blessed God, there are some things revealed which, if attended to, will shew how exceedingly delightful and desirable it must necessarily be to have our portion there with the redeemed of the Lord. If the queen of Sheba was so astonished and confounded in contemplating the wisdom of Solomon, with the order and grandeur of his court, we certainly have much more glorious discoveries of the heavenly state than any man could display, though possessed of Solomon's wisdom, and the whole world at his command, beside. The "realizing light" of that faith which is of Divine operation, opens to the pious mind an extensive and encouraging prospect of good to come; and the ordinary conceptions of those who have troubled themselves very little concerning piety are such as to invite us to a serious meditation on this subject. It is represented to us under the form

Of a well regulated kingdom.-Not that there ever was such a kingdom upon the earth, as could, in the strict sense of the word, figure to us this glorious kingdom. Some, indeed, it must be admitted, have been better regulated than others; but there have been so many proofs of human weakness, folly, deceit, and imperfection in the best, that great allowance need be made when we speak of comparing heaven with these. The spiritual kingdom of our Redeemer is the most worthy of being selected, because its laws, principles, and government, so far as he is immediately concerned, are perfect; as, however, in the economy of his grace, man has instrumentally to act a considerable part, there are often many things amiss, many "things that offend," whose tendency it is to diminish its glory. In the heavenly state none

were called, reproved, and warned to turn to God, but who
treated gospel messages as idle tales, chose death in the er
ror of their ways, and shut their ears to every admonitio
that was calculated to bring them from the paths of sin,
the paths of righteousness. Oh what shrieks, cries, strehe
gles, groans, and looks! Oh what wishes-what exclan so
tions! Yet all is unavailable. They look at him they
pierced, and mourn, and perish. O God of boundless sc
ey, for the sake of him whose blood was shed for guilty thi
have mercy on me and my readers; that before this ing
day commences, we may humble our souls before the our
be saved from the dreadful punishments that will fall quee
heads of the ungodly! All these things sufficientemp
the absolute necessity of conversion. Its necessiteur
appears from the nature of id

Over

oug

this

THE HEAVENLY STATE. THE place which God has appointed for the rich saints and angels, and where he is pleased to revensi his glorious nature and perfections, we call hear ordin of happiness from which all evil is excluded, andes ve happiness is experienced; a state of perfect enjous felicity; and which the scriptures constantly the the gift of God in reference to man, to holy them alone. Since this state is only reserved and as all holiness is founded in conversion,

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that no unconverted person will ever be adm
"Except ye be converted, and become as litt
shall in no wise enter the kingdom of hear
summation of bliss arising from the Beatific
inheritance above, is reserved for sanctified the
sed are the pure in heart, for they shallo

ment

o man shall see the Lor ought to have great wea tended with great difficul and not debase the subje

Pecting those that are to be put

OF CONTENTS.

warned to t

idle tales, de

for it is positively declared, that nothing which defiles shall
enter those most holy abodes. If men, therefore, refuse to
their hearts for the reception of his grace, it is his un-
'pen

ut their ears Iterable purpose to exclude them from all the joys of

aven. Oh what a loss this will prove to an immortal ul!

ing them from t ess. Oh wh ! Oh what wish ailable. Ther nd perish. O

Now, though it is not possible for any man fully to debe this palace of the ever-blessed God, there are some gs revealed which, if attended to, will shew how exceedy

nd my readers; the delightful and desirable it must necessarily be to have

nd my readers; portion there with the redeemed of the Lord. If the

may humble ours readful punishmen

i of Sheba was so astonished and confounded in con

ating the wisdom of Solomon, with the order and gran

Ssity of conversies of the heavenly state than any man could display, ly! All these th of his court, we certainly have much more glorious dis

nature of

THE HEAVENLY STA ch God has appointed" els, and where he is please

possessed of Solomon's wisdom, and the whole world ommand, beside. The "realizing light" of that faith s of Divine operation, opens to the pious mind an e and encouraging prospect of good to come; and tary conceptions of those who have troubled them

p

ature and perfections,ry little concerning piety are such as to invite us to From which all evil is ex meditation on this subject. It is represented to us

experienced: a state of form

which the scriptures

holiness is founded in co

ye be converted, and become

ell regulated kingdom.-Not that there ever was

God in reference to magdom upon the earth, as could, in the strict sense Since this state is only, figure to us this glorious kingdom. Some, innconverted person will there have been so many proofs of human weakno wise enter the kingdom deed be made when we speak of comparing heatance above, is reserved for thy of being selected, because its laws, princi

st be admitted, have been better regulated than

tion of bliss arising from the Be

re the pure in heart, for

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deceit, and imperfection in the best, that great

se.

The spiritual kingdom of our Redeemer is

ernment, so far as he is immediately concerned,

on shall sees, however, in the economy of his grace, man

tally to act a considerable part, there are often miss, many "things that offend," whose teniminish its glory. In the heavenly state none

of these weaknesses or imperfections are found. All there is perfect. He himself changes not; and though his creatures change, yet it is always for the better-and this stamps it with such excellence as we can scarcely hope for in this lower world.

The HEAD of this glorious kingdom is Christ. The Father hath given all things into his hand, and " HE is Lord of all.” If wisdom, power, authority, high birth, riches, and noble actions, are important matters in those that govern the kingdoms of this world; how much more worthy is our Redeemer to have the "government on his shoulders-in whom it bath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell;" infinite wisdom, unbounded goodness, and undisputed autho❤ rity. The Father of glory hath set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.-His name is revered, honoured, and loved by all; his person worshipped and adored ; his righteous government applauded; his will universally done; order and harmony every where preserved; and all his subjects satisfied and happy. His laws are not such as humour, caprice, pride, or prejudice have planned; but the effect of infallible truth and unerring wisdom. Not formed for the suppressing of crimes, which have under his righteous government no place, not written on tables of stone, but by his own Spirit in their im mortal natures, in principles of unalterable and eternal love,

His guards of honour, not of defence, which surround his high and exalted throne, are the mighty six-winged seraphim, full of zeal and fervent love; the wise and glorious cherubim, who ever do his pleasure in all the beauties of the most perfect holiness, with all the various orders of angelic beings, perfect in strength and beauty, who are ever waiting to perform his pleasure, or accomplish his purposes.→→ His throne, fixed on an immoveable and eternal basis, the habitation of justice and judgment, fears no change, no enemy, no surprise. Inexpressible glory and majesty attend it,

mercy and goodness shine from it in undiminished lustre, and rivers of exquisite pleasures and delights flow from it without ceasing. Here no pretended loyalty from sordid motives is ever seen; no traitor is ever known; and none ever fall under the disgrace of their Prince, or prove the smallest trace of his displeasure. Nor is it the exclusive privilege of angels and archangels alone to approach our glorious King; his throne is free of access to all his saints; the kings and priests which his unutterable love has created, are with him, and behold his glory. There they behold the glorious and mysterious union of the persons in the Godhead-see apostles, elders, virgins, the preachers of righte ousness, and the innumerable army of the redeemed "stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes," ascribing to him salvation.-His revenues arise not from exactions on his happy subjects; for all things are his. None ever complain of extortion, force, or oppression. He stands in need of no assistance; and all that any can boast of has descended from himself-breath, and being, and all things. He is the Creator, Supporter, and Proprietor of the universe. It may be said as of Solomon's servants, "Happy are the men-happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom;" and, we may add, that taste thy love, that prove thy beneficence, and rejoice in thy approving smiles. All are satisfied with his favour, and filled with his blessing, and serve him day and night in his temple. Poverty, weakness, and affliction, have here no place. War, tumult, sorrow, and death, are eternally excluded from these seats of honour and rest.—His palace. Our blessed Lord informed his disciples that in his Father's house were many mansions; and the apostle says, that God hath prepared for them that desire it a city, whose builder and maker he is; and here we must look for the palace of the immortal King of glory. But how shall this magnificent city and palace be described? What is all the

pomp and splendour of eastern magnificence compared with the riches of this glorious kingdom, and the honours of his