XII. their divine Mafter had taught them that SERM.. his kingdom was not of this world, and the renovation of their hearts and affections had inspired them with brighter expectations of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. Long were they unwilling to believe, that he who restored the dead to life, should himself be fubject to mortality, and that his followers, like him, fhould be deSpifed and rejected of men; but, at length, inftructed by his precepts, and ftrengthened by his example, they bore with patience the scorn and mockery of their nation, the perfecutions of the Gentiles, and the hatred of mankind; and, only attentive to the joy that was fet before them, they welcomed the fword, the stake, and the cross, regardless of the torture, and defpifing the Shame. No Chriftians, therefore, muft look forward to the distinctions of mortal greatness as the reward of their obedience: The XII. SERM. prize for which they contend, is not prefent but future; the crown to which they afpire, is not temporal but eternal. They must relinquish unlawful pleasures and ambitious views; they must endure the miferies of this probationary ftate, and pass through the valley of the shadow of death, before they can arrive at the habitations of glory. What thofe habitations are, the curiofity of man may in vain endeavour to difcover; though almoft every people have indulged their fancy in drawing loofe and imperfect fketches of the invifible world. Some have reprefented the manfion of the bleffed, as a beautiful and fertile garden; while others have supposed that, in paradise, every object they wish to behold shall immediately prefent itself to their view. Such conjectures, however, derive their origin from nothing but the wild chimeras of vifionary mortals: Even we, we, upon whom the light of revelation hath fhone, can determine nothing with precifion concerning the peculiar felicity of departed fpirits. Imagination may delight herself with a thoufand idle fpeculations, but no eye can pierce that impenetrable veil, which conceals the kingdom of heaven from the inhabitants of earth. It hath, however, been generally believed, that, although the Deity is every where prefent, and effentially pervades the immeasureable univerfe; yet there is one region in which he more particularly dwells, and even visibly appears on the throne of his glory, furrounded by innumerable hofts of angels. To this bright abode, it is asferted, the fouls of the virtuous will be conveyed, and continue, to all eternity, employed in finging pfalms of praise and adoration to their Creator. This opinion feems well fupported by many texts of scripture; but how far such paffages are to SERM. XII. SERM. be literally understood, it were furely vain to inquire. XII. Some have conceived an idea, that when they are freed from this corruptible body, they shall have liberty to range from planet to planet, trace out the remotest star, and explore the whole circle of creation: That their faculties will be thus continually enlarged, and that every acquifition of knowledge will be an acquifition of happiness. But let it fuffice us to be convinced, that wherever we may be fituated, or however we may be employed, we fhall experience the fulness of joy. There are scarce any who do not footh themfelves with the thought of meeting in another world their former affociates, and being again united to those who were most dear to them on earth; whofe focial gaiety enlivened the hours of leifure, and whose tender endearments alleviated the pains of fickness. fickness. XII. So pleasing a perfuafion who SERM. would not wish to indulge? Yet we cannot fuppofe that, among fpirits, a renewal of connections can take place, which were adapted to men; which were formed by a sense of mutual wants and dependence, and cemented by paffions that will hereafter be extinguished: The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the refurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage * This does not, however, afford any ground to affirm, that we shall no more behold our departed friends, but only that we cannot be united to them in the fame manner: There are celeftial bodies, and bodies terreftrial; but as the glory of the celef tial is one, and the glory of the terreftrial another, fo the fenfations of the celeftial |