ous presence of God in heaven. Truly heaven would be a strange place to them, if Jesus was not there but the Son will introduce his brethren into his Father's kingdom; they shall go in "with him to the marriage."

II. Let us consider in what quality they are introduced by him.

1. He brings them in as the blessed of his Father so runs the call from the throne, "Come, ye blessed of my Father," &c. It is Christ's Father's house they are to come into: therefore he puts them in mind, that they are blessed of his Father; dear to the Father, as well as to himself. This is it that makes heaven home to them, namely, that it is Christ's Father's house, where they may be assured of welcome. He brings them in for his Father's sake, as well as for his own: they are the blessed of his Father; who, as he is the fountain of the Deity, is also the fountain of all blessings conferred on the children of men. They are those to whom God designed well from eternity. They were blessed in the eternal purpose of God, being elected to everlasting life. At the opening of the book of life, their names were found written therein: so that, bringing them to the kingdom, he doth but bring them to what the Father, from all eternity, designed for them; being saved by the Son, they are "saved according to his purpose." They are those to whom the Father hath spoken well. He spake well to them in his word, which must now receive its full accomplishment. They had his promise of the kingdom, lived and died in the faith of it: and now they come to receive the thing promised. Unto them he

has done well. A gift is often in Scripture called a blessing; and God's blessing is ever real, like Isaac's blessing, by which Jacob became his heir: they were all his, by grace justified, sanctified, and made to persevere unto the end; now they are raised up in glory, and being tried, stand in the judgment: what remains then, but that God crown his own work of grace in them, in giving them their kingdom, in the full enjoyment of himself for ever?

2. Christ introduceth them as heirs of the kingdom, to the actual possession of it: "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom." They are the children of God by regeneration and adoption: " and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Now is the general assembly of the first-born before the throne: their minority is overpast, and the time appointed of the Father for the receiving of their inheritance is come. The Mediator purchased the inheritance for them with his own blood their rights and evidences were drawn long ago, and registered in the Bible; nay, they had infeftment of their inheritance in the person of Jesus Christ as their proxy, when he ascended into hea"whither the Forerunner is for us entered." Nothing remaineth but that they enter into personal possession thereof, which, begun at death, is perfected at the last day; when the saints, in their bodies as well as their souls, go into their kingdom.

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Lastly, They are introduced to it as those it was prepared for from the foundation of the world. The kingdom was prepared for them in the eternal purpose of God, before they or any of them had a being; which shows it to be a gift of free grace to

want instruction, surely an heir to a crown shall not want it. It is written in the prophets, "And they shall be all taught of God." Withal thy heart is changed, and thou bearest God's image, which consists in righteousness and true holiness." Thy soul is reconciled to the whole law of God, and at war with all known sin. In vain do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not holy in heart and life; for without holiness no man shall see the Lord." If heaven is a rest, it is for spiritual labourers, and not for loiterers. If it is an eternal triumph, they are not in the way to it who avoid the spiritual warfare, and are in no care to subdue corruption, resist temptation, and to cut their way to it through the opposition made by the devil, the world, and the flesh. (3.) The treasure in heaven is the chief in thy esteem and desire; for it is your treasure, and "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If it is not the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, which thy heart is in greatest care and concern to obtain, thy chief business lies there; it is a sign thy treasure is there, for thy heart is there. Carnal men value themselves most on their treasures upon earth; with them, the things that are not seen are weighed down by the things that are seen, and no losses do so much affect them as earthly losses: but the heirs of the crown of glory will value themselves most on their treasures in heaven, and will not put their private estate in the balance with their kingdom; nor will the loss of the former go so near their hearts as the thoughts of the loss of the latter. Where these first-fruits of heaven are to be found, the eternal weight of glory will surely follow after;

while the want of them must be admitted, according to the word, to be an incontestable evidence of an heir of wrath.

2. Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themselves suitably to their character and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom: let your conversation be in heaven. Let your souls delight in communion with God while ye are on earth, since ye look for your happiness in communion with him in heaven. Let your speech and actions savour of heaven: and, in your manner of life, look like the country to which ye are going; that it may be said of you, as of Gideon's brethren, "Each one resembled the children of a king." Maintain a holy contempt of the world, and of the things of the world. Although others, whose earthly things are their best things, do set their hearts upon them; yet it becomes you to set your feet on them, since your best things are above. This world is but the country through which lies your road to Emmanuel's land; therefore pass through it as pilgrims and strangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of it so as to retard you in your journey. The prize set before you challengeth your utmost zeal, activity, and diligence; and holy courage, resolution, and magnanimity, become those who are to inherit the crown. Ye cannot come at it without fighting your way to it through difficulties from without and from within; but the kingdom before you is sufficient to balance them all, though ye should be called to resist even unto blood.. Prefer Christ's cross before the world's crown, and wants in the way of duty before ease and wealth in the way of sin: "Choose rather

to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

It is worth observing, that there is such a variety of scripture notions of heaven's happiness, as may suit every afflicted case of the saints. Are they oppressed? the day cometh in which they shall have the dominion. Is their honour laid in the dust? a throne to sit upon, a crown on their head, and a sceptre in their hand, will raise it up again. Are they reduced to If they be forced to

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poverty? heaven is a treasure. quit their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's house is ready for them. Are they driven to the wilderness? there is a city prepared for them. 1 Are they banished from their native country? they shall inherit a better country. If they are deprived of public ordinances, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple there, whither they are going; a temple, the doors of which none can shut: if their life be full of bitterness, heaven is a paradise for pleasure if they groan under the remains of spiritual bondage, there is a glorious liberty abiding them. Do their defiled garments make them ashamed? the day cometh in which their robes shall be white, pure and spotless. The battle against flesh and blood, principalities and powers, is indeed sore; but a glorious triumph is awaiting them. If the toil and labours of the Christian life be great, there is an everlasting rest for them in heaven. Are they judged unworthy of society in the world? they shall be admitted into the society of angels in heaven. Do they complain of frequent interruptions of their communion with God? there they shall go no more out, but shall see his face for evermore.

If they