暑 How inconfiftent the whole body (૨૩ of fin is, with the glories of the celeftial body that fhall be revealed hereafter,and that in proportion as we fix the reprefentation of thefe glories upon our minds, and in the more numerous particulars we do it,the ftronger the neceffity as well as perfuafion to deny ourselves all ungodliness and worldly lufts, to live! foberly, righteously and godly in this present world, as the only way to entitle us to that bleffednefs fpoken of in the Revelations of those who do his commandments, and have a right to the tree of life, and fhall enter into the gates of the city of the living God, the heavenly Jeru falem, and to an innumerable com pany of angels;to the general affembly and church of the firft-born, that are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of juft men made perfect,-who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood. of the Lamb. May God give us grace to live under the perpetual influence of this expectation, -that by the habitual impreffion of thefe glories upon cour imaginations, and the frequent fending forth our thoughts and employing them on the other world, we may disentangle them from this,and by fo having our converfation in heaven whilst we are here, we may be thought fit inhabitants for it hereafter;-that when God at the laft day fhall come with thousands and ten thousands of his faints to judge the world, we may enter with them into happiness, and with angels and arch-angels, and all the company of heaven, we may praise and magnify his glorious name, and enjoy his prefence for ever. |