Jesus Christ, are thus united to and associated with angels, see that you do the work of angels. Be conformed to them in your tempers and views. Live like them here, as the best, the only, preparation for an eternal residence and communion with them hereafter. In the contemplation of this glorious prospect, who shall not adopt the exclamation of the Psalmist? "Bless the Lord, ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his host; ye ministers of his that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul." Q SERMON XIII. ON THE EFFECT OF SEEING GOD AS HE IS. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God: and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. WHOEVER entertains a proper view of the nature of this life, the miseries to which it is subject, and the corruptions with which it is defiled, will frequently be looking forward towards another state of existence with anxious curiosity and humble hope, and will often meditate upon the partial discoveries and obscure intimations which the Scriptures afford concerning the nature of that state. Partial and obscure as they are, they serve, however, to convey some important lessons of instruction to us with respect to our duty in the present life. They reflect a light by which its true character and condition are more distinctly traced; and thus render our researches into the mysteries of the future world, while made under the guidance of Revelation, a source not of useless gratification to curiosity, but of real and practical improvement. It is in this view that the passage of Scripture contained in the text has been selected. It gives a glimpse of the eternal state, and presents a very striking idea, which it will be edifying to pursue and to develop. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." "Beloved, now." in this fallen and sinful world. "are we the sons of God."—God considers us as his sons, having adopted us into his family, sent his Son to become our Redeemer, and his Spirit to sanctify us, and having also given to us many great and valuable privileges denoting our adoption. "And it doth not yet appear what we shall be." The nature of the glory which we shall hereafter possess, in consequence of so high a title, is not yet clearly revealed; but this we know, that when Christ shall be manifested in his glory, and take us to himself, "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." It is this last clause, which contains the striking idea to which I have alluded. It seems to intimate, that the glory which we shall enjoy in the kingdom of Christ, will consist in a perfect resemblance to Christ; and it leads us to consider, as the means of our attaining that glory, the contemplation of our Saviour "as he is." By this full and distinct view of the glory of our blessed Lord, we shall be transformed into the same image from glory to glory. It is also evidently implied in these words, that though in heaven we shall see God "as he is," yet we have not that view of him in the present life. They present, therefore to the mind four distinct points of consideration. I. That in this world we do not see God as he is. III. That this view of the Divine Being will have a transforming efficacy to make us resemble him. And, IV. That the glory and happiness of heaven will consist in our being thus conformed to the image of God. I. In this life, then, we do not see God as he is.In propriety, it cannot be said that in this world we see God at all. We see his works, but we do not see Him. We behold no embodied or personal divinity. There are instances, however, in which He has been even thus visible to human eyes. Though we know and are assured by the clearest demonstration of reason, that God is every where and at all times present with us, it will still be found, that no proofs of this kind, however strong, will produce on the mind of man, as at present constituted, the full effect of sensible appearances; and it is, perhaps, on this account, that although God has no visible form permanently appropriate to him, he has yet been pleased, on some particular occasions, in condescension to human infirmity, to make himself perceptible to the bodily senses of his creatures. Thus he revealed himself to Moses, first, as a flame of fire in the midst of a bush. Afterwards he passed by him, and manifested to him a part of his glory, as he stood in the cleft of the rock. It was, indeed, only a partial and transient view; "for no man," said God, "can see my face," my full glory, "and live." A similar manifestation was afterwards made to the Israelites on Mount Sinai; not indeed in any distinct shape; but "the mountain was seen as if to burn with fire, and there were thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes." Thus, also, were visible tokens of the Divine Presence exhibited to the prophet Elijah: "Behold, the Lord passed by; and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave." The Shekinah in the temple displayed a permanent symbol of the Deity; a luminous glory first filling the whole temple VOL. I. 19 at its dedication, so that the priests could not bear to remain in it: and afterwards continuing to occupy the space within the veil which concealed the Holy of Holies. To Isaiah God manifested himself in a vision; and he he saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly: and one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried; and the house was filled with smoke." Without dwelling on the manner in which God was pleased to give an actual view or impression of himself to Daniel, to St. John, and to others, it is proved by the instances already adduced, that though God is properly invisible, and always equally diffused throughout all space, he may yet sometimes concentrate the radiance of his power and glory, and give such visible indications of his immediate presence, that he may be said without impropriety to be seen. But these are rare exceptions to the ordinary course of events, and do not militate against the general truth of our first proposition, that in this world we do not see God as he is. And this is true, not only of the person but of the attributes of God: even the most obvious perfections of the Deity, his power and wisdom are not so conspicuously revealed in the present state of existence as to be immediately comprehended in their full dimensions. This is partly owing to the imperfection of the human faculties. The dimness of man's intellectual vision is such, that he cannot clearly or steadily discern the Divine Attributes. Thus though "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work," it yet requires a mind gifted with more than natural powers to perceive the full glory of the Creator displayed in the moon and stars; in the magnitude of their size, in the velocity of their motions, in the har |