CHAP. VI.] Angels and saints united. [HEAVEN. hunger and thirst, but continued beyond just measure they become nauseous. Besides the insufficiency of the object, the senses themselves cannot be satisfied all at once. The ear cannot attend to delightful sounds, and the eye be intent on beautiful colours at the same time. The satisfaction of one sense defeats another of enjoying ts proper good; therefore the same object is not constantly pleasant, but the heart is distempered from as many causes. as there are desires unaccomplished. And farther, all things under the sun afford only a superficial delight, and miserably deceive the expectations raised. of them; and many times there is a mixture of some evil in them more offensive than the good is delightful. The honey is attended with a sting, so that often those very things we sigh after through vehement desire, when they are obtained, we sigh for grief. Now all these causes of dissatisfaction cease in heaven; for there is an 'nfinite variety in God, and whatever is truly desirable is eminently enjoyed in him. In his presence all the powers of the soul are drawn out in their most pleasent exercise, and always happiness. The fruition of him raised hopes, as much as he is more glorious in himself than in any borrowed representations. God will be to us incomparably above what we can ask or think. The compass of our thoughts, the depth of our desires are imperfect measures of his perfections; and as he is a pure goed in enjoy their entire exceeds our most HEAVEN.] Joys of Heaven never cloy [CHAP. VI. himself, so he is prevalent over all evil. It is evident therefore that nothing can allay the joys of saints, when they are in God's presence. 2. Novelty is not requisite to ingratiate every good, and make it perfectly delightful. God is infinitely happy, to whom no good was ever new. It is indeed the sauce that gives a delicious taste to inferior things, for men relish only what is eminent; and the good things of this world are so truly mean that they are feign to borrow a show of greatness by comparison with a worse state preceding. But an infinite good produces always the same pure equal complete joy, because it arises from its intrinsic perfection, that wants no foil to commend it. The Psalmist breaks forth, Whom have I in heaven but thee.' This is no vanishing rapture, but a constant joyful height of affection. God, the essential happiness of the saints, is always perfectly lovely and delightful to them. 3. Glorified saints in every period of their happy state, have as lively a perception of it as in the beginning. To make this evident we must consider that the pleasure of novelty springs from a quick sense of the opposite terms, between our condition in the want of some desired good, and after our obtaining it. Now the mind is more intense on the advantage, and more strongly affected at first. One newly freed from the torments of a sharp disease, feels a greater pleasure than from CHAP. VI.] Joys of Heaven never cloy. [HEAVEN. a constant tenour of health. Those who are raised from a low state to eminent dignity, are transported with their first change; but in time the remembrance of their mean condition is so weakened and spent, that it is like the shadow of a dream and proportionably their joy is lessened. Honours, like perfumes, by custom are less sensible to those that carry them. But the saints above always consider and feel the excellent difference between their suffering and triumphant state. They never lose that ravishing part of felicity, the vivid sense of past evils. Their reflections are always as strong on the misery from whence they were raised to the pitch of happiness, as in their first glorious translation. In what an extasy of wonder and pleasure will they be, from the fresh memory of what they were, and the joyful sense of what they are. I was, says the admiring soul, poor, blind, and naked; but oh miraculous and happy alteration, I am full of light; enriched with the treasures of heaven, and adorned with divine glory. I was under the tyrannic power of Satan, but he is bruised under my feet. I was sentenced to an everlasting separation from the presence of God, my only life and joy: but now am possessed of my supreme good. Oh how transported is the comparison of these wide and contrary extremes. How beautiful and pleasant is the day of eternity, after such a dark tempestuous night. How does the remembrance of such evils produce a more HEAVEN.] Joys of Heaven never cloy. {CHAP. VI. How lively and feeling fruition of such happiness. strangely and mightily does salvation with eternal glory affect the soal! This gives a lively accent to their everlasting hallelujahs. This preserves an affectionate heat in their thanksgivings to their victorious Deliverer; and thus their happiness is always the same and always new. Their pleasure is continued in its perfection. 265 CHAP. VII. ness The number of possessors of heaven cannot lessen its felicity, which is as unchangable as the love of God to the saints, and the love of the saints to him. The woful folly of men in refusing such happi-The cause of its bestowment is the mercy of God, through the obedience and death of ChristA fallen creature can deserve nothing good from God--Our Saviour expiated the guilt of sin, and by the merits of his obedience purchased the kingdom of heaven for all believers. THE number of possessors cannot lessen their feli city. The divine presence is an unwasted spring of pleasure, equally full and open to all, and abundantly sufficient to satisfy the immensity of their desires. Envy reigns in this world, because earthly things are so imperfect in their nature, and so peculiar in their possession, that they cannot suffice nor be enjoyed. by all. But in heaven none is touched with that base and sordid passion. God contains all that is precious and desirable in the highest degrees of perfection, and all partake of his universal goodness, without intercepting one another. In the kingdom of heaven there is no cause for the elder brother to repine at the Father's bounty to the younger, nor for the younger to supplant the elder to obtain the birth |