"Men will not believe the words of Christ."

They will not believe his spiritual doctrine or his divine predictions. This disbelief of doctrine will be exemplified in that of divine grace, or the influences of the Holy Spirit. And here it will be shewn, that, not believing his spiritual doctrine themselves, and being strangers to its hope and consolations, they have no desire to communicate a knowledge of it to others; and that this is the true cause of want of zeal in that work, wherever it exists.

6. In the last place, we shall point out the means to be used by those persons who sincerely desire to establish their principles, and to acquire a firm and unshaken faith against the day of trial; particularly by those who begin to doubt the existence of a future state, and a day of retribution. And we shall conclude, with shewing the important use, in this case, of the argument

from analogy; that is to say, of endeavouring to form a judgment of what shall be hereafter, from what we see to be here. For, if it be compatible with the mercy of God that there should be misery here, it will be consistent with his mercy that there shall be misery hereafter; and if it be evident that God giveth sometimes happiness and gladness of heart to the Christian in this world, we may believe that there will be scenes of joy and happiness unutterable, in the world to come.

And, while we are passing through these interesting subjects, let every man be faithful to himself in the application. It is my earnest desire to be faithful, on my part, to set before you the true state in which things are, and to declare to you the divine testimony, in regard to what ought to be done.

1. And first, we would impress on

your minds the solemn admonition "to pre

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pare for those events which must shortly

"come to pass." We hear it said, " blessed

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are they which are called to the marriage 66 supper of the Lamb." Doth any one

feel a doubt, in his mind, whether a state of felicity, in any manner, corresponding with this emblem, shall ever be?

The vision of St. John is, indeed, recorded in the language of symbol and prophecy; but we have likewise the plain words and express declaration of our Saviour himself; for he also hath described the commencement of the Heavenly Jubilee. "When the son of man," saith he, shall "come in his glory, and all the holy angels "with him, then shall he sit upon the "throne of his glory; and before him shall "be gathered all nations. Then shall the

σε

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king say unto them on his right hand,

come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the begining of the world."* These are the words, which shall be addressed to the redeemed at the great day; "inherit the kingdom prepared for you." Hence, also, that kingdom is called an INHERITANCE; concerning which St. Peter sublimely saith, that it is "an inheritance incor

ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not

away, reserved in heaven for us." And there must be in us a meetness to be partakers of this inheritance.

from these expressions,

This appears

"unto the Father, which hath made us

MEET to be partakers of the inheritance "of the Saints in light."†

"For this ye

"know, that no whoremonger, nor cove"tous man, hath any inheritance in the

* Matt. xxv. 34.

+ Col. i. 12.

"kingdom of Christ and of God."* And this meetness, which must be begun upon earth, has been the chief subject of our discourse at this time.

II. Let every one, then, who would accomplish the great end of his being, ask himself whether he perceives, in his soul, any meetness for the possession or enjoyment of the heavenly inheritance. This is the question, which will decide for every man, his real state in the sight of God. You have heard the nature of the employment in heaven, of men, and of ministering spirits, of angels and archangels. It is the worship of God and the Lamb. You have heard the song, of the redeemed; of which it is said, "that no man could "learn that song, but they which were "redeemed from the earth." If, then, you have no delight in that song upon earth, or in meditations that are allied to it, how * Eph. v. 5. + Rev. xiv. 3.