No treasures on earth are stored with all things: if they were all put together in one there would be far more valuable things wanting in that one, than found in it. This then is the peculiar treasure of these kings, who inherit the kingdom of heaven. They shall want nothing, that may contribute to their full satisfaction. Now they are rich in hope: but then they will have their riches in hand. Now all things are theirs in respect of right then all shall be theirs in possession. They may go for ever through Immanuel's land, and behold the glory and riches thereof, with the satisfying thought,that all they see is their own. It is pity these should ever be uneasy, under the want of earthly good things, who may be sure they shall inherit all things at length. VIII. Albeit there is no (material) temple therein, no mediate serving of God in the use of ordinances, as here on earth; yet as for this kingdom, "The Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it," Rev. xxi. 22. As the temple was the glory of Canaan, so will the celestial temple be the glory of heaven. The saints shall be brought in thither, as a royal priesthood, to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever; for Jesus Christ will then make every saint a "pillar in the temple of God, and he shall go no more out," (Rev. iii. 12.) as the priests and Levites did in their courses, go out of the material temple. There the saints shall have the cloud of glory, the divine presence, with most intimate, uninterrupted communion with God: there they shall have Jesus Christ as the true ark, wherein the fiery law shall be for ever hid from their eyes; and the mercyseat, from which nothing shall be breathed, but everlasting peace and good-will towards them: the cherubims, the society of holy angels, who shall join with them in eternal admiration of the mystery of Christ : "The golden candlestick, with its seven lamps; for the glory of God doth-lighten it, and the lamb is the light thereof," Rev. xxi. 23. The incense-altar, in the intercession of Christ, who " ever liveth to make intercession for them," Heb. vii. 25. eternally exhibiting the merit of his death and sufferings and efficaciously willing for

ever, that these, whom the Father hath given him, be with him: and the shew-bread table," in the perpetual feast, they shall have together, in the enjoyment of God. This leads me more particularly to consider,

IX. The society in this kingdom. What would royal power and authority, ensigns of royalty, richest treasures, and all other advantages of a kingdom, avail without comfortable society? Some crowned heads have had but a sorry life, through the want of it: their palaces have been unto them as prisons, and their badges of honour as chains on a prisoner; while hated of all, they had none they could trust in, or whom they could have comfortable fellowship with. But the chief part of heaven's happiness lies in the blessed society the saints shall have there. For clearing of which consider these few things.

First, The society of the saints, among themselves, will be no small part of heaven's happiness. The communion of saints on earth is highly prized by all these who are travelling through the world to Zion and companions in sin can never have such true pleasure and delight in one another, as sometimes the Lord's people have in praying together, and conversing about these things, which the world is a stranger to. Here the saints are but few in company at best: and some of them are so posted, as that they seem to themselves to dwell alone; having no access to such, as they could freely unbosom themselves to, in the matter of their spiritual case. They sigh and say, "Woe is me, for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits---there is no cluster to eat--the good man is perished out of the earth," Mic. vii. 1, 2. But in the general assembly of the first-born" in heaven, none of all the saints, who ever were, or will be on the earth, shall be missing. They will be all of them together in one place, all possess one kingdom, and all sit down together to the marriagesupper of the Lamb. Here the best of the saints want not their sinful imperfections, making their society less comfortable: but there they shall be perfect, without "spot or wrinkle, or any such things," Eph. v. 27. And all natural, as well as sinful imperfections, are then done

away; they shall shine as the brightness of the firmament," Dan. xii. 3.

There we shall see Adam and Eve in heavenly paradise, freely eating of the tree of life. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the holy patriarchs, no more wandering from land to land, but come to their everlasting rest; all the prophets, feeding their eyes on the glory of him, of whose coming they prophesied; the twelve apostles of the Lamb, sitting on their twelve thrones; all the holy martyrs in their long white robes, with their crowns on their heads; the godly kings advanced to a kingdom, which cannot be moved; and them "that turn many to righteousness, shining as the stars for ever and ever." There we shall see our godly friends, relations, and acquaintances, "pillars in the temple of God, to go no more out" from us. And it is more than probable, that the saints will know one another in heaven; that, at least, they will know their friends, relatives, and these they were acquainted with on earth, and such as have been most eminent in the church: how beit that knowledge will be purged from all earthly thoughts and affections. This seems to be included in that perfection of happiness to which the saints shall be advanced there. If Adam knew who and what Eve was at first sight, when the Lord God brought her to him, (Gen. ii. 23, 24.) why should one question but husbands and wives, parents and children, will know each other in glory? If the Thessalonians, converted by Paul's ministry, shall be his "crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming, (I Thess. ii. 19.) why may not one conclude, that ministers shall know their people, and people their ministers, in heaven? And if the disciples, on the mount of transfiguration, knew Moses and Elias, whom they had never seen before, (Matt. xviii. 4.) we have ground to think, we shall know them too, and such as they, when we come to heaven. The communion of saints shall be most intimate there; "they shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven," Matt. viii. 11. Lazarus was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, (Luke. xvi. 23.) which denotes most

intimate and familiar society. And though diversity of" tongues shall cease," (1 Cor. xiii. 8.) I make no question, but there will be an use of speech in heaven; and that the saints will glorify God in their bodies there, as well as in their spirits, speaking forth his praises with an audible voice. "A for the language, we shall understand what it is, when we come thither.) When Paul was caught up to the third heaven, the seat of the blessed, he heard their "unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter," 2 Cor. xii. 4 Moses and Elias, on the mount with Christ, "talked with him," Matt. xvii. 3. and "speak of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem," Luke ix. 31.

Secondly, The saints will have the society of all the holy angels there. "An innumerable company of angels" shall be companions to them, in their glorified state. Happy were the shepherds, who heard the song of the heavenly host, when Christ was born: but thrice happy they who shall join their voices with theirs, in the choir of saints and angels in heaven; when he shall be glorified in all, who shall be about him there. Then shall we be brought acquainted with these blessed spirits, who never sinned. How bright will these morning-stars shine in the holy place! They were ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, loved them for their Lord and Master's sake; encamped round about them, to preserve them from danger: how joyful will they welcome them to their everlasting habitations; and rejoice to see them, come at length to their kingdom, as the tutor doth in the prosperity of his pupils! The saints shall be no more afraid of them, as sometimes they were wont to be they shall then have put off mortality, and infirmities of the flesh, and be themselves " as the angels of God," fit to entertain communion and fellowship with these shining ones. And both being brought under one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ; they shall join in praises of God, and of the Lamb, "saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain," &c. Rev. v. 11, 12. Whether the angels shall (as some think) assume airy bodies, that they may be seen by the bodily

the

cyes of the saints, and be in a nearer capacity to converse with them, I know not; but as they want not ways of converse among themselves, we have reason to think, that conversation betwixt them and the saints shall not be for ever blocked up.

Lastly, They shall have society with the Lord himself in heaven, glorious communion with God and Christ, which is the perfection of happiness. I choose to speak of communion with God and the man Christ together; because as we derive our grace from the Lamb, so we shall derive our glory from him too, the man Christ being (if I may be allowed the expression) the centre of the Divine glory in heaven, from whence it is diffused unto all the saints. This seems to be taught us, by these Scriptures, which express heaven's happiness by 66 being with Christ," Luke xxiii. 43. "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." John xvii. 24. "Father, I will that these also, whom thou hast given me, be with me." (And remarkable to this purpose is what follows, "That they beheld my glory") 1 Thess. iv. 17. "So shall we ever be with the Lord," to wit, the Lord Christ, whom we shall meet in the air. This also seems to be the import of these scriptures, wherein God and the Lamb, the slain Saviour, are jointly spoken of, in the point of the happiness of the saints in heaven, Rev vii. 17. "For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unte living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." chap. xxi. 3. "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them," to wit, as in a tabernacle, (so the Word signifies) that is, in the flesh of Christ, (compare John i. 14.) and ver. 22. "The Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it." Here lies the chief happiness of the saints in heaven, that without which they could never be happy, though lodged in that glorious place, and blessed with the society of angels there. What 'I will adventure to say of it, shall be comprised in three things.

First, The saints in heaven shall have the glorious presence of God, and of the Lamb: God himself shall