grace, are equally free to your dejected souls; come, therefore, to him as you are by nature, spiritually poor, naked, and blind, for whatever blessings your circumstances require, and for all that he has purchased and promised. Be earnest in supplication, that he who has saved even the chief of sinners, may save you with an everlasting salvation; and seek ye to be plucked as brands from the burning, and begotten, by the resurrection of Christ, to the lively hope of that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading; reserved in heaven for all who are the called of the Lord.

Under this head of discourse, we have endeavoured to remind you, that the prospect of future felicity is no delusive imagination, but a sure and substantial blessing; that happiness in heaven is clearly revealed in scripture, is purchased by the blood of Jesus, is secured by his resurrection and continual mediation, and is the inheritance of the righteous in Christ, by plain immutable

promises, which have already been fulfilled in the happy experience of many millions who have come out of great tribulation, who

have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, who are now before the throne, and shall be with the Lord for ever and ever.

May this be the happy lot of us all, and to redeeming love and sovereign grace be the unrivalled glory! Amen.

SERMON

SERMON XIII.

HEAVEN PREPARED FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

HEB. xi. 16.

But now they desire a better country, that is,

an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

Having illustrated the certainty of the future happiness of believers, we now proceed, as we proposed,

II. To contemplate that future abode of the saints as a better and an heavenly city.

So long as the children of God continue on earth, they sustain the character of pilgrims travelling through a foreign land, far distant from their native home; or rather wandering through a dreary desert, where they are subjected to many wants, and exposed to many dangers.

This comparison of heaven to a city prepared for the righteous, includes rest from all the fatigues of their journey, from whatever occasioned uneasiness, or prevented their constant enjoyment of God while in the wilderness of this world.

A city also implies society and fellowship, and leads forward our contemplations to the happy intercourse of the glorified above, to the society of pure and perfect spirits, to the company of those who are redeemed out of all nations, and to uninterrupted fellowship with Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and with God, the Judge of all.

Again, this comparison of heaven to a city implies safety and privilege ; it reminds us, that in heaven there can be nothing to hurt or destroy, no tempter nor temptation, and neither sorrow nor sighing : “ Violence shall not be heard in thy land, nor destruction within thy borders; thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise ; thy

people people also shall be all righteous, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified *.

.” Finally, heaven is styled a city, to distinguish it from the tents in which travellers lodge for a night, and to denote the perpetuity of future happiness; a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; an inheritance undefiled, and a kingdom which fadeth not away. The future happiness of the redeemed shall never come to a termination, but be ever new, ever undiminished, nay, ever growing through millions of millions of ages! Ages! have I said ? What have ages to do with eternity? Ages imply time, and time implies change; but

your perfect bliss, O glorified spirit! shall be without interruption and without end !

Come, then, ye heavenly travellers ! from this sacred mount of ordinances, behold yonder better country to which you are travelling ; “ lift up your eyes," as said the angel to Abraham, " and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward, east

and