II. His reward

As a view of the recompense that awaits us cannot fail of animating us in our warfare, it will be proper to contemplate it with care

Our Lord declares it in terms the most glorious that can be conceived

[Christ is seated in heaven on a throne of glory-But he does not occupy that throne alone; he admits his victorious followers to a participation of it-Nothing less than this is deemed a sufficient reward for them-It were an unspeakably great reward, if we were only permitted to behold him upon his throne; but he assures us that we shall be exalted to sit thereon together with him, and thus to share both his honour and felicity-Such honour have all his saints; and he, as the arbiter of life and death, pledges his word, that he himself will bestow this reward upon them-How blessed then must they be! how poor a recompense would earthly kingdoms be in comparison of this!-]

His illustration of his promise greatly elucidates its import

[Christ was once conflicting with his enemies, just as we are-But he overcame them on the cross, triumphed over them in his resurrection, and led them captive in his ascension; and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high -Let us view him then on his Father's throne, and we shall see what glory is reserved for us-Like him, we shall rest from our labours; never harassed more either by sin or sorrowWe shall dwell in the immediate presence of him whom we love; no longer viewing him at a distance, by the eye of faith, through the medium of the word; but beholding him face to face, seeing him as we are seen, and "knowing him as we are known"-We shall moreover receive all the happiness of which our natures are capable-He who was once a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief as his constant companion, now enjoys all the blessedness of the Godhead-In this we shall resemble him as far as any thing finite can resemble what is infinite-Our capacities of happiness will be enlarged beyond our highest conceptions, and every one will be as blessed as his capacity will admit of-Nor is Christ's exaltation merely a pattern of ours-He is our forerunner-And the exaltation of the head is a pledge and earnest that all the members shall in due time be glorified together with him-]

APPLICATION

[If such be the felicity of all Christian soldiers, who will not enlist under the banners of Jesus?-Who will not join himself to the Captain of our salvation, and give up his name

to be enrolled among "the worthies of our David?"-Let all of you, my brethren, flock to his standard, "like doves to their windows"-Gird on your spiritual armour, and go forth to the fight-You have a Commander who can not only lead you and direct you in the battle, but can shield your heads, and heal your wounds, and strengthen your arms, and insure you the victory-Soldiers, "quit yourselves like men; be strong". "Fight the good fight of faith," and trust in him for a successful issue of your conflicts-It is but a little time that you shall have to engage; and though you go forth only with a sling and a stone, Goliath shall fall before you-Only go forth in dependence upon your God, and you have nothing to fearBut O! what have you not to hope for? What blessed triumphs! What glorious spoils! What everlasting shouts of victory! Look at those who have gone before you in the combat; see them on their thrones, crowned with crowns of righteousness, and shouting with shouts of triumph-Soon, very soon, shall you be numbered amongst them-Let none of you then turn your backs-" If any man turn back," says God," my soul shall have no pleasure in him"-Fight on a little longer, and you shall not only be conquerors, but "more than conquerors"-The completest victories that an earthly hero can gain, will afford him matter for weeping as well as for joy-But your victories shall be unalloyed with sorrow, and crowned with everlasting gladness" War then a good warfare," and fight till you overcome-So shall you receive your promised recompense, and "reign with your God for ever and ever"-]

Heb. x. 38.

DXLVII. THE FELICITY OF THE GLORIFIED SAINTS.

Rev. vii. 14-17. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

THE more light and knowledge God has communicated to us, the more ready shall we be to confess our

ignorance, and to receive instruction from those, who are qualified and appointed to teach us. Unsanctified knowledge indeed will puff us up with conceit; but that which comes from God, will lead us to God with deeper humility. The apostle John was distinguished above all the apostles by special tokens of his Master's favour; insomuch that he was called "The disciple whom Jesus loved." Nor was he less distinguished by the multitude of revelations that were given to him. In the chapter before us he records a vision which he had of the heavenly world, wherein he saw all the hosts of heaven, and heard the anthems which they sang before the throne of God. Being interrogated by one of the celestial choir respecting the persons whom he had seen, Who they were? and, Whence they had come? he modestly declined offering any opinion of his own; and, in hopes of obtaining information from him, confessed the superior intelligence of this divine messenger. The desired information was immediately imparted: he was told, in the words we have just read, hence they came; how they came thither; and the nature and extent of their felicity. Taking this therefore as the distribution of our subject, we shall shew, respecting the glorified saints,

I. Whence they came

[Perhaps the persons, whom the apostle saw, were those who had suffered martyrdom for the sake of Christ. But "it is through much tribulation that every one must enter into the kingdom of heaven." Persecution indeed does not rage equally at all times, or affect all in an equal degree: but "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer it." It is necessary that they should endure it, not only to prove the sincerity of their faith, but to accomplish, in many other respects, the gracious purposes of God towards them. Besides, there are numberless other troubles, which are peculiar to the true Christian, and are more afflictive than the most cruel persecution. The temptations of Satan are often like fiery darts that pierce the soul, and enflame it with a deadly venom. The body of sin and death, which even the most exalted saints carry about with them to the latest hour of their lives, often drew from the apostle tears and groans, which his bitterest enemies never could extort. He could rejoice and glory in the sufferings which they inflicted; but a sense of his indwel

Rev. vi. 9-11.

ling corruptions broke his spirit, and humbled him in the dust. There is yet another source of tribulation, which, when opened, overwhelms the soul with inexpressible anguish. The hidings of God's face were the chief ingredient of that bittér cup, which so distressed our adorable Saviour, that his "soul was sorrowful, even unto death." Nor are any of his followers so highly privileged, but they at times cry out by reason of dereliction, and feel a grief too big for utterance. Hence then may it be said of all that are in heaven, That they came thither through much tribulation; or, as it is spoken by the prophet, That "the third part, the chosen remnant, are brought through the fire."

But as they are a remnant only who partake of that glory, while by far the greater part are left to perish in their sins, it will be proper to enquire,].

II. How they came thither

[Though tribulation is the way to heaven, and, when suffered for the sake of Christ, is the means of advancing us to higher degrees of glory, or, as the Apostle says, "worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," yet is it by no means meritorious in the sight of God: if our trials were ever so great, ever so long continued, and ever so patiently endured, they would not expiate our guilt, or purchase the remission of one single sin. Nor is repentance, however deep, at all more available for the removal of our guilt. As well might the Ethiopian hope to change his complexion, or the leopard to wash away his spots in water, as we to cleanse our souls from the stains they have contracted, even though we could bathe them in rivers of tears. But though neither the tears of penitence, nor the blood of martyrdom, can avail for the washing of our robes, "there is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness," a fountain in which "sins of a crimson dye may be made white as snow." The blood of the Lamb of God was shed for this very purpose, and is ever effectual for this end. And if we could ask of every saint that is in heaven, How came you hither? Whence had you this white robe? there would be but one answer from them all; all without exception would acknowledge that "their own righteousnesses were as filthy rags;" and that they "washed them white in the blood of the Lamb." This is noticed in the text as the express reason of their being exalted to glory; they washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God. And, if ever we would go thither, we must go in the same way, and "be found in Christ, not having our own righteousness, but his."

Zech. xiii. 9.

That we may be stirred up to seek a participation of their privileges, let us consider,]

III. The nature and extent of their felicity

While we are in this world we can form but very inadequate conceptions of what is passing in heaven. But respecting the glorified saints the text informs us, that 1. They serve God

[ifeaven is not a scene of inactivity, but of constant diligence in the service of God. As God dwelt visibly in the temple, and the chambers of the priests surrounded him on every side; and as the priests ministered before him in white garments, all in their courses attending upon him by day and by night, so he is represented as seated on his throne in heaven; and all his saints being made priests unto him, they surround his throne clothed in white robes, and minister unto him, not in rotation, but all together, with incessant watchfulness. They once were prevented by their infirmities, and by the very necessities of nature, from glorifying him so continually as they would have wished; but now their powers are enlarged, and they can serve him without weariness, and without distraction. Now also they have a freedom from every thing that could at all abate their happiness in his service. When they were in the flesh they had many wants yet unsupplied, and many trials that were grievous to flesh and blood. If they had lost their desire after earthly things, yet they hungered and thirsted after God, and felt many painful sensations by reason of their distance from him. But now every trial is removed: the sun of persecution no longer lights on them; nor do the fiery darts of Satan any longer wound their souls. Hence their services are unintermitted, and their happiness is unalloyed.]

2. God serves them

[Both the Father and Christ delight to minister to their happiness. The Father has long "pitied them, as a parent pities" his dear afflicted infant; and, rejoicing with them in the termination of their trials, now "wipes the tears from their eyes," and receives them to his everlasting embraces. The Lord Jesus too, who, though on his throne, is yet "as a Lamb that has been slain," delights to minister unto them. Once, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, he sought them out, and brought them home on his shoulders rejoicing, and fed them in green pastures, and made them to lie down beside the still waters. The same office does he still execute in heaven, where his widely scattered flock are collected as "one fold

Rev. xxi. 3, 4.

d Luke xii. 37.