the angels, of all the cherubims and seraphims, promiseth to admit us to partake of its delicious fruits, by these blessed words, "To him that shall overcome, I will give him to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

It is the common custom of men to have an high esteem of beautiful and great cities, whereof the buildings are stately, and the inhabitants numerous: therefore the Jews were wont to boast of Jerusalem, and to call it, "The city perfect in beauty, The joy of the whole earth." Therefore the Holy Ghost represents to us the glory and happiness of heaven by a city, which he names Jerusalem. And St. Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, makes the same allusion. For when he had said, "That Abraham by faith had sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;" he adds immediately after, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God;" and a little after, "God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city," Heb. xi. And in the xiith chapter of the same epistle, he speaks to believers in this manner, "Ye, are come to Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." And elsewhere, "We have no continuing city here below; but we seek one to come," Heb. xiii. 14.

God is pleased, not only to describe to us our future paradise under the general notion of a city, and of Jerusalem, but he discovers to us its heavenly beauty, its glory, and magnificence. You cannot find a richer and more excellent image than that of St. John, who himself had been a spectator of the New Jerusalem, and had beheld all its rarities and wonders. For when the angel, who had in his hand a golden reed to measure this glorious city, had said unto him, "Come, I will shew thee the spouse, the wife of the Lamb," he

carried

carried him in the spirit to an high mountain, from whence he had a prospect of this great and holy city Jerusalem, which came down from heaven from God, decked as a spouse prepared for her husband, having the glory of God and his light. This faithful witness assures us, that its buildings, and the streets of this blessed city, were all of fine gold, as bright as crystal; its foundations were of precious stones; its twelve gates were twelve pearls; at each of them stood an angel of God. This holy city had no need of the light of the sun, or of the light of the moon; for the light of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. There is no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

It is our delight to abide in stately and magnificent houses, and in rich and glorious palaces: therefore paradise is expressed to us by a dwelling, and by a palace which God himself hath built with his own hands. This is the picture the royal prophet represents to us in Psl. Ixv. when he speaks of "God's house, and of the holy place of his palace." And St. Paul doth the like in 2 Cor. v. when he saith, “We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." And our Saviour, when he was ready to leave the world, comforts his apostles in this manner, "In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you." And St. John heard a mighty voice from heaven, saying, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men; he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people; and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."

Every one desires to be rich; there be some that esteem it their chief happiness. Therefore the Holy Ghost represents the happiness of heaven under the notion of riches and treasure; our Saviour himself speaks of it in this manner, in the vith of St. Matthew, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon

upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal." Therefore when the Holy Ghost describes heaven's glory, and mentions gold, pearls, and precious stones, it hath a regard to this notion.

And because men are for the most part desirous of honours, greatness, and dignities, and that there is nothing in the world more esteemed than sceptres and crowns; therefore the glory of heaven is expressed by a kingdom, by thrones, crowns, and triumphs. Our Saviour speaks in this language to his apostles, "To you who have continued with me in my afflictions, I appoint a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me," Luke xxii. In another place he speaks of all his church in general. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom," Luke xx. And at the last day he will say, " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," Matt. xxv. And to the angel of his church at Smyrna, and the faithful souls, this divine Saviour makes this promise, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life," Rev. ii. And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne," Rev. iii. And St. Paul tells us, "That we run to obtain an incorruptible crown," 1 Cor.ix. And when he saw himself at the end of his race, he cries out, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing," 2 Tim. iv. And St. James speaksin the same language, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation;

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tation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him," James i. Finally, we read that the glorified saints have palms in their hands, and crowns of gold upon their heads, and in their mouths songs of praise. They speak thus to our Saviour, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on earth," Rev. iv. 4.

The great men of the world delight in gorgeous apparel, some in perfumed garments; therefore the Holy Ghost condescends to this weakness of man, and promiseth in heaven robes more fragrant than the perfumes of Arabia. He promiseth a garment whiter than snow, and brighter than the light itself. And Solomon, when he considers his spouse as the type of the church, he saith, "The King's daughter is full of glory within; her clothing is of wrought gold; she shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework."

And when God himself speaks of the glory of his church, which he begins now, and will perfect hereafter, he saith,that he hath adorned her with gold, silver, and precious stones; that he hath clothed her with fine linen, with silk and needlework. Therefore the church speaks in this manner: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robes of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. And if you take notice of such as stand before the throne of God, and the presence of the Lamb, that worship him day and night in his temple, you will find them clothed with long robes, whitened in the blood of the Lamb. Look also upon that magnificent woman of the Revelations, the true type and representation of the church, and you shall see her clothed with the sun, and a crown of

twelve stars upon her head. In a word, hearken to the song of the glorified saints, and you shall hear them speaking to one another, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to God; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready; and to her was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

Men commonly love good cheer, and to partake of sumptuous feasts; therefore the heavenly delights are represented to us under the notion of delicious meats and exquisite drinks, of noble feasts, and magnificent banquets. In this manner the royal prophet speaks to them in the xxxvith Psalm, "How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings; they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." And in the xlvth Psalm, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts; he shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." And the prophet Isaiah speaks in the same language, "In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. This consideration causeth a doctor in the gospel to say, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of heaven." And our Saviour himself saith, that many shall come from the "east and from the west, and shall sit at table in the kingdom of heaven, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Ahasuerus's feast continued an hundred days; but the feast which we shall celebrate in heaven, and which hath been preparing from the foundation of the world, shall continue for all eternity.

Of all feasts, such as are for nuptial solemnities are most

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esteemed,