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all in all to us; this is indeed" a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."-If it be thought that in these latter expressions the vehement imagination of this distinguished man bore his ardent piety to the confines of mysticism, it should be remembered that in his life was no mysticism. Far from dreamy conceits and visionary flights, were his practical, enlightened, earnest, convincing and awakening character and ministry. He was indeed a fine specimen of doing all things to the glory of God.

Let us now take the secret exercises of a private christian—an intelligent and devout youthful female. "I desire to thank Thee, my God and Father in Christ Jesus, for this and, every other opportunity of improvement thou hast given me. May the opportunity thou hast given me be blest of Thee! Enable me to receive it with thanksgiving, and sanctify it to me by the word of God and prayer. O let me know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified; and other things just so far as may be for my good and Thy glory and no further. I would mourn before thee the base ingratitude with which I have hitherto abused my time and talents, by loving thy gifts more than Thee, and seeking myself, not Thee, in them. Now I bring all my things to Thee; for they are not mine, but thine own. Take that accursed thing, self, out of them all, and condescend to use them for thy glory. I thank Thee, that the meanest employment is acceptable in thy sight, when done in the name of the Lord Jesus. May I set about this in His name, and in His strength, and to His glory! May I not once seek my own things in it, but the things that are Jesus Christ's.....I commit this work to which I would devote myself, into thy hand.

Prosper it or not, as thou seest good. Thy will be done respecting it; only take all self-seeking out of it; get Thyself glory, Lord, in all that I do; and keep me from ever wishing to rob Thee of thy glory."

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Happily such specimens could easily be greatly multiplied. If they are thought rare among real christians, they are so only in degree. The temper and aim belong essentially to all who "have tasted that the Lord is gracious." It is not the peculiarity of some few of believers. They are all "SAINTS.” They are all GODLY in Christ Jesus. In this matter at least they "are of one heart and of one mind."

* Memoirs of Miss Graham by the Rev. C. Bridges.

286

CHAP. XII.

THE CHRISTIAN, IN HEAVEN, DOING ALL THINGS TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

We

WE have looked hitherto upon the christian as he acts to the glory of God on earth. We have now to behold him as he does this perfectly in heaven. have seen that even here this mode of acting is something high-more sublime than any thing else we know of in this world-lying far beyond all the common walks of life. Upon what heights then do we gaze, when we view it in its consummation in the skies! This elevation indeed does in part discourage our attempts to survey it. It defies our efforts perfectly to compass it. The eye despairs of measuring the comely proportions, and of tracing the distinct features, the minute lines and the varied hues of the far distant object, even whilst gazing with confidence, desire and hope upon the real, substantial and enchanting, though formless glories that encompass it. The Bible too seems to discountenance the hope of a present adequate discernment and complete view of these heavenly eminences." It doth not yet appear what we shall be."* "The glory which shall be revealed," + is for the present hidden. Yet we are 1 Pet. iv. 13.

*1 John iii. 2.

v. 1.

not altogether excluded from the apprehension of this exaltation of character and state. So much is allowed to be known as will be serviceable. Whilst many things relating to it "are not lawful to be uttered" are unsuited to our present state; yet so much is manifested as fits our imperfect circumstances, and as conduces to our improvement. The Christian has in his present habit of doing all things to the glory of God, one of the surest and best means of knowing what it shall be to glorify God in heaven. It must be essentially the same there as upon earth. Here we have the elements, there the more perfect combinations, the richer forms, the more powerful operations, and the more beautiful and abundant productions. Sometimes also these principles of acting to God's glory, which are to meet with their full exercise and developement in heaven, attain to a strength and eminence on earth, which afford no mean illustrations of their future perfection. We gather instruction in the nature of that celestial life to which saints are destined, from that comparatively near and lovely approach to it which we sometimes discern in the purity of holy purpose, the entireness of devotedness to God, the weanedness from earth, the profound self-abasement, the disininterested benevolence, the absorbing spirituality, which some rare specimens of christian character exhibit. By these we learn the essential unity of the Church in heaven and the Church on earth. These are indeed the ascending links by which we trace the glorious connexion. It is when we look at these that we already feel "we are come to Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly * 2 Cor. xii. 4.

Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling." *-We thus learn something of that better country, by the language and port and garb of the citizens who are journeying thither. We gain some notion of the heavenly feast by the guests whom we see on their way there. We know something of Paradise by these "plants of righteousness" which are soon to bloom there. And the Scriptures too, leave us not totally in the dark upon these interesting enquiries. They give us some glimpses of the glory which is to be revealed. They draw aside the curtain, and refresh our spirits by some blessed and winning disclosures. They invite us to Pisgah and point us to the land that is afar off. Nay, more; they train us to the very habit of "looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." We are warranted and encouraged therefore to gather something in this wide field, though we cannot climb all its heights, or compass all its extent. With this persuasion we proceed to observe that,

I. Saints shall glorify God in heaven by entire conformity to the divine will. The will of God "is done in heaven," not only by his all-controlling sovereignty and power, but by the voluntary and cheerful deeds of its inhabitants; and every fresh

* Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24. † Titus ii, 12. 13.

Luke xi. 2.

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