But as the ardent pursuit of these things, is unworthy of the dignity of an immortal spirit, and subversive of its true interest, Eternal Wisdom, calls upon them to seek fruit that is better than gold revenues that exceed choice silver -riches, that shall never fade! yea durable riches and righteousness. They are warned not to lay up treasures on earth, where. moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break thro' and steal; but are affectionately advised to lay up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do no break through nor steal.

And, therefore, the blessings of eternal life are presented to us, under the attracting

names of

RICHES, durable riches: superior to gold; better than much fine gold; more valuable, than rubies, pearls, or precious stones. HONORS, true, sublime, unfading.

PLEASURES, immortal pleasures; forevermore, at God's right-hand.

First-Let us contemplate the riches of Heaven; which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

It is a blessed thing, that, through grace, we are able to lay up treasures in heaven; to make to ourselves frends of the mammon of unrighteousness, i. e. the multitude of the riches of this life, by improving them to the glory of God, and the good of mankind; that, when we fail on earth, they may receive us into everlasting habitations.

The heavenly riches consist,

1. In mansions of glory; or dwelling places in the kingdom of heaven.. Says our blessed Redeemer-"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if 1 go, and prepare a place for you; I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also:" St. John, xiv. 2, 3.

How anxious men are to procure mansions on earth, which are but of short duration ! & how negligent in seeking those heavenly mansions, which our Lord is gone to prepare

2. St. Paul speaks of a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the bearens: 2 Cor. v. 1, &c.

What a comfort it is to reflect, that tho' these clay bodies of our's decay, and suffer dissolution; yet God hath prepared habitations for our spirits, in his kingdom, that shall never be destroyed! And though the best houses that can be built by men on earth, may be ruined by fire, tempests, earthquakes, and many accidents, or perish through age; yet the eternal house will stand; that glorious building will never de

cay.

A pious minister, once seeing his house on fire, lifted up his hands, in extacy, and cried, "Blessed be God, I have an house above, that the fire can never consume!"

Well said the poet

He builds too low, that builds beneath the skies.29

3. St. Peter says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away; reserved in heaven for you; who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time :" 1. Pet. i. 3, 4, 5.

And St. Paul says,to the Ephesians" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. Christ; who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings,in heavenly places, in Christ :" Ephesians, i. 3.

This inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away; well deserves the name of Riches: But who can tell what is contained in those words-All spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, or heaven itself?.

The

Inheritances sometimes come to men by deed, and sometimes by will, or testament. heavenly inheritance comes to the saints both ways: God has given them a fair deed of the glorious possession. This is written in the Scriptures; recorded above, by the eternal. Three, that bear record in heaven; witnessed on earth, by the Spirit, the water, and blood : which agree in one. The children of God are beirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be, that they suffer with him, that they may be glorified together. They are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of their inheritance; and they are exhorted not

to grieve the holy Spirit of God, by which they are sealed unto the day of redemption:See 1 John, v. 7, 8. Rom. viii. 16, 17. Ephes. i. 13, 14. iv. 30.

Our blessed Saviour made a will, just before he expired; in which is this clause :

Father, I will, that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me, where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world:" St. John, xvii. 24.

This will secures the inheritance to the heirs of promise. God hath been willing to shew unto them the immutability of his counsel; and therefore confirmed it by an oath-That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay bold on the hope set before us: Heb. vi. 17, 18.

In consequence of this will of our dear Lord, we hope, that when he who is our life shall ap pear, then shall we also appear with him in glory; and that, though It doth not yet appear what we shall be ; yet we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him : for we shall see him as he is: Col. iii. 4. 1 Jolan, iii. 2.

These are great blessings, indeed; and well might the antient Christians take joyfully the spoiling of their goods--knowing, in themselves, that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance: Heb. x. 34.

4. But farther the Scripture, in the inventory the believer's inheritance, speaks of an heavly country; after which Abraham, Isaac, Ja

cob, and the patriarchs sought :-" For they that say such things, declare plainly, that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of the country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned... 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 : Heb. xi. 14, 15,

16.

Many persons seek after new countries, and spend their time, labor, and substance, in exploring distant regions: and why should we not consider ourselves as strangers and pilgrims. here below, and seek after that heavenly coun-try, that will enrich us forever?

5. The glorious and heavenly city, New-Jerusalem, belongs to those who keep the commandments of the Lord. This is that holy city, where the throne of God and the Lamb shall be forever; which hath no need of the light of the sun, nor of the moon for the glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof: Rev. xxii. 3. xxi. 23.

This is Jerusalem, which is above, which is free; who is the mother of all true Christians :: Gal. iv. 26.

It is said of Abraham, that, "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country. For he looked for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God :" Heb. xi. 9, 10.

This is "Mount Sion, the city of the living. God, the heavenly Jerusalem;" where the in