Omnipresence of God, and reverently carrying, as close to him, and juft under his Eye, In him they dwell, as their Temple ; where their Hearts are ftill offering up the grateful Sacrifice of their Praises. Thus also, when they seriously and sweetly revolve in their Minds the Merits of Chrift; as he is the innocent Lamb of God, who Gave up himself an Offering of a sweet Smelling favour unto God, They are drawn, and clofely United to him by Love, and dwell in him, as a Temple; there pouring out their Souls, with fweet Acceptance. O that we (thro' God's efpecial Favour,) may begin and practise fomewhat like this, here upon Earth! To draw nigh to God with fuch Humility and Reverence, and to Depend upon him with fuch Trust and Confidence; and fo Delight in him, as our prefent Help, and boufe of Defence; That we might not use to go over our holy Offices in a drowsy Liftless manner; as Thinking of fomewhat elfe, or fcarce Thinking at all; But Pray and Praife with fuch Attention, Fervour, and Devotion; That the Oblation might be indeed well pleafing to God, thro' Chrift, and of fingular Advan tage Divine Divine Praifes, made our Sacrifice by the 'Fire of Love; and fiducially offer'd up through the Mediation of Christ, upon 'the Altar of our Heart', go up with the Odour of an acceptable Savour; and open us a way to fee that Salvation which God has prepared for them that Love him. All which Bleffed Benefits, O how are they Loft, by the wretched Creatures, who go Cover Divine Offices with fuch wild Vagaries of Mind, and fuch wicked Deadness of Heart, That though they do bear fome fhare in the external part of Praying and Singing along with others; yet they partake not at all of the heavenly Confolation, and the sweet Anticipation of Eternal Blifs. CHA P. VIII. Of the Meat and Drink of the City F this Heavenly Sustenance let us fee the Angel's account, Rev. 22. I, 2. He fhew'd me a pure River of Water of Life, clear as Cristal, procee ding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb: In the midst of the Street of it, and of either fide of the Rivers was there the Tree of Life, which bare Twelve manner manner of Fruits; and yielded her Fruit every Month: And the Leaves of the Tree were for the Healing of the Nations. I fear, left fome that hear this fhould wonder at the Parfimony that seems here to be fignified; and cenfure the Narrowness of the Heavenly Citizens Entertainments: As thinking, That there's more and better to be found, even in our Wilderness-State upon Earth: When we hear of no more but the Fruits of one Tree for Meats; and only the Water of a River for Drink. But let fuch as are tempted thus to furmize, call to mind,That in the Earthly Paradife, (where doubtlefs was better Provifion, than any in our present Exile,) Adam had nothing granted him, but Fruits and Herbs to Eat, and Water to Drink. Yec because it was his Punishment, to be difpoffefs'd of these Entertainments, 'Tis an Argument to Convince us, That they Exceeded all the Meats, and the Wines of this Life: Tho' ftill abundantly Inferior to the Tree of Life; and the Living Water of the Paradife Cæleftial. But in this Vale of Mifery, all are Ditemper'd, And their Senfe of Tafting has a kind of Bitter Relifh, wherewith it is Vitiated; which puts 'em upon Shifting and Inventing Varieties, to take off that naufeous Uneafinefs. But the Varieties, at the fame time that they help to cure 'em of E 2. the the prefent Faftidium and Indifpofition, do but feed and increase a worfe Ailment and Malady. Whereas in the Earthly.Paradife, all would have been Healthy; and fo wholfome and pleasant were the Fruits and Waters there, as not only to Nourish, but alfo keep 'em still Hail and well, with a wonderful Delight. But whatever was the condition of that Paradife, The Tree of Life, and Living Water in the City of God, (be fure) are no Meat and Drink common to Men wich Brutes, nor fuch as threaten any danger in the Ufe, nor will ever be attended ' with any fad'ning Perceptions in the Confequence: But of fuch an excellent High and Divine nature, that they'll yield a full Satisfaction, with a pure exquifite Pleasure: For fo the Sacred Poet applauds the Happinefs of fuch as are admitted to Feaft upon em'. Pfal. 36. 6. They shall be abundantly fattisfied with the Fatnefs of thy House: And thou shalt make em drink of the River of thy Pleafure. Thefe are no corporeal, but Spiritual Viands: The Tree of Life being that Bread of Understanding, and the Living Water that Fountain of Wifdom, wherewith the Author of Eccluf. Chap. 15. 3. tells us the Lord fhall feed and Refresh fuch as Fear bim. For, (as S. Aug. obferves,) In what relates to the Body, Meat is one thing, and Drink another: But as to spirituals, Meat and Drink are one and the fame, i. e. Underftanding and Wisdom; which, in the place cited, do fignify but one thing, are the Meat which Nourifheth, and alfo the Drink which Quencheth and Refresheth. Yet might we take the Living Water for Wisdom; and the Tree of Life for Love: According to the Dictates of that inspired Author, who gives the most accurate Defcription of this Heavenly City; 1 Job. 3. 14. He that Loveth not, Abideth in Death. And we know, that we are passed from Death to Life, Because we Love the Brethren. Now, both to Underftand and to Love are true Vital Actions; Therefore the Saints Drink, in the City of God, is out of the River that flows from the Fountain of Life, even God himself i. e. To participate even of the fame Wisdom, wherewith God himself is Wife; which is the chief and fupream, beyond all that even we are able to declare or think. And, again, Their Meat which they eat of the Tree of Life, is to enjoy the participation of that unfpeakable Love, wherewith the Goodness which is clearly Seen, may be ardently Lov'd. Yea, that Love, wherewith God, who is an infinite Good, and the Fountain of all Goodness, Loves bimfelf. And what this Wisdom, and this Love are, we may Conjecture as well as we can; but muft never expect throughly to comprehend, till we attain |