tempt to dishonesty; many whom riches did not seduce into pride or impiety; many who, in the most difficult and ensnaring circumstances, in the midst of camps and armies, and corrupted courts, had preserved unsullied integrity. In a word, from all kindreds and people; that is, from all ranks of life, and all tribes of men, even from among publicans and sinners, you would behold those whom divine assistance had conducted to future glory.And is not the same assistance, in its full extent, offered also to us? Encompassed, while we run the Christian race, with this cloud of witnesses, who have finished their course with success; animated, while we fight the good fight, with the shouts of those who have overcome and are crowned, shall despair enervate or deject our minds? From the happy multitude above, there issues a voice, which ought to sound perpetually in the ear of faith. Be ye faithful unto the death; and ye shall receive the crown of life: Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might: Be followers of us, who, through faith and patience, are now inheriting the promises. Consider, IV. The description given in the text of the happiness and glory of the heavenly society. They were beheld by the Apostle stand ing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. All that these palms and white robes import, it is not given us now to understand. We know that among all nations they have been used as ensigns of joy and victory; and are undoubtedly employed here to represent that distinguished felicity and honour to which human nature shall be then advanced. But we must be endowed with the faculties of the blessed, in order to comprehend their employments and pleasures; and therefore on this part of the subject I shall not attempt to enlarge. The silence of humble and respectful hope better becomes us, than the indulgence of those excursions of fancy, which degrade the subject they endeavour to exalt. One circumstance only cannot fail to attract particular attention: That the blessed are here described as standing before the throne, and before the Lamb; that is, enjoying the immediate presence of the great Creator, and of the merciful Redeemer of the world. The unhappy distance at which we are now removed from God, is the source of all our woes. Those territories which we inhabit, are not His abode. They are regions of exile. They are the dwellings of a fallen race; and are condemned to be invested with clouds and dark ness. Here, God standeth afar off. In vain, we often pursue his presence through his works, his ways, and his religious institutions. He is said to be a God that hideth himself. He dwelleth, as to us, in the secret place of thunder. He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth a thick cloud upon it. The manifestation of his presence shall be the signal for the renovation of all things. When that Sun of righteousness breaks forth from the cloud which now conceals him, sorrow and sin, and every evil thing, shall fly away before the brightness of his face. For neither guilt nor misery can remain where God dwells. As the rising of the sun transforms at once the face of nature, and converts the whole extent of space, over which his beams are spread, into a region of light; so shall the divine presence, as soon as it is revealed, diffuse universal bliss over all who behold it. It imports fulness of joy, and pleasure for evermore. The inspired writer of this book thus describes its effects: There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain: for the former things are passed away. He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. But the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water. God shall wipe But, descend away all tears from their eyes. V. Turn our attention to a circumstance in the state of future happiness, more commensurate to our present conceptions, which is suggested by the commentary upon the words of the text, given in the sequel of the chapter. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which come out of great tribulation.* This explanatory circumstance may relate particularly to the case of those primitive sufferers who endured severe persecution in the cause of the gospel. But, in general, it presents this natural and beautiful view of the future felicity of good men, that is, their rest from the troubles and toils of life. For, to all, even to the happiest, human life is tribulation and conflict. No man is thoroughly at ease in his condition. Pursuits succeeding to pursuits, keep us in constant agitation; while frequent returns of disappointment break our plans, and oppress our Rev, vii. 13, 14. 222 ON THE HAPPINESS . spirits.-Fatigued by such a variety of toils, mankind have ever looked forward to rest as their favourite object. Throughout all their ranks, from the highest to the lowest, they are in perpetual chase of it; and it perpetually flies before them. It is an object which here they are doomed always to seek, and never to enjoy. The nature and laws of our present state admit not the gratification of this favourite wish. For, besides the necessity of trouble, in order to fulfil the purposes of discipline and improvement, our very happiness, such as it is in this world, requires a circulation of labours. Our enjoyment consists in pursuit, not in attainment. Attainment is with us, for most part, the grave of pleasure. Had we no object to excite fresh activity, and to impel us to new toils, human life would quickly At the stagnate in melancholy indolence. same time the current of all our wishes tends to repose. Imaginary forms float incessantly before our view, of the happiness which is to And from this conflict be enjoyed in rest : between our wishes on the one hand, and our actual situation on the other, arise much of the disquiet, and much of the infelicity, of human life. It is only in heaven that the |