1/93] ■^^■^' ^VILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4OI 



Though having fine outbreaks of eloquence and descriptive power, 

 it is as a whole that it is most remarkable, and remarkable chiefly 

 for the evidence which it gives of its author's wide and close read- 

 ing of the Scriptures, of his capacity to arrange his Biblical lore 

 with strength and effect, to bear upon his general proposition. 



We pass, therefore, in conclusion, to a sermon upon the joys of 

 heaven; not that it is his greatest sermon, but because it is one 

 from which we can most easily make extracts. After some words 

 of preface he begins : 



These joys are now to be our ravishing theme. But although we may 

 feel the consolations to be derived from the prospects and hopes of in- 

 heriting them, yet how shall we paint or describe that which "Eye* 

 hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man 

 to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for them that love 

 him ; but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit ; for the Spirit 

 searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Some descri[)tion 

 of them may, however, be given from the experience of what gives gen- 

 uine pleasure or pain to us in this world, and especially from some pas- 

 sages of the inspired writers in sacred Scripture who were favored with 

 certain visions or short glimpses of the beatific bliss and glory. 



The Apostle f has said many things generally concerning t!\e happi- 

 ness of heaven, as far as human language can go, as, for example, he 

 describes it, in comparison with all we have seen, or can see in this 

 world, as " a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." " For 

 our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far 

 more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the 

 things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the 

 things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen 

 are eternal." Here, then, is the great distinction. If the things which 

 men deem most valuable in this world were to be held forever, they 

 would be content to enjoy them here forever; but when they know that 

 they are perishable and temporal here, and that in heaven they will be 

 lasting and eternal, wise men must soon be determined in their choice. 



Howsoever far any description of the joys of heaven may fall short 

 of the truth, it is hoped the souls of men may be animated by the pros- 

 pect of enjoying them, and be thereby persuaded to cast off every evil 

 habit that would render them unfit for that holy place, or stop them- in 

 their glorious progress thither ; for these joys are too spiritual and sub- 

 lime — too full of glory and goodness to be ever tasted by a man who 

 carries with him a heart wedded to this world and polluted with its 

 wickedness. It was the punishment inflicted upon Adam's first trans- 



" I Cor. ii. 9, 10. Isa. iv. 4. \2 Cor. iv. 17; tS.. 



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