1793] ^^^- WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 4O.5 



My Christian brethren ! — candidates for eternity ! — leave me not yet. 

 Stretch your imaginations still forward to greater objects and a more 

 ample field. If such be the joy in contemplating God's works as in a 

 glass, by reflected vision, what must it be to contemplate and draw near 

 to himself, when we shall be permitted and enabled to look on his re- 

 splendent countenance, to behold him as he is, and to see even as we are 

 seen ? What will it be to rise from the contemplation of created and 

 material worlds to the world of spirits, the history of their achievements, 

 and all the changes, revolutions and improvements of their condition ? 

 But on this subject I dare not venture a further sentiment that might 

 draw us from the contemplation of that final happiness, purchased for 

 us through the blood of our Redeemer — the consummation of which 

 happiness will consist in the pure vision and enjoyment of God himself, 

 who, if he is so good "to those whose hearts are perfect towards him on 

 this earth that his eyes run to and fro, to make himself strong for them; 

 if he withholds no good thing from those that love him in this world ; 

 if he openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every thing that 

 liveth," even where sin is mixed with our best services; how great will 

 be the happiness to see and feel his goodness when we are exalted into 

 his presence; to taste of his love flowing freely, when there is no sin to 

 come between our souls and his gracious countenance; "when we are 

 brought fully to understand and taste the depth of the riches, both of 

 his wisdom and knowledge, and also of his goodness and long suffering; 

 who brought us out of the mire and clay of our sins ; who set our feet 

 upon the rock of his promises, and ordered our goings, and comforted 

 us on our way, until he brought us into his own holy presence?" 



Let me, then, exhort you to dwell often in the meditations of those 

 joys which I have endeavored to describe ; and whilst our eyes are thus 

 lifted towards heaven and glory, all that would fetter and bind us down 

 to the vain enjoyment of this world will disappear. Let us bear our 

 view constantly forward to that time when, washed and made white in 

 the blood of the Lamb, we shall stand before the throne of God and 

 serve him day and night in his Temple; when our happiness shall be 

 complete and without end; " when we shall neither hunger nor thirst 

 any more ; neither shall the sun light on us nor any heat ; for the Lamb 

 which is in the midst of the throne shall feed us, and shall conduct us to 

 living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe all tears from our eyes." 



In treating of the awful mysteries, through which our text has led us, 

 and especially what relates to future events, and the changes and revo- 

 lutions in the destiny of man, which are yet to come, we may have erred 

 in part; and we can never be secure against error, in attempting the 

 explanation of those mysteries which Providence has been pleased to 

 open to us, as yet only in part; and which will never be fully under- 

 stood, till unveiled to us by the light, to which we shall be admitted in 

 the world to come. 



