inner meaties. bau pas over the notions of the Fress and Homes the more enlightened parts of the Pigst work we find there scarce a people aning the hat discovered nations who are mot trained a na namun the beven is the habitation of the dumpy won they worship. As a Sotorvarð temme there was the Sancton Senetorum, in which a vosible glory appeared among fir igures of the cherutims, and nee which none but fe igi-arist bief was permiten to enter, after bering mate at Kimement for the suns of the people so if we cuusitter the whole creation as one grat sengle, der sax this hay of modes, into which the bigi-priest of our survation emnered, and took his place among angels and archanges, after having maờ a progonatum iar the sins of mankind. Wih how much skil mus the throne of God k erected? With what grints design is that babitatio beautifed, which is contrived and built by him wit Inspired Hiram with wisdom? How great must b the majesty of that place, where the whole art of cre tion has been employed, and where God has chose to show himself in the most magnificent manne What must be the archtecture of infinite power and the direction of infinite wisdom? A spirit cannot b be transported after an inefable manner with the sy of those objects, which were made to affect him that Being who knows the inward frame of the so and how to please and ravish it in all its most ser powers and faculties. It is to this majestic prese of God, we may apply these beautiful expressions holy writ: "Behold even to the moon, and it shine not; yea the stars are not pare in his sight." D light of the sun, and all the glories of the world which we live, are but as weak and sickly glimm ings, or rather darkness itself, in comparison of the splendors which encompass the throne of God. As the glory of this palace is transcendant beyo imagination, so probably is the extent of it. There light behind light, and glory within glory. How far that space may reach, in which God thus appears in perfect majesty, we cannot possibly conceive. Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite: and though not so immeasurable in itself, it may be so with regard to any created eye or imagination. If he has made these lower regions of matter so inconceivably wide and magnificent for the habitation of mortal and perishable beings, how great may we suppose the courts of his house to be, where he makes his residence in a more especial manner, and displays himself in the fulness of his glory, among an innumerable company of angels and spirits of just men made perfect? This is certain, that our imaginations cannot be raised too high, when we think on a place where omaipotence and omniscience have so signally exerted hemselves, because that they are able to produce a scene nfinitely more great and glorious than what we are ble to imagine. It is not impossible but at the conammation of all things, these outward apartments of ature which are now suited to those beings who inhait them, may be taken in and added to that glorious lace of which I am here speaking; and by that means ade a proper habitation for beings who are exempt om mortality, and cleared of their imperfections: or so the scripture seems to intimate when it speaks new heavens and of a new earth, wherein dwelleth ghteousness. I have only considered this glorious place with reard to the sight and imagination, though it is highly obable that our other senses may here likewise enjoy eir highest gratifications. There is nothing which ore ravishes and transports the soul, than harmony; d we have great reason to believe, from the descripons of this place in holy scripture, that this is one of e entertainments of it. And if the soul of man can so wonderfully affected with those strains of music, hich human art is capable of producing, how much ore will it be raised and elevated by those, in which is exerted the whole power of harmony! the senses are faculties of the human soul, though they cannot be employed, during this our vital union, without proper instruments in the body. Why therefore should we exclude the satisfaction of these faculties, which we find by experience are inlets of great pleasure to the soul, from among those entertainments which are to make up our happiness hereafter? Why should we suppose that our hearing and seeing will not be gratified with those objects which are most agreeable to them, and which they cannot meet with in these lower regions of nature; objects, "which neither eye hath, seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive? I knew a man in Christ," says St. Paul, speaking of himself, "above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth,) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth,) how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not possible for a man to utter." By this is meant that what he heard was so infinitely different from any thing which he had heard in this world, that it was impossible to express it in such words as might convey a notion of it to his hearers. It is very natural for us to take delight in inquiries concerning any foreign country, where we are some time or other to make our abode; and as we all hope to be admitted into this glorious place, it is both a laudable and a useful curiosity, to get what informations we can of it, whilst we make use of revelation for our guide. When these everlasting doors shall be open to us, we may be sure that the pleasures and beauties of this place will infinitely transcend our present hopes and expectations, and that the glorious appearance of the throne of God, will rise infinitely be yond whatever we are able to conceive of it. We might here entertain ourselves with many other specu lations on this subject, from those several hints which we find of it in the holy scriptures; as whether there may not be different mansions and apartments of glory, to beings of different natures; whether as they excel one another in perfection, they are not admitted nearer to the throne of the Almighty, and enjoy greater manifestations of his presence; whether there are not solemn times and occasions, when all the multitude of Heaven celebrate the presence of their Maker in more extraordinary forms of praise and adoration; as Adam, though he had continued in a state of innocence, would, in the opinion of our divines, have kept holy the Sabbath-day, in a more particular manner than any other of the seven. These, and the like speculations, we may very innocently indulge, so long as we make use of them to inspire us with a desire of becoming inhabitants of this delightful place. I have treated on the most serious subject that can employ the mind of man, the omnipresence of the Deity; a subject which, if possible, should never de part from our meditations. We have considered the Divine Being, as he inhabits infinitude, as he dwells among his works, as he is present to the mind of man, and as he discovers himself in a more glorious manner among the regions of the blessed. Such a consideration should be kept awake it us at all times, and in all places, and possess our minds with a perpetual awe and reverence. It should be interwoven with all our thoughts and perceptions, and become one with the consciousness of our own being. It is not to be reflected on in the coldness of philosophy, but ought to sink us into the lowest prostration before Him, whe is so astonishingly great, wonderful, and holy. END OF VOL I. INDEX. VOL. I. ABBEY (Westminster) reflections upon its tombs ABSENCE in conversation considered.. how to conquer it.... Page 210 124 125 ABSENT MAN distinguished from the idiot.... 124 ACTION, the felicity of the soul... ANTONY, (Mark) his witty mirth commended 170 AGREEABLE in company, the art of being so.. 166 turns wit into absurdity its origin exists in the wise man as well as in the cox- the way to be cured of it their opinion exemplified in the vision of ANDREWS, a bishop, his sermons full of puns.. 66 their instinct asserted God is their soul arms they are provided with a great variety of calls puns, parograms his observation upon tragic authors.... a great genius, who has submitted to rules, ARISTUS and Aspasia, an unhappy couple |