God hath made us for himself. Of God, and through God, and to God are all things. Therefore then do we attain to our highest end when we are brought to God: But that is by being brought to heaven; for that is God's throne; that is the place of his special presence, and of his residence. There is but a very imperfect union with God to be had in this world; a very imperfect knowledge of God in the midst of abundance of darkness; a very imperfect conformity to God, mingled with abundance of enmity and estrangement. Here we can serve and glorify God, but in an exceeding imperfect manner; our service being mingled with much sin and dishonor to God.

But when we get to heaven, (if ever that be) there we shall be brought to a perfect union with God. There we shall have clear views of God. We shall see face to face, and know as we are known. There we shall be fully conformed to God, We shall be like him, for we

without any remainder of sin. shall see him as he is. There we shall serve God perfectly. We shall glorify him in an exalted manner, and to the utmost of the powers and capacity of our nature. Then we shall perfectly give up ourselves to Cod. Then will our hearts be pure and holy offerings to God; offered all in a flame of divine love.

In heaven alone is the attainment of our highest good. God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper happiness; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

These are but shad

To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. ows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the streams; but God is the fountain. but God is the ocean.

sun, These are but These are but drops ;

Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives;

and we should subordinate all other concerns of life to it. Why should we labor for any thing else; or set our hearts on any thing else but that which is our proper end and true happiness?

IV. Our present state, and all that belongs to it,are designed by him that made all things, to be wholly in order to another world.

This world was made for a place of preparation for another world. Man's mortal life was given him only here, that he might be prepared for his fixed state.

And all that God has

The sun shines up

here given us, is given to this purpose. on us; the rain falls upon us; the earth yields her increase to us; civil and ecclesiastical affairs, family affairs, and all our personal concerns are designed and ordered in a subordination to a future world, by the maker and disposer of all things. They ought, therefore, to be subordinated to this by

us.

APPLICATION.

1. In a use of instruction.

1. This doctrine may teach us moderation in our mourning for the loss of dear friends, who, while they lived, improved their lives to right purposes.

If they lived a holy life, then their lives were a journey towards heaven. And why should we be immoderate in mourning when they are got to their journey's end? Death to them, though it appears to us with a frightful aspect, is a great blessing. Their end is happy, and better than their beginning. "The day of their death is better to them than the day of their birth." Eccl. vii. 1. While they lived they desired heaven, and chose it above this world, or any of the enjoy ments of it. They earnestly sought and longed for heaven; and why should we grieve that they have obtained it.

Now they have got to heaven, they have got home. They never were at home before. They have got to their Father's house. They find more comfort a thousand times, now they are got home, than they did in their journey. While they

were on their journey, they underwent much labor and toil. It was a wilderness that they passed through; a difficult road. There were abundance of difficulties in the way; mountains and rough places. It was a laborious, fatiguing thing to trav el the road. They were forced to lay out themselves to get along; and had many wearisome days and nights: But now they have got through; they have got to the place they sought; they are got home; got to their everlasting rest. They need to travel no more; nor labor any more; nor endure any more toil and difficulty; but enjoy perfect rest and peace; and will enjoy them forever. "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv. 13. They do not mourn that they are got home, but greatly rejoice. They look back upon the difficulties, and sorrows, and dangers of life, rejoicing that they have got through them all.

We are ready to look upon death as though it were a ca lamity to them; we are ready to mourn over thein with tears of pity; to think that those that were so dear to us, should be in the dark, rotting grave; that they should there turn to corruption and worms; that they should be taken away from their dear children, and other pleasant enjoyments; and that they never should have any part more in any thing under the sun. Our bowels are ready to yearn over them, and we are ready to look upon it, as though some sorrowful thing had befallen them; and as though they were in awful circumstances. But this is owing to our infirmity that we are ready thus to look upon it. They are in a happy condition. They are inconceivably blessed. They do not mourn, but rejoice with exceeding joy. Their mouths are filled with joyful songs; they drink at rivers of pleasure. They find no mixture of grief at all, that they have changed their earthly houses and enjoyments, and their earthly friends, and the company of mortal mankind, for heaven. They think of it without any degree of regret.

This is an evil world in comparison to that they are now in. Their life here if attended with the best circumstances that any earthly life ever was, was attended with abundance that was adverse and afflictive; but now there is an end to all adversity. "They shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the

Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them,and shall lead them unto, living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. vii. 16, 17.

It is true we shall see them no more while here in this world, yet we ought not immoderately to mourn for that; though it used to be pleasant to us to see them; and though their company was sweet; for we should consider ourselves as but on a journey too; we should be travelling towards the same place that they are gone to; and why should we break our hearts with that, that they have got there before us; when we are following after them as fast as we can; and hope, as soon as ever we get to our journey's end, to be with them again; to be with them in better circumstances, than ever we were with them while here? A degree of mourning for near relations when departed, is not inconsistent with Christianity, but very agreeable to it: For, as long as we are flesh and blood, no other can be expected,than that we shall have animal propensities and affections. But we have not just reason to be overborne and sunk in spirit, when the death of near friends is attended with these circumstances; we should be glad they are got to heaven, our mourning should be mingled with joy. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others that have no hope." Thes. iv. 13. i. e. That they should not sorrow as the heathen, that had no knowledge of a future happiness, nor any certain hope of any thing for themselves or their friends, after they were dead. This appears by the following verse; "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him."

2. If it be so, that our lives cught to be only a journey towards heaven; how ill do they improve their lives, that spend them in travelling towards hell?

Some men spend their whole lives, from their infaney to their dying day, in going down the broad way to destruction. They do not only draw nearer to hell in length of time, but they every day grow more ripe for destruction; they are more assimilated to the inhabitants of the infernal world. While others press forward in the strait and narrow way to life, and laboriously travel up the hill towards Zion, against the inclinations and tendency of the flesh; these run with a swift carcer down towards the valley of eternal death; towards the lake of fire; towards the bottomless pit. This is the employment of every day, with all wicked men; the whole day is spent in it. As soon as ever they awake in the morning, they set out anew towards hell, and spend every waking moment in it. They begin in early days before they begin to speak, "The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies." Psalm xlviii. 4. They hold on in it with perseverance. Many of them that live to be old, are never weary in it; if they live to be an hundred years old, they →will not give over travelling in the way to hell till they arrive there. And all the concerns of life are subordinated to this employment. A wicked man is a servant of sin; his powers and faculties are all employed in the service of sin, and in fitting for hell. And all his possessions are so used by him, as to be subservient to the same purpose. Some men spend their time in treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Thus do all unclean persons, that live in lascivious practices in secret. Thus do all malicious persons. Thus do all profane persons, that neglect duties, of religion. Thus do all unjust persons; and those that are fraudulent and oppressive in their dealings. Thus do all backbiters and revilers. Thus do all covetous persons, that set their hearts chiefly on the riches of this world. Thus do tavernhaunters, and frequenters of evil company; and many other kinds of persons that might be mentioned. Thus do far the greater part of men; the bulk of mankind are hasting onward in the broad way to destruction. The way, as broad as it is, is, as it were, filled up with the multitude that are going with one accord this way. And they are every day going into hell out of this broad way by thousands.