constantly passing over individuals; but still greater changes and revolutions are frequently passing over whole nations and kingdoms; so that this whole world is a constant scene of changes and revolutions in the state and circumstances of mankind. And as all these are ordered and brought about by God, so he here gives peculiar displays of his glory, which are not to be seen in any other part of the universe.

5. The angels of God behold him here forming the moral characters of men for eternity. This is the peculiar work of God, who operates in the hearts of all the children of Adam. And the changes which he produces in the hearts of men by the special operations of his Spirit, afford great satisfaction and joy to all the benevolent spirits above. We read that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance. The angels of God probably know the very time when any sinner is called out of darkness into marvellous light, and translated out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Christ. And this glorious act of divine sovereignty is no where to be seen but in this world, where God is carrying on his work of special and astonishing grace among his most guilty and ill deserving creatures. Though the angels of God have seen their fellow angels changed from holiness to sin in heaven, yet they have never seen any of their fellow creatures changed from sin to holiness any where but in this world; which is a distinction among equally guilty creatures that eminently displays the awful and glorious sovereignty of God. I may add,

6. The angels of God see him, in this world, continually calling off mankind from the stage of life and from the state of probation into their future and eternal states. Some he calls from temporal life to eternal death; and some he calls from temporal life to eternal life. Here the angels of God see him act a part that they never saw him act in heaven. And this is a most solemn and interesting part, in respect both to themselves, and to their fellow creatures whom they love as themselves. It is undoubtedly a very joyful thing to the guardian angels, to give up those, whom they have attended through life, into the hands of God, and accompany them to heaven. And it must be no less grievous to the angels who have the care of impenitent sinners, to quit their charge, and see them doomed to everlasting darkness and despair. The distinction which they see God make in this world between the vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath, must give them the most clear and impressive sense of the sovereignty, of the mercy, of the faithfulness and of the justice of God. Such a distinction they never did see, and never will see him make, in any other parts of the universe. They, therefore, have seen, and will see more

of the glory of God in this, than in any other world. Here God has done, is doing and will do the greatest things, which display his greatest glory before the eyes of angels and men for ever.

IMPROVEMENT.

1. If angels discover more of the glory of God in this world than in any other part of the universe, then we may justly suppose that this world is, on the whole, better than it would have been if neither natural nor moral evil had ever entered into it. It is evident that the angels of heaven view it in this light. They were pleased with it when it was first created, and entirely free from sin and misery; but they have been better pleased with it since the introduction of natural and moral evil, having seen the steps God has taken to bring good out of evil. It is better fitted to display the glory of God now, than it was before the fall of man. It is more eligible to belong to the race of Adam since his apostacy, than it was before he apostatized. It is more eligible to live in this world, bad as it is, than to have lived in it while it was perfectly holy. Mankind now enjoy better opportunities and means of getting good, and of doing good, than they would have had if they had remained free from sin and misery. God intended, when he made the world, that it should be just such a world as it is. When he created Adam, he meant that he should sin, and spread sin and misery among all his posterity; and that his Son should suffer and die to save some of them from both sin and misery. God's original design in making this world, has never been defeated by the apostacy of Adam and the sins of his posterity. He sent Christ, not to mend the world, but to carry into effect his perfectly wise and holy and benevolent design of creating and redeeming love. He raised up this world to be a staging, upon which the most important transactions were to be done; and when they are done, he will take it down. The scenes which take place upon earth are vastly greater, more solemn and more instructive, than they could have been if sin and misery had not existed, the Son of God had not died, and sinners had not here been formed into vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath. God has always held a school here, in which he has been training up rational and immortal creatures for their future and eternal destination. God will reap a larger revenue of glory from this, than from any other world; and mankind will reap a larger portion of holiness and happiness than if they had lived in any other part of God's wide dominions. For, by living in this world, they have done more for God, and seen and learned more of God, than they would any

where else. The patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, and all who will be redeemed from among men, will always have reason to be thankful that they were the offspring of Adam, and lived in the world where he sinned and fell; where Christ was crucified; where the gospel was preached; where sanctifying grace was given; and where, through much tribulation, they were prepared for, and translated to heaven, where they will be able to sing a song of gratitude which the highest angels in heaven cannot learn. This is the best world angels ever saw; and the best in which mankind can live, if they only improve it as they may, and ought to improve it.

2. If angels discover the brightest displays of the glory of God in this world, then it is certain that he treats all mankind perfectly right, in all his conduct towards them in the dispensations of providence and grace. The guardian angels have always been acquainted with his conduct towards every individual of mankind, and have always been the most impartial, benevolent and competent judges of the divine conduct, towards those who were committed to their care. And if they had seen a single instance of malevolence, injustice, negligence, or want of benevolence, in the dispensations of divine providence and grace towards any of the children of men, they would not unanimously cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." Any misconduct in God towards any of the human race, would appear a blemish, and not a beauty, in the view of the holy angels. Though mankind have always been disposed to call God a hard master, an unjust lawgiver, and an unwise governor, yet they have always complained without a cause. But he has always had reason to complain of them for their complaining of him. He has never ordered any thing unwisely, nor required any thing unreasonably, nor afflicted any one unjustly. Though sin has abounded in this world, yet grace has much more abounded. Though God's judgments have often been in the earth, yet has he filled the earth with his goodness. He has been good to all, and his tender mercies have been over all his works. God has treated all men far better than they deserved, even those whose hearts he has most deeply wounded. Why should a living man complain? God has never suffered any more sin and misery to abound in this rebellious world, than his own glory and the good of the universe required. And who can complain of his doing that which will display his glory in the eyes of all his holy and dutiful subjects?

3. If angels view this world as the most important and interesting part of the creation, then secure sinners are extremely stupid. They see the same world, the same objects, the same

persons, the same scenes, and the same changes, which angels see and admire; but they take no notice of the heart and hand and glory of God manifested by them, though they are far more deeply concerned in the objects with which they are surrounded, and the scenes through which they are passing. All that they see, and hear, and know, in this world, will make happy or unhappy impressions on their minds, which they can never forget, nor cease to feel. They stupidly think and say, that God hath forsaken the earth, and that he will not do good, neither will he do evil. This is real stupidity, because it is not owing to ignorance, but to inattention. God has made them capable of seeing his glory, which he is constantly displaying before their eyes, in his works, in his providence, and in his gospel. But they choose to pursue lying vanities, and to fix their attention upon trifles, regardless of the most important realities. They practically say unto God, "Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." "Their heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted." This is the voluntary conduct of stupid sinners, who differ in this respect from those who are awakened. Their eyes are open, and their ears are open, and their fears are alarmed; they see God, and all his creatures, and all his works, armed against them. They believe God is what he is, and what he has declared himself to be, and tremble. God is in all their thoughts, and they meet his sovereignty every where, in his works, in his providence, and in his word. But how many secure and stupid sinners there are, who are going on blindfold and careless in the broad road to destruction, notwithstanding God is constantly speaking to their eyes, their ears, their hearts and consciences! They know not at what they stumble. But they have reason to fear that they will soon fall to rise no more.

4. If the angels of heaven discover the brightest displays of the glory of God in this world, then all real christians have great advantages, while they are passing through the changing scenes of life, to make constant and swift advances in divine knowledge. They see the same displays of the divine glory that angels see, admire and love; and are vastly more interested in the great changes which they not only see but feel, than angels are. God declares that he governs this world in the manner he does, on purpose to make the inhabitants know that he is the Lord. They are all capable of gaining this knowledge, but especially those whom he has called out of darkness into marvellous light. God has shined in the hearts of christians, to give them the light of the knowledge of his glory in

the face of Jesus Christ. And the apostle says that they with unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are actually changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. God has given christians a spiritual discerning of spiritual things; and he expects that they should grow in divine knowledge, until they arrive at the stature of perfect men. Christians are under the best circumstances, and under the highest obligations, to grow in the knowledge of God and divine things. Every thing in the world displays the glory of God, and affords matter of instruction to all who desire and endeavor to gain instruction. You will allow that Moses and Aaron had great opportunities to gain the knowledge of the glory of God, in Egypt and in the wilderness, where God did such great and glorious things. You will allow that the disciples of Christ, who followed him from place to place, heard him preach, saw his miracles, and conversed with him from day to day, had peculiar advantages to gain high attainments in divine knowledge. But christians have since enjoyed better opportunities, than Moses and Aaron and even the apostles enjoyed, to grow in divine knowledge. They lived under a dark dispensation; but christians since, have lived under a more enlightening dispensation, and enjoyed the full blaze of gospel light. Angels have seen more of the divine glory under the gospel dispensation, than they ever saw before. God has done great and marvellous things, in preserving and protecting and enlarging the Christian church, which has been thinly scattered among all nations, who have always been hostile to it and endeavored to destroy it. And he is still doing great and astonishing things in favor of the kingdom of Christ. We have lived in the most eventful period, in these fifty years past. Christians who have lived and still live in this eventful period, have enjoyed and do still enjoy peculiar privileges and opportunities for growing in grace and in the knowledge of God. This world is becoming more and more interesting and instructive to the angels of light, and ought to become more and more instructive to the children of light in the present day; and it must be owing to their spiritual blindness, if they do not grow in the knowledge of the glory of God faster than any other christians have done before them. The ignorance of christians at this day is utterly inexcusable. They ought to discern the signs of the times, and see and admire those things which angels here see and admire. The world are awake to good and to evil, and they are zealously engaged in building up, and in pulling down, the kingdom of Christ. Greater revolutions than we have yet seen are to be expected; and all these will be brought about by the hand of God, and will display his glory before the eyes of angels and men. And