Oh! what must that happiness be, which is laid up on
high! that glory that is reserved to be revealed!
When God sets forth the heavenly bliss, it is by the
metaphors, figures, and shadows, adapted to our shallow conceptions. Thus as
God himself is said to have hands謡hich point out his power' eyes謡hich
show his omniscience, and such like condescensions. So the glory above is
set out to us by the most excellent things that come within our
cognizance預s kingdoms, crowns, scepters, gold, precious stones, pearls,
anthems, life, health, liberty, light, endless day, perpetual summer, and
eternal autumn. But how dull are golden harps葉o the rapture of celestial
song! How dim are streets of gold葉o the paved walks of glory! What are the
reflections of clearest crystal葉o glories! What the languid sparklings of
all the precious gems葉o the noon-day blaze of uncreated perfections! What
are the apples of paradise葉o that spiritual feast on divinity itself,
which the saints enjoy above! What is a tree planted on either side a
stream葉o him who overshadows all his chosen ones! or twelve kinds of
fruits yielded every month葉o the innumerable blessings of divine love!
What is a river葉o him who overflows eternity, fills immensity, and is the
plenitude of every ransomed soul! In one word, what are all things葉o God!
Can the creature set forth the enjoyment of the Fountain of being?
O happy eternity! when I shall plunge into the infinity
of your excellencies, and, to my eternal gain, be lost in the immensity of
your glory! and enjoy God in a manner that the noblest metaphors never can
set forth, that the most exalted description never can exhibit, nor the most
enlarged conception conceive! In view of this glory, unfathomably great様et
me prepare, and in hopes of it rest until its full unveiling!