from that, but rather increase it. The inhabitants of heaven are more active than ever they were upon earth. They are represented as serving God day and night in his temple; yea, and as though all our services in this world were unworthy of the name, it is said, there his servants shall serve him. Nor is the rest here spoken of to be understood of a mere cessation from exercise, in the grave, for that would afford no blessedness. The term labour conveys the idea of painful exercise, weariness, or fatigue. The same word is used in 2 Cor. xi. 29. where the Apostle speaks of being in weariness and painfulness.

A great part of the Christian life consists in an opposition. He that would gain the heavenly prize must oppose the course of this world; must strive against the stream of false principles and wicked practices; against the evil customs and manners of the age and place in which he lives. It has been observed, that mankind go through the world in a body; that they draw one another on, in their principles and manners; that, like the drops of water which compose a tide, they acquire strength and influence by their numbers, and that, whatever general direction they take, that is, for the time being, the course of this world. Like the tide, it is ever rolling, though not in the same direction. In former ages, it was a course of Pagan idolatry; in latter ages, of Popish superstition and cruelty; and, in the present age, it is a course of Infidelity and profaneness. To oppose this current is labour.

It was no small matter for the glorious tribes of martyrs in every age, to hold fast the faith of the gospel. They had not only to encounter their adversaries, but their own natural feelings. They were men, and men of like passions with ourselves. They had wives, and children, and friends, and the various endearing ties of human nature; each of which would cry in their ears Spare thyself! Think, brethren, what labour it must have been, for them to encounter the hardships and cruelties to which a faithful adherence to God exposed them! Nor is it any small matter to set ourselves against the temptations of the world, there is a fashion in every thing, even in religion; and it requires fortitude of mind to withstand its influence, and to adhere to the dictates of scripture, let them be stigmatized as they may. Nor does it re

quire less fortitude to withstand the current of evil customs, by which we may be certain, in many cases to expose ourselves to scorn and contempt. These things, I say, are labour; labour from which those who die in the Lord are at rest. The course of this world has no longer any influence on them; they are arrived in the desired haven, where neither tide nor tempest can affect them.

Again: Our services for God, in the present state, may, very properly, be called labour, on account of the natural infirmities and afflictions which here attend us, especially in the last stages of life. The most active Christan, whose delight in his Lord's work has been such as to render it its own reward, will soon find the years draw nigh, in which he shall say, I have no pleasure in them. It is then that the strength is labour and sorrow. It is then that the spirit is often willing, when the flesh is weak. dear deceased friend experienced much of this, during the last few years of his life. Reading and prayer, and every other religious duty, was a labour; but the tabernacle in which he groaned is now dissolved; he is now at rest from his labours.

Our

Once more: The greatest and most grievous struggle of all is ewing to our own native depravity. It is this that forms the most dangerous stream against which we have to strive. We may withdraw ourselves from the world, but not from this; this will accompany us in all our retirements, and in all our efforts. He that is contented to serve the Lord with mere bodily exercise, may feel no manner of difficulty from this quarter; but he that would worship God in spirit and in truth, that would meditate, pray, praise, preach, or hear, as he ought, will find it the great burden of his life. A mind prone to forget God, and wander in forbidden paths; an heart unaffected with the great things of God, flying off from him and fixing upon things that do not profit; these are matters which made an Apostle exclaim, O wretched man that I am! It is these which render our life a labour. To be at rest from these, is heaven indeed!

But another idea afforded us of the heavenly state is, that of a reward. Those who die in the Lord, not only rest from their labours, but their works do follow them. It has been a common obVEL. VII.

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servation on this passage, and, for ought I know, a just one, that their works are not said to go before them, as a ground of justification; but to follow them, as witnesses in their favour. I apprehend, however, they will not only follow them as witnesses, but will have place among the intermediate causes of their felicity. It is true, they will constitute no part of our title to eternal life; that is the free gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord; but, a title to admission being thus conferred, they will contribute to augment our bliss. The scriptures every where teach us, that the services and sufferings of the faithful shall meet with a divine reward; which, though not of debt, but of grace, is, nevertheless, a reward; which it could not be, if what was enjoyed in the life to come, had no relation to what was done in the present life.

God will reward his servants, at the last day, with his public approbation before an assembled world. The king shall say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in : naked, and ye cloth ed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Nor shall their works stop here; but shall follow them into the heavenly state itself, and furnish matter of joyful recollection for ever; affording a kind of measure according to which their reward in heaven will be conferred. The whole current of scripture appears, to me, to teach us, that there will be degrees of happiness, as well as of misery, in the future state; and that those who have served the Lord with the greatest fidelity and zeal in this world, will enjoy the greatest portion of mental bliss in the world to come. If the labours which we here endure have a tendency to meeten us for the heavenly rest; if present bitters will render future sweet the sweeter; and, if it is thus that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, WORKETH FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; it must, then, follow, that there will be some proportion between our present labours and our future enjoyments. I mean, it cannot be supposed, that hose who have laboured but little for God will enjoy an equal portion of felicity with those who have laboured much.

Upon no other principle, that I can see, can we understand those passages of scripture which exhort us to lay up treasure in heaven; to lay up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come; which encourage us under reproaches and persecutions for the name of Christ, saying, great is your reward in heaven; and which warn us, saying, Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly; but he that soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. We see here, that laying out ourselves for God is laying up treasure in heaven, and that everlasting life is a harvest that will grow out of the seed sown to the Spirit.

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Some serious people have demurred upon this subject, lest it should effect the doctrine of salvation by grace, and encourage boasting. Indeed, if those works which follow us into the heav enly state were to be ascribed to us as their first cause, and were considered as the proper meritorious ground of our reward, there would be weight in the objection; but if it be the Lord who has wrought all our works in us, and if the reward with which he is pleased to crown them be a matter of grace, and not of debt, where then is boasting? It is only God's graciously rewarding his own work. If ten thousand crowns were placed upon the Christian's head, he would cast them immediately at his Redeemer's feet, saying, Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy name give glory.

It is through the intimate union between Christ and believers, that they are not only accepted in him, but what they do for Christ is accepted also, and rewarded for his sake. The Lord hud respect unto Abel, and to his offeRING. We are not only accepted in the beloved, but our sacrifices become acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. As there is no sin so great, but God, for Christ's sake, can forgive it ; no blessing so great, but he can bestow it; so there is no service so small, if done from love to him, but he

will reward it. A cup of cold water, given to a disciple, because he belongs to him, will insure a disciple's reward.

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God's graciously connecting blessings with the obedience of his people, serves to show, not only his love to his Son, and to them, but also his love to holiness and righteousness. A father may design to give an inheritance to his child, and various other accommodations; he may design also to fit him, as much as may be, for the enjoyment of what he has to bestow upon him. On this principle, he will connect almost every gift, or favour that he confers, with some act of filial duty. It is easy to see, in this case, that the father does not consider these things as the child's due upon the footing of merit; for all that he did was simply his duty but love to his child induced him to give; and love to diligence, obedience, and good order, induced him to give it in such a manner. It is thus that God gives grace and glory. It is thus that, in this life, finding is connected with seeking, forgiveness with confession, and salvation with believing; and, in the life to come, eternal glory with suffering, warring, and overcoming. It is thus that God displays, at the same time, the freeness of his grace, and his love of righteousness and good order. Grace reigns in a way of righteousness through the whole system of salvation. Those that are saved shall be sufficiently convinced that it is all of grace; while, on the other hand, all shall see the equity and fitness of the divine proceedings, in judging every man according to his works.

But I proceed to consider.

II. THE USES THAT THIS TWO-FOLD IDEA OF THE HEAVENLY STATE IS ADAPTED TO PROMOTE. All divine truth has a tendency to do us good, and the sentiments taught us in this passage are adapted to our present situation.

1. A rest for those who die in the Lord, may reconcile us to the loss of our dearest Christian friends, seeing they are gone to the possession of it, and are from henceforth blessed. When our Lord Jesus was about to leave the world, and his disciples we overmuch dejected at the thought of his going, he told them, If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I said I go to the Father, for my Father is greater than I; which is as if he had said, The glory and happiness which my Father possesses, and which I go to possess with