SECTION II.

Of the nature of future rewards and punishments.

TH
Tthe

HE happinefs of the righteous, after the refurrection, is expreffed in fuch terms as makes it appear to be the most defirable thing that can be conceived by man; but ftill the terms are general, and give us no diftinct idea of the nature of it. Nor, indeed, was this at all neceffary: nay, our hopes and wishes are, perhaps, more strongly engaged without that circumftance.

Sometimes the future happiness is described as a fiate of rest. Rev. xiv. 13. "Bleffed are the dead that die in the Lord, "for they reft from their labours; and their "works do follow them."

But most frequently it is fpoken of as a ftate of indefinite and pofitive happiness. It Bb 3

is

is faid of the virtuous, in the book of Re

velation, ch. vii. 16. that "

they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, “neither shall the fun light on them, nor

any heat. For the lamb which is in the "midst of the throne, fhall feed them, and "shall lead them unto living fountains of "waters and God fhall wipe away all

tears from their eyes." Rev. xxi. 3. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven,

faying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is "with men, and he will dwell with them, " and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there "fhall be no more death, neither forrow, "nor crying, neither fhall there be any "more pain: for the former things are paffed away."

The happiness of the righteous is also represented as a state of glory, and honourable diftinction, and that of the wicked as a ftate of infamy and difgrace. The angel informs Daniel, ch. xii. 2. that “ many of "them that fleep in the duft of the earth "shall awake, fome to everlasting life, and

fome

66

"fome to fhame and everlasting contempt. "And they that be wife fhall fhine as the brightness of the firmament, and they "that turn many to righteoufnefs, as the "ftars for ever and ever." To this paffage our Lord probably alluded, when he said, Matt. xiii. 43. "Then shall the righteous "fhine forth as the fun, in the kingdom of "their Father."

There can be no doubt but that, as moral excellence is the only preparative to future happiness, fo it will be a neceffary ingredient in it. And every truly good man will look forward, with joy, to the time when all fin, and every propenfity to it, fhall be no more, and when his nature will be as excellent as it is capable of being.

The happiness of heaven, like the happinefs of generous virtue in this life, we have reason to think, will not be of an indolent, but of an active nature; and our benevolence being perfected, we fhall, probably, be employed in promoting the happiness

of other beings; which may engage us in a variety of the most vigorous and unremitted pursuits. This idea is favoured by almost every reprefentation which our Lord gives us, in his parables, of the rewards of the righteous. Thus, it is ufual with him, to compare it to a it to a kingdom, and the exercife of dominion, in various forms; which fuggefts the idea of a fcene of great exertion, as well as of dignity, fplendor, and authority. He that had improved two talents, was made ruler over two cities; he that had improved five talents, was made ruler over five cities; and to both of them he fays, Matt. xxv. 21. "Well done, thou

good and faithful-servant; thou hast been "faithful over a few things, I will make "thee ruler over many things: enter thou "into the joy of thy Lord." Speaking concerning the fame fubject, he fays, Matt. xxiv. 45. "Who then is a faithful and "wife fervant, whom his Lord hath made "ruler over his houfhold, to give them "meat in due feafon? Blefed is that fer"vant, whom his Lord, when he cometh,

"fhall

"fhall find fo doing. Verily I fay unto
that he fhall make him ruler over
66 you,
"all his goods."

Confidering the intelligent nature of man, and the pleasure we naturally take in the acquifition of knowledge, it can hardly be supposed, but that an enlarged acquaintance with the works and providence of God, will make a confiderable part of the happiness of the wife and good hereafter. We fhall, probably, have the beft opportunity of gaining a thorough knowledge of the conftitution, and mutual relations of things in the world that we inhabit; and having it in our power to converfe with the chief actors in all great events, we fhall be better acquainted with the true hiftory of the world, and may thereby better trace the wonderful conduct of divine providence in all the affairs of it.

Laftly, if our natures be at all the fame that they are now, we thall, no doubt, receive the higheft fatisfaction from converfing

with our wife and virtuous acquaintance,

talking