degrees of wisdom and knowledge: to use the words of the paffage before us, they "know in part, they fee darkly as through a "glafs." This diverfity of knowledge, with its explanations, belongs to the inhabitants of earth hereafter, favourable circumftances, docility, capacity, information, shall be enjoyed we fhall fee GoD: his glory fhall be unveiled we shall behold that glory: we fhall contemplate the glory of his nature, as finite minds can behold it: and the glory of his works, of his difpenfations towards his creatures, his church, his faints and ourselves, fhall be unfolded to the admiring foul.

FROM fuperior and perfect knowledge, communicated without uncertainty and hefitation, received without fufpicion, fatigue, or danger of being loft, cannot but arise high fatisfaction. On this we fpeak decidedly, for we have all experienced what we felt when we emerged from ignorance and error, and prejudice; when our minds opened to truths new and important; when we perceived their certainty, their bearings and dependencies, and various and natural effects. We have found them, we have found them, we exclaim, we

have made the important discovery: we pity and blush for our former ignorance: we rife above ourselves, and above others, we are new men. But, what, I beseech you, are all the objects of human science, in the knowledge of which there is fo much distinction and fatisfaction, compared to those we have brought in view! the partial and imperfect knowledge of which fo greatly enlarges and revives the foul, infpiring peace, and joy unfpeakable and full of glory?

II. WE proceed to meditate upon the attachments by which the heavenly ftate excels the earthly, as mature age rises above infancy and early life.

IN knowledge is laid the foundation of affection and attachment. Nothing that is not known can poffibly attract our regard, or gain our hearts. Children, and they who differ little or nothing from chidren in understanding, are pleased with what they know and is familiar to them. They who remain children, through original imbecility, through negligence, through the fault of their parents, or their own obstinacy and

perverfity,

pervefity, are childish in their defires, their choice, and their fatisfactions. It fometimes happens that the objects that furround them, or are prefented to their observation and choice, fuit not the time of life of particular perfons, are not of their own selection, agree better to thofe of other difpofitions and characters; to maturer judgments and more advanced periods of life. Childishness in fuch cafes appears, fometimes in the weaknefs, fometimes in the violence, often in the capriciousness and fickleness, of affection and attachment. They are now warm, now indifferent, now averfe, refpecting the fame objects. The difcoveries of unfolding powers, of obfervation, and of inftruction, make a wonderful change on our wishes, choice and pleafures. Worthier objects are selected, a wifer choice is made, more rational fatisfactions are enjoyed.

To the choice of company, and to friendfhip, our thoughts are here naturally turned, in a more particular manner; and to the fatisfactions of endeared intercourfe on account of mutual affection, and of the wifdom and worth, and influence of those whom we love,

and

and by whom we are loved. The theme is an enticing one. The praise of friendship, they who have not experienced it, are forward to join in celebrating. The friendless and disappointed, and forsaken, feel and exprefs much regret and vexation that they have no friend. Many complain bitterly that they have experienced deceit where they had placed confidence, and that felfishness and other unworthy qualities have distinguished and polluted thofe on whom they once had placed their affections, and from whom their expectations and profpects were high and flattering. He values friendship who is deferted and folitary. He values friendship who is furrounded by the envious, the fufpected, the hostile. He values friendship who exclaims, "I looked on my right hand "and there was no man, on my left and "none cared for life or my my foul." But it is with heartfelt delight that friends meditate or talk of the converfation, the affection, the worth and generofity, and good offices, the fteady and increasing attachment of friends. The hour of unfolding every thought, of cherishing every better fentiment and difpofition, of difcovering and ad

miring excellence, how exceedingly precious! Such tender intercourfe is as the facred perfume of the high priest's garments, that was prepared by divine direction, to the worshipping Ifraelites delightful it is as the dews that defcend on the mountains, reviving and exhilarating the face of nature.

ALAS, my friends, not many, I fear, are fo distinguished, are fo happy. Few, very few, enjoy these exquifite delights. A better ftate is easily conceived. A better state than the prefent is defired by the affectionate. A better state fhall be enjoyed. In a better world, the heart will be fully gratified; the pureft, the most exalted and moft permanent fatisfactions fhall be experienced, exceeding the deareft delights of earth, as thofe of mature age exceed the focial pleafures of infancy and childhood. In that better world, we shall join the spirits of just men made perfect, that is, their powers enlarged, their affections and difpofition and joys refined; all that is amiable and attracting, without mixture, or fufpicion, or disguise, poffeffed and manifefted. They dwell in love. On the one part, we figure the attrac