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World, and find Admittance in Ser. III. Glory Yea Heaven is the proper Seat of Praife, as 'tis of Perfection. The more perfect knowledg of the Glory of God, and fuller Enjoyment of his Love, that render other Means and Dutys needlefs, and determine their Use, raife this to a higher Perfection, and give it the greater Advantage. The clearer Views of Divine Glory, and the livelier fenfe of Divine Love, will make our Praise the more in feafon as well as the more compleat. "Twill inlarge the Subject of our Song, and raife and exalt our Minds; and we shall fee greater reafon, as well as be better capable of finging '17 Hymns of Praife. So that 'tis not only very agreeable to the Heavenly State, but moft proper to it and perhaps we can form no truer Conception of the Work of Heaven than this,

For this reafon very probably the Apostle prefers Love to Faith 1 Cor. and Hope, as it has a nearer Alli-XIII. ult. ance and Relation to the future

World, aud is not limited and

confin'd

Ser. III. confin'd to this. 'Tis most proper to the Heavenly State, and will rife to its higheft Perfection and Glory, when Faith and Hope (at leaft in their prefent Measures and Kinds) will ceafe of themfelves, and be wholly laid afide. Hereupon,

S. 5. With refpect to the Partners and Companions of our Praise, our Affociates in this bleffed Work. Praife is fometimes fpoken of as the Duty of univerfal Nature, and every Creature is call'd upon to perfornt it; the Heavens and Pf. LXIX. Earth, the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, the Dragons and Deep, Fire Pfal. and Hail, Mountains and Hills, Beafts and Cattel.

3, 4.

CXLVIII.

But 'tis the proper Work of the Angels of God, the first Rank of created Beings, and of the nobleft Powers of Nature; the Attendants on his Throne, and Favourites of his Court, that perfectly do his Will, and are the Job Patterns of our Obedience. The XXXVIII Morning-Stars fung together, and all 7. the Sons of God shouted for Foy: 1. .e. the Angels of God, the eldest

Offspring

Offspring of his Power, and the Ser. III. brightest Images of his Glory. So the multitude of the heavenly Hoft brought the welcome Tidings of a Redeemer to the World, in an Hymn of Praise: They fung Praise Luk.II.13. to God, faying, Glory to God in the Higheft, &c. and indeed that was the greatest occafion, and the nobleft Theme for an Angel's Song. Yea, this is reprefented as the conftant Imployment of all the Blessed above. The four Beafts (wa, liv. had fix Wings, and full of Eyes Rev.IV. 8. ing things. within, and reft not Day and Night, faying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. The twenty four Elders fell down before him that fitteth apon the Throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and caft their Crowns before the Throne, Saying, Thou'rt worthy to receive Glory, Honour, Power, for thou haft made all things, &c. The glori fy'd Saints, and Spirits of the perfected Juft, that are refin'd from all Allays of Flesh, and advanc'd to the brightest Glory, they join in with the facred Quire, and bear

Ser. III. their part in the Anthems of the Bleffed: They ftrike up their Voices, and mingle Praises with the Seraphim above. The Praises and Triumphs of God, and of the Redeemer, are handed about from Throne to Throne, and the whole heavenly Region rings aloud with Rev. XV. Acclamations of Joy. They fung

13.

12.

the Song of Mofes, the Servant of the Lord, and the Song of the Lamb, faying, Great and marvellous are thy Works, Lord God Almighty just and true are thy Ways, thou King of Saints. 'Tis the Voice of all the Rev. XIX. Heavenly Hoft: I heard a great Voice of much People in Heaven, Jaying, Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God; for true and righteous are his Judgments, for he hath judg'd the great Whore, &c. And tho thefe Expreffions fhould be thought to have a more direct and immediate Reference to the glorious and triumphant State of the Church in this World, and to be a prophetick Defcription of its beft and happiest Circumftance on Earth; it will equally serve the

prefent

་

prefent purpose, and I fuppofeSer. III. ought not to exclude a final and ultimate Reference to its perfect and glorify'd State above.

Particularly, the Sight of the Lamb of God in the midst of the Throne, with the Marks of his Sufferings and Glory about him, will be ravishing and tranfporting to a glorify'd Soul: 'Twill infpire his Heart with Flames of divine. Love, and fill his Soul with Extafys of heavenly Joy: Twill furnifh out the nobleft Song of Praife, and give the greatest Enlivening and Elevation of Thought.. Hence they are reprefentedwine their highest Glory, array'd with Light, bearing Palms of Victory in their Hands, and Crowns of Glory upon their Heads, while they fing his Glory, and celebrate his Praife: They fung a new Song, Rev. V. 9 Jaying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and open the Seals, for thou waft flain and haft redeem'd us unto God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred and Tongue, and People and Nation, and made us to our God Kings and Priests. And, Worthy is

the