weeping shall no more be heard in her. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. As the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them." This is plainly a description of people living on earth-not of spirits dwelling in heaven.

From this and other representations, which the sacred writers give, of the new state of the church, we learn, that in that happy period, there will be general peace, perfect security and great plenty in the world-that all nations will receive and profess the gospel-that its influence on the hearts and lives of mankind will be much superior to its influence in any preceding age, and that this state of things will be of long duration.

But this new state of the church will be only preparatory to a state still more glorious-the state described in this chapter of the revelation where my text is, and in the next following.

The descriptive language of the prophets, especially of Isaiah, is exceedingly bold and strong. In representing the happy state of the church on earth, he anticipates its more glorious state in heaven. Saint John, in describing the heavenly world, could find no language more expressive-no figures more sublime, than those, which Isaiah had applied to the former occasion; he therefore takes the same phrases and images and applies them to the church in heaven. That by the new heaven and the new earth in this chapter is intended the state of the church in the world above, after the judgment, is evident from the order of the book of the revelation. The principal part of the book is occupied in detailing the corrup

tions which should attend, the calamities which should befal, and the protections which should distinguish the church of God for a long course of time. In the twentieth chapter, John describes the renovation of the church on earth, and her consequent security and happiness, under the figure of Satan's being bound, and the martyrs raised from the dead to reign with Christ a thousand years. At the close of this period, he says, Satan will be loosed, and will go forth and deceive the nations, and will gather them together from all quarters to make war on the saints. This is a figurative representation of a great apostacy from the true religion, and of the return of the spirit of persecution. The next foretels the signal destruction of these enemies of the church by some remarkable interposition of divine power. Immediately upon this event, he introduces the general judgment of the world; after which follows, in this chapter, the description of the new heavens and the new earth. So that the renovation of all things, mentioned in our text, must intend that glorious state of things which follows the general judgment of the world.

There is, indeed, a similarity between the church on earth and the church in heaven. The apostle speaks of the whole family in heaven and earth. Both are under the same head even Christ, and both are employed in the worship and service of God. Love is the bond of union among the members of the church above, and this ought ever to unite the members of the church below. Religion, in its gen. eral nature, is the same among the saints in heaven and on earth. But still there is in many particular respects, a vast difference between these two conditions and characters of the church-a difference so great, that in the new Jerusalem, in the holy city, God says, " I make all things new."

1. The church in heaven will be new in respect of the number of its members.

The churches which we see on earth are little societies formed here and there for the service of God. In heaven there will be nations of them who are saved. In the general assembly above, there will be collected all the saints-all the true believers, who have lived on earth from the days of Adam, and who will live to the consummation of all things. These will be a great multitude, which no man can number; and with these will be united an innumerable company of angels,

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A spacious temple crowded with devout and hum, ble worshippers elevates, expands and solemnizes the mind. How majestic the scene, when saints and angels, in multitudes without number-in throngs beyond conception, shall assemble together in heav en-shall fill its immense and glorious courts shall press around the throne of God to pay him their humble devotions,

Here we meet in little temples made with hands, In the heavenly Jerusalem there is no temple; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. When we come into a place sequestered for the worship of God, we feel our minds impressed with the idea, that God, in some eminent and peсиliar sense, is there. But in heaven the glory of God will be every where conspicuous, and every mind will feel itself embraced with his presence and filled with his influence. There will be no need of temples dedicated to his worship: Heaven will be all temple, and every soul will be all devotion.

2. We now dwell in earthly bodies. The flesh cramps the efforts of our mental powers, impedes the ascent of our spiritual affections and chills the ardor of our kindling devotions. But flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God. All things there

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will be new. These earthly, gross, animal bodies, will become pure, refined and spiritual, These vile bodies will be changed, and fashioned like to Christ's glorious body.

3. It will be a new thing, and as happy as it will be new, to find ourselves freed from sin, and mingling with those, who, like us, are made perfect in holiness, Into heaven nothing enters, that defiles, or works abomination. The fearful, the unbelieving and abominable will be separated from among the just and pure, and detruded into the dark and dismal abodes of guilt, misery and despair. How happy the saints above, who feel no impurities and corruptions within, and see none without-who have no cause of repentance for iniquities of their own, and behold nothing to disgust them in the manners of others.

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels; and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things which offend, and them who do iniquity-and shall cast them into a furnace of fire-then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of their Father."

4. It will be a new thing to see all united in love. Here on earth are Christians, who profess the same religion, acknowledge the same Redeemer and hope for the same heaven; but how divided in sentiment about the smaller things in religion-how distant in affection for the circumstantial differences -how apt to contend about trifles-how hasty to judge and reprobate one another-how active, in the heat of uncharitable passion, to set up altar against altar-how much more zealous to strengthen the cause of a party, than to promote the great cause of the Redeemer and the general interest of Christians?

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In heaven we shall see all things new. will be no interfering passions, separate interests and party designs-no evil surmises and unfriendly insinuations. There will be one common interest, and one universal spirit of love to unite the whole. Jews and Gentiles, yea, angels and men will all meet in one assembly. Angels will not disdain to mingle with saints before the throne of God. Filled with reverence of him who sits on the throne, they will forget, or overlook the little distinctions between creature and creature-between angel and man.These distinctions will vanish in the presence of him, who filleth all in all.

5. The saints, while on earth, experience a sensible delight in communion with God, and in the stated and occasional exercises of piety and devotion. But this delight is often interrupted by the infirmities of the flesh and the avocations of the world.

In heaven things will be new. There the saints will be continually before God's throne, and will serve him day and night; and they will not intermit their holy exercises for rest or refreshment, for they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them, and Jesus who is on the right hand of the throne shall feed them with celestial food, and shall lead them to the fountains of immortality and joy.

6. Here we need the word of God to instruct and quicken us. We need threatenings to awaken us, promises to allure us, and precepts to guide us. We need sensible representations to affect the mind through the eye, and living sounds to reach the heart through the ear. But in heaven things will be new.