141 VII. fulness of joy. But I am far from saying SERMON that the few imperfect hints I have now given exhaust, or even approach to the sum of those pleasures for evermore which are at God's right hand. Ten thousand pleasures are there, which now we have neither faculties to comprehend, nor powers to enjoy. Behind that mysterious cloud, which covers the habitation of eternity, the view of mortals cannot penetrate. Content with our humble and distant situation, we must as yet remain. Faith can only look to those glories from afar. In patient silence, it must wait, trust, and adore. Supposing the ideas which I have set before you, in this discourse, to be no more than the speculations of a contemplative mind, such as were wont of old to be indulged by the philosophers of the Platonic school, still they would deserve attention, on account of their tendency to purify and elevate the mind. But when they are considered in connection with a revelation, which, upon grounds the most unquestionable, we believe to be divine, they are entitled to command, not atten SERMON tion only, but reverence and faith. They VII. present to us such high expectations as are sufficient to determine every reasonable man to the choice of virtue; to support him under all its present discouragements, and to comfort him in the hour of death. Justly may they excite in our hearts, that ardent aspiration of the Psalmist: My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; Oh! when shall I come, and appear before him!-But, with this wish in our hearts, never, I beseech you, let us forget what was set forth in the first part of this discourse; that in order to arrive at the presence of God, the path of life must previously be shewn to us by him, and that in this path we must persevere to the end. These two things cannot be disjoined, a virtuous life and a happy eternity. Who shall ascend unto the bill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He only who hath clean hands and a pure beart. Between a corrupted heart and the God of light and love, there never can be any connection. But of this we may rest assured, that the path of piety and virtue, pursued with a firm and constant VII. constant spirit, will, in the end, through SERMON the merits of our blessed Redeemer, bring us to that presence, where is fulness of joy, and where are pleasures for evermore. SERMON VIII. On CURIOSITY concerning the AFFAIRS of others. VIII. JOHN, xxi. 21, 22. Peter seeing him, saith to fesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto bim, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. THE SERMON HESE words occurred in a confer ence which Our Lord held with Simon Peter, after his resurrection from the dead. Conscious of the disgrace which he had incurred by his late denial of his Master, Peter must at this time have appeared before him with shame. Our Lord, after a tacit rebuke, implied in the question which he repeatedly puts to him, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? restores him, SERMON cause of his Master. The apostle John, 1 |