bonds; it takes off our burdens; it frees us from care; it bears us up
in reserve for us when the New Jerusalem descends. Eye sees it not; ear hears it not; the heart conceives it not; but it shall ere long be ours in the day when, as the bride adorned for her husband, arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, we shall be led in through the celestial gates to meet the Bridegroom in his beauty, and be acknowledged before earth and heaven as the daughter of the King.
If these things, then, be so, then—
1. What longing anticipations of it should there be on the part of the saints!—Should they ever be done thinking of it? Should it not be before their eyes day and night? Should they not be stretching out their hands towards it with the fondest longings of desire? Should they not, with the whole fervour of their souls, be pressing on to it? And the more fully and frequently they meditate on this promised glory in all its parts and aspects, the more will their longings be kindled within them. As you turn your eye upwards, and catch a glimpse of the celestial city, your faces will be made to shine with its radiance, and you will say to your fellow-saints around you, "Did not our hearts burn within us while we gazed through you open gate into the glory of the wondrous city?"
2. What consolation does this prospect fill us with!—It looses our bonds; it takes off our burdens; it frees us from care; it bears us up under the pressure of grief; it says to us, "Fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." It was for the joy set before him that Christ endured the cross; and we have that same joy set before us, to enable us to endure it too: it was sufficient for him under all his infinite pains and burdens; it may well be sufficient for us. The glory to be revealed will in one moment swallow up all our sorrow here. It is large enough, bright enough, blessed enough, to accomplish this. Look upwards, sorrowing saint, to the New Jerusalem. Let the light which it even now, though afar off, sheds down upon you, cheer and brighten the darkness of this rugged way, along which you are passing onward to the kingdom.