scorching in flames of wrath.
5. There is no expiration in the pains of hell; they must always lie scorching in flames of wrath.
But in the heavenly kingdom, the elect shall be freed from all infernal torments. "Jesus delivered us from the wrath to come." A prison is not made for the king's children. Christ drank that bitter cup of God's wrath—that the saints might never drink it!
Secondly, the kingdom of heaven implies a glorious fruition of all good. Had I as many tongues as hairs on my head, I could not fully describe this. It is a place where there is no lack of anything. Judges 18:10. It is called "the excellent glory." 2 Peter 1:17. I might as well measure the skies, or drain the ocean—as set forth the glory of this kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is above all hyperbole. Were the sun ten thousand times brighter than it is, it could not parallel the luster of this kingdom. Apelles' pencil would but blotch it, angels' tongues would but lessen it. I can but give you the shadowings of it. Do not expect to see it in all its orient colors—until you are mounted above the stars! But let us not stand afar off, as Moses, to behold this Canaan—but enter into it, and taste the honey. The privileges of this heavenly kingdom are:
(1) We shall have an immediate COMMUNION with God himself, who is the inexhaustible sea of all happiness. This divines call "the beatific vision." The psalmist triumphed in the enjoyment he had of God in this life. "Whom have I in heaven but you?" Psalm 73:25. If God, enjoyed by faith, gives so much comfort to the soul—how much more when he is enjoyed by immediate vision! Here we see God darkly through the glass of ordinances; but in the kingdom of heaven we shall see him "face to face." 1 Cor 13:12. We shall have an intellectual sight of him; we shall see him with the eyes
of our mind; we shall know him as much as the angels in heaven do. Matthew 18:10; we shall know as we are known. 1 Cor 13:12.
We shall have a full knowledge of God, though not know him fully; as a cup in the sea is full of the sea, though it holds not all the sea. To see and enjoy God will be most delicious; in him are beams of majesty, and affections of mercy. God has all excellencies concentrated in him—the good in which are all good things. If one flower should have the sweetness of all flowers—how sweet would that flower be! All the beauty and sweetness which lies scattered in the creature—is infinitely to be found in God. To see and enjoy him, therefore, will ravish the soul with delight. We shall see God so as to love him, and be made sensible of his love; and when we shall have this sweet communion with him, he shall be "all in all;" light to the eye, manna to the taste, and music to the ear. 1 Cor 15:28.
(2) In the kingdom of heaven, we shall, with these eyes, see the glorified body of JESUS CHRIST. The Savior makes it a great part of the glory of heaven—to view the glory of his human nature. "That they may behold my glory." John 17:24. When Christ was transfigured upon earth, it is said, that "his face did shine as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light." Matthew 17:2. If the glory of his transfiguration was so great, what will the glory of his exaltation be! Much of the glory of God shines in Christ, by virtue of the hypostatic union. "In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Col 2:9. Through Christ's humanity, as through a bright mirror, we may see some beams of the divine majesty shine forth. Our capacities will be enlarged to a wonderful degree, to receive this glorious object! We will not only see God's glory—but some of his glory shall be put upon us. "Glory will be not only present—but within." Bernard. A beggar may behold the glory of a king and not be
the happier; but Christ's glory shall be ours, "We shall be like him." 1 John 3:2. We shall shine by his beams.
(3) In the kingdom of heaven we shall enjoy the society of "an innumerable company of ANGELS." Heb 12:22.
But is there not enough in God to fill the soul with delight? Can the sight of angels add to its happiness? What need is there of the light of torches, when the sun shines?
Besides the divine essence, the sight of angels is desirable. Much of God's curious workmanship shines in the angels; they are beautiful, glorious creatures; and as the several strings in a lute make the harmony sweeter, and the several stars make the sky brighter, so the society with angels will make the delight of heaven the greater; and we shall not only see them with the glorified eye of our understanding—but converse with them!
(4) In the kingdom of heaven, we shall have sweet society with glorified SAINTS. Oh! what a blessed time will it be when those who have prayed, wept, and suffered together—shall rejoice together! We shall see the saints, in their white linen of purity, and see them as so many crowned kings: in beholding the glorified saints, we shall behold a heaven full of suns. Some have asked whether we shall know one another in heaven? Surely, our knowledge will not be diminished—but increased! The judgment of Luther and Anselm, and many other divines is, that we shall know one another; yes, the saints of all ages, whose faces we never saw! And, when we shall see the saints in glory without their infirmities of pride and passion—it will be a glorious sight. We see how Peter was transported when he saw but two prophets in the transfiguration; but what a blessed sight will it be when we shall see the whole glorious company of prophets, and martyrs, and holy men of God! Matthew 17:3. How sweet will the
music be, when all shall sing together in concert in the heavenly choir! And though, in this great assembly of saints and angels, "one star may differ from another in glory," yet no such weed as envy shall ever grow in the paradise of God! There shall be perfect love, which, as it casts out fear, so also envy. Though one vessel of glory may hold more than another, every vessel will be full.
(5) In the kingdom of heaven there shall be incomprehensible JOY. When the saints' union with Christ is perfected in heaven, their joy shall be full. All the birds of the heavenly paradise sing for joy! What joy, when the saints shall see the great gulf crossed, and know that they are passed from death to life! What joy, when they are as holy as they would be, and as God would have them to be! What joy to hear the music of angels; to see the golden banner of Christ's love displayed over the soul; to be drinking that water of life which is sweeter than all nectar and ambrosia! What joy, when the saints shall see Christ clothed in their flesh, sitting in glory above the angels! Then they shall enter into the joy of their Lord. Matthew 25:21.
Here on earth, joy enters into the saints; in heaven "they enter into joy." O saint of God, who now hang your harp upon the willows, and mingle your drink with weeping, in the kingdom of heaven your water shall be turned into wine; you shall have so much felicity that your soul cannot wish for more. The sea is not so full of water—as the heart of a glorified saint is of joy. There can be no more sorrow in heaven—than there is joy in hell.
(6) In heaven HONOR and DIGNITY are put upon the saints. A kingdom implies honor. All that come into heaven are kings.