promote holiness in us. Heaven is a holy place: "an undefiled
(1) Often take a prospect of this heavenly kingdom. Climb up the celestial mount; take a turn, as it were, in heaven every day by holy meditation. "Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels." Psalm 48:12, 13. See what a glorious kingdom heaven is! Christian, show your heart the gates of pearl, the beds of spices, the clusters of grapes which grow in the paradise of God. Say, "O my soul, all this glory is yours! It is your Father's good pleasure to give you this kingdom." The thoughts of heaven are very delightful and ravishing. Can men of the world so delight in viewing their bags of gold, and fields of corn—and shall not the heirs of promise take more delight in contemplating the celestial kingdom? The serious meditation of the kingdom of glory would work these three effects:
1. Meditation on the heavenly kingdom, would put a damp and slur upon all worldly glory. To those who stand upon the top of the Alps—the great cities of Campania seem but small in their eye. Just so, could we look through the telescope of faith, and take a view of heaven's glory, how small and minute would all other things appear! Moses slighted the honors of Pharaoh's court, having an eye to the recompense of reward. Heb 11:26. When Paul had a vision of glory, and John was carried away in the Spirit, and saw the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven, having the glory of God in it— how did the world appear in an eclipse to them!
2. Meditation on the heavenly kingdom, would much promote holiness in us. Heaven is a holy place: "an undefiled inheritance." 1 Peter 1:4. It is described by transparent glass, to denote its purity. Rev 21:21. Contemplating heaven would put us upon the study of holiness, because none but those who are holy, are admitted to that kingdom. Heaven is not like Noah's ark, into which