Christian Classics
‹ System of Doctrines, contained in Divine Relation, Explained and Defended. Shewing Their Consistence and Connexion with Each Other. Vol. I.
Contents
Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 1Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 2Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 3Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 4Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 1Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 2Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 3Section VIII. On the Covenant of Grace.Section IX. The Manner of the Dispensation of the Covenant of Grace, and the Preaching of the Gospel.Section X. That all true Believers, do persevere in Faith and Holiness, to the End of Life, and cannot fail of eternal Salvation.Section XI. Concerning Believers’ Assurance of Salvation.Section XII. On the Doctrine of Election.Section XIII. Whether any of the Redeemed arrive to Perfect Holiness in this Life.Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · Part 1Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · THE GENERAL JUDGMENT.Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · IMPROVEMENT.Section I. General Observations concerning the Church of Christ.Section II. Concerning the Officers of a Church.Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 1Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 2Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 3Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 4Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 5Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 6Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 7Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 8Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 9Section IV. Concerning the Discipline of the Church.Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · Part 1Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · REFLECTIONS.Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · CONCLUSION.A Treatise on the Millennium.Dedication.Introduction.Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 1Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 2Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 3Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 1Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 2Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 3Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 4Section III. In which is considered which thousand years of the world will be the Millennium, and when it will begin.Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 1Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 2Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 3Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 4Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 5Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 6

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Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 2

That this prophecy respects all nations, and the whole of mankind who shall live in the world in that thousand years, is evident, in that the binding of Satan respects them all. “That he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.” And this answers to a prophecy in Isaiah. “And he Will destroy in this mountain, the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.” All nations, the world of mankind therefore, who shall then live on the earth, will have part in the first resurrection. And this warrants the application of all the prophecies which have been mentioned in the preceding section, and others of the same tenor, to this time. And there is good reason to believe, that this prophecy in the first six verses of the twentieth chapter of the Revelations is expressed in language best suited to answer the end of it, if it be understood as it has been now explained. The meaning is as obvious and plain, as is desirable and proper that of prophecy should be, when compared with other prophecies. And it is in the best manner suited to support and comfort the followers of Christ, who live before that time; and to animate them to faithfulness, constancy and patience, under all their sufferings in this cause, while the wicked prosper and triumph, and Satan reigns in the world, which is one special end of this revelation. Here they are taught, that an end is to come to the afflictions of the church, and to the triumph of all her enemies; that Satan’s kingdom on earth shall come to an end, and the church shall rise and spread, and fill the world; that the cause in which they labour and suffer shall be victorious, and that all who suffer in this cause, and who are faithful to Christ, shall live to see this happy, glorious day, and have a large share in it, in proportion to the degree and length of their sufferings, labours, and patience and fidelity, in the cause of Christ and his church.

The way is now prepared, to consider and show more particularly, in what the happiness and glory of the Millennium will consist; and what particular circumstances will attend the church at that day: What is revealed concerning this by express prophecies, and what is implied in them, or may be deduced as consequences from what is expressly declared. It will be no wonder if some mistakes should be made on this point; but it is hoped if there should be any, they will not be very hurtful: And it is apprehended that the greatest error will be in falling short, and not coming up to the reality, in the description of the happiness and glory of that day; for doubtless, our ideas of these, when raised to the highest of which we are at present capable, fall vastly short of the truth. There is good reason to conclude, however, that the church, and christians, will not be perfectly holy in that day; but that every one will be attended with a degree of sinful imperfection, while in the body, however great may be his attainments and advantages in knowledge and . Doubtless the inspired declarations, that “There is no man which sinneth not—There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not—That if any who professes to be a christian, say he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself, and the truth is not in him,” will remain true to the end of the world, even in the Millennium; and there will be no perfection on this side heaven. The apostasy which will take place at the end of the Millennium can be better accounted for, on the supposition that the will not be perfect in that time, and seems to suppose it. Though they may, and doubtless will, have vastly higher degrees of light and , than any shall have before that time; yet they will be far from being wholly without sin.

It is most probable, that every individual person who shall then live will be a real christian; and all will doubtless be members of the church in that day. That is the time when “all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest.” God says to his church, speaking of that day, “Thy people also shall be all righteous.” “Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: For henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.”

The following things will take place in the Millennium in an eminent degree, as they never did before; which may be mentioned as generals, including many particulars, some of which will be afterwards suggested.

I. That will be a time of eminent , when it shall be acted out by all, in a high degree, in all the branches of it, so as to appear in its true beauty, and the happy effects of it. This will be the peculiar glory, and the source of the happiness of the Millennium. The prophet Zechariah, speaking of that day, says, “In that day, shall there be upon the bells of the horses, unto the Lord; and the pots of the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be unto the Lord of hosts.” In these metaphorical expressions, is declared the eminent degree of of that day, which will every thing, even all the utensils and the common business and enjoyments of life, unto the Lord.

consists in love to God, and to man, with every affection and exercise implied in this, which being expressed and acted cut, appears in the exercise of piety towards God, in every branch of it; and of and goodness, or disinterested benevolence towards man, including ourselves. This, so far as it shall take place, will banish all the evils which have existed and prevailed in the world; and becoming universal, and rising to a high and eminent degree will introduce a state of enjoyment and happiness, which never was known before on earth; and render it a resemblance of heaven in a high degree.

This will be effected by the abundant influences of the Holy Spirit, poured down on men more universally, and in more constant and plentiful effusions, than ever before; for all in man, is the effect of the Holy Spirit. That day will be, in a peculiar sense, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, when he will appear as the author of all , by whose influence alone divine, revealed truth, and all religious institutions and means, become efficacious and salutary; by which he will have peculiar honour, in the and salvation which shall then take place. The prophecies of scripture which respect the Millennium, represent it in this light. God, speaking by Isaiah of that time, says, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.” And the same time and event is mentioned as the effect of the Holy Spirit, poured out upon the church. “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: For I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.” The same event is predicted by the prophet Joel. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. And also upon the servants, and upon the handmaids in these days, will I pour out my Spirit.” The apostle Peter applies this passage in Joel to the pouring out of the Spirit on the Apostles and others on the day of Penticost. But this prophecy was fulfilled only in a small degree then. This was but the beginning, the first fruits, which will issue in that which is unspeakably greater, more extensive and glorious in the days of the Millennium, to which this prediction has chief respect, and when it will have the full and most complete accomplishment.

II. There will be a great increase of light and knowledge to a degree vastly beyond what has been before. This is indeed implied in the great degree of , which has been mentioned. For knowledge, mental light, and , are inseparably connected; and are, in some respects, the same. is true light and discerning, so far as it depends upon a right taste, and consists in it; and it is a thirst after every kind and degree of useful knowledge; and this desire and thirst for knowledge will be great and strong, in proportion to the degree of exercised: And forms the mind to constant attention, and to make swift advances in understanding and knowledge; and becomes a strong guard against mistakes, error and delusion. Therefore, a time of eminent must be a time of proportionably great light and knowledge. This is the representation which the scripture gives of that time. The end of binding Satan, and casting him into the bottomless pit, is said to be, “That he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.” This will put an end to the darkness, and multiplicity of strong delusions, which do prevail, and will prevail, till that time, by which Satan supports and promotes his interest and kingdom among men. Then “the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil spread over all nations, shall be taken away and destroyed:” “And the eyes of them that see, shall not be dim; and the ears of them that hear, shall hearken. The heart also of the rash, shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.” The superior light and knowledge of that day is metaphorically represented in the following words: “Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” In that day, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

The holy scriptures will then be attended to by all, and studied with care, , humility and uprightness of heart, earnestly desiring to understand them, and know the truth; and the truths they contain will be received with a high relish and delight: And the Bible will be much better understood, than eve? before. Many things expressed or implied in the scripture, which are now overlooked and disregarded, will then be discovered, and appear important and excellent; and those thin£3;s which now appear intricate and unintelligible, will then appear plain and easy. Then public teachers will be eminently burning and shining lights; apt to teach; scribes well instructed into the things of the kingdom of heaven, who will bring out of their treasures, things new and old: and the hearers will be all attention, and receive the truth in the love of it, into honest and good hearts; and light and knowledge will constantly increase. The of friends and neighbours, when they meet, will be full of instruction, and they will assist each other in their inquiries after the truth, and in pursuit of knowledge. Parents will be able and disposed to instruct their children, as soon as they are capable of learning; and they will early understand what are the great and leading truths which are revealed in the Bible, and the duties and institutions there prescribed. And from their childhood they will know and understand the holy scriptures, by which they will grow in understanding and wisdom; and will soon know more than the greatest and best divines have known in ages before. And a happy foundation will be laid for great advances in knowledge and usefulness to the end of life. Agreeable to this, the scripture speaking of that day, says, “There shall be no more (i.e. in the church) an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die an hundred years old.” “An infant of days” is an old infant. That is, an old man who is an infant in knowledge, understanding and discretion. Many such aged infants have been, and still are to be found. In that day all shall make advances in true knowledge, discretion and wisdom, in some proportion to their years “Nor an old man that hath not filled his days.” That is, an old man who has not improved in knowledge and usefulness, and every good attainment, according to his age. “For a child shall die an hundred years old.” That is, children in years shall then make such early progress in knowledge, and in religion, and in all excellent and useful attainments, that they shall equal, if not surpass, the highest attainments in these things, of the oldest men who have lived in former ages.

They will then have every desirable advantage and opportunity to get knowledge. They will all be engaged in the same pursuit, and give all the aid and assistance to each other, in their power.—They will all have sufficient leisure to pursue and acquire learning of every kind, that will be beneficial to themselves and to society; especially knowledge of divinity. And great advances will be made in all arts and sciences, and in every useful branch of knowledge, which tends to promote the spiritual and eternal good of men, or their convenience and comfort in this life.

III. It will be a time of universal peace, love, and general and cordial friendship. War and all strife and contention shall then cease, and be succeeded by mutual love, friendship and beneficence. Those lusts of men, which originate in self love, or selfishness, which produce all the wars and strifes among men, shall be subdued and , and yield to that disinterested benevolence, that heavenly wisdom, which is peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated. This will effectually put an end to war, as the scripture teaches. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” The whole world of mankind will be united as one family, wisely seeking the good of each other, in the exercise of the most sweet love and friendship, founded upon the best and everlasting principles. “The shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” This change, which shall then take place, in which men, who were in ages before, like savage beasts, injurious, cruel, revengeful and destructive to each other, shall lay aside all this, and become harmless, humble and benevolent, is set in a striking, beautiful light in prophecies, representing it by the most fierce and cruel beasts of prey, changing their nature, and living quietly with those creatures which they used to destroy; and so tame and pliable that a little child might lead them; and by the most venomous creatures and insects becoming harmless, so that a child might play with them without any danger of being hurt. Isaiah, speaking of that day, says, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: And the lion shall eat straw, like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.” Then “they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid.”

IV. In that day, men will not only be united in peace and love, as brethren; but will agree “in sentiments, respecting the doctrines and truth contained in the Bible, and the religious institutions and practice, which are there prescribed.

Professing christians have been from the beginning of christianity to this day, greatly divided, and have opposed each other in their religious sentiments and practices; and are now divided into various parties, sects and denominations, while all appeal to divine revelation, and profess to take their sentiments and practices from that.

It has been often said by some professing christians, and is a sentiment which appears to be spreading at this day, that difference in religious sentiments, and in attendance on the institutions of the gospel, and modes of worship, is attended with no inconvenience, but is rather desirable and advantageous; and by this variety, christianity is rendered more agreeable and beautiful: That it is impossible that all men, whose capacities and genius are so different and various, and their minds and way of thinking and conception are naturally so far from being alike, should ever be brought to think alike, and embrace the same religious sentiments: That this difference in man’s belief and sentiment cannot be criminal; for men are no more obliged to think alike, than they are to look alike, and have the same bodily features and stature. All the union that is required, or that can take place, is that of kind affection, love and .

But such sentiments as these are not agreeable to reason or scripture. Error in judgment and sentiment, especially in things of a moral nature, is always wrong; and does not consist or originate merely in any defect of the natural faculties of the mind; but is of a moral nature, in which the taste, affection, or inclination of the heart is concerned; and therefore is always, in every degree of it, morally wrong, and more or less criminal. Were the moral faculties of the mind, were the heart perfectly right, man would not be capable of error, or of judging wrong, or making any mistake, especially in things of religion. The natural faculties of the mind, of perception and understanding, or reason, considered as separate from the inclination or will, do not lead, and have no tendency in themselves, to judge wrong, or contrary to the truth of things. To do so, is to judge without evidence, and contrary to it, which the mind never would or could do, were not the inclination or heart concerned in it, so as to have influence, which must be a wrong inclination, and contrary to the truth, and to evidence; and therefore is morally wrong, or criminal.

Therefore, all the mistakes and wrong opinions which men entertain respecting the doctrines, institutions and duties revealed in the Bible, are criminal, and of a bad tendency. They must be so, as they are contrary to man’s obligation and duty to believe air revealed truth: and are wholly owing to a wrong bias or inclination, or the and corruption of the heart. What God has revealed in his word, he has declared to man, to be received by him, and believed to be the truth; of which he has given sufficient evidence. And the man who does not believe what God has clearly revealed, and of which he has given sufficient evidence, even all that can be reasonably desired, does abuse and pervert his own understanding, and shuts his eyes against the truth, and refuses to receive the testimony which God has given. And who will say there is no crime in this!

Since therefore all mistakes and errors contrary to the truths made known in the Bible, are criminal, and owing to the corruption of the heart of man, then perfect will exclude all error, and there neither is, nor can he, any wrong judgment in heaven; and in the Millennium, which will be a greater image of heaven than ever was before on earth, , light and knowledge, will rise so high, that the former errors in principle and practice will subside, and there will be a great and general union in the belief and practice of the truth, contained in divine revelation.

As there is but “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,” so in that day men will be united in the belief and profession of this one faith, in the system of doctrines revealed in the Bible, which then will appear plain, and with the clearest evidence to all. And they will have one common Lord, will understand, and obey all the commands of Christ; and they will know what are the institutions and which Christ has appointed, which are all implied in baptism: They will understand what is the import of this, and implied in it, and be united in sentiments and practice, so as to form a beautiful, happy union and harmony; which will put an end to the variety and opposition of opinions and practices, which now divide professing christians into so many sects, parties and denominations. The whole church, with all the members of it, which will fill the earth, and include all mankind then living, will in that day come to that to which the gospel tends, and is designed to bring it: It will “Come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That they shall be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: But speaking the truth in love, shall grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Then, agreeable to the wish and injunction of the Apostle Paul, christians will “all speak the same thing, and there will be no divisions among them; but will be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” Then the inventions and prescriptions of men, both in doctrines and modes of worship, and in christian practice, will be abolished and cease. The Bible will be then understood, and be found a sufficient and perfect rule of faith and practice, in which all will agree, and will join, “with one mind, and one mouth, to worship and glorify God.” Then the weapons of the gospel, the truths of divine revelation, being preached, understood and received, will cast down the imaginations of men, and every high thing, introduced by the pride of man, which now exalts itself against the knowledge of God; and will bring into captivity every thought, to the obedience of Christ.” “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth. In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” All shall agree in their view and acknowledgment of the divine character, and consequently in all the revealed truths and dictates contained in the Bible. Christ will then come to his temple, his church, “and he will be like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in .” The question will be asked now, as it was then, “But who may the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth?” What sect or denomination of christians will the trial of that day, and be established?

Answer.—Nothing but the truth, or that which is conformable to it, will the trial of that day. “The lip of truth shall be established forever.” “The righteous nation which keepeth the truth shall enter in,” and be established in that day. Those of every denomination will doubtless expect, that the doctrines they hold, and their mode of worship and discipline, and practice, with respect to the institutions and of Christ, will be then established as agreeable to the truth; and all others will be given up; and all men will freely conform to them. But the most, and perhaps all, will be much disappointed in this expectation; especially with regard to the different modes of worship, and practices relating to discipline, and the of the gospel. When the church comes to be built up in that day, and put on her beautiful garments, it will doubtless be different from any thing which now takes place; and what church and particular denomination is now nearest the truth, and the church which will exist at that time, must be left to be decided by the event. It is certain, that all doctrines and practices which are not agreeable to the truth, will at that day, as wood, hay, and stubble, be burnt up. Therefore, it now highly concerns all, honestly to seek and find, love and practise, truth and peace.

It is agreeable to human nature, and seems to be essential to rational creatures, to be most pleased with those who think as they do, and are of the same sentiments with themselves, in those things in which they feel themselves chiefly interested and concerned. And this agreement in sentiment cements and increases their union and friendship. But this is true, in a peculiar sense and degree, in the case before us. There can be no proper, cordial, religious union among professing christians, who wholly suffer and oppose each other in their opinion, respecting the truths and doctrines of the gospel. And agreement in sentiment, and in the knowledge and belief of the truth, is essential to the most happy christian union and friendship. To him who loves the truth, error in others is disagreeable and hateful, and that in proportion to the degree of his love of the truth, and pleasure in it. Therefore, christians love one another in the truth, as the apostles and primitive christians did. “The Elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” Where there is no agreement and union in sentiment, and belief of the truth, there is no foundation for christian love and friendship. Love, without any regard to truth, is not christian love. In this sense, the knowledge and belief of the truth, and christian love, cannot be separated: and where there is no knowledge and belief of the truths of the gospel, and agreement in sentiment, there can be no union of heart, and true christian love and friendship.

As light and knowledge will be greatly increased in the Millennium, and the great truths and doctrines contained in divine revelation will then be more clearly discerned, and appear in their true connection, excellence and importance, they will be understood and cordially embraced by all; and they will be united together in the same mind, and the same judgment; and by this be formed to a high degree of happy christian union, love and friendship, loving one another in the truth, with a pure heart Thus were the primitive christians united in knowing and obeying the truth, whom the Apostle Peter thus addresses: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren; see that ye love one another with a pure heart .” In that day the promise and prophecy spoken by Jeremiah will be accomplished to a greater extent and degree than it ever was before. “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.”

V. The Millennium will be a lime of great enjoyment, happiness and universal joy.

This is often mentioned in prophecy, as what will take place in that day, in a peculiar manner and high degree. “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Be you glad, and rejoice forever in that which I create; for I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” The enjoyments of that day are represented by a rich and plentiful feast for all people, consisting in provision of the most agreeable and delicious kind. “And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, a feast of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” The enjoyments and happiness of the Millennium are compared to a marriage supper, “Let us rejoice and give honour to him: For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And there will be a great increase of happiness and joy in heaven, at the introduction of that day, and during the continuance of it. “There shall be joy in heaven, and there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that .”

And this great increase of happiness and joy on earth will be the natural and even necessary consequence, of the great degree and universality of knowledge and , which all will then possess. The knowledge of God, and the Redeemer, and love to him, will be the source of unspeakable pleasure and joy in his character, government and kingdom. And the more the great truths of divine revelation are opened and come into view, and the wisdom and of God m the work of are seen; the more they are contemplated and relished, the greater will be their enjoyment and happiness; and great will be their evidence and of the love and favour of God, and that they shall enjoy him, and all the blessings and glory of his kingdom forever. Then, as it is predicted of that time, “The work of shall be peace, and the effect of , quietness and forever.” Then the eminent degree of or , to which all shall arrive, will be attended with great enjoyment and happiness, which is often meant by peace in scripture. And the effect and consequence of this high degree of , and happiness, in seeing and loving God and divine truth, shall be that they snail have a steady, quiet of the love of God, and of his favour forever, which will greatly add to their happiness.