August 7 — On the Glory of the heavenly Jerusalem

Consider, first, how glorious and beautiful those mansions are, that are prepared for the eternal abode of the servants of God, in the heavenly Jerusalem. How lovely are thy tabcrnof chsy O Lord of hosts, cries out the royal prophet, (Ps. Ixxxiii;) my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord, The beauty and glory of this city of God every way correspond with the riches, bounty, and magnificence of this Almighty Monarch, who has built it for the manifestation of his power, wisdom, and goodness, and for to be the eternal habitation of his dearest friends and children. And what great things will he not do, when both his own glory and his love for us call upon him to exert himself! See, my soul, how noble a palace he has given us here below, even in this place of our banishment, beautified with this sun, moon, and stars, accomplished and furnished with this almost infinite variety of minerals, plants, flowers, trees, and living creatures, in the earth, air, and waters, all subservient to man, and all wonderfully beautiful in their kinds, dc. If, then, he has so richly provided for us in this vale of tears, in this region of the shade of death, what must our eternal habitation be in the land of the living! If here he is so bountiful even to his enemies, in affording them so commodious and so noble a dwelling, what may not his friends and children expect in his eternal kingdom, where alone, according to the prophet, our Lord is magnificent, Isaiah xxxiii. 21.

Consider, secondly, how the Scripture, to accommodate itself to our low way of thinking, describes the glory and beauty of this heavenly city, by representing it to us under the figures of such things as we most admire here below, when it tells us that the walls of this city of God are built with precious stones, and that its streets are of pure and transparent gold; that these streets are watered with the bright crystal streams of the river of the water of life, flowing from the throne of God, and that, on the banks of this river, on both sides, grows the tree of life; that there shall be no night, nor any want of sun or moon, but that God himself shall be its everlasting Light, and that every one of the just shall shine like the sun, &c. O, how glorious are these things that are said of thee, O city of God! Psalm Ixxxvi. But O, how much more glorious are those great things that are veiled under these figures!

Consider, thirdly, that Jerusalem is interpreted the sight or vision of peace; and therefore this name is given to the city above, because there alone is the true seat of eternal peace b8 There is the tabernacle of God with men, and Ive shcdl dwell with them, and he shall wipe away aXl tears from their eyes, and death shall he no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall he any more, for the former things are passed away, Apocal. xxi. 3, 4. No heats, no colds, no rain, no storms, no diseases, no pains, no conflicts or adversities of any kind, have any access to this city or can ever come near this blessed abode; but a most bright day, a most serene calm, an everlasting peace, perpetually reigns here; a solid peace, a peace never to he disturbed, hut always secure, a peace both within and without, a peace every way firm, Kempis.

Conclude ever to aspire after this blessed Jerusalem, and to despise all earthly toys in comparison with this heavenly city. O, how good is our God, who has prepared such lovely and everlasting mansions for us! O blessed for ever, by all his creatures, be his infinite goodness!