his throne, surrounded by the innumerable hosts of the saved, who have all been made kings and priests by fellowship with him; and who all, from the two on his right hand and on his left, down to the least in the kingdom of heaven, "cast their crowns at his feet!" -Let this animating prospect, which is at once so worthy of God, and so adapted to our immortal spirits, stimulate us to unremitting exertion. However painful and distressing our lot may be; whatever may be the sacrifices we are called to make-all sinks into utter insignificance when compared with this. How soothing the thought that, in proportion to the measure of our present afflictions, and the degree in which they conform us to the Redeemer in principle, will be our height in glory and in bliss!

Allow me to comfort you with these words.Study with interest this cheering subject, and seek that the Lord would enable you to imbibe all the consolation it is fitted to impart. Meditate on the cross and glory of Christ, and pray that all the events of life may serve to work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of blessedness. Live by faith in the atonement, and be like Paul determined to endure and sacrifice all, that "by any means," however painful or costly, you may attain the bliss connected with the resurrection of the dead. This will know no end. Every step in it will be a promise of bliss yet greater, and an earnest of glory yet higher. Look for the day when all darkness shall flee away; and when the effulgence of the light of the Divine favour

X

which shines upon the Saviour, will fill you with unutterable delight. Praying that the Lord may be with your spirit, I remain, &c.

LETTER XIII.

ON THE DIVERSITY OF DEGREES IN GLORY.

General remarks-Future blessedness the result of the Divine approbation, of the approving testimony of conscience, of being blessings to others, and of an enlarged capacity for spiritual enjoyments-The diversity of rewards explicitly taught in Scripture-Consistent with salvation by grace-The works rewarded, the fruits of Divine favour-The reward bestowed for the sake of Christ-Is an addition to the general blessing of redemption-Is a display of the Divine love to righteousness-Is not an arbitrary gift, but the natural effect of existing principles-Conclusion.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I HAVE Sometimes heard you speak of the different degrees of glory which shall be enjoyed in heaven, There is something very gratifying to the mind in an enquiry of this nature; and I am satisfied that the views which you and I entertain respecting it, have a clear support in the constitution of the Divine government and in the Holy Scriptures. There is nothing in the diversity of rewards inconsistent with the doctrine of salvation by grace. No creature certainly can ever merit any good thing at the hand of the Creator. I do not mean sinful creatures only, but even such as have continued uniformly obedient. Their faculties are the gift of free bounty,

and the blessings they enjoy are the same: They must ever be under the highest obligations to love and serve God; and when they have discharged every duty, they are required to say, "we are unprofitable servants." This, however, is not inconsistent with Christians being rewarded according to their works. The nature of the reward itself, and the circumstances connected with its bestowment, will shew this.

All the saved are alike redeemed through the atonement of Jesus, they are all equally the children of God through union with him; and as such, they are all joint heirs of God with him. It does not follow, however, that the enjoyments of each will be to the same extent. Are not they all as much the purchase of the same blood and heirs of the same inheritance now as they shall be hereafter? and yet they are far from being upon an equality. If their common privileges are consistent with the diversity which we see in this life, are we to suppose that their enjoyment in the next must, in all respects, be the same, because of their interest in those privileges? In the nature of things this cannot be. Redeemed infants, for example, are washed in the blood of the Lamb, and will sing eternally the praises of redeeming grace; but their sensations cannot in all respects be the same, as shall be felt by Christians who have actually served God in their day and generation. An infant, snatched from the womb to the grave, may be happy in the contemplation and praises of Divine grace; but surely cannot experience the transporting feelings of Paul, when

he

appears with his numerous converts as his joy and his crown. Unless we admit this, how can there be any meaning in those passages of Scripture which speak of the happiness of such as have been honoured to turn sinners unto God? The thief called upon the cross, entered that day into paradise, and was blessed with the presence and enjoyment of Jehovah; but not having been spared to associate with the people of God, to minister to them, and labour with them, he cannot participate in the sensations of those who have long laboured and suffered in the cause of truth. In the very nature of things, then, there must be a diffe rence betwixt the enjoyments of some and those of others.

In order to understand this subject, it is of the first importance to distinguish between a change of state and a change of character. In regard to the former, all Christians are on a level. The latter, however, admits of a distinction between freedom from sin, and the degree of positive excellence; and though all are certainly equal as to the former, they may not be so in respect of the latter. It ought ever to be remembered also, that Christian services are not paid as a price for a reward: They are the free offerings of love and of gratitude, and the spontaneous expression of regard to worth. The reward is found in the service, and will be perfectly enjoyed when the principles which now excite to obedience shall have reached maturity, and shall have found full scope in the world of light.

The reward of the kingdom of heaven will partly

consist in the Divine approbation of our services. The Scriptures often mention this branch of it. Even in this life we feel happy when our conduct meets the approbation of those whom we esteem: How much more delightful must it be to have the approbation of him whose understanding is infinite, and whose love to righteousness and truth correspond with their excellence? Our joy in the address "Well done good and faithful servant" will be heightened in the day of Christ by the clear perception we shall have of the wisdom, rectitude, and dignity of Jehovah. We shall then know the value of his smiles, and prize them the more. There is something exquisitely pleasing to an ingenuous mind, in having an opportunity of expressing and manifesting gratitude to a benefactor; and this pleasure must be increased when such expressions are acknowledged and applauded. Now, the circumstances of the righteous fully correspond with these views. Here their deeds are often unnoticed,-their alms are not seen of men,—many benevolent acts they perform in silence, and much of their intercourse with God is in secret: Here also their words are often misconstrued; many of their best deeds are turned to reproach; their principles and motives are misrepresented, and their characters traduced. But how honourable will be the view given of them in the day of Christ! Then the judgment of God concerning their works and their character will confound the ungodly. He will bring to light their secret deeds of piety and mercy, and will set in its proper light all that had been misrepre sented. Then will the Lord vindicate his people, and