mate no false doctrine that I know of. But it is a practice that hath danger, and no Scripture precept or example to encourage it, nor solid reason, that I remember: and if God would have had us use it, it is like he would have made it known.

II. Affirmatively: our converse with those in heaven consisteth in all these parts.

1. We must acknowledge our relation to them, and not think that they are nothing to us.

2. We must not forget them, but see them by faith, and take it as part of our daily business to have some daily conversation with them.

3. We must love them with a peculiar love; even better than we love the godly upon earth: because they are better, and liker unto God, and love him more, and are more beloved by him.

4. We must specially rejoice that God is glorified in and by them; and look often to them as the most illustrious representers of the Divine perfections than any of the saints on earth.

their own felicity and If we did see with our

5. We must greatly rejoice in glory; even as if it were our own. eyes our old dear friends, as Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, triumphing now in the glory of the blessed, we could not choose but be daily very glad on their behalf; to see and think, 'O what felicity do my friends enjoy!' And faith should make it in some measure to you, as if you saw it.

6. We must have a grateful sense in our minds of their love to us; and must give God thanks for his angels' ministrations for us. For doubtless, as they are wiser and better than any of our friends on earth; so they have a better, a purer and diviner kind of love to us, than these below have. And the angels disdain not to be Christ's servants for our good, yea for our salvation. For " are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them, who shall be heirs of salvation;" Heb. i. 14. Their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven;" Matt. xviii. 10. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them;" Psal. xxxiv. 7. "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, dash thy foot against a stone;" Psal. xci. 11, 12.

in all thy lest thou “There

is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth ;” Luke xv. 10. "The beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom;" Luke xvi. 22. Though the great love is that of God, our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier, and our chiefest gratitude is due to him, even for the benefit which we have by any of his creatures ; yet love and mental thankfulness is due to the rational creatures which are his voluntary instruments; because they do what they do out of real love to us; otherwise we should owe thankfulness to none, either benefactor, friend or pa

rents.

7. And our believing converse with the blessed spirits, must make us earnestly desire to be like them; even to be as like them here as possibly we may, and to be with them, that we may be perfect as they are perfect. We must long to be near God, as they are, and to know him, and love him, as they do; and this holy ambition is well pleasing to God: though we must not desire to be as God, we must desire to know and love him perfectly.

8. And hence we must proceed to a sober imitation of them as they are now employed in heaven: not in those particulars wherein their case and ours differ (as to thank God for that conquest which they have made, and that glory which they do possess, &c.). But in all these duties, which in some degree, belong to us as well as them.

For instance, ask what kind of religion is likest to that which is in heaven? Is it studying bare words, and disputing about things unprofitable, or contending and quarrelling about precedency, preeminence or domination? Or is it not rather the clearest knowledge, and the most fervent love of God, and all his holy ones, and the fullest content, delight and rest of the soul in God, and the highest praises and thanksgivings, with the readiest and most cheerful obedience?

And what kind of religious performances are most excellent which we must principally intend? Groans, and tears, and penitent confessions, and moans, are very suitable to our present state, while we have sin and suffering; but surely they are duties of the lower rank; for heaven more aboundeth with praises and thanksgiving; and therefore we must labour to be fitter for them, and more abundant in them; not casting off any needful humiliations, and peni

tent complaints; but growing as fast as we can above the necessity of them, by conquering the sin which is the cause.

So ask, what is it that would make the church on earth to be likest to that part which is in heaven? Is it striving what pastors shall be greatest, or have precedency, or be called gracious lords or benefactors? Luke xxii. 24, 25, 26. 1 Peter v. 3, 4, 5. Or is it in making the flock of Christ to dread the secular power of the shepherds, and tremble before them, as they do before the wolf? Or is it in a proud conceit of the people's power to ordain their pastors, and to rule them and themselves by a major vote? Or in a supercilious condemning the members of Christ, and a proud contempt of others as too unholy for our communion, when we never had authority to try or judge them? Is it in the multitude of sects and divisions; every one saying our party, and our way is best? Surely all this is unlike to heaven it is rather in the wisdom, and holiness, and unity of all the members: when they all know God, especially in his love and goodness, and when they fervently love him, and cheerfully, universally obey him; and when they love each other fervently, and with a pure heart, and without divisions do hold the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; and with one heart, and mind, and mouth, do glorify God and our Redeemer. Leaving that church-judgment to the pastors which Christ hath put into their hands; and leaving God's part of judgment unto himself. This is to be like our heavenly Exemplar, and to do God's will on earth as it is done in heaven; Ephes. iv. 2-4. 11, 12. 16.

9. And we must also look back to the examples of their lives, while they were on earth; and see wherein they are to be imitated as the imitators of Jesus Christ: which way went they to heaven before us?

10. Lastly, We must give God thanks on their behalf; for making them so perfect, and bringing them so near him, and saving them from sin, and Satan, and the world, and bringing them safe to heaven, through so many temptations, difficulties and sufferings: for making them such instruments of his glory, in their times, and shewing his glory upon them, and to them in the heavens. For making them such blessings to the world in their generations, and for giving us in them such patterns of faith, obedience and pa

tience, and making them so great encouragements to us, who may the more boldly follow them in faith, duty and sufferings, who have conquered all, and sped so well: for showing us by faith, their present state of glory with Christ, for our confirmation and consolation. Thus far in all these ten particulars we must have a heavenly conversation with the glorified by faith.

Direct. 8. Consider next, wherein your imitation of the example of their lives on earth consisteth.'

And it is 1. Not in committing any of their sins, nor indulging any such weaknesses in ourselves, as any of them were guilty of. 2. Nor in extenuating a sin, or thinking ever the better of it, because it was theirs. 3. Nor in doing as they did in exempted cases, wherein their law and ours differed (as in the marriage of Adam's children, in the Jews polygamy, &c.). 4. Nor in imitating them in things indifferent, or accidental, that were never intended for imitation, nor done as morally good or evil. 5. Nor in pretending to, or expecting of their extraordinary revelations, inspirations, or miracles. 6. Nor in pretending the high attainments of the more excellent, to be the necessary measure of all that shall be saved, or the rule of our church-communion: our imitation of them consisteth in no such things as these.

But it consisteth in these.

1. That you fix upon the same ultimate ends as they did. That you aim at the same glory of God, and choose the same everlasting felicity.

2. That you choose the same Guide and Captain of your Salvation; the same Mediator between God and man; the same Teacher and Ruler of the church, and the same Sacrifice for sin, and Intercessor with the Father.

3. That you believe the same Gospel, and build upon the same promises, and live by the same rule, the word of God.

4. That you obey the same Spirit, and trust to the same Sanctifier, and Comforter, and Illuminater, to illuminate, sanctify and comfort your souls.

5. That you exercise all the same graces of faith, hope, love, repentance, obedience, patience, as they did.

6. That you live upon the same truths, and be moved by the same motives as they lived upon and were moved by.

227. That you avoid the same sins as they avoided; and see what they feared, and fled from, and made conscience of, that you may do the same.

8. That you choose and use the same kind of company, helps and means of grace (so far as yours and theirs are the same) as they have done: and think not to find a nearer, or another way to that state of happiness which they are come

to.

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"Walk by the same rule, and mind the same things; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you;" Phil. iii. 16. "If any preach another Gospel, let him be accursed;" Gal. i. 7, 8. Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them;" Rom. xvi. 17. “We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope to the end, that you be not slothful, but followers of them," &c. Heb. vi. 11, 12.

9. That you avoid, resist, and overcome the same temptations, as they did, who now are crowned.

10. That you bear the same cross, and exercise the same faith, and hope, and patience, unto the end. Arm yourselves with the same mind, &c. 1 Pet. iv. 1.

In brief, this is the true imitation of the saints.

Direct. 9. Never suffer your life of sense to engage you so deeply in sensible converse with men on earth, as to forget your heavenly relations and society; but live as men that unfeignedly believe, that you have a more high, and noble converse every day to mind.

If you are believers indeed, let your faith go along with the souls of your departed friends into glory: and if you have forgot them by an unfriendly negligence, renew your acquaintance with them. Think not that those only that live on earth, are fit for our converse, and our comfort: will you converse with none but ignorant, selfish, worldly sinners? Are you more contemptuous of the heavenly inhabitants, than the gentleman in hell torments was, (Luke xvi. 26, 27.) that thought one from the dead, though it had been but a beggar, would have been reverenced even by his sensual brethren on earth, so far as to have persuaded them unto saving repentance. I tell you, a dead man's skull is oftimes a more profitable companion than most you shall converse with in the common world. The dust of your de