The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

3. Union with God by Knowledge and Love, accomplishes the Perfection and Happiness of the Saints. The most pernicious effect of Sin, is the separation of the Soul from God: and the restoral of us to Happiness, is by reunion with him. This we obtain by Christ, who is Emanuel in his Nature, and by Office, who took our Flesh which he offered as a Sacrifice to God to atone his Displeasure, and gives his Spirit to dwell in us, as a permanent active Principle, by whose special operation Faith is produced in our Hearts; that is, such a belief of his Love in redeeming us, as inspires us with a sincere and superlative Love to him; and by these vital Bands we are united to him, and as his true Members, live the same Life with him in Grace and Glory.

3. Union with God by Knowledg and Love, accomplishes the Perfection and Happiness of the Saints. The most pernicious effect of Sin, is the separation of the Soul from God: and the restoral of us to Happiness, is by reunion with him. This we obtain by Christ, who is Emanuel in his Nature, and by Office, who took our Flesh which he offer'd as a Sacrifice to God to atone his Displeasure, and gives his Spirit to dwell in us, as a permanent active Principle, by whose special operation Faith is produc'd in our Hearts; that is, such a belief of his Love in redeeming us, as inspires us with a sincere and superlative Love to him; and by these vital Bands we are united to him, and as his true Members, live the same Life with him in Grace and Glory.

Now in Heaven our Union with God is more near and noble, more intimate and influential, more inseparable and eternal. 'Tis observable in natural Causalties, that what is of a more refined and purer Nature, is more active and penetrating, and more closely unites with other things, than what is more gross and material. Light, ⟨p. 308⟩which is the purest Quality in the World, actuates all Colours, and makes them visible, and actuates the Eye, and conveys the lively Image of the Object with shining Evidence into it. The Sun shoots its invisible Virtue into the deepest Mines. Fire is more subtle and pure than Water, and will pierce into solid Metals, which the Water cannot soak into. The glowing Iron seems to be all Fire. Now God is the purest Spirit, and of infinite energy, and can unite himself to our Spirits, more intimately than the closest Union between any Creatures in the World. He unites himself to the Understanding by an immediate irradiation, and discovery of his glorious Excellencies. In thy Light, saith the Psalmist, we shall see Light. He unites himself to the Will, by the infusion of his Love, and by that, drawing forth our Love to him. This Union is complete in Heaven, and most communicative of the Divine Influences to the Saints, and consequently their conformity and fruition of God, is in the highest degrees that created Spirits are capable of. This is the most desirable and perfect State of reasonable Creatures; for God