The blessed estate of them that die in the Lord opened in a sermon…

here love is not perfect, and therefore the soul cannot be fixed in the contemplation of God, and that is the reason of wandering thoughts; but there the heart cleaves to him without straggling; from pride, which lasts as long as life, and therefore called pride of life, 1 Joh. 2.16. we cannot have a revelation now, but we grow proud of it, nor an influence of grace, but it lifts us up, 2 Cor. 12.2 there is a worm in Manna; but there, when we are most high, we are most humble. Christians, is not this a blessed hope, that tells you of a sinless state, of being like Christ for purity and holiness? 1 Joh. 3.2. We shall see him as he is, for we shall be like unto him: What is it that you have struggled with and groaned under all your lives, but sin? Now that is blotted out, when the days of refreshing come. And as there is no sin; so there are no temptations; In Paradise there was a tempter, but not in heaven; Satan was long since cast out thence; and the Saints fill up the vacant rooms of the Apostate Angels: the world is a place of snares, a valley of temptations; it is the devils circuit; where did he walk to and fro but in the earth? But into heaven nothing enters that defiles. Rev. 21.27. No Serpent can creep in there. Christians, lift up your heads, you will get rid of sin and displease God no more; ⟨p. 13⟩here we cry, Lord deliver us from evil; and there our cries are heard at the full; Grace weakeneth sin; but Glory abolisheth it; and old Adam is left in the Grave never to rise more.

here love is not perfect, and therefore the soul cannot be fixed in the contemplation of God, and that is the reason of wandring thoughts; but there the heart cleaves to him without stragling; from pride, wh•ch lasts as long as life, and therefore called pride of life, 1 Joh. 2.16. we cannot have a revelation now, but we grow proud of it, nor an influence of grace, but it lifts us up,