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with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away. Rev. xxi. 2, 3, 4.

And there shall be no more curse. but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever. Rev. xxii. 3, 4, 5,

V.

CONCLUSION.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? 2 Peter iii. 11.

*Conversation; in Greek Anastrophais, i. e. occupations, modes of life, conduct or deportment; the Greek word does not confine the meaning to the use of the tongue, as the English translation would seem to imply.

Knowing that ye are thereunto called, that 1 Pet. iii. 9. ye should inherit a blessing. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Heb. xiii. 14.

*

For our conversation (citizenship) is in

heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself! Phil. iii. 20, 21.

Oh, how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm xxxi. 19.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. ii. 9, quoted from Isa. Ixiv. 4, Thine eyes shall see the KING in his beauty, they shall behold THE LAND that is far off. Isaiah xxiii. 17:

An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in 1 Peter i. 4, 5. the last time.

And this is the victory that overcometh the 1 John v. 4. world, even our faith.

* Conversation; in Greek Politeuma, i. e. citizenship.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal. iii. 9.

By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, * not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles + with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise For he looked for a city which bath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY.

Heb. xi. 8, 9, 10, 13-16.

* Not knowing, &c. But trusting in God, by whose divine direction he went out.

+i. e. moveable tents

These all, viz. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, &c. see the preceding part of the chapter.

§ Embraced them, i. e. they received them as true, or embraced them by faith.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Gal iii. 7

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-beirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him; that we may be also glorified together. Rom. viii. 17.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my Rev. xxi. 7. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Psalm cvii. 43.

son.

Finis,

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