---

I. AN INTERESTING VIEW OF THE FUTURE WORLD AS INHERITED BY BELIEVERS. There are many such views in Scripture; here it is described as "light," indicating a place of splendour. Light arrays all nature with beauty.

2. Of ceaseless activity. Darkness and sleep are related. "There shall be no night there," but a busy array of spirits which never grows languid, noble exercise which will never end.

3. Of purity. Darkness is an emblem of sin; light of holiness. Evil covets darkness, courts error to stifle con science, which will work when in the light. A soul desirous of holiness comes to the light, that its deeds, if evil, may be corrected; and if good, be manifested that they are wrought in God. Here our holiness is imperfect, but in heaven the Church is "without spot." There we shall never sin through ignorance, or fail of duty.

4. Of permanent felicity. Night is an emblem of affliction; light of gladness. Sorrow courts the night, joy the day; and the vicissitudes of day and night are emblematical. Our blessings have their dawn, noon, and setting. But the saints are in eternal light, where no sickness blasts, no death devours, no injustice grinds, etc., and where no depression abates spiritual enjoyments, and no temptation clouds the sun of heavenly manifestations. The permanency of holiness gives permanency to bliss.

5. Of knowledge. We come out of darkness into marvellous light, but still we see through a glass darkly. The illuminated circle about us is enveloped in haze. Into the mightier plans of God even piety would humbly pry. Into the difficulties of some great doctrines we are sometimes urged to look. How many Bible texts are obscure, and is there one of which we see the fulness? Who would not have the mystery of his little life unfolded, and all prophecy converted into history, and, above all, rise tea nearer vision of God? But there we shall know as we are known.

II. THE MEETNESS WROUGHT BY GOD IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO ARE RAISED TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THIS INHERITANCE.

1. A relative meetness expressed by "inheritance." Our natural heirship is forfeited by sin. Redemption has brought it hack; but we become heirs by becoming children, and we are made children by the faith which secures for us the blessing of justification. Till this there is no meetness of relation.

2. Personal meetness. "Saints." There is a correspondence between a hallowed state and heaven. A man who has a distaste for God's service cannot enjoy the worship day and night for ever. The man who shuns the light of truth could not hear the eternal light of God's countenance. The lover of pleasure could not relish its spiritual joys.

3. This meetness is the work of God.

4. Give thanks to Him for it in others and in yourself.

(R. Watson.)

---

---

KJV: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

WEB: giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;