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I. THE IMPORT OF THE REPRESENTATION BY WHICH THIS STATE IS HERE DISTINGUISHED.

1. Among the mansions of the blessed, there shall be no fatigue, no tendency to lassitude, and no reason for repose.

2. There shall be no hostile intrusion there; there is no reason for precaution.

3. There is no impurity and no sin.

4. But night is a season of privation; and when we are told of heaven as a state where no privation shall be, we are well reminded that no night shall be there. Do you speak of privation of society? In heaven you will have delightful and hallowed fellowship. Do you speak of privation of knowledge? In heaven, illumination will be poured upon our faculties to the utmost extent which those faculties can, by possibility, bear. Do you speak of privation of happiness? In heaven, perturbation and pain, and fear, and distress, will be removed for ever.

5. "No more death" — "no more death" to our persons: "for this corruptible shall put on incorruption." "No more death" to our happiness; "no more death" to our attainments; "no more death" to our joy. All unchangeable, and all imperishable, and all for ever!

II. THE CONCLUSIONS WHICH OUR CONTEMPLATIONS OF THE HEAVENLY STATE UNDER THIS REPRESENTATION OUGHT FORCIBLY TO IMPRESS UPON OUR MINDS.

1. Our contemplations ought to induce preparation.

2. Our contemplations of the heavenly state ought to induce gratitude. You were the slave led captive by the devil at his will, and now have been brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God — a liberty which is to be consummated in the skies.

3. These contemplations of the heavenly state should induce desire. And truly there is nothing — if we are preparing for such scenes as those which have now been laid before you — there is nothing which should keep your desires from heaven.

(J. Parsons.)

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KJV: And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

WEB: Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),