'Eye hath not seen; nor ear heard; neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.'--1 Cor. ii: 9. But it is said in the words following, that God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. In this, we are not to understand, that the excellent things spoken of, are _communicated_ to men; but that by the aid of the divine Spirit they are enabled to receive such sublime and brilliant ideas of the glorious things which are prepared for them, that they are filled with sublime and unspeakable joy, though they find it utterly impracticable to describe these things to another, so as to be understood. It is like the new name which no man can know, but him to whom it is given: and although, in the solicitude of those who have been favored with a view of these things, to represent them to others, the most full and expressive forms of language have been put in requisition, it has in every instance failed to convey the least correct idea on the subject: because no man can see, or in anywise appreciate the excellence of these things, without the aid of the Spirit of Truth. But to those who obtain such enlightened views--and every man may, or might, obtain them,--the glorious things prepared are as the 'pearl of great price,' which, when a man hath found, he is ready to sacrifice all things else,--riches, honors, friends, pleasures, reputation in the world, or even life itself,--to obtain it. Neither Adam nor Eve, in their sinless, paradisaical state, could have had any correct idea of such delectable and glorious excellence of blessings as are prepared for these who become 'joint heirs of the Son of God,' through the blood of a crucified Saviour: for, had they been capable of seeing or imagining such things, they would never have fallen. There can be no question but that the glorious consolation of the faithful and obedient believers, will incomparably, not to say infinitely, excel that of the primitive state of man, or anything which could have been by man attained, if the blessed SON had not suffered. Let the most brilliant and soaring imagination exert its most strenuous and happy efforts in conceiving, arranging and representing to itself the highest possible state of bliss and glory, and it will fall as far short of the reality of the immortal state of the glorified saints,--the salvation purchased by the suffering of Christ,--as a mere shadow of the most beautiful picture comes short of the rich coloring of the original. And this fact is well known to those who have had the beauties of the 'world to come' revealed to them by the divine Spirit. These statements may appear strange to those who are accustomed to look upon the popular _reverend clergy_, fashionable church members and wealthy deacons, as choice specimens of the saints of the Lord. The true, and most favored saints, are generally found among those who are subject to poverty and tribulation, in this world. But these blessings of the