eaven."* All such pleasures, which were
intended only for this world of imperfection, will be replaced by
others of a superior order, and suited to our spiritualized bodies.

* Matt. xxii. 29.

So, then, we see that the life of heaven is one of sensible pleasure
through the glorified senses, as well as one of exquisite mental and
moral enjoyment in the Beatific Vision. These sensible pleasures
have, moreover, a peculiar characteristic, which the pleasures of
sense have not in our present state of imperfection. In heaven the
blessed can enjoy them all without fear; for none of them are
forbidden, and, consequently, they can never be followed by bitter
remorse or shame. Neither have they, as in this world, a tendency to
darken the mind, and turn the heart away from God. They will rather
intensify our love for Him, who is the Author of our exceeding
blessedness, whether it comes immediately from himself or partly from
the beautiful creatures He has prepared to complete the happiness of
His beloved children.

CHAPTER XI.

SOCIAL JOYS OF HEAVEN.

The life of heaven is also one of pure social joys. Among all the
joys outside of the Beatific Vision, there are certainly none so
sweet as those which arise from our social intercourse with the
blessed. We are social beings by nature. Our highest and best powers
are framed for society; and we are never in our normal state except
when in communion with our fellow-men. Hence all men love society, if
we except the misanthrope or man-hater, who is a moral monster. He
has unfortunately developed in his bosom some of the worst passions
of our fallen nature, and they have built an element of hell in his
heart. For in that godless and hopeless region there is no love
either for God or neighbor, and, therefore, social joys can have no
existence therein. With the exception of a few persons of this kind,
all men love society. Even the lonely hermit loves it. But he sees in
it dangers to his soul, and he cuts himself off from it in this
world, that he may enjoy it in the next, where it shall have lost its
dangerous element.

Social intercourse with our fellow-beings affords us some of our
purest joys in this world; yet they are not, and never can be
perfect. They are roses with cruel thorns, that wound and make us
bleed, almost as often as they delight us with their delicious
perfumes. How often does it not happen that we go into society with a
light heart, and return home sad a