Page:The Other Life.djvu/193

 neither toil nor spin. The golden city "garnished with all manner of precious stones," and the river of life "clear as crystal," rise ever before us as in a ravishing and perpetual dream.

We can now see that the occupations of the other life are spiritual in their character. They all have reference to the growth and illumination of the mind, to the purification of the affections, and to the sanctification of the will and the conduct of the life on principles of love to the Lord and charity to the neighbor. To grow in wisdom, intelligence, goodness and usefulness for ever, is the life and felicity of heaven.

When we say that the occupations of the heavenly life are spiritual in their character, we are far from meaning that heaven is an infinite Church, and our life there a perpetual sabbath in the ordinary sense of these words. Take up any orthodox