been most abundant in good works:  and next to them, those that have suffered most, according to the will of God.  But what advantages in every one of these respects will the children of God receive in heaven, by God’s permitting the introduction of pain upon earth, in consequence of sin?  By occasion of this they attained many holy tempers, which otherwise could have had no being:  resignation to God, confidence in him in times of trouble and danger, patience, meekness, gentleness, long-suffering, and the whole train of passive virtues.  And on account of this superior holiness they will then enjoy superior happiness.  Again:  every one will then “receive his own reward, according to his own labor.”  Every individual will be “rewarded according to his work.”  But the Fall gave rise to innumerable good works, which could otherwise never have existed, such as ministering to the necessities of the saints, yea, relieving the distrest in every kind.  And hereby innumerable stars will be added to their eternal crown.  Yet again:  there will be an abundant reward in heaven, for suffering as well as for doing, the will of God:  “these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  Therefore that event, which occasioned the entrance of suffering into the world, has thereby occasioned to all the children of God, an increase of glory to all eternity.  For altho the sufferings themselves will be at an end:  altho

  The pain of life shall then be o’er,
    The anguish and distracting care;
  The sighing grief shall weep no more;
    And sin shall never enter there:—­

yet the joys occasioned thereby shall never end, but flow at God’s right hand for evermore.

There is one advantage more that we reap from Adam’s fall, which is not unworthy our attention.  Unless in Adam all had died, being in the loins of their first parent, every descendant of Adam, every child of man, must have personally answered for himself to God:  it seems to be a necessary consequence of this, that if he had once fallen, once violated any command of God, there would have been no possibility of his rising again; there was no help, but he must have perished without remedy.  For that covenant knew not to show mercy:  the word was, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”  Now who would not rather be on the footing he is now; under a covenant of mercy?  Who would wish to hazard a whole eternity upon one stake?  Is it not infinitely more desirable, to be in a state wherein, tho encompassed with infirmities, yet we do not run such a desperate risk, but if we fall, we may rise again?  Wherein we may say,

  My trespass is grown up to heaven! 
    But, far above the skies,
  In Christ abundantly forgiven,
    I see Thy mercies rise!

In Christ!  Let me entreat every serious person, once more to fix his attention here.  All that has been said, all that can be said, on these subjects, centers in this point.  The fall of Adam produced the death of Christ!  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!  Yea,