even ridiculed, by those whose birth and education have
fitted them for high society. The mere fact, therefore, of their
elevation to high honors, would not clothe them with the personal
qualities which are necessary to enjoy the highest honors and
pleasures of this world.

How different all this is, when there is question of heaven! For, how
poor and ignorant soever we may now be, we may reasonably aspire to a
very high degree of glory, and to the exquisite delights which come
from a more intimate union with God. How insignificant soever we may
be, and however low our position in this world, we may aspire to move
in the highest society in heaven. And not only may we aspire to all
this, and reach it, by the grace of God and the practice of virtue,
but, what is more, we shall be made fit for our high position. For
the moment the vision of God flashes upon the soul, we become like
Him. We shall, therefore, be educated, filled with all knowledge,
wisdom, and every other perfection. We shall be clothed with the
personal beauty, refinement, and other graces which befit spouses of
Jesus Christ and children of God. For you must ever bear in mind that
the glory of heaven, besides the elevation of our mind by the Light
of glory, implies the elevation of our whole nature to the
supernatural state.

Wherefore, not only is our mind elevated far beyond its present
powers by the Light of glory, but our body, also, is to be exalted by
the resurrection far beyond its present perfection. As we have
already seen, all the just are to rise in glory, but each one in his
own degree of perfection. "For, one is the glory of the sun, another
the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star
differeth from star in glory. So, also, in the resurrection of the
dead." Here the Apostle of the Gentiles teaches us, in the plainest
manner possible, that among the saints there is a very great
difference in the degrees of personal beauty, grace, and splendor.
There is as much difference between the beauty and splendor of the
highest and those of the lowest, as we now see between the dazzling
splendor of the surf and the pale light of the moon. As the
resurrection is a portion of heaven's rewards, it follows that the
more completely we have mortified our inordinate passions, and made
our life conformable to that of Jesus Christ, the more also of
personal beauty and splendor shall we possess in heaven; and,
consequently, the more of he