Oyntment and perfume rejoyce the heart so doth the sweetnesse of a mans friend by hearty counsell The same testifies David in his lamentation for Ionathan 2. Sam 1. 26. I am distressed for thee my brother Ionathan very pleasant hast thou beene unto me Thy love to me was wonderfull passing the love of a woman but I say though the love of friends bee great Ionathan exceeding lovely yet they are not so lovely as God it cannot be affirmed of them that they are love it selfe as God is on then how pleasant will it bee when this vase affection of love shall bee satisfied GOD will come into us and dwell with us and doe but thinke what a pleasant thing it is to have the great God of Heaven and Earth to dwell together with the creature in unity to have him who is love it selfe to dwell in us from all eternity it is said 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not seene you love in whom though you see him not yet beleeving you reioyce with ioy unspeakeable and glorious Why if that bee a cause to make you rejoyce so unspeakably how much more joyfull will you be when you enjoy his presence not onely to kisse him through the lattice as here we doe enjoying onely his presence through his ordinances but to lie in the bosome of his love to bee enfolded in those everlasting armes of his mercy to be loved of love it selfe to be made partaker of all his goodnes and Gods love is free he loves us w th out any cause in our selves why thē brethren cōsider with your selves what is the height depth breedth and length of Gods love to bee filled with all fulnesse of God Eph. 3. 8. Oh what a bottomelesse sea of Gods love shall we be slung into one droppe of which is better than the gold of Ophir yea surpasseth the whole earth In the last place I will endeavour to shew the finall cause and demonstrate the greatnesse of Heaven by this that both the finis cui and the finis cuius that is the end why God hath prepared all this glory and the persons for whom Who is it for that God hath beene from everlasting preparing glory Is it not for his Saints Is it not for his friend and spouse Is it not for Sion Heb. 12. But you are come into Mount Sion and into the City of the living God the heavenly Hierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of the sprinkling that speakes better things than that of Abel God hath reserved Heaven for us Heaven is made for the feasting of his first borne he hath in heaven all his children about him there shall bee called a generall assembly of them one will not bee away you know parents they bestow the most cost when they have their children all at once together they respect no cost looking at the joy which is set before them they have joy unspeakeable in the presence of their children together and therefore at times of rejoycing men will send for their children home Now my brethren God will have all his Children home hee will have a generall invitation the great Congregation of the Elect shall bee called together hee will have them all home and therefore hee must needs make great provision consider what he hath vouchsafed to wicked men the worst of men beloved these runne away with the blessings of the World even such as God hath set himselfe against to hate with an eternall hatred why then thinke with your selves what hee hath prepared for those that love him whom with an everlasting love hee hath loved in his Sonne for his Sonnes sake which is as great as himselfe certainly hee will communicate himselfe to the uttermost I say then thinke with your selves what God hath prepared for those that love him Secondly consider the end for which this is and that is to manifest his owne glory hee truely hath had a great deale of glory out of this World already The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy worke hee hath had a great deale of glory out of this World by justifying poore sinners and sanctifying their hearts and also by punishments inflicted upon wicked men but all this is nothing to that glory he meaneth to have not comparable to that he will have in Heaven 2 Thes 3. 10. When hee shall come to be glorified in his Saints and bee admired of all them that beleeve Wee thinke wonderfull things of God and yet all our thoughts shall come farre short of the excellency of his comming he will come beyond our expectation hee will come to purpose to be admired of all them that beleeve The matter of Gods glory the revenues of it must come out of you the chiefest of his glory as for the manifestation of his glory it must come forth of that he will come to be glorified in his Saints hee will then shew how glorious a God he is by manifestation of his glory it must come forth of that he will come to be glorified in his Saints hee will then shew how glorious a God he is by manifesting what glorious creatures he hath made it is not a little glory that will content GOD it is not a little glory that will content a King when hee meaneth to take state Rom. 1. Hee will glorifie himselfe as God or else he would never have begun he would never have gone about it unlesse he meant to doe it to the utmost And in what doth this his glory consist why in making us glorious and the manifestation of his glory as hee is God comes from us It is true indeed Gods essentiall glory can not bee added unto us but the manifestation of his glory shall arise to us we shall have it communicatively as when you see the Sunne reflect upon the waters though you see not the Sunne it selfe yet you see as perfect a manifestation of it as if you should see the Sun it selfe So likewise though you cannot have Gods glory essentially yet you shall have it perfectly communicated to you manifested in you 2 Cor. 8. 23. And therefore the Saints are there called the glory of Christ now thinke with your selves God hath had infinite vast thoughts of glorifying himselfe there hath beene a fountaine of thoughts in him for that cause and that unceasing spring which hath runne in GOD from all eternity must needs make a vaste Sea and who must be the vessels that must goe into this into whom all this must be emptied are they not those that love him those that hee hath loved with an everlasting love why then doe but thinke with your selves how unutterable are the joyes we shall have in Heaven I would adde something
comfort to the heart of an hypocrite than the World can doe why then how much more doth the joy of the holy Ghost which comes from a true fountaines if it be shed abroad in your hearts And hence it was that the Martyrs suffered so willingly ran through so many persecutions and yet the glory which is in Heaven if it be compared to this infinitely transcends it The joy which shall be revealed swallowes up all these joyes which we have here even as the sea swallowes up mole-hils it is nothing in comparison of Heaven it is but as a drop to the Ocean and yet one drop of this joy of the Holy Ghost is more excellent than Oceans of worldly comforts All the joyes of this world is but as a drop to the Ocean for infinite drops will make a Sea but infinite worlds will not make heaven but indeed infinite drops of this joy will make heaven because it is of the same nature yet this I say is not comparable to the joyes in heaven why its but the earnest penny of our inheritance 2 Cor. 5. 5. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfe same thing is God who hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit GOD doth fashon and prepare his people here at the revenewes of their joyes which shall come in hereafter all that the Holy Ghost makes us partakers of in this life is but as a sixe pence in respect of the whole payment of glory wee shall have in Heaven Phil. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of our purchased possession unto the praise of his glory This my brethren is but as a penny to the dowry of the Queene of Heaven which the Saints the Bride of Heaven are to enjoy The Scriptures calls it no more but the sealing of the holy Ghost the earnest of our inheritance Indeed it is of the same nature with the great summe of which it is an earnest for you know an earnest differs from a pledge in this a pledge is of another kinde but the earnest of the same kinde with the payment And so the joy of the holy Ghost is of the same kinde with that which is layd up for us but it is but an earnest and there is difference in the manner of producing it whatsoever we have here as our earnest is but from the light of faith we cannot see Christ from whom we have it we only beleeve on him as hee is absent wee never saw him and yet this workes a joy unspeakeable and glorious 1 Pet 8. Whilst we apprehend him by faith it is but as absent from him Therefore wee are alwaies confident 2 Cor. 5. 6 knowing that whilst wee are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord and if we have such joy in his absence and seeing but a small glimpse or cranny of light comming to us by faith if this I say be so glorious what will it then be when to see him as he is to see him top to toe to be in the presence of him in which is fulnesse of joy By faith we see him but not all and this causeth joy unspeakeable and glorious what then to see him in perfection and have his presence the fulnesse of it whose presence in the least degree of it goeth farre beyond all the sight of him we have in the highest degree of faith yea in all the degrees of faith and yet the least degree of faith excells all the joy the World can give and therefore doe but thinke with your selves what Heaven is Compare it with those 4. Com. joyes and that glory the Saints that are in Heaven enjoy which infinitely transcends both the good things of this world the joy of the Holy Ghost and yet there is a glory to bee revealed after the day of Judgement that will transcend the joy of the Saints now mark the comparison The least drop of joy here that comes from the holy Ghost transcends the joy of the world the joy the Saints in Heaven now have as much transcends this joy of the holy Ghost as it doth that of the world yet after the day of Judgment there is a fuller treasure of joy to bee broken up And therefore let this raise up your hearts to conceive of the exceeding waight of glory laid up for the elect the Saints who are now in Heaven at the Well head of comforts who bathe themselves in these Rivers of pleasures why they have and are capeable of more joy than we can conceive of one Saint in heaven my Brethren hath more glory and joy in his heart than all the joy that is on earth and yet at the latter day their glory will as farre transcend that they have now even as it doth ours upon earth I may say of their condition as the Apostle doth Heb. 11. 40. God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect while the Saints are without their fellowes they are not come to the highest degree of perfection Heb. 12. 23. To the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect There is a perfection to be given them which they yet have not when all their fellow Saints all their fellow brethren when the whole number of the faithfull are together then shall a new treasure of glory bee broken up 2 Thes 1. 10. Who shall come saith the text to bee glorified in his Saints and to bee admired of all those that beleeve we doe usually admire a thing whē our expectation is exceeded now the Angels and the soules of the glorified Saints in Heaven they have seene and enjoyed many glorious things already and they looke for farre more glorious things but yet he will bring forth a glory at that day beyond their expectations he will not onely be admired by wicked men but all that beleeve shall admire this he will then put them to a new amazement Let now the consideration of this glory raise up your hearts to seeke for it that so such an unvaluable and great price may not passe out of your hands even the exceeding great riches of glory layd up for us Againe stand agast at the love of God that hath prepared such glory for you thus much comparatively Now secondly let us consider it simply as it is in it selfe and because things are best knowne by their causes we will begin with them And first of all the efficient 1. Cause cause of this great glory that is the great God of Heaven Earth whose Greatnesse and Glory wee cannot comprehend but only by his works he is the efficient cause of Heaven and all its glory he built this great City and all his workes shall bee like himselfe If King Ahashuerus make a feast he will make it like a King much more the King
there shall be neither soule nor body sicke Isa 33. 24. And they in Heaven shall not say I am sicke the people that dwell therein shall bee forgiven their iniquity there shall be no thought of the pardon of sinne for the inhabitants that dwell therein shall bee forgiven their iniquities that is those sinnes which they have committed in this life shall bee forgiven there There is no thought of sinne in Heaven there they shall be everlastingly buried in oblivion Obiect But you will say this glory may wither and decay it may waxe old and decline Answ There is no fading in Heaven for with God there is no variablenesse no not so much as shadow of changing The glory of Kingdomes decay daily and Monarchies fall as the Roman Empire what a glorious Monarchy was it but now it is come almost unto a bare title But in Heaven there is no decaying no failing there is alwaies a full spring-tide without ebbe That infinite masse of glory which thou shalt receive at the last day thou shalt keepe for ever after as many millions of yeeres expired as there are haires on thy head it shall bee as bright as it was on the last day and the reason of it is because of Gods presence wee shall be present with him who is the fountaine of life whose streams of glory must needes issue to eternity for at his right hand is fulnesse of joy and rivers of pleasure slow from him for evermore so long as God fades not Heaven will never fade when God himselfe fades when that fountaine can be dryed up then those rivers of pleasures shall cease flowing but that is impossible for hee is the Well of life What is the reason that precious stones decay not but that there is no drosse or corruption in them as the Diamond being pure in it selfe fades not away but alwaies keepes a lustre and splendour in it whereas other base stones that have drosse in them soone decay and moulder away In like manner though this World have drosse in it and by reason of that perish yet in Heaven there is no drosse of sin or corruption and therfore it cannot fade Why now you will say againe grant all this you have said before yet I doubt I may be bereaved of it it may be taken away from me by violence for Kingdomes in this life are taken away Kings deprived of their dignities Why but there is no feare of this in heaven it is kept for you sure enough no mothes of corruption to make you sin no violence of Satans temptations to make you fall The divell and sinne crept into Paradise but neither of them shall come into Heaven Matth 6. 20. Lay up treasures for your selves in Heaven where neither moath nor rust doth corrupt nor theeves breake in and steale But you will say againe if I could once get thither I had no cause to feare I should never fall if I were once in heaven but I feare the vilenesse of my owne heart I feare I shall be defiled with my corruptions and by Satan and as David said I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul I am afraid I may perish hereafter though I now be in the state of grace I may fall and never come thither But looke further it is said It is reserved for you who are kept by the power of God to salvation you are kept for it Christ hath reserved it for you who saith further Of those which thou hast given mee I have not lost one If all the power of the Creatour lie for it you shall not lose it but it doth therefore you shall not lose it And lastly thou shalt not stay long for it thou shalt not bee a probationer but till thy death at the farthest it is laid up ready for thee a Crowne of glory waites and staies for thee but now all these things are shewed this is the misery that wee will not beleeve In my Fathers house saith he there are many mansions If it had not beene so I would have told you he will not deceive us beleeve him on his word we use to beleeve the promise of a man we judge saithfull much more let us credit God who is truth it selfe Therefore as ever we would be partakers of these joyes and have part and portion in these eternall comforts let the beleefe of them bee stedfast and though there be many uses to bee made of this yet this is the chiefe that wee would believe this truth Indeed you believe but I say unto you beleeve and againe beleeve those that entered not into the promised Land entered not because they did not beleeve This is the cause that men perish and enter not into Gods rest I say therefore believe God seeing hee hath fulfilled all his promises hee hath not failed in one promise since the beginning The Land of Canaan he gave according to his promise long before 1 King 8. 23. Lord thou keepest Covenant and mercy with thy servants verse 26. Blessed bee the Lord that hath given rest to his people Israel according to all that hee promised by the hand of his servant Moses If he hath promised that ten Kings shall destroy the whore as indeed hee did she shall be destroyed hee will not faile in his promise he hath spoken and hee will make it good he is abundant in mercy and truth yea hee will bee better than his word Let me speake therefore to you that are yet in the state of nature who still delight in your sins if you beleeved these things surely you would not dote on your sinnes as you doe it would make you utterly abandon them and also let mee say something to you whose eyes God hath opened who are in the state of grace surely if you laboured more and more to petswade your selves of this you youl l not bee so glued to the world as you are it would make you like men of another World you would be transformed and be even as if you were in heaven Let then all your carriage and manner of conversation bee here as if you were in your heritance let all your thoughts be in heaven let your hearts take possession of this incorruptible Crowne whilest your bodies are on earth FINIS