beaten Many Cities have large Charters but greater Priviledges have the Burgesses and free denizons of the New Jerusalem who have their names written or enrolled in heaven Heb. 12.23 Magistrates of Cities and Burroughs usually have their Books or Rolls wherein the names of all free men are written or registred whereby they may claim their right to the priviledges of that Corporation whereof they are admitted members In relation thereunto God is said to have his book and this enrolling of names assures the Christian of his right to the Priviledges of Heaven And oh what excellent things what royal Prerogatives belong to that City of God! where is Mirth without sadness health without sickness life without labour light without darkness an Olio of delights an Ecstasie of fruitions Pyrrhus said of Rome not then mistress of the world that it was urbs Regum a City of Kings but one thing was wanting in that kingly City as it was told a great Emperour ravished with its beauty men died there as well as in other places it was not priviledged from death It may truly be said of this City that it is urbs regum where the meanest door-keeper wears a Crown more pretious than the Onyx and the Jasper and their Crown shall never fade their joy never fail their Sun never set their life never end There will be neither hunger nor thirst nor weariness nor age they shall be priviledged from sin and sorrow and death itself for evermore 4. The largest Capacity Some Cities are famous for their bigness Nineveh was an exceeeding great City of three days journey Jon. 3.3 and Scanderoon the Imperial Seat of the great Cham of Tartary 28 miles in compass and Quinsay the greatest in the world reported to be a hundred but nothing to this great City Rev. 21.10 which is 12000 furlongs the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal v. 16. A great and definite measure being put for an indefinite and a greater As it is said of Tophet it is large and deep for the King it is prepared Isa 30. ult so of Heaven we may say it is large and high for the blessed it is prepared It is the Court of God and of Christ wherein are habitations for an innumerable company of Angels and all the Spiritual seed of Abraham which are as the Sand on the Sea shore For though the Scripture saith that few shall be saved yet is that to be understood comparatively to the vaster numbers that walk in the broad way that leadeth to destruction for absolutely considered they are a great multitude that no man can number Rev. 7.9 yet shall one heaven contain them all Though the way to heaven be strait and narrow yet is heaven it self spatious and ample Therefore our Saviour tells his Disciples Joh. 14.2 in my Fathers house are many mansions there is room provided and accommodation sufficient to entertain all comers None shall have cause to complain the place is too strait for me give place to me that I may dwell Isa 49.20 None though they come late and last thither shall be forced to any inconvenience as the blessed Virgin was to lodge in a stable because there was no room for her in the Inn Luc. 2.7 5. The greatest Security Men live in Cities for the security of their persons and the safety of their goods Tutò vivere was one end they had at first in building them that they might be places of strength and protection against hostilities and dangers whereas solitary dwellings are often exposed to violence and assaults But this is a City most secure The greatest in the world Nineveh Babylon Jerusalem have had their rise and ruine so that now they live only by the mouth of fame Fuit Ilium ingens gloria Teucrorum That they have been is all we can say of such as once flourished in greatest strength and splendor but now lie buried under their own ruines and all their beauty and honour is laid in the dust But Heaven is a City that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.27 All things there are out of Gun-shot beyond the reach and attempts of men and devils They that are there shall not feel nor need they fear the destroyer any more It is subject neither to rust nor to robbery not to vanity in it self nor violence from others for neither can moth corrupt there nor thieves break through and steal Matt. 6.20 This is the only City upon the Gates whereof may truly be engraven that Venetian Motto Nec fluctu nec flatu movetur neither winds nor waves neither secret underminings nor open Assaults can create any molestation or disturbance to it and the reasons of its being so strong and impregnable are given in the following words which leads to the Third part The description of the Excellency of the Object and that by two particulars 1. It s stability and firmness it is a City which hath Foundations 2. It s Architect and Author whose Builder and maker is God 1. It s stability and firmness it is a City which hath Foundations The strength of any building lies chiefly in the foundation though the walls be weak yet if well founded it may stand long The strength of the Church is described by this that it is sounded upon a Rock so that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Matth. 16.18 and the New Jerusalem hath Foundations and these all of stones and those stones most pretious and therefore most durable Rev. 21.18 which denotes the firmness and security of the place and of their condition who are translated thither The Apostle therefore 2 Cor. 5.1 opposeth this earthly and that heavenly house this being made with hands that without this transitory that eternal Here we have but Tabernacles that have a roof but no Foundation and if we call them houses their foundation is but dust which deserves not that name Job 4.19 The world is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fashion that passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 All the goodliness and splendor of it lies in the outside and is but skin deep without any consistency or solid stay Here there is no continuing City The Church and every member of it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ambulatory in an unsetled and suffering condition All are but sojourners Psal 39.14 Our dwellings are uncertain by fire or poverty or persecution and a thousand intervening accidents to be sure by death we shall be forced to leave them But in Heaven there are Mansions which is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an abiding City there we shall not only be but continue for ever 1 Thes 4.17 We cannot tell how many the foundations be St. John makes mention of Twelve Rev. 21.14 by which some understand the twelve Apostles and their doctrine summarily comprized in the twelve Articles of our Creed but we may reduce them to two principal ones and this we may conceive the lowest number There is a Foundation upon a
Operation upon us than the consideration of those rich Advantages and ample vouchsafements reserved in heaven for us There is no Sword like this to behead all our beloved lusts and to cut off the very sinews of our darling corruptions Were there indeed no other world to enjoy God in yet ought we not while we have a being to imploy it in his service Heaven and earth obey his will though capable neither of reward for their obedience nor of punishment for their disobedience Quench Hell and burn heaven it will be our Duty notwithstanding to love and fear our Maker But what sweet Allurements tender Cords irresistible perswasions are there to invite us to it seeing the everlasting doors of Mercy and of Glory stand open to embrace and to reward us How should this provoke us to endeavour after that righteousness to which so excellent an estate is annexed were it a sensual Paradise we expected then we might indulge our selves in our lusts without bidding any defiance to our hopes but heaven is a pure and holy as well as a glorious and blessed place and therefore ought we to purifie our selves 1 Joh. 3.3 to deny all ungodliness and wordly lusts Tit. 2.12 to have our conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 i. e. To converse and deport our selves though we are on earth as Citizens of the Corporation that is above whereby we may be meet to be partakers of that Inheritance with the Saints in light Col. 1.12 2. Secondly and more particularly this may arm Christians against the pleasures of the world and all the Temptations of prosperity There is usually more danger in the charms and smiles than the frowns and threatnings of the world and more are destroyed by the Silken halter of pleasures than the iron chain of Affliction but a glimpse of heaven apprehended and seriously laid to heart will darken and obscure all the glories of the world and render its temptations harmless and without a sting Hence it was that Moses was enabled to quit Pharaohs Court and his hopes of inheriting the Crown of Aegypt the recompence of reward to which he had a respect Heb. 11.26 did eclipse the lustre and outweigh in his impartial balance the honour and the profit and the pleasures of sin which men of the world are apt to envy and admire He chose rather to embrace the poor and despised condition of Gods people and to walk in the stricter paths of piety and Religion than to deprive himself of endless felicities for the short and transitory enjoyment of a few carnal dying pleasures and worldly trifles 3. This may raise us above the Afflictions of the world and support our Spirits under them Our blessed Saviour for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross that was laid upon him Heb. 12.2 The foresight of these comforts hath so transported Christians as to make them willing to embrace the stake kiss the Faggot welcom the Cross and refuse deliverance Holy Ignatius in a burning zeal could say fire gallows beasts breaking of bones quartering of members crushing of body all the Discipline of hell and torments of Devils let them come upon me so I may enjoy that Treasure in Heaven It is worth the having though we must travel through a wilderness to possess it though we buy it at the hardest rate even with Martyrdom and Persecution it will not repent us of our suffering nor shall we have cause to complain of a hard bargain when once we come to obtain it For I reckon not the sufferings of this world worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed Rom. 8.18 4. This may be a Cordial to fill the Soul with holy courage against the fear of death Though death in it self be unwelcome unto nature yet if Faith makes this glory to appear that King of terrors will prove a messenger of the greatest joy The Heathens though they had but a dark view and a vain hope concerning the happy state of Souls in their Elysian fields after death were to remarkably and passionately affected with it that Socrates comforted himself over his draught of poyson with the meditation of that subject How vigorous then should the effects be that flow from the solid and strong consolations of believers should not this dispose them to a longing expectation after their change and cause them to groan earnestly to be clothed upon with this house which is from heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 and desirous with St. Paul to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 To be removed out of this land of Cabul or of dirt as Hiram called the Cities that Solomon had given him 1 King 9.13 into that City of pearls there to be entertained in the King of Heavens banqueting house or Wine Celler where the banner over them will be love even that love that cannot be fathomed which was from everlasting and will extend to everlasting and never shut up into hatred and displeasure That love which brought the Son of Gods love from Heaven to earth from the earth to a Cross from the Cross to a grave from the grave to Glory that he might provide Mansions and prepare the way for Believers into the possession of eternal Bliss and Glory in this City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God I Have now finished my Meditations on the Text and lest I should disappoint your expectations according to the decent custom at such Solemnities give me leave and lend me I beseech you a little more of your Patience to add something of this Venerable person and Reverend Brother that is departed from us or rather gone before us out of this Valley of Tears land of Mortality and trouble into that City of excellencies immortal region of Rest and Blessedness It was one of his last desires I should discharge this friendly Office to him and to perform the Will of the dead with an affectionate kindness and a hearty zeal I conceive to be an Act not only of Charity but of Justice too and the last debt of Piety and Friendship we are able to pay unto them As it was not his Practice so I am confident it was not his desire nor is it my intention to use any flattering Eulogies on this occasion or to raise a Monument to his Fame upon a false and a rotten foundation but to pay that civil and true respect which his worth and usefulness and comparative eminency above the ordinary rank of us his Brethren of the Clergy while he lived requires from us towards his memory now he is dead and were his Picture to be drawn by his own Pencil and with his own hand it would be more exact and to the life which I can but endeavour weakly to represent unto you according to my meanness in duller colours and ruder delineations As for his descent and birth it is so well known in this place where if I be not much mistaken he received his Being and Christianity sucked
to tarry for the reward The delay of good hoped for is afflicting and pungent it maketh the heart sick without patience to support it So that the Christian must have the patience as well as the faith of the Saints Rev. 13.10 For if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Rom. 8.25 therefore it is said of Abraham After he had patiently endured he received the promise Heb. 6.15 God is graciously pleased to put us to our choice whether we will have our Heaven here or wait for it hereafter whether we will draw our comforts from the broken and impure Cisterns of the creatures or reserve our selves for those Crystal streams that flow from that pure and living Fountain of everlasting Consolations where our enjoyment shall be full and free without any danger of Epicurism or intemperance And were it not for our too hasty and impetuous desires after present wages though but brass and counters and a sinful impatience mingled with an infidelity and a distrust of God and his Promise for our future more comfortable allowance and satisfactory reward the use of a very little reason seasoned and improved by Grace might be armour of proof unto us against the destructive charms of sin and might put the controversie beyond dispute that Heaven is worth the waiting for and the satisfactions there are very sufficient to smooth all the wrinkles in the face of Religion here to take off the seeming severities of a holy life a renewed Repentance and necessary self-denial in themselves the most amiable and lovely duties and the best Credentials the surest Evidences we can provide both for our Conduct and our Title to the Celestial Canaan or heavenly Jerusalem which is that City which Abraham did look for 1. in his desires and 2. in his hopes and was well worth 3. all his pains and 4. his Patience too because it is a City that hath Foundations c. The Object whereunto this Act is referred is a City To condescend to the meanness of our capacity the Scripture doth express Heaven unto us by such things as our understandings can apprehend and gives it such Titles as may suit with and satisfie every mans Appetite and Inclination very often it is called a City The City of the living God Heb. 12.22 a City to come Heb. 13.14 the Holy City Rev. 21.2 and much of the happiness thereof may be conceived by us as it is represented under this Notion of a City wherein there are to be found such rare and peculiar advantages as are necessary and sufficient to compleat the bliss thereof I shall briefly recommend these five particulars to your present consideration This is a City where there is to be found 1. The best Society A City is a multitude of people that have the benefit of a mutual and near converse and quietly cohabit under the same laws and Government Company is the most pleasant thing of life without which there is no full content in any enjoyment no comfortable use of the greatest possessions If to live with vertuous persons here in whom there is sin to imbitter as well as grace to sweeten their converses unto us by reason of their manifold defects and imperfections be one of the chief ingredients to our present in happiness what will it be to live with them when they shall be perfected in goodness and in glory If he could cry out O praeclarum illum diem c. Cic. de Senect O the happy day when I shall depart out of this croud and sink into that council and society of blessed Souls and if Socrates rejoyced to dy because he thought he should then see Homer and Hesiod and other excellent men famous in their generations how much more should the Christian long to see Christ the eternal Son of God in his assumed nature and with him the glorious company of the Apostles the goodly fellowship of the Prophets the Noble Army of Martyrs and the whole Church of the First-born of which blessed Corona he himself shall make a part sitting down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all his pious friends departed whom he shall know and love in a greater degree than ever he did in this life This then is recorded as one of the singular Eminencies of that place that we shall be fellow-Citizens with the Saints Eph. 2.19 and be admitted into the fellowship of Myriads of Angels 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 Heb. 12.23 24. A Royal Society of perfect Virtuoso's free from all infirmities of pride Ignorance and self-seeking to exercise our Charity and Patience and without any sufferings to move our pity and compassion And the content that shall flow from this Communion and Acquaintance shall be durable and entire not subject to any prejudices or the bitter and disquieting thoughts of a sad parting any more 2. The most excellent Order As the Firmament without the Sun or the body without the soul so is a multitude without Order a rude indigested heap of people no formal Society Order is the essential Ornament of all Societies and the Beauty of Heaven The Inhabitants there are peaceable without any disaffection and orderly without the least confusion There is indeed an imparity or difference of degrees in Glory as well as in Grace There are Angels and Archangels Cherubims and Seraphims and all shine not with an equal Lustre There is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon another of the Stars for one Star differeth from another Star in glory 1 Cor. 15.41 So it shall be among the Saints and at the Resurrection All shall be satiated but All not capacitated for the like reception He that employed his five Talents well shall be made Ruler over five Cities and he that hath but two Talents and improves them as he ought shall be proportionably rewarded he shall rule over two Cities But though there be a difference yet there shall be no disorder for he that hath least shall not be disdained nor he that hath most be envyed Every one shall have so much that he shall desire no more but will love and enjoy that good in another which he might seem to want in himself Therefore there will be no envy occasioned there by any unequal clarity because there shall reign in all an Oneness of Charity There will be in all one and the same blessedness of joy though there be not in all one and the same sublimity or height of glory There is no deceitful friendship or strangeness of affection no unkind thought carriage or affection there 's a Corporation of Saints uniformly and harmoniously conspiring to obey and magnifie their Maker where the King is Verity the Law Charity and the term Eternity 3. The most Soveraign immunities Paul as a Citizen of Rome escaped Scourging Acts 22.25 for such were not to be bound or