them out in death Fitting grace for heaven you see is no trifle your eternall estate depends upon it Sinners why do you put off this work as a trisle and why do you put it off till death I dare say that man would never be holy if be could help it that will not be holy till he die he would never have to do with Christ if he could avoid that will not be acquainted with him before he is ready to leave this world when death is fitting the soul for hell then and never till then to be looking after heaven Ah Lord that ever those men should have precious and immortall Souls to damn themselves they that look no after heaven till they come to their death-beds are usually crost in their folly they are then either surprized with infirmities of body and so disinabled to perform so great a work or else surprized in their souls and so unfitted and indisposed to it either they have no strength or no heart to it and so dye in their sins and perish eternally Wicked men would never leave sinning if they did not cease living and that is one reasont to justifie the infinitnesse or everlastingnesse of the punishment of wicked men in hell The damned in hell are under easelesse and endlesse sufferings because they would have sinned alwayes if they had lived alwayes wicked men would have no end of their lives here they would live ever that they might sin ever therefore the Lord giveth them a life not such a one as they would have but such a one as they deserve to have which is indeed a death for ever wicked men shall die eternally for sin because they would have lived eternally in sin In the third place I beseech you note from hence what a blessed thing it is to be a Child of God Is it so that there are mansions of Glory for Believers in Heaven hereafter then Believers are the onely happy Men and Women in the World Were it not for the hopes of Heaven the condition of Gods Children might be sad enough if in this life onely we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 But the hopes of Gods Children are in the life to come therefore they are of all men most blessed The happinesse of a Child of God is not in what he enjoyes here below but in what he shall enjoy hereafter in Glory The best things of a Child of God are unseen things Whilst we look not saith the Apostle at the things which are seens but a the things Which are not seen For the things which are seen are temporal but the things that are noâ—â— seen are eternall 2 Cor. 4.18 And in 1 Pet. 〈◊〉 3 4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundance mercy hath begotten us again unto a lived hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deaâ— To an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation The Apostle here excellentâ—â— sets forth the condition of a Child of God and that in severall Regards First They are bâ— gotten again by Christ to an Inheritance possiblie they may lose all here below for Hâ—â— sake But yet here is the comfort of a Child 〈◊〉 God he is Heir to a great Estate in the neâ—â—â— World There is an Inheritance for him anâ— that is a sure one In six Regards First Iâ—â—â— not a corruptible but an incorruptible one Sâ—â—â— condly it 's an undefiled one And thirdlie it 〈◊〉 a lasting yea an everlasting one it fadeth noâ—â—â— away Fourthly it 's reserved for them tiâ—â— they come to age Gods Children in this life are not at full age therefore they are nor capâ—ble of enjoying so great a happinesss which God will hereafter bestow upon them Fifthlie it reserved for them in a safe place Many moâ—â—â— leave great estates here for their children whiâ—â— they are often cheated of But the Inheritance of Gods Children is reserved by God for them in Heaven where neither Moth doth corrupt nor Theis steals away And lastlie as the Inheritance is reserved for the Children of God so the People of God are preserved for their Inheritance Henven if reserved for them and they are preserved for Heaven They are kept by the mightie power of God through faith unto Salvation Fourthly are there such Mansion of glorie for Believers hereafter then I beseech you try and examine your own souls whether or no ye be in the faith And let me exhort you in the Name of Christ seriouslie to set about the work of Salvation You see what great and glorious things there are laid in store for Gods Children hereafter Then I beseech you labour to get an interest in Christ here that so you may partake of those glorious Mansions hereafter How greatlie should the consideration of these things draw out our hearts in longings and pantings after God When shall I come and appear before God saith David Psalm 42.1 As the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God for the living God When shall I come and appear before God And if David and such longings after the enjoyment of God in his Ordinances here what desires thought we to have after the full enjoyment God himself in glory hereafter Are there 〈◊〉 mansions of glory to be had hereafter Wâ—â—â— manner of persons ought we to be then in all maner of godlinesse And then lastly If there be such Mansiâ— of glory then let me exhort you all even now this your day to set your hearts at work seeking after those great things of Eterniâ—â— Let every Soul of you thus reason with you selves Are there such glorious things hereafter and am I the man or woman that shall â—â—joy them I remember a story of Gauls wâ—â— having once tasted the sweet Wine of Itaâ—â—â— presently enquired after the Countrie and â—â—ver rested till they had gotten it I have heâ—â— given you as it were a fore-taste of that Hâ—venly Wine which Believers shall drink hereafter in Glory now if you find any sweetneâ—â— in it let not your hearts be at rest till you comâ—â— to the Countrie it self where are Rivers those sweet Pleasures and that for evermore Martyr suffering death one asked him the cauâ—â— why he suffered Saith he in the words of tâ—â—â— Apostle Eye hath not seen ear hath nor heart neither hath it entred into the heart of manâ—â— conceive the things which God hath prepared fâ—â—â— them that love him The naming of whâ—â—â— wrought so effectually on the mans heart that â—e immediately became a Christian and after â—ffered death of His Names sake You have â—ad not onely one but very many Scriptures â—pened to you I beseech you let not all be in â—ain We read in Mark 10.17 how the young â—an came running to Christ saying Good Mater what shall
in it And Death and Hell that is the grave delivered up the dead which were in them And they were judged every man according to their works And whosoever was not found written in the Lambs book of life was cast into the lake of fire There 's the event of this judgement to the wicked But what successe the Righteous shall there have he sets down in Chap 21. Verse 3. Behold saith he the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes And there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor cursing neither shall there be any more pain He that overcometh shall inherit all thingâ—… and I will be his God and he shall be 〈◊〉 â—…on A blessed priviledge indeed but what remains for the wicked See what follows in the eight Verse The fearfull and unbelieving the abominable and murtherers whoremongers sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone A most dreadfull Scripture the Lord awaken every secure sinner and give them hearts to consider these things before it be too late For as the Prophet Malachy faith Mal. 4.1 The day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day cometh that shall burn them up saith the Lord Hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch Then shall they call upon the mountains to cover them and â—pon the â—â—lls to fall upon them to hide them from the fierceness of the wrath of God O consider this all you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Secondly if there be such mansions of Glory for Believers hereafter I note from hence the desperate folly and madnesse of all those who neglect or despise their own salvation Ye will not come to me saith our Saviour Joh. 5.40 that ye might have life This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evil Christ and salvation is freely offered to all in the Gospel Christ invites all to come Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely And as Christ invites all to come so he receives all that doth come He that comes to me I will in no wayes cast him out saith our Saviour Joh. 6.37 What think you sinners of these Scriptures will ye come to Christ and accept of life and salvation or will ye wilfully cast away your own souls for ever You see here Christ offers himself to you freely if you will but receive him Come unto me saith our Saviour Mat. 11.28 all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will refresh you What 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 will ye come 〈…〉 and be saved 〈…〉 you be so deâ—peratly mad as to destroy your own most precious and immortall souls When I behold the lives of most men my very heart trembles to think what will everlastingly become of their precious souls all the care they take is for their bodies how does money come in and how they shall get riches but they never consider how it goes with their souls Ah sinners are your bodies everlasting Is this world everlasting Can any thing but heaven make you happy Are not your souls everlasting will ye rather cast away your souls then leave your lusts for sin and you must part orelse heaven and your souls will never meet He that doth not leave his sins on this side the grave by Repentance shall find 〈◊〉 sins to meet him on the other side the gravel 〈◊〉 condemn him If you live in your sins ye shaâ— die in your sins Yea die everlastinglie for you sins Sinners I beseech you consider are yoâ— fit to die are you fit to live in another world are you prepared for heaven If not let me teâ—â— you you are fit for nothing but hell and hellâ— prepared for you Sinners what do you do What do you mean to do are you yet a sleep Alâ— Lord what a harvest will hell have in these sin full daies What preparations do men make so heaven Are not they that were filthie filthiâ— stâ—ll What men were that they are still Thougâ— God is every day tumbling men into their graves yet no man mends his pace for heaven Sinners you hear all this but can you bear all this Leâ— me give you two or three properties of a man fitted for hell and I beseech you try and examinâ— your own souls by them The first propertie of a man fitted for hell iâ— Obduration A stone you know is fitted to descend it is its propertie to fall downwards Hardnesse makes fitnesse The way to Hell is from burning to burning from a seared Conscience to a damned soul A second propertie of a man fitted for wrath is alienation estrangednesse to God speaks fitness to wrath and it is a sign that the Soul is fitted for utter darknesse There are but two steps to death first the sinner saith he will have no fellowship with God And secondlie God saith he shall have no fellowship with him Now is the sinner judged now fit for hell then judge ye the Execution onlie is wanting And the Devil is not usuallie backward to perform his office The sinner is upon the Gallows as it were he wants but turning off unlesse Christ steps in with a reprieve that soul is utterlie lost A third propertie of a man fiâ—ted for Hell is Prophanenesse Prophanenesse is the badge of a wicked person Wickednesse in the life speaks out a cursed soul You may know what Countrie men are of by their Language By their Fruits ye shall know them When mens words and works are the Language of Hell what need any further inquirie what Countrie men or to what place they belong You may read Hell in their very faces The tree is known by his fruit saith our Saviour Mat. 7.20 Mens lives foreshew what their ends are like to be As the Tree falls so it lyes As sinners live so they usuallie die Every mans life lively bespeaks what they are and what they shall be hereafter If men will go on in the broad way of sin you know where their journies end will be Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction Mat. 7.13 I know not what lives you live but to be sure you may either spell Heaven or Hell in them If ye would know the frame of your souls then view your lives your souls breath out themselves either into the bosom of God or the Devils and into whose bosom you breath out your souls here in this life into that bosom you will certainly bâ—eath
like the glorious body of Christ There we shall do the will of God perfectlie In heaven there is no sin nor temptation to sin no not so much as a vain thought or an idle word And as there is no sin so there is no Satan There shall be no more need of Sermons nor Sacraments nor Prayers But the whole work of the Saints in heaven will be to sing Praises and Hallelujahs to God for ever and ever Thirdlie in Heaven there is fulnesse of joy Rivers of pleasures at Gods Right hand and that for evermore Psalm 16.11 And those Rivers of pleasures shall flow in and from the presence of God himself as the Fountain of all those joies which have infinitenesse and eternitie in them without the least dram of sorrow For God shall then wipe away all tears from our eyes and there shall be no more sorrow Rev. 21.4 The Rivers of the Saints joy in Heaven as they are without bank so they are without bottom Our Masters joy will then be so great that we his Servants shall not be able to contain it There is nothing in Heaven but what is matter of joy our Fathers house our Inheâ—â—tance our Kingdome our Crown and Glory our sight of Gods Face That is an excellenâ— speech of David Thou shalt make me saith he full of joy with shy Countenance Heaven is boundlesse yea a bottomlesse Ocean of joy an happinesse the society of blessed Angels at glorified Saints In a word the joies of Heaveâ— far exceeds all the joies that can be thought oâ—â— upon earth Not onely the joy of Marriagâ—â— and the joy of Harvest but also they joy of Faitâ—â— and the joy of Ordinances which are all swaâ—â—lowed up by this great Ocean of joy Nothinâ— can disturb or diminish the joies of the Saints 〈◊〉 Heaven Fourthly as there is fulnesse of joy in Heaven so there is excellency of glory Perfection of glory shall be the Saints Robes In Heaven they shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.5 In the one and twentieth of the Revelations St. John speaking of the new Jerusalem exactly describes the glory thereof It is Citty whose walls are Jasper and the streâ—â—pure Gold clear as Christal whose foundation are of precious Stones and the gates thereof 〈◊〉 Pearles And if this new Jerusalem the Church of God here below be so glorious how exceeding glorious then is that heavenly Jerusalem which is above Heaven as one saith is the Palace of the King of Glory the Presence chamber of the great God whose Presence it is that makes Heaven to be Heaven There indeed would be no Heaven if God Himself were not there In Heaven God makes His Glory visible both to Saints and Angels Thence it is called a Crown of Glory an eternal weight of Glory Glory shall then and there cover the Saints all over from top to toe both within and without their Souls shall there be made glorious in knowledge wisdom and understanding and their bodies shall be made like the glorious Body of Christ The bodies of the Saints in Heaven shall be free from all necessities of nature as food and raiment sleep and the like In Heaven there shall be no need of these things Secondly in Heaven the bodies of the Saints shall be freed from all natural infirmities and deformities sicknesse diseases pains or such like bodily infirmities There shall be no Cripples no Blinde nor Diseased ones in Heaven Heaven is an healthful Countrie there is no sicknesse nor death no poverty nor disgrace in Heaven Our bodies shall be cloathed in Heaven with life and immortality by Christ Christ will there change our vile bodies and make them like His glorious Body Phil. 2.21 Did Moses face shine when he beheld but the glorie of Gods out-side Did Stephens face shinâ— with Angelicall splendor or brightnesse hoâ—â—â— gloriouslie then shall the glorious bodies of thâ—â— Saints shine when they shall stand before the Lord of Glorie The Saints then shall be aâ—â— the Psalmist expresses it All glorious within their cloathing shall be all wrought gold Thâ—â— glorie which Gods People shall see and enjoy iâ—â— Heaven will infinitely oblidge them to spenâ—â— eternity there Take a little view a foretastâ— as it were of the Saints glorie in Heaven First it is great an exceeding excessive and eternall weight of glory as Saint Paul expresses 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 4.17 The glory of Heaven is the glorâ—â— of glories joy unspeakable and full of glories unuâ—terable and unconceiveable Therefore it called Glory to be revealed Rom. 8.18 Sâ—â— a little the greatnesse of this heavenly glories these two things First the vessels that taâ—â— it Secondly the resemblance that sets it forth The vessels that take in this glorie are the souâ— and bodies of Saints whom the Apostle call Vessels of mercy prepared unto glory First for the soul here in this life The whole worâ—â— is not able to fill or satisfie one souls The soâ—â— is capable of more then the whole world is abâ—â— to give it But the glory of Heaven thâ—â— will fill all the souls of all the Saints brim-full Wâ—â— read of some Saints that they live their full â—aies They had as it were their ballyful of â—his life but in the life to come all the Saints â—hall be filled full of Glory Secondly for â—he bodies of the Saints though they are Vessels of lesse quantity then the soul yet the world 〈◊〉 not able to fill or satisfie the body to the full â—â—s to instance in the Eye and the Ear those â—â—ttle Members of our Bodie We use to say of â—ome that their Eye is bigger then their Belâ—â—le The little Eye at one glance can take into 〈◊〉 more then half the world And what abundance of noise and found will the Ear receive at â—â—nce The Eye is not satisfied as the Wiseman saith Eccles 1.8 with seeing nor the â—â—ar with hearing Those little members of our â—ody are either clogged or tyred out before â—hey can be filled or satisfied with those things â—ut not only the souls but even the bodies of The Saints in Heaven shall be filled top-full of Glory from the crown of their heads to the sole of their feet In Heaven the everlasting doors of our souls shall alwayes stand wide open to receive the glory of Christ in the streams thereof and then shall Christ the King of Glory come in â—nd dwell with them for ever Secondly the greatnesse of the Saints Glory in Heaven may further appear by the resemblances that sets it forth First the glory of Kings upon their Coronation day That greatly sets forth and illustrates the greatnesse of Saints Glory in Heaven For in Heaven Saints shall all be crowned Kings and shâ—â— reign as Kings for ever in Glory They shall herit the Kingdom as our Saviour saith Mâ—â— 25.34 prepared for them from the foundation the World 2. The Glory of the Stars that also resemâ—â— the Glory of the Saints in Heaven One Star fereth from
a rich trâ—â—sury the store-house of God himself into 〈◊〉 which he hath been treasuring up for his Saiâ— from the foundation of the world I might much larger herein but I will conclude all iâ— word or two of Application Is it so then that those mansions of Glory pâ—â—â— pared by Christ for Believers in Heaven 〈◊〉 abundantly recompense and make good all 〈◊〉 Losses and Crosses which Believers meet with in the World The I beseech you set your fections upon things above and not on things low You see we live in slippery times we caâ— not say that any thing is certain here O thâ— labour to be sure of something hereafter If thâ— canst not keep thy earthly inheritance then bout to get an inheritance in heaven Secondly for I must be brief If there be sâ—â— glorious mansions in heaven then labour to pâ—â—â— pare your souls for heaven But how shall we this may some say I answer These five way 1. Wouldst thou prepare thy self for heavâ—â— be fruitfull then in well doing alwayes abounding in the works of the Lord be sure to get that work done which God sent you into the world to do growing in grace is going to heaven and grace here will make you fit and meet for glory hereafter 2. Would you prepare for heaven labour to purge your selves then from all sin by being unpotted in the world for as Heaven is a place of happiness so it is a place of holiness into which nothing that is unclean can enter it is only the â—ure in heart that shall see God Mat. 5.8 3. Would you prepare for heaven then get â—our selves into a posture of readinesse to leave he world and go to Heaven every day that â—ou may up and be gone when ever death calls â—or you so that when death comes you may â—ave nothing to do but to die Death will not â—ait when he cometh if ye are not fit to die ye â—re not fit for heaven death will not carry that â—oul to heaven that is not ready when he comes â—f you are not ready to die when ever death â—omes let me tell you ye are not fit to live in aâ—other world You know not at what hour Christ â—ay come or send his messenger Death for you â—erefore be alwayes ready for heaven because â—eaven is alwayes ready for you When the â—idegroom came they that had Oil in their â—mps grace in their hearts they went in to the â—â—riage but for those that wanted oil the door was shut against them and they were shut from the marriage-feast They that have laâ—â— without oil profession without grace shall â—ver enter into Heaven 4. Would you prepare for Heaven then your title to Heaven cleared and confirmeâ—â— you what man is there that having purchâ—â— a great Estate that will be so foolish as nâ—â— get a sure title to what he hath purchased 〈◊〉 we are strangers and pilgrims as all our faâ—â— were but heaven that 's our home our counâ— our Fathers House our Inheritance O should we then labour to make that sure to souls and having made that sure labour in the next place to keep up your Evideâ—â—â— First keep your Evidences for Heaven and fair for Satan will endeavour to blot tâ—â— Secondly keep them safe the Devil wiâ—â— them from you if he can and if ye lose Evidences what have you to shew for Heaâ—â—â— If your writings be lost how will you get Inheritance Then whatsoever you do geâ—â—surance of heaven for first assurance of he will take off your hearts from the world rance of those things above will make you â—ing to part with all things here below coâ—â— you in all your tribulations and bear up hearts under all discouragements as it did vids Jobs and Pauls Evidence for Heaven lie warm at your hearts when naturall heaâ—â—â— â—…yes when you lie upon your death beds they â—…ill be a sweet taste to your Souls when you â—eel no taste or comfort in meat or drink assuâ—…ance of Heaven will comfort you when all â—…ings fail you assurance of Heaven will preâ—are you for all changes it will fit you for your â—…eat change Assurance of life eternall will â—…onquer the Grave for you and unsting Death â—…o you it will make you sing yea to triumph â—…n the way to heaven over death and the grave They that have Heaven assured to them have more joy and gladness put into their souls than â—…ll the world besides Assurance of salvation will â—…ngage you to trust God for all things and eviâ—…ence God to your souls it will make you to love â—…nd delight in him fearfull to offend carefull to â—…lease him Thirdly Assurance makes men â—…uspicious of themselves they that are assur'd â—…hat they shall stand will be sure to take heed â—…hat they do not fall they that shall be saved â—…ill labour to work it out with fear Fourthly â—…ssurance makes the soul humble the higher the â—…oul is in assurance the lower it will be in humiâ—…ity But how shall we know that our assurance â—…or heaven is right Take these following Rules 1. Right assurance will make you more holy every man that hath this hope purifies himself as God is pure Right assurance for Heaven will â—…ngage your souls to be holy in all manner of conversation Having therefore these promises dearly beloved cleanse your selves from all thinesse both of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 6. 2. Right assurance will make the soul to peâ—vere to the end receiving the end of your faâ— the salvation of your souls But how shall get this assurance 1. By having a godly 〈◊〉 row for sin wrought in thy soul Christ gives 〈◊〉 to none but to the weary 2. Examine your heâ—â— and lives by comparing them with the Word God 3. Assurance is obtained by a holy coâ—stant and carefull use of the Ordinances of Goâ— in joining both the end and the means togethâ—â— it will make you as carefull to use the means confident to expect the end of your faith the â—â—vation of your souls It doth not feed men wâ— vain hopes that they shall escape hell thou they live in sin and go on in the broad way tâ—â— leads to destruction They that would come heaven must be carefull to use the means 〈◊〉 they must walk in that strait and narrow wâ— unto holinesse and righteousnesse which on leads unto life and salvation And lastly is it so then that Godlines is great gâ— yea it is the best gain Hath God made thee gâ—ly The lines are fallen to thee in a pleasant place tâ—â— hast a goodly heritage Psal 16.6 It is enough thâ— hast all though it may be thou hast but little the world yet thou hast a propriety in God Gâ—â— is thine thy portion is Christ he is thy Jesâ—â— thy all Labour then to be conformable to Goâ— godliness is Gods likeness Hath God given you â—…ace God hath done more for you than if he â—…nd given you a thousand worlds Are others â—…ch and art thou poor have others plenty of â—…old and silver and hast thou little or none ar all â—…onsider hath not God given thee that which is finitely better than all the Gold and Riches of â—…he World Faith that is more precious than Gold that perishes Wisdom that is better than â—…bies yea all things that can be thought of are â—…ot comparable to grace If grace be thy portion â—…lory will be thy portion and thou hast more â—…use of content than if thou hadst all the world â—…or thy portion without grace What though oâ—…hers be richer than thee yet thou art better than thers The righteous is more excellent then his neighâ—…r Are others had in honour and art thou deâ—…pised let me tell thee if thou hast the favour of God thou hast more honour then all the world â—…n give Are thy troubles greater nor others conder God seeth them good for thee thou canst or tell how to be without them It is good for me saith David that I have been afflicted They that â—…ave endured the most of afflictions here will be â—…nd to be the happiest people in all the world â—…reafter for through them we enter into glory â—…hrough many tribulations we must enter into the kingâ—…m of heaven Unto which Kingdom the Lord his infinite mercy bring us all Amen FINIS
I do to inherit eternall life O that you ever you that hear me this day would â—ow also come running unto Christ saying What shall we do to partake of these glorious â—hings here revealed Methinks those things â—hould greatly incourage you all old and young â—â—ich and poor now to get an interest in Christ â—ou that are poor and have but little in this world consider there are as great things in â—he world to come for you as for others The â—â—oorest Beggar shall have as great a portion in â—he world to come as the greatest Prince Nothing in this world can satisfie a chils of God â—ll the glory of the world it s but the portion of Reprobate and will a Reprobates portion â—erve you will a Dogs portion satisfie you I â—ccount all things in the world saith the Apoâ—le but as dung Phil. 3.4 There are other â—hings to be sought after See what our Saviour â—aith Mat. 6.33 Seek ye first the king dome of â—eaven and the righteousnesse thereof let that 〈◊〉 your first indeavour Strive to enter in at the strait gate though the passage benever so straâ—â—â—â— yet if it be the way to glory strive to enter 〈◊〉 thereat Consider God hath given you Nâ—â—tures capable of such glorious things as 〈◊〉 are God might have made you bruit Beaâ—â— and then there had been an end of you 〈◊〉 God hath made you creatures capable of 〈◊〉 highest excellency and therefore being of 〈◊〉 a Nature it highly concerns you to seek afâ—â— such things as may give satisfaction to youâ— souls Men live as if they were capable of 〈◊〉 things else but meat and drink and cloaths if there were no higher things which conceâ—â— our souls hereafter The heathens could 〈◊〉 lieve that man was created for greater thing then these here below and if we who have 〈◊〉 great and glorious things revealed to us in 〈◊〉 Gospel shall we neglect the looking after then how just shall our condemnation be For 〈◊〉 shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 I come now to the second Point and that 〈◊〉 this That Christs Ascension was to preparâ—â— place for Believers I go to prepare a place 〈◊〉 you As Christ came down from heaven to 〈◊〉 for sinner so Christ ascended up to Heaven that believing sinners might live with him henâ—â— after Had not Christ ascended into Heaven He had not finisht the work of our redemption and indeed the great support of a Child of God 〈◊〉 yes in his consideration It 's Christ that died yea rather that is risen again and now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us Rom. 8.34 Father I will saith Christ John 17.24 that those whom thou hast given â—â—me may be with me where I am If Christ be not risen saith the Apostle then is our preaching vain and our Faith is vain and we are yet in our sins But as sureas Christ died so the Apostle proves 1 Cor. 15. that he rose again and ascended up into heaven That 's an excellent Scripture Rom. 4.25 He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Our blessed Saviour first appearing to Mary Magdalen after his Resurrection presently sends her to his Disciples with the joyfull news of his Ascension John 20.17 Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God O how joyfull is the consideration of Christs Ascension to a Child of God Now may a Child of God say he hath a friend in the Court and a friend in the Court we use to say is betcer then a penny in the purse Every Believer hath Christ for his friend in the Court of Heaven and that 's more worth to them then thousands of gold and silver Christ is in heaven pleading the cause for Believers If any man sin saith the Apostle 1 Ioh. 2.2 we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ righteous And it is good for Believers 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ is in heaven pleading their cause wâ—â— God so it is good for them that he is there 〈◊〉 senting and perfuming all their Prayers to 〈◊〉 the Father Whatsoever it is that we want that may do us good Christ is ready to begâ—â— us of His Father Father saith Christ these may friends and for them I have shed my bloâ—â— therefore O Father I will that they may with me to behold my glory That is an excelâ—â— Scripture Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able 〈◊〉 to save to the uttermost those that come unto 〈◊〉 by him seing he ever liveth to make intercesâ—â— for them Is it so then that Christ Ascension was prepare a place for Believers then this short encourage Believers to be willing to do or 〈◊〉 any thing here for Christ What was that made the Saint suffer so joyfully 〈◊〉 Christ was it not this the assurance of God love in Christ to them What was it that 〈◊〉 up Iobs spirit so patiently under all his suffâ—â—ings I know saith he though worms destâ—â— my body yet my Redeemer liveth and I shâ—â—â— see Him with these eyes We know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.1 if our earthly house of this bernaâ—er nalce were dissolved we have a building of Jod an house not made with hands etrnall in the heavens The assurance of heaven will make as willing to do or suffer any thing for Christ There is that in heaven that will abundantly reâ—ompence and make good all our losses on earth O Christians I beseech you consider you can 〈◊〉 either do too much or suffer too much for the getting of heaven The Apostles were as great sufferers for the Kingdom of Heaven as ever any were and yet what account did they make of it We reckon say they that the suffering of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 If we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with Christ 2 Tim. 2.12 A third point I noted was this That Christ wil come again and receive Believers to Himself The point is clear from the words themselves I will come again and receive you But a little to illustrate the Point I shall endeavour to shew you by Scripture that it is so And secondly how it is so First that it is so that Christ will come again see that positive Scripture in Acts 1.10 And while they looked stedfastly into heaven behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said Ye men of Galileo why stand ye here gazing up into heaven his same Iesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye haâ—â— seen him go into heaven Here is the point yâ—â— see confirmed by Scripture and that by 〈◊〉 mouths of Angles As sure as Christ is gone heaven and as sure as he now fitteth at Goâ— right hand in Heaven so sure will he come gain at the last day and receive Believers 〈◊〉