For it all comes from that fountain of Gods Grace Ephes 2.8 though purchased by Christ yet to us Christ himself and all is the Gift of Grace Eternal Glory and all that belongs to it is from the God of all Grace Text. If God do in Heaven reward any little service we do him here it is a reward of Grace and not of Debt Reason 2. From Christ It is by the means of Christ Jesus that we are brought to this Eternal Glory Text. So Thes 5.9 As the Grace of God is the fountain original and wel-spring of it Luk. 12.32 so Christ Jesus the Mediator is the great way and means whereby it is accomplished for us and conveyed communicated to us Christ brings us to Eternal Glory 1. By his purchase of it by his Death or passive Obedience he purchased our deliverance from Eternal Death and Wrath And Righteousness or active obedience he purchased and procured for us everlasting Life and Happiness Hence Rom. 5 21. It is through and by means of the Righteousness of Christ his obedience whereby being imputed to us we are made righteous in Justification v. 19 18. that Grace powerfully accomplisheth our Eternal Life For Grace will so contrive and carry on the matter as that Justice may be answered and attended that it may be a Just and Righteous thing with God to give us life and so it is by means of the Righteousness of Christ Had it not been for which the sentence of death must everlastingly have reigned over us Sinners 2. By his possession of it for us as our Head and Agent Heb. 6.20 Joh. 14.2 By the Ascension of Christ way is made for us into Heaven The first Adam could have brought us but into an Earthly Paradice but the second Adam being Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 48. and ascending thither after he had wrought the work of our Redemption on Earth Heb. 1.3 Hence the Head draws up the Body after it and to it Joâ— 17.14 Hence Believers also shall ascend thither and have an Inheritance there in the third Heaven and in all the Glory of it 3. By preparing and ripning us for it by the work of his Spirit that whole work of Grace that is begun and carried on in this World to fit us for Glory conducting us through this World as he did Israel of old through the Wilderness to bring them to Canaan Isa 63.9 14. so 2 Cor. 5.5 Ephes 4.30 Rom. 9.23 4. By coming again to receive us to Joh. 14.3 the great end of his second coming is the actual full and final accomplishment of the Salvation of his people or putting them into full possession and fruition of it so to remain forever which is the end and upshot of all his work Heb. 9.28 2 Tim. 4.8 He will come again into this lower World even here to put Glory upon his people in the sight of all Colos 3.4 Rom. 8.18 19. and then to carry them up to Heaven where he now is Joh. 14.3 and 17.24 Reason 3. From the work of Vocation the tendency and scope whereof is to bring us to this Eternal Glory Text. In Vocation the Lord calleth us out of a state of nature of sin and death into a state of â—ternal Salvation and layes that foundation of Grace the superstructure whereof issues in Heavenly Glory The Lord in the word of the Gospel calleth us to possess and receive Eternal Life or Glory in and with Christ 2 Thes 2.14 and makes it over to them that obey that call or that effectually believe 1 Joh. 5.11 And he calls us to look at Eternal Glory in pâ—rfect Communion with God as the end of our Race or Journey and to travel towards it toward that mark of Heavenly Glory which is the prize that we are called to run for Philip. 3.14 1 Cor. 9.24 25. The Lord calleth us out of this World to be men of another World to take up our Lot and Portion in Heaven and to seek and wait for it being as strangers here as Abraham was called to leave his Country and Kindred to wait upon a promise of the Heavenly Canaan a figure of the Earthly Heb. 11.8 9 10 13 16. It is a Christians Calling the business he is called to attend upon to get to Heaven to seek for Glory Honour and Immortality to come The Grace begun in Vocation hath an inseperable connexion which tendeth to and issueth in groweth up to the perfection of Eternal Glory Glory is but the Harvest of that seed that is sown in Effectual Calling It is the perfect man which is an Infant in Vocation If the seed be sown the Child born as it is in Vocation or Conversion Regeneration then the harvest must needs follow Calling is the first patent link of the Chain for Predestination is latent in the Counsel of God the first openwork of Grace upon an Elect person and Glorification is the last but the connexion between them is inseperable Rom. 8.30 And also Vocation is the strait gate that leads to Life Eternal through which all must pass that get to Glory and by which they are prepared for it Rom. 9.23 24. Hence none but such and all such all the Effectually Called shall infallibly be brought to Eternal Glory If God have begun the work of Grace in Calling he will finish it in Heavenly Glory Phil. 1.6 Reas 4. From the Sufferings and Troubles of the Saints here 1 Pet. 5.10 The Saints having suffered with Christ here they must reign with him hereafter Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.12 Having been troubled in this World they must go to rest in that to come 1 Thes 5.7 The best services and sufferings of the Saints do not deserve or merit any such thing as Heavens Glory But the Lord is pleased according to his free promise and abundant Grace Richly to reward such poor things above their worth The Lord rewards his poor Subjects not in any way of exact Justice as poor men that will give the Labourer but his hire But like Generous and Bounteous Princes that will give a Pound for that that scarce deserves a Penny Yea far more largely then so our Services and Sufferings bear no proportion with Heaven But God will Bounteously give it and call it the Recompense of Reward Heb. 11.26 i. e. a Reward of Grace not of Debt or Merit But such is the Lords promise and Grace that he hath laid up a rich Reward for his suffering Saints and they shall not lose it nor miss it They that have their Suffering Labouring Fighting time here they shall have their Rejoycing Resting Triumphing time hereafter 2 Cor. 4.17 The Lord will not be behind hand with any of his people nor yet deal scantly with them for a moments suffering and service on Earth they shall have Eternal Glory in Heaven Vse 3. Of awakning and Terrour to all Impenitent and Unbelieving sinners from the consideration of their loss or of what they continuing in that estate must and will
promise presently make over to you both Grace here and Glory hereafter Everlasting Life and Blessedness Isa 55.3 Heb. 5.9 Oh hearken to this word of the Lord this voice of the High-calling of God in Christ Jesus you that have hitherto been stooping down to the dust minding nothing but Earth and Vanity yea running down hill in the way of sin toward the lowest Hell Incline your Ear and hearken to a motion and offer of Eternal Glory in Heaven open your eyes and see the Lord Jesus standing withall Grace and Glory in his hands and inviting to him to let out of your hands i. e. out of your hearts the trifles of the World and take Eternal Glory in and with a Saviour Behold Heaven is opened to you the door stands open before you if once at last you will be perswaded to enter in And you that have believed already sit not by as if this Exhortation did not concern you but oh believe again imbrace Christ again come to him afresh with fresh and new sweetness with more clearness and establishment in believing so you should do at every time he calls you and sets his Glory before you Joh. 2.11 and so at this time this day Renew your Conjugal Imbraces of Christ Jesus and so your lively hope of this Glory Christ delights to be often asking for our hearts and setting himself before us as the attractive object of them and we should delight to be often giving our hearts to him and clasping about him as the only Glorious Lovely hope and rest and portion of our Souls Now for the pursuing of this Exhortation or pressing the Call of the Gospel by this Argument of Eternal Glory to be had and which we are Called to by Christ Jesus Let us a little improve the point and Text before us 1. By way of motive or quickning and perswasive considerations to draw our hearts to Christ Jesus 2. By way of direction and help to guide us in our believing on him 3. By way of Answer to some Objections that tend to beat us from Believing For the first though it is God only can draw and perswade yet he does it by his word and therefore we must apply our selves to speak and hear to listen to such quickning drawing Considerations as the word of the Gospel does suggest and in that way the spirit breaths 1. If the Lord Call thee to Eternal Glory or to come and receive Everlasting Blessedness through Christ then what does he Call thee from or out of Why from a state of Eternal wo and misery which is that that we are naturally in and that belongs to us as sinners and as in our selves considered 1 Pet. 2.9 Colos 1.13 Joh. 5 24. The word of Christ therefore calls thee from Death to Life Oh consider what damnation is about thee yea upon thee considered in thy self and in thy Natural Estate whereby thou lyest under all sin and under all Wrath Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Rom. 6.23 That work thou hast done and that wages Death Eternal Death belongs and is due to thee thou art sinking under the burden of the Curse lying under it as without Christ Gal. 3.10 and it is all upon thee Joh. 3.36 ready every moment to drop into Hell lyable to everlasting seperation from God to hear that doom Mat. 25.41 Seperation from God thou hast the beginning on 't already in the result of the guilt and power of sin in that dead dark and Godless heart of thine and thy estrangement from God thereby and this strongly tends to perfect separation from God and that is Hell as è contra c. Why this should make this word of Salvation this offer of Eternal Life and Call to come to Christ for it wonderful sweet and acceptable Bread in Famine Deliverance in Emminent dangers Life to him that is going down to the pit how precious is it Job 33.22 24. It is to one that is going down to the pit that the Lord speaks this Calling word should not that go to thy heart As thou art going down to Hell the Lord calls thee up to Heaven When that doom is pronounced in Mat. 25.41 and those multitudes going away to Hell suppose thy self among them and that one should then come with a message from God to call thâ—e back again and to invite thee to go up with Christ in Heavenly Glory what a ravishing thing would that be Why then there will be no place for recovery or hope But now such a like thing is really done to thee thou art going down to the Pit among the Uncircumcised posting on in the way to the lowest Hell under the Curse c. And yet behold now the Lord Calls to thee to turn about and accept of a Saviour and of Eternal Life and Salvation in him Thou poor perishing Sinner if thou hast any mind to Salvation it 's offered thee freely in Christ Act. 16.31 Is not this worthy of all acceptation 2. Remember what Glory it is that you are called up unto or that is to be had by Christ Jesus Here reflect upon all the promises all that hath been spoken of the Excellency of Heavenly Glory which is indeed above what Tongue can speak or Heart conceive Blessedness perfect and Everlasting Blessedness freedom from all evil from the worst of Evils sin all sin that deadly and bitter evil that kills thee all the day long the vision and fruition of God that Ocean of goodness compared with which the whole World is but a drop Should the Lord offer you heaps of Gold and Silver and bid you take them freely what flocking would there be and what hearkning would there be to such a proposition should he tell you of Crowns and Kingdoms and make Proposals about them Should a match be offered to thee that should bring with it Riches and Honours and Treasures in abundance how would thy heart spring and leap within thee at the thoughts of it and you would not need much perswading We offer you this I mean the good and Comfort that is in these things and more ten thousand times more as Mic. 2.11 If poor Ministers had Gold and Silver to tell you of they should be hearkned to Why but we have that that is better as much better as the Heaven is higher than the Earth and this we lay before you in the name of our God The Earth and the Glory of it is too low a business to send his Son Jesus to purchase for you and to bless you with or the Gospel to tell you of But Heaven Heaven if you have any mind to that Eternal Glory that is to be had by Christ Jesus and that the High-Calling of God in Christ calls you to Come will you leave the Earth and go up to Heaven will you throw the World at your feet as dung and dust and go up thither into the bosom of God to have the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son the
joyful then why should not this be so now And if you do hear his voice and come to him at his call you shall hear that blessed word then Joh. 10.27 28. as è contrà Job 21.14 with Mat. 25.41 2. Now add we some Directions to guide and help us in Believing on Christ unto life Everlasting or in coming to Christ to obtain by him Eternal Glory or Salvation 1. Know that you may and ought to come to Christ for Salvation for Eternal Life For what he gives we may take but Rom. 6.23 what he designes in giving himself to us which here is to bring us to Eternal Glory 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Thes 5.9 2 Thes 2.13 14. we may aim at in receiving him and coming to him Christ calls us to him and we may and ought to come to him for all his Benefits And we see this of Glorification and the Consummation thereof in special is part thereof see also Joh. 5.40 1 Tim. 1.16 Act. 16.31 1 Pet. 1.9 We may come to him for our own Salvation i. e. not as seperate from or in oppsition to Gods Glory which cannot be if we understand Salvation aright And that 's a second 2. Be sure you have a right conception of this Glory or Salvation or happiness of Heaven i. e. Look not at it as consisting in external sensual ease and pleasures or freedom from outward evils though an holy and sanctified outward rest and freedom from outward afflictions is a part of the good that is in Heaven but not the main that is but an adjunct But look at the Communion with God Fruition of God and perfect Conformity to his Image as the main thing in it Psal 73.25 2 Cor. 5.8 Psal 17.15 Let Your Hearts and desires be eminently set upon freedom from that great evil of sin which is a choice part of the Happiness of Heaven Heb. 12.23 and fruitton of that highest good the presence of God the fellowship of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in perfect Holiness let this be the mark and top of thy desires Neither desire the end without the way Heaven without the way to it Be willing and desirous by the Grace of Christ to begin thy Heaven here Communion with God here Holy work and holy enjoyments in all the wayes thereof here Psal 27 4 For Heaven is but the perfection of what is here bâ—gun They that begin not Heaven in this World will never find one in that to câ—me And therefore be instant with Christ not only for Grace and Comfort hereafter or at the point of Death c. but for present Grace some beginnings of it at least not limiting to measures nor expecting the sensible fulness of it till after you have waited and sought and been swimming in tears in this World and therefore not quarelling nor being discouraged because of the weakness of Grace at present so much as may keep you following after God for more For present change of Heart and Nature for Grace to enable you in measure to Glorifie God on Earth that so you may be Glorified with him in Heaven 3. Behold Christ Jesus set forth and offered in the Gospel as the Ladder to Heaven or as the only and Glorious way from out of the depth of your sin and misery unto the height of that Eternal Glory If there be an high place or loft before you you cannot gâ—t to it but if a Ladder be set up you can ascend by that As well can our heavy Earthy Bodies fly up to Heaven as our Souls ever get thither of and by themselves alas we have neither wings nor legs of our own to climb Heaven with But Chrâ—st is a Ladder tâ—iâ—her the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder by him we may ascend thither By Christ Jesus as in the Text we may obtain Glory yea he is not a dead passive Ladder only but a living way He hath living Arms and a mighty power to carry uâ— up thither to lift us up through Grace to Glory Joh. 3 13. Ephes 2.5 6. Christ dying rising ascending for us is fit and able to raise us up from death to life in Heaven Christ is a Ladder whose foot reaches low enough by his Incarnatâ—on and Humiliation even as low as our low and mean Condition yea as the dungeon of our Curse and death Gal. 3.13 and hence near and fit for us to step upon to take hold of and whose top reaches high enough even as high as the height of Heavenly Glory Genes 28.12 by his Glorious Deity and Exaltation by the infinite value of his obedience purchasing that Glory for us and by his Ascension possessing it for us and by his mighty power carrying and conducting us to it If you take hold of him and cast your selves on him by Faith he will not only as I said be as a Ladder to sustain you in going up but in the Arms of his active power and Grace he will carry you up to Eternal Glory carry you on his shoulders thither as Luk. 15.5 Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 Hence 4. Esteem the Lord Jesus Christ as most precious and Glorious as a suitable and all-sufficient Saviour or Author of Eternal Salvation and gladly imbrace an everlasting match with him with relyance on him to carry you through Grace to this Eternal Glory 1. Seeing and beholding him as the way to Heaven and to the Enjoyment of the love favour and presence of God Joh. 14.4 6. as the Glorious Author purchaser and dispenser of Eternal Salvation Prize him highly prize him and esteem him that is one ingredient of true believing 1 Pet. 2.7 and this point is a marvelous help to it For shall not he be precious and Glorious in our eyes by whom we may obtain such Eternal Glory He that opens Heaven to us even to sinners and shall not all this World be vile and dung in our eyes in comparison of him Psal 73. in follows ver 25. 2. Prizing him take him embrace him in a Conjugal way for thy Lord and Saviour Prophet Priest and King consent to have him for thy Head and Husband for ever and to be his his Spouse Subject Servant Dependant evermore Think not to have the Estate this great Riches of Grace and Glory Eternal Glory without marrying the person the Benefits without Christ himself Having the Son himself you have and shall have Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. It is given in and with him Rom. 6.23 And therefore you must take Christ himself if you would have or get a sure Interest in this Glory 3. Taking him rest and relie on him for Salvation or for obtaining this Eternal Glory Relie on his righteousness and obedience to procure and purchase it Heb. 9.12 and to give you a lawful Judicial Title to it Rom. 5.21 that now having in him pleased God and fulfilled the Law you shall live for ever on his Ascension and continual intercession to prepare and maintain a place and room for you in that Glory Joh.
shall do but a little and but a while Why Heaven should make us cheerfully to suffer for God to go through suffering work whether losses or positive sorrows that the Lord tryes us with here Heb. 11.26 Mat. 5.11 13. Heb. 12.1 2. The Saints have been wont to improve Heaven unto strength and constancy into suffering work 2 Cor. 4.26 17. Rom. 8.18 Heb. 10.34 But to quicken us to our work of what kind soever from the point in hand Consider 1. It is a great shame for those to be idle or negligent and heartless in their work that have such a way to work in as the way to Heaven is and such a reward as lyes at the end of it We serve a good Master who serve the God of all Grace who calls us to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus sure we should do any thing for him How hard soever thy work be and how long soever kept tugging at it Heaven will make amends for all There is no proportion between our poor work and that reward And therefore it is not a reward of Justice but of Rich and Princely Grace rewarding that with thousands that is scarce worth a penny You will serve men and work hard it may be at your dayes labour and it is equal you should so do for your penny and shall we stick at serving the Blessed God who sets before us such a recompense of reward as Eternal Glory is Were ever any losers by him either doing or suffering for him No Mark 10.29 33. 2. At the day of Christs appearing none will be more sharply rebuked and ashamed than the Idle slothful Servant Mat. 25.26 27 30. He might say what hurt did I do I did no body any hurt with my talent I did not do mischief with my wit and time and strength Yea but what good did you do what good work did you imploy your self in for the Glory of God and the good of men Sins of omission whereby men can let alone their work this and that should be done but let alone let lye these will be sadly aggravated at that day 3. You have but a little time to do work on Earth compared with the time of your rest in Heaven Our resting time is hereafter Rev. 14.13 but our working time now there will be work in Heaven indeed but work done without toile or sweat or pain as it was with Adam in Innocency as bodily labour the sweet and pleasant work of Glorifying God Now we can do no good work but in the sweat of our browes with much conflict pain and difficulty But though it be so this our painful labour is but for a while for an Hirelings day Job 7.1 2 though you be kept sweating at it you may bide it in the dust and Sun and heat for the short day of this life when after that follows rest Eternal rest and that will be sweet as the rest of the Labouring-man is Psal 104.23 Methinks we should keep close at our work and hold out in it till the evening of this life It is no long summers-day it is but a short a moment any time compar'd with what follows and then you shall go to bed in rest and peace Isa 57.2 It is but a little time you have to work on Earth and you have much work to do for your own Souls for the Name of God for the good of others and therefore you had need be diligent that you may finish in time and not have your work to do when your time is out that you may with Comfort in measure say as Joh. 17.4 4. We shall lose the reward of our work if we do not follow our work to purpose 2 Joh. 8. working by halves is the way to lose all our work i. e. working idly negligently slothfully or working unconstantly and unfaithfully unstedfastly going in and giving over not holding out but falling off from the truth or the wayes and service of God which the Apostle in that place 2 Joh. 8. speaks of and gives warning against this brings a Curse instead of a Blessing or reward Jerem. 48.10 Malach. 1.14 Heb. 10.38 6. Improve Heaven unto fitness for and Comfort in Death Death unto the Saints is their passage from Earth to Heaven from this place of sin and tears into that state of Joy and Bliss and Glory we have been speaking of in their Souls presently Luk. 23.43 and in certain hope of their Bodies Resurrection to the same Glory Hence a real sight and lively hope and taste of Heaven is able to sweeten death how bitter soever unto Nature This chief of Joyes is able to master the King of Terrours and to cause the Believer to Triumph over it 1 Cor. 15.54 57. 2 Cor. 5.1.4 Death is a departing out of if we speak of this life this poor sorry sinfull weary life such a one we say departed this life But it is an entrance into life if we speak of the life to come in Heaven that sweet glorious sinless happiless so it is to a Saint A going out of a smoaky Cottage but an entrance into a Kingdom the Kingdom of our Lord 2 Pet. 1.11 Isa 57.2 It is a going from hence But it is a going to Christ Philip. 1.23 a going from your people and friends here but it is a going and being gathered to their people and Blessed Congregation that is above Genes 49.33 Hence the fore-thoughts and hopes of Heaven should 1. Make the Saints willing to die of readiness and fitness for it in other respects we speak somewhat under the third head not willing to break away from their work before they have done it out of frowardness weariness and discontent or before Gods time be come But willing to go home and to leave all the World and pass through the dark entry of Death that they may go to God go home to Christ in Heaven when ever his time shall be come As a dying Saint said I have but one dark entry to pass through and then I am at my Fathers house Be it that death is a dark entry yet it leads to thy Fathers house Stick not at passing to it through such an entry 2 Cor. 5 8. Be not willing and desirous alwayes to tarry here among sins and temptations and where you are Comparatively absent from the Lord But be willing to be absent from the Body to be Gloriously present with the Lord. Though the Body be a near friend Christ is nearer And your parting with that for a time is in order to an happy meeting Phil. 1.23 while Gods work service and Glory and the good of his people detains him here he is willing to tarry but otherwise desirous to be gone when he looks forward to that that will be the Issue and Consequent of his departure or dissolution viz. The full enjoyment of Christs Company which is better than all the World 2. It should give them Comfort in Death to be looking up stedfastly into Heaven unto
yet fear them not with any discouraging dismaying fear for they are but a small matter compared with the Glory that follows Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 And also you shall be sure to get well through them if you be sure to get to Heaven as every true Believer is then you are sure to get well and safe through all the troubles that ly on this side Heaven If a man in his Journey come to a place of mire or water if he apprehend danger of drowning or of not getting safe through that drâ—ads him but if no danger of that if sure to get well through why the present trouble or hardship of wetting his foot putting thâ—m in the cold water c. he makes nothing of that Why all that are true Believers God hath assured you of this that you shall never come to any bad place to any trouble or tryal in all the way to Heaven but you shall get well through and safe to Heaven at last Isa 43.2 Why then the present trouble of a little hardship and pain to the flesh should be no great trouble to you 1 Pet. 1.4 5 6. But when troubles are in the Earth as they are even to astonishment to this day then should you go up and find Comfort in Heaven If you have Heaven to set against Earth and all Earthly evils you have enough While we tarry below or look only downward or round about us we may sink as Peter on the water But look upward away to Heaven look up stedfastly into Heaven with Stephen and there all is calm and comfortable and speaks more peace and Comfort to the faithful than all the World can speak trouble 3. Against all the difficulties straits and conflicts that lye in the way to Heaven The way indeed is strait and hard to flesh and blood Mat. 7.14 it is full of troubles from the World of temptations from Satan oppositions from the flesh tryalls from God requiring a continual warfare conflict and exercise in all these respects and much pains and care both to get into and keep in the right way It is so way-laid with enemies that you must be fain to fight at every step 1 Tim. 4.6 12. Be it so yet there is that in the end that does infinitely over-ballance all the troubles in the way It is but going through a miry-lane to a wealthy Palace or breaking through a rainy-day to go at the time appointed to take possession of a great Estate who sticks at that We have sometimes mentioned that passage of Chrysostom vid. apud Burroughs on the Excellency of the Soul page 358. great difficulties are rendred small when the matter is exceeding great for which they are gone through Who thinks it much to ride and run through frost and snow mire and water night and day when a Kingdom nay but a private Estate an Inheritance a good sum of Money lyes at stake Men will go through great pains and difficulties and make nothing of it for those things which the World accounts great But they are all trifles to Heaven 1 Cor. 9.25 Remember the greatness of Heaven's Glory that will lessen and lighten 2 Cor. 4.17 yea sweeten all your labour and travail to it Look upon the end when you are pressed with the difficulties of the way so Moses did Heb. 11.26 and Paul did 2 Cor. 4.18 Eternal Glory is worth Travelling for worth Praying for waiting watching for worth sweating suffering striving fighting for and it will quit cost and make amends to the full Israel had good reason to venture through hazards and difficulties and to go on clearly through them all when as Canaan was such an exceeding good Land Numb 14.7 8 9. Psal 106.24 so here But seeing you are called to Eternal Glory travail on cheerily thitherward though it be through hardships and difficulties stick not at them there is that in the end and that promise of certain assistance in the way that is enough to carry you through Heaven will make amends for all 4. Against those spiritual evils and wants that you are here labouring under which of all other are the sorest exercise and saddest discouragement to a gracious heart Heaven will cure them all the very fore-thoughts whereof is full of Comfort 1. Sin and remainders of Corruption that is the great and bitter complaint and vexation of the Saints Rom. 7.24 that they never be free in no duty at no time but still evil is present with them and oft in the prevailings of Corruptions and hurrying impressions of sin make work for bitter repentance And after all means mercies afflictions Prayers yet the indwelling Corruption returnes and appears again c. Why e're long you shall be rid of this troublesome inmate Heaven shall set you free for ever No body of death there none of the old man shall accompany you thither The time is coming oh happy time the very thoughts of it may make you leap for Joy when you shall never have vain thought more never be troubled with corruption more never feel any unsavoury heart more never vexed with temptations more but among the spirits made perfect serving and enjoying God with sin without weariness without interruption and end Heaven was never defiled with sin the Devil did not sin there but in this lower World and was shut out of Heaven for his sin nor ever shall be In that holy place you shall be perfectly holy for ever Hence 2. Heaven will cure the imperfection of Grace which we groan under here having none but the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 We groan under spiritual imperfections wants weaknesses Grace though begun is is but low and little and weak Hence we are pressed with spiritual wants both of Holiness and Comfort falling short in every thing our attainments poor and defective We are mourning and striving after perfection but reach it not But in Glory Grace will be perfected that is a state of perfection Heb. 12.23 Every Saint will then become to a perfect man Eph. 4.13 no longer a babe and childish rather Carnal than Spiritual as man 1 Cor. 3.1 and 13.9 10 11 12. Oh glorious and happy day when the Image of Christ shall be compleated in us and we shall be fully like him 1 Joh. 3.2 you shall then have that fulness of Grace and spirit which you are now praying and mourning Then will all your Prayers be answered all promises fulfilled to the height and as Josh 23.14 The day is coming when every Grace shall be full grown when there shall be perfect love perfect holiness perfect knowledge perfect unity perfect conformity to the will of God A dram of Grace is more worth than all the World but what will Grace in perfection be when you shall be filled with all the fulness of God as full of God as you can hold or can desire to be Never any more complaints of want or weakness to be sure then there shall be such a time and that