h Is 55.12 And amongst other blessings that the Church is promised when shee shall bee glorious euen on earth this is one that they shall build houses and inhabite them and they shall plant vineyards and eate the fruite of them i Is 65.21 So spake our Lord of Zacharias This day is saluation come to this House for so much as he is also the Sonne of Abraham k Luc. 19.9 This is very manifest if wee consider the blessings and the Curses promised and denounced to and against the obedient and disobedient l Louit 26. Deut. 28. So that hence we may now truly conclude That the earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God For the Creature was made subiect to vanitie not willing by reason of him who hath subiected the same in hope Because the Creature it selfe also shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious Libertie of the Children of God For we knowe that the whole Creation groaneth and trauaileth in paine togither vntill now m Rom. 8.19 20.21.22 And it is euident that the creatures are freed from bondage when Gods children are made manifest to bee such as it is plaine by this one Scripture if there were no more A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruell n Pro. 12.10 But all this being but a passage to this Loue of the Creatures to vs when we are once reconciled to God and the restitution of them to their former libertie we will come yet to that which shall manifestly discouer this as where it is written That the man whom God chasteneth whom he maketh sore and bindeth vp whom he woundeth and his hands make whole Such an one shall be deliuered in six troubles and in seuen none euill shall touch him He shall not bee affraid of the Beastes of the Earth for hee shall bee in league with the stones of the Field and the beastes of the Field shall be at Peace with him o Iob. 5.17.23 Also where God speakes of reconciling a people to himselfe wee haue the same thing set forth thus That Day I will make a couenant for them with the Beastes of the Field and with the foules of Heauen and with the creeping thinges of the ground and I will breake the Bowe and the Sword and the Battell out of the Earth and I will make them to lye downe safely And I will betroth thee vnto me for euer Yea I will betroth thee vnto me in Righteousnes and in Iudgement in louing kindnesse and in mercies I will euen betroth thee vnto me in Faithfulnesse and thou shalt knowe the Lord. And it shall come to passe in that Day I will heare saith the Lord I will heare the Heauens and they shall heare the Earth And the Earth shall heare the Corne and the Wine and the Oyle and they shall heare Iezreel p Hos 2.18.22 Also wee haue the expresse promise of God where it is written Thus saith the Lord that created thee ô Iacob and hee that formed thee ô Israel feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I wil be with thee and through the riuers they shall not ouerflowe thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Sauior a Is 43.1.2.3 Also behold I haue created the smith that bloweth the coales in the fire and that bringeth foorth an instrument for his worke and I haue created the water to destroy No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and euery tongue that shal rise against thee in Iudgment thou shalt condemne b Is 54.16 Of this league betweene Gods reconciled children and the Creatures there are many examples found in Scriptures yea such as God hath but respected outwardly haue receiued this priuiledge As of the readinesse to fight for Gods children and take part with such as God hath fauoured as the readinesse of the sea and the wind to make way for the children of Israel to passe thorow as on dry land c Ex. 14.21 And of the earth how ready was it to open her mouth d Num. 16.32.33 and to swallow vp Corah Dathan and Abiram and all their rebellious company who were Moses aduersaries Also how ready was the fire to consume 250. more of that proude Conspiracy e ver 35. How ready was the Sunne and Moone to stay their course till Ioshua and the people of Israel had auenged themselues on their enemies f Ios 10.13 Also that glorious Song of Deborah They fought from Heauen the Starres in their courses fought against Sisera g Iudge 5.20 How readily did the Rauens bring fleshe and bread morning and euening to refresh Elijah h 1. King 17.6 How readily came those Beares to teare the children that mocked Elisha i 2. King 2.24 Also how readily did that fire descend from Heauen to consume those two proude Captaines and their fifties k 2. King 1.10.12 How readily did the fire drowne those valiant men that vndertooke the casting of the three Children into the firie fornace l Dan. 3.22 Also how speedily did those Lions euen breake all the bones in peeces of Daniels enemies ere they came at the ground On the contrary we see their vnwillingnes to touch Daniell for hurt m Dan. 6.22.25 And of the three children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego That freedom from the fire is wonderfull of whom wee reade That when they came forth out of the midst of the fire And the Princess Gouernour Captaines and the Kings Counsellours being gathered together saw them vpon whose bodies the fire had no Power nor was an haire of their head sindged neither were their coates changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them n Dan. 3.26 27. And of Daniel it is recorded That where he was taken out of the Lions denne no manner of hurt was found vpon him because he beleeued in his God o Dan. 6.23 And thus you haue the Loue of the creatures and the certainty of their reconciliation â—o the Children of God when â—â—nce they themselues are reconciâ—ed For if they haue beene so orâ—ered before their reconciliation â—hat they haue not touched them â—or hurt but haue fought for them â—ow much more when they are reâ—onciled and made manifest inâ—eed to be the Sons and Daughâ—ers of the Lord Almightie And â—urely this is no small outward beâ—efit neither is it slightly to be pasâ—ed ouer as many vse but seriously â—o be weighed and considered of â—hat the praise of that may be renâ—red vnto the giuer thereof as wel â—s for the rest Another outward Benefit which â—uch enioy is the Aboundance of â—ll good things for the body
eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him g Is 64.4 1. Cor. 2.9 If these lesser be so farre out of the reach especially of naturall men how impossible is it for any so to expresse those greater that natural men who are therby to bee drawne to Repentance should conceiue of it in any wise as it is and as it shall be clearely seene of such as are spirituall at the last Day yet because the beginnings of it are here euen vpon Earth and they that will euer see and enioy the fulnesse of it hereafter must bee acquainted with the Beginnings here as it is written Hee that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life h Io. 3.36 Also he that heareth my word saith Christ and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into condemnatioÌ„ but hath passed from death to life i Io. 5.24 And on the contrary he that beleeueth not on the Sonne shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him k Io. 3.36 Therefore here shal be first shewed somewhat concerning those beginnings which the sonnes and daughters of the Almightie doe enioy euen here Secondly those Scriptures which concerne the excellent Glory hereafter shall be laid downe and that blessednes looked for at least pointed at And that as much as we enioy heare may the better appeare and we may sensibly perceiue how good the Lord is and how blessed they are that trust in him euen while they soiourne on Earth That this may the more set foorth the louing kindnesse of the Lord and the wonderfull change that such haue made as are once translated from death to life such as haue once ouercome and haue their part in the first Resurrection We will first take a viewe of what wee are by nature since Adams fall and then shall be shewed what we doe become by Grace By Nature we are all dead l 1. Cor. 15.22 Accursed m Deut. 27.26 the wrath of God abideth on vs n Ioh. 3.36 there is none of vs righteous no not one There is none that vnderstandeth none that searcheth after God we are all gone out of the way we are altogether become vnprofitable there is none that doeth good no not one wee are all guiltie of condemnation before God o Rom. 3.10.11 19. We are dead in sinnes and trespasses wee all walke according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the Spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience Among whom we all haue our conuersation in the lustes of the flesh and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde and are by Nature the children of wrath as well as others wee are without Christ aliens from the commonwealth of Israel strangers from the couenant of Promise hauing no hope and without God in the world p Ephes 2.1.2.3 v. 12. we are vnwise disobedient deceiued seruing diuers lustes and pleasures liuing in malice and enuy hatefull and hating one another q Tit. 3.3 We are in the snare of the Diuell taken captiue by him at his will r 2. Tim. 2.26 Wee yeelde our members seruants to vncleannesse and to iniquitie vnto iniquity a Rom. 6.19 we are wretched miserable and poore and blinde and naked b Reu. 3.17 we are fire-brands in the fire c Zach. 3.2 Iude. 23. we are cast out into the open field polluted in our blood d Ezec. 16.5.6 we are lost e Luc. 19.10 stinking corrupt and very loathsome f psa 31.5.7 This and much more then this is our misery by Nature but here behold what manner of Loue the Father hath bestowed vpon vs that we should be called the Sonnes of God g 1. Io. 3.1 Oh consider I pray you the wonderfull change that wee haue made And that we may truly tast the goodnesse of our God euen to all his in this life here shall be laide open some fewe of those many benefits inward outward which we doe enioy while we are yet vpon earth The first is Peace and rest Peace yea such Peace as passeth all vnderstanding h phil 4.7 and such Rest as is not to be expressed For where as by Nature by reason of our Guilt we are at great vnrest and haue no Peace but are at much disquiet yea we are therefore compared and that fitly to the troubled Sea that cannot rest i Is 57.20 As Iob truely saith of himselfe I was not in safetie neither had I rest neither was I quiet yet trouble came Yea when we say our bed shall comfort vs our couch shall ease our complaint then such are scared with dreames and terrified with visions so that their soules many times choose strangling death rather then life k Iob. 7.13.14.15 Yea as Marriners in a tempest they are tossed vp and downe somtimes they mount vp to the heauen and they goe downe againe to the depths so that their soules are melted because of Trouble They reele too and fro and stagger like drunken men and are at their wits end But when crying to God in such trouble they are indeed deliuered out of such distres when the storme is once become a calme and the waues are still then such are glad because they be at Rest when they ar brought to the desired Hauen l psal 107.26.27 Here is now a wonderfull change when men haue once gotten the victory by the blood of the Lambe m Heb. 10.28.19 1. Cor. 15.57 when once we haue ouercome by Faith in Christ n 1. Ioh. 5.4 Then followeth such Peace such Rest as cannot by any meanes be expressed as it is written We being iustified by Faith haue Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ o Rom. 5.1 Also this is plainly spoken by the Prophet Isaiah thus The worke of righteousnesse shall be Peace and the effect of righteousnes quietnesse and assurance for euer And my people shall dwell in a Peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places p Isa 32.17.18 Also the Apostle plainly affirmeth that such as haue beleeued do enter into Rest q Heb. 4.3 not shall hereafter but doe This our Lord noteth where hee speaketh of this faith he saith That many shall come from the East and West and North and South and shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of God r 〈◊〉 8.11 Lâ—c. 13.28.29 By sitting downe is noted vnto vs this Rest or Quietnesse As a man greatly is refreshed when hee can haue a conuenient place to sit downe especially at the end of his Iourney so are the children of God at quiet when they sit down on the top of this glorious mountain which with great difficultie they haue climed This is that Rest which the Prophet Isaiah speaketh of where speaking
of the Hypocrite and of the child of God Though the Hypocrite triumph and reioyce yet he is neuer at quiet But the childe of God hath also Peace and Rest A third difference is this the Ioy of the Hypocrite lifts him vp as before Though his excellency mount vp to the Heauens and his head reatch vnto the Cloudes n Iob. 20.6 This doeth plainely shew the exaltation of Hypocrites in their reioycing and triumph yea these are so exalted that they despise others which our blessed Lord obserued and discouered by a parable where it is written That he spake this parable to certaine men which trusted in themselues that they were righteous and despised others Two men went vp into the Temple to Pray the one a Pharisee the other a Publicane The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are o Luc. 18.9.10.11 Thus doe Hypocrites exalt themselues and are lifted vp with Capernaum to Heauen though they shall come down to Hell p Mat. 11.23 Hee is so caried away with the Loue of himselfe that hee basely accounteth of other But the Ioy of the Saints is neuer seuered from meekenesse and lowlinesse q Gal. 5.22.23 They are all clothed with humilitie r 1. Pet. 5.5 For these haue learned not to reioyce in themselues but in the Lord as it is written Reioyce in the Lord alway and againe I say reioyce let your Moderation be knowen vnto all men the Lord is at hand yea the same minde is in them which was also in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God but made himselfe of no reputation and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant and was made in the likenesse of men And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto Death euen to the Death of the Crosse Å¿ Phil. 4.4.5 So those that reioyce with exceeding great ioy when they saw that the Lambe had preuailed to open the Booke with seuen seales we reade that they fell downe before the Lambe t Reuel 5.8 And this is another manifest difference betweene the Hypocrites Ioy and the Ioy of the Saints The Hypocrites Ioy makes him proude and lifts him vp and causeth him to despise others The Ioy of the Saints doth humble him yea cast him downe before the Lord and is alwayes accompanied with Humilitie A fourth difference is this That the Ioy of the Hypocrite holdes not out in persecution as it is plaine where it is written Those on the Rocke are such which when they heare receiue the word with Ioy and these haue no roote which for a while beleeue and in time of Temptation fal away u Luc. 8.13 But Matthew writeth thus Hee that receiueth the seede in stony places the same is he which heareth the word and anone with Ioy receiueth it yet hath hee no roote in himselfe but dureth for a while for when Tribulation or Affliction ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended a Mat. 13.20.27 Whereas the Ioy of the childe of God that is indeed iustified by Faith in the blood of Christ doth increase in tribulation yea euen in the greatest trials such doe glory as it is written We glory in Tribulation b Rom. 5.3 And Iames also biddeth vs To account it all Ioy when wee fall into diuers Temptations c Iam. 1.2 Also Peter speaketh of this Ioy where speaking of manifold Temptations yet wee reioyce greatly in them all in the consideration of the liuely Hope and neuer fading inheritance which wee beleeue is laide vp for vs and shall be reuealed in the last time d 1. Pet. 1.5.6 We are as sorrowfull yet alway reioycing e 2. Cor. 6.10 This appeareth plainely in the examples of such Redeemed ones As the blessed Apostles when they were beaten departed from the Counsell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christs name f Act. 5.41 So Paul and Silas when they were cruelly beaten and had receiued many stripes and were cast into prison yea thrust into the inner prison and their feete made fast in the stockes yet at midnight they prayed and sang praises vnto God so loude that the prisoners heard them g Act. 16.22.33.24.25 Thus hauing laid down some differences betweene the Ioy of Hypocrites and of the Saints as that their Ioy is but for a moment ours is euerlasting their Ioy doth exalt and lift them vp ours doth humble and cast vs downe theirs is seuered from Peace and Rest ours accompanied with them both theirs failes them when tribulation commeth ours holdes out nay which is more encreaseth in the most sharpe and fiery Trials And by this the false Ioy of the Hypocrite being discouered the true Ioy of the Saints is clearely seene Which Ioy doth so comfort them as that it is truely saide of them That the voyce of reioycing and saluation is in the dwellings of the Righteous h Ps 118.15 These are euer singing making melody in their hearts vnto the Lord. Speaking to themselues in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs i Ephes 5.19 singing with Grace in their hearts vnto the Lord k Col. 3.16 So we read of the huÌ„dred fourty foure thousand that were with the Lambe on mount Sion that they had the voyces of harpers harping with harpes and they sang as it were a new song before the Throne and before the foure Beastes and the Elders and no man could heare that song but the hundred fourty and â—ure thousand which were neuer â—edeemed from the Earth l Reuel 14.1.2.3 Also â—hen the Lambe had taken the â—ooke out of the hand of him that â—te vpon the Throne hauing also â—reuailed to open the seuen seales â—hereof wee reade that the foure â—eastes and the foure and twentie â—lders fell down before the Lambe â—auing euery one of them harpes â—nd golden Vials full of Odours which are the Prayers of Saintes And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Booke â—nd to open the Seales therof for thou vast slaine and hast Redeemed vs â—o God by thy blood out of euery â—indred and tongue and people and nation And hast made vs vnto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reigne on earth m Reu. 5.8 Also Iohn saith I saw as it were a Sea of Glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotâ—en the victory ouer the Beast and ouer his Image and ouer his markâ— and ouer the number of his Namâ— stand on the Sea of Glasse hauinâ— the Harpes of God And they sing thâ— Song of Moses the seruant of God and the song of the Lambe saying Great and maruellous are thy worke Lord God Almighty Iust and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints who shall not feare thee O Lord anâ— glorifie thy Name for thou onely arâ— holy for
and I knowe my selfe to be in Christ by that I am a newe creature And when I take a viewe of my Folly and ignorance how brutish I haue beene it doeth euen couer mee with blushing and shame and when withall I doe call to minde what aboundance of wisedome I haue obtained since Christ became my wisedome yea when I consider Gods wonderfull liberalitie in opening to me his treasury of wisedome and knowledge and bidding mee aske what I will this doeth many times amaze me and wonderfully astonish mee that so vile a person as I am should bee trusted with Treasures of such value and Pearles of such price I doe thinke thus with my selfe what am I that I should be so regarded as that my mouth should be made a Well of Life my lippes should know what is acceptable that they should feede many and that other should seeke the Lawe at my mouth That such Wisedome and Spirit should be giuen me that all mine aduersaries should not be able to gainsay or resist oh blessed be my God for euermore oh let my tongue neuer cease to sound foorth his prayses and to tell of his louing kindnesse from day to day And when I looke without me me thinkes the Communion of Saints doeth rauish me the feruent Loue which we haue amongst our selues whereas I was once a companion of Murderers such I meane as vnaduisedly would breake out into anger wrath and rage disclose secrets breake couenants carry tales to shedde blood amongst whom though I sometimes blessed my selfe yet was my condition fearefull for I could expect nothing but death euery day such was the vncertaintie of any staiednesse in their familiaritie But now I am a Companion of the Sonnes of Peace All my Familiars are Peacemakers wee are one an others Keepers Many wholesome exhortations Louing instructions and Amiable reprooffes doe passe betweene vs. Manie are the feruent Prayers we put vp one for another yea all that wee haue we account not our owne in one anothers necessitie Our Loue is not in word and in Tongue but in deed and in Truth It is continually increased and doeth daily Flourish Oh what comfort is it to meete in great Assemblies in the time of Peace to heare the Word break Bread togither and to ioyne in heartie prayers and praises to our louing Father Also I now doe plainly see that we haue more with vs then against vs For I was wont to consider of the multitude of wicked men in the world and how they bandie themselues and conspire against the Saintes but now I see their attempts are exceeding weake for wee haue our Seate on high and are compassed round with a Wall of Fyre yea the Angels of God as Chariots of Fire and Horses of Fyre doe compasse vs round continually Yea they also beholde our Fathers face in Heauen readie to execute vengeance on our aduersaryes and to beare vs in theyr hands that wee hurt not our foote against a stone Besides all this the Creatures were at enmitie with me the Sunne Moone and Starres in theyr courses the Earth would haue swallowed the Water drowned the Fire consumed me yea the Winde would haue throwne downe Trees and Houses vpon mee the very stones of the Fielde were at oddes with mee the Beasts Fowles and Creaping things at variance The Corne Wine and Oyle these did as it were disdaine or refuse to yeeld me strength whereas now on the contrarie the sweete Familiaritie which is betweene vs is exceeding great The Sunne will not hurt me by day nor the Moone by night the Heauens doe as it were smyle vpon mee the Fire warmes me the water yeelds me moysture the Earth habitation the Ayre refreshing What shall I say Mee thinkes I see the Fire comming from Heauen the Water preparing the Earth opening wide her mouth the Ayre threatning yea all the Creatures mustering themselues and in continuall readinesse to execute vengeance vpon such as shal euer dare to touch me for hurt And all these are accompanyed with aboundance of all necessaries for my selfe and my children and whereas before I was in continuall want in the midst of plenty and euer caring for more though I had enough Now haue I abundance of all thinges with gteat Contentment that hundred fold gaine by Godlinesse yea I can truely say I can be abased and I can abounde I haue learned in what estate so euer therewith to be content Yea I know that I shall neuer want any thing that is good neyther shall my children beg their bread And when to this I can adde the sure continuance of this estate and doe knowe that I shall neuer be remoued neither is my estate subiect to Change but I shall increase not decrease growe not dye goe forwards not backwards flourish decay and that I am in Christ as stable firme and vnmooueable as God is stable firme and vnmooueable this doeth so rauish me with comfort that it drawes teares from mine eyes I cannot but reioyce exceedingly And yet further when I thinke on my estate to come at that day which will be a dreadfull day to the wicked I finde that all this which I haue cald to minde is very little yea scarse a handfull of the whole sand of the Sea in comparison of that blessednesse then to bee receiued Then when our glorious Lord the Lord of Glory shall descend from Heauen with a shout with the voyce of an Arch-angell and which the Trumpe of God when hee shall come most gloriously in his owne Glory his fathers Glory and the Glory of all his holy and mightie Angels attended with tenne thousands of his Saints in flaming fire to be glorified in them When he shal sit vpon the throne of his Glory and all nations shall bee gathered before him and he shal seperate them one from another as the shepherd diuideth his sheepe from the Goates and hauing set the sheepe on his right hand then shall this King of Glory say vnto them on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world Then shall I with the rest of Gods redeemed ones passe away with great triumph and in a glorious manner enter those heauenly Mansions to take possession of my euerlasting habitation There I shall see God face to face Yea I shall know him euen as I am knowen Then shall I be like him for I shall see him as he is And when this my corruptible body hath put on Incorruption and this Mortall bopy hath put on immortalitie then shal be fully and perfectly brought to passe for mee and all the elect that which before was truely beleeued That death is swallowed vp in victory And will not this bee a wonderfull and most glorious estate when I shall shine foorth as the Sunne in his greatest glitter and most glorious brightnesse when I shall bee as the Angels in Heauen alwaies beholding the face God Where I shall haue no companions but