familiar and gracious revelation of his presence and of his holy will by some glorious visible and created representation which in comparison of Gods not revealing himself so fully unto others is called face to face Exod. 33.11 Num. 12.7 8. The Lord spoke unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend 4. The irresistible power of God throwing down every impediment in the way of his eternal purpose and counsel Isa 64.3 The mountains flowed down at thy presence or face 5. The sense of Gods favour when he comes unto a soul with healing under his wings like the Sun with his beams reviving a withered herb Psal 13.1 How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee God is said to hide his face when he restrains the sense and comfort of his love in time of great trouble and sheweth not in the face of providence any sign of his love Because pitty in the heart is oft-times seen in the face and countenance 6. The face of God signifieth that essential infinite increated and invisible glory of God Exod. 33.20 Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live 1 Cor. 13.12 Then shall we see face to face and in this sense it is taken in this place As to the second what is understood by beholding his face What it is to behold the face of God I answer there is a beholding of God in his works when in the creatures we behold footsteps of the power and wisdom of God as the skill of an excellent Artificer is seen in the works of his hands Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of God from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen 2. There is a beholding of God in a created and visible representation Thus Moses is said to have seen God Exod. 33. and Isai 6. it was not properly a beholding of God but something created by God from the which visible representation the beholders did perceive with their understanding something of the greatness and Majestie of God 3. There is a beholding of God by the eye of faith when we know and perceive him to be our God reconciled to us in Iesus Christ in whom as the only Mediator we behold Gods face and good will towards lost man 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ 4. There is an immediate beholding and knowing the essentiall glory of God Mat. 18.10 Their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven So in this place to behold the face of God is to know immediately and to enjoy him fully as a man beholding a face immediately and perfectly when it is set before his eyes at noon-day The compleat and full happiness of the Saints in heaven Doct. standeth in the seeing and fruition of God Compleat happiness stands in the seeing of God Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the poor in heart for they shall see God 1 Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is Our natural life consists in a union of soul and body our spiritual life in a union of our souls with Christ by faith and eternal life in an immediate union with God and communion of glory Our growth in the spiritual life of Grace here must go before our coming to the stature of the fulness of Christ in that eternal life of glory Eph. 4.12 13. For clearing the doctrine we would know wherein stands the matter and object of our happiness 2. What is the manner of our participation and fruition of that object As to the object and matter of our eternal happiness What is the matter or object of our happiness the spirit of God in holy Scriptures expresseth it in terms borrowed from things of highest esteem in this world that by such expressions he may condescend to our capacity that we may learn things invisible by things visible and that our desires may be stirred up by things earthly toward things heavenly 1. It is called â— Light It is called Light Psal 36.9 With thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light It will not be a dazelling and confounding light as was the brightness of Moses his face at his coming down from the Mount the people could not behold him it will not be an astonishing light as that in the Mount at our Lords transfiguration the Disciples fell to the ground their weak eyes could not behold those glimpses of glory that shined through the vail of flesh but the light in our heaven of happiness will be a strengthning and comforting light it will strengthen and confirm the eyes of our understanding to behold it Then shall we be enabled as the young Eagles to behold the Sun of Righteousness in his brightness and glory it was said by the Lord to Moses none can see my face and live Exod. 33.20 that glorious sight which Daniel saw took strength from him Dan. 10.8 The object being without him drew out all his spirits to behold and admire it and so weakned him but in heaven our God whom we shall see and know will be within us to strengthen us then shall we live because we see his face It will be also a comforting light like the light of the morning to the wearied watchman who longed after it in the night time 2 It is called a Kingdom Luc. 12.32 2. A Kingdom Fear not little flock for it is your fathers will to give unto you a Kingdom It is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken or moved Heb. 12.28 there will be no commotions or divisions as in these inferiour sublunary Kingdomes in that Kingdom will be everlasting peace Rev. 22.11 without are dogs to wit contentious and seditious men who like dogs barking at the superiour lights do despise dignities and dominions which God hath appointed to be as the greater lights for ruling this inferiour world such men living and dying in their seditious disposition and courses will not come within the border of that Kingdom It is a Kingdom of incorruptible glory Suppose a man were Monarch of all the world in great splendor and prosperity yet all his glory and contentment is but a flying shadow in comparison of that solid substantial and eternal glory of the least of Saints in the Kingdom of heaven as the creature is infinitely inferiour to the Creator so is created glory to the increated which the child of God beholdeth in that Kingdom of glory Isa 40 15. Behold the Nations are as the drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust in the ballance how doth the glory of earthly Kings and their Kingdoms pass away like the glory of a King in a stage-play but the glory of the Kingdom of heaven is fixed and permanent as the Kingdom is immortal so
there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem 2 Chron. 32.35 The Prodigal Son Luk 15. abused his Fathers indulgence and his own plenty The Lord corrected him with a rod of his own planting he sent a famine procured by his own waste and mis-government 3. 3. By changes sinne is prevented The Lord sendeth such changes to prevent sinne in his own Children Paul was ravished to the third heaven but soon after there is a great change the messenger of Satan was permitted of God to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure The Lord in his wisedom seeth that continued prosperity would be a stumbling-block to his own children Therefore in great mercy to prevent their stumbling and fall he removes it out of their way Whereas on the contrary he suffers wicked and worldly-minded men to enjoy prosperity outward and to fall and be broken in peeces upon their own Idols of prosperity Riches was a snare to the young man in the Gospel those golden fetters intangled and restrained him from following Christ Luk. 18.23 Worldly honour was a snare and a tonguetye to the Rulers of the Synagogue they confessed not Christ because they loved the praise of men Joh. 12.42 43. Therefore Agur praieth God to remove such stumbling-blocks out of the way Prov. 30.9 Give me not riches lest I be full and deny thee 4. 4. Changes discover the insufficiency of the creature The Lord doth it to discover to his own children the insufficiency of creature-help and comfort and to give them a proof of the al-sufficiency of God In our adversity we perceive that ofttimes the creatures either cannot or will not help us they prove a broken tooth or a disjointed legge they will feed but not grinde with us sit at ease but not walk and toyl with us they will have a large share in our prosperity but none at all in our adversity The dear children of God as David have their own Achitophels very familiar and insinuating men into their secret counsels in the day of prosperity but the winde of adversity drives them away like smoak Pro. 19.6 7. Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts but all the brethren of the poor do hate him How much more do his friends go far from him he pursueth them with words yet they are wanting to him yea many times we perceive not only insufficiency in them to do us good but base and malicious ingratitude in rendring evil for good This David found in the day of his distresse Psal 35.13 15. When they were sick I humbled my soul with fasting but in my adversity they rejoyced On the contrary in the dark day of adversity we see the alsufficiency of our God we see him in the mount when and where inferior helps and comforts cannot be seen when worldly comforts like winter-brooks in Summer disappoint us of refreshment in a time of drought and necessity then finde we in our God a fountain of living water to revive us Psa 27.10 When my Father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up when Moses his Parents out of fear and desire of self-preservation cast him into the river then his al-sufficient God sent Pharaohs daughter in a special providence to take him out of the waters when men fail and forsake then it is that God helpeth Jacob saw most of the light of Gods countenance even then when he saw nothing but clouds of wrath in the countenances of his fierce brother Esau and of his ingrate Uncle Laban Gen. 20.12 13. Gen. 31.5 when false witnesses did calumniate Steven before the Council then found he most of Gods special presence and a testimony from heaven His face did shine as the face of an Angel Act. 6.15 When the Councill gnashed upon him with their teeth in that hour of darknesse he saw most of the glory of his God he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.54 55. According to that in the Psa 112.4 Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse In their saddest hours they see the light of their Fathers countenance 5. 5. Changes try and manifest grace The Lord sendeth such changes for the trial and manifestation of his own graces in them 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Of their faith in a time of adversity hereby Jobs faith was tried and manifested Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him His patience and submission to the good will of God Job 1.21 22. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Hereby Aarons submission to Gods Judgement on his Sons was manifested Lev. 10.3 when Moses said to him This is it that the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified And Aaron held his peace Hereby Davids patience and submission was manifested Psa 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it hereby their love to God is manifested Many hypocrites in a day of prosperity with their mouth will shew much love Ezek. 33.31 and seem to rejoyce in the word of God with the temporary beleever but when a change comes by persecution then they question hate and in end persecute the same truth sometime they professed but the children of God at such a time do make the sincerity of their love toward God and his truth more manifest Demas out of love to this present world forsook the truth but Luke abode in it 2 Tim. 4.10 Hereby the meeknesse of the children of God is made manifest in a day of their reproach Proud and malicious hypocrites will seem very quiet and Saint-like men so long as men esteem highly of them but if any thing be spoken or done to their reproach then become they like the foaming waves of the Sea casting up mire and dirt they answer calumny with calumny and render wrong for wrong The supercilious Pharisees when they imagined they were wronged in their reputation by that young man Joh. 9.34 they answered with much sawcinesse and bitternesse Thou wast altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us And they cast him out By their power they break all that will not bow to them It was not so with David when malicious men changed his Name and belched out reproaches against him 2 Sam. 16.11 Let him alone said he to Abishai of railing Shimei in the day of Moses his reproach when the people murmured and spoke against him yet the meek servant of God spoke for them to God hereby the meeknesse of Stephen was made manifest when his Persecutors cast stones at him he sent up praiers to God for them when they cried with a loud voice against him he cried with a loud voice to heaven for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7.60 hereby Pauls meeknesse was made manifest 1 Cor. 4.12 13. Lastly 6. By Changes
meant by good work how then is it said God will perform it until the day of Christ Answ I answer to the first by good work is meant a communion with Christ in the graces of his spirit wrought in us by the Spirit and word of promise Of this good work the Apostle speaketh in this Chapter vers 5. their fellowship in the Gospel To the second I answer What is meant by performing it the word rendered perform signifieth the bringing to an end a work already begun as a house already founded is perfected when the topstone is put on Heb. 8.5 So the performing of the good work is the bringing of the work of Sanctification unto the term of perfect sanctity and purity in a gradual and absolute conformity to the will of God in the estate of glory To the endeavours whereof we are exhorted 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthyness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God It is true the work of Sanctification in respect of our soul is perfected at the hour of death because no unclean thing can enter into Heaven No infirmity no spot comes there we must be perfectly cured of that hereditary leprosie of sin before we can come within the camp of that triumphant Israel corruption cannot inherit the incorruption of glory But the whole suppositum and person consisting of soul and body is not perfected until that glorious day of Jesus Christ Though the souls of the godly immediately after their parting out of the body be perfectly sanctified and admitted to behold the fathers face in glory yet the body being laid in the dust is not restored from that state of corruption nor perfected until the day of Christs second coming which is called the day of restoring all things Acts 3.21 at which time the good work of Sanctification begun here in soul and body will be absolutely perfected in both A renewed man Doct. in whom God hath begun the good work of Sanctification Renewed persons cannot fall totally from grace cannot fall totally from the state of grace but persevere therein to the end of his life for the Apostle is confident that God who hath once begun the good work in them will perform it until the day of Christ before I confirm this doctrine two questions would be answered 1. What is understood by persevering in grace What is understood by persevering in grace 2. How perseverance being a thing to come is said to be certain Answ I answer to the first the word grace is taken ordinarily for Gods free favour for that giving grace from which as the fountain doth flow through the merit of our mediatour all spiritual blessings It is so taken Eph. 2.8 by grace are ye saved Rom. 3.24 being justified freelie by his grace It is also taken for the grace that is given which doth flow from the fountain of free grace and love Ioh. 1.16 Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Such graces are faith hope Love and other saving Graces of the Spirit There is a perseverance actual in the exercise and actings of holy duties Act. 2.42 They continued stedfastly in the Doctrine of the Apostles And there is to speak so an effectual perseverance in respect of a settled inclination and disposition to holy duties though there may be some remitting in or intermitting of the acts and exercise thereof such is our perseverance in prayer Eph. 6.18 Col. 4.2 Praying alwaies as a Musical instrument well tuned by the hand of the skilful Musitian though it be not alwayes plaid on and giving out a sound yet it is sâ—ill well tuned So this inward disposition and frame of Spirit unto holy duties remains fixed in the children of God even in their failings in their coming short and imperfections about holy duties Rom. 7.19 The good I would do I do not though he did not act and exercise the commanded duty yet at the same time he persevered in an holy disposition and inclination of will to the duty To the other question I answer How perseverance in grace is said to be certain A thing to come is said to be certain two wayes 1. In respect of Gods Decree and this is the certainty of Immutability because Gods Decree counsel and purpose is unchangeable Heb. 6.17 Thus it was certain that our Lord should be delivered unto death because it was so determined in the eternal counsel of God Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God 2. A thing to come is said to be certain in respect of Gods fore-knowing and revealing that such a thing shall be This is the certainty of infallability because Gods knowledge is infallible Thus it was certain that Judas should betray our Lord because our God in his permissive Decree foreseeing it would be revealed the same in his Word the perseverance of renewed men is certain in both respects first in respect of Gods Decree Rom. 8.30 Joh. 6.39 Next in respect also of Gods revealed Will concerning their perseverance Ioh. 10.28 I give unto my sheep eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Iohn 6.39 This is the Fathers will that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing The Doctrine of a renewed man his perseverance in Grace and the certainty thereof is proved from Scripture Proofs of the perseverance of the Saints first he is continued in the loving kindness of the Lord and so perseveres in an estate of free Grace and favour with God for whom he loveth once with that love of complacency as his children in Christ he loveth them to the end Ioh. 13.1 It is true he is displeased with them when they offend as a loving Father with his children and chastisech them yet will he not consume and destroy as a Judge in his wrath Psal 89.31 32. Psal 99.8 Ierem. 46.28 Next the renewed man perseveres also in the Grace given and received the stock of Grace infused is never totally lost Faith Hope and Love remain in the habit and root though in an hour of temptation the act and fruit thereof may intermit and fail Iohn 3.36 He that believeth in me hath everlasting life It is not said he shall have but in respect of the infallible consequence of eternal life to Faith in Christ Eternal life certain It is said in the present tense he hath eternal life Eternal life is certain in the Promise because God is Faithful who hath promised eternal life to every one that believeth in Iesus Christ It is certain in the earnest because Faith is an earnest of the Spirit and the Faithful Lord who giveth the earnest of Grace in this life will certainly give the summe of Glory in the other for Grace is the earnest and first fruit of Glory Iohn 4.14 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I
the glory of it is incorruptible 3. Our happiness is called a Crown Jam. 1.12 A Crown He that endureth trials shall receive the Crown of life The four and twenty Elders had on their heads Crowns of Gold Rev. 4.4 The Romane Senate of old after some great victory did send to their Generals and great Captains a triumphal Crown and they did also send to the Souldiers chains bracelets and garlands Our Lord and great Captain of our salvatâ—on Iesus Christ after he had overcome all our enemies was Crowned with glory Heb. 2.9 He became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.8 9 10. This glory of the subjection of all things is peculiar to the Son of God exalted to the right hand of the Father in our Nature in which he was promoted to glory and Crowned as the Kings Purple Robe is advanced with him when he ascends into the Throne so the humane nature wherewith our Lord was invested was glorified with him in his Ascension and exalted to the right hand of God in glory like as the Captain of our salvation after his victory obtained his Crown super-eminent a name above every name so every one that fighteth the good fight under his command and in his strength shall receive their Crown of glory also which he by the merit of his valour in spoyling principalities and powers on the Cross hath purchased for them and to them 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness Then our righteousness begun here will be crowned with perfection and glory God will crown not our merits but his own gifts it is a crown that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 5.4 a crown incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 then both head and Crown will be immortal the person and the glory will endure for ever 4. An inheritance It is called an inheritance incorruptible that cannot be defiled that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.5 It is an inheritance infinitely large which will satisfie all the children and heirs without any occasion of envy or contention it is not like that land that could not contain both Abraham and Lot with their substance which was the occasion of quarrelling to the heards-men 5. It is called an house not made with hands An house not made with hands c. eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 here we are as men remaining for a time in Tabernacles our life is subject to changes and decays our bodies must be dayly repaired our spark of life would soon languish and dye without entertainment our bodies like a house of clay do daily fall down in one place or other with every new shower of a defluxion or distillation from our heads that are the roof of this house but in heaven our condition will be fixed and permanent as in a large house there is much ease and room for the Inhabitants so Ioh. 14. In my fathers house saith our Lord are many Mansions there is abundance of happiness and glory for every child of God it is a house full of light Rev. 21.23 there is no need of Sun nor Moon the Lamb will be the light thereof it is a house full of all provision for eternity in our fathers house saith the Prodigal is bread enough bread of life and water of life yea God himself will be all in all to us we shall live in him and with him and shall be continually refreshed and entertained by the seeing and enjoying of God 6. A plentiful common Table Our happiness in heaven is set forth by a plentiful common Table where all the glorified Saints will be entertained with a communion of one essential glory in the perpetual beholding of the face of God Luke 22.29 30. I appoint unto you a Kingdom saith our Lord that ye may eat and drink at my Table Our Lord in such expressions condescends to our weak and childish capacity thereby to signifie that satiety of pleasure and joy that shall redound unto the affections and sensitive part of our souls from the blessed Vision of God and also to set forth that Communion of glory with Angels and glorified Saints all the heavenly guests will be refreshed with the cleer vision of an infinite glorious God the entertainment will be great eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 there will be good and solacious company Angels and just men there will be sweet and pleasant melody no jarrings there but perfect harmony singing that Trisagium Rev. 4.8 holy holy holy Lord God almighty which was and is and is to come This heavenly feast will not have an end as Ahasuerosh his feast had though it lasted many dayes But Psal 16. At thy right hand are pleasures for ever As to the manner how we participate this happiness and vision of God The manner how we participate of the vision of God there is something of it in the general revealed in holy Scripture but the particular and distinct knowledge of it is reserved to our experience and feeling in heaven that which is revealed to us is 1. 1. Intellectual That this vision of God in heaven is intellectual and mental for whereas it is said 1 Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is and 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall see him face to face it is expounded by the Apostle in the same place of knowledge then shall I know even as also I am known It is true we shall see our Lord Iesus Christ in his glorified humane nature but God being a Spirit cannot be seen with the eye of the body for nothing can be seen but that which hath colour And God is of a most simple essence without all composition whatsoever 2. 2. Immediate This vision and fountain of God will be immediate 1 Cor. 13.12 H re we see as through a Glass we receive some representations of God in the two glasses of his word and works as in a glass we see here only the representation and some reflex of the face of God but in heaven we shall see him face to face without the interposition of any midds here we see him through the Lattess Cant. 2.9 But in heaven we shall see him within that eternal house of glory here we know God by his word but in heaven Prophecying and Teaching shall cease 1 Cor. 13. As when the building is perfected the scaffolding and other means necessary in the time of building are removed Though in heaven there will be no midds intervening betwixt the soul God in that blessed vision yet mans finite understanding will be corroborated and supported by the mean and midds of a glorious created strength that it may
for ever and our hearts will be established in our love toward God for ever This Doctrine serveth for a timely admonition Vse 1 Our chief care should be to enter into this happiness seeing there is an eternal happiness attainable in the vision and fruition of God It should be our chief care in time to enter into that way that leadeth into such an happy end in heaven is laid up a Crown of glory but it is given to such only as endure to the end The rich prize is there but given to such only as run their race with patience and finish their course thou must have some mediate sight of God in the word here in the way before thou attain that immediate sight in thy Country The knowledge of God in Christ here by Faith is the rudiment and pedagogy of our immediate and perfect knowledge of God in heaven Joh. 17.3 This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent the Disciples of Christ must be grounded in their Rudiments here before they be commenced there Masters of all perfect and happy knowledge Obj. How shall I know that I am in the way to eternal happiness for there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the wayes of death Prov. 14.12 Many men are of Tamberlans opinion that every man living civilly and honestly may be saved in his own Religion Answ Infallible signs of entering into life 1. Faith There be three infallible Antecedents of Eternal life 1. Faith in Jesus Christ as there is no coming to the end of the Journey unless a man set his feet in the way toward it so there is no coming to salvation without Faith in Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls Faith at the end of our life is turned into vision in that life eternal 2. 2. Conformity to Christ A conformitie unto Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did Praedestinate to be conformed to his Son thou must in some measure be conformed to Christ in holyness in this life otherwayes thou canst not be conform to him in the other life in happiness because as God Predestinates a man to glory so he doth also Predestinate him to grace and holyness Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy This conformity unto Christ standeth not only in an outward profession and approaching to the Ordinances which hypocrites may do with a great shew of piety in bodily exercise Isa 58.2 3. but specially in the ordering of our life and conversation according to the precept and example of Jesus Christ our Lord Phil. 2.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus we must be conformable to him in our sufferings by patience and submission to the good will of God Not my will said our Lord in his Agony but thine be done and we must be conformable to him in meekness toward violent men who are instrumental in our sufferings 1 Pet. 2.23 Christ also suffered for us leaving us an ensample who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that Judgeth righteously 3. 3. The first fruits of the Spirit The third evidence of our walking in the way to true happiness is the first fruits of the Spirit To wit such saving graces as are the beginnings and first fruits of eternal life as knowledge of God in Christ sense of his love peace of conscience and joy of salvation in our heart The first fruits were consecrate to God in testimony of thankfulness they were grounds of hope of a plentiful harvest and motives to stir up a longing desire after the harvest in like manner the child of God should be thankful for those beginnings and first fruits of happiness he may be confident also that God who hath given unto him the first fruits in the state of Grace will give unto him a joyful harvest of glory This was the ground both of Pauls confidence and willingness to be dissolved and to be with Christ 2 Cor. 5.5.8 He hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body It serveth also for matter of comfort unto the children of God Vse 2 Comfort to mourners under imperfections fears c. who mourn here under the sense of many imperfections under the fear of many and daily temptations who groan under the burthen of indwelling corruption that hangeth so fast on and under the heavy pressures of many troubles and calamities look by faith unto that rich recompence of reward and rejoyce in the hope of that everlasting happiness when ye shall behold the face of God in glory 1. Here is matter of comfort against the imperfections of our knowledge in our wayfaring we are ignorant of far more then we know but then shall we know God himself and all things in him as a resplendent Mirrour so far forth as he sees may conduce for our happiness here our knowledge is confused and dark in the valley of Baca but there it will be distinct and clear in Mount Sion that is above where no mists are Now we know in part but then shall we know fully and perfectly Then shall we say as the Queen of Sheba did 1 King 10.6 7 8. It was a true report which I heard in mine own Land and behold the half was not told me Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard here our love is imperfect God is not our all in all Our love is carried on other things beside God but then God will be all in all in us and to us whatever we loved here in the creature will be exceeded and swallowed up in that vast ocean of love and delight we shall have in God himself here are great changes in our love sometime we are hot in our zeal like David dauncing before the Ark at another time we are cold and stupified when any thing crosseth us in our performance of holy duties as David was when Vzzah was smitten 1 Chron. 13.12 but in heaven our love and zeal to Gods glory will be perfect in degrees unchangeable in condition and perpetual in duration 2. Here is comfort under manifold temptations It is true we are subject here to one temptation after another and when in the strength of our Lord we have resisted one yet are we disquieted with the fear of another for Sathan who departed but for a season from our Lord who was temptation-proof Luc. 4.13 he leaveth us but for a short time waiting an advantage of our security which is his opportunity he will appear sometime to depart from tempting but if we become proud as having resisted his temptations by our own strength or if we become secure and negligent in prayer and watchfulness
here The song begun here shall be continued there Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us in his own blood from our sins and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen This doctrine serveth for a ground of terror and weakening to wicked men who live and dye in their unrighteousness Vse 1 It is not possible for any in his unrighteousness to behold the face of God It is not possible for them in their unrighteousness to behold the face of God It is true they shall be forced to look on him as a dreadful Iudge and avenger of all unrighteousness They shall behold him as a Malefactor doth the Iudge with great terror and anguish of spirit Rev. 1.7 They shall look upon him and wail before him Thou that mournedst not on earth for thy sins shalt mourn for ever under that insupportable burden of wrath and Judgement therefore remember in time that this righteousness wherein the Saints will behold the face of God must have a beginning in this life Our sanctification is compared to a race Heb. 12.1 and no man comes to the end of the course but he that sometime began to run it is compared to a building 1 Pet. 2.5 there must be a foundation laid a believing and resting on Christ the corner stone and therefore a superstructure of holiness and righteousness before the top-stone and crown of perfect righteousness be put on It is compared to a growing in stature 2 Pet. 3.18 and without growing up in sanctification it is impossible to come into the measure of stature of the fulness of Christ we must be infants of glory in the state of grace before we can be men of glory in heaven Eph. 2.21 in Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord there must be first a growing and building up in sanctification before we can be Temples filled with glory in heaven It serveth for a ground of comfort unto all those who have set themselves in the way of righteousness Vse 2 Righteousness begun in this life will be perfect in heaven and do endeavour a conformity of their wills and wayes to the holy will and righteous ways of God here is their comfort that their righteousness begun in this life will be perfected and in a perfect personal righteousness in heaven they shall behold the face of God in glory begun holiness here is the infancy of perfect holiness and is no other thing then the gate of heaven and happiness Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the poor in heart for they shall see God Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart The seed of that full joy in heaven is sown in the renewed heart and the full fruits will be seen and enjoyed in the day of restoring all things when the godly by vertue of the second Adam will be restored to the possession of all the happiness they lost in the first Adam in that day thou shalt eat of the fruit of thy labours Thy labour of love here will not be forgot there a cup of cold water given to a disciple in the name of a disciple shall be richly rewarded the Lord thy God hath a book of remembrance Mal. 3.17 he hath a particular and distinct knowledge of every good work thou doest as men have particulars written up in their Diaries for their better remembrance In the day of resurrection whatsoever good work thou hast done in secret though there was little notice or noise of it in the world yet shall it be published in the audience of angels and men then thy bread cast on the waters upon the poor distressed and despised members of Jesus Christ which the rich Nabals in this present world thought to be as water spilt on the ground as lost and cast into the bottom of the Sea Then I say after many dayes thou shalt find it Luk. 14.14 Thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the Iust It is true I confess it is not for our righteousness we are brought to behold Gods face in glory yet it must be in righteousness though not for our righteousness Christs righteousness onely makes way for us to the beholding of Gods face but personal inherent righteousness is a concomitant necessary for every person that would behold his glory Heb. 12.14 This thy perfect righteousness in heaven will make thy heart exceeding glad consider what joy of heart the godly have even from this testimony of their conscience onely that they are willing to live honestly though in many performances they come far short of their duty and desire Then what joy of heart will they have when they find in themselves the graces of holiness and righteousness perfected in an exact conformity unto the will of God if there be such joy in the seed time that Peter calleth it unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 what then will be the joy and exaltation in that day of the full harvest and in gathering if there be such joy at the laying of the foundation and in the time of building what will be our Ioy in that day when all will be covered and crowned with glory when the Comforter will dwell in us for ever Then will there be in our hearts an ever and overflowing fountain of Joy we shall be perfectly righteous and never grieve the Spirit and the Comforter will never desert us nor suspend the influence of his comfort Therefore be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for Ioy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 32.11 The fourth point considerable is the measure of our happiness 4. Point The measure of our eternal happiness set down in these words I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Our happiness in heaven will be full and satisfactory to the desires of our souls Doct. Our happiness heaven will be full and satisfactory This satisfaction standeth in these two 1. In a full peace and rest for ever from all troubles 2. In a full Ioy and delight for ever these two blessings of Peace and Ioy for ever will flow from that Ocean of blessedness the facial vision of God and run as a refreshing river through the soul beholding the face of God the eternal misery of the damned wil be perpetuated both in a punishment of loss which is called outer darkness the want of Gods gracious and comfortable presence for ever and also in a pain of sense which is called Isa 66. a worm that dyeth not and a fire that cannot be quenched but the happiness of the godly will be continued for ever in a Rest from all pain and in a fruition of all good in God al-sufficient in himself and all in all to them The godly will have a full Rest 1. The Saints in heaven have a full rest from 1. All troubles From all
will have an accessory joy reflecting from the soul as light within a glass is transparent so the inward glory of the soul will be legible in the large Characters of an ever cheerful countenance in the body As the joy of the glorified Saints will be in full measure and extent 2. Permanent so it will be permanent and perpetual Ps 16.11 At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Joh. 16.22 Your joy said our Lord to his Disciples no man taketh from you Though a sound believer hath matter of joy in his God even amidst his greatest troubles yet many times there are here sad interruptions of his joy in respect of the exercise of it in this vail of tears our condition is mixed at one time a shour of tears and prayers at another time a Sun-shine of joy and praises at one time we are ravished as it were to the third heavens with the sense of Gods love at another time we are cast down into the depth of sorrows when the Messenger of Sathan even some violent tentation doth buffet us at one time we are full both of matter and affection to praise our God that we may say with Elihu Iob. 32.18 The Spirit within constraineth me I am full of matter at another time our heart and spirit is like a bottle in the smoak all our former joy is spent and dryed up Psa 102. Our joy here is like the husband-mans joy in harvest he must be put again to the troubles and the pains of seed time so after our joy here we are put again to sow in tears Iacob had much joy at the return of his sons with corn from Egypt but it endured not for soon after he had great sorrow the corn was spent and he must part with his beloved Benjamin but in heaven our joy will be everlasting a full joy without mixture of sorrow a continual harvest a joy ever in perfection as the fruits are in time of harvest we shall never sow again in tears a perpetual joy but without wearying or loathing because there will be infinite and recent variety of sweetness in God to delight and rejoyce our hearts for ever Object But will there not be degrees of glory in heaven It is probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven 1. and if there be degrees how will all be satisfied can he that hath less be as well satisfied as he that gets a greater measure of glory Answ 1. It is most probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven Dan. 12.3 some shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and others as the stars for ever and ever 1 Cor. 15.41 there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars so also is the resurrection of the dead There are also divers degrees of torments in hell according to the divers degrees of sin and guiltiness in this life so according to the divers degrees of grace in this life it is probable there will be divers degrees of glory in heaven The servant who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not will be beaten with more stripes then he that is ignorant of it though he do it not Luke 12.47 It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgement then for those Cities which did contemn and reject the offer of the Gospel Mat. 10.15 2. Though there will be degrees of glory in heaven Yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied with that one essential and substantial glory communicate to all in the vision and fruition of the one infinite and al-sufficient God As vessels of divers measures are all filled in the same Ocean though all of them be not of equal capacity The greater degree of glory communicate to some will not be for the excellency and differences of their graces here but according to the divers degrees of grace freely bestowed on them in this life by the spirit of Jesus As they were merited onely by him who is the sole procurer of our grace and glory so in heaven the degrees of glory are a crowning not of our merits but of his own gifts for the giving of a former gift doth oblige the receiver to thankfulness but not the giver to bestow another gift so grace given freely of God obligeth us to thankfulness but doth not oblige God to give unto us glory more or less Because grace and glory in all their degrees are of his free love Rom. 5.17 for if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Iesus Christ This doctrine affords a ground of sharp reproof against all profane and earthly-minded men Vse 1 They are fools who for perishing pleasures part with everlasting joyes who with profane Esau do sell their part of this full refreshment and satisfaction for the deceitful and perishing pleasures of sin To such in our time I say as Isaiah did to those in his time Isa 55.2 wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not Therefore to the end thy heart may be rectified I offer these considerations 1. Consider that worldly pleasures are 1. unsatisfactory Consider in time the pleasures of this present world cannot satisfie thy vast appetite Riches do not satisfie the covetous man he desireth more what he yet wanteth then he delighteth in what he hath already The Heathen Moralist spake truth to this purpose when he said the covetous man wanteth as much what he hath as what he hath not as he possesseth not what he wanteth so he hath no heart to make use of what he possesseth honour doth not satisfie the ambitious man what he hath of it already is but a step to raise up his vain spirit to the desire of more and where are vehement desires of more preferment there cannot be satisfaction Neither do sensual pleasures satisfie the incontinent or intemperate man his sinful desires are not satiated thereby the more he sinneth his corruption is the more set on fire of Hell more sin is but more fewel to the fire of concupiscence Therefore as Isaiah exhorts in the same place hearken diligently unto the word of the Lord and eat that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness obey that exhortation of the Apostle Col. 3.2 set your affections on things above and not on things on earth covet the best things be thou truly generous and heavenly-minded set thy heart on these durable riches on that immortal crown of glory and on these pleasures that fade not away those pleasures in the vision and fruition of God will satisfie thy soul for ever they will fill up the measure of all thy desires thou wilt have more set before thee in an infinite God then thy finite
another time in the course of his providence he looks upon us as a stranger and wayfaring man like Ioseph with a strange countenance towards his brethren for their tryal But in such a dark hour wait thou upon him he will not absent himself for ever Though the full and permanent manifestation of his love be delayed until the day of resurrection yet now and then he will give unto thee a blink of his favour to uphold thy heart till the day of thy full refreshment Math. 28 7. the Angel said of Christ to the woman He goeth before you into Galilee there shall yee see him and yet the woman did get a sight of him at Ierusalem before he passed into Galilee Ioh. 20.19 so though the full manifestation of his glorious presence be delayed until thou pass over by death into heaven yet wait thou on God in the conscientious use of the means and thou shalt get some sight here and a full sight of glory there Our faithful and bountiful Lord giveth never less but many times more then he promiseth 4. 4. Company of evil neighbours It may be thou art much discouraged and vexed with the company of evil neighbours they are thorns in thy sides and make thee many times in the bitterness of Spirit to cry out Wo is me that I dwell in the Tents of Meseck but be of good comfort if God in his wise providence hath placed thee amongst such men he is able to preserve thee from the contagion of their society as he did Joseph and Daniel from the Idolatry of Egypt and Babylon and Obadiah from the abominations of Achab and his Court in the mean time let thy light shine in their darkness be thou the more circumspect in thy walking though thou mayst have an evil communion with them as Citizens of the same present world yet must thou not have a communion or fellowship with their unfruitful Works of darkness for thou art a Citizen of heaven and called out of darkness unto light be earnest in daily prayer with God to be saved from that froward generation rejoyce in the hope of that comfortable communion with the Saints in heaven while thou art here on earth distance of place is an impediment to that full communion for the Saints here who are the salt of the earth for its preservation are also like unto salt in this respect they are not all in one place of the earth but scattered here and there whereas in heaven they will be all together without any mixture of the wicked here we know a very few of the Saints but in heaven we shall know them all as Peter in the Mount did know Moses and Elias as Adam in the state of integrity after he awoke knew Evah to be his wife we will know none there after the flesh we will love them all as Saints and all with the like affection because all will be alike holy even in the perfection of created holyness Therefore under sense of any wants here bodily or spiritual rejoyce thou in the hope of that full sight full peace full joy and full perfection in holyness Then God will be all in all to his Saints To this purpose Augustine speaketh well lib. 22 ch 30. of the City of God That saying saith he is rightly to be understood To wit that God will be all in all he himself will be the end of all our desires who without all end will be seen who will be loved without loathing who will be praised without wavering Then saith Bernard The rational parts of our soul will be filled with the light of wisdom the concupiscible part with the fountain of righteousness and the irascible part of our soul with perfect tranquillity Therefore the Believer who hath received Grace for Grace out of the fulness of Christ both may and should in his life and death rejoyce in the hope of that full satisfaction in his Fathers house for here is a sure ground of comfort when thou awakest in the day of resurrection thou shalt behold his face in righteousness Now to the Lord Iesus Christ of whose fulness we receive both Grace and Glory with the Father and holy Ghost be ascribed all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen FINIS BOOKS Printed for Joseph Cranford at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-Yard THe Practice of CHRISTIAN PERFECTION wherein several Considerations Cautions and Advices are set down for the Perfecting of the Saints and Compleating them in the Knowledge of Christ Jesus by Thomas White Minister of Gods Word at Anne Alde sgate London ΠΑÎΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ or the Summe of Practical DIVINITY Practised in the Wilderness and Delivered by our Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount being Observations on the fourth fifth sixth and seventh Chapters of S. Matthew to which is prefixed PROLEGOMENA or Preface by way of Dialogue wherein the Perfection and Perspicuity of the Scripture is vindicated from the Calumnies of Anabaptists and Papists By Thomas White Minister of Gods word at Anne Aldersgate London ANIMADVERSIONS or the Rabinical Talmud of RABBI Iohn Rogers Wherrein is Examined his Doctrine as of the Matter Form of a Church The duty of Separation Matter Form of a Church The subjects of Church Power c. By Zach. Crofton Minister of Gods word at Iames Garlick Hythe London A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE of PRAYER Wherein is handled the Nature the Duty the Qualifications of Prayer viz. Ejaculatory Publike Private and Secret Prayer with the necessity and Ingagements unto Prayer together with sundry Cases of Conscience about it By Thomas Cobbet Minister of Gods Word at Lyn. JUS DIVINUM Ministerii Evangelici or the Divine Right of the Gospel-ministry Published by the Provincial Assembly of London A VINDICATION of the Answer to Mr. Brabourn concerning the Civil Magistrates Power as to changing Church-Government Wherein the Reverend Mr. Perkins and some Truths of God are Vindicated from the Lyes and scurrilous expressions cast upon them A PROSPECT of Eternity Or mans everlasting Condition opened and applyed by Iohn Wells Mr. of Arts now Pastour of Olaves Iury in London