amialâ— are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Hosts â—â— Soul longeth and panteth even to enter iâ— thy Courts even thy great City Holy aâ— Heavenly Jerusalem Rev. 21. and 22. 1â— which shineth with thy Glory as clear â— Chrystal whose Buildings are of puâ— Gold like glittering Glass whose Waâ— and Foundations are of precious Stones whose Gates are so many entire Pearls whose Streets are pav'd with pure Gold glittering as Glass where is no need â—â— any Sun because the Lamb is the Lamâ— that giveth it a large a glorious Light from whose Seat streams a River of Watâ— of Life clear as Crystal and upon thâ— Brooks is planted the Tree of Life which continually yieldeth both Physick and Food where is no Curse no Night no unclean thing but the Throne of God and of the Lamb and his Servants shall see his Face and serve him and Reign for evermore Matthew 8. 8. When thou wert upon the Earth O my Saviour in thy humbled State the Centurion professed himself unworthy and so he was that thou shouldst come under his Roof altho' in probability neither framed nor furnished in the meanest fashion on the other side how unworthy am I base wretched Worm to enter into this thy Heavenly Habitation prepared â—or thy glorious estate Psal 84. 1 4. O! how amiable are thy dwellings thou Lord of â—osts Blessed are they that thou shalt make worthy to dwell in thy House they shall â—lways be praising of thee But there is no place can afford true Feâ—icity if the Society be not suitable to the â—ame A Country is much esteemed accorâ—ing to the Nature and Quality of the Inâ—abitants if they be many if of Noble Nature if of a generous Disposition if â—ll aiming at one common End who then â—re the Inhabitants of this Celestial City here is the full assembly of Angels oâ— whom in this World we have the serviceâ— but not in sight in Number answerablâ— to the large Capacity of that Place moâ—â— amiable most admirable Câ—eatuâ—es iâ— Beauty disposed in most excellent Oâ—deâ— here are the ancient Woâ—thies or ratheâ— Wonders of this World the Patriarchâ— the Prophets the Apostles the Evangâ—lists the Martyâ—s the Confessors and gâ—nerally all the company of Saints in suâ— multitude that they cannot be numbreâ— for Nobility all the Children of Goâ— holding such Order for their Places aâ— Proportions for their Glory as it pleaseâ— the Divine Wisdom to dispose And aboâ— all here is the holy Humanity of our Saâ—our Christ seated in the height of Majesâ— at the right Hand of the Father being tâ— Head of that blessed Body of Saints O sweet Society what shall I say 〈◊〉 thee it seemeth a Presumption to desiâ— thee and yet without desire of thee I caâ—not live Habakkuk 2. 4. For the righâ—ous Man doth live by Faith if then have the Faith to believe thee I cannâ—â— but have a desire to enjoy thee Heb. â— 38. Gal. 3. 11. Rom. 1. 17. 19. The true Life of a Christian is Faith our Senses may be deceived and thereby possess our Opinion with Erâ—or I cannot have this Life of Christianiâ—y if my Faith is not more assured than â—ny Sense Well this is the Seat this is the Socâ—eâ—y which God out of his infinite Goodness and Mercy hath appointed for those â—hat love him and long for his appearing â—nd that make it their chiefest business in his World to serve him and glorifie his Name those full and transcendent Feliâ—ities they shall enjoy endeavour not to â—xpress O my Soul thou art nothing near â—ble to understand them thou art so far â—om understand 〈…〉 them as thou art â—om enjoying 〈…〉 more do underâ—â—and them but 〈…〉 do enjoy them â—nly thou mayest aâ—ar off look towards â—em and so clear as the Cloudiness of â—lesh and Blood will permit in distinct â—arts take a view of them as they are â—iefly applicable either to the Body or the â—ul For this filthy Flesh which is now â— cumbersome and offensive to the Soul â—d subject to so many mutations shall in â—e general Resurrection be changed and â—ade most glorious it shall cast off aâ—l Corruption and therewith also all the Deformities and Calamities which proceeded from the same Isa 35. 6. There shall not be one feeble The Lame shall leap as an Haâ—â— and the Dumb shall sing for if the Blind and Lame were not permitted to enter into David's House much less shall any Deformity or Defect either enter or approach unto the House of God and as the Soâ— by conforming it self to the Will of God so the Body by conforming it self contrary to the Nature thereof to the Will oâ— the Soul shall be made partaker of the Perfection and Glory of the Soul and be seated in a most flourishing and never-fading State of high Perfections it shall be adorned with most 〈◊〉 Beauty even the wise Man saith 〈◊〉 â—7 In the time 〈◊〉 their visitation they shall shine Moses saw God but imperfectly and while and his Face did shine how theâ— shall they shine who shall perfectly see 〈◊〉 Face for ever Our Saviour did in soâ— measure describe this glorious Beautâ— when he said Mat. 13. The Just Mâ—n sâ—â—shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Fâ—ther It shall be delivered from the luâ—pish Heaviness wherewith it is clogged aâ— incumbred in this Life and be in Agilâ— equal with Angels for as they enjoy equal Glory so shall there be no difference in their Gifts The thought of Man is not more swift when the Sun riseth in the East the Beams thereof are not more speedily darted into the West than that shall be both swift and sudden in performing motion Isaiah 40. 31. They shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Hereto shall be added a most large Liberty no Limits to include no stop to restrain it from passing freely whereit pleaseth and also their strength shall be as the strength of Angels nothing shall resist it eveâ—â— thing shall give it way it shall strive with no greater strain in effecting any thing than we do in the motion of our Eyes Further it shall be delivered from all Diseases and Pains of this Life and shall â—njoy a strong and perfect Constitution of Health no Sickness shall seize upon it no â—nfirmity no Debility shall approach it grow upon it prevail against it because as â—he Psalmist saith Psal 37. 39. The Health â—â— the Righteous is from the Lord. Above all it shall be wholly filled with â—nspeakable Delight and Satisfaction â—hat do I say it shall be filled it shall be inebriated not having the sence of any other thing what do I say wholly every part every faculty and every sense shall be satiated with delight in its own proper Object not like the corruptible and sorrowful Pleasures of this Life which are aâ— smoak in cold weather whereof the Smoak is more noisom and offensive than the heaâ— is comfortable but exceeding them
thou visitest him with Everlasting Loving kindness anâ— thou givest thy Angels charge over him and thou wilt not suffer any harm to come unto him thou aâ—t with him in his distress and when he weeps thou holdest a Bottle under to catch his Tears thou bindest up his Wounds and healest all his Sores thou watchest over him and thy Ears are open to his Prayers and his Groans are not hiâ— from thee his Peace is made with thee so here they that truly fear and serve thee are free from all slavish fears nothing but Love rules in their Hearts which makes their Yoak easie and their Burthen light and the Narrow way full of delight and satisfaction they have peace of Conscâ—ence a peace which passeth all understanding so that the Devil can make no War against them to do them any harm he may raise a Storm and lay a Siege but he cannot overthrow for he that is for them is stronger than he that is against them he may set their House on fire but he cannot consume them and rain Brimstone upon them but they have a Tower to flee to a Place of Refuge and Defence Who is a strong Towâ—r in the day of distress and the Righteous â—lee unto it and are safe Ah Lord these are great and glorious Priviledges that â—hy chosen ones are made Partakers of O Lord make me one of these and â—uide me by thy Counsel until thou shalt â—ing me unto Glory â—ome Considerations of the Glory of the Saints in Heaven THis Felicity is represented to us by many Names but most especially Two taken from Two things in this World which we affect most that is Life and a Kingdom First Life Luke 10. 15. Master who shall I do to inherit eternal Life And Secondly A Kingdom Matt. 22. 3â— Mark 12. 28. Luke 2. 32. Fear not littâ—â— Flock for it is your Father's pleasure to giâ—â— you a Kingdom The Nature of Life is so sweet to all Meâ— because naturally we desire to preserve oâ— Being even in this mortal Life which 〈◊〉 fast chained not only to infinite change oâ— Calamities but to many Dangers and fâ—nally to Death it self but that Life whicâ— is the blessed State of those who have a fuâ—fruition of God is a true lively and perfect Life a pure Life a holy Life a securâ—â— Life a Life free from Molestation frâ—â— from Change a most happy Life as weâ— for the Glory thereof as for the Eternity In this Glory there may be degrees 〈◊〉 there can â—e no defect altho' like Sâ—aâ—â— one Saint shall differ from another yet aâ—â—hall shine altho' like Vessels one sâ—aâ—â—â— hold more than another yet all shall 〈◊〉 full Neither shall this difference cause â—ny to complain First Because in theâ—selves they shall find no want And â—â—condly Because the Glory of others shaâ—â— be as their own And yet this Glory could not make Life â—appy if it were not also perpetual The â—ore glorious it is to be enjoyed the more â—â—ievous it would be to determine the â—ery Thoughts of Ending wou'd much â—bate the pleasures of Enjoying but Eterâ—ity addeth so much to Contentment in â—his Glorious Life as it addeth to contiâ—uance it maketh the Pleasures of this â—ife even like it self no less than infinite Likewise a Kingdom is of such Estimaâ—â—on among Men that for it they will venâ—ure their Estates their Lives their Souls â—ay they will surmount all difficulties and â—angers they will make their way thro' â—lood through Wounds through Death 〈◊〉 self to attain it altho' it be but a small Corner-Kingdom upon Earth incident to â—numerable Casualties and Care But his Kingdom is a Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 â—ternal Kingdom a most blessed Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Tim. 4. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Luke 〈…〉 â—at 23. 34. a Heavenly Kingdom 〈…〉 â—â—ove the tempestuous Troubles of this 〈◊〉 â—â—riour World an eternal Kingdom subâ—â—ct neither to declination nor change a â—lessed Kingdom furnished with all Feliâ—â—ties without any mixture of Misery or â—rief the Excellency whereof may be consider'd in two principal Points Largâ—ness and Magnificence which may not bâ— obscurely conjectured For if it be true which all Authors aâ—firm That many Stars do far exceed thâ— whole Body of the Earth in greatness seeing these Stars bear so small a Proportion in regard of that Heaven whereoâ— they are fixed the Face whereof is opeâ— to our View how little is the compass â— all the Kingdoms upon the Earth in coâ—parison to the Celestial Kingdom which 〈◊〉 above the Starry Heaven and in unknowâ— dimensions exceedeth that Sphear Be astonish'd O my Soul and altogether wrap from thy bodily Senses upon consideration both of the Greatness of this Kingdom and the unspeakable Goodness â—â— the King thereof who hath said unto the â—â—ncerning the same as once he said unt◠〈◊〉 of the Land of Canaan Lift ◠〈…〉 â—yes now and look from the Place whâ—◠〈◊〉 art for all the Land which thou seest â—â—â—â—â—ve unto thee for ever Gen. 13. 14 15. Proceed also to consider the Beauty anâ— Majesty of that Kingdom even by thâ— Rule which the Apostle hath taught Roâ— 1. 20. In esteeming the invisible Works â— God by those that are visible If then God hath provided for these our base Bodies and sinful Souls such excellent such abundant Pleasures from the Service of all Creatures in this World â—ow excellent how innumerable are those Pleasures which are prepared for those glorified Bodies and Souls which shall behold him Face to Face If the Delights â—e so great and various which he imparteth to the Evil as well as the Good to his Enemies as to his Friends what hath he reserved for his good best and choicest Friends If our Prison yield such fair contentments what will he do for us in his Royal Court If we find such Comfort in this stormy time of Tears what may we expect in the sweet Sun shine of Joy If this corruptible World which he set up for a small time as a Cottage or Out-house be so gorgeous so magnificent that many desire no other Heaven what Estimation shall we make of his principâ—l and Princely Palace His Eternal Habitation prepar'd before all Worlds to set forth his Majesty and Glory and for the uttermost declaration both of his Wisdom and Power It is very like that the Palace of Babylon was exceeding fair whereof Nebuâ—hadnezzar so much gloried Is not this great Babel which I have built for the Houâ— of the Kingdom for the Honour of my Majâ—sty But assuredly all this World of ouâ— which holdeth a middle state between Heâ—ven and Hell and in some sort participateâ— of both surpasseth and it surpasseth nâ— Hell so far in Beauty and Glory as it surpassed by the Royal Court of Heaveâ— which being framed fit for the Majesty greeable to the Estate of Almighty God no less gorgeous and great than his Wiâ—dom could contrive and his Power pâ—â—form and that is above all compass of coâ—parison Infinite Ps 84. 11. O! how
as faâ— in Excellency as they do in Cause and iâ— Continuance and so far in Plenty as theâ— do in Place Psal 36. 8. It shall be satisfied with the abundance of God's House anâ— he shall give you drink of his Pleasures as oâ— of a River Lastly It shall be crown'd with Immoâ—tality whereby it shall be assured never tâ— dissolve never to decline but to endure â— long in the same perfect and blessed Estaâ— as the Almighty and Everlasting God shaâ— endure for he that causeth the Heaveâ— to continue without change after so man thousand years since they were created â— by the same Almighty Power and Ouâ— stretch'd Arm shall also cause the glorifiâ— Bodies of the Saints always to flourish â— ven as the Bay-Tree or as the wise Mâ— saith The just shall live for ever and tâ— shall be the accomplishment of all the re for if the Prophet David thought one Day in God's earthly House better than a thousand in another Place the highest thoughts and greatest Imaginations we can conceive is infinitely short of the Blessedness and Gloriousness of this Heavenly House not made with Hands the unspeakable delightful habitation of Almighty God O! be astonished O my Soul at the wonderful Loving-kindness of Almighty God O thou lover of Man O thou that lovest Man in sin altho' thou lov'st not sin in Man what hath our filthy flesh worthy of this Honour it should according to its Deserts be tyed rather in a Stable with Beasts for feeding following and satisfying of its most beastly Appetites than sit in thy Sanctuary among thy Angels Dust should by Nature remain with Dust and not be advanc'd above the Heavens but as thou didst honour Ishmael the Son of a Bond woman because he belonged to Abraham so thou art pleas'd likewise to afford such Favour to this base and wretched brood of Corruption for the dependency thereof upon thy only Son the Parts shall participate with the Head and belike unto it as he had communicated with that in Nature so shall that communicate with him in Glory But how much the Soul is more noble than the Body so much more capable it is of greater Felicities it shall be filled with perfect Wisdom and behold it Face to Face 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now I see in part saith the Apostle but then shall I know even as I am known Then shall it behold and know the invisible Nature of the Blessed Trinity the Power of the Father the Wisdom of the Son the Goodness of the Holy Ghost the bottomless Depths of God's Judgments now unsearchable and past finding out shall then be seen even as the Prophet â—â—id Psal 36. 9. In thy Light we shall see Light And in beholding God it shall behold the Causes Natures and Ends of all things which God hath made of Nature to be known because they are more clear and conspicuous in God than in themselves Then shall all Men be known of all neither shall any either Quality or Action be secret to any and this is the end of all ouâ— Endeavouâ—s John 17. 3. This is Everlasting Life saith our Saviour to know thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Also it shall be ravished with perfect Love both towards God for the infinite Causes of Love which in him shall appear and towards the Saints for that it shall perceive them to love and to be belov'd of God Both so much as it self and for the same cause it shall love God more than it self because it shall be sensible that God loveth it more than it is able to love it self the Saints it shall love equal with it self as being Members of one Body whereof Christ is Head for if the Spirit of Man hath Power to cause so great Unity as we see between the Members of one Body the Spirit of God which is the Soul of that Body of Saints shall cause so much more perfect Union by how much it is a more noble and powerful Form and giveth a more noble and durable Being Hereupon it followeth First That it shall conceive so many particular Joys as it shall see causes of Love in God which are infinite Secondly That it shall equally rejoice at the Felicity of every one as at that which is proper to it self whereby all the Saints shall partake of one another's Excellencies for in this Union Love shall be in its full Perfection the Nature of which Vertue is to make all things common It shall also enjoy a most sweet Peace and Concord in it self for the Body and Soul of every just Man which in this Life are always in Combat by reason of the Contraries between them the one being Spiritual the other Carnal shall then enjoy a compleat Peace by consent there shall not be any Distraction or Strife any more but they shall be carried one Way and be guided by one Will and that is the Will of God The Will of God shall be the Will of the Saints as they shall give a full and free Consent to the Will of God so shall God in all things consent unto their Will for how can the Head disagree from the Members how can one perfect Spirit be contrary to it selâ— Herewith it shall be advanc'd to a most high and happy degree of Honour for that which here was drown'd in the Putrefaction of the Flesh constantly in Miseries destitute both of Comfort and of Help entangled with Infirmities loaden with loathsome Sins in a word doing nothing but Sin finding nothing but Miseries which are the Reward of Sin God only and alone mov'd by his tender Mercy will take it to himself he will cleanse it he will cure it he will cloath it with perfect Righteousness he will adopt it for one of his Sons and make it a fellow heir of his most glorious Kingdom he will incorporate it with his only Son who is in all things equal with himself In respect thereof that of the Prophet David may be very fitly applied to those Saints Psal 82. 6. I have said that ye are Gods and that ye are all the Children of the most High To these shall be added great Ability for whatsoever they shall have a will to do they shall have Power to perform because he that is Omnipotent shall in all things consent to the Will thereof To these also Security shall be added for as it shall enjoy all things it can desire so shall it not fear to lose any thing it shall enjoy because neither it shall be willing to lose them or God deprive them of them against their Wills neither can any Power take that away which God wills they shall retain Lastly it shall be filled with perfect and unspeakable Pleasure and Joy which no Understanding is able to apprehend and this shall proceed from the clear Vision of Almighty God in beholding of him Face to Face 1 Cor. 13. in beholding of him as he is wherein consisteth the Essential Glory of
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill