shall not be now need of any outward Elements Bread or Wine but the Inward part the Spiritual Communion they shall have it new and fresh in a more lively and better fuller manner then here whence they shall be as men full of new Wine filled with the Springs of Heavenly Affection and Consolation Wine is oft used to express Joy Gladness Comfort Psal 104.15 The Communion between Christ and the Saints in the Coelestial Life will compleat perfect and far transcend that that is but in a weak and mean degree begun in Ordinances here Consider also that the Union and Communion between Christ and the faithful being set forth by that of the Conjugal relation in Scripture our present state is but an Espousal the Consummation of the Marriage is at the day of Judgment thence follows the full enjoyment each of other in Heaven when Christ hath carried his Spouse home to his Fathers house Ineffable Mutual Delight Communion Communication of Secrets and Hearts each to other Joy and Contentment will thence ensue Then will those words be most fully verified Isa 62.4 5. and 54.4 5 8. Zeph. 3.17 Then will the Book of Canticles that Book of Loves between Christ and his Church be understood and fully practised But thus in Heaven you shall have Immediate and full Communion with the Lord Jesus You hear of him now but you shall see him then and be ever with him there was flocking to see him when on earth in his Humiliation Luk. 19.3 4. And the Spiritually minded then saw Glory in him Joh. 14. But what will it be then to see him in Heaven in his Glorified estate And not only to see him as a stranger as a Glorious person But to see and enjoy him as thy Friend as thy Brother Saviour Husband Cant. 5.16 One who sometimes powered out his Heart-blood for thee and will now power out his Heart-love to thee for evermore 3. The Saints shall have full Communion with the Holy Ghost they shall have the Everlasting fulness and presence of the Spirit and so have a fulness of Gifts and Graces of Holiness and Comfort for evermore The Saints have somewhat of the Communion of the Holy Ghost now 2 Cor. 13.14 But they shall have it in perfection then We have but the first fruits of the Spirit but an earnest penny now Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 1.22 and 5.5 Therefore there is an Harvest the whole sum a fulness of the Spirit that shall be imparted then And as the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Comfort now by whose Presence and Assistance we are upheld in both so will he be then only in such a way manner and measure as suits a state of Perfection then he will rest upon you as a Spirit of Glory so hath he done in a great degree on some Martyrs here 1 Pet. 4.14 but there in Perfection on all the Saints Hence the Saints in Heaven having the fulness of the Spirit shall be replenished with all those Excellencies and endowments that are the Effects and fruits of the presence and special operation of the Spirit filled with all the fulness of God As 1. With singular Divine Guifts of knowledge wisdom inlargement of understanding as 1 King 4.29 and utterance For there will be use of utterance in Heaven in Glorious Conference and Converse of the Saints Here are Gifts given for the Kingdom of Grace by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 8 11. But there are Guifts suiting the Kingdom of Glory 2. With all Graces of Holiness or Sanctification those now brought to perfection and kept up in act and exercise Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes 2.13 will then be perfect of which further afterward concerning the Glory of the Soul and there will be the constant un-interrupted Presence and Assistance of the Spirit to actuate every Grace to keep it up in its full exercise The heart ever inlarged for God ever fixed and tuned to sing his Praise as Psal 57.7 8. Thy Glory Heart and Tongue shall be ever awake thy Harp ever in Tune then the Spirit of Grace everlastingly filling and quickning thy Heart and holding thee up in Heavenly Spiritual activity and inlargement 3. With abundant Comfort and Consolation The Holy Ghost will then fully do that work of a Comforter and dwell in all the Saints as such Joh. 14.16 in his Choicest and most Glorious Comforting Operations That in Rom. 5.5 will then be fully done Then perfect Assurance and sense of the Love of God without all mixture of doubt or fear or darkness full Assurance shall be wanting to never a Saint in Heaven the meanest shall see the Love of God more clearly than the strongest did here That great question will then be out of question forever The light of Gods Countenance shall be then lifted up and shine upon your souls as a Sun that never sets nor is overcast with clouds The knowledge and sense of that one thing that the Infinite God loves thee with an everlasting love which is more worth than ten thousand thousand worlds shall live in thy heart and be the Life and Joy of thy Soul and fill thee with peace that passeth all understanding The joy of the Holy Ghost that is a manifest and eminent part of our Communion with the Holy Ghost shall then be at its full height which now we have but some tasts and drops of Rom. 14.17 That that Christ hath been so long aiming and driving at will then be attained Joh. 15.11 and 16.24 Their Joy is the Element the Saints in Heaven live in they breath in no other Aire but that the Ocean they swim in It is that they enter and go into Mat. 25.21 23. Joy at once expresses Heaven and Heavenly Glory It is a Mass or Heap of Joy a Region of Joy an Aire and Element of Joy the Joy of the Lord God the Joy of the Holy Ghost into which they are brought and where they breath and live and swim in the fulness thereof for ever Psal 16.11 2. A second thing considerable in the positive Happiness of the Saints in Heaven is their inherent personal subjective the former particular pointeth chiefly to their objâ—ctive Glory though they go together and therâ—fore both there and here somewhat of both Glory or perfection both of Soul and Body This partly makes them capable of that foresaid full enjoyment of God and partly results from it For our present frail weak and distempered faculties are not capable of that Glory and Glorious Communion 1 Cor. 15.50 and 2.9 they must therefore be raised up to an higher state of Perfâ—ction in order thereunto And the enjoyment of that Communion with God continually reflects unspeakable Glory and Happiness inherent Excellencies upon the whole man But hence the person of each Saint is Glorified filled with Glorious Excellency and Perfection both of Soul and Body All that be there are Glorified Persons Rom. 8.17 18 30. Colâ—ss 3.4 Glorious or Glorified they are both in their
of their Glory This compleatness of Glory and so the Accession or addition to what they had before at and after the Resurrection we may take up in several particulars 1. They shall then have full Conquest and victory over Death and full deliverance from the Curse The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death and that is not fully destroyed and swallowed up till the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.26 54 56 57. Though the Soul dye not yet Death hangs and abides upon the Body and so upon the person and continues to make up a separation between those two Soul and Body which had it not been for sin should never have been parted untill it be raised and shake off its dust and the re-union effected hence the Curse is not fully finally and totally abolish'd to the Saints till the Resurrection For Death is a fruit of the Curse While the Body is turned into and abides in its dust there is somewhat of its Ancient Curse remaining Genes 3.19 It hath some hold of them while the Grave holds the Body But when that is rased and hath shaken off its dust and Corruption and this Corruptible put on Immortality now here is compleat deliverance from the Curse and every Rag and Remnant of it For Christ at his Resurrection had a compleat Victory over the Curse it can hold him under no loâ—ger so hath the Saint Here is now a Redemption of the Body and so of the whole man from the Curse and from all Enemies even the last of them which is Death Rom. 8.23 There is the Redemption of the Soul before i. e. simply in it self considered though Relatively as it stands in relation to the Body and naturally desires Re-union with it so it may be said not to be fully Redeemed that is the person is not fully Redeemed while any part of it lyes under the Curse But now is the Redemption of the Body from Death and Vileness and so now the whole man the person is compleatly Redeemed delivered set free from the whole Curse Hence it is called the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 Hence when Christ tells us of a full Life that he will give us he tells us of the Resurrection Joh. 6.40 54. He hath not finisht his quickning work his work of giving life till then 2. The Body shall then be Glorified there will be the accession of the Glory of the Body which was not before That part of each Saint till now till the Resurrection was not Glorified but lay in the dust and among the Worms in vileness and debasement But now the Body shall not only be raised up and live and so be freed from death as before but also be carried and adorned with Glory Honour Beauty and Excellency unspeakable be made a Glorious Body Phil. 3.21 An impassible Beautiful Agile Strong Spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. Of this Glory of the Body what it is we spoke something before touching the Personal perfection of a Glorified Saint I only mention it now as part of the Additional and Compleat Glory that acrew's to the Saints at and after the Resurrection which was not before And this will increase the Joy of the Soul the Glory of the Body will be an addition to the Joy of the Soul and so the Happiness and Glory of the Soul considered extensively i. e. in its relation to and participation with the Body rejoycing in its Joy c. will be greater after the Resurrection than it was before though considered intensively and intrinsically viz. as to the Essential Happiness of the Soul that consists in its vision and fruition of God so it is the same before and after the Resurrection The Adjunctive additional Glory or Joy of the Soul will be increased through the Essence of the Happiness of the same 3. Hence the person the whole person consisting of Soul and Body of each Saint shall then be Glorified or after an Happy Joyfull meeting of those two old friends Soul and Body there will be an enjoyment of compleat Happiness in and by the whole mar It was but a peice of a Saint that was Glorified before but a part though indeed the principal part the Soul but now the whole the entire person for neither the Soul alone nor the Body alone is the person but the entire whole made up of both that is now Glorified And look as the condition of a part is attributed or belongs to an integral whole as if a Leg or an Arm be hurt or wounded we say the man is hurt or wounded so the person may be truly said to be inglorious not Glorified while an Essential part the Body is so Though the Soul be Glorified and so the man in regard of that part yet properly the person is not till both Soul and Body be so Joh. 7.39 not Glorified because his Manhood was not So Mat. 22.31 32. Abraham properly i. e. the person of Abraham does not enjoy God and the good of the Covenant Eternal Life unless his Body be raised Indeed the Soul of Abraham might but not Abraham properly for Abraham is a person consisting of Soul and Body It is properly but the Soul of such a man that is Glorified before the Resurrection But now the man the person is the whole entire man consisting in Soul and Body And Hence 1. There will be an Happy and Joyful meeting or re-union of the Soul and Body this re-union will be mutually Joyful and the Joy of the whole For the Soul of man was naturally made to subsist in a Body hence it is incompleat and imperfect without it it hath not its perfect and compleat manner of subsisting in its separate estate hence it desireth and longeth after re-union with the Body and by re-union it receives though not any Essential yet an Integral perfection And as the parting of these two old friends was sorrowful and contrary to nature or to natural inclination though swallowed up and over-ballanced by that greater good the presence of Christ Phil. 1 23. yet in it self sorrowful and unpleasant unto nature so their meeting again will be wonderful joyful they meeting in a condition of Joy and Bliss When the Soul is in Glory it now wants but one thing to make its Joy compleat viz. To have the Body with it in the same Glory This is now attained and now it is come to its full rest 2. There is now henceforth from the Resurrection and so on to all Eternity an actual plenary enjoyment of Glory and Happiness by the whole man in both the parts of Soul and Body That Glory that was before but in a part is now diffused into the whole And the Soul acts more perfectly in a Glorified Body because more naturally then it did in its seperate estate Indeed now on Earth the Body is a clog to the Soul and hence the seperate Soul hath a fuller and freer enjoyment of Happiness than it can have here But the Glorified Body
up for them and will then actually and fully put upon them 2 Tim. 4 8. a Crown of Righteousness i. e. which the Righteous and Faithful God according to his Gracious Promises made to his own Grace in us and the appointment declared to all that run for the Prize of the Heavenly Calling will bestow on the Righteous It is the Saints Coronation-day and that must needs be a day of great Glory to them when they shall be openly Crowned before the World They are now Heirs and have Title c. to the Kingdom but that is their Coronation-day He that was before a Prince or lawful King yet at the Solemnity of Coronation appears in eminent Splendor and hath eminent Honour put upon him Such a day is the day of Judgment to the Saints they are now Princes and Kings unto God by Title c. But then they shall be brought forth and Crowned before all the World Actually installed into their Kingdom and into the fulness of the Glory thereof Mat. 25.34 So it is the Saints Marriage-day the Consummation of their Marriage with Christ after the Espousalls here wherein therefore they shall be brought forth in Robes of Glory befitting the Spouse of the King of Kings and that in the fight of all the World The Glory that God hath put upon his own Children and Christ upon his Spouse and Fellow-heirs shall then be manifested and openly revealed Hence 3. This Love of God and Christ to them in all this in all his wonderful works of Grace of wisdom power and goodness in all he hath done in and for them in Electing Calling Justifying Adopting Sanctifying preserving and keeping and carrying on by his power to Salvation and now fully Glorifying The whole Chain and Circle of his Love all the wonders of Mercy and Grace wherein he hath abounded toward his Saints shall then be revealed and discovered 1 Joh. 3.1 2. 2 Thes 1.10 The Glory of the Saints shall be so revealed as may Glorify God and make him admirable in all he hath done in and for them ver 11 12. As God will then reveal set forth and shew abroad his wrath and Justice on the Vessels of wrath Rom. 2.5 and 9.22 So he will reveal his Love Grace and Mercy towards the Vessels of Mercy in that day of Revelation The whole Mystery of Grace will be then unfolded in the Glory of it and to the Glory and Praise of God which as it is the last end of all Gods Dispensations toward the Elect Ephes 1.2 So that end shall then be attained We may say as Colos 1.26 27. Christ the whole mystery of Christ shall then appear in his full Glory and Grace is the sum and top of the whole mystery of Christ And this will be to the singular Comfort and Joy of the Saints as well as to the Glory of God the benefit of the compleat and final pardon of all their sins and this opened in its Glory what refreshment and joy will it be Act. 3.19 the like may be said of all the rest 4. The Superiority of the Saints over above the wicked and being preferred before them and in a Condition infinitly better and more Happy then they Psal 49.14 They the upright shall be the better men and better on 't then in a more Happy and Honourable Condition exalted far above them while they seemed to be the underlings of the world under Poverty and Persecution and this shall plainly appear and be seen in the morning of the Resurrection Then will that plainly appear that the Elder shall serve the Younger Gen. 25.23 The Esau's of the World the great Doers and Busslers and mighty Hunters therein shall come behind the younger Brother the despicable the more unlikely the Jacob's the plain men that dwell in Tents the pious and Godly though never so poor and mean and despicable in the World whose out-side promises not so much Here in this World men and things are oft mis-placed Servants on Horse-back Ham and Canaan Servants of Servants so the wicked are of servile busie ignoble Spirits and Conditions yet of him of such oft are the Nimrods the mighty Hunters in the Earth And Princes the Children of the King of Kings the Heirs of Heaven walking as Servants upon the Earth Eccles 10.7 6. But then all things shall be set to rights and put in their places then these Princes shall be on Thrones of Glory Luk 22.30 1 Cor. 6.2 3. And the wicked how high soever they have been here below at the Baâ— filled with shame and horrour Piety and Godliness shall then be honoured and advanced however it is despised now And the poor if Pious shall have the Crown Jam. 2.5 and 1.12 that will then appear Prov. 28.6 Yea and then the righteous Cause of the Lords people shall be judged owned and maintained which will tend to their Glory who have oft been condemned unjustly in this World as Christ himself was That Judgment-seat of Christ Jesus hath been oft appealed to by Martyrs and Sufferers and he will then receive those Appeals and judge them righteously and that openly to the confusion of all the unrighteous Judgments that have passed here in the time of this World Devils shall then receive their doom and punishment for all their wicked molestations of the Saints and oppositions of Christs Kingdom in one way or other and all enemies destroyed and brought down under the feet not only of Christ but of his Church also And this final and total subduing of enemies and exalting of the Church shall be seen and known openly and beheld And this manifestation of the Sons of God is that which the whole Creation and all the works of Providence are in Travel for Rom. 8.19 22 23. The Glory of the Sons of God is formed and prepared in the womb of Providence now but that is the Birth-day of the manifestation of it then the mystery of God is finished and the work of God upon and in his Saints is brought forth in its full beauty and perfection Thus of the Manifestation of the Saints Glory at the last day Add we another consideration shewing the Compleatness and Consummation of their Glory then 5. At the last day the whole number of the Saints will be compleated and the Mystical Body of Christ entirely filled up and then will God compleatly and most Gloriously communicate himself to the whole at once Christ will then represent his Kingdom and Body compleat and entire every way come to its full growth and consistency Ephes 4.13 as it shall abide forever and in that compleat Estate he with the Father and the Spirit will Communicate himself thereto in the most perfect and Glorious manner as Heb. 11.40 So the Saints that are now in Heaven shall not be made perfect without their fellows and till the remnant of their Brethren as Rev. 6.11 have run through their militant course and be come in there is yet a further perfection they shall have
when they are all come together When the Body Mystical is entire and full then it hath its fullest Beauty Comfort and Glory For every member addeth something and there is in some sort a defect while any one is wanting For the Joy and Glory of every member of the Body is the Joy and Glory of the whole and every one serves to compleat the Communion and Comfort of the whole And when the Lord hath all his Children about him none are miâ—sing Christ all his Members with him the Mansions of Heaven filled up with all the Vessels of Glory set in order in their places as it shall be after the day of Judgment and so â—o all Eternity with what ineffable delight will the Lord open to them all the Treasures and Riches of his Glory and what wonderful ravishing matter of Praising and Glorfying God and what compleat comfort therein which must needs raise up the Joy and Glory of the Saints unto the greatest height and highest possible perfection Vse Of this plenary compleat Glory that the Saints are to have at the last day and not till then 1. Be not stumbled or troubled and offended at the clouds of darkness the mean outside and seeming ingloriousness and obscurity that is upon the people of God and upon the work of God in the World at the present For the time of the manifestation of the Sons of God and of the discovery of their Glory and of the finishing of Gods work referring to them is not yet come Marvel not to see the Saints go up and down under mean and outward misery to see them poor and low sick and crazy and dying and Bodies turned to dust as well to see them sweating under many afflâ—ctions and sorrows lying among the pots black with the soot of many troubles Why now their Glory must be hid from the World and it must not yet appear what men of quality they are they must pass Incognito and go in some disguise through the World though the Sons of God and Princes of Heaven they must not appear in that state at present But this present hiding will set off their appearance and manifestation with greater Lustre another day to see them on Thrones whom you have sometimes seen in vile raiment whom you would hardly deigne to look upon will be the greater wonder and Glory tâ— him who lifts the poor out of the dust and the needy from off the dunghill It may be they are despised now but you shall one day see them in so much honour as you will wish you had honoured them as the pious do Psal 15.4 how poor soever does he fear the Lord honour him highly if you will not Christ will honour him one day before men and Angels But he 'l be ashamed of you if you be ashamed of him or of his Members and people now Jam. 2.5 6. And stumble not at Gods work because 't is now wrapt in Clouds why it is not yet come to its Issue it is but a doing Children and fools they say must not look on things half done we are so foolish we cannot see into the beauty of Gods work while it is but half done not made up and finished When the Mystery of God shall be finished Rev. 10.7 and all Providences come to their Issues the whole story wrought up then when God shall bring forth his embroidered curious work compleat and finished then it will and shall appear Beautiful and Glorious before all the World the black pieces the darker lines and coulers illustrating the other when set together which look'd upon alone shew unhandsome When all the confusions that are in the World shall Issue in goodly order and every thread every stitch appear to have been drawn by Art which now seem to go in and out this way and that way and we can make nothing of them as if a Child should look upon a Curious Needle-woman at work on some piece he would see little in it how will God be admired as Psal 139.14 15.16 so it is with all that work that is formed in the womb of Providence in the time of this World which in that great Revelation-day the day of Judgment that Birth-day of the manifested Glory of the Sons of God and of the work of God shall appear to have been most curiously wrought as with Needle-work though now it is obscure and secret to us Oh the praises God will have then Vse 2. Hence see that our Eyes and Hearts should be upon that day that last and great day the day of Redemption and Glory of Resurrection and Judgment that is to come That is the great day Jud. 6. this the time of this World is but a little day in comparison this is mans day 1 Cor. 4.3 But that is the day of God the day of the Lord 2 Pet. 3.12 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Thess 5.2 Paul's eye and heart was upon that day 2 Tim. 1.12 18. and 4.8 We are all for this day this present time and present things alas they are not to be mentioned to that day Rom. 8.18 Oh make sure of being well on 't at the last day owned and confessed and saved at that day and you are well enough There is a time to come lay a good foundation for that 1 Tim. 6.19 so carry it in this day as you may be owned in that Now own Christ and own his people and be not ashamed of the Chain of their Sufferings if you would find mercy at the day Remember these Scriptures 2 Tim. 1.16 18. Mat. 25.34 to 40. Mat. 10.32.33 Luk 9.26 Mark 8.38 Is there any word or any truth of Christ any rule of his any part of his mind which you are ashamed on because the times do not favour it because men frown upon it Oh tremble at that lest the Lord Jesus be ashamed to own thee at that day Oh labour to have such thoughts of things and such affections toward them as you will have at that day How will you think of sin then Of duty then Of Cleaving to Christ and to his people then Of Zeal for the Glory of God then Of diligence in seeking God in Prayer and Meditation then Will you not then wish you had made more wrestling and weeping instead of sleeping and wording Prayer That you had hearkned diligently to Christ c. Oh now do as you would wish to have done then SERMON V. 2. IT follows now a little to Consider and set forth the Glory of the Saints in Heaven this Eternal Glory that is reserved for the faithful in the World to come in a Comparative way by the Comparisons and Considerations as may evidence to us the greatness and goodness the transcendant excellency of this Glory This way the Apostle lead us to in Rom. 8.18 by comparing with other things which now seem great to us as great afflictions and so other great things in this World which yet are nothing to it we may see the exceeding
his Sheep-coats and Cow-houses and Rural Tents as also Reuben Jugd 5.16 And therefore they are more ignoble Ass-like servile spirited The great things of the World are but seemingly great and therefore it is but a false and shady and spurious greatness of spirit that the great men of the World have But the true Christian how poor soever in this World converses with the things that are indeed great God Christ and Heaven and Eternal Glory Jam. 2.5 and therefore true and genuine greatness of spirit holy magnanimity and bravery is and should be found with him It is a shame foâ— him if the poorest meanest Believer have not more true greatness of spirit humble indeed and nothing in himself but high and mighty in Christ strong in the Lord and in the power of his might then the greatest Nimrods of the World They wrestle not for corruptible Crowns not for a fashion that passâ—th away and that will leave them spiritless and succourless when real distress comes But he hath that that will stand by him and endure through all worldly changes and is a sufficient support against the same even as Heaven is higher then the Earth so should the spirits of true Christians be above that of the World Hence we find among the Martyrs poor mean men women sometimes have had a spirit above their Persecutors when clothed with all Worldly greatness as Act. 6.10 Mat. 10.18 20. and in their greatest sufferings they have been more then Conquerours Rom. 8.35 36 37. Sin hath debased the spirit of man and made it so vile and low that every temptation every Worldly allurement or affrightment overcomes it and tramples upon it But Grace raises the spirit of a Believer who is risen with Christ especially when it grows up to a sight of Glory and lively hope thereof when Faith and Holiness are lively and active it makes a man to be of an excellent spirit above the spirit of the World Dan. 6.3 So far as this Excellent spirit is wanting in Christians so far they are carnal and Earthly and little acquainted with Heaven Oh get thine heart filled with Heaven that will lift it above the Earth and above that Earthliness and baseness and weakness that sin and estrangement from God doth clog it with 2. Improve Heaven and your hope thereof unto Consolation or spiritual Joy and Comfort This use the Lord expects and requires you should make of that hope of Glory hereafter which he gives unto you here Luk. 10.20 Mat. 5.12 Rom. 5.2 1 Thes 4.18 Heaven when actually enjoyed is the fulness of Joy and Comfort Mat. 25.21 Psal 16.11 Luk. 16.25 And while it is but promised and hoped for it is a matter of great Joy and Comfort If any of the faithful live without this Joy they do either discouragedly and sinfully put away or carelesly neglect the portion that God gives them Oh we have too much Earthly but too little Heavenly Joy an Earthly Carnal heart is the reason of that whereby we live below the Condition that God calls to Comfort and Joy is the life of every life whether natural rational or spiritual If a man have no Joy of this life it is a death rather than life No life so full of Comfort as the life of a Christian is or may be Spiritual life hath Glory in the end of it to put Comfort into all the way Oh what happy and Comfortable lives might we live if the fault were not our own when as we have the whole Covenant of Grace and therein a whole Heaven made over to us to rejoyce in God and Christ and his spirit to be our everlasting portion and not only an Interest in him at present but full fruition of him in Heaven made sure to us What though there be tribulations bitterness in the way there is sweetness enough in the end to swallow up all the bitterness thereof and to make it a light thing as 2 Cor. 4.17 and therefore notwithstanding that we may rejoyce more particularly therefore let the fore-thoughts of Heaven be matter of Comfort and Consolation 1. Against the loss of any of the good things of this World one or more some yea or all Heb. 10.34 Though you lose this or that on Earth if you have Heaven you have that that is better and virtually you have it still A better good contemns an inferior good in it For Major continet minus He that hath White-bread enough need not care though he lose a Brown-Loaf He that hath God and Heaven to rejoyce in can lose but little though he should lose all the the Earth He hath the best good and the main still and more enduring a permanent a never-failing good a good that cannot be lost Whatever you lose here you have a portion in Heaven that you cannot lose no spoiler can spoil you of that Mat. 6.20 He cannot lose much whose portion is in Heaven for that cannot be lost and all the rest all the World is but a little an inconsiderable thing Luk. 16.10 11 12. The much the main the true riches and that that is your own your proper portion that is assigned to you by God to have and to hold forever that is whole and safe still They that have great Estates they may bear it to lose a little and not feel it much yea that that would be to another man the loss of his whole Estate he may bear it to lose a little yea should it be all Earthly Comforts that to an ungodly man is his whole Estate it is all that ever he hath he may well wring his hands and waile and take on as one undone But the Godly that hath all the Glory of Heaven all the good of the Covenant of Grace for his own it is but a flea-biting to him but a little nay indeed none of his proper Estate and Portion but Additionalls but thread and Paper cast in over and above Moses can lose and leave all the Glory Wealth and pleasure of the Court of Pharaoh and make no matter of it while he looks to this recompence of reward Heb. 11.24 25 26. 2. Against the fears and dangers of Evils that may befall us in this World and all manner of afflictions therein fears and threatning dangers of what may come is oft no small part of our tryal and affliction But Luk. 12.32 in times of greatest fears this is a quieting thought that there can come nothing that shall keep you from Heaven if you be the Lords Whatever good be taken away it cannot take away Heaven from you whatever evil comes it cannot hinder you from Heaven It cannot separate you from everlasting Communion with nay it shall further you rather thereunto And if so then you may triumph over all things and evil instruments in the World that do or can annoy you Rom. 8.35.37 38 39. If you do or most actually go through some Tribulations and sorrows such as are pinching and painful to the flesh
Hypocritical persons that are secret adversaries to Truth and Piety as 2 Cor. 11.26 Psal 55.12 13. You shall have no discouraging company in Heaven that will clog and thwart and hinder you in that that is good none to oppose either Truth or Piety but all to joyn with one accord in the serving and Glorifying of God 3. Divisions differences and dissentions among the Godly which the state of Imperfection on earth is lyably to and lamentably cumbred with and trouble and disquietment multiplied thereby but no such thing in Heaven there is but one mind and one mouth in Heaven as there is but one truth not so much as a dissering apprehension among all the thousands and millions of Saints there There we shall fully attain what is exhorted to 1 Cor. 1.10 and prayed for Rom. 15.5 6 7. There that goodly sight is to be seen in perfection Psal 133.1 The state of perfection there implyes and infers this Hebr. 12.23 The Saints while children may wrangle and contend and differ but when grown up to their adult age and to a perfect man they will have more grace than so Ephes 4.13 14. That ignorance weakness and darkness whereby we are oft here mistaken and miss the truth and cannot see the same truth by the same light our knowing in part whence we may be mistaken in part ignorant in part will then be done away and hence perfect union in the truth which is but one 1 Cor. 13.9 10 11 12. Si non amplius in his terris te visurns sum said old Grineus writing to Chytraeus apud Milch Adam pag. 879. ibi tamen conveniemus ubi Luthero cum Luingleo optimè jam convenit Paul and Barnahas Hooper and Ridley Luther and Zuinglius are there fully reconciled and shall never differ or contend more Heaven is full both of peace and truth even of that peace that is knit in the bonds of truth and holiness The griefs and distractions that result from dissentions among the Godly here are there all swallowed up in perfect peace And so all the difficulties and weary travails and oppositions that Christ's Kingdom now conflicts with and must be carried on through are there ended Mans corruptions Satans temptations weakness on every hand cumbers even Gods work with difficulty and obstruction here but no such thing there the Militant state of Christ's Kingdom is then ended and it passeth into a state of victory and rest 4. Bodily ailes sicknesses pains weakness deformities infirmities of what kind soever you shall be freed from all these in the life to come Philip. 3.21 Do you think the body of Christ now glorified knows any pain or grief or weakness as when on earth no more shall the bodies of the Saints in Heaven but be in perfect health in your beauty strength and Glory for ever 1 Cor. 15.42 43. The Resurrection to that life to come will cure the oldest pain aile ache disease lameness that could not be cured here those ailes that you carry to your Graves with you you shall not bring them out of your Graves again you shall rise again but they shall be buried and lost and laid aside for ever nor shall the body be so troublesome as now need so much ado about it and so many shores and props of meat drink sleep cloathing c. You are groaning now under many bodily ailes and evils but then comes a day of Redemption of the body as well as soul actual perfect Redemption of it from all evil Rom. 8.23 5. All other afflictions from the hand of God all the remnants of the Curse that Christ leaveth upon us in this world for our chastisement and correction Rev. 21 4. if it shall be so comparatively i. e. compar'd with the troubles of former times in the more glorious times of the Church Militant much more will it be so absolutely in the glorified estate of the Church-Triumphant While sin is with us as here there will be sorrow but the abolition of sin will abolish sorrow too perfectly No sin and no sorrow neither in Heaven All tears shall be wiped away i. e. all afflictions or troubles that are the cause of tears shall be quite taken away No more of those tears that arise from the various tryals of this weary life wants straits losses crosses in Name Estate Relations Imployments the briars thorns and thistles that grow in every corner of the field of this world Ezek. 26.24 There will need no rod in Heaven not a frown nor a blow nor a stroke of correcting anger there As there is nothing but wrath in Hell so there will be nothing but love in Heaven Here on earth there is a mixture of both yea even to Gods own people while they have sin in them and are full of faults though Children their Father cannot but be angry with them now and then and they need a rod ever and anon Psal 89.32 33. but in Heaven as no sin so no anger no not for chastening there◠the Lord will never knit his brows nor chide or strike never hide his face there be here Soul-afflictive spiritual Agonies from a sense of Gods anger and doubts of his love those also shall cease but they shall live under the smiles of his face and light of his countenance without interruption But thus in that as to fredom from all evil as 2 Cor. 5.4 so sin is swallowed up of grace and holiness the remainders of sin and sorrow that hang about us in this state of Imperfection are utterly swallowed up and abolished by that perfect holiness and perfect happiness that there is and continues for ever 2. Perfect enjoyment of all good It is not a meer negative happiness that the Saints in Heaven partake of viz. a not being miserable an absence of evil but also the positive presence and enjoyment of all good Psal 16.11 Joy is from the presence of good and full joy from the satisfying fulness of all good Under this Head may be comprised those great and glorious things that make up and compleat the positive happiness of the Saints in Heaven and were pointed to in the description As viz. 1. Full fruition or enjoyment of God perfect glorious and full communion with God the God of Glory God Father Son and Holy Ghost This is the main and the essence of the Happiness of Heaven It is not a carnal or sensual thing standing in bodily carnal pleasures and delights as Pagans and Mahometans teach and sensual Spirits dream but spiritual divine and coelestial standing in the enjoyment of God and communion with him This we have some little tast of here but being there in perfection it makes up perfect blessedness for mans blessedness lies in fruition of God the chief Good whom he was made for and in whom is that infinite fulness of all good that is able to satisfie and make happy the soul of man and to be the endless joy thereof It is not Creatures Crowns Kingdoms not a
Created world or heap of worlds but Jehovah himself that you shall enjoy in Heaven The infinite increated Good who is greater better and sweeter than ten thousand worlds God blessed for evermore 'T is he that is the All of the Saints there 1 Cor. 15.126 You shall not only have an Interest in him relation to him that you have here but actually enjoy him and not only some beginning or tast of that enjoyment but enjoy him in the fullest most immediate and most perfect manner that finite Creatures are capable of It is called the seeing the beatifical vision of God Mat. 5.8 a seeing him face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 Not that the Saints see God i. e. the Divine Essence with bodily eyes though Christ who is God as well as Man they shall so see Job 19.26 nor yet with the eye and faculty of the understanding being finite can they have a full adequate comprehensive sight or knowledge of the Infinite God as he is in himself But as fully gloriously clearly and immediately as a Glorified soul is capable of and unspeakably beyond and above what is attained here and unto full satisfaction shall they see his Glory and enjoy the pourings out of his love and goodness for seeing is oft used for enjoying in Scripture The particular manner and way of this vision and fruition of God how can we in this Tabernacle and twilight discern or describe we speak but as Children of these things 1 Cor. 13.11 But in general we know in Communion there is a mutual acting As here our acting the acting of our souls upon God and Gods letting out himself communicating himself to us and it is by these two faculties that our souls for it is a Soul-communion that we here speak of act upon an object viz. the understanding and the will in which the affections are included for they are but the actings and out-goings of the will so in the acting of those two upon God and in Gods letting out himself unto those viz. into our understandings and our hearts or wills and affections lies this communion and in the highest and plenary degree of both those according to the capacity of each Saint Hence this full and glorious communion with God in Heaven contains 1. A clear vision or sight of the Glory of God by the understanding not only an habitual knowledge but an actual looking beholding Mat. 18.10 and gazing upon the face of God i. e God in the full manifestation and discovery of himself in his Essence Attributes Subsistaâ—câ— Works in the mystery of Christ Jesus of his Word Gospel Scriptures Providences Truths all that is knowable all that God hath does or shall communicate and make known to his Saints You shall then see all and there are objâ—cts that shall ravish all beholders for ever now you have some dark glimmerings of things 1 Cor. 13.12 that natural darkness being not yet dispelled Ephes 4.18 but then clearly as at Noon-day as those who see face to face God also shining into the understanding letting in the Heavenly light of Glory thereinto and so communicating to the soul a beatifical vision of himself i. e. of the whole discovery or Revelation of himself which he hath made in Works or Scriptures here the meaning and Glory of all which they shall then see and understand or shall further make and give forth to the Saints in Heaven 2. A fruition of the goodness of God by the will the will and affections or a taking in closing with and drinking down the sweet of the love and goodness of God which the Lord will let out unto the soul and fill it with to its everlasting joy delight and fullest satisfaction Psal 16.11 36.8 The love and goodness of God being poured forth and communicated in the sweet and lively sense of it as will then be fully and perpetually which we have but a little tast of here Rom. 5.5 will be as a River of pleasure which the soul will be drinking of to all Eternity Hence all the liking and delightful affections love joy desire delight will be acting to the highest upon God and filled full with him and hence ravished always with his love and enlarged to praise bless and glorifie him and sing forth Hallelujahs for ever SERMON II. MOreover there will be a special communion with each person of the sacred Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost according to their several special operations for us and manifestations of themselves to us 1. The face of the Fathers love will be seen in its Glory and sweetness in electing chusing giving his Son transacting with him Justifying Adopting c. and to see him against whom we had sinned smiling on us with complacence and delight taking us into his bosom and loving us with the same love wherewiâ—h he loves his own Son how ravishing will that be You shall then be in the Fathers house Joh. 14.2 and under the pourings out of the Fathers love Joh. 16.27 28. 14.21 23. 17.21 23 24. Going to Heaven is called or explained by going to the Father Joh. 14.2 6. It is the Journy's end and the last and highest rest of the souls of the Saints and of all their desires hopes prayers breathings as Joh. 14.8 to behold the Fathers Face Mat. 18.10 and to have a full sight and enjoyment of his Love and Communion From this we were cut off by sin by our fall from God as Creator and hence seperated from his presence and never since sin came in could the Father have to do with us in an immediate way And while sin hangs upon the Saints they have more dark and doubtful and distant thoughts of the Fathers Love We can more readily see the Love of Christ who is the next to us and converses immediatly with sinners But now after that the effect of Christs Redemption and Mediation shall be finished and their full Restoration into the Bosom of the Fathers Love accomplished by him who is the way thither Joh. 14.6 and sin utterly abolished and the Saints perfectly restored to the Image of God and made like their Heavenly Father And so Christ shall deliver up his Kindom i. e. the present militant and mediate administration of his Kingdom and present it in its compleat perfect and unchangeable state as the Effect and final Issue of that Negotiation which he hath exercisâ—d in the time of this World 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Then will God the Father with the Son and Spirit more immediatly in an unspeakable manner Communicate himself to the Saints and bare the face of his Love take them into his more Immediate presence fill them with his goodness and be all in all to them And then shall the Saints see and ascend unto the Fountain-love of the Father the original of the whole Mystery of Christ and of all the grace and salvation by him the Well-head of all gracious Dispensations and Communications in a fuller manner then now they can
They shall everlastingly be drinking down and Bathing themselves in those Rivers of Love that have been running down from Everlasting and from the well-spring of Election have issued forth in the whole Dispensation of Christ From the Father they were given to Christ Joh. 17.6 To him they shall then be presented Heb. 2.13 Jude 24. and by Christ brought into the nearest Union and Communion with him that possible can be Joh. 17.21 22 26. The Scripture speaks much of the Fathers Love 2 Cor. 13.13 1 Joh. 16.27 Rom. 8.39 And that often antecedent to the sending of Christ and all benefits by him as the original and fountain thereof Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 4.8 9 10. Ephes 3.3 6. Tit. 3.4 6. This will then be seen and enjoyed in the fullest manner and measure according to the capacity of glorified Saints God the Father will be letting forth and pouring out his love into the souls of the Saints shedding it abroad in greater measures than now Rom. 5.5 and they drinking down the sweetness thereof for evermore beholding and tasting what manner of love that is which here they can see and conceive but a little of 1 Joh. 3.1 2. and as Ephes 3.18 19. They also making returns of love unto him and sweetest ebullitions thereof loving God then actually with all the heart soul strength and mind as is commanded This loving communion with God the Father or communion with him in love shall the Saints enjoy in Heaven in the fullest manner for evermore 2. The Son of God who is incarnate the Lord Jesus Christ who is Man as well as God his face shall be seen and his company enjoyed by the Saints in Heaven in a peculiar and most immediate manner you shall see the man Christ with bodily eyes as Job 19.27 you shall ascend to him then and be with him enjoy his immediate company and communion see him face to face Job 19.25 26 27. Philip. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 1 Thes 4.17 1 Joh. 3.2 You shall hear him speak to you and discourse of the great things of God each word of whose lips will be more sweet than ten thousands of Gold and Silver you shall behold him pouring forth himself and his love yea the love of God to you and the discoveries and communications of his grace and goodness through the lips and expressions of a man you shall then have full communion with the man Christ Jesus that everlasting Mediator between God and Man Why the company of a good man a loving friend a gracious Saint here that breaths much of Christ how sweet is it What then is the company of Christ himself who is full of grace and truth and that with the fulness of an head to derive like Grace and so now like Glory to all his members For as he is the meritorious and dispensing cause so also the exemplary cause as of all Grace here so of Glory hereafter as Joh. 1.16 so you shall have Glory for Glory Glory in your measure like unto his Glory the Glory that he shines with in Heaven you must share in it and have you shall have the same Glory for kind and nature though for measure and degree not equal but he will still have the preheminence Joh. 17.22 Rom. 8.29 1 Joh. 3.2 you shall live in the same Heaven with him Joh. 14.3 partake of the same love of the Father Joh. 17.23 drink of the same pleasures live the same life of holiness and happiness reign with him in the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 Rev. 3.21 Be thrown into the same Ocean of Joy though Vessels of different quantity will take in different measures and so difference in degrees between the Saints themselves much more between the Saints and Christ Yea probably the Saints in Heaven may have Communion with Christ in the Acts of Grace as here in this life they have Communion with him in the habits of Grace i. e. that the same Actings the same Contemplations Tasts Apprehensions Ebullitions of heart the same springing of Love Joy Delight and sweet Affection that the man Christ hath shall run through Heaven and be in their measure communicated to all the Saints there For Glory properly stands in and results from the lively Acting of Grace and therefore Communion in Glory may import Communion in the Acts of Grace c. But however to be sure they shall be like him 1 Joh. 3.2 And bear his Glorious Heavenly Image there 1 Cor. 15.48 49. Like him in Soul Pure Heavenly Holy inlarged in Love to God and to his Glory as he is and like him in body too Phil. 3.21 And enjoy his Blessed Converse and Company What the particular Imployment and manner of Converse of the man Christ with and among the Saints in Heaven will be we cannot now tell you you shall know it when you come there to be sure it will be most Holy excellent and Glorious and full of mutual joy and delight I may suggest this meditation Look what Christ did in Converse with his Disciples after his Resurrection when he was then entred into a Glorified estate he then opened to them the Scriptures so as their hearts burnt within them Luk. 24.27 32 44 45. And spake of things of the Kingdom of God Act. 13. Then indeed but in order to the carrying on of the Kingdom of Grace and in such a measure as suited that end But why may we not think that he will then in Heaven in such a manner and measure as suites the Kingdom of Glory expound the Scriptures lay open the depths of the Book of God and the Mysteries of Divinity those fully and clearly that were here known but in a little part and other points that were not known at all the wonders of Law and Gospel of the Word and Works of God the depths and knowledge of Wisdom But especially the depths of Love and Grace the things that tend to the praise of the Glory of Gods Grace the great end of all his dealings with his people Ephes 1.6 those will he open and lay forth in a glorious manner And oh the burnings and flames and sparkling Impressions of Seraphical Affections that all the Saints about him will then be filled with Never such a Preacher and never such Hearers for Attention and Affection no Sleeping no Dulness no Weariness as there will be In a word Ordinances then shall cease but the quintessence and extract of all Ordinances shall be then enjoyed that power and Glory of God that beauty of the Lord be seen in the Sanctuary of Heaven that here were but glimpses through Glasses Mat. 26.29 Glorious and sweet Communion do the Saints here enjoy with Christ at a Sacrament in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper But in Heaven in the Kingdom of his Father he will as I may say celebrate that Sacrament i. e. give them the quintessence comfort and Communion of it in another manner in new fresh and immediate Communications of his Grace and sweetness There
Souls and Bodies i. e. considering them as they shall be after the Resurrection and last Judgment Consider therefore a little 1. Of the Glory of the Soul 2. Of the Body of a Saint 1. The Glory Felicity and Perfection of the Soul of a Glorified Saint The Soul is lifted up to its full Perfâ—ction Hebr. 12.23 endowed with all those Excellencies and Perfections that are proper to it especially the perfect Restoration of the Image of God and all the good and Excellency that resulteth thence made like unto the Soul of Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3.2 The most proper and principal subjâ—ct of Heavens Glory is the Soul Hence it 's called the Salvation of our Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 that is the great Vessel that holds the Riches of Glory that are powered in there Rom. 9.23 The Soul of man is capable of more Glory and good than is in all this whole lower world put together all the Pleasures and Treasures of it cannot fill one Soul no not as it s now on earth in its narrow capacity for it shall be far larger when in its Glorified inlarged capacity in Heaven But then it shall be filled full as it can hold All the Excellency that a Created Soul is capable of shall then be put upon it and all the good and Glory its capable of holding poured into it Consider it in those two faculties of the Soul Understanding and Will 1. The Understanding shall be 1. Strengthned and enlarged enabled to see much and far raised and heightned to great quickness and deep Comprehensions of Understanding Isa 11.2 3. So when the spirit of Glory shall rest on the Saints in Heaven the Members of Christ it shall make them of quick and large Understandings yea quick to discerne and conceive of Spiritual objects and things which here we are dull and slow in Some men here on earth in this dark lumpish house of Clay have been of accute understandings quick apprehensions and vast Parts and Abilities what then shall Saints in Heaven be Solomon had a large Understanding that held as many Notions and Conceptions as there are Sands on the Sea-shore 1 King 4.29 And yet saith one viz. Dr. Goodwin on Rom. 8.18 page 56. the Soul of the least Child i. e. that was a Child here for vide Aquinas in supplement Q 81. and Bolton of Heaven page 129. in Heaven that went out of the World happily when but newly come forth of his Mothers Womb exceeds all the knowledge that Solomon had on earth Adam before the Fall had a large and ready Understanding as his so soon naming the Creatures according to their natures shewes But Heaven restores the Saints to Adam's Primitive Perfection and unto more then so All those Defects Wounds and Weaknesses in mans nature and so in his Understanding that came in by sin as fruits or punishments thereof or that import a miserable afflictive Imperfection or that unfit for the fruition of the appointed Glory these are all removed from the Glorified Saint 2. Furnished yea filled and satisfied with all useful desirable and Beatifical knowledge The Glorified Saint shall be abundantly stored and furnished with Knowledge of the Works of God and the admirable rayes and beams of Gods wisdom that shine therein in the frame of his Works of Creation and natures of his Creatures which men now gather up somthing of from Arts and Sciences True Learning will then and there come to and be in its Perfection The clear certain knowledge of all useful Truth will abound in that Heavenly Academy for this will be for the Glory and Honour of God that he may have the Glory of his Works and of his Wisdom therein that it may not be lost and buried as it would be most of it if neveâ— further seen into and minded than it is here Psal 104.24.36 And it is a part of the perfection and excellency of the Rational Creature an attaining of his end who was made to behold the wisdom of God in the World Job 36.24 25. And it was an Excellency he gave to Solomon when he would be kind to him therefore he will not deny it to his Saints in Heaven And our present defect and darkness in this knowledge is a fruit of the fall therefore shall then be removed 2. Of the Word of God and of all the deep Mysteries of Religion the meaning of the Holy Scriptures and of the hardest places therein the solution of the most knotty questions in Divinity the Explication of the most Glorious and ravishing Mysteries of God and Christ of Creation Providence Redemption and Application c. shall then be fully known and understood This is evident for knowledge especially in spiritual things matters of God and of Religion shall then come to its full perfection 1 Cor. 13.9 12. And the beatifical vision compriseth this Mat. 5.8 i. e. they shall see with the understanding as well as enjoy with the whole Soul God in all those discoveries and manifestations of himself that Creature is capable of and consequently in all truths concerning himself all those Divine Truths that make up that discovery Yea I add the mind shall be filled and satisfied with the knowledge and contemplation of those Glorious Truths and Objects unto ravishing Joy and Contentment Here the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear with hearing Eccles 1.8 but then it shall though of so vast a concavity as we see here the mind of man is a vast thing it can take in and swallow down Heaps of Knowledge and yet is greedy after more it can grasp that World in its conception c. Much more large will this Vessel be when widened to its Glorified capacity yet it shall be filled and satisfied Psal 17.15 There is that to be seen and known in God that sufficeth Joh. 14.8 there is enough to suffice an infinite therefore more than enough for a finite understanding Iâ—â—sight of what was to be seen in Solomon and Solomon's Court and hearing of his wisdom was so ravishing and satisfying to the Queen of Sheba 1 King 10.3.8 What then will the fight of the Face and Glory of God in Heaven be The eye of a mans body is but a small thing and the apple of it smaller yet by the help of the Sun it is able to take in and behold half the world the whole Hemisphere at once How much more vast and large will the view and vision and prospect of the eye of the understanding be what vast objects delights and Glories will it take in when it hath the light of the Glory of God in Heaven shining about it yea into it Psal 36.8.9 It will take in great and wonderful discoveries of God and even see his face i. e. have a wonderfull Glorious view and vision of him and of all those clear manifestations of himself which he shall then communicate but how large soever it shall be filled unto full satisfaction Psal 17.15 2. The Will Heart and
turned out of the straight way to Heaven by such things as 2 Pet. 1.11 The Scriptures have told us before-hand of Sufferings and Tryals and therefore it should be no strange thing to meet with them But it hath also told us and set before us the Glory that shall follow this should swallow up the other and make us endure them easily Hebr. 12.2 and 11.26 2. Hence it is that that is worth looking and seeking after bending all our desires and endeavours to obtain viz. the Happiness and Glory of Heaven for it is Eternal and 2 Cor. 4.18 Eternal things should be the things we look at and after as our scope as the word is our aime mark and designe To lay out our selves about Temporal things and make them our maine business is a great folly Prov. 23.5 Psal 39.6 Men are busie about this and that about many things but there is but one great business Luk. 10.41 42. to provide for Eternity to get and make sure of that good part that shall last for ever and never be taken away from us And 3. With what study earnestness care and seriousness with what intention of mind what Ardency of affâ—ction should we look after Heaven For Eternal Glory and Salvation is a great matter a great object we had not need be slight or negligent about such a thing about a business of Eternal Concernment It is said of Zerxes that Elegant Painter when asked why he spent so much time and labour about what he did when others turned off their work apace that he answered Ego propter Etermitatem pingo I paint for Eternity that that should stand and continue in after times We in a more proper and full sense may say we act for Eternity and therefore we had need be more intense and exact when as we pray for Eternity ask Eternal life of God hear for Eternity follow God for Eternity come to Christ Jesus for Eternal and Everlasting Life How Serious Hearty Affectionate Fervent Intense should those Prayers Duties Comings be Why that is that we are seeking after if in earnest to lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 19. Oh with what fear and trembling care and diligence should we pursue that business Come not slightly to Christ in a negligent careless manner or with a piece of thy Heart when thou comest for Eternal Life c. The Salvation Christ holds forth and calls to attend unto and come and follow him for is Great Salvation for it is Eternal Salvation Oh be not negligent about that Hebr. 2.3 and 5.9 how humbly obedient unto him Oh with what an humble Heartiness Affection Seriousness Thankfulness whole heart should a poor sinner come and look to Christ imbrace and cling to him hang on him for deliverance from Eternal Death and for the gift of Eternal Life how precious is that Grace Rom. 5.21 for Rom. 6.23 SERMON IV. 3. IT follows to consider of the degrees of this future Glory as it is enjoyed 1. In Soul after Death 2. Both in Soul and Body at and after the Resurrection and last Judgement In the former state the Saints have a more incompleat though sweet and excellent in the latter a more compleat full and perfect enjoyment of this Glory I shall not speak of the different degrees of Glory in Heaven comparing one Saint with another Though that seems to be a truth that as we see there are dissâ—ring degrees of Grace and Holiness here and God distributes more eminent Gifts and Graces to one than to another not withstanding that the Imputation of Righteousness in Justification be equal to all so there will be in Glory hereafter When God shall Crown his own Graces in his Saints Every one shall not have such a Crown as Paul to whom the Fruits of his Ministry will then add to his Crown and rejoycing 1 Thes 2.19 nor be set next to Christ as some shall be Mat. 20.23 there will not want order in the Heavenly Mansions nor variety mixed with Identity wherein the Lord delights viz. Calvin Instit lib. 3. cap. 25. Sect. 10. and in Mat. 13.43 and 20.1 16. Bucan Loc. com pag. 446. Leigh's Body Divinity pag. 872. But only somewhat of the Glory of the Saints in those two â—â—ates the state of the Soul in its separation from the Body after their re-union which all the Saints that die do pass through Here 1. Consider the Glory and Happiness enjoyed by the Soul in its separate state after death from thence to the Resurrection 2. The Accession or increase or more compleat fulness of Glory that followes upon the re-union of the Soul and Body at and after the Resurrecion 1. The Souls of the Faithful do after death immediatly pass into Glory even that Glory that we have before spoken of The substance whereof they do enjoy in as perfect a degree or in as full a measure as the Soul in its separate state is capable of though there is a further degree and fulness of Glory reserved for the whole man upon re-union of the Soul and Body of which afterward the Soul of a Saint is presently Glorified after death though the Body be not It presently enters into peace Isa 57.2 Rest and Consolation Luk. 16.22 25 Into Blessedness and Glory Revel 14.13 from henceforth from this time from the time of their death and so on forward they are in blessedness and rest no fear of passing through paines of Purgatory for a time as Papists had taught before the Light of the Gospel broke forth The Souls of the Saints departed do enjoy that Heavenly Glory that we have spoken of For 1. They are at Death immediatly made perfect in Grace and Holiness Heb. 12.23 perfectly freed from all sin and endued with all heavenly perfection of mind and will of which what it is we spoke before Death puts an end to the death of sin in the Saint he rests from the Labour and Burden thereof and he is clothed with perfect Holiness fit for that place of Heaven and Heavenly presence of God which he is passing into 2. They enjoy the Beatifical vision and Glorious presence and Fellowship of God and Christ Philip. 1.23 No sooner departed and the union of the Soul and Body dissolved by death but he in his Soul is with Christ 2 Cor. 5 6 8. as soon as absent from the body and that is the Soul departed that is absent from the Body and while absent in its seperate estate If Paul be absent from the Body it is in his Soul which is there and oft in Scripture called man he is present with the Lord. When Stephen falls asleep by death the Lord Jesus receiveth his Spirit or Soul Act. 7.59 so Psal 49.15 Eccles 12.7 3. The Soul departed enjoyes in some way and some degree the Company and Communion of other Souls and Spirits of the Blessed Heb. 12.23 The Soul of Lazarus is with Abraham and so with all the Saints the Children of Abraham that
are departed this Life Luk. 16.22 Mat. 8.11 The Souls or Spirits of Isaac and Jacob are gathered to their people Genes 35.29 and 49.33 4. It is carried up by the Angels into the third Heaven there to be with Christ untill his second coming Luk. 16.22 with Mat. 8 11. Luk. 23.43 i. e. in his Soul for his Body was detained here on the Earth and thrown into the Grave By Paradise is meant the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 with ver 4. so 2 Cor. 5.1 2. When the Soul goes out of the Tabernacle of this frail Body it enters into the Heavenly house that is Eternal It is not Harbour-less when turned out of all house and Harbour in this lower World The Soul of a Saint being departed out of the Body is with Christ Philip. 1.23 and Christ is in Heaven and there continues till his second coming 1 Pet. 3.22 Act. 3.12 Hence the Soul of a Saint of the Saint departed hath the knowledge and actual active fruition of its own Blessedness is comforted and rejoyced therein and actually drinking in those Pleasuâ—es and Joyes that are in the presence of God Luk. 16.25 Psal 16.11 with 2 Cor. 5.8 compared with which its state on Earth was but a state of absence from him v. 6. and hath an assurance of an Happy re-union with the Body and of all that fulness of Glory that the whole person shall enjoy at the Resurrection for which it waits and longs Rom. 8.23 till it be accomplished it is waited for Psal 16.9 Rev. 6.9 10 11. According to most Interpreters vid. Parens Dutch Diodate in Loc. Calvin opusc pag. 460. Bucan Loc. Com. pag. 447. in that Text is held forth that the Souls of the Saints departed being at present clothed with Robes of Glory do long for their consummate felicity in the full Redemption of the Church c. which shall be at the last Judgement A truth in it self whether the proper intendment of that place or no vid. Brightman in Lâ—c. 2 Tim. 4.8 All the Saints as on Earth so in Heaven do love and long for not with any disquâ—eting Impatience but with an Holy Expectation the appearing of Christ when they shall also appear with him in Glory But as there is an expectation of the future Glory of the Body the whole Person so there is a present enjoyment of Glory and Blessedness by the Soul while the Body is a vile and loathsome Carkass buried under the Clods fed on by the Worms and turned to dust the Soul is Shining and Triumphing in Glory Swimming in fulness of Joy in the presence of Christ and among the Spirits of the Just Hearing and Seeing after its intellectual way those things in Paradise that cannot now be uttered What some of the Saints and Prophets in Scripture have tasted of in raptures and Extasies and Paul in 2 Cor. 12.1 4. for a little see Mr. Norton's Orthodox Evang. pag. 339.341 wherein the Soul abstracted from use of bodily helps and Organs had a more immediate visional Contemplation of Objects presented that and more then that doth the Soul departed enjoy even a perpetual Vision of God and fruition of the Joyes of Heaven without the Body from Death to the Resurrection That conceit that some have had of the Souls sleeping or being in an unsensible unactive condition without the exercise of understanding memory or affections till the Resurrection is fond and foolish and contrary to the plain Testimonies of Scripture before cited which hold forth an actual enjoyment of Glory and Glorious Communion with God immediatly after Death as Well as to the nature of the Soul And was long since largely confuted by Calvin in his Psychopanychia Opuse pag. 449.476 one of the first things he wrote 1. How kind is God to his people that he will not put them off so long as the Resurrection before they enter into this Glory though the Body cannot according to appointed order come at it before yet the Soul shall have possession presently When Death must send the Body to the Grave Heb. 9.27 then he will take the Soul into Heaven and have its company there 2. This may sweeten Death to the Faithful and make them cheerfully yield up their Spirits into the hand of God who stands ready to receive them There is a present object of Glory before them a Joy immediatly to be enjoyed set before them which may make them cheerfully pass into it through the dark entry of Death Though there be a Land and Grave of darkness for the Body which yet is sweetned by the Burial of Christ yet an Inheritance of the Saints â—n light which the Soul shall presently pass into this is that that over-ballances Death and absence from the Body leaving the World even the presence of the Lord being with Christ which is best of all This should make us willing to leave the Body 2 Cor. 5.8 leave the old Crazy Rotten-house of the Body to go into the new building and into the bosome of Christ into Heaven 2 Cor. 5.1 4. And this is presently to be enjoyed you shall presently be with Christ when you leave this Body things remote affect not so much but this is near and just before you as Christ comforted them with that this day Luk. 23.43 The day of your dying is the day of your living in Paradise in Glory The day of your falling into the Earth as to the Body is the day of your ascending and being taken up to Heaven Luk. 9.51 Going to the Grave and going to Heaven they go together to the Faithtful inseparably together and there is more Comfort in the latter than discomfort in the former No sooner dissolved but you are in the Angels Arms to be carried into Christs Bosom even before you can be upon Friends Shoulders to be carried to the Grave The same step whereby you leave the World you go to the Father as Joh. 16.28 You no sooner depart hence but you are with Christ Philip. 1.23 are gathered to him and that Blessed company and people that are with him Genes 35.29 Oh how should this lift up all the Saints above the feat of that that can but kill the Body but pull out the Pins of this old house and dissolve that that is the furthest that all created power can go Luk. 2.4 Mat. 10.28 But Death and all the Instruments of Death are so far from killing the Soul that it lets that but out of Prison and sends it unto Life Eternal 2. Now consider what further Glory shall be added to the Saints for the full compleating and Consummation of their Glory and Happiness at and after the Resurrection upon the re-union of the Soul and Body It is a more incompleat or as some call it an Inchoate enjoyment of Heavenly Glory that the Saints have in their separate estate of their Souls But at the Resurrection of the Body and re-union thereof to the Soul they shall have the compleat fulness and Consummation
greatness thereof There be sundry obvious Comparisons from the less to the greater and some other Argumentative Considerations I shall put both together which may familiarly shew and Realize to us the greatness and excellency of this Glory Comp. 1. Consider what great things God gives out of his Common bounty even to wicked men in this World What then will he give out of his special and everlasting love to his own Children and Friends in Heaven Worldly and wicked men which are his Slaves yea enemies and appointed to destruction yet in the present time of patience and bounty the Lord cuts out to many of them great things such things as the World accounts very great and as are great in themselves though compared with Heavenly things are very little Riches Wealth Thousands and Ten Thousands of Gold and Silver Sumptuous Buildings Houses full of all Good Things Lands and Livings c. Yea sometimes Crowns and Kingdoms Scepters and Dominions of vast extent the Splendor whereof even of that Glory that sometimes worldly men are arrayed with even dazles the eyes of beholders Sometimes men of the World do glitter and glister with Glory an earthly Glory and Splendor such as strikes an awe and admiration into beholders Psal 49 16. Dan. 2.31 37 38. and 5.18 19. why if such be the Glory of the earth given to the earthly and wicked men What will be the true Glory of Heaven that God will bestow upon the Vessels of Glory there Luther sometimes called the Turkish Empire that vast Empire containing so many swelling Titles and large Dominions a Bone or Crum which God threw to that great Dog the Turk Such vast Empires and Kingdoms God hath sometimes given unto the worst and basest of men Dan. 4.17 How vitious and vile have the Turkish Sultans and many other Heathnish Princes been so Antiochus the illustrious a vile person Dan. 11.21 Why if God have such Crums to throw to the Dogs of the house what is the whole Loaf that he reserves for his Children If this great King of Heaven do keep his Prisoners so well during the few dayes of their Respit and Reprieve from Execution as look upon the brave accommodations and great Possâ—â—sions c. of the men of the World they are but as the fair Room of a Prison where eminent Malefactors are kept and well tended till they be brought forth to Execution Joh. 21.7 12 30. What will he do for his Children and Heirs who shall be with him in his own Palace for ever Psal 17.14 15. Some men of the World which have their Portion in this Life have a great Portion here even their Belly full as much as heart can wish as much of sensitive worldly good as they can possibly take in all manner of abundance of earthly delicates and this out of God his Treasure because it is hid and laid up in the several store-houses of this lower World Earth Air and Sea and brought forth by the workings of his Providence and bestowed upon them So that these things are given out of Gods Treasury by his common bounty to the men of the World And if you speak of what Earth can afford they are great things that are most given to them But David hath a greater perfection than all this Ps 171.5 But thus look upon the consolation that many wicked men have here Luk 16.25 and 6.24 which must needs be a poor thing Luk. 16.10 11. a nothing compared with the portion of the chosen Saints of God in Heaven when God shall set himself to pour out Love and Mercy into those Vessels thereof and yet often it is much it is strange to see what God hath given to some vile men this way as that they are ready to be cryed up for the only happy men This is a ready and useful meditation when we read in story of the Magnificence Riches and Greatness of Worldly men or see and observe any instances thereof to think oh then what is the Glory and Happiness that God hath prepared not of the same kind for worldly sensitive delights scrued up to the height but an Happiness of an higher a Spiritual and Caelestial nature for them that love him and for the subjects of his everlasting love in another World if there be so much given unto Enemies in this Comp. 2. Consider what the Saints enjoy in this World I mean not of outward things so much for they often have but little that way they shall not usually have very much of Earth lest they forget Heaven but of Spiritual and Heavenly Comforts and good things their fore-tasts of future Glory they are often exceeding sweet and precious a thousand times better than all the Earthly outward enjoyments of worldly men Yet all they have here is but a taste but an earnest an handfull of first fruits Epes 1.14 Rom. 8.23 What then is and will be the full draught the whole bargain the whole Harvest in Heaven Their best condition here is but a condition of absence from the Lord compared with that presence they shall have hereafter 2 Cor. 5.6 8. If God send to them such tokens and tasts of his Love in their absence What will he pour out upon them when they shall be present with him Consider it in two or three Particulars 1. The Communion the Saints have with God in his Ordinances here Oh how sweet is it Psal 84.10 What then is a day in Heaven yea Eternity there The World knows not nor can they well express the sweet incomes they have the heart-raising yea ravishing Communion the Quicknings Gracious Breathings the Comforts they meet with in Prayer sometimes in Hearing the Word a Christian said Mr. Dod is half in Heaven sometimes in Singing of a Psalm in Meditation Psal 63.5 6. in Gracious Spiritual Conference Luk. 24.32 In the Sacrament of the Supper where they are refreshed as with new Wine Why if dark glimpses through these glasses of the Ordinances be so sweet and Glorious 2. Cor. 3.18 what then will the sight face to face be 1 Cor. 13.12 The Ordinances of God and Communion with him therein is unspeakably better than the best of Earthly and Worldly Enjoyments Galeacious his Speech Psal 119.72 But all that Communion the Saints have here is but a little compared with that shall be in Heaven there is full Communion there they are present now in Comparison absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 2. The special Joyes and Comforts of the Holy Ghost that the Lords Faithful Gracious ones do at times tast and partake of in this life Their ordinary constant Communion is precious but they have also some extraordinary Consolations and sheddings abroad of the Love of God sometimes when under great Sufferings and Tryals as the Martyrs whose Consolations have been wonderful and singular as their Sufferings were sometimes after long sickness and weakness and in preparation for sore Conflicts sometimes on Sick and Dying Beds Oh the Peace that passeth
understanding the Joy unspeakable and Glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 the ravishing Consolations in the sense of the Love of God which the faithful have at times been feasted with such as in Comparison whereof all the Comforts of the whole World all the Riches Honours Pleasures upon Earth are but a dry Chip such as the surpassing sweetness and Glory whereof cannot be expressed And yet this but a little taste of Heaven as a drop to the Ocean of the same kind indeed with the Glory that is there but as an earnest Penny of a great and Rich Bargain A drop of the Joy of the Holy Ghost excells all the Rivers of Worldly outward sensual Comforts and Joyes which the men of the World swim in Psal 4.6 7. but infinite drops of Worldly Joy together it will not make Heaven but of Spiritual Joy it will but this is but a drop there is an Ocean of such Joy in Heaven which the Saints shall Swim and Bath themselves in to all Eternity 3. The Visible Glory and Peace of the Church that may be enjoyed in this World before the coming of Christ Great things are spoken in Scripture of the Glorious times that are yet to come wherein Jews and Gentiles shall walk together in the Lord and the Church shall enjoy freedom from open enemies and Persecutions Isa 60.18 plenty and purity of Ordinances Ezek. 37.26 Isa 66.21 23. plentiful Effusion of the Spirit and of the Graces thereof Ezek. 39.29 Prevalency and Eminency of Truth Holiness and Peace Joel 3.17 Zephan 3.9 Godly and Gracious Civil Rulers who shall make their business to promote Truth and Holiness the honour of Christ and the welfare of his people Isa 49.23 Rev. 11.15 The special presence of God in all the wayes and means thereof among them Isa 60.19 20. Revel 21.23 And hence Honour and esteem in the sight of all men Isa 62.7 and 25.8 Revel 21.24 Why this condition of the Church will be a little Heaven upon Earth hence conceived to be described by sundry terms taken from the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven Rev. 21. and 22. and there will be much Glory in it Isa 60.1 2 7. But yet it will be far short of Heaven indeed no state of the Church on Earth shall equal the state of the Church in Heaven There will still in the best time on Earth be sin and Imperfection and Temptation and Flesh and Allurements of the World to conflict withall and many particular afflictions too from the hand of God We in this remote Corner of the World have for a long time as may be well conceived enjoyed not a little tast and specimen of this peaceable and flourishing Condition of the Church but yet we find it is not Heaven we find Corruption enough in our own hearts and in one another to keep us in a continual conflict c. In the best estate of the Church on Earth there will be still cause to sigh and groan for the coming of Christ in the day of full Redemption Rev. 22.20 The greatest Glory that ever the Church shall enjoy on Earth before the Coming of Christ to Judgment will in comparison of Heaven be inglorious for that will alwayes be a truth in this world 1 Joh. 3.3 2. But if so much Glory and such great things be to be enjoyed on Earth what then will Heaven be The thought or expectation of Glorious and Happy times on Earth instead of Carnal drawing down our minds it should raise and lift them up thither For all is but an Hansell a Taste a beginning and Inchoation of what will there be Consummate All the pledges and tasts which God does or ever will give his people on Earth they are but to quicken them to press after the prize a full draught and rest that is reserved for them Comp. 3. Consider the great sufferings troubles sorrows and afflictions that the faithful some of them especially have endured in this life those are a little matter as nothing to the future Glory in Heaven there is no Comparison between them which shews that Glory to be exceeding great Rom. 8.18 Paul's Sufferings were very great few have ever gone through more then he did had you seen much more had you felft them you would have thought them exceeding heavy 2 Cor. 11.23 27. and 6.4 5. 1 Cor. 4 9 11 12 13. 2 Tim. 3.11 yet there was no Comparison between the evil and trouble of all these and the Comfort of that Glory this did infinitely over-ballance them they hold no weight against it as the word imports 2 Cor. 4.17 Nâ—t that the affliction in these was light but because the other end of the ballance was exceeding heavy As you know though there be a considerable weight in one Scale yet if you put a far greater in the other as several hundreds against ten or twenty pound weight why the far greater fetches up the other as if it were a light thing a Feather a very nothing Why thus put into one Scale all the Afflictions that ever you felt or have seen others feel about you all Sicknesses Pains Diseases Wearisome nights and dayes thereby such Griefs as those in Job 6.2 3. All the Sufferings of the Martyrs Racks Strappadoes Burnings and exquisite new-devised Torments all the Deaths Stripes Pains Bonds Wants Reproches Afflictions that Paul went through from first to last heap them on altogether in one Scale yet Eternal Glory in Heaven being put into the other Scale it is a weight exceedingly exceeding all this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this speak the exceeding greatness of this Glory that so far so exceeding Hyperbolically weighs down all the Heaviest Afflictions that they are but as a Feather as nothing to it And yet some one of these Afflictions will weigh down all the good and Comfort of this World Let a man have a dangerous Sickness a sore Tormenting pain upon him it imbitters all yea he would willingly part with all he hath though great Riches c. to be freed from it Job 2.4 Mark 5.26 But put them altogether and they will be over-ballanced and weighed down by the Glory of Heaven even as a few Sands by a Mountain Comp. 4. Consider the Excellency and Glory of this lower World and the Cost Riches and stately workmanship that God hath expended and laid out thereupon and upon the entertainment he gives to all his Creatures there in What then is the Glory of the third Heaven and of those upper and Coelestial Mansions Gods own dwelling place And what is the Entertainment that he will give there to the Inhabitants thereof This lower World is but as a stage that is set up for a while to be taken down again It is but as the hovels and out-houses where all sorts of Creatures are kept but Heaven is the Palace the dwelling house of the Great King and appointed to be the everlasting habitation of the Blessed Joh. 14.2 1 King 8.39 43. If you should come to any Great or Wealthy
mans Place and there find the Barnes and Out-houses excellently and Substantially built and much Cost laid out about them ample accommodations therein for every Beast and Creature about the house and liberal Provision for them every thing compleat and excellent you would say what is the Dwelling-house and what is the Furniture thereof Sure that is wonderful Rich and Stately and both the Building and Furniture beyond measure exquisite The application is obvious Even this lower World is a curious and costly piece The Earth which is but the dregs of Nature is full of Gods Riches Psal 104.24 In the Bowels of it is Gold Silver Precious Stones Mettals of all sorts the surface of it is in the Summer-season clothed with a pleasant dress delightful to the sense and profitable for use It is arrayed with more Glory than Solomon had in his greatest Splendor Mat. 6.28 30. Hos 14.5 6 7. Psal 65.12 The Sea is full of Riches and of the admirable Works of God Psal 104.24 25 26. The Air is a Treasury of fruitful showers and other admirable Meteors Deut. 28.12 The Aetherial Heaven is garnished with Stars Job 26.13 Therein is a Tabernacle for the Sun that admirable work of God travelling his dayly and yearly Circuit to give Light and Heat to all things on the Earth Psal 19.4 5 6. In these visible Heavens is such Divine Workmanship as may ravish all beholders Psal 8.3 and 136.4 5 7 8 9. and look upon the entertainment God gives unto all his Creatures here in this lower World all the multitudes that are down-lying and up-rising in this great house of his what Commodious and large Provision he makes for them even Inferior Creatures besides and beneath man Psal 104 27 28. The wild Asse hath the range of the Mountains for his pasture Job 39.6 8. There is enough to spare for him and all other wild Creatures that live upon the Grass in the Wilderness their table lyes alwayes spread and there is enough and to spare by the stately bounty of the large Creator The feeble Conies want not their houses and fortifications Psal 104.18 Nor the Birds their resting places ver 12.17 The young Ravens are not forgotten of God Job 38.41 Psal 147.9 Why is there such work and such Riches filling this lower World Earth and Sea and Water and the Starry Region what then is Heaven And what are the Riches and Glory that are laid up there What is the Entertainment there given to men yea to Saints and Members of Christ Jesus Christ uses that Argument as to this World Mat 6.26 much more may we use it as to the World to come when God shall pour out the fulnâ—ss of the Riches of his goodness upon the chosen Vessels thereof If such workmanship be laid out upon the Earth and the râ—st of this house of time what a curious piece is Heaven that house of Eternity 2 Cor. 5 1. the City and Palace of the King the very Region and place of Heaven the Fathers House where all his Children must be lodged and accomodated and dwell forever it does as far excel and is far above the Earth as the height of it and the ends and uses of it do excel The Pearls and Precious Stones c. that are found in the Earth will scarce serve to make the Walls of that City as appears by these Metaphorical Descriptions of the Heavenly Jerusalem which it meant of the Church on Earth is far excelled by the Glory of Heaven Revel 21.18 21. and if the outside be so Glorious that the best of the things on Earth are scarce worthy or fit to be shadows or resemblancs thereof what then is the outside What is the Furniture within and entertainment there Why it stands not in Carnal outward things and delights as the Mahomitan Paradice and the Heathen Elysian Fields they cannot be raised up to such an height as to make Heaven But Spiritual holy Delights and Joyes in the frution of God and those in their height and fulness compared wherewithal the Glory and Joy of the World is but a trifâ—le And the External condition of the Body shall in Glory Beauty Vigour Strength Spiritual Activity and Comfort every way unspeakably exceed what it is or can be conceived here Comp. 5. Consider the vast preparation God maketh for the Glorifying his Saints in Heaven The great preparation he maketh both to prepare Glory for them Mat. 25.34 Joh. 14.2 3. Heb. 11. 16 And to prepare them for Glory Rom. 9.23 2 Cor. 5.5 Col. 1.12 Election Redemption Christs Ascennsion and Intercession Vocation Sanctification Christs second coming Joh. 14.3 are all to make way and fit for and bring unto to this Glory When we see great and vaâ—â— preparations for a thing much time and cost spent therein as for a Kings Coronation for a Funeral for a Wedding we conclude it will be very magnificent â—n this preparation for Glory there is much time spent all the time of this life the Believer is fitting for it nay from before the foundation of the World from all eternity preparation hath been making Mat. 25.34 and all the time of Christs being in Heaven By his possessing it as our head Intercession c. Joh. 14.3 And great Cost all Ordinances are to this end to fit us for Heaven and all Providences Christs Death Bloodshed Ascention Intercession 1 Pet. 5.10 c. And all the Gracious operations of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.5 All the promises point thither speak of that Glory and empty themselves there There and then viz. in the Glory of Heaven and not till then they shall be fully accomplished All the great and magnificent things which have so high a sound in all the promises in the Book of God they are fully found and met together there All the great expectations and hopes of the Saints Center and Issue there All which shew that the Glory of Heaven must needs be exceeding great and excellent And so the difficulty of it might be another Argument For difficilia quae pulchrà it cost Christ dear his Pains his Blood Life and it must cost the Christian not a little in Praying waiting watching striving Travelling Suffering the oppositions of Hell Flesh and World and not without great difficulty at last he gets to Heaven 1 Pet. 4.18 Mat. 7.14 Comp. 6. I might mention the Titles that are given to this Heavenly Glory in Scripture It 's called an Inheritance Ephes 1.18 Act. 20.32 that is amongst the best things on Earth A good Inheritance what care to obtain settle make sure of that a Rich Heir is counted happy though he wait long e're he come to Age But this is an Inheritance not Earthly but Heavenly Colos 1.12 1 Pet. 1.4 A Kingdom Mat. 25.34 Luk. 12.32 A Crown Jam. 1.12 1 Pet. 5.4 Crowns and Kingdoms are counted the top of Humane felicity on Earth the highest that mens Hopes Desires Ambitions Climbe what Scuffling and Strugling all the Earth over to be
For it all comes from that fountain of Gods Grace Ephes 2.8 though purchased by Christ yet to us Christ himself and all is the Gift of Grace Eternal Glory and all that belongs to it is from the God of all Grace Text. If God do in Heaven reward any little service we do him here it is a reward of Grace and not of Debt Reason 2. From Christ It is by the means of Christ Jesus that we are brought to this Eternal Glory Text. So Thes 5.9 As the Grace of God is the fountain original and wel-spring of it Luk. 12.32 so Christ Jesus the Mediator is the great way and means whereby it is accomplished for us and conveyed communicated to us Christ brings us to Eternal Glory 1. By his purchase of it by his Death or passive Obedience he purchased our deliverance from Eternal Death and Wrath And Righteousness or active obedience he purchased and procured for us everlasting Life and Happiness Hence Rom. 5 21. It is through and by means of the Righteousness of Christ his obedience whereby being imputed to us we are made righteous in Justification v. 19 18. that Grace powerfully accomplisheth our Eternal Life For Grace will so contrive and carry on the matter as that Justice may be answered and attended that it may be a Just and Righteous thing with God to give us life and so it is by means of the Righteousness of Christ Had it not been for which the sentence of death must everlastingly have reigned over us Sinners 2. By his possession of it for us as our Head and Agent Heb. 6.20 Joh. 14.2 By the Ascension of Christ way is made for us into Heaven The first Adam could have brought us but into an Earthly Paradice but the second Adam being Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 48. and ascending thither after he had wrought the work of our Redemption on Earth Heb. 1.3 Hence the Head draws up the Body after it and to it Joâ— 17.14 Hence Believers also shall ascend thither and have an Inheritance there in the third Heaven and in all the Glory of it 3. By preparing and ripning us for it by the work of his Spirit that whole work of Grace that is begun and carried on in this World to fit us for Glory conducting us through this World as he did Israel of old through the Wilderness to bring them to Canaan Isa 63.9 14. so 2 Cor. 5.5 Ephes 4.30 Rom. 9.23 4. By coming again to receive us to Joh. 14.3 the great end of his second coming is the actual full and final accomplishment of the Salvation of his people or putting them into full possession and fruition of it so to remain forever which is the end and upshot of all his work Heb. 9.28 2 Tim. 4.8 He will come again into this lower World even here to put Glory upon his people in the sight of all Colos 3.4 Rom. 8.18 19. and then to carry them up to Heaven where he now is Joh. 14.3 and 17.24 Reason 3. From the work of Vocation the tendency and scope whereof is to bring us to this Eternal Glory Text. In Vocation the Lord calleth us out of a state of nature of sin and death into a state of â—ternal Salvation and layes that foundation of Grace the superstructure whereof issues in Heavenly Glory The Lord in the word of the Gospel calleth us to possess and receive Eternal Life or Glory in and with Christ 2 Thes 2.14 and makes it over to them that obey that call or that effectually believe 1 Joh. 5.11 And he calls us to look at Eternal Glory in pâ—rfect Communion with God as the end of our Race or Journey and to travel towards it toward that mark of Heavenly Glory which is the prize that we are called to run for Philip. 3.14 1 Cor. 9.24 25. The Lord calleth us out of this World to be men of another World to take up our Lot and Portion in Heaven and to seek and wait for it being as strangers here as Abraham was called to leave his Country and Kindred to wait upon a promise of the Heavenly Canaan a figure of the Earthly Heb. 11.8 9 10 13 16. It is a Christians Calling the business he is called to attend upon to get to Heaven to seek for Glory Honour and Immortality to come The Grace begun in Vocation hath an inseperable connexion which tendeth to and issueth in groweth up to the perfection of Eternal Glory Glory is but the Harvest of that seed that is sown in Effectual Calling It is the perfect man which is an Infant in Vocation If the seed be sown the Child born as it is in Vocation or Conversion Regeneration then the harvest must needs follow Calling is the first patent link of the Chain for Predestination is latent in the Counsel of God the first openwork of Grace upon an Elect person and Glorification is the last but the connexion between them is inseperable Rom. 8.30 And also Vocation is the strait gate that leads to Life Eternal through which all must pass that get to Glory and by which they are prepared for it Rom. 9.23 24. Hence none but such and all such all the Effectually Called shall infallibly be brought to Eternal Glory If God have begun the work of Grace in Calling he will finish it in Heavenly Glory Phil. 1.6 Reas 4. From the Sufferings and Troubles of the Saints here 1 Pet. 5.10 The Saints having suffered with Christ here they must reign with him hereafter Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.12 Having been troubled in this World they must go to rest in that to come 1 Thes 5.7 The best services and sufferings of the Saints do not deserve or merit any such thing as Heavens Glory But the Lord is pleased according to his free promise and abundant Grace Richly to reward such poor things above their worth The Lord rewards his poor Subjects not in any way of exact Justice as poor men that will give the Labourer but his hire But like Generous and Bounteous Princes that will give a Pound for that that scarce deserves a Penny Yea far more largely then so our Services and Sufferings bear no proportion with Heaven But God will Bounteously give it and call it the Recompense of Reward Heb. 11.26 i. e. a Reward of Grace not of Debt or Merit But such is the Lords promise and Grace that he hath laid up a rich Reward for his suffering Saints and they shall not lose it nor miss it They that have their Suffering Labouring Fighting time here they shall have their Rejoycing Resting Triumphing time hereafter 2 Cor. 4.17 The Lord will not be behind hand with any of his people nor yet deal scantly with them for a moments suffering and service on Earth they shall have Eternal Glory in Heaven Vse 3. Of awakning and Terrour to all Impenitent and Unbelieving sinners from the consideration of their loss or of what they continuing in that estate must and will
undervaluing of Heaven not to be willing to fight and strive and travail for it or not to think it worth so doing What shall we stick at a little hardship or danger or difficulty and trouble at the trouble and pains of Praying Meditating or Renouncing our Beloved sweet Lusts and Giant-like Corruptions c. when Eternal Glory is set before us when we are in choice of Heaven the Glory of all Lands that Land flowing not with Milk and Honey only but with fulness of Joy and pleasures forevermore 2. At parting with the World and the good things of it which the Lord calls us to to forsake all we have here if we will have Christ and Heaven Luk. 14.33 26. Though he does not presently call us actually to part withall but only in affection and readiness of mind and in Comparison of Christ But if he should call us actually to part withall we have as by a particular command he did the Rich man Mark 10.21 It were a shame to stick at it You that have good Estates great Possessions If Christ should bâ—d you now presently part with it give it all â—o â—hâ— poor or to the publick so to 〈◊〉 â—â—e Lord does often by his Rules call yâ—â—â—â— do a good deal that way lay it all â—â—â—n at the foot of Christ take your fareâ—ell onâ—â— truly you must do so actually e're long bâ— â—iz when a dying hour comes and it may â—â— sooner Yea indeed a man can do no duty for Christ to purpose nor follow Christ in earnest without the spirit of this and you shall have Treasure in Heaven would you stick at it and say it is an hard saying and go away sorrowful Oh the practice of many proclaims how like they would be to do as the Rich man there did and so to part with Heaven rather then part with Earth Alas if Christ Call not for all but for a little from them he cannot get it though he offer to repay it in Heavenly Teasure more than an hundred or a thousand fold Mark 10.29 30. And so it is a parting with the World for Christ and Heaven to make it subordinate and subservient to our Communion with Christ to Religious duties in their season to daily walking with God and not to be so predominant as hinder and croud out the same but how ordinarily does the world prove mens Master in this respect that when Christ's service attendance upon God and upon Religion and the Worlds service comes in Competition the former is made to give place and crouded out by the latter and the mind and affections so engaged in the World that it cannot tend upon Christ or Heaven But oh the madness here of to set Earth above Heaven Vanity above Eternal Glory or to refuse to part with or deny neglect Earth for Heaven that is a Pebble for Pearl Husks for Bread Dirt for Gold c. 3. At the Cross at Sufferings for Christs sake or from his will at those Tribulations which the Lord hath appointed to meet us and exercise us in our way to the Kingdom of Heaven Act. 14.22 Why the greatest and heaviest Afflâ—ctions that you can meet with in this World are but light think of the worst you can even such as Paul such as the Martyrs endeavoured and the longest are but for a moment compared with Heavens Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Rom. 8.18 Is it not a shame then to stick at them or shrink from the way to Heaven the way of Faith and a good Conscience or be discouraged in it because of them to be offended with the stony ground at Religion when Tribulation attends it Mat. 23.21 or to baulk any part of the way to Heaven for fear of Tribulation Oh if we be men for Heaven we should be above those things or being moved by them Act. 20.23 24. Who sticks at a Crossing through a Brook or swamp or Miry-place when travailing toward some place of desire or for some desirable end Oh keep Heaven in your eye and then even Moses his choice will not seem an hard choice Heb. 11.24 26. May afflictions help and further thee towards Heaven so all afflictions sactified and patiently endured does and eminently those for Christ then you may rejoyce as Mat. 5.12 SERMON VII Vse 5. OF Exhortation 1. To all to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ It serves to invite perswade and draw us to Christ Jesus to close with him embrace him or believe on him according to the Call and offer of the Gospel seeing by him and by believing on him you shall obtain Eternal Glory This further great benefit is to be had with and by Christ This is part of the Estate and Riches that this great Suitor that makes love to your Souls is possessed of and will impart to all that imbrace him Your believing on him if you believe in truth shall be to Life Everlasting 1 Tim. 1.16 All the Doctrine of Christ his Person Offices Benefits is attractive unto Faith and to improve it that way is a principlal part of our scope in these Discourses and so is this part of it also that we are now upon Every one of his Benefits are full of Argument to perswade us to believâ— on him and so this of Glorification and this part of it viz. the Consummation thereof in future Eternal Glory As we improved other particulars before so let us make a little improvement of this to that which is the great end of the whole Gospel viz. to make Christ sweet to us Glorious in our eyes and to draw us to close with him And this the Text leads us to viz. Hence to lift up the voice of the Call of the Gospel in your Ears and to press you to attend and obey it For God therein Calls us to Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus Look as by Effectual Calling i. e. by obeying and answering the Call of the Gospel we are entred into a state of Eternal Glory so as to be infallibly brought unto it by Christ Jesus So the word the General Call of the Gospel Calls us to come and take to enter upon the possession of this Glory in and with Christ Jesus When the Gospel Calls us to Christ and fellowship with him by believing it Calls us to Eternal Glory Oh then hearken to this Call and obey it That is the Exhortation that we are now to press upon you here before the Lord Luk. 14.17 All things are ready provided in Christ and so this thing Eternal Glory Come in and come home to Christ Jesus Imbrace him withall your hearts receive and possess him and in and with him you shall possess Eternal Glory 1 Joh. 5.11 It is now given you in the promise upon the first day and hour of your true believing And it shall Infallibly be given to you in the accomplishment Attend and obey the Call of the Gospel a Glorious Call it is which Calls unto such Glory and the Lord will by a firm deed a sure
Fellowship of the Spirit to all Eternity Why then Christ is for you this is that the God of all Grace Calls us to by Christ Jesus and this is most worthy of all acceptation The Land we tell you of that Coelestial Land of promise is an exceeding good Land some Clusters and Tasts of the Grapes whereof we have shewed you If you be wise go up at once and possess it and let nothing hinder or detain you as Numb 13.30 and 14.7 8. 3. Consider what a wonderful heart-breaking thing it is that the Lord should speak such a word of Salvation to you or give you such a Call to Eternal Glory Verily next to that Call that the Saints shall have at the last day to the immediate fruition of this Glory Mat. 25.34 is this Call that you now have to the possession of it in and with Christ in the Kingdom of Grace The Lord now sayes to thee come come to Christ Jesus Imbrace and possess him as offered in the Gospel and in with him Eternal Glory not seperating the estate from the person think not to have Christs Glory without having Christ himself nor the end from the way to it Heaven from the way wherein you are to walk thither But take altogether Christ and through him Grace and Glory to be obtained in a way of walking after Christ in the Kingdom of Grace and welcome it as the free gift of God Rom. 6.23 Psal 84.11 12. This the Lord Calls you to come and take possession of he bids you now enter Heaven and take your lot there in the promise and beginning of it And what a wonderful thing is this Remember 1. Whom he speaks and Calls unto a vile Sinner and wretched Malefactor that deserves to be turned into Hell and might have expected to hear a doom and Sentence of Wrath only to hear only news of Woe and Wrath and Fire and Blood to hear such a word as that in Mat. 25.41 And will the Lord unto thee say come come to a Saviour and be forever Blessed in and with him 2 Tim. 7.18 19. The Lord speaks to you of a great while to come even of Eternal Glory in the World to come the offer of it unto you all and the promise of it if you do believe 2. Who is it that Calls viz. God in Christ Jesus the God of all Grace Phil. 3.14 He sends from Heaven to Call you up to Heaven I tell you the Bowels of the Lord Jesus now in Glory are now yearning over some of you yea all of you as he is dispensing this word of Salvation to you 2 Chron. 36.15 We are but poor Instruments Messengers whom he imployes and sends It is from the design of Christ to seek and save poor Creatures to bring them to Heaven therefore he sets this great Salvation before you and Calls on you not to neglect it therefore he lifts up his voice that you might hear it as all his sheep shall and follow him that he might give you Eternal Life Joh. 10.27 28. That the King of Kings the Lord of Lords should call up a worm to the Fellowship of his own Glory Luk. 1.43 much more the Lord himself 3. Of what he speaks viz. Eternal Glory i. e. Grace and Glory the beginning of it here the Consummation of it hereafter the former in order to the latter and to the whole of both at once He offers and calls to it at once The best and greatest thing that God hath to give God himsâ—lf hath no greater gift than that Rom. 6.23 and this he thrusts into thy hands the thing that you have most need of absolute need of for there is but one thing necessary and that is to get Heaven to be saved forever the thing that is able to make you Happy a Beatifical good Everlasting Communion with God which is our Blessedness whole Happiness at once this he layes before you 4. When he thus speaks and Calls to thee when Earth is full of trouble about you and there is no rest upon it then he Calls you up to Heaven and to rest there When this lower World is stormy and unquiet then he leads you to the upper region to the Chambers of Glory where Peace dwells as Isa 26.20 when the Sea rages and is tempestuous about you now he discovers an Harbour to put into the fair Haven of Eternal Glory the Bosom of the Blessed God where your Souls may dwell at ease Psal 25.13 In every other dwelling there is some Inconvenience trouble difficulty pinching want or ail that you do not sit at ease some hard knot in every Worldly Pillow that you do not lie at ease But there your Souls shall dwell at ease lodge in goodness as the word is Goodness universal goodness shall be your lodging place Yea when sin had even thrown you down to Hell seperated you from God provoked his wrath yet now the Lord speaks of Heaven to you Yea now he thus speaks and Calls after all your neglects and mispence of time he is yet calling yet offering Christ and Life and Heaven to you this day this hour Behold now an accepted time a day of Salvation a day of Receiving Possessing and obtaining Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus The offers of Salvation might have long since ceased and ended to you-ward but behold yet they are continued and thou hast this one Call more not only yesterday you might but to day you may hear the voice of Christ Jesus Oh harden not your hearts from so doing It may be thou sayest as Isa 55.5 6. 5. In what way a portion in this Eternal Glory is to be had and obtained in what way the Lord offers it and calls thee to possess it viz. in a way of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ i. e. as I may so express it in a way of leaving and taking Leaving that that is worthy to be left and taking accepting chusing that that is worthy most worthy to be taken Leaving and letting go all evil misery and vanity sin and world as attended and enjoyed in a way of sin Luk. 14.33 And taking all good Christ and all his benefits Grace and Glory all saving good in and with a Saviour This great Estate of Grace and Glory together with so sweet desirable and Glorious a person a match as the Son of God is What a wonderful offer and motion is this and how worthy of all acceptation Hence 4. Consider that they that now in the day of Grace chuse this Eternal Glory in earnest may yea shall have it If you chuse Heaven indeed you shall go thither if willing to have everlasting Felloship with God for your portion you shall have it Why if this be true what more plain than that the offer of of this Glory is free and real what more inexcusable or wilful than the sin and perdition of those that perish What remains but that you be perswaded to chuse and imbrace Heaven and Life
missed of happiness they should not and that it was another sort of people that were accursed and not they Joh. 7.49 Luk. 18.11 12. multitudes have dropt to Hell that lived and died in great expectations of Heaven being deceived some through Haeretical previty some through practical hypocricy of heart and life yea many that have been great professors it may be Preachers of the Truth Mat. 7.21 22 23. Luk. 13.24 25 26. Prov. 14.12 Rom. 2.17 21. Rev. 3.17 Luk. 18.11 12. Paul acts with all diligence in the way of Salvation as being quickned with fear 1 Cor. 9.27 which though he was assured of his Salvation through grace was a just fear in a condition alway viz. in case he should be negligent sensual slight and slothful in running for the prize he might then fall short and be rejected at last as a spurious hypocrite his being a Preacher would not save him The guile and deceitfulness of our hearts the narrowness of the way the manifold Temptations of Satan and the World do make it difficult not to be deceived in that great point Oh what need have we with fear and diligence to labour after a grounded sound assurance of a state of life of utmost care and pains to make our Calling and Election and so our Glorification sure And there is much need to press such matters as these to quicken to this work for the heart is very backward to it and apt to be slight and slothful in it and that is a main reason why so many live without assurance because they neglect and put of the matter and will not be perswaded to set themselves in good earnest about it to take effectual pains to make all sure It is the Lazy Christian that usually lives without assurance Quest What course may we take for the obtaining of this assurance of Eternal Life and Glory Answ For Direction here We have many occasions though not too many to be speaking somewhat of this nature Let me at present propound something 1. By way of means to obtain this 2. By way of tryal or helps to discern and discover the truth and certainty of our title to Heaven 1. For a way of means to obtain this 1. Pray much and earnestly for assurance I speak properly to those that are regenerate or have hopeful beginnings of Grace in them though the things we speak may be of use also unto others to mind them what they are to pursue after Where there wants Faith pray for it but where there is Faith or somewhat of it pray for more of it for growth and exercise and that in special unto full assurance It is Christs own direction to his Disciples Joh. 16.24 If we have not full Joy it is because we have empty slight and thin prayers they that are much in asking shall be much in receiving both Sanctifying and Comforting Grace And oh sweet consideratlon that it is the mind and will of Christ that we should seek and pray for full Joy and Peace in believing so Joh. 15.11 He speaks to us for this and he would have us speak to God for it He would not have you alwayes drooping and complaining nor live a poor scant scrambling beggarly life He would have you have full Joy and abound be rich what are you beggarly and have scâ—râ—e afâ—w rags of broken hopes to cover you Rom. 15.13 Pray for this this is according to his will you shall be welcome to ask it of him 1 Joh. 5.14 15 and that is the way prayer according to his will with faith that he hears such prayers to come to know as v. 13. The Lord would have us not only sip but take full draughts of the water of Life Joh. 7.37 and that by or in a way of asking the same Job 4.10 Prayer takes up what is left us in the promise The Lord hath left you large portions of all Grace Sanctifying and Comforting yea Eternal Glory to be enjoyed fully hereafter and in the assurance hope and Comfort of it here Go and take it up by humble fervent Prayer for it 's the Legacy Christ hath left you Turn all his promises into prayer and desire him to do as he hath said 2 Sam. 7.25 27 28 29. You are thus far sure at least that he hath spoken of such things that he hath to give and that you are bidden pray and seek for them and that he will do them for them that heartily seek them Oh with what sweet hope and incouragement may you pray for these things And prayer is not only a means for the time to come but it oft brings in present incomes of the good prayed for The Bucket of prayer dipt into the well of Salvation or of the waters of life comes up full and that many times unto feeling as well as unto Faith for unto Faith true prayer alwayes does so How often does the Lord sweetly comfort and establish the Soul while the praying for Comfort and stablishment Ps 4.6 7. How oft does David in his Psalms close with Praise when he began with Prayer We have examples in Scripture of extraordinory appearances to Gods Servants while they were praying Dan. 9.20.23 Act. 11.5 and 22.17 18. and much more frequent are more ordinary Communications of Grace and Consolation in Prayer but it must be hearty fervernt importunate Prayer empty lifeless Forms and Customary overly performances do much harden the heart and quench the spirit and do provoke the Lord to withdraw instead of coming near the Soul But 2 Chron. 15.15 Luk. 11.8 9. Hos 12.3 4. 2. Labour after the mortifying and subduing of your special and beloved sin your own iniquity For while that prevails that darkens the sincerity and Efficacy of Grace in the Soul breaks the Peace thereof grieves the Holy Spirit who thence withdraws his Comforting work But when that is subdued and there is a good measure of victory over it and a plain penitent departing from it not only by exchange of one bosome sin into another nor by its bring out of date in regard of the natural disposition of the Body c. but when really mortified made better to the heart the Soul broken from and for it watchful against it improving Christ for Redemption from it that is a plain evidence of the sincerity of Grace Psal 18.21 23. If that master sin be mortified all sin is and where there is true mortification there is true union to Christ by Effectual Calling and a state of Life Eternal Hence the cutting off of the right hand i. e. of the bosom-sin is accompanied with entrance into life that is a thing accompanies Salvation Heb. 6.9 Mark 9.43 47. Hence when the Apostle would raise them up to a Heavenly frame such as might shew them to be indeed risen with Christ He calls on them to mortifie their special Corruptions Colos 3.1 2 3 5. And now when sin is subdued and the Soul is taught to walk with God in his wayes the
liberty this way and is spiritually fixed how sweet are they But this meditation brings in marrow and fatness much Spiritual Joy and Comfort Psal 63.5 6. He that hath attained the excellency of spiritual and Heavenly mindedness he hath clear evidence for Heaven yea Heaven is already bâ—gun with him 5. In special be much in self-examination and tryal of ouâ— estates which ought to be one eminent and frequent subject of our meditation 2 Cor. 13.5 God gives assurance in the way of means and of this means in special Pursue and follow home in frequent self-examination by applying and considering the Scripture-evidences of a state of Salvation and searching whether they be found with thee so shall you come acquainted with your own estate and the spirit breaths in that way to help us to know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 for the spirit bears witness with our spirits or Consciences Rom. 8.16 And our spirits come to bear witness or give verdict for us in a way of reflecting upon searching our selves comparing our selves with the word and Judging our selves accordingly Think it not enough to hear of marks and evidences of a good estate but use them apply them home to your Souls and make a sad enquiry whether it be so and so with thee And this leads us to the second thing mentioned viz. Tryals whether we be those that shall be certainly saved or get to Heaven to this Eternal Glory the Text speaks of And we may conclude Affirmatively Evid 1. If our Souls do chuse God Communion with him for our portion our chiefe good and blessedness If ouâ— minds or judgments esteem our wills imbrace and affections adhere unto desire love delight in God and the enjoyment of him as our happiness If that be the portion the whole happiness that our Souls chuse that we might have the favour fellowship and fruition of God Father Son and Holy Ghost for evermore For Heaven as we have said mainly consists in the fruition of God if that be the portion our Souls fix upon then we are men for Heaven That portion is presented to us and left with us in our first entrance into Christianity being expressed in our Baptism the name of Father Son and Holy Ghost And the fruition of that name the full enjoyment of God Father Son and Holy Ghost in all the manifestations and communications of himself this is the end of our Christian race and makes up the perfection of Glory in Heaven Consider hath the Lord so shewed thee the vanity of all other portions and things the emptiness that is in thy self and the excellency of this portion to have the blessed God for thine according to the whole Covenant of his Grace 2 Sam. 23.5 so as to take up with this and this only that thou canst say as Psal 73.25 and 27.4 that is the voice and spirit of the holy Saints in Scripture and so of every truly gracious heart Psal 16.5 6. It may happily be said still how shall we know this Why this one would think should be a sensible and palpable thing what a man makes his chief good what his heart is set upon and he pursues and seeks as the designe and desire of his heart and life and places his Happiness his All in When the covetous man makes money and wealth his main design his chief good may not he himself easily see that his heart is set there yea even others may see it He subordinates all to that and makes that the business of his life that Interest carries him still at every turn that Byasses him And the same you may say of the Ambitious man for his honour the Voluptuous man for his pleasures c. And truly this may be seen in the Godly man that he is for God and for the service and Glory of God for Communion with him and enjoyment of him in all his wayes that is his one thing Psal 27.4 there his spirit runs Rom. 1.9 He subordinates all to that directs all his endeavours and labours to that 1 Cor. 5.8 9. That is the Interest that carries him there you shall find him in all changes when he is himself at least he may be shaken a little by Temptation and violently hurried this way and that way but the Needle of his Soul returns to that North pole and rests not till it stand fixed there As it is with the Needle of a Compass touched by the Loadstone you may by violence shake it this way and that way but thither it will return and there will fix and stand toward the North. He will be for God still 2 Cor. 5.13 for God and so for his people and wayes and Truth and Ordinances for they go together nothing can buy him off from that Interest Cant. 8.6 7. Oh wonderful is the Efficacy in the turn that God gives to the Soul in the work of Conversion and so in the after impress of Sactification that henceforth the Soul stands bent for God set for God and all the temptations affrightments allurements of Hell and the World shall never utterly turn it away from him And truly Christians should so act and walk as to declare plainly what they are for what the chief good and portion they seek is as Heb. 11.14 The Covetous man declares plainly that he is for money and the Voluptuous man declares plainly he is for pleasures of the flesh for his Cups c. Oh the Godly man should declare plainly that he is for God and for Heaven for the Glorifying and enjoying of God for evermore And verily God will have his time sooner or later to try men to the quick wâ—o and what they are are you for this or that worldly Interest for wealth or for being uppermost in the World envying those that are any higher than you or for liberty to sin c. Why then that will carry you away from God and from his wayes and interest when God and Mammon part then you will follow Mammon But if you be indeed for God and you seek Davids one thing Psal 27.4 If that be the master Interest in your Souls then you will cleave to God whatever come and many waters shall not be able to quench your love to him SERMON IX 2. IF we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he that believes on Christ shall get to Heaven the Scripture is plain for that Act. 16.31 Joh. 3.16 and 6.47 he that shall live an everlasting life must go to Heaven to live that life there for ever there is no living an everlasting life in this World 1 Joh. 5.10 11 13. Christ is the Ladder to Heaven as we said the last time he that sets the foot of Faith on that Ladder shall be carryed up thither though no worthiness of his own to deserve or obtain it no strength of his own to ascend to it 1 Pet. 1.5 Now for the discovery of a true Faith in Christ you often hear of
yet fear them not with any discouraging dismaying fear for they are but a small matter compared with the Glory that follows Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 And also you shall be sure to get well through them if you be sure to get to Heaven as every true Believer is then you are sure to get well and safe through all the troubles that ly on this side Heaven If a man in his Journey come to a place of mire or water if he apprehend danger of drowning or of not getting safe through that drâ—ads him but if no danger of that if sure to get well through why the present trouble or hardship of wetting his foot putting thâ—m in the cold water c. he makes nothing of that Why all that are true Believers God hath assured you of this that you shall never come to any bad place to any trouble or tryal in all the way to Heaven but you shall get well through and safe to Heaven at last Isa 43.2 Why then the present trouble of a little hardship and pain to the flesh should be no great trouble to you 1 Pet. 1.4 5 6. But when troubles are in the Earth as they are even to astonishment to this day then should you go up and find Comfort in Heaven If you have Heaven to set against Earth and all Earthly evils you have enough While we tarry below or look only downward or round about us we may sink as Peter on the water But look upward away to Heaven look up stedfastly into Heaven with Stephen and there all is calm and comfortable and speaks more peace and Comfort to the faithful than all the World can speak trouble 3. Against all the difficulties straits and conflicts that lye in the way to Heaven The way indeed is strait and hard to flesh and blood Mat. 7.14 it is full of troubles from the World of temptations from Satan oppositions from the flesh tryalls from God requiring a continual warfare conflict and exercise in all these respects and much pains and care both to get into and keep in the right way It is so way-laid with enemies that you must be fain to fight at every step 1 Tim. 4.6 12. Be it so yet there is that in the end that does infinitely over-ballance all the troubles in the way It is but going through a miry-lane to a wealthy Palace or breaking through a rainy-day to go at the time appointed to take possession of a great Estate who sticks at that We have sometimes mentioned that passage of Chrysostom vid. apud Burroughs on the Excellency of the Soul page 358. great difficulties are rendred small when the matter is exceeding great for which they are gone through Who thinks it much to ride and run through frost and snow mire and water night and day when a Kingdom nay but a private Estate an Inheritance a good sum of Money lyes at stake Men will go through great pains and difficulties and make nothing of it for those things which the World accounts great But they are all trifles to Heaven 1 Cor. 9.25 Remember the greatness of Heaven's Glory that will lessen and lighten 2 Cor. 4.17 yea sweeten all your labour and travail to it Look upon the end when you are pressed with the difficulties of the way so Moses did Heb. 11.26 and Paul did 2 Cor. 4.18 Eternal Glory is worth Travelling for worth Praying for waiting watching for worth sweating suffering striving fighting for and it will quit cost and make amends to the full Israel had good reason to venture through hazards and difficulties and to go on clearly through them all when as Canaan was such an exceeding good Land Numb 14.7 8 9. Psal 106.24 so here But seeing you are called to Eternal Glory travail on cheerily thitherward though it be through hardships and difficulties stick not at them there is that in the end and that promise of certain assistance in the way that is enough to carry you through Heaven will make amends for all 4. Against those spiritual evils and wants that you are here labouring under which of all other are the sorest exercise and saddest discouragement to a gracious heart Heaven will cure them all the very fore-thoughts whereof is full of Comfort 1. Sin and remainders of Corruption that is the great and bitter complaint and vexation of the Saints Rom. 7.24 that they never be free in no duty at no time but still evil is present with them and oft in the prevailings of Corruptions and hurrying impressions of sin make work for bitter repentance And after all means mercies afflictions Prayers yet the indwelling Corruption returnes and appears again c. Why e're long you shall be rid of this troublesome inmate Heaven shall set you free for ever No body of death there none of the old man shall accompany you thither The time is coming oh happy time the very thoughts of it may make you leap for Joy when you shall never have vain thought more never be troubled with corruption more never feel any unsavoury heart more never vexed with temptations more but among the spirits made perfect serving and enjoying God with sin without weariness without interruption and end Heaven was never defiled with sin the Devil did not sin there but in this lower World and was shut out of Heaven for his sin nor ever shall be In that holy place you shall be perfectly holy for ever Hence 2. Heaven will cure the imperfection of Grace which we groan under here having none but the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 We groan under spiritual imperfections wants weaknesses Grace though begun is is but low and little and weak Hence we are pressed with spiritual wants both of Holiness and Comfort falling short in every thing our attainments poor and defective We are mourning and striving after perfection but reach it not But in Glory Grace will be perfected that is a state of perfection Heb. 12.23 Every Saint will then become to a perfect man Eph. 4.13 no longer a babe and childish rather Carnal than Spiritual as man 1 Cor. 3.1 and 13.9 10 11 12. Oh glorious and happy day when the Image of Christ shall be compleated in us and we shall be fully like him 1 Joh. 3.2 you shall then have that fulness of Grace and spirit which you are now praying and mourning Then will all your Prayers be answered all promises fulfilled to the height and as Josh 23.14 The day is coming when every Grace shall be full grown when there shall be perfect love perfect holiness perfect knowledge perfect unity perfect conformity to the will of God A dram of Grace is more worth than all the World but what will Grace in perfection be when you shall be filled with all the fulness of God as full of God as you can hold or can desire to be Never any more complaints of want or weakness to be sure then there shall be such a time and that
Do what God hath appointed called you to and that lyes upon you in the season of it Be continually so doing then are you ready for your Lords coming Is there any work that lyes upon thy hand that Conscience tells thee should be done without delay as to get thy soul settled in assurance of Gods love to clear up thy evidences make thy Calling sure to get down such rebellious strong Corruptions c. or in thy place in thy Family Church Common wealth is their service to be done which God calls loud for Oh fore-slow it not be not slack or slothful in it but finish dispatch pursue thy work be doing with all thy might 5. Be upon your watch in a wakeful sensible attentive vigilant frame and posture That is the posture of those that are ready to meet the Lord and to go to him whenever he calls Mat. 24.42 43 44. Watching is the way to be â—â—adâ— or a part of readiness so Luk. 12. 36 37 40. The Lord hath told us he will come and take us out of this World into another but we know not when and he hath promised great and Glorious things to those that humbly wait on him and for him great is the danger of missing the good of the promise and miscarryâ—ng at last Heb. 4.1 unspeakable is the happiness of those that obtain it Hence are we to watch watch against all the enemies of our Eternal Salvation within and without watch to escape all the snares and dangers that lye in the way the snare of thy own Iniquity the snares of an evil intoxing and and deceitful World c. Luk. 21.34 35 36. watch unto duty to be attentive therein Ephes 6.18 And watch and wait for God and for his coming to call us hence observing also his goings towards you in all his dispensations that we may be ready to attend him and meet him therein as Luk. 12 36. Be wakefully sensible of every thing of all that concerns your souls or the Glory of God watching speaks the unbinding of the senses A sleepy sottish senseless posture is a very unready posture to be found in The secure senseless sleepy person is unfit and unready either to live profitably or to die comfortably But he that is found watching awake and vigilant and sensible though poor and weak yet in a sensible manner c. need not be dismayed whatever come The watching Christian is a blessed Christian Luk. 12.37 And if after Conversion as oft it comes to pass after first affection and prosession you have fallen into slumbering fits and secure frames while so you are not ready but be awakned again and recover your light life sense diligence and be in a frâ—sh posture of watching for the Lord So the wise Virgins are after their slumbering time Mat. 25.5 6 7 10. Oh in prove all the lights v. 6. God lifts up in word and works to that ends to get awake that we may be ready for Everlasting Communion with the Lord. 4. Improve this point unto Heavenly mindedness If God have called us to Eternal Glory in Heaven given us Heaven the promise and the hope of it how should our minds and hearts be upon it as the heart of the Heir is upon the Estate he shall have at full Age of a Prince upon the Kingdom he is to come unto so Phil. 3.20 our hope is laid up in Heaven and therefore our hearts should be there Colos 1.5 Mat. 6.19 21. It is the duty of all even of yet strangers to set their hearts upon Heavenly things by way of sâ—â—king after them and after a portion in him Job 6 27 But they that have a proâ—ise thereof and an Interest therein already given to them they have more reason and more advantage to lift up their minds and hearts thereunto The Hâ—irs of Glory should surely be mindful thereof To this purpose 1. Let your thoughts be much upon Heaven and Heavenly things Hath God given you Heaven in the promise then look upon it see the breadth and compass of this gift take many views of it as you are able even as Abraham was to do of the Land of Canaan the type of it when yet he had no foot of it in hand but only it was given him in the promise of God Genes 13 14 15 17. And when you can view it and go over it as yours your own â—all this is mâ—ne that will make the view of it wonderful sweet and diâ—ightful While Heaven is to us as a strange Countrey which we have no Interest in we are strangers to it in our thoughts But when it is our own this makes the thoughts of it familiar and pleasant Think much of Heaven or of the things of Heaven if you think of the things of God then you think of the things of Heaven it is not necessary to confine our meditations to Heaven strickly so called All the things of God and of his word are Heavenly things the enjoyment of God is the main thing in Heaven Yâ—t the fore-thoughts of the full enjoyment of God in Glory with freedom from all sin and imperfection is a gloriou object of our meditations and should still be the Journey 's end and Rest of all our thoughts and desires which we should be travelling after our thoughts are capable of ascending into Heaven now and unto Jesus Christ at the right hand of God c. Though our bodies our persons be not and should we keep them imprisoned here below thrust them into dungeons and bury them in the dust of the Earth when as they might mount upward and walk at liberty in the Galleries of Glory in the sweet presence of God by the help of his word for do not rove into empty vain soaring speculations but take up the word along with you let Scriptures be the guide and matter of your mâ—ditation take a turn there now and then that you may not be strangers there that you may say as Dr. Preston when dying I shall but change my place not my Company your Company may be now with God and Christ and so it shall be there 2. Set your affections upon Heaven and Heavenly things Affect Heavenly things as the best things Love esteem desire delight in the things of God and Heaven and chuse them before all the things of the World Col. 3.1 2. that your hearts may be there having taken up your treasure and portion there before your persons be then it will be no strange or uncouth thing for your persons to go thither you do but go thither where your hearts have been long before The soul as they say is rather where it loves then where it lives You converse in Heaven you may be said as it were to be in Heaven if your hearts and affections be there as Act. 7.39 Though their bodies never returned in Aâ—gypt yet in their hearts they went back thither and so many whose faces by proâ—eâ—ion are toward Canaan Heaven yet their
Affections shall also be 1. Inlarged or compleatly fitted framed disposed and sanctified to take in that Glory or that Glorious Communion with God that is to be had in Heaven The spirit will be perfect Hebr. 12.23 in this respect i. e. perâ—â—ctly sanctified filled full of holiness and so everlastingly fitted and inlarged for that holy work of Glorifying God that is the work of Heaven alwayes in tune for that never out of frame as you often are here The Image of God upon the Soul shall then be perfectly restored as that part of it which stands in knowledge Colos 3.10 so also that of holiness and righteousness Epes 4.24 which is seated chiefly in the will and affections your Souls shall be top full of Holiness You that now long and cry out for Grace and Holiness for an heart to love God to fear him to delight in him to be inlarged for him you shall then have your desire to the full never feel a weakness or impotency or straitness of heart God-ward more never find your hearts at your left hand but always dextrous in Holy works and inlarged for it then may each Saint say to another as 2 Cor. 6.11 and to God de praesenti as Psal 119.32 I will run c. For thou dost inlarge my heart And especially the affection and Grace of Love that shall be inlarged and flourish there Love to God and to his Saints the perfume of that will fill Heaven Heaven is the place of Love that is the head-grace there alwayes acting never failing 1 Cor. 13.8.13 Those affections that bring pain with them as tormenting fear and grief 1 Joâ— 4.14 and those Actings that imply Imperfection in them or a state of Imperfection accompanying them as prophesie and that inferiour imperfect way and manner of knowledge that we have here and those actings of faith and hope that are proper to this life in contra-distinction to the fight and presence of the good believed and hoped for though the Grace of faith and hope it self or dependance on God in Christ shall continue in Heaven those I say shall cease but Love is alwayes comfortable Philip. 2.1 and the full acting of Love implies perfection 1 Joh. 4.18 the more intensely and strongly Love acts and carries the Soul to God the more perfect we are the strongest acts of faith are under our greatest Imperfections wants and miseries when the good of the promise is wanting Heb. 11.1 And Love is most directly the spirit of Holiness and of actual sweet joyful Communion with God and therefore Love shall eminently continue and flourish in Heaven and be alwayes in fullest act and exercise 2. Filled and satisfied with good the heart of man is a large Vessel the desires have a vast reach even after infinite good This whole World cannot satisfie one heart but then it shall be filled that word full verified Isa 55.2 Brimful of Comfort and Contentment in the fruition of God who is goodness it self infinitely good enough to satisfie the endless reaches of the heart of man You shall then have as much as you would have when the will the desire is opened to the widest it shall be filled Psal 81.10 And whereas Love seeketh nearest Union and fullest Communion with the Beloved If thy Soul love God it would be drawn as near him as may be Cant. 1.4 Why Love shall be satisfied in this respect the Soul shall be as near God as it would be and have him as near as it would have ever loving him and ever loved of him delighting in him and delighted in by him lying in the arms and bosome of his Love Christ and all the faithful his Spouse will then give their Loves Cant. 7.12 each to other ever opening and exchanging hearts And so Joy will then be full Psal 16.11 All the liking affections whereby the will goes out unto embraces and enjoyes good shall then be fully satisfied as Psal 107 9. Jerem. 31.25 Psal 36.8 And for the Soul of man to be closing with and satiated actually satisfied in God the chief and infinite good this is Happiness this is the fruition that is beatifical 2. Consider the Glory of the Body viz. when that shall come to its Glorified estate as it shall do at and after its Resurrection It shall then be Glorified as well as the Soul being made like the Glorious Body of Christ Philip. 3.21 1 Cor. What that is was in some glimpse of it seen in Christs Transfiguration Mat. 17.2 that was a little glimpse and specimen of the future visible Glory of Christ and so of the Saints that shall be like him So Mat. 13.43 Consider but those passages to avoid curiosity here in 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. It shall be the self same Body for substance but endowed with new and Glorious qualities viz. 1. Incorruption and Immortality it is sown i. e. as here buried in Corruption It is raised in Incorruption so v. 53 54. The Saints Bodies shall not be lyable to any Corruption hurt or decay by sickness pain old-age or death but clothed with Immortality All principle and power of dying being swallowed up 2. Cor. 15.4 To live for ever without liableness to death No fear of dying then when once in that other happy World The King of Terrours never sets foot there Luk. 20.36 Adam might possibly have lived and not dyed but these shall live and cannot die And as not exposed to death so not to any other hurt or aile inward decay or outward violence What abundance of Hurts and Ailes Maimes Accidents as also Inward Diseases now How many Tooles are at work to knock down this Clay-tabernacle but then it shall be so strongly built as to be Impregnable by the assaults of Corruption 2. Glory Splendor and Beauty v. 43. The Body is now a vile thing Philip. 3.21 when under earthly Adams Image especially in its decaying state under Sickness Sores Maimes Rheums Wrinkles c. It is a sorry poor ill-looking deformed pale noisome thing But then the Bodies of the Saints shall be Glorious Beautiful Goodly Amiable and Shining as the Sun whereof that of the shining of Moses his face and of Christ in his Transfiguration was but a little glimpse And far above that of Adam in innocency when neither shame nor deformity was yet known 3. Strength and Power v. 43. Now the Body is a weak fraile feeble thing often unable to perform its needful operations soon wearied tyred with action and at last sinking under its own frailty to the Grave But then Strong Vigorous Lively Healthy freed from all defects and infirmities above weariness and weakness And so from the Imperfection and weakness of Infancy or decrepit Age. All the Saints even such as die Children as Divines most probably conclude shall rise again in full strength and stature such as the flower and vigour of years did or would have given as such as Adam at his Creation was made in Vid. Aquin. Suppl Quaest 81. Bolton