have such a phrase nothing but God is in all his thoughts he is lost in love and can finde no way out but by breaking out to Heaven O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God c. Thankfulnesse doth presuppose admiration a minde over-matcht with matter The soule is big with admiration as it can goe ere it kindly and nuturally brings forth thanksgiving A little makes a thankfull man admire much the least of Gods mercies O how great t is to a thankfull soule A thankfull soule sees nothing but wonders bread a wonder a crum of bread in his mouth a wonder clothes a wonder any rag on his back a wonder any whole peece in his flesh in his spirit in his estate in his name a wonder O how big are all a thankfull mans mercies and how little he how tall and proper every mercie and what a dwarfe he How good is every piece but the midle piece what a worme is man and yet how used by God above a man set little lower then Angels What a nothing what a worse then nothing is man and yet what an all is God to him these two wonders make a third to wit a dead heart alive and leape as high as Heaven Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. You see thankfulnesse hath here a great many wonders in her eye and this stirs her who hath made and made us and made us what why partakers of an inheritance what inheritance why an inheritance of Saints where doth 〈◊〉 lie why wonderfull strangely as high as Heaven in light admiration you see is the naturall mother of thanksgiving giving thanks to the Father who hath done all these and these favours for us Finally for I will name no more things about the opening of this doctrin though it were worthy long dwelling upon thanksgiving 't is the proper worke of a Christian and the naturall worke of an Angel A Christian is organized above all men sweetly to tell God his own he can dive deeper ascend higher run faster and further after God then all the lower World beside 'T is proper onely to a Christian to see love to taste love which are the strings onely which thanksgiving makes musick upon shee can play nothing but love lessons No man is divine but a Christian all others are but sensuall and to be ranked with bruites in point of thanksgiving for they give as good praise to God for any thing they have as any carnall man and better Bruites cannot speake but their bodies really answer their end which is reall thanksgiving for what they have and are 'T is a reall returne of all for all A carnall man can speake God I thanke thee c. But neither tongue nor hand neither soule nor body answer their end and so man makes himself an Hypocrite which a beast cannot do The Waves clap their hands saith the Psalmist many carnall men do not so much in point of thanksgiving the best of them can do no more All inanimata and meere animata they are only Creatures ad extra respecting thanksgiving they can onely clap their hands and clap their wings and all carnall men can do no more their Creatures onely ad extra respecting divine workes what they can do at these is onely with their hands and with their tongues clap their hands clap their breasts and lift up their eyes which some Bruites will be taught to doe in time As thanksgiving is the proper worke of a Christian so 't is the naturall worke of an Angel their breathing is divine praysing they are spirits of honour waiting upon the King of glory their place and their shape is for transcendent melody the advancing of infinite love is all their worke they speake nothing else doe nothing else nor can doe as the workes you doe naturally you doe necessarily you breath and you can doe no otherwise They are just under the line love shines mighty hot upon them with full face with perpendicular rayes that they are in a continuall rapture which necessitates heart lifting and leaping and nothing else and makes Hallelujah's all their language They are taken up with returning what they heare see feele taste and live in and live upon The result of all is this thanksgiving is a divine returning of divine love a rendring to God as wee have received as that expression concerning Hezekiah is 't is said hee rendred not or as it is in the Originall repayed not according to what he received which is a full and a lively definition of thanksgiving Vse Le ts all mourne and take on we are all behind hand with God The Christian world is become bankrupt quite broke makes no returne to God of his love he is issuing out processe to sieze upon body goods life and will be put off no longer bloudy Bayliffs are abroad for bad debters all the Christian world over Christians are broke and make no returne God is breaking of all He cannot have what he would have what he should have hee will take what hee can get for mony he will take goods limbs armes legs hee will have his owne out of your skin out of your bloud out of your bodies and soules he is setting the Christian World as light and as low as they have set his love Ah Lord what a time do we live in Long suffering is at an end mercy will be righted by Justice Justice will have all behinde 't will be paid to the utmost farthing 't will set abroach your bloud but 't will have all behind England looke to thy self how much hast thou received what hast thou return'd there is but one thing will undoe thee O England to wit ingratitude not returning as thou hast received There be three or foure things which broadly speake Englands ingratitude Great favours overlookt So great things scarce in any age as in ours hath God wrought yet what impression is there to be found in any mans heart wroks are great and yet make but little impression as fast as wrought dead 't is deadly ominous Tell mee are your hearts in a flame of love doth Heaven ring with your praises have not doe not the dealings of God challenge this of every one The dealings of God with England carry a sweete Face of love and their inside seemes very killing and judiciary they leave all hearts so flat and so low at such a desperate losse still as if nothing were done the greatest Victories the greatest deliverances keepe up the heart but a day but an houre Our favours are great but worke not answerably There is no one thing more sad in my observation they are great onely to looke upon not great in their efficacy and power upon the soule which may make you all look about you The buddings of great desolation appeare The Lord pity thee England The Lord pity thee England Wee grow cold under the rayes of fervent love dead and nothing will
hee sensibly differs from himselfe in affection Things momentanie are fallen two yea ten in the hundred with him they have lost their price The heart hath sold all for nothing that was all once unto it Gold Dung learning dung all losse and dung stinking earth that way taking The heart thirsts for nothing but him that is all all power all love all holinesse all happinesse Divine power where it workes strong enough to save makes passion divine all passions love joy feare hatred I doubt much what power workes in some mens hearts I see their affections so strong and so hearty to the World and the vanities of it I see passion so impure and so strongly working downward Christ and truth but as a straw when it lies in the way of the mans lust hee leapes over it with ease to satisfy his desire I like not the state of that mans heart Power is leading where t is saving it leades by truth by the heart I am thine save mee Saith the Psalmist Thine that is thine according to truth thine in heart thine in life thine in trust thine in bloud in Christs bloud I leane on none else to save me I leane to none else to guid me Power is killing that is saving sin-killing that is soule-saving The body of death dead the body of death no body no body with a soule with life Selfe-will slaine the will that lives Christs Not I live Christ lives in mee i not my will but Christs will carries and swayes the soule These things have beene said to try you what power and grace of God is in you I shall say a little more in the next place to stir you to acknowledge grace as you finde it and so leave this point and you for this time Divine power workes gradually why as you finde God working in you so acknowledge him Let God have his own to a graine Thine is the Kingdome and power c. Wee are taught this to acknowledge grace in its latitude to the God of all grace The Apostle gives God his owne by weight to a graine which workes in me mightily say's hee If God works in you mightily let him heare of it mightily As yee feele God praise God Make expression from operation and expresse it fully if you can Thus doth Daniel Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven and said Blessed bee the Name of God for ever and ever for wisdome and might are his I thanke thee and praise thee O God of my Fathers who hast given mee wisdome and might Dan. 2. An excellent spirit and power wrought in Daniel and he acknowledges all to the giver wisdome and might are his How Gods Power and Glory went in the Sanctuary is turned into a Psalme of praise made to eccho to the author The very degree thereof is noted so as I have seene them That I may see thy Power and thy Glory So as I have seene them in the Sanctuary What he did enjoy was thankefully acknowledged what hee would enjoy againe was heartily panted after How you see and feele power and glory go in the ordinances how in your hearts I beseech you acknowledge to Christ let him have the glory of every powerfull working here Wee are men as your selves that our Weapons are mighty t is through God hee does all admire him adore him Heart-smitings heart-embracings kisses secretly or kickings secretly they are the kisses of his lips and the spurnings of his power give him the glory of all How prevailingly Christ hath revealed power in thee what a lust hee hath discovered subdued what an eternall state â—uined hath he repair'd What wounds hee hath healed What inward issues hee hath stayed What bones what broken bones and how many hee hath set and made to rejoyce let him have the glory of all As Christ kisses us we should kisse him Wee should meete our Father with joy Every Revelation of power in the heart 't is your Fathers comming towards you to take you nearer home to himselfe We call power little some Revelations thereof in comparison of others because the Scripture doth so speake of it for our weaknesse sake but this know t is no little power that will stir your hearts t is an arme of the Lord which is no small limbe to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed 't is more then a finger shall God reveale an arme in you and lose it in you Hee made the Sun Moone and Stars praise him saith the Psalmist But that power which hath made Sun and Starrs in your hearts which hath bespangl'd your spirits with various glories should not this much more make matter of praise As power heightens it selfe operando so should wee heighten it verbis elevando As any Revelation hath lesse or more of God in it so it should busie and take up the heart to returne it in thy hand is power and might and in thy hand is to make great c. 1 Chron. 29.1 As Gods hand did worke for David so did Davids heart and tongue worke for God hee turned power into praise and so sent it home againe in state to Heaven But more of his expressions in that place are very observable to this purpose and point I am pressing But who am I saith hee and what is my people that wee should be able to offer so willingly 1 Chron. 29.14 That we should be able and able so willingly here is the very degree of enabling power praisingly noted As high as power sets a lesson of love so high to a crochet it should be sung Doe but consider some poore soules that sit by you which have no power of God stirring in them but lie dead damnably dead and then bee you dead if you can to give thanks for that power which hath quickned and raised you from the dead God will turne grace into our glory hereafter we should turne grace into his glory here FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering wiih joyfulnesse T Is as it ought to be when apprehension makes full and due impression upon affection When the soule workes out for God in desire and Prayer according as it apprehends the neede of him the necessity of his power love or the like for himselfe or others Suitable to what the Apostle apprehended he prayed suitable to what hee judged these would neede of GOD of his Power and might so hee heartily wished to them Apprehension is placed sentinell in the soule by God the actions of it should stirre all It 's a power in man to see at a distance and to give warning to all other powers that the heart may more looke out and worke out according to what is or will be needed God is come within sight of man when apprehensioÌ„ reacheth him According to what of God is in sight so should the soule stir I have heard of thee by the hearing of
a glorious power This is spoken in the generall I would have every one of you in particular to take notice what power works in and by you and call it as it works Are yee selfe-condemned call that a convincing power Are your hearts prickt and wounded call that a terrible power Are your hearts inflam'd with love to Christ call that a glorious power Divine power condemning executing to wit torturing must be look't to betimes 'T is time to shake off sin when hell is come home come into a mans soule ere the soule be gon out of the body A power working meerly convictive is a sad and black not a glorious power Such a man should know that life and death are neere him he may live or he may die as he stoopes to that power which hath seis'd upon his soule Where power works meerely convictive that man is endited for his life if he can believe he will doe well if not his wounds will bleed to death No power workes so black and sad in the soule but faith alters it and makes it a glorious power The goings of God in the soule are suited to faith still Believe O selfe condemned soule and thou shall see the glory of God a glorious power working in thee Out of faith springs love out of love Heaven Heaven felt and then and not till then a Christian calles the power that workes in him a glorious power all is glorious in Heaven The soule quickly calles power as it feeles it worke and very hardly otherwise Wee call the Sun glorious when we see it and feele it smiling warming â—omforting of us Other celestiall powers which blow blast nip and pinch we call not glorious powers Power is glorious and confessed glorious as it does it's most glorious works in the heart Christians yee are too far from Heaven to call the Sun glorious too few glorious works in you to call power glorious Were ye strengthened with all might ye could not but as the Apostle here doth call power glorious FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 According to his glorious power or according to the force of his glory Doct. DIvine things are so mentioned as to make best impression upon the solue of man The Holy Ghost speaks as one in Heaven to make his auditors so he speakes gloriously to take to raise to ravish dead dull man to worke and force way for Christ into every heart according to the power or force of his glory T is an expression of energy and divine force moulded and shaped with such glittering letters and words with such varnish and beauty from Heaven as to take and carry every heart thither Words of glory and workes of glory all things of glory are of great power and force with fallen man in a glorious stile therefore doth the Holy Ghost here speake according to the power of his glory The Holy Ghost doth speake as like himselfe and to man as like himselfe Hee speakes as one in Heaven as one wrapt up in God and in glory to whom the language of the holy Land is naturall and he speakes to man as on earth in earth wrapt up soule and body in earth cold dull heavy and hard to be lifted up to Heaven unlesse Heaven and glory be brought to his doore to his eye and eare if anything be of power and force upon a dead creature this will according to the force or power of his glory God speakes to man as man yet moves according to the ruines and remainders of his first state Mans first state was glory and he is a creature leaning and strugling that way still to get and make a state of glory he gropes after it in every thing and as any thing carries glory and lustre to any sense eye or eare so hee lookes after it and hearkens to it Things of naturall glory of glory to the sense they are very swaying with a broken glorious creature This the Divell knowes right well and therefore hee bespangles his expression with Heaven and glory and the state of a God when he has to doe with man So he did to the first Adam so he did to the second Adam hee shewed him all the Kingdomes of the World and the glory of them saith the Text he knowes words and works inlaied with glory are very working and winning upon humane nature who ever weare it Therefore doth he at this day gild all his deadly pils and makes them golden and glorious things to looke upon and daily workes in his best apparrell as an Angel of light he puts faire white sleeves upon his arms when he is going to butcher the soule he makes every toole and instrument of death looke as glittering and as glorious as may be hee hath had long experience that golden glorious things are of great force upon a broken glorious Creature As Satan doth speake and worke towards man as man moves according to the remainders of his first state so doth God Hee knowes that fallen man is much leaning and gropeing after glory and therefore shall yee finde the Holy Ghost so leaning to this way of speaking in the word and working in the World namely to cloath expression with words of glory and actions with workes of varnish and glory As when Christ was to come in the flesh and sent his Herauld's to the Shepards The glory of the Lord shined round about them saith the Text. Man is taken with a surrounding glory once he had such a glory in Christ he was to have it againe therefore came the message so visibly and so strongly instructing this way Glory to any sense workes mightily and be but glory to the eare glorious words but glory round to eare to eye to many senses at once this makes Heaven and carries all before it swallowes up the soule So when Christ shall appeare againe you have the Holy Ghost telling man that he shall appeare in glory The Holy Ghost knowes that man is a creature much taken with glory therefore doth he cloath his actions and words with glory according to his glorious power God speakes to man as to a creature of state Persons of state and majesty mind glory as their neerest kins-man and take in things onely as they come in glory and cannot stoop to owne and embrace any else as Kings and persons of state can embrace nothing but what comes in state and presented with glory suitable to their majesty Man is a creature of state of a big spirit of a very big spirit in a very bad sense words must be big when the spirit is big or else they will not beare down all before them One spirit speakes high and loftily to another man will not open the everlasting-doores unlesse the King speake and speake as a King in state in glory and therefore doth he so speake according to his glorious power The Holy Ghost speakes so to man as to make man know his distance he so as
to make him know him that speakes to be God and him that is spoken to but man God speakes so as to make man admire tremble stoop Man is a creature conceited and yet of no reach his conceptions and expressions lessen the dimensions of God his wisdome his power and the like and in this way man growes upon God by sinfull boldnesse and therefore God is faine to put titles and epithites upon his things himselfe to name things according to their nature himselfe which fallen man could have done once but now cannot to call love Love passing knowledge and wisdome infinite his wisdome is infinite saith the Psalmist and power glorious * To call an Angel an Angell and gold gold he is faine to cloath every attribute himselfe with royall apparell with titles suitable that so man may know and keepe his distance heare and feare heare and admire heare and stoop to him that is so glorious and so far above him in every Limb that hath such a glorious Arme glorious power Finally God shapes expression so to man as to hint him of and move him to his highest state He fetches expression from Heaven and from glory to minde man what should take him up and whither hee should drive in all hee sayes and does he goes before man in glory to draw man after him he speakes gloriously to man that man may eccho to him and call divine power as hee does and be taken with divine power as he is that man may looke about and turne away his eye from things that are vaine-glorious to that which is indeed glorious and will indeed make man so being strengthened with it Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power Vse God speakes as one in Heaven how doe you heare He makes his sword two-edged one terrible t'other glorious how does it cut He uses his rod and his scepter sharpe words and glorious words what doe they worke His scepter hee in layes and gilds and makes a glorious Scepter and so holds it forth to your senses to your eyes to your eares what impression doth it make upon your hearts Can yee heare God speake gloriously and yet not be stird'd Can yee heare God speake from Mount Sina and yet not shake Can yee heare him speake from Mount Zion as one in Heaven and yet not admire him adore him and be taken with him To unstir'd soules I must first speake from this point certainly you are dead This is the first principle that springs from this point Unstir'd soules are dead soules he that speakes speakes so gloriously so movingly that all men unlesse they be dead must needs be stirr'd Were your soules alive the words of Christ are so sweete so full of glory and divine force that they must needs stir and take you were you but asleepe the words of Christ are so glorious and so shining in your eyes that they would awake you T is a remarkeable place to this purpose Cant. 7.9 and the roofe of thy mouth like the best Wine that goes down sweetely causing those that are asleepe to speake Christs glorious words are very taking they goe down sweetely if there be any principle of life in the soule t will stir it If the heart be asleepe in the lap of any lower sweete in the lap of any low delights if onely asleepe and not dead in the nest this higher sweete and glory will awaken it and make it speake to the praise of him that so exceeds all in sweetnesse and love Solomon was asleepe for a while in the lap of low delights but when once Christ began to speake in a glorious stile to his sleepy soule hee awoke presently and made songes of that glory that transcendent glory which he saw Surely therefore I conclude that they are dead men whom words of glory words full of Heaven cannot stir How glorious the expression of Christ is here yee heare how gloriously Christ hath spoken upon it out of the mouth of a babe out of the mouth of a Worme and no man yee have likewise heard of what force and power all hath been upon your hearts yee know how much more in love with Heaven and with the Word of Christ and how much lesse in love with the World and with your lusts then you were you know yee that yet are as yee were not a jot better surely yee are dead yee that are yet dead ah Lord when when will yee bee alive Let every heart attend I will ring the Funerall of the dead Hearts dead and unstir'd when Christ speakes lively and gloriously have certainly stopt their eares against the charmer this soule is a prisoner to perverse will there is no damnable prison but this hee is resolved that nothing shall sway that is holy that his heart shall rule truth and not truth his heart which will damne a man if he had a thousand soules This man hath the plague in his heart and hath shut up himselfe that none may come at him no not the King of glory not words of glory write Lord have mercy upon this mans doore upon his forehead for he will die in his sinne all the World cannot save him Whom truth cannot stir nothing can whom glorious words of truth cannot stir nothing shall the man is stretcht out for dead I am now ringing his knell does any dead soule heare me A Scepter of gold a glorious power held out gloriously the God of glory speaking in glory and yet the heart of man not taken nor stir'd ah Lord this heart is taken already this heart is certainly catcht with some fading glory Were there any soule at home when the King of glory and the King in glory knocks certainly 't would open What answer can be made who can open when no body is at home Dinah is gon abroad and ravish't by the Shechemites the heart is gadded abroad taken and lost in a lie in a fading vexing glory that will be the death of it An unstird soule is a dead soule a dead soule is a lost soule a lost soule in sinne will be found in judgement seldome any where else I have not yet done ringing the Funerall of the dead one peale more and I have done Yee dead soules Christ is making your grave doe yee not see it he is comming to take the length of your corps with a sword he will bleed you first and then burie you afterward Yee have bled your soules dead and Christ will bleed your bodies dead and then will yee be twice dead and pluckt up by the rootes When yee are gasping for life will yee be taken and stird with that mortall power which wounds you when yee are descended to your long home will yee be taken and affected with that power that sends you to Hell Surely glorious power gloriously expressed will take your soules or destroy them In what stile God speakes according to it will he make operation in every man upward or downward GODS Words shall
speaking and doing how hee does shape all to a gaining and saving end of lost man Glorious power how big-bellied with Heaven are these words what a transcendent shape have they to save In what a little can God wrap up much in what a little all in a word Heaven in a word the Heaven of Heavens in a word he wraps up glory infinite glory According to his glorious power How smilingly doth Heaven look upon us in this expression God breakes out glory in your very faces here can yee see so much of the World to come and in this World and not admire FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 According to his Glorious power c. ALL Starres are glorious but some are very neere the Sun and double in magnitude and glory and as a sun in comparison of other stars All dispensations of grace are glorious but some exceede in glory so full of Christ and glory that they give a great resemblance in the heart of his triumphant state in glory and set the soule as in the borders of Heaven when the body is in the belly of Hell this is here called glorious power as appeares by the expressions following unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse He speaks of such an assisting power as is superior to all opposing power and makes up of it selfe to the soule whatsoever the Creature could and much more According to his glorious power Doct. WE are come now to the sight of the holy-Land there be glimpses of Heaven upon Earth power workes glitteringly and gloriously here Christ hath a glorious Dominion in dying man Strengthened with all might according to his loving glorious power c. Things which give being give beauty and being glory and being Esse tale esse esse et radiatum esse Splendidum esse Nature hath a power to put forth and a power to shape unto beauty and glory the earth gives vertue and glory life and beauty which makes the earth such a glorious foote-stoole under us So doe the Heavens give influence and glory the Sun derives not onely influence but its very glory to the Sars which makes the Heavens such a fruitfull and such a glorious Canope over us So doth the Sun of righteousnesse give glory and vertue We are called to glory and vertue According as his Divine power hath given us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 Divine power makes vertue glory and vertue that is grate unto a glorious and very Heavenly height grace unto tranquillity and tryumph let disadvantages in the World be what they will Hee spake this to sufferers they might thinke their calling to be to nothing but misery or at least to nothing but naked godlinesse and Gospell-profession which exposes to much hardship no saith he yee are called to more then naked vertue then meere conscience according to such Gospell-prnciples yee are called to glory and vertue to the participation of such vertue as will worke gloriously and never leave working so let what opposition soever be made till it rise above all opposition unto all glory Divine power workes in order to truth The promise to us Gentiles is which stand not in the first and prime relation not in the highest sphere of love rest yea glorious rest dispensations so rich as to rise unto glory joy and tryumph as their rest above is And in that day there shall be a roote of Jesse stand for an ensigne of the people to it shall the Gentiles seeke and his rest shall be glorious glory saith the Originall i a rest so glorious as shall be very neere that glory which is above He shall quiet guilty conscience and crown it sprinckle it and adorne it hee shall give a spirit of Peace and a spirit of tryumph a glorious rest a rest next to that above where there is no restlessenesse nor any thing wanting that may make the soule fully happy The promise is a Lord and a glorious Lord streames yea Rivers broad Rivers But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers and streames c. The expressions note Divine Power working gloriously Isa 33.21 in the Kingdome of grace raising grace here under the Gospell to a glorious height a power setting the soule in Heaven the body being in Earth the soule in glory though the body in shame These are the words of promise now the worke of power is to make words of promise words of truth to accomplish truth to give full being to all that God hath said that not a tittle fall to the ground Power workes gloriously necessarily as engaged by promise Divine power workes in order to dignity and majesty as well as in order to truth Christ hath a Kingdome and a throne here as well as above and Kingdomes and thrones must not onely have power simplicitèr but power ornatè not onely a power which is absolutely necessary to uphold the being of such a thing but power also to adorne dignify and felicitate such a being upheld Kings and Kingdomes have a power unto glory as well as a power unto life and lively-hood I will fasten him as a naile in a sure place and hee shall be for a glorious throne unto his Fathers house Isa 22.23 Power workes in order to state as well as in order to truth he shall be for a glorious throne We are Kings and therefore must necessarily have power ornatè power gloriously working in us grace and grace unto glory being and triumphing There is being in Christ and triumping in Christ triumphing is glorious power and this necessarily belongs to a crown a Kingdom Power workes in Order to expresse words and to types and shadowes it doth in the new house as it did in the Old and more They had presence filling presence glorious filling presence The glory of the Lord filled that house so doth this power workes thus still presence filling presence and glorious filling presence There is grace riches of grace and exceeding riches an inheritance riches of inheritance and riches of glory and all in the Saints That you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1. They had aide and glorious aide under the old Covenant power and glorious power so have wee and much more our Ministration doth exceed in glory saith the Apostle by how much nearer all glory then they Power workes and will worke still more and more glorious within and without as the Christian world drawes nearer and nearer full glory as all things worke stronge stnearest their spring and rise Power workes gloriously now but it will worke far more gloriously every day then other the Moone will become a Sun and the Sun seven fold more glorious then now it is Power workes in order to its own absolute nature Nothing is too
you and fetch you from the ends of the Earth to judgement and to your place Glorious power can put you into darkenesse into utter darkenesse into blacknesse and darkenesse as Jude speakes into exquisite darkenesse and yet where you shall see exquisitely to wit spirits which here you cannot do damned spirits spirits burnt black with everlasting burning spirits flaming spirits spirits all a fire burned and burning sucking in and breathing forth in one anothers face nothing but fire unquenchable fire Glorious power can put you into darkenesse yea under darkenesse they are reserved under darkenesse saith Jude Glorious power can bundle up you and bundle up darknesse and put one bundle upon another and put you under-most under all the waight of Hell Christ can put all the waight of hell upon one cursed spirit Glorious power can cast you into the bottome of the bottomelesse pit and chaine you there with everlasting chaines reserved in everlasting chaines under darkenesse unto the judgement of of the great day saith Jude These things sinners have I spoken that you may dread glorious power seeing you will not love it and seeke out to be saved by it A fourth principle which springs out of this point and which concerneth us all is That our condition is very advanceable Power workes gloriously you may live very neare Heaven as well as very far of if you will you may see the holy Land you may eat clusters of the fruit of the Country above As you order things you may live in Heaven or Hell here Christians I have a high question to aske you how neare Heaven do you live doe you see it do you feele it did you ever have you any bunches of the fruit of the holy Land The spirit of God is in you but is the spirit of glory and of God in you you have grace but have you grace and peace you may have grace and peace but are these multiplied as the Apostle speaks to a glorious height doth a glorious spirit and power dwell and worke in you my Dove which art in the cleft of the Rockes saith Christ let mee see thy countenance and heare thy voyce c. So say I to you Christians which are in desolate conditions mourning amongst Rocks and hard-ships like doves let me see your countenance let mee heare your voice what is your peace your joy your love your hope all these are the rays and beams of a glorious power I have none says one I never had says another I doubt whether ever I shall says an other this last I like worst for surely hee is furthest off from the blessing of glorious power There be but two things that I know which hinder power from working gloriously glorifyingly in the soule and they are sinne loved and unbeliefe I will insist upon these a little because I would have those that mourne comforted all that belong to Heaven in Heaven From sinne no man can cease but cease love to sinne if yee would have a Heaven upon earth a glorious power and presence of GOD in you Render your spirits free to God let them not be insnar'd with any lust such intanglement spoiles your glory kills a glorious working spirit and power in you Set wide open your hearts those everlasting-doores to the King of Glory and onely to the King of Glory and the King of Glory in much glory wil come in a glorious Throne will hee erect in your soules Pure hearts see the Face of God impure onely the black back-parts of GOD. Blessed are the pure in heart they see GOD. The heart is pure as love is pure love is pure as it goes all to Christ to him that is all pure As love goes all to Christ so it turnes all into Heaven in the heart into glorious presence All our worke should be to be disingaging out hearts still from all here Heaven comes into the heart as earth goes out the heart sees God as it purifyes it selfe Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Purity makes capacity of Heaven a cleane heart is Christs most intimate companion hee spreades open his Glory in this Bosome The holy'st men have alwayes had the most glorious visions as Daniel and Iob. God chuses his place to make Heaven he makes Heaven above in Jerusalem that is above in soules that are above above the vanities of this World in love and desire he makes a Heaven Moses is led up to a mount to see Canaan Christ upon a mount had his glorious transfiguration he had his Heaven upon a mount Love must mount above all these low things ere the soule can see Heaven enjoy glorious presence You cannot lie-along upon earth and see the Heaven of Heavens you may lie along upon earth and see earthly Heavens that must passe away Sinne loved and the soule chuses his Heaven here no man shall have two Heavens two Heavens that differ specie Power will not work gloriously in that heart that works filthily A man may see hell in his sinne but shall never see Heaven It falles out unhapily still with man when hee goes about to make a heaven here when hee sets love at worke to take her fortune to make her glory and felicity here below as shee can this checkes the working of a glorious power in any heart and sets it a working another way to whip the man with vexation of spirit for seeking Heaven in Earth in glorious vanities So far as the heart is unmortifyed 't is not simple with God simplicity is an absolute requisite to make capacity of a glorious working power in the soule God descended like a Dove upon a Dove sweetely and gloriously upon him in whose mouth was no guile A heart and a heart has none of Gods heart God never proclaimes himselfe well-pleased in that heart which makes not him his pleasure Divine Power workes not gloriously where the heart works basely An hypocrite has least of Heaven of any man and most of hell As men draw neere to God so they see him neere to him in quality and neer to him in duty We see heaven best upon our knees As wee glorify God so hee glorifyes us When we open our mouths wide hee gives us great things filling things when we beg for flaggons we are stay'd with them At the throne of grace we finde grace grace in glory heaven at Gods feet when most in his presence most in Heaven A man must goe to heaven to finde heaven a man must live in heaven to have heaven live in him Much going to heaven brings heaven at last downe along with one Things doe worke best in their owne element power works most gloriously in heaven the neerer the heart comes to heaven in simplicity in purity in pure qualities and habits in pure acts and exercise the more glorious doth power woâ—ke in the soule still Unbeliefe is another hinderance of a glorious working power Said I not if yee would believe yee should see
the glory of God saith Christ By faith Enoch was translated Soule translations soule liftings up soule raptures are in faith in the strong exercise of faith As wee kisse we are kissed As we embrace wee are embraced I am my wel-beloveds and my well-beloved is mine An act of faith and then an act of recompence an act of joy An act of trust and then an act of returne I am my welbeloveds and my welbeloved is mine This is power working and then glorifying its owne worke in the heart T is the soules going out to Christ like Zacheus and then bringing Christ home with him and after this follow feasting and joy and giving away any thing whilst hee is enjoy'd that is all Things worke as they are in sight 't is so in the body 't is so in the soule Faith sets glorifyed Christ in sight glorify'd Christ in sight makes glorious worke in the heart In whom though now yee see him not yet believing yee rejoyce with joy unspeakeable and full of glory In whom though now yee see him not that is bodily but believing that is seeing him soulely As our soule vision is so in our soule state for joy or griefe shame or glory If the soule can see light in the countenance of Christ t'ath joy glory heaven as full as it can hold if nothing but darkenesse t'ath nothing but griefe As yee believe so is your Heaven or hell With a note of admiration I will conclude this point Christians admire love that makes two heavens for such as are worthy of none Is it not enough that power workes gloriously above but must it worke so here too I am not worthy that thou should'st come under my roofe said he and yet Christ was not then in state that Christ in state in glory shoud come under such a roofe such a rotten roofe as ours here is That light should arise in darkenesse tooke the Psalmist much that glorious light should arise in a poore darke soule glorious power in a poore over-borne sinfull soule should wonderfully affect us and set us into holy admiration If a man die shall he live againe said Iob. Thus much tooke him How much more then should this If a man live shall he live againe If a man have a heaven here shall he have another hereafter If a man have glory here shall he have glory againe shall he have glory upon glory be cloathed upon Out of Heaven into Heaven shall he passe from glory to glory by the spirit and power of God Christians what a King of glory doe wee waite upon Beb-chamber dining-roome glorious yea hall and out-roomes which border upon hell glorious power works gloriously in a house not made with hands yea and in a house made with hands with earthen hands and earthen feete Power works gloriously in Earth formes an earthen Vessell unto glory formes glory unto it in it puts glory in the earthen Vessell and then puts the earthen Vessell into glory The Queenes Daughter is all glorious indeed glorious within without glorious hereafter yea glorious here It lies upon you Christians admiringly to speake and talke of these things They shall speake of the glory of thy Kingdome and talke of thy power c. Psal 145.11 Yea not onely admire it but draw comfort from it according to all your feares and distresses What can yee want which glorious power cannot helpe you to What is it that Heaven cannot make up Suck this Honey-combe your selves I onely can put it into your hand Time calles mee away FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Vnto all patience YOu have a hint here what is the state of a Christian in this World a state that needs a bearing a very bearing frame of heart patience all patience if there be any thing more then this and beyond this in long-suffering it needs this too Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse I take these two latter expressions to be Synonimicall or very neere it the one explaining the other All patience is long-suffering with joy long-suffering with joy is all patience What difference they have I thinke is Secundum intra extra and so I shall prosecute them All patience notes the habite long-suffering with joy notes the exercise The one notes the grace of patience in its formality the other in its use in its highest use as the other notes it in its full'st esse and strong'st habit for long suffering with joy is patience in its highest furthest use Varying and redoubling of expression is to reach things thoroughly and to hold them out most effectually 't will be our best way therefore I judge to goe after the Holy Ghost step by step word for word in this way wee shall tread surest and be likely to finde most touching the nature of this needfull grace of patience First therefore of patience then of all patience some thing shall be said as God shall give assistance Definitio Patience is a holy behaviour in affliction T is virtus versata circa adversa A grace that keepes man gracious in all conditions good in a bad condition holy against all disadvantages of holinesses within or without Man is a creature since his fall full of wants and as full of disquiet and this turnes all wants into sinnes and miseries he is a creature beside the rule and his punishment for this keeps him beside the rule through disquiet and so renders man totally miserable miserable without any felicity or hope of felicity this is the gall of bitternesse which patience takes away Patience takes away the sinne of misery the misery of misery the afflicting strength of misery the sting and teeth of every affliction the malignity of every cup of trembling the unhappinesse of every sad condition and makes a felicity in misery 'T is rectitudo animi sub statu infelici A rectitude of mind under a crosse and crooked condition A heart moving by the word of God when whipt by the hand of God 'T is Jonah praying in the Whales belly 't is heaven made by divine art in the belly of hell this is patience Patience is a soule enjoying it selfe in every condition when nothing else Anima in omni semetipsa fruens There is more truth in the understanding then power of truth in the heart therefore is man though very knowing yet very unruly when all suits not to his will hence 't is that the soule can hardly enjoy it selfe when it cannot enjoy all it would Dispossession of the creature makes dispossession of the soule man in want distracted not compos facultatis because not compos facultatum not master of wit because not master of wealth the man is no man because not such a man the man hath nothing because not such a thing because no children no life as one dead would be dead let me have this or that or let me die let me
his best blessings to wit in the bosome of the best persons Heaven is the inheritance of Saints Doct. Divine fruition is still made according to capacity Men many times give place and honor where there is no capacity nor fitnesse but Christ never doth Christ brings not hell to Heaven wickednesse inherits wrath grace onely inherits glory Heaven is hell to a depraved state As guilt shunes Justice so doth sinne holinesse A wicked man would not be where sinne is punished nor where grace is onely practized He is as unwilling to Heaven as to hell yet to one he must Christ casts hell upon many against their will but Heaven upon none but upon such who are both willing and capable Holinesse makes capacity of happinesse purity will bosome purity Christ puts no Toads in his bosom but Saints Inheritance of Saints c. Corruption cannot inherit incorruption Heterogeneals will not incorporate Choyce flowers will not grow by stinking weeds Capacity is absolutely necessary respecting the inheritance above If Sinners would into Heaven they cannot Light and darkenesse are inconsistent Fire and water oppose God and ungodly men cannot live neare Justice will fight it out with sinne to the death Without holinesse man cannot see God without this God cannot endure to see the man There be thousands and ten thousands in Heaven but not one sinner amongst them all the Land will not beare Snakes Toades Serpents no poysonous creatures only Saints Inheritance of Saints Justice makes exact distinction Sheep and Goates though many yet all parted Not a Goate upon Christs right hand Every attribute is exact at it's Office mercy brings her children from the foure winds of the Earth to Heaven and leaves not one short nor brings not one over Justice gathers her brats too from the foure Winds and leaves not one for any higher preferment then hell will afford The Lord knowes who are his that 's the Seale of Heaven A Seale is for exact distinction What a seale is unto us for exact distinction that is Christs knowledge to him hee doth as firmely as lastingly as exactly distinguish by vertue of this all persons in the World as wee doe by our seales and Markes distinguish amongst multitudes of things Though the devill have many thousands here below and Christ but a few and these tumbled up and downe amongst the wicked yet Christ knowes which is which and who are his And onely his shall have all hee hath Saints inherit God moves in relation Children only inherit bond servants have a little and turned off when their time is out If children then heires joynt heires with Christ This Hypothesis is a Thesis onely in a Saint Hee is a child of God out of question the nature of God is only manifest in a Saint A holy man plainly and without controversy speakes out himselfe to be a Sonne of God Jus legale carries the inheritance to him The wicked are of their father the Devill they may not lay claime to Heaven upon paine of hell If they touch the tree of Life they die when they promise Heaven wrath then smokes and hell never so neare as now Bondslaves doe not inherit nor bastards doe not inherit the case is the same of either respecting Heaven No Bastard Christians no Bastard Saints but Saints indeed inherit Vse Let every man looke to his sanctity It doth not merit but it doth entitle to the inheritance If children then heires A man may looke into his bosome and tell what he shall be for eternity Know your hearts and know them throughly you cannot doe well else 'T is death to mee to smell the breath of some of you your inwards are so rotten and yet I feare I feare you take notice of nothing My Quaere to you all is what have you to take to for eternity Heaven How doe you make that good Can you make demonstration of a holy state Yes I live justly I pray to God I heare his Word This is not infallible demonstration of sanctity Civill conscience calls and thrusts to all these as 't is so principled and under such a government A man may be just to men and not just to GOD. Heathens have beene as just as any of you all That yong man which came to Christ when the Law was read hee should not kill nor steale but love his Neighbour c. All this have J done from my youth .. He was exact for Justice and yet but in a sorry state for Heaven if one may belâ—eve his owne words Drawing neare to God in duties is a better demonstration of sanctity and yet this may be done with the lips when the heart is far from God They draw neare and sit before mee as my people saith God But their hearts goe after their covetousnesse A mans devotion may be hot for the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord And yet himselfe the Temple of the devill strict for new moones and solemne feasts and Gods soule loath all both men and their devotion There is blind devotion profane holinesse I will give you two or three principles demonstrative of it for I feare there are some deluded soules amongst you Out-side holynesse how splendid so ever it lookes is profane holinesse The heart denominates action The Pharisee was for Temple praying for lifting up of eyes and hands but no heart A meere image drawne out in such a posture with his eyes and hands inclining upwards and Christ made basenesse of this best piece God is worshipped in spirit If holinesse reach not this 't is grosse profanenesse Holinesse is spirit yielding to spirit bad to good 'T is a pure heart a heart captivated with Christ and spending it selfe upon him Holynesse 't is everlasting doores within doores of the soule that everlasting thing opened to a King of glory T is affection catched with truth one spirit bound by an other a bad spirit by a good and carried whither that list It is a flame and an Angell ascending in it A spirit a fire and ascending upward A man upon his knees and his heart upon his lips taking rise for Heaven from this advantage Profane holynesse is holinesse meerely formall piety suited to policy to things on this side Christ and truth My father did so my grand-father did so the most doe so therefore 't is best to doe so and 't is idle to doe otherwise Many mens sanctity is a meere piece of antiquity A humour to weare such an old fashion No devotion but Schisme that is not in this old habit No holinesse but faction that cannot be clasp't up within the covers of a Common-Prayer Booke Wednesdayes and Frydayes the onely dayes for Prayer The printed liturgy an onely forme for Prayer Ah Lord What is Bishops holinesse onely blessed holinesse Did not their bloudy zeale lie here What a curse is blind devotion The things that dame them are deare True holinesse is regulated by truth and not by persons nor time Sanctifie them with thy truth
nothing Hee bathes soules in his bloud for nothing Vertue goes from him for nothing to cure issues Vertue is gone from mee c. Healing vertue makes to it selfe leggs and goes of it selfe to relieve distressed it boiles runs over and runs out it selfe and quenches strong fire which would burn the soule 'T is a facile birth The wind blowes where it lists Christ can doe what hee list within as you can set your mouth and blow and breath this way or that way as you list 'T is nothing to Christ to wash a black-Moore white to make scarlet sinne white to fetch out filth in graine Christ quickens whom he will hee can will you cleane When the strong man comes hee takes him and binds him c. Saith the Scripture 'T is nothing to Christ to take the strong'st man and binde him to throw downe and throw out the strongest lust The strong man is no man to Christ Christ can with his finger cast out Divells If I by the finger of God cast out Divels 'T is a full birth One grace cannot be had without another no grace without all Christ All Christ is our sanctiâ—y Yee cannot have the streame unlesse yee have the fountaine Yee cannot have a beame of the Sun unlesse the Sun be yours T is in vaine to talke of holinesse till Christ be owned by faith Christ made ours makes us Faith fetches him that brings down and brings in all to the soule Christ is a troop of vertues Behold a troope comes when he comes Behold he comes if yee believe Sinners can yee believe in the Son of God Can yee resigne up all to him which is all holy if so he will make you all holy without this he will not Christ is holynesse all-over so is the soule that iâ— filled with him Sinners make it your designe to get Christ to be holy get the Sun to be glorious Saints make it your designe to get more of Christ to be more holy Of his fulnesse yee receive and grace for grace Christ in fulnesse in the soule makes grace for grace T was Simeons ambition to have Christ in his armes to have his bosome full of him then had he his spirit at the fullest height for Heaven Our soules rise in holinesse and heavenlinesse as Christ comes in all Christ come in to the soule and all presently makes away post to perfect glory if the King of glory were come in ad suam plenitudinem the soule would arrive instantly apud suam beatitudinem at his full blessednesse FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meete to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light LIght is used in Scripture â—o resemble the noblest things as darkenesse is used to resemble the dreadfull'st civill felicity is set forth by light Thou shalt not goe forth with us any more to Battell that thou quench not the light of Israel They spake this in a civill sense as David was the prime member of such a body a Sun by whose rayes all Israel had their flourishing lively-hood Divine felicity likewise is set forth by light every step of it to the last step which is Heaven Christ is called light I come a light into the World c. Hee is called a Sun that great Seminary of light which makes glory and felicity to a World at once The rayes of this Sun to wit graces and their exercise are set forth by light If wee walke in the light as hee is in the light c. Our blessednesse here and our blessednesse above grace and glory All that ever the Saints shal have for eternity are shadowed out by light The inheritance of the Saints in light The holy ghost alwayes makes apt similitudes apt similitudes alwayes illustrate what illustration of our highest felicity light gives I am to give you by charge from this Scripture which I will discharge as well as I can Light is a very immediate thing 't is a medium to bring all other things to view but 'tas no medium but it selfe to discover it selfe light onely discovers light The first thing the eye takes in is light ere it can doe its office for the body as such a prime Organ Our felicity above is of a very immediate nature it selfe best discovers it selfe no discovery here can be made to any purpose t is felicity so immediate from Christ T is Christ and the soule face to face the Bride and Bridegroome hand in hand T is the soule where Christ now personally is and with these eyes i not through ordinances but as it shines in it self beholding Christs personall glory 'T is the soule brought into the presence Chamber above and beholding the great King of all the Earth at dinner yea sitting downe next to him and feasting with him Our felicity above 't is the solace of the marriage bed so you know the Scripture compares it where there is the most neere and most immediate enjoyement that any Ordinance affords to man T is a feast the King in person present 't is a feast and every bit given with the Kings owne hand and blessed with his owne mouth Heaven t is glory falling immediatly from Gods face upon ours by standing neere him and beholding of him you may take its glimpse and resemblance from that glory which fell upon Moses face immedatly from Gods by discourse with him Our felicity above is full union members joyned to their head according to their full and mature conjunction and so receiving all fully and onely from the head hearing no other words but what Christ himselfe speakes feeding upon no other sweet meates but what Christ with his owne hand gives about Our felicity above t is communicatio sine mediis est receptio sine mediis drinking at wel-head more immediate 't is springs bubling up in the soule to an eternall life i felicity so you know doth Christ similize it Another property of light is this T is immense Can you make a girdle for the Sun Can you span the light Or tell the house where it dwel's As God speakes to Iob. His expressions are very high and noble Where is the way where light dwelleth Job 38.19.20 c. That thou shouldst take it to the bound thereof c. Our felicity above is immense that holy-Land has no bounds there is more milke and hony then ever will be eaten 'T is not flagons of love above but Sea's which cannot be fathomed all the worke there is admiration because none can finde botom not Angels those tallest spirits can feele the botom of that love in which they have so long stood and so deepely weighed Our felicity above is as vast as GOD 't is onely God A Father with all his Children in his armes Christ manifesting forth his owne glory to make some as blessed as himselfe T is mortality swallowed up of life not onely filled with felicity but swallowed
up Here the soule swallowes up every good and lookes for more but is swallowed up of none the soule is vaster then the things you put into it so that nothing filles it much lesse swallowes it up But our felicitie above swallowes up the vastest soule there is every Vessell filled and swallowed up every sense satisfyed and swallowed up This is not consistent here but 't is above There is much within reach as much within reach as capacity to reach and there is much beyond reach for the soule to admire to all eternity and this not as a lessening but as a filling up of its owne and others felicity Infinite swallowes up finite God is beyond the soules capacity when vastest therefore all are in an extasis above Not a soule in Heaven but in a rapture Light is pure The Sunne is without spot so are all his beames so is all the light of those beames light is the purest thing that man beholds 'tas no defilement nor takes none though nothing more generall in its course 't is over all an uncleane World and yet without all uncleannesse Can yee dirt the light Yee may defile your selves in the light but yee cannot defile the light 'T is simple corrupts not within it selfe nor can any thing without it corrupt it Our felicity above is pure Heaven is a House without Spider or Spiders-web there is no dirt nor dust within doore nor without the very gates and streetes are Gold and Pearles * In allusion to our City above may those expressions be Râ—vel 21.21 As the Kingdome of grace in the highest glory therof is expressed by termes and things of the noblest nature and highest glory pure Gold c. If the City of Christ here below will be so what will that City above bee Holy holy holy is our felicity above purity absolute this is the Sunne that shines upon all there and all there shine like this Sunne with absolute purity There is no sinne aboue not the least appearance of sinne Every spirit there moves steadily without the least jogging or shaking Christ and the soule goe exactly in one path The nature of the place and the nature of every one in it fully suite all Divine Christ and the soule all one Here Christ and the soule are one in purity my undefiled is one c. i In simplicity and purity But above they are all one Here is simplicity in the Spouse 't is not a heart and a heart in the Kingdome of grace but one heart my undefiled is one c. But in the Kingdome of glory there is absolute simplicity truth and the soule all one Not a soule-stirring no not a Soule inclination impure nor under the least possibilitie to bee made so Light is pleasant Truely light is sweete and a pleasant thing 't is for the Eye to behold the Sunne saith the wise man Eccles 11.7 Light is glorious and casts glory upon every thing It suites a most noble and generall Organ which makes a very noble and generall content Light sets out all the Creation in glory to mans view and so makes a very royall and full employment for such a royall and vast Creature Light is medium universale it brings in for all senses parts faculties to solace themselves withall Our felicitie above is pleasant Heaven is a stately House to behold 't is glorious and makes all so which come in to it Glory filles that House and all in it The very doore-keeper of that House is a King of Glory All great Princes and peeres persons of great glory to looke upon above and the glory of GOD as the glorious Canope over all The Glory of GOD is the light of our City above There is a great heape of Pearles above and there is a glorious Sunne that shines upon them which makes so many * Quot conchi tot Phoebi Jewells so many Sunnes such abounding of sparkling rayes and glory that I am amazed with the thought of it There is another expression which by way of allusion to the glory of the City above is used The Lambe is the light thereof c. 'T is a made glory which light discovers to you here yea and 't is a made light which brings in this glory to you But what God is himselfe and what discovery hee makes of himselfe by himselfe without any medium is the glory of our felicity above God according to his Workes is the glory here God according to Himselfe is the glory there his owne Face is the daily Sunne the glorious Sunne that shines in Heaven The Lambe is the light of it The Sunne that made the Sunne shines above the sweet that made all sweet is tasted on Feasted on altogether in Heaven This Sunne which you behold is but as a spot or broad blemish in the Face of the Creation in comparison of the Sunne which shines in the brave World to come This Sunne though very glorious in it selfe yet very inglorious a piece of stained paint for feeble senses to gaze at in comparison of that above Something to declare his pleasure rather then to make pleasure are all the Workes of Gods Hands here what hee is in Himselfe is properly to make pleasure for the soule of man All that the Lambe is in himselfe all that glory and lustre hee hath of Himselfe is opened by himselfe in Heaven Surely the glory of this World is but a Dunghill to that to come Sunne beames but a pyramid bundle of strawes Light is homogeneall Every twinkling of light is light as every drop of Honey is Honey and has the nature and definition of the whole 't is throughout like to it selfe Our felicity above is homogeneall Heaven is all Heaven Every corner of Heaven is a Heaven every thing that is tasted a Heaven every thing that is smelt a Heaven ever thing that is look't upon or medled with a Heaven a full felicity to the soule Our felicity here is not homogeneall wee have some things delightfull more things grievous some things pleasant more things displeasant Above all is pleasant GOD pleasant Angells pleasant Saints pleasant all that all these say and doe pleasant * On earth God is afflicting as well as felicitating but in Heaven never seemingly displeased Christs face is continually as Lebanon bright and glorious as the looking forth of the morning No deformity above Every thing in Heaven a Heaven GOD is light and in him is no darkenesse 't is a mighty expression As 't is spoken of sinne here so it may be spoken of affliction respecting our Country above God is felicity above and in him nor from him is no infelicity not so much as the least affliction God is not an afflicting God not a chastening Father in Heaven So it may be said of Saints and Angels there is felicity in them and in them nor from them no affliction but all happinesse Every glote of the Eye of every one above pleasant and glorious the