blotted out his grace is the Fountain of their Salvation and therefore they may expect it from his mercy God is unchangeable in his decrees the design he hath laid touching the saving of his people from all eternity is not changed in time nor can all the Powers on Earth hinder the execution of his will It is impossible that any should be Predestinate and not saved saith Peter Lombard Lomb. sent Lib 1. Dissin 40. Jesus Christ hath said That he knoweth all his Sheep that he gives unto them Eternal Life that they shall never perish that no man shall be able to pluck them out of his hands John 10.27 28. 2. God hath called them unto glory Whom he hath Predestinated them hath he called whom he hath called them hath he Justified and whom he hath Justified them also hath he Glorified Rom. 8.30 He speaks of it as of the time past as if it were already done partly because part of it is present as Peace Joy c. and partly because it is as sure as though it were in present possession we are called unto glory and vertue we are called to the obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Gospel 2 Thes 2.14 And S. Paul exhorteth the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God who had called them to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 God hath called the Saints out of this World they are no sooner admitted into the School of Christ but they learn that the Earth is their banishment and Heaven their Countrey the end why God calls his people out of the World is that they might not seek for happiness upon Earth and that they may make no account of what the wicked do possess and thereby see that riches and honours are not the portion of the righteous because God bestoweth them chiefly upon his enemies he leaveth the fairest part of the World to those that persecute him to teach his Children that Heaven is their patrimony and Inheritance 3. God hath prepared Heaven for them Christ at the last day will say to the Sheep whom he will place at his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Mat. 25.34 When Christ was leaving the World he comforteth the hearts of his disconsolate Disciples thus In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you John 14.2 The glory must be incomparable which God hath treasured up and been preparing from eternity Neither doth God only prepare Heaven for his Saints but he also prepareth them for Heaven he makes them meet partakers of the inheritance among the Saints in light Col. 1.12 For as wicked men are vessels of wrath sitted for Destruction so the Saints are vessels of glory prepared unto glory Rom. 9.22 23. The Saints do not presently pass from a corrupt to a glorious estate but there is a fitting and an holy preparation cometh between if a man will wear a Garment he fits it before he weareth it so God will have his people cast into a new mould that he may fit them for Heaven before he puts them into the possession of it 4. God hath promised to bestow Heaven upon his people He will give grace and glory Psal 84.11 The Crown of life hath he promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 Heaven cometh to us by deed by good assurance there is no better deed then that which is written by the finger of God and sealed by the blood of Christ as a judicious Divine well noteth Dr. Holdsworth Sermoon Jam. 1.12 therefore though we cannot see the glory of Heaven in the thing yet we may see it in the Promise Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God he hath chosen the poor of the World rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2.5 Heaven is a Kingdom engaged to the Saints by promise and they are to look upon it as a promised Kingdom and to judge him faithful that hath promised St. Augustin Debtor factus est non aliquid a nobis accipiendo sed quod ei placuâ—t promittendo August saith God is become a debtour not by receiving any thing from us but by promising all things to us what it pleased him hereupon saith he we say not to God repay that which thou receivedst but pay that which thou hast promised let us hold him therefore a most faithful debtour because we have him a most merciful promiser the promise was made in mercy the performance thereof depends upon the fidelity of the promiser Yea we have not the bare word of God only but also his oath Heb. 17.18 God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it with an Oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Now he is Jehovah and will give existence to all his promises and the making good his promises to his Children will tend to the greater manifestation of God's Glory SECT II. DIvers reasons also may be given why the Lord will glorifie his people in respect of themselves 1. Glory is the great design of the Saints therefore it shall be unto them St. Paul sets it down as a distinguishing Character of the Saints from other men Rom. 2.7 And saith To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life i. e. To them shall be eternal Life This is the main thing that the Saints aim at some of them do differ in some Opinions but in this they all agree viz. in aiming at everlasting glory the glory of the God of glory therefore the Lord will not suffer them to miss of the main end and aim of their Souls The Spouse cries Come Lord Jesus come quickly Their affections are set on things above their conversation is in Heaven their treasure is in Heaven and Heaven hath their hearts they seldom look up to Heaven but they sigh after it and are afflicted at their banishment grief makes the Heaven-born Soul cry Wo is me because my habitation is prolonged 2. Glory is the expectation of the Saints Phil. 3.20 21. and they are said to rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 Saving hope is a siducial and undoubted expectation of eternal glory and happiness promised to us in the word and purchased by Christ for us or else a patient waiting for the manifestation of the glory of the Sons of God when Christ shall appear this is the hope that is meant Rom. 8.23 24. there waiting hope and expectation are the same waiting for the adoption i. e. for the inheritance of glory to which by our adoption we
without doors in comparison of this but this is within it is a sin so inward to the Body that it diffuseth it self through the whole Body and makes it wholly a slave and instrument to its lust yea the Body is as it were the object of these sinful lusts they do in a peculiar manner defile the Body What greater indecorum can there be for one that hopeth to have his Body glorified in Heaven then thus to debase and vilifie it upon the Earth Take heed likewise of intemperance in meats and drinks of gluttony and drunkenness for this also dishonoureth the Body takes away the heart and makes it to stick fast in the mire of sensuality and makes a man a stranger to heavenly-mindedness it sets a man below a rational man much more below a spiritual man whose heart whose hope whose conversation is in Heaven St. Paul saith Meats for the belly and the belly for meats but God shall destroy both it and them If you expect to have your Bodies lifted up to heavenly glory be not ye Sâ—rvants to the belly and to meats and drinks both which are appointed to destruction Miserable then is the condition of those persons now whose god is their belly whose greatest delight is to pamper their bodies and please their palates that have not the least savour of heavenly things The more heavenly minded any man is the more he raiseth his heart far above these things and denieth himself in them and it shall be no little ground of comfort to a glorified Saint when after the mortification and diligent looking to the senses which continued so short a time he finds himself so wholly immersed in that deep fountain of glory without finding any bottom or end of so many and such exceeding great joys Oh then let us make it our meat and drink to do the will of our Father which is in Heaven using these outward blessings as not abusing them as furtherances and not as hinderances in the service of God eating and drinking for Heaven and whatsoever we do doing all for Heaven that this among other may be one good evidence to our Souls that we are Vessels of Honour prepared for glory fitted for Heaven where we shall be full of God and have no need nor desire to fill our selves with meats and drinks Vse 2. This may exhort us to a patient bearing of all afflictions and present evils be they many be they grievous Suppose your Bodies are as full of diseases as the Body of Lazarus was full of sores they are sick weak crazy deformed blind maimed ulcerous leprous if all these or any of these be upon thy Body bear it patiently for Christ will one day redeem thy Body from all these and make it glorious like to his own Body Vse 3. Be hence encouraged to give up your Bodies to suffer for Christ what evil soever cruel Tormentors through God's permission shall inflict upon your Carcasses if they judge thee to the loss of ears of eyes of tongue of hands yea the whole Body to be burned at a stake or to be devoured by wild Beasts such torments Martyrs have endured willingly submit to all Christ will restore those eyes ears tongues hands or any other member whatsoever which your Adversaries shall pull from you Vse 4. Be not afraid of dying neither let the thoughts of the dissolution of thy Body into dust and the long abode of thy Body in the dark prison of the grave be a trouble to thee God will redeem this Body of thine from the grave saying Give up the dead which are in thee give up my Saints and he will make thy Body to out-shine in glory The Grave is God's Refining-pot where he refineth our vile Bodies it is the mould in which he casteth our glorious Bodies to new mould them it is his Work-house wherein he sheweth his power and wisdom in transforming our Bodies Death causeth the Saints to put off these vile Bodies that they may put on more glorious Finally be exhorted to glorifie God in your Bodies since he will one day make them glorious Bodies 1 Cor. 6.20 CHAP. XVII I Have spoken somewhat largely of the substance of that happiness which Christ hath purchased for the Saints so far as concerneth the Body in the next place I shall speak somewhat of that unconceivable blessedness to which the Soul the principal part of man shall be advanced and here is something peculiar in that glory prepared for the Soul above that of the Body not only that the Soul in its own nature is capable of a greater perfection and excellency then the Body but also in respect of the time for whereas the Body shall remain under the power of Death and corruption until the general Resurrection the Soul in the mean time shall be triumphing in glory so that the Souls of the Saints will come under a double consideration 1. Before the Resurrection 2. After the Resurrection 1. Before the Resurrection when the Soul shall remain seperated from the Body of which I shall speak somewhat briefly because among other wretched Doctrines hatched of old and lately revived this is found to be one viz. that the Soul dieth or sleepeth with the Body and so abideth till the great day of the general Resurrection when it shall be raised again with the Body But two clear Scriptures may be opposed against this Opinion the first is in Heb. 12.23 where the Apostle speaking of the priviledge which the Saints have while they are upon Earth said they were come to the spirits of just men made perfect not the Souls of any of the Saints living on the face of the Earth for they are imperfect for we know in part and prophecy in part but when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away Hence then it remaineth that the spirits of just men made perfect must be no other then the Souls of the Saints seperated from the Body and translated unto glory Now if the spirits of just men seperated from their Bodies are made perfect they are not dead for death is the destruction of perfection the Body is never so imperfect as when it is dead a diseased Body is much more perfect then a dead Corpse so then if the Souls of the Saints were dead with their Bodies they should be so far from being made perfect that they should utterly lose those beginnings of perfection which they had while they were in the Body their graces would be extinguished and there would be a loss to them of that enjoyment of God and communion with him which they had here upon the Earth The second place of Scripture I shall produce against this Opinion of the Mortalists is in 2 Cor. 5.6 7 8. Therefore we are always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord for we walk by faith not by sight we are confident I say and willing rather to be
are interested that look as the creature is said verse 19. earnesty to expect they do as it were put forth their heads to look for the glorious appearing of the Sons of God so all the Saints do earnestly expect their future promised glory saith Parisiensis Guilielm Parisiens their hopes are altogether taken up with Heaven they long for this eternal habitation the moments that stop them here below seem ages the diversions illusions the pleasures of the world seem torments to them the happiness of the world a dangerous temptation Now the Spirit of God inspires them with strong desires of Heaven points out the glory of the Blessed fills them with hope of the shortning of their exile they live always in their desire after Heaven comfort themselves with the expectation and by a certain hope taste the happiness they shall one day be satisfied with in an everlasting enjoyment Now the hope of a Christian is sure and being founded on the promises of God who cannot lye never deludes the Believer that listens to them Jesus Christ hath given to his People such favors as whereby he strengthens their hope for what happiness they yet enjoy not the death he suffered for us is an assurance of that life he prepares for us neither can we doubt saith Augustine Aug. that we shall not reign with him in glory seeing he was willing to die for us upon the Cross for what good things may we not expect when his death is a pledg of his love and an assurance of the happiness we look for he that hath this hope may boast himself happy before hand for Philo Philo Jud. the Jew calls it the fore-runner of joy a harbinger pleasure preceeding the eternal one an ante past of blessedness 3. God hath already given them the beginnings of glory they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession c. Ephes 1.13 Here indeed the Saints are Sons but they are not Heirs invested into that blessed estate they have title to God reserves not all their happiness for the world to come but gives them somewhat here to bear up their spirits to mitigate and sweeten their troubles in their absence from their Husband and to render them happy in the midst of their miseries he sheds the graces of his Spirit into their spirits with so much complacency that conversing with men they may relish the bliss and happiness of Angels He gives them the Holy Ghost as a pledg of that glory which one day they shall receive with him you know an earnest is for security of a contract so the Holy Ghost doth secure us of that blessed estate we shall have hereafter in Heaven An earnest likewise is part of the bargain a part of the whole that is secured though it be never so little yet it is a part so it is in the operations of the Spirit upon us in that peace and joy that it worketh in the heart it is a part of that peace and joy the Saints shall for ever enjoy in Heaven Moreover an earnest is given rather for the security of the party that receives it then in regard of him that gives it so God by giving us this earnest of his Spirit gives us assurance of salvation he makes us thereby to read our Names written in the Book of Life he takes us into that Privy Chamber where the definitive sentence of our eternal happiness is pronounced he applieth to us the merits of Jesus Christ and himself interposeth the caution of his Promises he blots out those mortal discontents that labour to throw us into despair advancing our hope by a prelibation of glory and handles us with so much tenderness that he that hath this assurance cannot be made to believe that he can be miserable in the other world that hath been so happy in this The Saints also have glory here in primitiis they are said to have received the first fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 to assure them that they shall have a rich harvest and a good crop Look as sometimes it falls out with wicked men in their merry sports God sends some horror of conscience into them that like an unwholesome damp choaketh all their pleasure which is the first fruits of Hell a taste of the cup of wrath which the damned drink of in Hell so when a godly man is in his sad dumps when he is almost buried in the gulf of troubles then God's Spirit doth as Jonathan take a little honey upon the top of his rod and gives it him to eat which comforteth his fainting spirit the Spirit of God then droppeth a little comfort upon an afflicted heart gives him a taste of the rivers of pleasures and secretly assureth him of the favor of God in Christ and that one day he shall enjoy communion with him to all eternity these are the very first fruits of Heaven The godly are already glorified in part because that wherein eternal life and glory do consist they have now in part they know God in part they do here enjoy God and Christ in part they have now communion with God in Christ and Christ is said to live in them and God is said to make his abode in them that Soul must needs be glorious wherein God and Christ do make their abode It is true what a holy Man said a Believer hath Coelum in se Christum in illo Coelo A Christian hath Heaven within him and Christ in that Heaven Where God and Christ is certainly there is Heaven 4. Because Christ their Head is glorified therefore must the Members also be glorified they are united to Christ he is their Husband they are his Spouse now where he is they must also be as he himself tells his Disciples John 14. Now is the time of contract only the time of the Marriage solemnity shall be at the appearing of Christ Now we are the Sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be 1 John 3.2 But when he who is our life shall appear we shall also appear with him in glory Colos 3.4 Christ in his own Person is now glorious Ought not Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory Luke 24.26 This glory is given him by God his Father 1 Pet. 1.21 John 17.24 Now when it is said God the Father gave him glory it cannot be meant of essential glory because he had that from all eternity but by glory is meant the glory of his Mediatorship and the glory he had after his Resurrection wherein we shall be made like unto him sitting at the right hand of God Now real glory is given to Christ in regard of his Humane Nature so it was manifest in time but in respect of his Deity he had it with his Father before the world was John 17.5 As the Sun when there is a Cloud between us and it the Sun
still keeps its splendor but when the Cloud is gone we see it So Christ in regard of his Deity had this glory always it was hidden from him in regard of the infirmities which he took upon him as sufferings death c. Now Christ our Head being glorified all his Members that suffer with him shall also be glorified together they are now glorified in capite and when Christ hath prepared places for all his Members then he will take them home to his Father's house Christ is now preparing their glory and fitting their heavenly Mansions he is decking their Crowns of Righteousness he is trimming their Robes Christ is now in his own Person glorious but Christ mystical is not glorious it is in a suffering condition there are many of his Members that are not yet brought home to God Christ hath a care of his mystical Body as of his natural Body he gave his natural Body to redeem his mystical Body therefore as he is glorious in his natural Body so he will be glorious in his mystical Body for St. Paul saith he shall come to be glorified in his Saints The Son of God rose gloriously out of his Tomb and after he had given assurance of it to his Apostles he was taken up into Heaven to reign there eternally with his Father the Angels made a part of his Triumph his Body that was pierced with the nails rent with stripes torn with thorns was set at the right hand of his Father on a Throne whose Ornament was Justice and the Foundation Mercy as one well noteth His mystical Body shall receive the like glorious entertainment the Saints shall be admitted into the Society of the Blessed and reign in Heaven with the Angels Those Members that have suffered in the quarrel of Jesus Christ shall be freed from all miseries and reign in glory everlastingly with their Head that the blessedness of Jesus Christ may have its accomplishment and he may be as happy in his Members as in his Person Jesus Christ and his Members are united in their sufferings on earth and by a necessary consequence we may be assured they shall be so one day in their glory in Heaven To this end Christ prayed for his Church to his Father when himself was upon earth The glory which thou gavest me I have given them Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17.22 24. It is observable that in other things when Jesus Christ speaks to his Father it is with so much respect that he seemeth rather a Servant then a Son but when he asks that his Members may reign with him in glory it is with so much liberty of speech that his Request is rather a determination then a Prayer Volo Pater Father I will that where I am there my Servants may be CHAP. V. Of the quality of the Saints glory NOw that I may set forth the nature of the Saints glory you are to know that there is no specisical or essential difference between our gracious and glorious estate as there is no specifical or essential difference between the Corn of the First-fruits and that of the whole Harvest only some accidental differences as there is no specifical difference between a Child and a grown Man they have both the same essential parts and principles there is only an alteration of degrees not of parts gradus non variat speciem Now our present estate is our Infancy our future estate is our Man-hood for the present the Children of God have glory given them godly Men are for the present glorious the Scripture calls them nothing else but blessed yea even then they are blessed when the world looks upon them as most miserable when shame reproach and trouble is cast upon them then doth the Spirit of glory rest upon them they having grace bestowed upon them have glory Glory is nothing else but the splendour the brightness of grace Vita gratiae nihil est aliud quam aetas infantilis gloriae he that is gracious is glorious We shall have the same individual Bodies and Souls after the Resurrection as we have in this life only some alteration in respect of some new qualities as in our first Resurrection from the death of Sin to the life of Righteousness there is no transmutation of the essence but an alteration of the qualities or a super-introduction of new qualities by which we are said to be new Creatures 2 Cor. 5.17 not in quantity but in quality so in Heaven we shall become new Creatures in respect of what we are now and those very qualities which do principally concur to the constitution of our happiness in Heaven are in some measure communicated to us in our first regeneration now we have drops then rivers of delights Psal 36.8 both the same in nature This will be the more evident if we examine wherein our happiness hereafter doth consist and compa ing it with our present estate Our spiritual and supernatural blessedness consisteth in the fruition of such an object as is perfectly all-sufficiently and principally good which is only God therefore it standeth in our perfect union to and communion with God the faculties of the soul being by the Almighty power of God dilated extended and enlarged so far as to be as it were capable of the fulness of God and by the perfect operations of the understanding will and affections united to God in all their actions and when these natural weak and vile Bodies of ours by the same hand of Omnipotency are transfigured and transformed into spiritual powerful and glorious Bodies and so united to the Soul then are we come to the perfection of our blessedness the properties of which blessedness are First That it is everlasting Secondly That we shall discern it so to be And thirdly That as it fulfilleth the largest desires of our hearts so we shall be extraordinarily affected with it and perpetually affected to it and incessantly desirous of it our glory consisteth not in having what our weak Souls can now wish for but what they can desire when they are gloriously corroborated and enlarged So that now you see there is no specifical or essential difference but only a gradual or circumstantial difference between the state of grace here and the state of glory hereafter for Regnum coeleste est Dei contemplatio glorificatio Gregor Nazianzâ—n Orat. contr Arrian celebratio cum Angelis communis saith one of the Fathers who commonly describeth the state of the blessed to be nothing else but the full and perfect accomplishment of such spiritual blessings as are already begun in us and in part already communicated to us when God shall by a most perfect and immediate irradiation of the understanding and sanctification of the will and affections to know love and delight in God and transformatâ—on of the Body into the likeness of Christ's effect
the everlasting glorification of the whole man Quest But will not this diminish and lessen the excellency of our future estate and make it far less eminent then the Scripture describes it to be 2 Cor. 4.17 and consequently less desirable and the hope and assurance of it less able to solace us against our present sufferings Sol. I answer no for besides the admirable alteration there shall be in our Bodies in respect of their present base condition there shall be a far greater alteration in our Souls though it be not specifical and essential as may appear in comparing the First-fruits with the whole Harvest What is an handful to the whole Crop what is a drop of Water to the whole Ocean what is the light of the Moon and Stars and Candle-light to that of the Sun and yet there is no essential difference between these no more then between a mountain and a mole-hill both having the same common nature God can raise qualities as well as substances to a most eminent and glorious perfection if we in the state of renovation find such comforts as are many times unspeakable and glorious even in this our day of small things that they make us to glory in tribulation and to triumph over the greatest evils in this life how absolute and transcendently ravishing shall our contentment be when we shall be above the reach of all evils and be filled with all perfection Hence we may learn how to conceive of the blessedness of our future estate viz. not to think of it after a carnal manner as if it did consist in eating and drinking sleeping marrying possessing of Silver and Gold and Houses richly furnished and adorned or in a Turkish Paradise in sensual delights and following our sports and recreations but rather in exercises of Holiness and Righteousness in a glorious and heavenly communion with the holy Trinity Saints and Angels as Rom. 14.17 in living a Celestial and Angelical kind of life as Luke 20.35 such as is described Isa 6.2 3. Psal 103.20 Matth. 18.20 Luke 15.7 Luke 2.13 14. A sincere Christian condition and heavenly conversation is an obscure delineation and representation of the happy condition of the glorified and the Saints do even live as it were an Heaven upon Earth they begin to live eternally and blessedly as soon as they begin to be in Christ and if Glory deserveth such great admiration and estimation Grace which is a spark and principle of it can be no mean thing therefore let those that are sanctified in Christ so far magnifie themselves against the insolencies of ungodly men CHAP. VI. Sheweth that the perfect Glory and Happiness of the Saints is invisible for the present SECT I. IN the next place I shall shew you that the full dignity glory and happiness of the Saints is not apparent Now we are the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but when he shall appear we shall be like him c. 1 John 3.2 Our Salvation is hid in this life Our life of glory is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 All the flourishing beauty of the Wine is all the dead time of the Winter hidden in the root of the Vine Christ our Head our Brother our Ausband our Saviour is keeper of the Crown of glory it is hid in Christ for the present therefore it doth not appear and it is hid with Christ in God in God objective because of our happiness principally consisteth in the vision of God or causaliter because all our glory is derived from God or else in God that is apud Deum in the power of God to bestow it at his pleasure there is glory and happiness hidden in Christ for us Upon the meditation hereof the Psalmist cries out Psal 31.19 O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee how great it is particula admirativa Bruno Nimis supra quam dici potest admirativè cum nimio pondere Bruno interprets it thus How great is thy goodness it is so wonderful that the tongue of an Angel cannot express how great it is but this goodness is laid up it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which thou hast hidden which thou hast in secret preserved so that it is not as yet apparent what goodness it is Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what things God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 This St. Paul spake who in that divine rapture into the Third Heaven saw a flash of the Transcendent glory of the Saints The glorious beauty of Heaven and Earth is the object of the eye yet no eye ever saw such glory our ears hear more then our eyes can see we hear of glorious things done in all parts of the World and yet no ear ever heard of such glory our hearts can conceive more then our eyes can see or ears can hear or we can fancy greater things then can be presented to the eye yet we cannot conceive the glory of the Sons of God Our glory doth not appear we have treasures of happiness but they are hidden in the field our Transcendent happiness is like a curious piece of Arras roled up not put down and exposed to the view of men we are glorious Stars but yet we do not appear above the Horizon the Earth doth interpose it self between us and the set Sun and hides his light from us so these earthy bodies of ours do interpose themselves between us and our glory that it cannot be seen The happy and glorious estate of the Children of God doth not now appear 1. Not to the Wicked the glory and beauty of the Saints in this life is internal and spiritual The Kings Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 They are full of riches of glory and strength but it is in the inner man Eph. 3.16 And so it is not obvious to carnal eyes which if it were it would turn the most sensual Epicures into mortified Saints but the wicked want a spiritual eye to discern spiritual glory Gods people are worth Millions of men but they are Gods hidden ones Psal 83.3 The world knoweth them not because they know not God 1 John 3.1 And as Moses his face when it shone had a vail over it so the glory of grace hath a vail over it that not a glimpse of it appeareth to the wicked much less doth the life of endless glory appear to them These things do hide the glorious condition of the godly from the wicked 1. Their outward troubles their outward mean and base condition obscureth their glory so that wicked men think godliness to be a contemptible thing What hid the Majesty of Christ from the eye of the Jews why was he a man rejected and despised among men it was the baseness of his outward condition that hid the glory of the only begotten Son of God he
be as Assistants of Christ they shall assist as so many Justices with Christ who is the Lord-chief-Justice of Heaven and Earth 2. Approbando They shall approve and applaud his judgment they shall sit on Thrones of Everlasting glory and shall as Gods Assessours give their voices and consents unto his just Judgment against the Wicked 3. Testificative They shall bring in evidence against the Wicked so that all their mouthes shall be stopped The godly shall then be heard to speak and shall say to Christ Lord this is the man that hated me scoft at me persecuted and oppressed me 2. It will make much for the Saints glory that they shall appear glorious in the open sight of the whole world The Saints shall see the Damnation of the Wicked and the Wicked shall see the glorious Salvation of the Saints and their happiness their appearing with Christ in glory will make much for their glory Quia unumquodque ex comparatione contrarii magis cognoscitur Because every thing is more known by comparing it with that which is contrary to it The misery of War sheweth us the happiness of Peace The blackness of darkness commendeth the comfort of Light So the misery of Hell will make Heaven the more glorious Angels shall then admire at the glory of the Saints He that confesseth me before men him will I confess before the Angels that is glorifie him before them Luk. 12.8 saith our Saviour Moreover the godly themselves shall mutually admire one anothers Glory and admire Christ in one another Peter shall admire Christ in the glory conferred on Paul and Paul shall admire Christ in the glory conferred on Peter they shall mutually rejoyce in each others glory as here on Earth they do mourn and grieve for one another in afflictions in Heaven they shall rejoyce in one another's glory Mat. 8.11 Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven Sitting at Table sheweth mutual delight in one anothers society Christ will have his Saints to behold the Damnation of the Wicked that so they might admire the free grace of God and glorifie his Name that he should deliver them from so great Damnation Luk. 13.28 And God will have the Wicked to behold the glory of the Saints that so the Wicked may in vain miserably torment themselves with envy at the surpassing glory and happiness of the Saints and that they may also curse and torment themselves with inward grief that they should be such fools as to lose such glory as the Saints do enjoy then will they cry out Oh we might have had those Crowns as well as they but now we must have the vials of Wrath powred upon our heads instead of having Crowns of glory set upon them we must now keep company with Devils and Infernal Fiends in Hell when we might have enjoyed communion with God and his Angels in Heaven CHAP. VIII 1. IS there unspeakable glory to be revealed in the Saints hereafter then be not troubled at your present state whatever it is O ye righteous let not your present mean obscure base condition in the World trouble your hearts but lift up your heads because of the glory which shall be revealed be not troubled at the shame of the Cross be not terrified with the rage and cruelty of ungodly men at any time fear none of these things because it is your Fathers will to give you a Kingdom of glory Bid afflictions welcome for glories-sake bid reproaches welcome for glories-sake let this comfort thy Soul in all abasements and pressures yet I shall be glorified the World is pleased to reveal their malice in me but my God will reveal glory in me the World reveals their hatred against me but my God will reveal his love in me how despicable soever I am at this present yet I shall appear in glory You know the glory of Christ was hidden for thirty three years though he was the Lord of glory yet how despicable and contemptible was he all men scorn'd him rejected him mocked him persecuted him but now he is in glory and will one day appear in glory to the World put case thou shalt pass as many years in reproaches and afflictions yet thou shalt appear in glory together with Christ and thou dost at present but drink of the same Cup the Lord of glory drank of before thee Ye that are afflicted for Righteousness sake what cause have ye to count it all joy for if any have more abundantly revelations of glory in them undoubtedly they have who have abounded in sufferings for Christ This should work in us a blessed contempt of all the torments and cruelties that Hell or Earth can invent or execute a few hours in Heaven will make amends for all the tortures of this life were every torture an Hell to us Oh the perfection beauty glory and transcendent excellency of those joys which shall be revealed in that day 2. The consideration of the revelation of this glory may fortifie our Spirits against all fears and dangers though the thing feared be not present yet fears are many times present with us there is enough in this consideration to raise our hearts above fears the hope of this revelation heightens a Christians courage gives him the Almighty for his second and makes him Triumph over all his fears and overcome all difficulties this hath so fortified many Saints and Martyrs that they have even laught at Tyrants and Devils the greatest cruelty being not able to ravish from them what they loved the hope of eternal glory will strengthen the heart against the worst of fears and dangers which the worst of times and men can threaten were this hope well kept up it would carry a believer through a whole Sea of trouble and the rougher the Sea proved the nearer would the Soul be carried to the Haven 3. This likewise may strengthen the hearts of God's Children against the present snares which Sin Satan or the World can lay before them since there shall be a Revelation of glory in us what Soul is there that is prevented and engaged with the love of God that may not see good ground to disdain all the offers that a sinful world can make him to ensnare his Soul as Abraham did not only reject the offers of the King of Sodom but did it with disdain Gen. 14.23 The most high God was Abraham's portion therefore he would not be beholden to a wicked King for any thing no not so much as a shoe-latchet he would not be so injurious to the possessour of Heaven and Earth so when a child of God is tempted to that which is evil with present honours profits and preferments in the world this will make him with a holy disdain to refuse these proffers that the World and the God of the World make unto him because of the glory that shall be revealed in him the promises of the World
us Gal. 6. that he that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting When the Husbandman soweth his seed in the Earth the seed dieth and is dissolved in the ground there it lies hid he sees no more seed till the harvest cometh but then he reapeth many Bushels for one so he that soweth to the spirit worketh in the strength of those graces shall reap life everlasting he shall have no use of those graces in the life to come but reap the fruit of it even life eternal when the Saints come to possess Heaven as a portion cast out by God's own lot for them from all eternity they shall for ever enjoy the fruit of their piety and the end of their Faith and Hope Oh how sweet shall the remembrance of their work of faith and labour of love and patience of Hope be to all eternity CHAP. XXVII Of the Adjuncts of the glory of Heaven HAving spoken of the Circumstances and substance of the glory of the Saints in Heaven in the next place I shall treat of the adjuncts thereof 1. The glorious state of the Sons of God is a state of liberty Rom. 8.21 I will shew in what respects it is a state of liberty I. A liberty from all subjection Natural Servile Magistratical in this state of liberty all yokes shall be broken to pieces Fathers shall no more exercise their paternal authority and Sons shall not be under their command men shall be no more servants to men the highest Potentates shall no more exercise authority over men as it is said of Marriage They shall neither marry nor be given in marriage so I may say of subjection they shall neither command nor obey in the resurrection 1 Cor. 15.24 He shall put down all rule and all authority and power Christ will put down all the authority which Fathers have over their Children which Masters have over their Servants which Princes have over their Subjects and Vassals all the authority which both the Enemies and Persecutors have over the Church then it shall have no more nursing Fathers and Mothers all Crowns and Scepters shall be cast down at the feet of Christ he will put them down the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enervabit he will at the last day put them down not onely that they shall not prevail but that they shall be utterly abolished II. They shall be delivered even from that sweet and gracious subjection to Christ as King and Mediator Christ shall rule over his body not as Mediator but as God he himself will lay down the Crown of his Mediatorship and deliver up his whole government into the hands of God 1 Cor. 15.24 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him then c. When Christ hath levelled all authority with the ground and shall have trodden down all his Enemies then he will rule no more as Mediator but give up the Kingdom to God the Father and God will be all in all he will immediately govern all his Saints III. A liberty from all spiritual Tyranny in divers respects 1. It is a liberty from the Tyranny of Sin Sin though it doth not rule in the Godly as a King yet as a Tyrant though the Saints do not and never will sell themselves to work evil yet while they are in this body they are sold under sin no slavery is more intollerable to a Holy man than this slavery to sin it is a Godly man's hell to be under the Tyrannical power of any lust Slavery to Pharaoh is liberty compared to slavery to pride to worldly-mindedness or to any lust whatsoever It was the doom of a Godly Martyr to have a dead man chained to him his eyes to the dead man's eyes his breast to the dead man's breast that he might perish by the stench of the dead Carcass Such is a Godly man's present condition to be tyed to the body of sin which is a very death to him in whom is the life of grace Now the state of glory will set all the Children of God at liberty from this thraldome sin will then be put off when glory is put on when the new man is perfectly renewed in respect of degrees and parts the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts shall be perfectly destroyed in respect of presence and operation in the state of glory they will not be afraid of sinning such will their liberty be from sin they shall be as free from all sin as the Sun from the least shadow 2. It is a state of liberty from all tokens effects yea fears of the wrath and displeasure of God Now and then God writes bitter things against his people in this life and makes them his mark to shoot the arrows of his displeasure into their very Consciences What doleful complaints have the Godly made and still do make of God's dealings with them some of them live in Bondage to the fear of God's wrath all the dayes of their lives Now there is no liberty from the fears of God's displeasure in this life so long as there is the remnant of sins within them while we have a body of sin within us we shall have a miserable body now in the state of glory they shall enjoy a perfect liberty from wrath and all their chains of fears shall be knockt off the glorified shall no more fear wrath than the glorified shall hope for favour they shall no more dread Hell than the damned truly desire Heaven their perfect sense of God's love toward them and their perfect love of God will cast out all these fears the state of glory is a fearless estate as far above fear as Heaven above earth the mountain of glory cannot be removed with the greatest tempest of the fears of any evil 3. It is a state of freedom from all afflictions now afflictions are compared in Scripture to Bonds Fetters Chains Yokes and such Engines and Instruments of miserable bondage The evil of sin and afflictions are twins born together and shall cease and dye together when the Soul takes her flight to the mountain of glory she casteth off the mantle of suffering Glory and misery are as inconsistent together as the most contrarious extreams sooner shall East and West meet in one point noon and midnight in one moment than perfection and glory and the least affliction Lazarus is now as great a stranger to afflictions as Dives to pleasures 4. It is a freedom from all temptations and rage of Satan it is impossible for the Devil to tempt a man in glory When man was in a perfect state of grace he tempted him to sin but when man is in a perfect state of glory he cannot tempt him the Devils are cast out of Heaven never to appear there to tempt any who have made their entrance into it the Church hath a promise that Satan shall be bound up a thousand years but then he is bound to eternity the Devils are now in chains of
utter darkness but through God's permission Satan's chain is sometimes lengthened but then no more lengthening now he walketh up and down assaying to devour and seeking whom he may devour but then he shall walk no longer the Saints shall follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth and shall not in all their walks meet with a Devil to tempt them to any sin whatsoever 5. The state of glory is liberty from death from the fears of it and from all things tending to mortality bondage to death will be swallowed up of this life of liberty glory is triumphant over Death Hell and the Grave bidding defiance to them O Grave where art thou O Hell where art thou O Death where art thou 1 Cor. 15.54 55. Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.14 By Hell there we must understand the Grave Death and the Grave shall be damned as well as the wicked 6. The state of glory is a liberty from the rage wrath and persecution of all the wicked men in the world their rage and persecution is a bondage and captivity to the Saints hindring them from serving God with desired freedom they cannot put forth their godliness but they expose themselves to the scoffs hatred rage and persecutions of the world now the state of glory will put a great gulf between the Godly and the Wicked which will hinder them from all intercourse for know that if the damned could again be in company or in the place where the godly are they would persecute them again to the uttermost though they know they must be damned and therefore the Devils now hate and tempt them though they aggravate their own torments 7. It is a liberty from all imperfections of graces and weakness in their serving God 1. From all imperfections of their graces which in this present life are very imperfect we know but in part saith the Apostle so we believe but in part we love God but in part we are Holy but in part we are zealous for God but in part there is more doubts and ignorance than knowledge more unbelief than faith more want of love than love there is more sin than grace and holiness now the state of glory is a state of perfection we shall know as we are known our understandings will be enlarged that we shall know God fully and perfectly our faith will be turned into sight our hope into possession we shall then love God with all our hearts with all our souls c. The Angels are called Seraphims because as some say they burn in love and zeal toward God so shall all the Saints be filled with this Seraphical love we shall be as holy as our natures are capable The Church and people of God in this life are compared to the Moon because of those spots in her which are imperfections but in the state of glory they are compared to the Sun which hath no spots in it and as the Prophet speaks of the Sun and Moon that the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold more resplendent than now so the graces the holiness of the Saints shall be seven-fold more holy than now they are 2. It shall be a liberty from all weaknesses and infirmities in serving God this is the necessary consequent of the former for the more glorious and holy a man is the more able he is to serve God if perfectly sanctified then he serveth God perfectly the Angels fulfil the whole will of God because they are filled with grace they run yea they fly in the wayes of his commandements this liberty and enlargement shall all the Saints have in the state of glory while they are here they are in bondage to much spiritual deadness and slothfulness they pray they praise God acceptably though they cannot pray nor praise him perfectly they may pray and purpose to run the wayes of God's Commandements but cannot because they are too weak and are fettered with spiritual slothfulness and deadness glory will do away all this and make us as ready and able to do the whole will of God as Angels do 8. It is a liberty from all natural clogs which the body in this state of union fastens upon the soul insomuch that the body is animae ergastulum the prison of the soul it is pondus or onus animae the burden or weight of the soul the regenerate soul cannot act vigorously because the body is so unweildy the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak but when the soul and body shall be reunited and meet in a state of glory the body will be a nimble handmaid and pliable to all the motions and commands of the soul the body then which is now the souls prison will be the souls paradise and both soul and body will act most vigorously the soul will never tyre out the body nor will the body clog the soul they will both be unwearied in their glorious services the body then will be spiritual though not a spirit and become immortal incorruptible as the soul is 9. It is a liberty from many duties and services and spiritual exercises which are now required of us the Saints work shall be lessened in Heaven The Service of the Church and people of God under the Gospel is much less than it was under the Law hence the state of the Church under the pedagogy of the Law is by the Apostle called a state of bondage a state of subjection but the state of the Church under the Gospel is called a state of liberty but when the Church shall be taken up into glory then their services shall be far less than now they are many duties and graces shall be done away in Heaven we shall pray no more for any mercy for our selves all praying shall be turned into praising of God we shall not hear the Word nor receive the Sacraments any more nor fast and afflict our souls any more we shall no longer mourn for sin repentance will be done away yea faith it self as many Divines conceive shall be done away Pray we shall not because then we shall never be in want our souls shall be so abundantly satisfied with the fulness of God's house we shall mourn and repent no more because we shall sin no more Our service in the state of glory will be taken up in praising God in admiring God in loving God rejoycing in God giving him praise and glory for the riches of his grace toward us in Christ Jesus 10. In respect of the place it is a state of liberty indeed the vast Heaven of Heavens O ye Saints shall be the place of your habitation and delight what is the whole world compared to it it is but a narrow prison an house of correction an house of bondage to a gracious spirit it is but as a Cage to a bird so is the world to the soul of a Godly man 11. It is a liberty from all fears or dangers of everlosing their glory and blessedness
of it and so for some that are in affliction 't is possible for them to miss of Heaven yet 't is not their affliction that deprives them of it the good or evil use of either is that which makes all of us in either to be happy or unhappy Let it therefore prepare us for the constant and patient bearing of afflictions whensoever they shall come upon us especially if they shall come upon us for the testimony of the Gospel and for righteousness sake for if the crown of glory belong to any that suffer then certainly to those sufferers that our Saviour speaks of Matth. 5.10 Those that suffer for righteousness sake they of all other are blessed and to them belongeth the Kingdom of Heaven yea if in Heaven there be degrees of glory as we may perswade our selves there be we may withall perswade our selves that the chiefest mansions are for such they that most partake with Christ in his sufferings they shall most share with him in glory the faireâ—â— crowns of glory that Heaven hath to give shalâ— be set upon the Heads of Martyrs first the Crown of Martyrdom and then a Crown of Glory as God hath called them to their sufferings so doubtless he will strengthen them in their sufferings and crown them for their sufferings may they therefore stand fast unto the end and bear all their troubles and tribulations patiently constantly joyfully Patienter propter Deum confidenter propter auxilium gaudenter propter praemium patiently for God's sake because he hath called them to it constantly for his assistance sake because he will aid them in it joyfully for the rewards sake because he will crown them for it Upon this account it was that the Apostle commendeth the Hebrews that they passed thorow all manner of afflictions and cleaved fast to the Gospel and therefore bids them call to remembrance the former dayes in which after they were illuminated they endured a great fight of afflictions partly saith he while ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so used for ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoilinâ— of your goods knowing in your selves that ye haâ— in heaven a better and an enduring substance Hebr. 10.32 33 34. Have any of us then received the beginning the earnest the first-fruits of eternal life then let it be far from us to think of leaving all these rich hopes of eternity for fear of the sharpest temporary sufferings and let me add that afflictions are so far from keeping us from Heaven as they be rather a way to bring us to Heaven We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Certainly many persons had never come to Heaven if God had not brought them to his Kingdom this way CHAP. XXXII An Exhortation to Christians to believe the promise of God touching their salvation and so to lay claim to it 1. NOw seeing God will hereafter crown his people with glory then labour O Christian Reader in the first place to believe the promise of God touching the salvation of thy soul labour to have a full assurance of faith and a full affiance in God that he will save thee A man takes it ill if he be not believed on his Word and promise and so doth the faithful God who is truth it self and cannot lye The sum of that which every faithful soul professeth to believe in the Creed is as much as if he should say I believe that God is my God and Father by the mediation of Jesus Christ through the sanctification of the Holy-ghost whereby he hath made me a member of his Catholick Church which is the Communion and Society of his Saints to which and to all the members thereof and so namely to me he will give remission of sins and an happy resurrection of the body to be partaker with the soul of life eternal This was David's faith I believed to see the goodness of God in the Land of the living Psal 27.13 And Fulgentius saith it was not proper onely to David to say so for saith he the just man living by faith saith boldly I believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living S. August speaks well to this purpose God hath promised thee O man that thou shalt live for ever dost thou not believe it that which he hath already done for thee is a greater matter than that which he hath promised thee Therefore let us labour to get an assured trust in God and his promise that when he that is our life shall appear we also may appear with him in glory which glory though we know it not yet we know that God hath given us the interest and title of it already and by faith do stand assured through the Spirit that he will in due time give us the full sight and fruition of it which none can know but they that have it revealed to them from God but God revealeth it by the Holy Ghost to every one that believeth in his promise and hopeth for his salvation therefore let no faithful soul whom God hath called into Communion with himself and to the hope of everlastingly life stand any longer in doubt of that salvation which God hath promised him 2. When once thou dost believe the promise of God touching the salvation of thy soul then mayest thou claim Heaven as thine own by a due debt God hath made himself a debtor to his people by promise faithful promise makes due debt the debt in that case ariseth not from any desert of him to whom the promise is made but only the word of him that promiseth We must therefore distinguish between debt of desert and debt of promise for debt of desert ariseth out of the nature and condition of the work it self which obligeth him to whose use and service it is done but debt of promise ariseth not from the thing that is done or yielded to another but onely from the promise it self whereby a man hath bound himself As August well observeth that it is one thing to say to a man Thou art a debtor to me because I have given to thee another thing to say Thou art a debtor to me because thou hast promised me debt of promise moveth the promiser for his own sake though there be nothing in the party to whom he hath made promise that may excite or cause him to perform his promise Now it is an act of justice in God to perform his promise made to his Children to bring them to Heaven and to bestow eternal life upon them for it is the justice of God that what is promised be paid or performed hereupon saith August we say not unto God Repay that which thou hast received but pay that which thou hast promised let us hold him therefore a most faithful debtor because we have him a most merciful promiser the promise was
linnen of the Saints upon the stinking lowsie rags of the old Adam Zech. 3. Jehoshua was a Type of such whom God will glorifie he was cloathed with filthy garments when he stood before the Angel he was to put off those filthy garments and then God caused a Mitre to be put upon his head and change of raiment for his clothing so God will have you to put off your filthy conversations before he will set a crown of pure gold upon your heads and put on you the white linnen of his Saints Go to now Brethren ye that hope to be glorified with Christ consider with your selves whether the old man be put off whether your earthly members be mortified or do you walk still in the vanity of your minds do you still keep your former conversations are your lusts your Centurions still do you obey them then let me tell you you have no part in Christ you are not the Sons of God your hopes of Heaven are but presumptions you are never like to see God in glory See what you must expect Coloss 3.16 For which things sake cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience Tremble at it ye that hope for glory and yet go on in your sins your sins will bring the wrath of God upon your souls and not the glory of God you are the children of disobedience and not the children of God if you will maintain your hopes of glory and title to Heaven shew it forth by purifying your selves as Christ is pure Suppose a leper in times of legal pollutions should have pronounced himself clean while the leprousie was upon him yet he should not be admitted into the Camp unless the Priest did pronounce him clean so may you say that you are clean and that you shall be glorified yet you shall never possess glory unless Christ the High-Priest pronounce you clean CHAP. XXXIV Setteth forth the danger of those that are in a state of Damnation THis in the next place may serve to awaken all slumbring spirits and to startle all those that sleep securely in sin that are far from God and nigh to destruction and yet are well pleased with their condition and are insensible of the danger they are in if the Lord would now open their eyes as he did the eyes of the Host of the King of Syria they would see they were in the midst of Samaria in the midst of Enemies in the way to destruction that their judgment lingers not their damnation slumbers not on the one side they are hastening toward destruction and on the other side destruction is hastning toward them Oh how woful is the condition of such men who can dwell with the devouring fire who can endure everlasting burnings Secure Sinners ye are almost in the mouth of Death and in the gate of Hell and the longer you continue in the way you are in the farther you are from God and the nearer to ruine you are very near to hell and condemnation upon the very brink and border of the land of darkness it is said of the watered ground that bringeth forth nothing but briars and thorns that is rejected that it is nigh to cursing whose end is to be burnt Hebr. 6.8 Salvation is far from the wicked and destruction is near them Psal 119.150 If a man had a dwelling near the gate of hell within the hearing of the hideous cry and noise of those lost souls and damned spirits could he sleep quietly could he take any content in meat or drink or any thing else they that are far from God are near to the pit of destruction and this is their misery that they know it not Is it not a madness for a man to be at his sports and pastimes when his house is on fire and all that he hath is burning to ashes and is it not a far greater madness for you O sinners to sport your selves with sin while the flames of Hell fire are ready to seize upon you Oh have pity and compassion on your own souls you would pity a Beast if you should see him ready to break his neck down a rock and will you have no pity on your own souls that are now ready to be swallowed up in the gulf of hell Consider I pray you that to enjoy the Word of Christ and to hear it powerfully Preached and yet not to be effectually converted by it it brings not a man one step nearer Heaven and puts him not an inch farther from hell than he was before It is said Jude vers 5. that the Lord having saved the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed them that believed not there was a land of Canaan a land of promise and of rest offered to them and the Lord had made way for them to enter in and possess it he had saved them out of the land of Egypt and brought them near the borders of Canaan but this did no whit avail those among them that were unbelieving and disobedient they were destroyed their Carcasses fell in the wilderness they perished in their sins this I take to be a Type of the condition of secure unbelieving impenitent persons under the Gospel there is salvation wrought Jesus Christ came into the world to save a way is open to the Heavenly Canaan to that eternal rest prepared for the people of God the fiery pillar the light of the Gospel is in sight shewing the way to the Kingdom of Heaven but when men and women do carelesly neglect it this their condition is worse than if there had never been any possibility of salvation Better it had been they had died in Egypt than at the borders of Canaan better never in any degree to be saved than to be once saved and afterward to be destroyed utter destruction after some beginnings of salvation is worse than no kind of salvation at all therefore in the 12 verse of that same Epistle of Jude it is said they are trees whose fruit withereth without fruit twice dead plucked up by the roots I entreat you seriously to consider the woful estate of a soul twice dead twice lost twice condemned once condemned by the Law and then again condemned by the Gospel Oh tremble and beware of this double condemnation If the river of brimstone enkindled by the Law be so dreadful Isa 33.14 Oh how dreadful then shall those flames of wrath be if they shall be fed and increased with the oyl of the Gospel for the neglect and contempt of salvation wrought by Christ Oh how do multitudes of men that are now under the sound of the Gospel and have the means of salvation afforded them put away the word of life from them and judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life such will one day when it is too late see their folly and wish they had never had a Christ nor a Gospel nor a Heaven nor an immortal soul to lose The Turkish History reporteth of Bajazet the