time to put under his everlasting Arm to bear up their Souls and support them under the worst of Tryals and in his due time to deliver them out of all their Afflictions Well but wee 'l see what the Scripture sayes concerning this matter See first Psal 23.4 Yea sayes the Psalmist though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death yet will I fear no evil Mark how bold and resolute the Psalmist is in the midst of strange Difficulties As much as if he should say Although I should walk in a dangerous valley and mine Enemies at the top of the Hill ready to overwhelm me with destruction and though Death should pursue me and be as near to me as my shadow yet will I fear no evil Why David what 's the matter that thou art so exceedingly transported above the fear of evil Certainly thou hast some Reason for it thou could'st never be so full of Courage in such eminent Danger as thou speakest of if thou hadst not something more than ordinary to Support thy Spirit See the Reason therefore in the following words THE LORD IS WITH ME. There 's the business there 's that which is sufficient to fortify my Soul against all fear whatsoever Thy ROD and thy STAFF they Comfort me As much as if he should say Although thy Rod doth a little Correct me yet thy Staff doth exceedingly Support me and thy PRESENCE doth very much Refresh me and betwixt them all I am mightily filled with Comfort and Encouragement Thus the Saints and People of God should Plead their Interest in him in a day of Adversity and he will make all things Comfortable and pleasant unto their Souls and nothing shall be able to make them afraid See also Psal 46.1 2 3. God is our Refuge and Strength a very present help in time of Trouble Well what then What use doth the Psalmist make of this Why therefore will we not fear though the Earth should be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea though the Waters thereof roar and be troubled and though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof Here 's an admirable Spirit filled with Confidence and godly Resolution in the strength of the Lord Challenging as it were the greatest Terrours on Earth to shew themselves in their greatest Rage and Fury yet they shall not so much as diminish his Courage nor make him afraid And the Reason of all is this GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH So that it seems the Consideration of God's supporting Presence is or ought to be one great Reason or Encouragement to bear up our Souls in the worst of Troubles Therefore when troubles do attend us and when our Enemies are most implacable against us and talk of Stoning of us and Banishing of us and putting of us to Death and the like let us with David encourage our selves in the Lord our God 1 Sam. 30.6 And let us consider the Lord is with us and he is a present Help in time of Trouble and if God be for us who can be against us Therefore saith God Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismaid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness As much as if God should say Although all the World should be against thee yet fear thou not keep close to me and I will be with thee and although thou hast never so many Enemies and Adversaries to oppose thee yet be not dismaid for I am thy God and I will strengthen thee And though they set themselves against thee to wrong and oppress thee yet be of good chear I will help thee and take thy part against them And though they think to Conquer thy Spirit and subdue the strength of thy Inward-man by Imprisoning and Punishing of thee yet be not troubled at that do but put thy Trust in me and depend upon me and I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness Therefore seeing the Lord is so much engaged for the good of his People let 's not fear what man can do unto us Reas 2. Why we should not fear man Because the Lord himself will engage and fight against the Enemies of his People and bring them to a reckoning for all their Malice and Cruelty towards them though they may tyrannize and insult over God's Heritage for a time and magnifie themselves against the Lord and his Jewels yet the time will come when the Lord himself 〈◊〉 appear against them in Wrath and Judgement and dash them in â—â—â—ces like a Potter's Vessel for their Rage and Cruelty against his People Therefore this may be another Reason to arm us against the fear of Man because the Lord hath engaged to deal with our Adversaries in Judgement and Recompence Fury upon our Enemies for all their Tyranny towards us and will assuredly work Deliverance and Salvation for his People from all their Troubles See that notable Text Isa 49.25 26. But thus saith the Lord Even the Captives of the Mighty shall be taken away and the Prey of the Terrible shall be delivered for I will contend with them that contendeth with thee and I will save thy Children and I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blond as with swoet Wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and the Mighty One of Jacob thy Redeemer Thus the Lord will one Day deal with the enemies of his People when they have filled up the Measure of their Iniquity then they shall assuredly Drink the dreggs of the Cup of God's Fury and when they are at the highest raging and roaring and swelling in Malice like the Sea against the People of the Lord then is their destruction the nearest and then is Sions Deliverance near at hand Read and Consider well that Scripture Isa 17.12 13 14. compared with Chap. 59.15 to the latter end Wo to the multitude of many People which make a noise like the noise of the Seas and like the rushing of many Waters the Nations shall Rush like the Rushings of mighty Waters But GOD SHALL REBUKE them And they shall flee and be chased as the Chaff of the Mountains before the wind and as Thistle-down before a Whirle-wind Behold this is the Portion of them that spoil us and the Lot of them that Rob us c. Oh! Little doth our Enemies Consider what mischief they are a heaping upon their own heads when they drive on so furiously against the People of God and Persecute the innocent Lambs of Jesus Christ without a Cause What account do you think they can give to the Lord when he shall call them to a Reckoning for these things And how will they be able to stand before the Lord when he shall bring them to a Tryal for dragging his People out of their Houses
receive a Glorious Portion from the hands of our Heavenly Father which will be no less than a Crown and Kingdom See another Glorious Testimony for the Truth of this Proposition in Luke 22.28 29 30. Says Christ there to his Disciples Ye are they which have continued with me in my Temptations As much as if he should say you are they which have been with me in all my Troubles and have followed me faithfully in all my Sufferings and have Travelled with me in a difficult path and now for your Comfort and Encouragement here 's a promise for you to make you amends for all your Tryals I 'le see that you shall be sufficiently requited for every thing that you have lost in my service Therefore take notice That I appoint unto you a Kingdom even as my Father hath appointed unto me And you shall eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit upon Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Thus you see what Honour and Dignity what Glory and Majesty the poor despised Saints of God shall one Day have conferred upon them and what an Eminent Portion they shall one Day receive from the hands of their Heavenly Father therefore Here they have no continuing City But they seek one to come Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Therefore I shall conclude the proof of this Proposition with that saying of the Apostle Jam. 2.5 where he speaks thus Hearken my beloved Brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Though they are poor in this World yet they are rich in Faith and Heirs of a Kingdom and though now it may be they are Branded and Stigmatised with filthy names and called Phanaticks and Schismaticks and Hereticks and the like yet they shall one day appear to be the Jewels of God and all Nations shall call them Blessed in a delightful Land and they shall dwell with God in his heavenly habitation For this we know when our Earthly Tabernacle is dissolved we shall have a Building of God an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Mal. 3.12 2 Cor. 5.1 So much shall suffice for the proof of this Proposition viz. That Gods People shall one Day Receive Possesse and enjoy a Kingdom I shall now come to speak a few words concerning the Excellency of this Kingdom and endeavour to shew you in some measure what manner of Kingdom this will be that shall one Day be the Portion of Gods People First That Kingdom which God will one Day give unto his People It is a Heavenly Kingdom It is not an Earthly corruptible Kingdom Adorned with worldly Vanities But it is a Heavenly Incorruptible Kingdom Adorned with Celestial Majesty It is not a mean contemptible Kingdom attended with Earthly corruption But it is a High and Lofty Kingdom filled with Heavenly Beauty It is not an ordinary Kingdom to be found here upon Earth But it is an Extraordinary Kingdom reserved now in Heaven It is such a Kingdom as all the Kingdoms on Earth and all the Monarchs in the World are not worthy to be compared nor put in the Ballance with it Therefore this is one thing which may in a great measure Demonstrate the Excellency of this Kingdom It is such a Heavenly Portion as that all the Earth is not able to afford such a precious Jewel See what the Scripture sayes concerning this Kingdom in this very particular 2 Tim. 4.18 Sayes the Apostle there The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his HEAVENLY Kingdom Mark he will preserve me not onely unto his Kingdom but unto his HEAVENLY Kingdom An excellent Kingdom of a Heavenly Nature nothing on Earth comparable thereunto Therefore sayes Christ also Mat. 5.3 10 12. Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven So that it is not onely a Kingdom but a Kingdom of Heaven it is not onely a Reward but a Reward in Heaven it is not onely a Jerusalem but a Heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12.22 It is not onely a Country but a Heavenly Country Heb. 11.16 It is not onely a Building but a Building in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 A City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11.10 So that this is the first thing that bespeaks the Excellency of this Kingdom It is a Heavenly Kingdom A Portion which this World is not able to afford 2. It is a Gloriom Kingdom or a Kingdom of Glory It is not onely a Heavenly Kingdom But a Glorious Heavenly Kingdom or a Heavenly Glorious Kingdom It is not a Kingdom mixt with worldly pollutions but it is a Kingdom filled with Heavenly Glory It is not a vile Kingdom attended with shame and dishonour But it is a pretious Kingdom full of Honour and Glory It is such a Kingdom as all the Kingdoms on Earth are not worthy to be compared with it for Glory and Beauty there 's no Kingdom on Earth so Glorious out it 's mixt with some shame and contempt But the Saints Kingdom is altogether lovely cloathed with Glory and Majesty there is no Kingdom on Earth so Beautiful but it 's mixt with some silthiness and Deformity but the Saints Kingdom is altogether comely full of Spendour and Beauty there is no Kingdom on Earth so pleasant but it 's mixt with some filth and corruption but the Saints Kingdom is altogether pure full of Excellent Brightness Oh the Excellency and Purity of this Kingdom Oh the Glory and Dignity of this Kingdom who is sufficient to expresse the Majesty and Beauty of this Kingdom The tongue of Men and Angels is not able to speak forth the fulness thereof But now to prove That it is such a Glorious Kingdom see first that saying of the Apostle 1 Thes 2.11 12. You know says Paul how we exhorted and charged every one of you That you would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and GLORY Mark he hath not onely called you to his Kingdom but to his Kingdom and GLORY that is to say to that Glory which is in that Kingdom which plainly shews it is a GLORIOUS Kingdom And further it appears that the greatest Glory and the greatest Excellency that this World can afford is not worthy to be compared with the GLORY of this Kingdom For the Spirit of God in Scripture doth frequently call the greatest Glory and the greatest Honour of this World But vanity and vexation of Spirit and it 's of no Esteem in the account count of God and good Men but the Apostle Paul in this Text Reckons it a great Priviledge and a wonderful happiness to have an Interest in this Kingdom
which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Kingdom Sixthly Another is this 6. They shall have fulness of unspeakable Joy and fulness of Glory and Happiness they shall be exceedingly filled with Gladness and wonderfully crowned with Pleasure they shall not only be freed from Sorrow and Trouble but they shall also be filled with Joy and Rejoycing they shall not only be freed from Pain and Misery but they shall also be filled with Delight and Pleasures they shall not only be freed from Grief and exempted from Misery but they shall also be exceedingly filled with Comfort and crowned with Happiness they shall have Beauty for Ashes Joy for Sorrow Pleasure for Pain Glory for Shame Honour and Dignity for Reproach and Contempt the garment of Praise for the spirit of Heaviness that every way they may be crowned with sulness of Joy and unspeakable Glory according to that saying of the Psalmist In thy Presence is PULNESSE of Joy and at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore Oh! the excellent Priviledge and wonderful Happiness of God's People Oh! how blessed are all those that shall be counted worthy to enter into this Glorious Kingdom Who is able to express the Happiness of Heavenly Subjects Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 31.19 Oh! how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in him Mark what unspeakable language the Psalmist makes use of in these words he is not able to express the great Provisions that the Lord hath laid up in store for his Saints Therefore saith he Oh! how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee He wants a tongue to express it and therefore his heart admires it See also a notable saying of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.9 where it is thus written Eye hath not seen nor Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Mark Here 's wonderful things prepared here 's unspeakable Glory provided Eye hath not seen saith the Apostle the things which God hath prepared and yet the Eye of man hath seen many glorious things and hath beheld many wonderful Objects and eminent shews full of Delight and Pleasure but yet the Eye of man hath not seen SUCH Things as God hath prepared for his People But further Ear hath not heard yet what wonderful strange and excellent things hath been reported to the Ears of man Yea the Ear many times may hear that which the Eye never hath seen but yet the Ear never heard of such Things as the Lord hath laid up for his SAINTS But yet further Neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive Yet what unspeakable things may the heart of man conceive to it self What glorious and excellent things may possibly enter into the Imaginations of the heart Yea the heart may fancy to it self things which are impossible to be and things which cannot be uttered the heart may conceive that which the Eye never saw nor the Ear never heard out yet the Heart of man cannot conceive SUCH Things as the Lord hath provided prepared and laid up in store for them that love him The tongue of men and Angels are not able to express the FULNES of that Joy the GREATNES of that Glory the incomparable Happiness of Saints in their Kingdom All the Joy and Pleasures on Earth are but Sorrow and Misery in comparison of this Heavenly Joy in the Saints Kingdom All the Glory on Earth is but Shame and Contempt in comparison of the Saints Glory in Heaven All the Happiness that can be enjoyed under the Sun is but Vanity and Trouble in comparison of the sweet and heavenly Happiness in the Kingdom of Glory Oh! how may this rejoyce and make glad the spirits of Saints to consider of their Portion in their Father's Kingdom Oh! how may this ravish and strengthen the hearts of Gods People to think of their Fathers love that he should extend his grace and goodness so far towards his Children as to make them Heirs of a Glorious Kingdom and crown them with unspeakable Joy and Happiness So that this is another Excellent Priviledge or a sixth branch of that Happiness which the Saints shall enjoy in their Fathers Kingdome But Seventhly and Lastly 7. That which is the main thing of all and that which is most remarkable is this All this Glory and Happiness and all this Joy and Blessedness will be ETERNAL and shall continue even for ever and ever They shall alwayes be glorious and never know an end of their heavenly Beauty They shall always be blessed and never know an end of their Happiness They shall alwayes be joyful and NEVER know an end of Gladness They shall alwayes be rich and honourable and NEVER know an end of their Excellent Dignity They shall alwayes abound in fulness of Joy and never know an end of their unspeakable Plenty This is that which doth eminently and chiefly demonstrate the Excellent Happiness of the Saints in the Kingdom of Glory for if they were to enjoy never so much Glory and Happiness and never so much Joy and Blessedness yet if this were to continue but for a short time or a little while then indeed it would not be altogether so much worth the prizing but the Glory and Happiness of the Saints in this heavenly Kingdom is not onely for a little time but for ever and ever as their Happiness begins so it shall continue and NEVER have an end as they shall be pure and without sin at first so they shall be pure and without sin for EVER as they shall be freed from sorrow and trouble at first so they shall be freed from sorrow and trouble for EVER as they shall dwell with God and Christ at first so they shall dwell with God and Christ for EVER and enjoy the society of glorious Angels to all Eternity There 's nothing can alter nor change the affairs in this Kingdom nor nothing can bring the Glory of the Saints to an end Oh what an incomparable Priviledge is this where is there such a durable habitation in this world or where is there such a resting-place on earth Alas if the glory of the world do chance to mile upon a person at present and riches and honours do seem to encrease all is so vain and uncertain that there 's no confidence to be put in their lasting The world may soon shew a frowning countenance again and quickly turn its own glory into shame and contempt and quickly turn riches and plenty into poverty and want and all may quickly make themselves wings and vanish away and so procure great trouble and vexation of spirit But now in this Kingdom ALL their Happiness and all their Priviledges are ETERNAL and shall NEVER have an end Their Perfection shall be ALWAYES compleat and NEVER be diminished Their
from their Callings and casting them into Prisons and Dungeons and keeping of them there by Hundreds and Thousands for nothing but because they are Godly and because they love the Lord Jesus Christ and dare not sin against the Lord Surely the Hand of the Lord will one Day take hold of Judgement for these things and he will assuredly render Vengeance to his Enemies and reward them that hate him for the Arrows of the Lord are ordained against the Persecutors Deut. 32.41 42. Psal 7.13 Therefore though the enemies of God may now flourish and prosper for a while and lye upon Beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flock and the Calves out of the Stall and drink Wine in Bowels and annoint themselves with the chief Ointments yet when the Lord comes to Plead with the Nations for the Controversie of Sion Then they will be ready to run and hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and call to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Therefore under this Consideration let 's not faint nor be discouraged in our Progress towards Heaven for if the Lord be on our side we need not fear what Man can do unto us Reas 3. Because our greatest and our worst Adversaries I mean our Persecutors are but Men that shall die poor vile sinful mortal men whose Breath is in their nostrils whose Lives are uncertain and whose greatest glory is but perishing vanity and when they are at their greatest strength and in their greatest Pride The Lord can but put forth his hand and touch them and lo they become as nothing and the Lord can but put forth his voice and call for their Breath and lo they become but dust and meat for Worms Therefore great Reason why we should not be afraid of their greatest Terrour For alas they may threaten great things against the People of God yea and be ready to Swear it may be that such and such things shall be done unto them the next Week or the next Month when it may be the next day they themselves are summoned to their Graves and so never live to see their wicked Designes accomplished Therefore see how the Scripture Reproves Persons under this Consideration for being afraid of man Isaâ— 51.12 13. Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of man that shall DYE and of the Son of man which shall be made as GRASSE And forgettest the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and laid the Foundations of the Earth and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the Oppressour as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the Oppressour So that it is below the Spirit of a Saint to be afraid of any perishing Creature it is a shame for a Living Saint to be afraid of a Dying Sinner it is a great dishonour to God for Saints to be afraid of a mortal man and forget the fear of the living God it 's a shame for a Saint whose strength is in the Lord to be afraid of a man whose greatest strength is weakness it 's a shame for a Saint whose hope and Confidence is in the God of Jacob to be afraid of a man whose Expectation shall perish it 's a horrid thing that Saints should be more afraid to serve the Lord then wicked men are to serve the Devil Therefore let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering and never fear what man can do unto us Rea. 4. Because though we may be troubled and disturbed on every side by man yet we have Peace and Favour with God and though men may account us as the filth and the off-scouring of the World yet the Lord doth esteem us as his Jewels and his peculiar Treasure And this may be sufficient to bear up our Souls in the greatest of troubles to consider That though the World may hate us with cruel hatred yet the Lord loveth the Righteous and taketh pleasure in his People and though the World may be our Enemy and frown upon us yet the Lord is our Friend and will smile upon us with the Light of his Countenance and refresh our Souls with the choice manifestations of his Spirit and presence and though in the World we may have Tribulation and Sorrow yet in God we may have Peace and Comfort and Joy in the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore see where our Saviour Christ makes this a great Reason against Fear Joh. 14.27 where he speaks thus Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you for alas the world many times giveth Peace and presently takes it away again it may give Peace and rest a little to Day and it may be Sorrow and Trouble to Morrow But now sayes Christ I give not Peace after this manner But my Peace ILEAVE with you that is it shall continue and Tarry with you and none shall be able to take it from you Well what then suppose it be so why let not your hearts be Troubled neither let them be afraid for though your Enemies may Rob and Deprive you of your outward Comforts and outward Enjoyments yet they shall never be able to east you out of my Favour nor Deprive you of that inward Comfort and Spiritual Refreshment that I will give unto you and leave with you Therefore be not afraid of their Terrour neither let your hearts be Troubled And so likewise see the Apostle Rom. 5.1 3. Therefore being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord So that now we do not onely Rejoyce in the hope of Glory But we also Rejoyce and Glory in all our Tribulations and are filled with Comfort in all our afflictions 2 Cor. 7.4 Therefore let us endeavour to keep in the Love and Favour of God and then we need not fear what man can do unto us Rea. 5. Because all our Sufferings which are for Righteousness sake work together for our good and great advantage and will add to our future Glory and happiness there is no misery that can befall us upon the account of Godliness but it will prove an addition to to our Eternal Happiness Every step we trace in sorrow will be to the increase of our Eternal Joy Therefore this may be another great Reason why we should not fear the worst that man can do unto us for alas whatever they do unto us they cannot hurt us if we keep close to God they can do us no Injury at all Nay the more they Persecute us if it be for Christ the more it will conduce to our Good and Benefit Oh what a glorious Encouragement is this for poor Persecuted Saints to hold out in a Day of Tryal and to bear up their Souls
thee O Lord but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the EXCELLENT in whom is all my delight But as touching the wicked this is his language concerning THEM Dogs have compassed me about the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me they are altogether become filthy and abominable their POYSON is like the POYSON of a SERPENT they are like the deaf ADDER and the filthy BOAR. Therefore I will not know a wicked person but I will say unto them Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandements of my God From hence you may observe That wicked persons though never so great in the eyes of the world are loathsome and abominable persons and very contemptible in the eyes of good men but the meanest Saint is excellent and honourable and very pretious both in the sight of God and in the account of his People Therefore little do the foolish world think what they do when they mock and reproach the People of God And when they strive to persecute and afflict the Saints they little think that the Lord takes it as done unto himself and when they villisie and abuse such as are godly they little think that they are a trampling under foot the Jewels of God and fighting against the Lord Oh! what enmity do such poor souls manifest against the God of Heaven Oh! how contrary and opposite such persons are to the living God For pray consider they hate them but God loves them they reproach them but God honours them they abuse them but God vindicates them they afflict them but God comforts them they frown upon them pronounce them cursed but God smiles upon them and proclaims them blessed they rob and spoyle them and endeavour to deprive them of their earthly being but God takes care of them and satisfies their souls with his goodness and will one day crown them with a heavenly Kingdom Thus the Persecutors of Sion do set themselves against the Lord and oppose the mighty God of Jacob. They count them odious and filthy but God counts them excellent and honourable And all this is their priviledge now in this life before they come to their Crown and Kingdom So that this is the first thing that I gather from this Doctrine of the Kingdom It informs us that the People of God are an Excellent Glorious and Honourable People But Secondly 2. It discovers the Happiness of Gods People The People of God are not only an Excellent People but also a Happy People for if it be so that the Lord hath prepared such a glorious Kingdom for his People and accounts them worthy of such a blessed Reward Oh! then it must needs be true that the People of God are a happy People and wonderful high in the favour of God And if it be so that the People of God shall have fulness of joy and unspeakable glory in a Kingdom eternal Oh! then it appears that the People of God are a blessed People and mightily concerned in the love of the Lord. There 's no condition in the world can make them miserable they are alwayes happy though in the midst of troubles they are alwayes blessed though in the midst of difficulties they are alwayes rich though in the midst of poverty they are alwayes satisfied though in the midst of hunger they have alwayes enough to make them joyful though in the midst of sorrows they have alwayes enough to comfort them though in the midst of discouragements they have alwayes enough to support them though in the midst of weakness they are alwayes at liberty though in the midst of bondage There is nothing in this world can harm them so long as they are followers of that which is good 1 Pet. 3.13 Oh! what a wonderful priviledge is this for travelling Saints to enjoy for Strangers and Pilgrims to partake of before they come at their rest How doth this exceedingly proclaim the happiness of Gods People and the blessed condition of all those that belong to Jesus Christ Oh! how may this comfort and encourage the sorrowful hearts of many suffering Saints and bear up their souls in the midst of Tryals To consider that though the world is their enemy yet still the Lord is their friend And though the World hates them yet still the Lord loves them And though they are deprived it may be from friends and relations yet still they have an interest in God and he is their Father and he is able to make up the loss of any relation And though they may want earthly enjoyments and worldly possessions yet still they are rich in Promises and Heirs of a Kingdom and the Lord hath prepared an everlasting Portion for them Therefore now these things considered doth exceedingly discover the happy condition of Gods People whilst they are here on earth in their Pilgrim-state besides that forementioned glory prepared for them in Heaven for those that can claim an interest in this heavenly Portion are abundantly happy and continually blessed for its an excellent Fountain full of spiritual refreshment and soul-satisfaction in the worst of troubles Therefore you shall find that our Saviour Christ doth abundantly proclaim them blessed under this very consideration Mat. 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake for GREAT is your Reward in HEAVEN So that it seems the consideration of their future Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven is that which proclaims them blessed and happy now upon earth Though in a mourning condition yet in a blessed condition Though in a persecuted state yet in a BLESSED state whatever their condition is yet they are blessed because their Reward is great in the Kingdom of Heaven So that this is the second thing that I gather from this Heavenly Doctrine It informs us that the People of God are a blessed and happy People Thus much for the first Use by way of Discovery But Secondly by way of Examination 2. Use Is it so that the Lord hath prepared a Kingdom for his People Then let US seriously examine whether WE have an Interest in this Kingdom or no Let US search and try whether WE have any thing to do with this Heavenly Portion Or whether WE have any share in this Glorious Reward or no For pray consider seriously what will it profit us to hear of a Glorious Kingdom prepared for the Saints if we have no part nor portion there Or what will it benefit us to hear of the glory and happiness of Saints in the Kingdom of Heaven if it do not belong to us Alas it will avail us nothing to hear of these things nor to talk of these