possessed It is then worldly Hypocrites Hope that perisheth for all that Hope for true or durable Happiness on Earth in the pleasures of this perishing Flesh must needs be deceived But happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose Hope is in the Lord his God which made Heaven and Earth which keepeth Truth for ever Ps 146. 5 6. Wo to me were my Hope only in the time and matters of this fleshly life 1 Cor. 15. 19. But the Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14 32. And Hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. Blessed is the Man that trusteth in the Lord whose Hope the Lord is Jer. 17. 7. Lay hold then O my Soul upon the Hope which is set before thee Heb. 6. 18. It is thy firm and stedfast Anchor v. 19. without it thou wilt be as a shipwrackt Vessel Thy foundation is sure it is God himself Our Faith and Hope are both in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. It is Jesus our Lord who is risen from the Dead and Reigneth in Glory Lord of all 1 Tim. 1. 1. Yea it is the Christ who by Faith doth dwell within us who is our Hope of Glory Eph. 3. 17. Col. 1. 27. In this Hope which is better than the Law that Moses gave it is that we draw nigh to God Heb. 7. 19. It is the Holy Ghost that is both our Evidence and the Efficient of our Hope Gal. 5. 5. Rom. 8. 16 23. By him we hope for that which we see not and therefore wait in Patience for it v. 24 25. By Hope we are saved It is an encouraging Grace which will make us stir when as despair doth kill endeavours It cureth sloth and makes us diligent and constant to the end and by this doth help us to full assurance Heb. 6. 11 12. It is a desiring Grace and would fain obtain the Glory hoped for It is a quieting and comforting Grace Rom. 15. 4. The God of Hope doth fill us with Joy and Peace in believing that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost v. 13. Shake off despondency O my Soul and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5. 2. Believe in Hope though dying Flesh would tell thee that it is against Hope Rom. 4. 18. God that cannot lie hath confirmed his Covenant by his immutable Oath that we might have strong consolation who are fled for refuge to the Hope which is set before us Heb. 6. 18. What blessed preparations are made for our Hope And shall we now let the Tempter shake it or discourage it The abundant Mercy of God the Father hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Christ to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us 1 Pet. 1. 3. Grace teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this World as looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Tit. 2. 12 13. We are renewed by the Holy Ghost and justified by Grace that we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal life Tit. 3. 6 7. We are illuminated that we may know the hope of Christ's calling and what is the riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1. 18 19. The Hope that is laid up for us in Heaven is the chief Doctrine of the Gospel which bringeth Life and Immortality into clearer Light Col. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 10. It is for this hope that we keep a Conscience void of offence and that God is served in the World Act. 24. 15 16. 26. 7. wherefore gird up the loins of thy Mind put on this Helmet the hope of Salvation 1 Thes 5. 8. and let not Death seem to thee as it doth to them that have no hope 1 Thess 4. 13. The love of our Father and our Saviour have given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Graceâ— to comfort our Hearts and stablish them in every good word and work 2 Thess 2. 16 17. Keep therefore the rejoicing of Hope firm to the end Heb. 3. 6. continue grounded and settled in the Faith and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 13. And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee Psal 39. 7. Uphold me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my Hope Psal 119. 116. Though mine Iniquities testifie against me yet O thou that art the hope of of Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble be not as a stranger to my Soul Jer. 14. 7 8. Thy Name is called upon by me O forsake me not v. 9. Why have our Eyes beheld thy Wonders and why have we had thy Covenant and thy Mercies but that we might set our hope in God Psal 78. 5 7. Remember the Word to thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity O Lord who should stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope I will hope in the Lord for with him there is Mercy and plenteous Redemption Psal 130. 3 4 5 7. For he taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his Mercy Psal 147. 11. Though Flesh and Heart fail the Lord is the Rock of my Heart he is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Lord is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him It is good that I should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord It is good for me that I have born the Yoak in my Youth and that I keep silence and put my Mouth in the Dust if so be there may be hope Psal 73. 26. Lam. 3. 24 25 26 27 29. God need not flatter such Worms as we nor promise us that which he never meaneth to perform He hath laid the rudiments of our hope in a nature capable of desiring seeking and thinking of another life He hath called me by Grace to actual desires and endeavours And some foretasts he hath vouchsafed I look for no Heaven but the Perfection of Divine Life Light and Love in endless Glory with Christ and his holy Ones And this he hath begun in me already And shall I not boldly hope when I have the capacity the promise and the earnest and foretast Is it not God himself that hath caused me to hope was not Nature Promise and Grace from him And can a Soul miscarry and be deceived that departeth hence in a hope of God's own causing and encouraging Lord I have lived in hope I have prayed in hope I have laboured suffered and waited in hope And by thy Grace I will die in hope And is not this according to thy Word and
others groping for it in the dark wandring and lost in the clearest Light where the illuminated can but pitty the Blind but cannot make them willing to be delivered What is Heaven to me but GOD GOD who is LIFE and LIGHT and LOVE communicating himself to blessed Spirits perfecting them in the Reception Possession and Exercise of LIFE and LIGHT and LOVE FOR EVER These are not the Accidents but the Essence of that God who is Heaven and All to me should I fear that Death which passeth me to Infinite Essential Life Should I fear a darksom passage into a World of perfect LIGHT Should I fear to go to LOVE itself Think O my Soul what the Suns quickening Light and Heat is to this lower corporeal World Much more is GOD even Infinite LIFE and LIGHT and LOVE to the blessed World above Doth it not draw out thy desires to think of going into a World of LOVE When LOVE will be our Region our Company our Life More to us than the Air is for our Breath than the Light is for our sight than our Food is for our Life than our Friends are for our Solace And more to us than we are to our selves and we more for it as our ultimate end than for our selves O excellent Grace of Faith which doth foresee and blessed Word of Faith that doth foreshew this World of LOVE Shall I fear to enter where there is no WRATH no fear no strangeness nor suspicion nor selfish separation but LOVE will make every holy Spirit as dear and lovely to me as my self and me to them as lovely as themselves and God to us all more amiable than our selves and all Where LOVE will have no defects or distances no damps or discouragements no discontinuance or mixed disaffection but as LIFE will be without Death and LIGHT without Darkness a perfect everlasting Day of Glory so will LOVE be without any hatred unkindness or allay As many Coals make one Fire and many Candles conjoined make one Light so will many living Spirits make one Life and many illuminated Glorious Spirits one Light and Glory and many Spirits innaturalized into LOVE will make one Perfect LOVE of GOD and be LOVED as One by God for ever For all the Body of Christ is One even here it is One in initial Union of the Spirit and Relation to One God and Head and Life 1 Cor. 12. throughout Eph. 4. 1. to 17. and shall be presented as beloved and spotless to God when the great Marriage Day of the Lamb shall come Eph. 5. 24 25 c. Rev. 21. 22. Had thou not given me O Lord the LIFE of Nature I should have had no conceptions of a Glorious everlasting Life But if thou give me not the Life of Grace I shall have no sufficient delightful inclination and desire after it Hadst thou not given me Sight and Reason the Light of Nature I should not have thought how desirable it is to live in the Glorious Light and Vision but if thou give me not the Spiritual Illumination of a seeing Faith I shall not yet long for the Glorious Light and beatifical Vision Hadst thou not given me a Will and Love which is part of my very Nature itself I could not have tasted how desirable it is to live in a World of Universal perfect endless LOVE But unless thou also shed abroad thy LOVE upon my Heart by the Spirit of Jesus the Great Medium of LOVE and turn my very Nature or Inclination into Divine and Holy LOVE I shall not long for the World of LOVE Appetite followeth Nature O give me not only the Image and the Art of Godliness the approaches towards it nor only some forced or unconstant acts but give me the Divine Nature which is Holy Love and then my Soul will hasten towards thee and cry How long O Lord How long O come come quickly make no delay Surely the fear of dying intimateth some contrary Love that inclineth the Soul another way and some shameful unbelief and great unapprehensiveness of the Attractive Glory of the World of LOVE Otherwise no frozen Person so longeth for the Fire none in a Dungeon so desireth Light as we should long for the heavenly Light and Love God's Infinite Essential SELF-LOVE in which he is Eternally delighted in himself is the most Amiable Object and Heaven itself to Saints and Angels And next to that His Love to all his Works to the World and to the Church in Heaven speaketh much more of his Loveliness than his Love to me But yet due Self-love in me is his work and part of his natural Image and when this by sin is grown up to excess through the withdrawing of a contracted narrow Soul from the Union and due Love to my fellow Creatures and to God I must also I cannot but enquire after God's Love to me and by this my desires must much be moved For I am not so capable of ascending above Self-interest and Self-love as in the state of Glorious Union I shall be I am glad to perceive that others do love God and I love those most that I find most love him But it is not other mens love to God that will be accepted by him instead of mine Nor is it God's Love to others which yet rejoiceth me that will satisfie me without his love to me But when all these are still before me God's Essential Self-love and Delight his Love to his Creatures especially the Glorified and his Love to me also even to me a vile unworthy Sinner what then should stay my ascending Love or discourage my desires to be with God And dost thou doubt canst thou doubt O my Soul whether thou art going to a God that loveth thee If the Jews discerned the great love of Christ to Lazarus by his Tears canst not thou discern his Love to thee in his Blood It is never the less but the more obliging and amiable that it was not shed for thee alone but for many May I not say as Paul Gal. 2 20. I live by the Faith of the Son of God that hath loved Me and given himself for me Yea it is not so much I that live as Christ Liveth in me And will he forsake the Habitation which his love hath chosen And which he hath so dearly bought O read often that triumphing Chapter Rom. 8. and conclude What shall separate us from the Love of God If Life have not done it Death shall not do it If leaning on his Breast at Meat was a token of Christ's special love to John is not his dwelling in me by my Faith and his living in me by his Spirit a sure token of his love to me And if a dark saying If he tarry till I come what is that to thee raised a report that the beloved Disciple should not die why should not plain Promises assure me that I shall live with him that loveth me for ever Be not so unthankful O my Soul as to question
the wicked to prosecure his Servants to the Death and make duty costly and give no after recompence 6. If he let the most wicked on the Earth pass unpunished or to scape as well hereafter as the best and to live in greater pleasure here The Objections fetcht from the intrinsecal good of Duty I have elsewhere answered § 1. VI. But God hath not left us to the Light of meer Nature as being too dark for men so blind as we The Gospel Revelation is the clear Foundation of our Faith and Hopes Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to Light One from Heaven that is greater than an Angel was sent to tell us what is there and which is the way and to secure our hopes He hath risen and conquered death and entered before us as our Captain and Forerunner into the Everlasting habitations And he hath all power in Heaven and Earth and all Judgment is committed to him that he might give Eternal life to his Elect he hath frequently and expresly promised it them that they shall live because he liveth and shall not perish but have Everlasting life And how fully he hath proved and sealed the Truth of his Word and Office to us I have so largely opened in my Reasons of the Christian Religion and unreasonableness of Infidelity and in my Life of Faith c. and since in my Houshold Catechizing that I will not here repeat it § 2. And as all his Word is full of promises of our future Glory at the Resurrection so we are not without assurance that at Death the departing Soul doth enter upon a State of Joy and Blessedness For 1. He expresly promised the penitent crucified Thief This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 2. He gave us the Narrative or Parable of the damned sensualist and of Lazarus Luk. 16. to instruct us and not to deceive us 3. He tells the Sadduces that God is not the God of the Dead as his Subjects and Beneficiaries but of the Living Mat. 22. 32. 4. Henoch and Elias were taken up to Heaven and Moses that died appeared with Elias on the Mount Mat. 17. 5. He telleth us Luk. 12. 4. that they that kill the Body are not able to kill the Soul 6. And Christ's own Soul was commended into his Father's hands Luk. 23. 46. and was in Paradise when his Body was in the Grave to shew us what shall become of ours 7. And he hath promised that Where he is there shall his Servant be also Joh. 12. 26. And that the life here begun in us is Eternal life and that he that believeth in him shall not die but shall live by him as he liveth by the Father for he dwelleth in God and God in him and in Christ and Christ in him Joh. 17. 3. 6. 54. 3. 16 36. 6. 47 56 57 50. 1 Joh. 4. 5. 13. Luk. 17. 21. Rom. 14. 17. 8. And accordingly Stephen that saw Heaven opened prayed the Lord Jesus to receive his Spirit Act. 7. 5. 59. 9. And we are come to Mount Sion c. to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the Spirits of the Just made perfect Heb. 12. 22 23. 10. And Paul here desireth to depart and be with Christ as far better And to be absent from the Body and be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. 11. And the dead that die in the Lord are blessed from henceforth that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 12. And if the disobedient Spirits be in Prison and the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah suffer the vengeance of eternal Fire 1 Pet. 3. 19. Jude 7. then the Just have eternal Life And if the Jews had not thought the Soul immortal Saul had not desired the Witch to call up Samuel to speak with him The rest I now pass by We have many great and precious promises on which a departed Soul may trust 13. And Luk. 16. 9. Christ expresly saith that when we fail that is must leave this World we shall be received into the Everlasting habitations § 1. VII And it is not nothing to encourage us to hope in him that hath made all these Promises when we find how he heareth Prayers in this life and thereby assureth his Servants that he is their true and faithful Saviour We are apt in our distress to cry loud for Mercy and deliverances and when humane help faileth to promise God that if he now will save us we will thankfully acknowledg it his work and yet when we are delivered to return not only to security but to ingratitude and think that our deliverance came but in the course of common Providence and not indeed as an answer to our Prayers And therefore God in Mercy reneweth both our distresses and our deliverances that what once or twice will not convince us of many and great deliverances may This is my own case O how oft have I cryed to him when men and means were nothing and when no help in second Causes did appear and how oft and suddenly and mercifully hath he delivered me What sudden ease what removal of long afflictions have I had such extraordinary changes and beyond my own and others expectations when many plain-hearted upright Christians have by Fasting and Prayer sought God on my behalf as have over and over convinced me of Special Providence and that God is indeed a hearer of Prayers And wonders I have seen done for others also upon such Prayer more than for my self Yea and wonders for the Church and publick Societies Though I and others are too like those Israelites Psal 78. who cried to God in their troubles and he oft delivered them out of their distress but they quickly for got this Mercies and their Convictions Purposes and Promises when they should have praised the Lord for his Goodness and declared his works with thanksgiving to the Sons of Men. And what were all these Answers and Mercies but the fruits of Christ's Power Fidelity and Love the fulfilling of his Promises and the earnest of the greater blessings of Immortality which the same Promises give me Title to I know that no Promise of hearing Prayer setteth up our wills in absoluteness or above God's as if every will of our must be fulfilled if we do but put it into a fervent or confident Prayer But if we ask any thing through Christ according to his will expressed in his Promise he will hear us If a sinful love of this present life or of Ease or Wealth or Honour should cause me to pray to God against Death or against all sickness want reproach or other Trials as if I must live here in Prosperity for ever if I ask it this sinful desire and expectation is not the work of Faith but of Presumption What if God will not abate me my last or daily pains What if he will continue my life no longer who ever pray for
offer him He hath the Witness in himself that there is in Believers a sanctifying Spirit calling up their Minds to God and Glory and warring victoriously against the Flesh so that to will is present with them and they love and delight in a Holy conformity to their Rule and it is never so well and pleasant with them as when they can trust and love God most and in their worst and weakest condition they would fain be Perfect This Spirit and its renewing work so greatly different from the temper and desires of worldly men is given by Christ to all sound believers § 10. It is true that some that know not of an Incarnate Saviour have much in them that is very laudable whether it be real saâ—ing Holiness and whether Abraham were erroneous in thinking that even the Sodom's of the World were likely to have had fifty righteous Persens in them I am not now to enquire But it is sure 1. That the World had really a Saviour about Four thousand Years before Christ's Incarnation even the God of pardoning Mercy who promised and undertook what after was performed and shall be to the end 2. And that the Spirit of this Saviour did Sanctifie God's Elect from the beginning and gave them the same holy and heavenly dispositions in some degree before Christ's Incarnation as is given since yea it is called The Spirit of Christ which was before given 1 Pet. 1. 11. 3. That this Spirit was then given to more than the Jews 4. That Christ hath put that part of the World that hear not of his Incarnation into no worse a Condition than he found them in That as the Jews Covenant of Peculiarity was no repeal of the Universal Law of Grace made by God with fallen Mankind in Adam and Noah so the Covenant of Grace of the Second Edition made with Christ's peculiar People is no repeal of the foresaid Law in the first Edition to them that hear not of the second 5. That all that wisdom and Goodness that is in any without the Christian Church is the work of the Spirit of the Redeemer as the light which goeth before Sun rising and after Sun setting and in a cloudy day is of the same Sun which others see even to them that see not the Sun itself 6. That the liker any without the Church are to the Sanctified Believers the better they are and the more unlike the worse so that all these six things being undeniable it appeareth that it is the same Spirit of Christ which now giveth all men what real goodness is any where to be found But it is notorious that no part of the World is in Heavenliness and Virtue comparable to true and serious Christians § 11. 7. And let it be added that Christ who promised the greatest measures of the Spirit which he accordingly hath given did expresly promise this as a Means and Pledge First-Fruits and Earnest of the Heavenly Glory And therefore it is a certain proof that such a Glory we shall have He that can and doth give us a Spiritual change or renovation which in its Nature and tendency is Heavenly and sets our Hopes and Hearts on Heaven and turneth the endeavours of our lives to the seeking of a future Blessedness and told us before hand that he would give us this preparatory Grace as the Earnest of that felicity may well be trusted to perform his Word in our actual glorification § 12. And now O weak and fearful Soul Why shouldst thou draw back as if the case were yet left doubtful Is not thy Foundation firm Is not the way of Life through the Valley of Death made safe by him that conquered Death Art thou not yet delivered from the Bondage of thy fears when the Jaylor and Executioner who had the power of Death hath by Christ been put out of his power as to thee Is not all this Evidence true and sure Hast thou not the Witness in thy self Hast thou not found the motions the effectual Operations the renewing changes of this Spirit in thee long ago and is he not still the Agent and Witness of Christ residing and Operating in thee Whence else are thy groanings after God Thy desires to be nearer to his glory To know him better To Love him more Whence came all the pleasure thou hast had in his Sacred Truth and Ways and Service Who else overcame thy Folly and Pride and vain desires so far as they are overcome Who made it thy choice to sit at the Feet of Christ and hear his Word as the better part and to despise the Honours and Preferments of the World and to account them all as Dung and Dross Who breathed in thee all those Requests that thou hast sent up to God Overvalue not corrupted Nature it bringeth not forth such Fruits as these If thou doubt of that remember what thou wast in the Hour of Temptation even of poor and weak Temptations And how small a matter hath drawn thee to sin when God did but leave thee to thy self Forget not the Days of youthful Vanity Over-look not the case of the miserable World Even of thy sinful Neighbours who in the midst of Light still live in darkness And hear not the loudest Calls of God Look about on Thousands that in the same Land and under the same teaching and after the greatest judgments and deliverance run on to all excess of riot and as past feeling are greedily vicious and unclean Is it no work of Christ's Spirit that hath made thee to differ Thou hast nothing to boast of and much to be humbled for but thou hast also much to be thankful for Thy Holy desires are alas too weak but they are Holy Thy Love hath been too cold but it is Holiness and the Most Holy God that thou hast loved Thy Hopes in God have been too low but it is God thou hast hoped in and his Love and Glory that thou hast hoped for Thy prayers have been too dull and interrupted but it is Holiness and Heaven that thou hast most prayed for Thy labours and endeavours have been too sloathful but it is God and Glory and the Good of Mankind that thou hast laboured for Though thy motion were too weak and slow it hath been Godward and therefore it was from God O bless the Lord that hath not only given thee a Word that beareth the Image of God and is sealed by uncontrolled Miracles to be the matter of thy Belief but hath also fulfilled his Promises so oft and notably to thee in the answer of Prayers and in great and convincing deliverances of thy self and many others And hath by wonders oft assisted thy Faith bless that God of Light and Love who besides the universal attestations of his Word long ago given to all the Church hath given thee the internal Seal the nearer indwelling attestation the effects of Power Light and Love imprinted on thy Nature Mind and Will the Witness in thy self
that the Word of God is not a humane Dream or lifeless thing that by Regeneration hath been here preparing thee for the Light of Glory as by Generation he prepared thee to see this Light and converse with men And wilt thou yet doubt and fear against all this Evidence Experience and Foretast § 13. I think it not needless labour to confirm my Soul in the full persuasion of the truth of its own Immortal Nature and of a future Life of Joy or Misery to Mankind and of the certain Truth of the Christian Faith The Being of God and his Perfection hath so great Evidence that I find no great Temptation to doubt of it any more than whether there be an Earth or a Sun and the Atheist seemeth to me to be in that no better than Mad the Christian Verity is known only by Supernatural Revelation but by such Revelation it is so attested externally to the World and internally to Holy Souls as maketh Faith the Ruling victorious consolatory Principle by which we must live and not by sight But the Souls Immortality and Reward hereafter is of a middle Nature viz. Of Natural Revelation but incomparably less clear than the Being of a God and therefore by the addition of Evangelical Supernatural Revelation is made to us much more clear and sure And I find among the Infidels of this Age that most who deny the Christian Verity do almost as much deny or question the Retribution of a future Life And they that are fully satisfied of this do find Christianity so excellently Congruous to it as greatly facilitateth the work of Faith Therefore I think that there is scarce any verity more needful to be throughly digested into a full assurance than this of the Souls Immortality and hope of future happiness § 14. And when I consider the great unlikeness of mens Hearts and Lives to such a Belief as we all profess I cannot but fear that not only the ungodly but most that truly hope for Glory have a far weaker belief in habit and act of the Souls Immortality and the Truth of the Gospel than they seem to take notice of in themselves Can I be certain or fully persuaded in habit and act of the future Rewards and Punishments of Souls and that we shall be all shortly judged as we have lived here and yet not despise all the Vanities of this World and set my heart with resolution and diligence to the preparation which must be made by a holy heavenly fruitful Life as one whose Soul is taken up with the hopes and fears of things of such unspeakable importance Who could stand dallying as most men do at the Door of Eternity that did verily believe his Immortal Soul must be shortly there Though such a one had no certainty of his own particular Title to Salvation the certainty of such a grand concernment that Joy or misery is at hand would surely awaken him to try to cry to search to beg to strive to watch to spare no care or cost or labour to make all sure in a matter of such weight It could not be but he would do it with speed and do it with a full resolved Soul and do it with earnest zeal and diligence What Man that once saw the things which we hear of even Heaven and Hell would not afterwards at least in deep regard and seriousness exceed the most resolved Believer that you know One would think in Reason it should be so thought I confess a wicked Heart is very sensless § 15. I do confess that there is much weakness of the Belief of things unseen where yet there is sincerity But surely there will be some proportion between our Belief and its Effects And where there is little Regard or Fear or Hopes or Sorrow or Joy or resolved Diligence for the World to come I must think that there is in act at least but little belief of it and that such Persons little know themselves how much they secretly doubt whether it be true I know that most complain almost altogether of the uncertainty of their Title to Salvation and little of their uncertainty of a Heaven and Hell But were they more certain of this and truly persuaded of it at the Heart it would do more to bring them to that serious resolved faithfulness in Religion which would help them more easily to be sure of their Sincerity than long examinations many marks talked of without this will do § 16. And I confess that the great Wisdom of God hath not thought meet that in the Body we should have as clear and sensible and lively apprehensions of Heaven and Hell as sight would cause For that would be to have too much of Heaven or Hell on Earth for the gust would follow the perception and so full a sense would be some sort of a possession which we are not fit for in this World And therefore it must be a darker Revelation than sight would be that it may be a lower Perception lest this World and the next should be confounded and Faith and Reason should be put out of Office and not duly tryed exercised and fitted for reward But yet Faith is Faith and Knowledg is Knowledg and he that verily believeth such great transcendent things though he see them not will have some proportionable affections and endeavours § 17. I confess also that Man's Soul in Flesh is not fit to bear so deep a sense of Heaven and Hell as sight would cause because it here operateth on and with the Body and according to its capacity which cannot bear so deep a sense without distraction by screwing up the Organs too high till they break and so over doing would undo all But yet there is an over-ruling Seriousness which a certain belief of future things must needs bring the Soul to that truly hath it And he that is careful and serious for this World and looketh after a better but with a slight unwilling half-regard and in the second place must give me leave to think that he believeth but as he liveth and that his doubting or unbelief of the reality of a Heaven Hell is greater than his Belief § 18. O then for what should my Soul more pray than for a clearer and a stronger Faith I believe Lord help my unbelief I have many a Thousand times groaned to thee under the burden of this remnant of darkness and unbelief I have many Thousand times thought of the Evidences of the Christian verity and of the great necessity of a lively powerful active Faith I have begged it I have cryed to thee Night and Day Lord increase my Faith I have written and spoken that to others which might be most useful to my self to raise the apprehensions of Faith yet higher and make them liker those of sense But yet yet Lord how dark is this World What a Dungeon is this Flesh How little clearer is my sight and little quicker are my perceptions of unseen things
is here but as in the Seed the perfect union and communion is hereafter Earth and Heaven must be distinguished We must not extend our hopes or pretensions here beyond the Capacity of our Natures As perfect Holiness and Knowledge so perfect Unity and Concord is proper to Heaven and is not here to be expected The Papal pretensions of an impossible Union in one Governour of all the Earth is the means to hinder that Union which is possible But the state of Perfection is the state of perfect union communion Hasten then upwards O my Soul with the ferventest desires and breath after that state with the strongest Hopes where thou shalt not be rich and see thy Neighbours poor about thee nor be poor while they are rich nor be well while they are sick or sick while they are well But their Riches their Health their Joy will be all thine and thine will be all theirs as the common Light and none will have the less for the participation of the rest Yea Communion will be part of every ones felicity It constitueth the very being of the City of God This Celestial Communion of Saints in one holy Church above what is here to be attained is now an Article of our Belief But believing will soon end in seeing and enjoying V. The Constitutive Reasons from the heavenly Life or Practice § 1. Seeing and Loving will be the heavenly Life But yet it seemeth that besides these there will be EXECUTIVE Powers and therefore some answerable PRACTICE There are GOOD WORKS in Heaven and far more and better than on Earth For 1. There will be more Vital Activity and therefore more exercise of it For the Power is for Action 2. There will be more Love to God and one another And Love is active 3. There will be more likeness to God and our Redeemer who is communicative and doth good as he is good 4. Our Union with Christ who will be everlastingly beneficent as well as benevolent will make us in our places also beneficent 5. Our Communion in the City of God will prove that we shall all bear our part as the Members of the Body in contributing to the welfare of the whole and in the common returns to God § 2. But What are the heavenly Works we must perfectly know when we come thither In general we know 1. That they will be the works of love to God and to his Creatures that is such as Love inclineth us to exercise 2. And they will be works of Obedience to God that is such as we shall do to please his will and because he willeth them to be our duty 3. They will be useful works to others 4. They will be pleasant to our selves and part of our felicity 5. And they will carry all to God our End § 3. And somwhat of them is particularly described in the holy Scriptures As 1. We shall in Concord with the whole Society or Chore give Thanks and Praise to God and our Redeemer Rev. 19. 5. 1 Pet. 4. 11. Rev. 7. 4. 4. 7 11. 5. 13. 7. 12. 19. 1. Phil. 4 20. Whether there be any Voice or only such Spiritual activity and exultation as to Man in Flesh is not to be clearly understood is not fit for us here to presume to determine It will be somwhat more high and excellent than our vocal Praise and Singing is and of which this beareth some analogical resemblance or signification As all Passions earnestly desire vent and exercise so specially do our holy affections of Love Joy and Admiration of God Almighty And there is in us a desire of communion with many in such affections and expressions Methinks when we are singing or speaking God's praise in the great Assemblies with joyful and fervent Souls I have the liveliest foretast of Heaven on Earth And I could almost wish that our Voices were loud enough to reach through all the World and unto Heaven itself Nor could I ever be offended as many are at the Organs and other convenient Musick soberly and seasonably used which excite and help to tune my Soul in so holy a work in which no true assistance is to be despised No work more comforteth me in my greatest sufferings none seemeth more congruous and pleasant to me while I wait for Death than Psalms and words of Praise to God nor is there any exercise in which I had rather end my life And should I not then willingly go to the heavenly Chore where God is praised with perfect Love and Joy and harmony Had I more of a Praising frame of Soul it would make me long more for that Life of Praise For I never find my self more willing to be there than when I most joyfully speak or sing God's praise Though the Dead praise not God in the grave and dust doth not give him thanks yet living Souls in Heaven do it joyfully while their fleshly cloathing turns to dust Lord â—une my Soul to thy Praises now that sweet experience may make me long to be where I shall do it better I see where any excellent Musick is Nature maketh men flock to it and they that are but Hearers yet join by a concurrent phantasie and delight Surely if I had once heard the heavenly Chore I should Eccho to their holy Songs though I could not imitaâ— them and I should think it the truest Blessedness to be there and bear my part My God the voice of thy comforting Spirit speaking thy Love effectually to my Soul would make such holy Musick in me that would incline me to the Celestial consort and without it all these thoughts and words will be in vain It is the inward Mâ—lody of thy Spirit and my Conscience that must tune me to desire the hâ—avenly Melody O speak thy love first to my Heart and then I shall joyfully speak it to my Brethren and shall ambitiously seek that communion of them that praise thee better than sinful groaning Mortals can And though my sins here make a loathed jar and discord in my Songs I hope my groans for these sins and their effects will make no discord Sighs and Tears have had the honour to be accepted by thee who despisest not a contrite Soul But if thy Spirit will sing and speak within me and help me against the discordant murmurs of my unbelieving Heart and pained Flesh I shall offer thee that which is more suitable to thy Love and Grace I confess Lord that daily Tears and Sighs are not unsuitable to the Eyes and Voice of so great a Sinner who is under thy correcting Roâ— What better could I expect when I grieved thy Spirit than that it should prove my grief Yea this is far better than the genuine effects of sin But this is not it that is meeâ—est to be offered to the God of Love He that offereth Praise doth glorifie thee And is not this the Spiritual Sacrifice acceptable through Christ for which we were made Priests to God
doubtingly whether thy heavenly Father and thy Lord doth love thee Canst thou forget the sealed Testimonies of it Did I not even now repeat so many as should shame thy doubts A multitude of thy Friends have loved thee so entirely that thou canst not doubt of it And did any of them signifie their love with the convincing evidence that God hath done Have they done for thee what he hath done Are they Love itself Is their love so full so firm and so unchangeable as his I think the sweetlier of Heaven because abundance of my ancient Lovely and Loving Holy Friends are there and am the willinger by Death to follow them And should I not think of it more pleasedly because my God and Father my Saviour and my Comforter is there And not alone but with all the Society of Love Was not Lazarus in the Bosom of God himself yet it is said that he was in Abraham's Bosom as the Promise runs that we shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God And what maketh the Society of Saints so sweet as holy Love It is comfortable to read that To love the Lord our God with all our Heart and Soul and might is the First and great Commandment and the Second is like to it To Love our Neighbours as our selves For God's Commands proceed from that Will which is his Nature or Essence and they tend to the same as their Objective end Therefore he that hath made Love the Great Command doth tell us that LOVE is the Great conception of his own Essence the spring of that Command and that this commanded imperfect Love doth tend to perfect heavenly Love even to our communion with Essential Infinite Love It were strange that the Love and Goodness which is equal to the Power that made the World and the Wisdom that ordereth it should be scant and backward to do good and to be suspected more than the Love of Friends The remembrance of the holiness humility love and faithfulness of my dearest Friends of every Rank with whom I have conversed on Earth in every place where I have lived is so sweet to me that I am oft ready to recreate my self with the naming of such as are now with Christ But in Heaven they will love me better than they did on Earth and my love to them will be more pleasant But all these Sparks are little to the Sun Every place that I have lived in was a place of Divine Love which there set up its obliging Monuments Every Year and Hour of my life hath been a time of Love Every Friend and every Neigbour yea every Enemy have been the Messengers and Instruments of Love Every state and change of my life notwithstanding my sin hath opened to me Treasures and Mysteries of Love And after such a life of Love shall I doubt whether the same God do love me Is he the God of the Mountains and not of the Valleys Did he love me in my youth and health And doth he not love me in my Age and Pain and Sickness Did he love all the Faithful better in their life than at their Death If our hope be not chiefly in this life neither is our state of Love which is principally the heavenly endless Grace My groans grieve my Friends but abate not their love Did he love me for my strength my weakness might be my fear as they that love for Beauty loath them that are deformed and they that love for Riches despise the Poor But God loved me when I was his Enemy to make me a Friend and when I was bad to make me better What ever he taketh pleasure in is his own gift Who made me to differ And what have I that I have not received And God will finish the Work the Building the Warfare that is his own O the multitude of Mercies to my Soul and Body in Peace and War in Youth and Age to my self and friends the many great and gracious deliverances which have testified to me the Love of God! Have I lived in the experience of it and shall I die in the doubts of it Had it been Love only to my Body it would have died with me and not have accompanied my departing Soul I am not much in doubt of the truth of my Love to him Though I have not seen him save as in a Glass as in a Glass seen I love him I love my Brethren whom I have seen and those most that are most in Love with him I love his Word and Works and Ways and fain I would be nearer him and love him more and I loath my self for loving him no better And shall Peter say more confidently Thou knowest that I love thee than I know that thou lovest me Yes he may because though God's Love is greater and stedfaster than ours yet our knowledge of his great love is less than his knowledge of our little love and as we are defective in our own Love so are we in our certainty of its sincerity And without the knowledge of our Love to God we can never be sure of his special love to us But yet I am not utterly a stranger to my self I know for what I have lived and laboured in the World And who it is that I have desired to please The God whose I am and whom I serve hath loved me in my youth and he will love me in my aged weakness My Flesh and my Heart fail my pains seem grievous to the Flesh But it is LOVE that chooseth them that useth them for my good that moderateth them and will shortly end them Why then should I doubt of my Fathers Love Shall pain or dying make me doubt Did God love none from the beginning of the World but Henoch and Elias And what am I better than my fore-Fathers What is in me that I should expect exemption from the common lot of all Mankind Is not a competent time of great Mercy on Earth in order to the unseen felicity all that the best of men can hope for O for a clearer stronger Faith to shew me the World that more excelleth this than this excelleth the Womb where I was conceived Then should I not fear my third Birth day what pangs soever go before it nor be unwilling of my change The Grave indeed is a Bed that Nature doth abhor Yet there the weary be at rest But Souls new born have a double Nature that is Immortal and go to the place that is agreeable to their Nature even to the Region of Spirits and the Region of Holy Love Even passive Matter that hath no other Natural motion hath a Natural Inclination to uniting aggregative motion And God maketh all Natures suitable to their proper ends and use How can it be that a Spirit should not incline to be with Spirits And Souls that have the Divine Nature in holy Love desire to be with the God of Love Arts and Sciences and Tongues become not
by his life Having loved his own to the end he loveth them and without end His Gifts and Calling are without Repentance When Satan and thy Flesh would hide God's love look to Christ and read the golden words of Love in the Sacred Gospel and peruse thy many recorded experiences and remember the convictions which secret and open Mercies have many a time afforded thee But especially draw nearer to the Lord of Love and be not seldom and slight in thy contemplations of his Love and Loveliness Dwell in the Sun-shine and thou wâ—lt know that it is light and warm and comfortable Distance and strangeness cherish thy doubts Acquaint thy self with him and be at peace Yet look up and oft and earnestly look up after thy ascended glorified Head who said Tell my Brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God! Think where and what he is and what he is now doing for all his own and how humbled abased suffering Love is now Triumphant regnant glorified Love and therefore no less than in all its tender expressions upon Earth As Love is no where perfectly revealed but in Heaven so I can no where so fully discern it as by looking up by Faith to my Father and Saviour which is in Heaven and conversing more believingly with the heavenly Society Had I done this more and better and as I have persuaded others to do it I had lived in more convincing delights of God's Love which would have turned the fears of Death into joyfuller hopes and more earnest desires to be with Christ in the Arms in the World in the life of Love as far better than to be here in a dark a doubting fearing World But O my Father Infinite LOVE though my Arguments be many and strong my Heart is bad and my strength is weakness and I am insufficient to plead the cause of thy Love and Loveliness to my self or others O plead thy own cause and what Heart can resist Let it not be my word only but Thine that thou lovest me even me a Sinner speak it as Christ said to Lazarus Arise If not as thou tellest me that the Sun is warm yet as thou hast told me that my Parents and my dearest Friends did love me and much more powerfully than so Tell it me as thou tellest me that thou hast given me life by the consciousness and works of life That while I can say Thou that knowest all things Knowest that I love Thee it may include therefore I know that I am beloved of thee and therefore come to thee in the confidence of thy Love and long to be nearer in the clearer sight the fuller sense and joyfuller exercise of Love for ever Father into thy Hand I commend my Spirit Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen AN APPENDIX A Breviate of the Helps of Faith Hope and Love A Breviate of the proof of Supernatural Revelation and the Truth of Christianity 1 TIM 3. 16. Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached to the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory THese are the Creed or Six Articles of the Gospel which the Apostles preached § 1. I. God manifested in the Flesh of Jesus is the first and great Article Believe this and believe all No wonder that believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is so often made in Scripture the description of saving Faith the Title to Baptism and Pardon and Salvation the Evidence of the Spirit c. He that truly and practically believeth that God came in Flesh to Man and that Christ is the Fathers Messenger from Heaven must needs believe that God hath a great value for the Souls of men and for his Church that he despiseth not even our Flesh that his Word is true and fully to be trusted that he who so wonderfully came to Man will certainly take up Man to him Who can doubt of the Immortality of Souls or that Christ will receive the departing Souls of the Faithful to himself who believeth that he took Man's Nature and hath glorified it now in Heaven in union with the Divine Who can ever have low Thoughts of God's love and Mercy who believeth this And who can prostitute his Soul and Flesh to wickedness who firmly believeth that he took the Soul and Flesh of Man to sanctifie and glorifie it § 2. II. The holy Spirit is the Justification of the Truth of Jesus Christ He is Christ's Advocate and Witness to the World He proveth the Gospel by these five ways of Evidence I. By all the Prophesies Types and Promises of Christ in the Old Testament before Christs coming II. By the Inherent impress of God's Image on the Person and Doctrine of Christ VVhich Propria luce sheweth itself to be Divine III. By the concomitant Miracles of Christ Read the History of the Gospel for this use and observe each History IV. By the subsequent gift of the Spirit to the Apostles and other Christians by Languages wonders and multitudes of Miracles to convince the VVorld V. By the undeniable and excellent work of Sanctification on all true Believers through all the VVorld in all generations to this day These five are the Spirits VVitness which fully justifieth the certain Truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God § 3. Quest But how are we sure who our selves never saw the Person Miracles Resurrection Ascension of Christ that the History of them is true Answ 1. We may be sure that the Spectators were not deceived II. And that they did not deceive them to whom they reported it III. And that we are not deceived by any miscarriage in the historical Tradition to us § 4. I. It was not possible that men that were not mad that had Eyes and Ears could for three Years and a half believe that they saw the Lame the Blind the Deaf and all Diseases healed the Dead raised Thousands miraculously fed c. and this among crouds of People that still followed Christ if the things had not been true One Man's Senses may be deceived at some one instance by some deceitful accident But that the Eyes and Ears of Multitudes should be so oft deceived many years in the open Light is as much as to say No Man knoweth any thing that he seeth and heareth § 5. II. That the Disciples who received the Apostles and Evangelists report of Christ were not deceived by the Reporters is most evident For 1. They received it not by hearsay at the second hand but from the Eye and Ear Witnesses themselves who must needs know what they said 2. They heard this report from Men of the same Time and Age and Countrey where it was easy to examine the case and confute it had it been false 3. The Apostles appealed to crouds and Thousands of Witnesses as to many of Christ's Miracles who would have made it odious had it not been
constantly used this same Scripture publickly and privately as the Word of God so that it could not be easily altered 2. They all knew that a Curse is pronounced against every one that addeth or diminisheth Which must needs possess them with fear of corrupting it 3. They took it to be the Charter of their own Salvation 4. The work of the Ministers was to expound it and preserve it against Corrupters 5. These Ministers and Churches were over much of the World and could not agree together to corrupt it And if some did it all the rest would soon detect it 6. Heresies and Quarrels were quickly too rife among them So that cross Interests and Animosities would soon have fallen upon the Corrupters 7. Some Hereticks made some adding and corrupting attempts which the Church presently condemned and turned it to their shame 8. In all the Disputations then managed the same Scriptures were appealed to 9. The Translations into various Languages shew that the Books were the same without any Momentous difference 10. To this Day when Sin and Tyranny have torn the Church into many Factions they all receive the same Canonical Scriptures except that some receive more Apocryphal Writings which yet make no alteration at all of our Gospel Faith Quest But doth not this laying so much on Tradition favour Popery Answ No The difference is here 1. Papists are for Tradition as a supplement to the Scripture as if this were but part of the VVord of God and 2. They plead for a peculiar power of being the Keepers and Judges of that supplemental Tradition which other Churches know nothing of But we 1. Plead for the Infallible Practical Tradition of the Essentials of Christianity by itself and in the Creed c. which is less than the Scripture 2. And next for the certain Tradition of the Scripture itself uncorrupted in all that Faith depends on which Scripture is the compleat Record of God's VVill and Law containing more than Essentials and Integrals So much of God 1. Manifested in the Flesh 2. Justified in the Spirit III. He was seen of Angels that is Angels were the Beholding Witnessing and admiring Servants of this great Mystery God manifested in the Flesh 1. Angels preached Christ at his Incarnation 2. Angels ministred to Christ in his Temptations Agonies c. 3. Angels were Preachers and VVitnesses of his Resurrection 4. Angels rowled away the Stone and terrified the Souldiers 5. Angels preached his return to them that gazed up at his Ascension 6. Angels opened the Prison Doors and set the imprisoned Apostles free once and Peter alone afterwards 7. Angels rejoice in Heaven at the Conversion of all that Christ brings home 8. Angels disdain not to be the Guardians of the least of Christs Disciples 9. Angels are protecting Officers over Churches and Kingdoms 10. Angels have preached to Apostles and been the Messengers of their Revelations 11. Angels have been the Instruments of Miracles and of destroying the Churches Enemies 12. Angels will ministerially convoy departed Souls to Christ 13. Angels will gloriously attend Christ at his return and sever the Wicked from the Just 14. Angels will be our Companions in the heavenly Chore for ever Therefore 1. We should love Angels 2. And be thankful to God for them 3. And think the more comfortably of Heaven for their Society 4. And Pray for the benefit of their Ministry on Earth especially in all our dangers IV. The Fourth Article is Preached to the Gentiles The Jews having the Covenant of Peculiarity were proud of their Priviledge even while they unworthily abused it And despised the rest of the World and would not so much as eat with them as if they had been God's only People And indeed the rest of the World was so corrupted that we find no one Nation that as such renounced Idolatry and was devoted in Covenant to the true God alone as the Jews were Now that God should be manifested in Flesh to reconcile the Heathen World to himself and extend greater Priviledges indefinitely to all Nations than ever the Jews had in their state of Peculiarity this was a Mystery of Godliness which the Jews did hardly yield belief to And that which aggravateth this wonder is 1. That the Gentile World was drowned in all Idolatry and Unnatural Wickedness such as Paul describeth Rom. 1. 2. Eph. 2. 3. 18 c. 2. And that God should suddenly and freely send them the Message of reconciliation and be found of them that sought him not is that wonder which obligeth us Gentiles who once lived as without God in the World to be thankful to him V. The Fifth Article is Believed on in the World The effect of the Gospel on the Souls of men in their Effectual Faith is one of the Evidences of the Christian Truth I told you before that the Fifth Witness of the Spirit on the Souls of all Believers I reserved to be here mentioned Here 1. It is a part of the wonder that Christ should be believed on in the World even with a common Faith For 1. To believe a mean Man to be the Mediator between God and Man and the Saviour of the World yea one that was Crucified as a Malefactor this must needs be a difficult thing 2. The very Jewish Nation was as contemptible to the Romans being one of their poorest subdued Provinces as the Gentiles were to the Jews And Christ was by Birth a Jew 3. The Greatness of the Roman Empire then ruling over much of the World was such that by Preaching and not by VVar to bring them to be Subjects to a Crucified Jew was a marvellous work and so to bring the Conquered Nations to become Christ's Voluntary Subjects 4. The Roman and Greek Learning was then at the height of its Perfection And the Christians were despised by them as unlearned Barbarians And that Learning Arts and Empire should all submit to such a King and Saviour was certainly a work of Supernatural Power Christ did not levy Armies to overcome the Nations nor did Victory move them but the Victors and Lords of the VVorld and these no Fools but the Masters of the greatest humane VVisdom were Conquered by the Gospel preached by a sort of inferior men 5. And this Gospel which Conquered them was still opposed by them and the Christians persecuted as a sort of hated men till it overcame the Persecutors It 's true that Heathenism hath the greatest part of the VVorld and Mahometans have as much as Christians But one sort got it by the Sword and the other by the Doctrine and Holy lives of a few unarmed inferiour men II. But I use this of the Extent of Faith but as a probable and not a cogent Argument But the main Argument is from the Sanctifying effect of Faith I know it will be said that many or most Christians are as bad as other men But it 's one thing to be of a profest Religion because it is the Religion of the
Essential transcendent Love is ready to receive thee The Spirit of Love hath sealed thee to that blessed state Christ will present thee justified and accepted Most of my old holy familiar Friends are gone before me and all the rest that died since the World began And the few imperfect ones left behind are hasting after them apace and if I go before will quickly overtake me Though they weep as if it were for a long separation it is their great mistake The gate of Death stands all Day open and my sorrowful Friends are quickly following me as I am now following those for whom I sorrowed O pitty them who are left a while under the temptations dangers and fears which have so long been thy own affliction But be not afraid of the Day of thy deliverance and the bosom of everlasting Love and the Society of the wise and just and holy and of the end of all thy troubles and the entrance into the Joy of thy Lord and the place and state of all thy hope O say not notionally only as from argumentative conviction but confidently and with glad desire and hope TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST IS FAR BETTER than to be here But O my God I have much more hope in speaking to thee than to my self Long may I plead with this dark and dull yet fearful Soul before I can plead it into joyful hope and heavenly desires unless thou shine on it with the light of thy Countenance and Thou whom my Soul must Trust and Love wilt give me Faith and Love themselves I thank Thee for convincing Arguments But had this been all the strength of my Faith and Hope the tempter might have proved too subtile for me in dispute I thank thee that some experience tells me that a holy Appetite to heavenly Work and a love to the heavenly Company and State doth more to make me willing to die and think with Pleasure of my change than ever bare Arguments would have done O send down the streams of thy love into my Soul and that will powerfully draw it up by longings for the near and full fruition O give me more of the divine and heavenly Nature and it will be natural and easie to me to desire to be with Thee Send more of the heavenly Joys into this Soul and it will long for Heaven the place of Joy I must not hope on Earth for any such acquaintance with the World above as is proper to the enjoying state But if the Sun can send its illuminating warming Rays to such a World as this according to the various disposition of Recipients doubtless Thou hast thy effectual though unsearchable waies of illuminating sanctifying and attractive influence on Souls And one such Beam of thy pleased Face one Taste of thy complacencial Love will kindle my love and draw up my desires and make my pains and sickness tolerable I shall then put off this cloathing with the less reluctancy and willingly leave my Flesh to the Dust and sing my Nunc dimittis when I have thus seen and tasted thy Salvation O my God Let not thy strengthning comforting grace now forsake me lest it should overwhelm me with the fears of being finally forsaken Dwell in me as the God of Love and Joy that I may long to dwell in Love and Joy with Thee for ever As Grace abounded where sin abounded let thy strengthning and comforting Mercy abound when weakness increaseth and my necessities abound My Flesh and my Heart◠faileth but Thou art the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever This short life is almost at an end But thy loving kindness is better than life I know not with what pains thou wilt further trie me But if I love Thee thou hast promised that all things shall work together for my good The World that I am going to by Death is not apparent to my sight But my life is hid with Christ in God and because he liveth we shall live and we shall be with him where he is and when he appeareth we shall appear with him in Glory and shall enter into our Masters joy and be for ever with the Lord Amen What sensible manifestation of his Kingdom Christ gave in his Transfiguration § 1. Our Lord who brought Life and Immortalility to Light well knew the difficulty of believing so great things unseen And therefore it pleased him to give men some sensible helps by demonstration In Mat. 16. 17. 1 2. c. Mark 9. 1. Luk. 9. 28. he promised some of his Disciples a sight of his Kingdom as coming in power or such a glimpse as Moses had of the Backparts of God's Glory This he performed first in his Transfiguration as afterward in his Resurrection Ascension and sending the holy Ghost to enable them with power to preach and work Miracles and convert the Nations § 2. By the Kingdom of God is meant God's Government of his Holy ones by a heavenly communication of Life Light and Love initially on Earth by Grace and perfectly in Heaven by Glory A special Theocracy § 3. For the understanding of this we must know that when God had made Man good in his Image he conversed with him in a heavenly manner either immediately or by an Angel speaking to him and telling him his will But Man being made a free self-determining Agent he was left to choose whom he would follow And hearkening unto Satan and turning from God he became a Slave of Satan and gave him advantage to be his deceiving Ruler Not that Man's rebellion nullified God's Power or disposing Government or took Man from under Obligation to Obedience but that forsaking God he was much though not wholly forsaken by his special fatherly approving Government and left to Satan and his own will But the eternal Word interposing for Man's Reprival and Redemption undertook to break the Serpents Head and to conquer and cast out him that had deceived and captivated Man And choosing out a special Seed he made them a peculiar People and set up a heavenly Prophetical Government over them himself by heavenly Revelation making their Laws and choosing their chief Governours under him from time to time and would not leave it to blind and sinful Man to make Laws or choose Princes for themselves but would keep them in a special dependance upon Heaven But the carnal Israelites having provoked God by odious Idolatry to deny them much of the benefit of Government save when they repented and cryed to him for help they thought to amend this by choosing a King like other Nations and ending their dependance on heavenly Revelation and choice for Government And so Theocracy was turned into a more humane Regiment and God more cast off Though yet he would not quite forsake them And the rest of the World was yet more left under the power of Satan and their own corrupted mind and will So that Satan hath both an Internal Kingdom in wicked Souls and a visible
so much under suffering and so little study and exercise Patience and no more rejoice in the exercise thereof IX And Patience Experience It is manifold and profitable Experience which patient suffering brings It giveth us experience as of Natures weakness and the great need of Faith So of the Truth of God's Promises the love and tenderness of Christ the acceptance of our Prayers and the power of the Spirits aid and grace O what abundance of experiences of God and our selves and the vanity of Creatures had we wanted if we had not waited in a suffering state Alas how many Experiences have I forgotten X. And Experience Hope A bare Promise should give us Hope But we are still distrustful of our selves and of all the clearest Evidences till experience help us and set all Home O what an advantage hath a Christian of great and long experience for his hope and joy And yet when notable experiences of God's Providence are past and gone an unbelieving Heart is ready to question whether the things came not by meer natural course and like the Israelites in the Wilderness dangers and fears bear down even long and great experiences This is my sin XI And Hope maketh not ashamed That is true Hope of what God hath promised shall never be disappointed They that trust on deceitful Creatures are deceived and ashamed of their Hope For all men are Lyars that is untrusty but God is true and ever faithful O what a comfort is it that God commandeth me to trust him Sure such a command is a virtual Promise from him that cannot fail that trust which he commandeth Lord help me to trust thee in greatest dangers and there to rest XII Because the Love of God is shed abroad upon our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us It is the Love of God shed abroad on our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which must make us rejoice in hope of the Glory of God even in Tribulation Here I must consider I. What is meant by the Love of God II. Why and how it is shed abroad on the Heart by the Holy Ghost I. By the Love of God is meant the Effects of his Love 1. His special Grace 2. The pleasant gust or sense of it II. God's Love thus shed on the Heart pre-supposeth it exprest in the Gospel and Providence and contains all these particulars 1. The sanctifying of the Soul by renewing Grace This is the giving of the Spirit as he is given all true Christians 2. Herein the Holy Ghost makes us perceive the exceeding desirableness of the Love of God and maketh us most desire it 3. He giveth the Soul some easing Hope of the Love of God 4. He quieteth the doubts and fears and troubles of the Soul 5. He raiseth our Hopes by degrees to confident assurance 6. Then the thoughts of God's love are pleasant to the Soul and give it such delight as we feel in the love and fruition of our most valued and beloved friends 7. The Soul in this state is as unapt to be jealous of God or to question his Love as a good Child or Wife to question the Love of a Parent or Husband or to hear any that speak evil of them 8. This then becomes the habitual state of the Soul in all changes to live in the delightful sense of the love of God as we do live in pleasure with our dearest Friends O blessed state and first fruits of Heaven and happy are they that do attain it And though lower degrees have their degree of happiness yet how far short are such in goodness amiableness and comfort of those that are thus rich in grace This presupposeth 1. Knowledge of God and the Gospel 2. True belief and hope 3. A sincere and fruitful life 4. Mortification as to Idol worldly vanities 5. A conviction of our sincerity in all this 6. A conclusion that God doth love us But yet it is somewhat above all this A Man may have all this in his Mind and Mouth and yet want this gust of effused Love upon his Heart These are the way to it but not itself This is the greatest good on this side Heaven to which all Wealth and Honour all fleshly Pleasure and long Life all Learning and Knowledge are unworthy to be once compared Briefly 1. It is the flower and highest part of God's Image on Man 2. It is the Souls true communion with God and fruition of him which carnal men deride Even as our Eye hath communion with the Sun and the flourishing Earth enjoys its reviving heats 3. It is that which all lower grace doth tend to as Childhood doth to Manhood And what is a world of Infants comparatively good for 4. It is that which most properly answereth the design of Redemption and the wonders of God's love therein And all the tenor of the Gospel 5. It is that which is most fully called The Spirit of God or Christ in us He hath lower works but this is his great work by which he possesseth us as God's most pleasant Habitation For we have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear but the Spirit of Power and Love and a sound mind 2 Tim. 1. 7. 6. It is only that which all men in general desire I mean the only satisfying content and pleasure that Man is capable of on Earth All men would have quieting and constant Pleasure and it is to be found in nothing else but the effused love of God 7. It is that which will make every burden light and all affliction easy When the sense of God's love is still upon the Soul all pain and crosses will be but as Blood-letting by the kindest Physician to save the Patients life God will not be suspected or grudged at in suffering his love will sweeten all 8. It will overcome abundance of Temptations which no mens Wit or Learning or knowledge of the words of Scripture will overcome No Arguments will draw a loving Child or Wife from the Parents or Husband that they know doth love them Love is the most powerful Disputant 9. It puts a mellow pleasant sweetness into all our duties When we hear the Word or receive the Sacrament it is to such a Soul as pleasant Food to the most healthful Man When we pray or praise God it comes from a comforted Heart and excites and increaseth the comfort it comes from O who can be backward to draw near to God in Prayer or Meditation who tasteth the sweetness of his Love This is Religion indeed and tells us what its life and use and glory is This is the true walking with God in the best degree When the Soul liveth in the taste of his Love the Heart will be still with him and that will be its Pleasure And God most delights in such a Soul 10. This is it that putteth the sweetest relish on all our Mercies Deny God's love and you deny them all If you tast not his love in them you