nor Barzillai of his lamenesse There are five Properties of the glorified bodies 1. They shall be agil and nimble the bodies of the Saints on earth are heavy in their motion and subject to wearinesse but in Heaven there shal be no elementary gravity hindering but our bodies being refined shall be swift and facile in their motion and made fit to ascend as the body of Elias In this life the body is a great hindrance to the soule in its operation The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak The soul may bring its action against the body when the soul would flie up to Christ the body as a leaden lump keeps it down 't is vivum sepulchrum but there is a time coming when it shall be otherwise the bodies of the Saints shall be agil and lively they shall be made fully subject to the soul and so no way impede or hinder the soul in its motion 2. The bodies of the Saints shall be transparent full of clarity and brightnesse as Christs body when it was transfigured Matth. 17.2 our bodies shall have a divine lustre put upon them here they are as iron when it is rusty there they shall be as iron when it is filed and made bright they shall shine tanquam Sol in fulgore saith Augustine as the Sun in its splendour nay seven times brighter saith Chrysostome here our bodies are as the gold in the oar drossy and impure in heaven they shall be as gold when it spangles and glisters so cleare shall they be that the soule may sally out at every part and sparkle through the body as the wine through the glasse 3. They shall be amiable beauty consists in two things 1. Symmetry and proportion when all the parts are drawn out in their exact lineaments 2. Complexion when there is a mixture and variety in the colours white and sanguine thus the bodies of the Saints shall have a transcendency of beauty put upon them Here the body is call'd a vile body Vile ortu in its birth and production de limo terrae of the dust of the earth The earth is the most ignoble element And vile officio in the use that it is put to the soul oft useth the body as a weapon to fight against God but this vile body shall be ennobled and beautified with glory it shall be made like Christs body How beautiful was Christs body upon earth in it there was the Purple and the Lily it was a mirrour beauty For all deformities of body issue immediately from sinne but Christ being conceived by the holy Ghost and so refined and clarified from all lees and dregs of sin he must needs have a beautiful body and in this sence he was fairer then the children of men Christs body as some Writers aver was so fair by reason of the beauty and grace which did shine in it that no limner could ever draw it exactly and if it was so glorious a body on earth how great is the lustre of it now in heaven That light which shone upon Saint Paul surpassing the glory of the sunne was no other then the beauty of Christs body in heaven O then what beauty and replendency will be put upon the bodies of the Saints they shall be made like Christs glorious body 4. The bodies of the Saints shall be impassible free from suffering We read that Iob's body was smitten with biles and Paul did beare in his body the marks of the Lord Iesus but ere long our bodies shall be impassible not but that the body when it is glorified shall have such a passion as is delightful for the body is capable of joy but no passion that is hurtful as cold or famine it shall not be capable of any noxious impression 5. They shall be immortall here our bodies are still dying quotidiè en im dempta est aliqua pars vitae cúm crescit vita tum decrescit It is improper to ask when we shall die but rather when we shall make an end of dying first the infancy dies then the childhood then youth then old age and then we make an end of dying it is not only the running out of the last sand in the glass that spends it but all the sands that run out before Death is a worm that is ever feeding at the root of our gourds but in Heaven our mortal shall put on immortality As it was with Adam in innocency if he had not sinned such was the excellent temperature and harmony in all the qualities of his body that it is probable he had not died but had been translated from Paradise to Heaven Indeed Bellarmine saith that Adam had died though he had not sinned but I know no ground for that assertion for sinne is made the formal cause of death however there 's no such thing disputable in Heaven the bodies there are immortal Luke 20.36 Neither can they die any more If God made Manna which is in it selfe corruptible to last many hundred years in the golden pot much more is he able by a divine power so to consolidate the bodies of the Saints that they shall be preserved to eternity Rev. 21.4 And there shall be no more death our bodies shall run parallel with eternity CHAP. XIV The Ninth Prerogative Royal. THE next Priviledge is we shall be as the Angels in Heaven Matth. 22.30 Christ doth not say we shall be Angels but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels Qu. How is that R. Not only that we shall not die but in regard of our manner of worship The Angels fulfill the will of God 1. Swiftly 2. Perfectly 3. Chearfully 1. Swiftly When God sends the Angels upon a Commission they do not hesitate or dispute the case with God but presently obey The Angels are set out by the Cherubims which had wings this was not to represent their Persons for spirits have no wings but their Office to shew how swift they are in their obedience it is as if they had wings Dan. 9.21 The man Gabriel this was an Angel was caused to flie swiftly as soone as ever God speaks the word the Angels are ambitious to obey now in Heaven we shall be as the Angels This is a singular comfort to a weak Christian alas we are not as the Angels in this life when God commands us upon service to mourne for sinne to take up the Crosse O what a dispute is there how long is it sometimes ere we can get leave of our hearts to go to prayer Jesus Christ went more willingly to suffer then we do often to pray how hardly do we come off in duty God had as good almost be without it Oh but if this be our grief be of good comfort in Heaven we shall serve God swiftly we shall be winged in our obedience we shall be even as the Angels 2. The Angels serve God perfectly they fulfill God's whole will they leave nothing undone
men now how this body thus devoured and as it were crumbled into a thousand fractions should be raised idem numero the same numerical body is infinitely above reason to imagine we have scarce faith enough to believe it Quest. How can this be Answ. To such I say as our blessed Saviour Matth. 22.29 Ye do erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1. Not knowing the Scriptures The Scripture tells us expresly that the same body that dies shall rise again Iob 19.26 In my flesh shall I see God not in another flesh And vers 27. My eyes shall behold him not other eyes So 1 Cor. 15.53 This mortal shall put on immortality not another mortall but this mortall And 2 Cor. 5.10 That every one may receive the things done in his body c. not in another body Death in Scripture is called a sleep it is farre easier with God to raise the body then it is for us to awake a man when he is asleep 2. Ye erre not knowing the power of God that God who of nothing created all things cannot he reduce many things to one thing when the body is gone into a thousand substances cannot he make an abstraction and bring that body together againe Do we not see the Chymist can out of several metals mingled together as gold silver alcumy extract the one from the other the silver from the gold the alcumy from the silver and can reduce every metall to its own species or kinde and shall we not much more believe that when our bodies are mingled and confounded with other substances the wise God is able to make a divine extraction and re-invest every soul with its own body Use 1. This is comfort to a childe of God As Christ said to Martha John 11.23 Thy brother shall rise againe so I say to thee thy body shall rise again The body is sensible of joy as well as the soul and indeed we shall not be perfect in glory till our bodies be re-united to our souls Therefore in Scripture the doctrine of the resurrection is made matter of joy and triumph Isa. 26.19 The dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Awake sing ye that dwell in the dust Death is as it were the fall of the leafe but our bones shall flourish as an herb in the spring of the resurrection That body wich is mouldred to dust shall revive Sometimes the Saints do sowe the Land with their bodies Psal. 142.7 and water it with their blood Psal. 79.3 But these bodies whether imprisoned beheaded sawn asunder shall arise and sit down with Christ upon the Throne O consider what joy will there be at the re-uniting of the body and soul at the resurrection As there will be a sad meeting of the body and soul of the wicked they shall be joyned together as briars to scratch and teare one another So what unspeakable joy will there be at the meeting together of the soul and body of the Saints how will they greet one another they two being the nearest acquaintance that ever were what a welcome will the soul give to the body O blessed body thou didst suffer thy self to be martyrd and crucified thou wert kept under by watchings fastings c. when I prayed thou didst attend my prayers with hands lifted up and knees bowed down Thou wert willing to suffer with me and now thou shalt reigne with me cheare up thy self my deare friend thou wert sowne as seed in the dust of the earth with ignominy but now art raised in glory thou wert sowen a natural body but now art raised a spiritual body O my dear body I will enter into thee again as an heavenly sparckle and thou shalt cloath me againe as a glorious vestment I will I say enter into thee againe and both of us will enter into our Masters joy Use 2. It shews the great love and respect God bears to the weakest believer God wil not glorifie the bodies of his dearest and most eminent Saints not the Patriarchs or Prophets not the body of Moses Elias till thou risest out of thy grave God is like a Master of a Feast that stayes till all his guests are come Abraham the father of the faithful must not sit down bodily in Heaven till all his children are born and the body of every Saint perfectly mellow and ripe for the resurrection 3. If the bodies of the Saints must arise then consecrate your bodies to the service of God these bodies must be made one with Christs body The Apostle makes this Use of the Doctrine of the resurrection 1 Cor. 6.14 And God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by his own power there is the Doctrine Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot ver 15. there is the Use. It is enough for wicked men to adulterate and defile their bodies The drunkard makes his body a tunnel for the wine and strong drink to run thorow The Epicure makes his body a living tombe to bury the good creatures of God The adulterer makes his body a stewes The body is called a vessell in Scripture these vessels will be found musty at the resurrection fit only to hold that wine which you read of Psal. 75.8 In the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red this is the wine of Gods wrath It is enough for those bodies to be defiled which shall be joyned to the devil but you that are believers that expect your bodies shall be joyned with Christs body oh cleanse these vessels take heed of putting your bodies to any impure services Present your bodies a living sacrifice Rom. 12.1 Have a care to keep all the passages and cinque-ports sometimes the devil comes in at the eye therefore Iob made a covenant with his eyes and goes out at the tongue therefore David set a watch before his lips Surely those that have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience that is the guilt of known sinne will have a care to have their bodies washed with cleane water CHAP. XIII The Eighth Prerogative Royal. I Proceed now to the next Priviledge which is to come viz. The bodies of the Saints shall be enamel'd with glory In this life the body is infirme Physicians have much ado to piece it up it is like a Picture out of frame or an house out of repaire every storm of sicknesse it raines thorow O anima quà m deforme hospitium nacta es How doth the excellent soul oft lodge in a deform'd body The body is like a piece of rotten wood diseases like wormes breed there feavers plurisies aches c. But this body shall be made glorious at the resurrection it shall neither have diseases nor defects Leah shall no more complain of her blear eyes
abroad into the world but the importunity of some friends and principally the many favours received from your Honour when I was in your noble Family and which have been since continued did press upon me yet not without some reluctancy in my own thoughts to commit it to the publick I hope the discourse may be seasonable and doubt not but it will take some impression if it be as a naile fastned by the great Master of Assemblies I have drawn but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dark lineaments of that blessed condition which the Saints shall arrive at expect not to see it in its orient colours till God himself give you the Pattern and you shall both see and enjoy it at once The Lord preserve your Ladyship and all those Noble Branches descended from you which is the prayer of From my Study at Stephens Walbrook Feb. 5. 1651. MADAM Your honours most humble and faithful servant THOMAS WATSON THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THe preface and entring into the words p. 1 2 An Objection answered pag. 3. All things in heaven and earth are a Beleevers p. 6 CHAP. II. Reasons shewing how the Beleever comes to have this rich Charter 1. Because he is an heire of the Covenant p. 7. 2. Because he is so nearly related to Christ who is heire of all p. 10. CHAP. III. The unsealing of the Charter p. 11. Things present are a Beleevers p. 12. Section 1. That Paul and Apollo are his p. 12 13. The first inference p. 15. The second inference p. 17. The third inference p. 18. Section 2. That the world is his p. 24. Section 3. That life is his p. 31. CHAP. IV. The enlarging of the Charter p. 36. Section 1. That remission is a Beleevers priviledge p. 37 How we may know whether this be our priviledge p. 39 40. Section 2. That Regeneration is a beleevers priviledge p. 41. Section 3. That Adoption is a Beleevers priviledge p. 45. Section 4. The inferences drawn from Adoption p. 51. Section 5. The signes of Adoption p. 59. CHAP. V. The second part of the Charter That things to come are a Beleevers p. 63. CHAP. VI. The 12. Priviledges in reversion 1. Death is a Beleevers p. 66. Though death in it self be a privation yet to a childe of God it is a Priviledge p. 67. To whom death is a priviledge p 78 81 CHAP. VII The second Prerogative Royal of a Beleever he shall be carried up by the Angels p. 84. CHAP. VIII The third Prerogative Royal the Beleever shall be with Christ. p. 89 Six priviledges growing out of this 1. Vision p. 92. 2. Union p. 97. 3. Nobility p. 99. 4. Ioy. p. 103. 5. Rest. p. 114. 6. Security p. 118. CHAP. IX The fourth Prerogative Royal the glorious inheritance p. 122. Which hath six Properties 1. Sublimenesse p. 124. 2. Magnificence p. 125. 3. Purity p. 126. 4. Amplitude p. 128. 5. Light p. 130. 6. Permanency p. 131. Concerning the glory of this inheritance foure things superadded 1. It is ponderous p. 135. 2. It is satisfying p. 135 136. 3. Though others have their portion paid out there is never the lesse for us p. 137. 4. The soules of the Elect enter upon possession immediately after death p. 138. That the New creature only is the heir of this new Hierusalem p. 149. CHAP. X. The fifth Prerogative Royal our knowledge shall be cleare p. 153. Five Mysteries God will clear up to us in heaven so far as our humane nature is capable p. 154. 1. The Mystery of the Trinity ibid. 2. The Mystery of the Incarnation p. 155. 3. The Mystery of Scripture p. 159. 4. The Mystery of Providence p. 160. 5. The Mystery of Hearts p 163. CHAP. XI The sixth Prerogative Royal our love shall be perfect p. 165. CHAP. XII The seventh Prerogative Royal the Resurrection of our bodies p. 171. Several Corolaries our Uses drawn from the Resurrection 1. Use. p. 182. 2. Use. p 185. 3. Use. ibid. CHAP. XIII The eighth Prerogative Royal the bodies of the Saints shall be richly enameld with glory p. 187. Five properties of glorified bodies 1. Agility p. 188. 2. Clarity p. 189. 3. Beauty p. 190. 4. Impassibility p. 192. 5. Immortality ibid. CHAP. XIV The ninth Prerogative Royal we shall be as the Angels in heaven p. 194. CHAP. XV. The tenth Prerogative Royal the Vindication of names p. 199. CHAP. XVI The eleventh Prerogative Royal the Saints absolution p. 203. Where is observable 1. The Book of life opened ibid. 2. The blessed sentence p. 204. CHAP. XVII The twelfth Prerogative Royal a publick and honourahle mention of all the good the Saints have done p. 205. CHAP. XVIII Use. 1. Inform. 1. Branch The first inference drawn from the proposition p. 210. CHAP. XIX Inform. 2. Branch The second inference shewing the difference between the godly and the wicked the wicked have all their worst things to come p. 212. The Reprobates black Charter p. 213. CHAP. XX. Use. 2. Tryal Second Use of Tryal shewing how a Christian may know whether he hath any right to the Beleevers priviledges p. 227. That faith gives a title p. 229. The nature of faith opened In its Essentials p. 230. The nature of faith opened In its Consequentials p. 244. A reply to the sinners Objections p. 256. CHAP. XXI The Beleevers Objections answered p. 259. CHAP. XXII The third Use Exhortation 1. Branch Shewing the duties of a Beleever by way of Retaliation 1. Duty Thankfulnesse p. 270. 2. Duty Exemplarinesse of life p. 274. Walk as Christ did upon earth 1. In Sanctity p. 275. 2. In Humility p. 279. 3. In Charity p. 283. 3. Duty Contentation p. 285. 4. Duty Anticipation of heaven p. 288. 5. Duty Chearfulnesse p. 292. 6 Duty Envy not them who have only things present p. 297. 7 Duty Comfort in the want of spiritual comfort p. 299. 8. Duty All our things must be Christs p. 303. 9. Duty Wait for these great things in Reversion p. 306. Use. Exhortation 2. Branch To such as have only things here that they would labour for things to come p. 312 Sublunary things are but 1. Vain p. 313. 2. Uncertaine ibid. 3. Vexing p. 314. 4. Dangerous ibid. Our pursuit should be rather after the portion â—hen a few gifts p. 317. THE CHRISTIANS Charter 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. For all things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods CHAP. I. The Porch or Entrance into the words together with the Proposition HAppinesse is the mark and centre which every man aimes at The next thing that is sought after being is being happy and surely the neerer the soul comes to God who is the fountain of life and peace the nearer it approacheth to happinesse and who so near to God as the Beleever who is mystically one with him he must needs be the happy man And if you
the sea he doth not complaine that he wants his Cisterne of water Though thou didst suck some comfort from thy relations yet when thou comest to the Ocean and art with Christ thou shalt never complaine that thou hast left thy cistern behinde There will be nothing to breed sorrow in heaven there shall be joy and nothing but joy Heaven is set out by that phrase Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Here joy enters into us there we enter into joy the joyes we have here are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These are from heaven those are in heaven the joyes that we shall have with Christ are without measure and without mixture In thy presence is fulness of joy 1. The heart shall be filled Nothing but Christ can replenish the heart with joy the understanding will affections are such a triangle that none can fill but the Trinity As Christs beauty shall amaze the eye so his love shall ravish the heart of a glorified Saint must it not needs be joy to be with Christ what joy when a Christian shall see the great gulfe shot between heaven and hell What joy when Christ shall take us into the Wine-celler and kisse us with the kisses of his lips What joy when the match shall be at once made up and solemnized between Christ and a believer these are the more noble and generous delights 2. All the senses shall be filled with joy and at once The eye shall be filled What joy to see that Orient brightnesse in the face of Christ there you may see the Lily and the Rose mixed white and ruddy Cant. 5.10 The Eare shall be filled What joy to the Spouse to heare Christs voice The voice of God was dreadful to Adam after he had listened to the Serpents voice I heard thy voice in the garden and was afraid Gen. 3.10 But how sweet will the Bridegrooms voice be What joy to hear him say My Love my Dove my undefiled What joy to heare the musick of Angels even the heavenly hoast praysing God If the eloquence of Origen the golden mouth of Chrysostome did so affect and charme the eares of their auditours Oh then what will it be to heare the glorious tongues of Saints and Angels as so many divine Trumpets sounding forth the excellencies of God and singing Hallelujahs to the Lamb The smell shall be filled What joy to smell that fragrancy and perfume that comes from Christ All his garments smell of myrrhe aloes and Cassia The sweet breath of his Spirit blowing upon the soule shall give forth its sent as the wine of Lebanon The taste shall be filled Christ will bring his Spouse into the banqueting house and she shall be inebriated with his love O what joy to be drinking in this heavenly nectar This is the water of life This is the wine on the lees well refined The touch shall be filled the Saints shall be ever in the embraces of Christ Behold my hands and my feet handle me and see me Luk. 24.39 That will be our work in heaven we shall be ever handling the Lord of life Thus all the senses shall be filled Yet though there be a fulnesse of joy there shall be no surfeit the soule shall not be so full but it shall desire nor shall it so desire but it shall be full That which prevents a surfeit in heaven is that there shall be every moment new and fresh delights springing forth from God into the glorified soul Well might the Apostle say to be with Christ is farre better Great is the joy that faith breeds Whom not seeing yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory If the joy of Faith be such what will the joy of fruition be There is ioy when we fall into temptations Jam. 1.2 If Christs sufferings are full of joy what then are his embraces If the dew of Hermon hill be so sweet the first fruits of Christs love what will the full crop be In short there will be nothing in heaven but what shall adde infinitely to the joy of the Saints The very torments of the damned shall create matter of joy and triumph I may allude to that of the Psalmist The righteous shall rejoyce when he sees the vengeance the elect shall rejoyce upon a double account to see Gods justice magnificently exalted and to see themselves miraculously delivered There shall be no unpleasant object represented nothing but joy Such will that joy be when we are with Christ that as it is not possible so neither is it fit for a man to speake 2 Cor. 12.4 We read that Ioseph gave his brethren money and provision for the way But the full sacks were kept till they came at their fathers house God gives us something by the way some of the hidden-manna some taste of his heavenly joy in this life but the full sacks of corne are kept for heaven O what joy to be with Christ surely if there were such joy and triumph at Solomons coronation That all the earth rang with the sound of it What joy will be on the Saints coronation-day when they shall be eternally united to Jesus Christ This shall inhance the joy of heaven It is for ever 1 Thes. 4.17 Then shall we ever be with the Lord. If this joy should after many years have a period it would much abate the sweetnesse But certainly if we could by our Arithmetick reckon up more millions of ages then there have been minutes since the Creation after all this time which were a short eternity the joy of the Saints shall be as farre from ending as it was at the beginning SECT V. The fifth Priviledge of being with Christ. I Proceed to the next priviledge which is Rest A Christian in this life is like Quick-silver which hath a principle of motion in it self but not of rest We are never quiet but as the Ball upon the Racket or the ship upon the waves· As long as we have sinne this is like the quick-silver A childe of God is full of motion and disquiet I have no rest in my bones by reason of my sinne Psal. 38.3 While there are wicked men in the world never look for rest If a man be poor he is thrust away by the rich if he be rich he is envied by the poore sometimes losses disquiet sometimes law-suits vex 'T is onely the prisoner lives in such a Tenement as he may be sure none will go about to take from him one trouble doth succeed another Velut unda supervenit undae sometimes the flood-gates of persecution are opened sometimes the Tombstone of disgrace is laid upon the Saints either the body is in trouble or the minde or both The Saints in this life are in a pilgrim-condition the Apostles had no certaine dwelling place 1 Cor. 4.11 We are here in a perpetual hurry in a constant fluctuation our life is like the Tyde
joy and pleasure length of time makes them better Heavens Eminency is its Permanency Things are prized and valued by the time we have in them lands or houses in fee-simple which are to a man and his heirs for ever are esteemed far better then leases which soon expire The Saints do not lease heaven it is not their Landlords house but their Fathers house And this house never falls to decay it is a mansion-house Iohn 14.2 There is nothing excellent saith one of the Fathers that is not perpetual The comforts of the world are fluid and uncertain like a fading garland therefore they are shadowed out by the Tabernacle which was transient but Heaven is set out by the Temple which was fixed and permanent It was made of strong materials built with stone covered with Cedar over-laid with gold This is the Heaven of Heaven We shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4. ver 17. Eternity is the highest link of the Saints happinesse the soul of the believer shall be ever bathing it selfe in the pure and pleasant fountaine of glory As there is no intermission in the joyes of heaven so no expiration When once God hath set his Plants in the celestial Paradise he will never pluck them up any more he will never transplant them never will Christ lose any member of his body you may sooner separate light from the Sunne then a glorified Saint from Jesus Christ. O eternity eternity what a Spring will that be that shall have no Autumne what a day that shall have no Night Me thinks I see the morning-Star appear it is break of day already And this inheritance of glory fades not away 1 Pet. 1.4 Had it not been enough for the Apostle to have said It is an inheritance incorruptible Nay but he addes It fadeth not away There is a sacred climax in this the meaning is heaven doth not lose its glosse or vernancy A Rose may continue in its being when it doth not retaine its beauty The substance of it may be preserved when the colour and savour is lost but such is the glory of this inheritance that it cannot be made so much as to wither but like the flower we call Semper-vivens it keeps fresh to eternity Concerning the glory of this blessed inheritance let me super-adde these foure things 1. The glory of heaven is ponderous and weighty It is called A weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Immensum gloria calcar habet God must make us able to beare it This weight of glory should make sufferings light This weight should make us throw away the weights of sinne out of our hands though they be golden weights who would for the indulging of a lust forfeit so glorious an inheritance Lay the whole World in scales with it it is lighter then vanity 2. It is infinitely satisfying there is no vacuity or indigency This Encomium can be given properly of nothing but heaven You that Court the world for honour and preferment remember the creature saith concerning satisfaction It is not in me The world is made in manner of a circle the heart in manner of a Triangle a circle can never fill a triangle heaven only is commensurate to the vast desires of the soul. Here the Christian cries out in a divine extasie I have enough my Saviour I have enough Thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures not drops but rivers and these onely can quench the thirst It shall be every day festivall in Heaven there is no want at a feast There shall be excellency shining in its perfection The world is but a Jaile the body is the Fetter with which the soule is bound if there be any thing in a Jaile to delight what is the Palace and the Throne what is Heaven If we meet with any comfort in Mount Horeb what is in Mount Sion All the world is like a Landskip you may see Orchards and Gardens curiously drawn in the Landskip but you cannot enter into them you may enter into this heavenly Paradise 2 Pet. 1. ver 11. For so an entrance shall be made abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome c. Here is soul-satisfaction 3. Though an innumerable company of Saints and Angels have a part in this inheritance there is never the lesse for thee Here is a propriety in a community another mans beholding the Sunne doth not make me to have the lesser light Thus will it be in glory Usually here all the land goes to the Heire the younger are put off with small portions In Heaven all the Saints are Heires the youngest Believer is an heire and God hath land enough to give to all his heires All the Angels and Arch-angels have their portion paid out yet a Believer shall have never the lesse Hereditas illa non minuitur copiâ possessorum non fit angustior numero cohaeredum Aug. in Psal. 49. Is not Christ the heire of all things Heb. 1. vers 2. and the Saints co-heires Rom. 8. vers 17. They share with Christ in the same glory 'T is true one vessel may hold more then another but every vessel shall be full 4. The soules of the Elect shall enter upon possession immediately after death 2 Corinth 5. vers 8. We are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. There are some that say the soules of the Elect sleep in their bodies but the Apostle here confutes it for if the soule be absent from the body how can it sleep in the body There is an immediate transition and passage from death to glory The soule returnes to God that gave it Christs Resurrection was before his Ascension but the Saints Ascension is before their Resurrection The body may be compared to the bubble in the water the soule to the winde that fills it you see the bubble riseth higher and higher at last it breakes into the open aire so the body is but like a bubble which riseth from infancy to youth from youth to age higher and higher at last this bubble breakes and dissolves into dust and the spirit ascends into the open aire it returnes unto GOD that gave it Be of good comfort we shall not stay long for our inherirance it is but winking and we shall see God O the glory of this Paradise when we are turned out of all let us think of this inheritance which is to come Praemium quod fide non attingitur faith it selfe is not able to reach it it is more then we can hope for There can be no want where Christ is who is all in all Ephes. 3.11 In Heaven there is health without sicknesse plenty without famine riches without poverty life without death There is unspotted chastity unstained honour unparallel'd beauty there is the Tree of Life in the middest of Paradise there is the river that waters the garden there is the Vine flourishing and the Pomegranates budding there
lose a member of his body then his body is not perfect for how can that body be perfect which wants a limb and if Christ may lose one member from his body why not as well all by the same reason and so he shall be an head without a body but be assured the union with Christ cannot be broken Ioh. 17.12 and so long the inheritance cannot be lost What was said of Christs natural body is as true of his mystical A bone of it shall not be broken Look how every bone and limb of Christs natural body was raised up out of the grave and carried into heaven so shall every member of his mystical body joyned to him by the eternal Spirit be carried up into glory Feare not O ye Saints neither sinne nor Satan can dissolve your union with Christ nor by consequence hinder you of that blessed place where your Head is Quest. Here it will be asked Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Psal. 24.3 who shall be a Citizen of this new Hierusalem which is above Answ. The new creature this you reade of 2 Cor. 5. vers 17. This new creature doth disponere ad coelum prepare for the new Hierusalem This is the Divine and curious Artifice of the Holy Ghost in our hearts forming Christ in us the same Holy Ghost that overshadowed the Virgin Mary and formed the Humane Nature of Christ in her wombe doth work and produce this new creature O thou blessed man and woman in whom this new creature is formed I may say to thee as the Angel to Mary That which is conceived in thee is of the Holy Ghost Of all God's creatures the new creature is the best Then let me aske Art thou a new creature Art thou a scion cut off from the wilde Olive of nature and ingrafted into a new stock the Tree of Life Hath God defaced and dismantled the old man in thee doth some limbe drop off every day Hast thou a new heart Ezek. 36. verse 26. Till then thou art not fit for the new heaven Art thou new all over Hast thou a new eye to discerne the things that differ Hast thou a new appetite Doth the pulse of thy soul beate after Christ It is onely the new creature which shall be heire of the new Hierusalem When thou wert sailing to Hell for we have both winde and tyde to carry us thither hath the North and South-winde awaked Hath the gale of the Spirit blown upon thee and turned thy course Art thou now sailing to a new Port Hath the seale of the Word stamped a new and heavenly print upon thee Then I am speaking all this while to thee this blessed inheritance is entailed upon thee But if thou art an old sinner expect that heaven should be kept as Paradise with a Flaming Sword that thou mayest not enter Be assured God will never put the new Wine of glory into an old musty bottle Heaven is not like Noah's Arke that received cleane beasts into it and uncleane this inheritance doth not receive all comers It is only the wheat that goes into Christs garner what hath the chaffe to do there this inheritance is only for them that are sanctified Act. 20.32 Is thy heart consecrated ground We read that in the time of Ezra after the returne of the people from the captivity some who were ambitious of the Priesthood sought the writings of the Genealogies but they were not found among the numbers of the Priests therefore they were put by as polluted from the Priesthood So whosoever they be that think to have a part in this blessed place if their names be not found that is if they are not new creatures they shall be put away as polluted from this inheritance CHAP. X. The fifth Prerogative Royal. I Passe on to the next thing to come which is 5. Our Knowledge shall be clear Knowledge is a beautifull thing such was Adam's ambition to know more that by tasting the Tree of Knowledge he lost the Tree of Life In Heaven our knowledge shall be cleare Religion is a continued riddle many things we have now but in the notion which then we shall see perfectly now we know but in part The best Christian hath a vaile upon his eye as the Iews have upon their heart hereafter the vaile shall be taken off Here we see through a glasse darkly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a riddle or mystery then face to face that is clearly There are five Mysteries which God will clear up to us when we are in heaven 1. The great Mystery of the Trinity this we know but in part Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity where One makes Three and Three make but One this is bad Arithmetick but good Divinity we have but dark conceptions of it it is a Mystery so deep that we may soon wade beyond our depth Augustine being to write his Books of the Trinity was taught modesty by a childe who was lading the Sea into a little Spoon to whom Augustine said that he laboured in vaine for his little Spoone would not containe the Sea to whom the childe answered My little Spoone will sooner hold this vast Ocean then your shallow brain can containe the depth of the Trinity How little a portion is known of God If Iob asked the question Who can understand the Thunder we may much more ask Wo can understand the Trinity but in heaven we shall see God as he is that is perfectly Quest. But shall every Saint enjoy God so perfectly that he shall have the same knowledge that God hath Answ. the infinite essence of God shall appâ—ar to the Saints Tota but not totaliter we shall have a full knowledge of God but not know him fully yet we shall take in so much of God as our humane nature is capable of it will be a bright and a glorious knowledge here we know him but ab effectu by his Power Wisdom Mercy we see but his back-parts there we shall see him face to face 2. The Mystery of the incarnation Christ assuming our humane nature and marrying it to the divine Therefore call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God with us A Mystery which the Angels in heaven adore God said The man is become as one of us Gen. 3.22 but now we may say God himselfe is become as one of us it was not only mirandum but miraculum There was nothing within the sphere of natural causes to produce it The incarnation of Christ is catena aurea a golden chaine made up of several links of Miracles For instance that the Creatour of heaven should become a creature that eternity should be born that he whom the heaven of heavens cannot containe should be enclosed in the womb that he who thunders in the clouds should crie in the cradle that he who rules the starres should suck the breasts that he who
shall see clearly whether Iezabel had more minde to keep a fast or to get Naboths Vineyard then we shall see whether Herod had more minde to worship Christ or to worry him all the secrets of mens hearts shall be laid open Me thinks it would be worth dying to see this sight We shall then see who is the Achan who the Iudas the womens paint falls off from their faces when they come neere the fire before the scorching heat of Gods justice the hypocrites paint will drop off and the Treason hid in the heart will be visible These mysteries will God reveal to us our knowledge shall be clear CHAP. XI The sixth Prerogative Royal. THE next priviledge is Our Love shall be perfect Love is the Jewell with which Christ's Bride is adorned in one sense it is more excellent then Faith for Love never ceaseth 1 Cor. 13.8 The Spouse shall put off her Jewel of Faith when she goes to heaven but she shall never put off her Jewel of Love Love shall be perfect 1. Our love to God shall be perfect The Saints love shall be joyned with Reverence for a filial disposition shall remaine but there shall be no servile feare in Heaven Horrour and trembling is proper to the damned in hell though in Heaven there shall be a reverencing fear yet a rejoycing fear we shall see that in God which will work such a delight that we cannot but love him And this love to God shall be 1. A fervent love we love him here secundùm studium there secundùm actum as the Schoolmen speak Our love to God in this life is rather a desire but in Heaven the smoak of desire shall be blown up into a flame of love we shall love God with an intensenesse of love here our love is lukewarme and sometimes frozen a childe of God weeps that he can love God no more but there is a time shortly coming when our love to God shall be fervent it shall burn as hot as it can the damned shall be in a flame of fire the elect in a flame of love 2. A fixed-love Alas how soon is our love taken off from God! other objects presenting themselves steal away our love Your goodnesse is like a morning cloud and as the early dew it goeth away In the morning you shall see the grasse covered with drops of dew as so many pearls but before noon all is vanished so is it with our love to God perhaps at a Sermon when our affections are stirred the heart melts in love and at a Sacrament when we see Christs blood as it were trickling downe upon the crosse some love-drops fall from the heart but within a few dayes all is vanished and we have lost our first love this is matter of humiliation while we live But O ye Saints comfort your selves in Heaven your love shall be fixed as well as fervent it shall never be taken off from God any more such beauty and excellency shall shine in God that as a divine loadstone it will be alwayes drawing our eyes and hearts after him 2. Our love to the Saints shall be perfect Love is a sweet harmony a tuning and chiming together of affections It is our duty to love the Saints 1. Though they are of bad dispositions sometimes their nature is so rugged unhewn that grace doth not cast forth such a lustre it is like a gold ring on a leprous hand or a Diamond set in iron yet if there be any thing of Christ it is our duty to love it 2. Though they in some things differ from us yet if we see Christ's image and portraiture drawn upon their hearts we are to separate the precious from the vile But alas how defective is this grace how little love is there among Gods people Herod and Pilate can agree wicked men unite when Saints divide For the divisions of England there are great thoughts of heart Contentions were never more hot love never more cold Many there are whose musick consists all in discords whose harp is the Crosse that pretend to love truth but hate peace Divisions are Satans Powder-plot to blow up Religion Sin brought forth separation and this daughter of separation hath brought forth the grand-childe of division For these things there are great searchings of heart It were not strange to hear the harlot say Let the childe be divided but to heare the mother of the child say so this is sad If Pope Cardinall Jesuite all conspire against the Church of God it were not strange but for one Saint to persecute another this is strange For a Wolfe to worry a Lamb is usuall but for a Lamb to worry a Lamb is unnatural For Christs Lily to be among the thorns is ordinary but for this Lily to become a thorne to teare and fetch blood of it self this is strange How will Christ take this at our hands Would he not have his Coat rent and will he have his Body rent Oh that I could speak here weeping Well this will be a foyl to set off heaven the more there is a time shortly coming when our love shall be perfect there shall be no difference of judgement in heaven there the Saints shall be all of a piece Though we fall out by the way and about the way we shall all agree in the journies end When once the blessed Harp of Christs voice hath sounded in the ears of the Saints the evill spirit shall be quite driven away When our strings shall be wound up to the highest peg of glory you shall never hear any more discord in the Saints Musick In Heaven there shall be a perfect Harmony CHAP. XII The seventh Prerogative Royal. THe next glorious priviledge to come is the Resurrection of our bodies This is an Article of our faith Now for the illustration of this there are three things considerable 1. That there â—s such a thing as the Resurrection 2. That this is not yet past 3. That the same body that dies shall rise again 1. I shall prove the Proposition that there is a Resurrection of the body There are some of the Sadduces opinion that there is no resurrection then let us eat and drink for to morrow we die 1 Cor. 15.32 To what purpose are all our prayers and tears and indeed it were well for them who are in their life-time as bruit beasts if it might be with them as beasts after death but there is a resurrection of the body as well as an ascension of the soul which I shall prove by two Arguments 1. Because Christ is risen therefore we must rise the head being raised the rest of the body shal not alwayes lye in the grave for then it would be an head without a body his rising is a pledge of our resurrection 1 Thes. 4.14 2. Ex AEquo in regard of justice and equity the bodies of the wicked have been weapons of unrighteousnesse and have joyned with the
soul in sinne their eyes have been a casement to let in vanity their hands have been full of bribes their feet have been swift to shed blood therefore justice and equity require that they should rise again and their bodies be punished with their souls Againe The bodies of the Saints have been members of holinesse their eyes have dropped down tears for sinne their hands have relieved the poor their tongues have been trumpets of Gods praise therefore justice and equity require that they should rise again that their bodies as well as their soules may be crown'd There must be a resurrection else how should there be a remuneration We are more sure to arise out of our graves then out of our beds the bodies of the wicked are lockt up in the grave as in a prison that they may not infest the Church of God and at the day of judgement they shall be brought out of the prison to tryall and the bodies of the Saints are laid in the grave as in a bed of perfume where they mellow and ripen against the resurrection Noah's olive-tree springing after the flood the blossoming of Aaron's dry rod the flesh and sinews coming to Ezekiel's dry bones what were these but lively emblems of the resurrection 2. That this resurrection is not yet past some hold that it is past and make the Resurrection to be nothing else but Regeneration which is call'd a rising from sinne and a being risen with Christ and do affirme that there is no other resurrection but this and that only the soul is with God in happinesse not the body Of this opinion were Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.18 But the rising from sinne is call'd the first resurection Rev. 1.6 which implies that there is a second resurrection and that second I shall prove out of Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake he doth not say they are already awake but they shall awake And Iohn 5.28 The houre is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Observe Christ doth not say they are come forth of the grave already but they shall come forth Here a question may be moved Whether the bodies of some of the Saints are not in Heaven already then it will seem that their resurrection is not yet to come as we read that Elias was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot and Enoch Heb. 11.5 was translated that he might not see death Answ. I know the Question is controverted among Divines But there are some reasons do perswade me that Enoch and Elias are not yet bodily in Heaven nor shall be till the resurrection of all flesh when the rest of the Elect like a precious crop being fully ripe shall be translated into glory The first is Heb. 11.13 where it is said These all died in faith where Enoch was included Now why we should restraine this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these only to Abel Noah Abraham and not also to Enoch I see no rational ground Quest. But is it not said he was translated that he might not see death How can these two stand together that Enoch died yet he did not see death Answ. This word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might not see death I conceive with some Divines the meaning is that he might not see it in that painful and horrid manner as others his soule had an easie and joyful passage out of his body he died not after the common manner of men so saith Peter Martyr Seeing and feeling are in Scripture oft exegetical the one is put for the other as Rom. 7.23 I see a law in my members that is I feel a law 2. My second Argument is 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he shall appeare we shall be like him We read in Scripture but of two Appearings of Christ his appearing in the flesh and his appearing at the day of judgment Now his appearing in this text must needs be meant of his last appearing And what then then saith the Apostle we shall be like him that is in our bodies Phil. 3.21 The spirits of just men being already made perfect Heb. 12.23 Whence I infer Enoch is not yet ascended bodily into heaven because none of the bodies of the Saints shall be fully made like Christ till his second appearing 3. Besides this may be added the judgement of many of the Fathers who were pious and learned It is not probable that Enoch and Elias should be taken up in their bodies into heaven saith Peter Martyr and he urgeth that saying of our Lord No man hath ascended into heaven that is saith he corporeally but the Son of man that descended from heaven Of this opinion also is Oecolampadius Martinus Borrhaeus and learned Doctor Fulk who in his marginal notes upon the 11th to the Hebrews hath this descant It appeareth not saith he that Enoch now liveth in body no more then Moses but that he was translated by God out of the world and died not after the common manner of men And concerning Eliah the same reverend Authour hath this passage It is evident that he was taken up alive but not that he continueth alive And again because we read expresly that he was taken up into heaven 2 King 2.11 It is certaine saith he that his body was not carried into heaven Christ being the first that in perfect humanity ascended thither 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ is become the first-fruits of them that sleep He is called the First-fruits not only because he was the most excellent and sanctified the rest but because he was the first Cluster which was gathered the First that went up in a corporeal manner into the Seat of the Blessed For my part I see not how Christ could properly be called the First-fruits if Enoch and Eliah were bodily in heaven before him Hence we see that the Resurrection is yet to come 3. The third thing is That at the resurrection every soul shal have its own body the same body that dies shall arise Some hold that the soul shall be cloathed with a new body but then it were improper to call it a Resurrection of the body it should be rather a Creation It was a custome in the African Churches to say I believe the resurrection hujus carnis of this body I confesse the doctrine of the resurrection is such that it is too deep for reason to wade here you must let faith swim For instance Suppose a man dying is cast into the Sea several Fishes come and devour him the substance of his body goes into these fishes afterwards the fishes are taken and eaten and the substance of these fishes goes into several
when God commands them upon duty they can shoot to an haires breadth Alas our services how lame and bedrid are they we do things by halves in stead of using the world as if we used it not we pray as if we prayed not we weep for sinne as if we wept not how many blemishes are there in our holy things as the Moon when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it how many graines should we want if Christ did not put his merits into the scales our duties like good wine do relish of a bad cask the Angels pouring sweet odours into the prayers of the Saints Rev. 8.3 sheweth that in themselves they yield no sweet savour uâ—â—esse perfum'd with Christs incense but in Heaven we shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as the Angels we shall serve God perfectly how should we long for that time 3. The Angels serve God Chearfully 't is their heaven to serve God when they are singing hallelujahs they are ravished with holy delight though being spirits they need no food yet it is their meat and drink to serve God As Adam in innocency if he had stood though he was set to dresse the garden and should have been imployed in manufacture yet this labour would have been without paine and travel it would have been delightful to him Thus the Angels serve God without lassitude and weariness The joy of the Lord is their strength When we shall arive at Heaven we shall in this sense be as the Angels we shall serve God chearfully we shall 〈◊〉 and not be weary what a blessed priviledge is this we that now are accounted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the off-scouring of men shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels CHAP. XV. The Tenth Prerogative Royal. THE next Priviledge to come is the Viâ—dication of Names Those which have a good Conscience have not alwayes a good Name The old Serpent spits his venome at the godly through the mouthes of wicked men if Satan cannot strike his dart into our Consciences he will put a dead flie into our Name The people of God are represented to the world in a very sad manner how strangely doth a Saint look when he is put in the devils dresse as those Primitive Christians that were cloathed with Bears skins and painted with red devils Iob was represented to the world as an hypocrite and by his friends too which went near to him Paul was called a seditious man and he suffered in the opinion of some as an evil doer 2 Tim. 2 9. Wherein I suffer trouble as an evill doer even unto bonds he did not onely bear Christs marks in his body but in his Name Our blessed Saviour was call'd a deceiver of the people It hath ever been the manner of the wicked world to paint Gods children in very strange colours It is a great sinne to defame a Saint it is murder better take away his life then his Name it is a sinne which we can never make him reparation for a flaw in a mans credit being like a blot in a white paper which will never out The defaming of a Saint is no lesse then the defaming of God himselfe the Saints have Gods picture drawn in their hearts a man cannot abuse the picture of Caesar without some reflection upon Caesars person Well either God will cleare his peoples innocency here which he hath promised Psal. 37.6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light thy good Name may be in a cloud but it shall not set in a cloud or else at the day of judgement then there shall be a Vindication of Names In this life the godly are called the troublers of Israel they are seditious rebellious what not but a day is shortly coming when God himselfe will proclaime their innocency Believe it as God will make inquisition for blood so for Names The Name of a Saint is precious in Goâ—s esteem it is like a statue of gold which the polluted breath of men cannot stain and though the wicked may throw dust upon it yet as God will wipe away tears from the eyes of his people so he will wipe off the dust from their Name The time is shortly coming when God will say to us as once to Ioshua I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you Even as it was with Christ the Iews rolled a great stone upon him and as they thought it was impossible he should rise againe but an Angel came and rolled away the stone and he arose in a glorious triumphant manner So it shall be with the godly their good Name oft lies buried a stone of obloquy and reproach is rolled upon them but at the day of judgement not an Angel but God himself will roll away the stone and they shall come forth from among the pots where they have been blacked and sullied as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold O what a blessed day will that be when God himselfe shall be the Saints compurgator CHAP. XVI The Eleventh Prerogative Royall THE next blessed Priviledge is the sentence of Absolution Here take notice of two things 1. The Processe in Law Rev. 20.12 The books were opened It is a metaphor taken from the manner of our Courts of Judicature where there is the whole Processe every circumstance traversed and the Witnesses examined So here the books are opened the book of Gods Account the book of Conscience now observe another book was opened which is the book of life that is the book of God's Decree the book of Free-grace the book that hath our Names written in it and our Pardon and the elect shall be judged out of this book surely the sentence cannot be dismall when our Husband is Judge and will judge us by the book of life 2. The Sentence it self Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father wich implies two things 1. The Saints Acquittance the Curse is taken off they have their discharge in the Court of Justice and shall have the broad Seal of Heaven Father Son and holy Ghost all setting their hands to the Pardon and this Christ shalll proclaim 2. It implies the Saints Instalment Come ye blessed As if Christ should say Ye are the heirs apparent to the Crown of Heaven Heaven is your freehold come in ye blessed of the Lord enter upon possession And this sentence can never be reversed to eternity but as Isaac said I have blessed him and he shall be blessed At the hearing of this comfortable sentence O with what ineffable joy will the Saints be filled it will be like musick in the ear and a Jubily in the heart Even as Elizabeth once said to the Virgin Mary as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears the babe leaped in my womb for joy so the heart of a believer will leap in him at the hearing of this blessed sentence and be ready to leap out