of Heaven page 129. Bucan Lot Com. page 422. 4. Spiritualness v. 44. Not that the Body shall be then turned into a Spirit or lose the nature of a true Body But 1. The Body shall then live as Spirits and Angels do without Meat Drink Sleep and such like External Elementary Bodily supports as we need in this Animal-life being then sustained by the All-preserving All-quickning Spirit of God without the help of such means Mat. 22.30 2. The Body shall be perfectly conformable obedient and subservient to the operations of the Spirit or Soul as also to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God The ready instrument of the Soul aptly imployed in spiritual work As when the Spirit or Soul serves the Carnal So when the flesh the Body readily serves the Spirit it may well be termed Spiritual Now in this Life the Soul is taken up in serving the Body the greatest part of our time Labour Strength Study is spent in the providing Meat and Clothing and Comforts for the Body and feeding that Eccles 6.7 But then the Body not needing those things shall be wholly serviceable to the Soul The Body shall be no more such a Troublesome Cumbersome thing as now it is needing so much tendance and adoe about it and oft interrupting Spiritual work thereby But then it shall be a more Spiritual and Heavenly peace alwayes free and ready for Soul work for Spiritual Heavenly imployment Your Contemplations Studies Sweet Affections and Communion with God never broken off and interrupted by Eating and Drinking by Dressing and Undressing c. as here they are 3. Activity Agility Lightness Nimbleness and speed in motion may also be implyed in this Spiritualness of the Body Not dull slow heavy-moulded as now but in Agility and Activity more like to Spirits Hence easily made to ascend to meet the Lord in the Aire 1 Thes 4.17 and afterward to go up with him to the third Heaven And able no doubt in a very little time though not properly in an instant to move through those vast spaces and distances of those Heavenly Mansions and from one quarter of the Coelestial World to another 3. The Glorious Company of Saints and Angels is another Additional part of Heavens Glory The fruition of God is the main Essence of it But this is an Accessional Adjunct or Concomitant that is full of Comfort Yea it is a necessary Concomitant for God will be enjoyed by his people in a Communion forever not in a single seperate way but in Conjunction and Society Mat. 8.11 and that Communion will be an help to their enjoyment of God a way and means of their Communion with God When we speak of our Immediate Communion with God in Heaven we are not to understand it absolutely that there shall be no mediums between us and the transcendant Majesty of God for there will be the Humane nature of Christ and the Communion of Saints who in a Coelâ—stial way and manner will be helpful and useful one to another to convey much of God to one another But Immediate compared with what we have here and so as these inferiour instituted means and helps and Glasses that we have here shall he laid aside But the Communion of Saints will then be in its Perfection and fullest Excellency in the Church triumphant And Love Holiness and Communicativeness which is the life of Communion then will flourish 1 Cor. 13.8 You must there enjoy Christ your Head not alone but in fellowship with all his Mystical Body Hence I said in the Description All together they shall have fruition of God All together in the Highest Heaven for evermore Heb. 11.22 23. We now come and are joyned to that body by Mystical Relation but then by way of actual Communion Consider here 1. There will be only true and Blessed Saints together in Heaven no mixture of unsound ones or secret enemies there the Communion will be absolutely pure such as is not to be expected nor no rule allowes us to expect or insist upon in the Church on earth for here there will be a mixture of Corne and Chaffe Wheat and Tears Sheep and Goats good and bad Fish while the World stands But then a perfect separation of Goates from the Sheep and the Latter alone go into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.34 46. 2. There will after the last day be all the Saints together all the Vessels of Glory gathered together the whole Congregation of the Righteous Psal 1.5 the whole general Assembly of the first born All the faithful seed of Abraham which are as the Stars in Heaven and as the Sand on the Sea-shore all that ever were are or shall be of the Elect and saved blessed number and this adds much to the Glory of it We know numerous and great Assemblies here on earth are very solemn and affecting The very faces of many Saints together are quickning each to other Psal 42.4 for a multitude to go and be together in the house of God is no small thing But what an Assembly will then be what an Heart-ravishing Congregation when all the Millions of Glorified Saints shall meet together all their faces shining with the Image of God to praise and Glorifie God and joyning in the same Hallelujah Revel 19.1 2 3. 3. There shall be a knowledge one of another the Saints in Heaven shâ—ll know one another Society without acquaintance is not comfortable this shall not be wanting in that place of Bliss Yea you shall know not only those that were of your acquaintance here but all the faithful even strangers whom you never knew before you shall be able to say as Mr. Bolton speaks this is Abraham Jacob David Paul this was Luther Calvin Bradford c. As may be gathered from the Apostles knowing Moses and Elias whom they had never seen before in that glimpse of Heaven at Christs Transfiguration And from Adams knowing Eve and whence she was at first sight without any humane information of which Argument Luther Discoursed the Evening before his death and thence concludâ—d the thing in hand viz. That we shall know one another in the life to come Melch. Adam in vita Lutheri pag. 154. and all Comfortable knowledge will be then vouchsafed but this is one part of it Yea if it should ask time to come acquainted with every one to be sure there will be time enough there remembering also the quickness and accuteness of understanding memory c. But a Superiour and more immediate way of this knowledge there may well be supposed 4. There will be most sweet Holy and comfortable Converse of the Saints together Though we cannot tell you the particular manner and order of it now it will excel in order as well as otherwise Yet to be sure it will be Precious and Glorious and full of sweetness and Comfort And there will be full time season and opportunity for it at large Moses and Elias were talking together with Christ in
A DISCOURSE OF THE GLORY To which God hath called BELIEVERS By JESUS CHRIST Delivered in some Sermons out of the 1 Pet. 5 Chap. 10 Ver. Together with an annexed Letter Both by that Eminent and Worthy Minister of the Gospel Mr. JONATHAN MITCHIL late Pastor to the Church at CAMBRIDGE in NEW-ENGLAND Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also Justified and whom he Justified them he also Glorified 1 John 3. ver 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry Anno Dom. 1677. TO THE READER THe ensuing Treatise being transmitted to me by a friend from New-England with a desire of its Publication I did in order thereunto seriously peruse it and finding as far as I am able to judge an excellent discourse spiritually and powerfully managed and improved and thereby most likely to redound to the edification of every Reader all Divine Truth having an influence and efficacy into Conversion and Sanctificaton when God shall command a blessing by it upon the Soul but above all more peculiarly suited to the support and consolation of the Saints in this their wayfaring and afflictive pilgrimage I have been thereby induced to recommend it to such into whose hands it shall come being fully persuaded that its own worth will speak for it self with such a conviction upon the minds of all whose senses are exercised in and about things of another world and who have any experience of Christ in them the hope of Glory as that they will neither think their time or pains mispended in its Perusal The subject matter of these Sermons for so they were as being delivered to a popular Auditory in the course of the Authors Ministry doth relate to that Glory to come unto which God hath called his chosen after their sufferings here during their absence from the Lord. To add any thing about it beyond what the Reader will find in the Book it self as it is above my ability so if it were not I should account it beneath that modesty which I desire to observe in all things All I shall therefore say is this that whatever is usually spoken of this Glory either as it is objective or formal the Reader will find much discoursed about both to his satisfaction if he come unto the perusal of it with a pious humble heart and withal desiring to be edified by Spiritual Soul-searching Doctrine But if any shall expect those curious speculations which may be met with in the discourses of the School-men upon this subject some of which are perhaps temerarious to be sure at best un-intelligible to vulgar capacities they will be disappointted For our Authors design being rather to profit others then to beget an opinion of his own abilities though they were very great he hath avoided all such matter and manner of handling of it other then what he had learned from the Scriptures and chose to insist mainly on that which may be helpful to form up the Soul to a meetness for that Inheritance amongst the Saints in light than meerly to object to mind the high Idaea's of that future state when perhaps the heart may be wholly a stranger to the very first fruits of that Communion with God in Jesus Christ by Faith and Holiness out of which as from its root doth spring the hope of this Glory to come Yet also is there enough said considering it was deliver'd in an Auditory of plain humble growing Christians to mix pleasure with advantage As that which besides sound Doctrine and incorruptness in speech hath also the ornament of variety of truths handed out in a copiousness of expression and confirmed illustrated and urged from most pertinent Texts of Scripture and strongly fastned as nails and goads by a workman that needed not be ashamed in his service to the Church under the great Master of the Assemblies To be sure the called ones to the hope of this Glory will find that full account given of what is their own Inheritance in that future state as may be very conducing to sweeten to them the sorrows temptations and afflictions of the present and to mantain themselves under a fixed expectation of Gods promise of Eternal Life made to them in Christ before the World began without which we can neither live holily nor die comfortably Death is only sweetned to us as we can look upon it our priviledge is an out-let from sin and misery and an in-let to Glory both in Holiness and Happiness And then indeed do We begin to live when by believing We have everlasting life John 3. ult And when the tasts of it now and the hopes of its consummation hereafter are improved in our Christian course as a means motive to take heed to walk worthy of it by mortifying our sins and purifying our selves even as he is pure 1 John 3.3 and to strengthen our selves thereby to a patient enduring the troubles of this present time especially those sufferings which are for Righteousness sake which in the Apostles Arithmetick are reckoned not Worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed And withall to engage us to be stedfast and immovable always abounding in yea faithfully finishing of the Work God hath given us to do as knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Which ends and purposes as the Glory to come in the Contemplation of it is of Wonderful Vse to effect and perfect them So the management of this by the Author as it is singularly adapted to an acquaintance with the Nature Properties Adjuncts Enjoyments and Consolations of that state So also it is powerfully improved to the moving the heart and affections to endeavouring a making it sure to our selves partly by ministring close matter of search that We be not deceived in our hopes partly by instruction how to live up to them so as to give all diligence to be found of Christ without spot and blameless So that together with a full information of the Truth it self there is carried in with it what may make it if the holy one teach us to profit most effectuall to receive it in the love and power of it which is and ought to be the great design of delivering over to others any thing of moment especially divine truths And further I cannot but hope that God may sanctifie it to some sinners who have as yet no interest in Grace and so no right to Glory whilst they continue such if they shall to the reading of them subjoin prayer to God that he would by his spirit ingraft them into their minds to the saving of the Soul For while on the one side they view how great the future portion of Gods now poor despised ones is and will be it will naturally lead them to compare the present difficulties of Religion and the ways of holiness in this World with the exceeding great glory that shall be
shall not be now need of any outward Elements Bread or Wine but the Inward part the Spiritual Communion they shall have it new and fresh in a more lively and better fuller manner then here whence they shall be as men full of new Wine filled with the Springs of Heavenly Affection and Consolation Wine is oft used to express Joy Gladness Comfort Psal 104.15 The Communion between Christ and the Saints in the Coelestial Life will compleat perfect and far transcend that that is but in a weak and mean degree begun in Ordinances here Consider also that the Union and Communion between Christ and the faithful being set forth by that of the Conjugal relation in Scripture our present state is but an Espousal the Consummation of the Marriage is at the day of Judgment thence follows the full enjoyment each of other in Heaven when Christ hath carried his Spouse home to his Fathers house Ineffable Mutual Delight Communion Communication of Secrets and Hearts each to other Joy and Contentment will thence ensue Then will those words be most fully verified Isa 62.4 5. and 54.4 5 8. Zeph. 3.17 Then will the Book of Canticles that Book of Loves between Christ and his Church be understood and fully practised But thus in Heaven you shall have Immediate and full Communion with the Lord Jesus You hear of him now but you shall see him then and be ever with him there was flocking to see him when on earth in his Humiliation Luk. 19.3 4. And the Spiritually minded then saw Glory in him Joh. 14. But what will it be then to see him in Heaven in his Glorified estate And not only to see him as a stranger as a Glorious person But to see and enjoy him as thy Friend as thy Brother Saviour Husband Cant. 5.16 One who sometimes powered out his Heart-blood for thee and will now power out his Heart-love to thee for evermore 3. The Saints shall have full Communion with the Holy Ghost they shall have the Everlasting fulness and presence of the Spirit and so have a fulness of Gifts and Graces of Holiness and Comfort for evermore The Saints have somewhat of the Communion of the Holy Ghost now 2 Cor. 13.14 But they shall have it in perfection then We have but the first fruits of the Spirit but an earnest penny now Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 1.22 and 5.5 Therefore there is an Harvest the whole sum a fulness of the Spirit that shall be imparted then And as the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Comfort now by whose Presence and Assistance we are upheld in both so will he be then only in such a way manner and measure as suits a state of Perfection then he will rest upon you as a Spirit of Glory so hath he done in a great degree on some Martyrs here 1 Pet. 4.14 but there in Perfection on all the Saints Hence the Saints in Heaven having the fulness of the Spirit shall be replenished with all those Excellencies and endowments that are the Effects and fruits of the presence and special operation of the Spirit filled with all the fulness of God As 1. With singular Divine Guifts of knowledge wisdom inlargement of understanding as 1 King 4.29 and utterance For there will be use of utterance in Heaven in Glorious Conference and Converse of the Saints Here are Gifts given for the Kingdom of Grace by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 8 11. But there are Guifts suiting the Kingdom of Glory 2. With all Graces of Holiness or Sanctification those now brought to perfection and kept up in act and exercise Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes 2.13 will then be perfect of which further afterward concerning the Glory of the Soul and there will be the constant un-interrupted Presence and Assistance of the Spirit to actuate every Grace to keep it up in its full exercise The heart ever inlarged for God ever fixed and tuned to sing his Praise as Psal 57.7 8. Thy Glory Heart and Tongue shall be ever awake thy Harp ever in Tune then the Spirit of Grace everlastingly filling and quickning thy Heart and holding thee up in Heavenly Spiritual activity and inlargement 3. With abundant Comfort and Consolation The Holy Ghost will then fully do that work of a Comforter and dwell in all the Saints as such Joh. 14.16 in his Choicest and most Glorious Comforting Operations That in Rom. 5.5 will then be fully done Then perfect Assurance and sense of the Love of God without all mixture of doubt or fear or darkness full Assurance shall be wanting to never a Saint in Heaven the meanest shall see the Love of God more clearly than the strongest did here That great question will then be out of question forever The light of Gods Countenance shall be then lifted up and shine upon your souls as a Sun that never sets nor is overcast with clouds The knowledge and sense of that one thing that the Infinite God loves thee with an everlasting love which is more worth than ten thousand thousand worlds shall live in thy heart and be the Life and Joy of thy Soul and fill thee with peace that passeth all understanding The joy of the Holy Ghost that is a manifest and eminent part of our Communion with the Holy Ghost shall then be at its full height which now we have but some tasts and drops of Rom. 14.17 That that Christ hath been so long aiming and driving at will then be attained Joh. 15.11 and 16.24 Their Joy is the Element the Saints in Heaven live in they breath in no other Aire but that the Ocean they swim in It is that they enter and go into Mat. 25.21 23. Joy at once expresses Heaven and Heavenly Glory It is a Mass or Heap of Joy a Region of Joy an Aire and Element of Joy the Joy of the Lord God the Joy of the Holy Ghost into which they are brought and where they breath and live and swim in the fulness thereof for ever Psal 16.11 2. A second thing considerable in the positive Happiness of the Saints in Heaven is their inherent personal subjective the former particular pointeth chiefly to their objâ—ctive Glory though they go together and therâ—fore both there and here somewhat of both Glory or perfection both of Soul and Body This partly makes them capable of that foresaid full enjoyment of God and partly results from it For our present frail weak and distempered faculties are not capable of that Glory and Glorious Communion 1 Cor. 15.50 and 2.9 they must therefore be raised up to an higher state of Perfâ—ction in order thereunto And the enjoyment of that Communion with God continually reflects unspeakable Glory and Happiness inherent Excellencies upon the whole man But hence the person of each Saint is Glorified filled with Glorious Excellency and Perfection both of Soul and Body All that be there are Glorified Persons Rom. 8.17 18 30. Colâ—ss 3.4 Glorious or Glorified they are both in their
turned out of the straight way to Heaven by such things as 2 Pet. 1.11 The Scriptures have told us before-hand of Sufferings and Tryals and therefore it should be no strange thing to meet with them But it hath also told us and set before us the Glory that shall follow this should swallow up the other and make us endure them easily Hebr. 12.2 and 11.26 2. Hence it is that that is worth looking and seeking after bending all our desires and endeavours to obtain viz. the Happiness and Glory of Heaven for it is Eternal and 2 Cor. 4.18 Eternal things should be the things we look at and after as our scope as the word is our aime mark and designe To lay out our selves about Temporal things and make them our maine business is a great folly Prov. 23.5 Psal 39.6 Men are busie about this and that about many things but there is but one great business Luk. 10.41 42. to provide for Eternity to get and make sure of that good part that shall last for ever and never be taken away from us And 3. With what study earnestness care and seriousness with what intention of mind what Ardency of affâ—ction should we look after Heaven For Eternal Glory and Salvation is a great matter a great object we had not need be slight or negligent about such a thing about a business of Eternal Concernment It is said of Zerxes that Elegant Painter when asked why he spent so much time and labour about what he did when others turned off their work apace that he answered Ego propter Etermitatem pingo I paint for Eternity that that should stand and continue in after times We in a more proper and full sense may say we act for Eternity and therefore we had need be more intense and exact when as we pray for Eternity ask Eternal life of God hear for Eternity follow God for Eternity come to Christ Jesus for Eternal and Everlasting Life How Serious Hearty Affectionate Fervent Intense should those Prayers Duties Comings be Why that is that we are seeking after if in earnest to lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 19. Oh with what fear and trembling care and diligence should we pursue that business Come not slightly to Christ in a negligent careless manner or with a piece of thy Heart when thou comest for Eternal Life c. The Salvation Christ holds forth and calls to attend unto and come and follow him for is Great Salvation for it is Eternal Salvation Oh be not negligent about that Hebr. 2.3 and 5.9 how humbly obedient unto him Oh with what an humble Heartiness Affection Seriousness Thankfulness whole heart should a poor sinner come and look to Christ imbrace and cling to him hang on him for deliverance from Eternal Death and for the gift of Eternal Life how precious is that Grace Rom. 5.21 for Rom. 6.23 SERMON IV. 3. IT follows to consider of the degrees of this future Glory as it is enjoyed 1. In Soul after Death 2. Both in Soul and Body at and after the Resurrection and last Judgement In the former state the Saints have a more incompleat though sweet and excellent in the latter a more compleat full and perfect enjoyment of this Glory I shall not speak of the different degrees of Glory in Heaven comparing one Saint with another Though that seems to be a truth that as we see there are dissâ—ring degrees of Grace and Holiness here and God distributes more eminent Gifts and Graces to one than to another not withstanding that the Imputation of Righteousness in Justification be equal to all so there will be in Glory hereafter When God shall Crown his own Graces in his Saints Every one shall not have such a Crown as Paul to whom the Fruits of his Ministry will then add to his Crown and rejoycing 1 Thes 2.19 nor be set next to Christ as some shall be Mat. 20.23 there will not want order in the Heavenly Mansions nor variety mixed with Identity wherein the Lord delights viz. Calvin Instit lib. 3. cap. 25. Sect. 10. and in Mat. 13.43 and 20.1 16. Bucan Loc. com pag. 446. Leigh's Body Divinity pag. 872. But only somewhat of the Glory of the Saints in those two â—â—ates the state of the Soul in its separation from the Body after their re-union which all the Saints that die do pass through Here 1. Consider the Glory and Happiness enjoyed by the Soul in its separate state after death from thence to the Resurrection 2. The Accession or increase or more compleat fulness of Glory that followes upon the re-union of the Soul and Body at and after the Resurrecion 1. The Souls of the Faithful do after death immediatly pass into Glory even that Glory that we have before spoken of The substance whereof they do enjoy in as perfect a degree or in as full a measure as the Soul in its separate state is capable of though there is a further degree and fulness of Glory reserved for the whole man upon re-union of the Soul and Body of which afterward the Soul of a Saint is presently Glorified after death though the Body be not It presently enters into peace Isa 57.2 Rest and Consolation Luk. 16.22 25 Into Blessedness and Glory Revel 14.13 from henceforth from this time from the time of their death and so on forward they are in blessedness and rest no fear of passing through paines of Purgatory for a time as Papists had taught before the Light of the Gospel broke forth The Souls of the Saints departed do enjoy that Heavenly Glory that we have spoken of For 1. They are at Death immediatly made perfect in Grace and Holiness Heb. 12.23 perfectly freed from all sin and endued with all heavenly perfection of mind and will of which what it is we spoke before Death puts an end to the death of sin in the Saint he rests from the Labour and Burden thereof and he is clothed with perfect Holiness fit for that place of Heaven and Heavenly presence of God which he is passing into 2. They enjoy the Beatifical vision and Glorious presence and Fellowship of God and Christ Philip. 1.23 No sooner departed and the union of the Soul and Body dissolved by death but he in his Soul is with Christ 2 Cor. 5 6 8. as soon as absent from the body and that is the Soul departed that is absent from the Body and while absent in its seperate estate If Paul be absent from the Body it is in his Soul which is there and oft in Scripture called man he is present with the Lord. When Stephen falls asleep by death the Lord Jesus receiveth his Spirit or Soul Act. 7.59 so Psal 49.15 Eccles 12.7 3. The Soul departed enjoyes in some way and some degree the Company and Communion of other Souls and Spirits of the Blessed Heb. 12.23 The Soul of Lazarus is with Abraham and so with all the Saints the Children of Abraham that
being made a Spiritual Body i. e. perfectly subject and conformable to the Spirit and Noble operations of the Soul It will be an help not an hinderance and so an advantage and incouragement to the Soul and to the whole man in taking in those pleasures that are above As the Souls or the Saints state of subsisting will be more perfect and compleat when re-united so will its operation be The Saint will then with bodily eyes behold the man Christ this is more then he did before with infinite contentation that Job put an Emphasis upon that with those eyes he should see God Job 19.25 26 27. with Bodily Ears hear and Tongue utter forth the Praises of God With and through Bodily senses act upon and take in the Glory of Heavenly objects Christ and the Saints c. this is a great Addition to what was before 4. There shall then be a manifestation of the Glory of the Saints unto the whole World This is an eminent and remarkable accession of Glory that shall be to the Saints at the Resurrection and last Judgment And when the Scriptures extoll the Glory that shall be then it hath special respect unto this The Glory that the Saints have on Earth and also that which they have now in Heaven in their Souls it is a secret and hidden thing from the World they go up and down the World now under a mean outside and look like other men and they do to visible appearance as others do and their Bodies are carried to the Graves as others and turned to the dust And whither their Souls go is not known their Happiness is an unseen thing by any other eye but that of Faith But then it shall be revealed and made manifest to the wonderful Glory of God and to their singular comfort and advancement Rom. 8.18 Now the Saints have only concealed Glory hidden under a cloud of sufferings under the Image of the Earthly Adam which go to the Grave with them but then revealed not only to them in a word and promise but in and upon them in real and visible accomplishment 1 Joh. 3.1 2. Colos 3.3 4. Neither Christ nor Christians do now appear to a blind World as they be but then they shall then their Glory shall be made manifest unto all So 2 Thes 1.10 Vid. Dutch Annot. Consider a little here 1. To whom 2. Of what this manifestation shall then be 1. The Glory of the Saints shall at the last day be manifest to all the World to Men Angels Devils in the most publick open manner as Christs proceedings with them his owning acknowledging acquitting of them shall be publick so as all men shall see and know that these men are Happy men Beloved of God the Brethren of Christ Vessels of Glory and Partakers of the Kingdom In special 1. They shall then be manifested one to another We hope well now of the good state of the dying Saints Friends Relations but then we shall be fully certain when we shall meet them in the Congregation of the Righteous and at the right hand of Christ at the great day and see them finding Mercy of the Lord at that day as 2 Tim. 1.18 when the Parents shall meet the Children and the Friend his Friends Brethren and gracious Acquaintance there among the sheep at Christs Right hand This happily may be known by the Souls departed before in Heaven But most fully and openly then which is the time when every one hath his publick and open Judgment to be seen of all though he had his personal private and particular Judgment before But besides they shall not only know each others state in General but in Particular hear of and behold the Graces and Gracious Actings of the Faithful their Brethren in Christ and all the Gracious dealings of God with them the whole progress of his Love from first to last laid open then in that Revelation-day the day of Judgement 1 Cor. 4.5 this will endear them each to other 2. To all the wicked and Reprobates both Men and Devils To those that have despised opposed Reproached Scorned Persecuted Insulted over them here As it was said of Christ when Judged Abused and Despitefully used Mat. 26.64 So it may be said of Christians hereafter shall the wicked yea those same persons that here abused them see them arrayed in Robes of Glory and sitting on Thrones as their Judges sitting on the Throne with Christ Revel 3.21 For as Christ shall appear so shall the Saints also appear with him in Glory Colos 3.4 The Saints shall Judge wicked Men and Devils and surely they shall see and know and behold them sit as their Judges 1 Cor. 6 2 3. so Luk. 13.18 They that here counted them mad-men Fanatical Frantick Conceited Humoursom Foolish Creatures shall then see that they made the wisest choice c. They did not so much despise them now as they shall admire them then 2 Thes 1.10 2. Of what there will be a manifestation or what in special will then be manifested of and concerning the Saints and their Glory to all the World viz. 1. Their Graces and good Works the service they have done for God both in doing and suffering Eccles 12.14 The good works of the Godly as well as the evil Works of the wicked shall then be laid open 1 Cor. 4.5 i. e. Every good man for what is good so 1 Pet. 1.7 A tryed Faith that hath held out through many tryalls shall then be held up before the World and Commended Praised Honoured by the Lord Jesus which will not be so much the Commendation of themselves as of his own Grace and work in them For all is of him their good works the acts and the fruits of their Graces even such as themselves can hardly tell how to own He will own them and speak of them before all the World Mat. 25.35 40. though they be poor things in themselves and as from them yet as they are the fruit of his Spirit and Grace in them the stamp of his own Image the effects of sincere love to him The poor but childish actings of his children here the things he hath made Gracious Promises to and so he will make much of them and put an honour upon them before the World Mat. 10.32 Luk. 12.8 Revel 3.5 The Lord Jesus will confess acknowledge and own every one of them before all the World and will confess all they have done for him He will say these are they that have continued with me in my Temptations Luk. 22.28 that have preferred a good Conscience before all Riches and Honours that renounced the World to follow me fully that forsook all for me and loved not their Lives to the Death These are my Brethren Sisters Friends Mother that have done the will of my Father Mat. 12.49 50. He will not be ashamed of us then if we be not ashamed of him now 2. Their Crown of Happiness and Glory which the Lord hath laid
missed of happiness they should not and that it was another sort of people that were accursed and not they Joh. 7.49 Luk. 18.11 12. multitudes have dropt to Hell that lived and died in great expectations of Heaven being deceived some through Haeretical previty some through practical hypocricy of heart and life yea many that have been great professors it may be Preachers of the Truth Mat. 7.21 22 23. Luk. 13.24 25 26. Prov. 14.12 Rom. 2.17 21. Rev. 3.17 Luk. 18.11 12. Paul acts with all diligence in the way of Salvation as being quickned with fear 1 Cor. 9.27 which though he was assured of his Salvation through grace was a just fear in a condition alway viz. in case he should be negligent sensual slight and slothful in running for the prize he might then fall short and be rejected at last as a spurious hypocrite his being a Preacher would not save him The guile and deceitfulness of our hearts the narrowness of the way the manifold Temptations of Satan and the World do make it difficult not to be deceived in that great point Oh what need have we with fear and diligence to labour after a grounded sound assurance of a state of life of utmost care and pains to make our Calling and Election and so our Glorification sure And there is much need to press such matters as these to quicken to this work for the heart is very backward to it and apt to be slight and slothful in it and that is a main reason why so many live without assurance because they neglect and put of the matter and will not be perswaded to set themselves in good earnest about it to take effectual pains to make all sure It is the Lazy Christian that usually lives without assurance Quest What course may we take for the obtaining of this assurance of Eternal Life and Glory Answ For Direction here We have many occasions though not too many to be speaking somewhat of this nature Let me at present propound something 1. By way of means to obtain this 2. By way of tryal or helps to discern and discover the truth and certainty of our title to Heaven 1. For a way of means to obtain this 1. Pray much and earnestly for assurance I speak properly to those that are regenerate or have hopeful beginnings of Grace in them though the things we speak may be of use also unto others to mind them what they are to pursue after Where there wants Faith pray for it but where there is Faith or somewhat of it pray for more of it for growth and exercise and that in special unto full assurance It is Christs own direction to his Disciples Joh. 16.24 If we have not full Joy it is because we have empty slight and thin prayers they that are much in asking shall be much in receiving both Sanctifying and Comforting Grace And oh sweet consideratlon that it is the mind and will of Christ that we should seek and pray for full Joy and Peace in believing so Joh. 15.11 He speaks to us for this and he would have us speak to God for it He would not have you alwayes drooping and complaining nor live a poor scant scrambling beggarly life He would have you have full Joy and abound be rich what are you beggarly and have scâ—râ—e afâ—w rags of broken hopes to cover you Rom. 15.13 Pray for this this is according to his will you shall be welcome to ask it of him 1 Joh. 5.14 15 and that is the way prayer according to his will with faith that he hears such prayers to come to know as v. 13. The Lord would have us not only sip but take full draughts of the water of Life Joh. 7.37 and that by or in a way of asking the same Job 4.10 Prayer takes up what is left us in the promise The Lord hath left you large portions of all Grace Sanctifying and Comforting yea Eternal Glory to be enjoyed fully hereafter and in the assurance hope and Comfort of it here Go and take it up by humble fervent Prayer for it 's the Legacy Christ hath left you Turn all his promises into prayer and desire him to do as he hath said 2 Sam. 7.25 27 28 29. You are thus far sure at least that he hath spoken of such things that he hath to give and that you are bidden pray and seek for them and that he will do them for them that heartily seek them Oh with what sweet hope and incouragement may you pray for these things And prayer is not only a means for the time to come but it oft brings in present incomes of the good prayed for The Bucket of prayer dipt into the well of Salvation or of the waters of life comes up full and that many times unto feeling as well as unto Faith for unto Faith true prayer alwayes does so How often does the Lord sweetly comfort and establish the Soul while the praying for Comfort and stablishment Ps 4.6 7. How oft does David in his Psalms close with Praise when he began with Prayer We have examples in Scripture of extraordinory appearances to Gods Servants while they were praying Dan. 9.20.23 Act. 11.5 and 22.17 18. and much more frequent are more ordinary Communications of Grace and Consolation in Prayer but it must be hearty fervernt importunate Prayer empty lifeless Forms and Customary overly performances do much harden the heart and quench the spirit and do provoke the Lord to withdraw instead of coming near the Soul But 2 Chron. 15.15 Luk. 11.8 9. Hos 12.3 4. 2. Labour after the mortifying and subduing of your special and beloved sin your own iniquity For while that prevails that darkens the sincerity and Efficacy of Grace in the Soul breaks the Peace thereof grieves the Holy Spirit who thence withdraws his Comforting work But when that is subdued and there is a good measure of victory over it and a plain penitent departing from it not only by exchange of one bosome sin into another nor by its bring out of date in regard of the natural disposition of the Body c. but when really mortified made better to the heart the Soul broken from and for it watchful against it improving Christ for Redemption from it that is a plain evidence of the sincerity of Grace Psal 18.21 23. If that master sin be mortified all sin is and where there is true mortification there is true union to Christ by Effectual Calling and a state of Life Eternal Hence the cutting off of the right hand i. e. of the bosom-sin is accompanied with entrance into life that is a thing accompanies Salvation Heb. 6.9 Mark 9.43 47. Hence when the Apostle would raise them up to a Heavenly frame such as might shew them to be indeed risen with Christ He calls on them to mortifie their special Corruptions Colos 3.1 2 3 5. And now when sin is subdued and the Soul is taught to walk with God in his wayes the
liberty this way and is spiritually fixed how sweet are they But this meditation brings in marrow and fatness much Spiritual Joy and Comfort Psal 63.5 6. He that hath attained the excellency of spiritual and Heavenly mindedness he hath clear evidence for Heaven yea Heaven is already bâ—gun with him 5. In special be much in self-examination and tryal of ouâ— estates which ought to be one eminent and frequent subject of our meditation 2 Cor. 13.5 God gives assurance in the way of means and of this means in special Pursue and follow home in frequent self-examination by applying and considering the Scripture-evidences of a state of Salvation and searching whether they be found with thee so shall you come acquainted with your own estate and the spirit breaths in that way to help us to know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 for the spirit bears witness with our spirits or Consciences Rom. 8.16 And our spirits come to bear witness or give verdict for us in a way of reflecting upon searching our selves comparing our selves with the word and Judging our selves accordingly Think it not enough to hear of marks and evidences of a good estate but use them apply them home to your Souls and make a sad enquiry whether it be so and so with thee And this leads us to the second thing mentioned viz. Tryals whether we be those that shall be certainly saved or get to Heaven to this Eternal Glory the Text speaks of And we may conclude Affirmatively Evid 1. If our Souls do chuse God Communion with him for our portion our chiefe good and blessedness If ouâ— minds or judgments esteem our wills imbrace and affections adhere unto desire love delight in God and the enjoyment of him as our happiness If that be the portion the whole happiness that our Souls chuse that we might have the favour fellowship and fruition of God Father Son and Holy Ghost for evermore For Heaven as we have said mainly consists in the fruition of God if that be the portion our Souls fix upon then we are men for Heaven That portion is presented to us and left with us in our first entrance into Christianity being expressed in our Baptism the name of Father Son and Holy Ghost And the fruition of that name the full enjoyment of God Father Son and Holy Ghost in all the manifestations and communications of himself this is the end of our Christian race and makes up the perfection of Glory in Heaven Consider hath the Lord so shewed thee the vanity of all other portions and things the emptiness that is in thy self and the excellency of this portion to have the blessed God for thine according to the whole Covenant of his Grace 2 Sam. 23.5 so as to take up with this and this only that thou canst say as Psal 73.25 and 27.4 that is the voice and spirit of the holy Saints in Scripture and so of every truly gracious heart Psal 16.5 6. It may happily be said still how shall we know this Why this one would think should be a sensible and palpable thing what a man makes his chief good what his heart is set upon and he pursues and seeks as the designe and desire of his heart and life and places his Happiness his All in When the covetous man makes money and wealth his main design his chief good may not he himself easily see that his heart is set there yea even others may see it He subordinates all to that and makes that the business of his life that Interest carries him still at every turn that Byasses him And the same you may say of the Ambitious man for his honour the Voluptuous man for his pleasures c. And truly this may be seen in the Godly man that he is for God and for the service and Glory of God for Communion with him and enjoyment of him in all his wayes that is his one thing Psal 27.4 there his spirit runs Rom. 1.9 He subordinates all to that directs all his endeavours and labours to that 1 Cor. 5.8 9. That is the Interest that carries him there you shall find him in all changes when he is himself at least he may be shaken a little by Temptation and violently hurried this way and that way but the Needle of his Soul returns to that North pole and rests not till it stand fixed there As it is with the Needle of a Compass touched by the Loadstone you may by violence shake it this way and that way but thither it will return and there will fix and stand toward the North. He will be for God still 2 Cor. 5.13 for God and so for his people and wayes and Truth and Ordinances for they go together nothing can buy him off from that Interest Cant. 8.6 7. Oh wonderful is the Efficacy in the turn that God gives to the Soul in the work of Conversion and so in the after impress of Sactification that henceforth the Soul stands bent for God set for God and all the temptations affrightments allurements of Hell and the World shall never utterly turn it away from him And truly Christians should so act and walk as to declare plainly what they are for what the chief good and portion they seek is as Heb. 11.14 The Covetous man declares plainly that he is for money and the Voluptuous man declares plainly he is for pleasures of the flesh for his Cups c. Oh the Godly man should declare plainly that he is for God and for Heaven for the Glorifying and enjoying of God for evermore And verily God will have his time sooner or later to try men to the quick wâ—o and what they are are you for this or that worldly Interest for wealth or for being uppermost in the World envying those that are any higher than you or for liberty to sin c. Why then that will carry you away from God and from his wayes and interest when God and Mammon part then you will follow Mammon But if you be indeed for God and you seek Davids one thing Psal 27.4 If that be the master Interest in your Souls then you will cleave to God whatever come and many waters shall not be able to quench your love to him SERMON IX 2. IF we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he that believes on Christ shall get to Heaven the Scripture is plain for that Act. 16.31 Joh. 3.16 and 6.47 he that shall live an everlasting life must go to Heaven to live that life there for ever there is no living an everlasting life in this World 1 Joh. 5.10 11 13. Christ is the Ladder to Heaven as we said the last time he that sets the foot of Faith on that Ladder shall be carryed up thither though no worthiness of his own to deserve or obtain it no strength of his own to ascend to it 1 Pet. 1.5 Now for the discovery of a true Faith in Christ you often hear of
that But at present take some plain Scripture Characters of a true Faith 1. Does thy Faith grow in an humble lowly self-emptying spirit Mat. 5.3 i. e. humbled in the sense of thine own spiritual poverty and wretchedness so as to have no way but to go a begging to Christ for all Those whom the Lord will raise so high as Heaven he first layes them very low in themselves If ever he make you so rich as to give you to Heaven he will first make you very poor very empty lest vile helpless worâ—â—iless strengthless nothings in your selves lying at the foot of free Grace in Christ quite taken off from your selves to fix upon a nâ—w root and foundation in Christ Jesus Isa 57.15 God dwells with such and therefore they shall dwell with God forever pride shuts out of Heaven nothing more Psal 138.6 there shall never come near him they are the humble whom God will save Job 22.29 2. Is there the nature and true spirit of Faith viz. according to the expression in the Text to go no further an hearty answer of obedience to the Call of the Gospel Hath the Call of Christ in the Gospel pierced the ears of thy Soul yea doth it pierce them continually and captivate thy Soul into obedience It is a saying of Doctor Sibbs that is an excellent way of knowing ones Faith as when I know I believe because in hearing Gods gracious promises opened and offered unto me the spirit of God carrieth my Soul to cleave to them as my portion Does the spirit so breath in the Call of the Gospel as to cause thee to come to run to him Isa 55.5 Doest thou now hear and hearken to Christ when he he sayes come in the â—ord of Grace come unto me then thou shalt one day hear him say come in a word of Glory Mat. 25.34 The Comer to Christ never ceaseth coming 1 Pet. 2.4 till he come to him in Glory But if the Lord have bowed thine ear and drawn thine heart to hear and obey the voice of Christ this is sweet and clear evidence for Heaven Joh. 20.27 28. 3. Consider the Concomitants of thy Faith Is it accompanied 1. With Repentance or breaking off from sin from all sin in heart and affection and any known sin in life ann Conversation so true faith is Mark 1.5 Act. 20.21 The path of sin is the path-way to Hell Rom. 6.21.21 Prov. 7.27 And to live and go on therein to follow the trade of any way of sin is inconsistant with true faith 1 Joh. 3.6 But the way of turning from sin to the service of God in Christ is the path way of Life and Heaven having a sure connexion therewith though not as a meritorious cause yet as an inseperable Antecedent Rom. 6.22 2. With willing taking of Christ's yoak upon you subjection to his will in every thing Mat. 11.29 as your head and husband Ephes 5.23 24. that you can deny your selves and your own wills in submission to his will to him as Lord as well as Saviour and in special to his disposing will to bear the Cross at his appointment Mat. 16.24 patience is a conâ—omitant and a sweet evidence oâ— true Faith Heb. 6.12 Revel 13.10 When difâ—â—culties temptations on right hâ—nd or left sufferings tribulations perils do not drive you off frâ—â— the Love of Christ of his truth or wayes or from the way to Heaven the way of the rule this shews you to be good ground and principled for Heaven indeed 2 Thes 1.4 5 7. 2 Tim. 2.12 3. With Love to Christ Jesus Joh. 16.27 so to believe in Christ as to love him dearly and unfeignedly is an evidence of true believing And if you love him you love his truth his Word Mark 8.38 his Wayes his Ordinances his People as such hence that is an evidence for Heaven 1 Joh. 3.14 and 5.1 and when the people of God are under affliction and suffering as they were in the Apostles time and have no worldly advantage to allure you to love them or cleave to them but the contrary It may be you must run great hazards if you imbarque with them then it proves a searching Tryal Of many Professors there are but few that prove of Moses mind when it comes to Heb. 11.25 And when temptations of Worldly allurements or Worldly threatnings trouble cannot buy you off from the Love of Christ Cant. 8.7 4. With living upon Christ and by him Gal. 2.20 That you cling to him as your life have your spiritual soul-subsistance in him and repair to him for Grace to live to God at all times he is your spiritual livelihood from whom you derive spirit strength and Grace Heb. 12.1 2 2 Cor. 3.4 5. and 12.9 Joh. 15.4 5. That is a clear demonstration of true spiritual which is Eternal Life when a man lives not from nor for himself but from Christ Joh. 6.57 and for or to him 2 Cor. 5.15 5. Is it accompanied with forsaking all for him Luk. 14.33 And that may be a third evidence for Heaven Evid 3. If by the Grace of Christ we are taken off from the World and are strangers sojourners and pilgrims in it Then it is a a plain Case as Heb. 11.13 14 16. Every man hath and takes up his portion either in Heaven or Earth if not in Earth then in Heaven if here a pilgrim then his home is in Heaven Nothing less than a Divine and Heavenly good and a relish thereof by an inlightned Soul can kindly take it off from and lift it above all Earthly good For I speak not of a weariness of the World though frowardness and discontent but of a weanedness from it The heart of every unregenerate man is fixed glewed to the Word under a dominion of it 2 Tim 4.10 Ungodly men are men of this World and have their portion in it Psal 17.14 Now to have such acquaintance with Christ as does wean the heart from the World lift it up above it enable the Soul to contemn it all in Comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 and give victory over it 1 Joh. 5.4 This is a plain evidence of one that is called out of the World to be a man of another World or an Heir of Heaven Evid 4. If we begin our Heaven here on Earth For Heaven is begun here in some measure though indeed but in a very poor little measure compard with the perfection that shall be in Heaven by them that shall get to Heaven hereafter as viz. 1. In loving and maintaining Communion with God according to the measure of this life Do you now seek and enjoy the Communion with God in Ordinances do you behold him in the beauties of holiness through these glasses that is a pledge and beginning and so an evidence of that full Communion you shall have in Heaven and of your seeing him there face to face and on the Sabbath in special Are your Sabbath dayes of bosom Communion with God That is a