at that day in the presence of Jesus Christ 1 Thes 2.19 Then the Refusers of the Head-stone of the Corner shall see the Ancient Patriarchs in the Kingdom of God Luk. 13.28 and themselves thrust out Then shall Moses and Elias prosecute their ancient Discourse with our Blessed Lord all the Disciples hearing Mark 9.7 upon a higher Mountain than Tabor and no Cloud to over-shadow more At that Banquet there will be Musick that will hold a Confort and Symphony with all the Powers of the Soul All the Dorick and Lesbian Strains are but discords and ungrateful scrapings to those Heavenly Amphions whose Harps and Voices echo against the Chrystalline Jasperwalls of the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.11 When all the Prodigal Sons shall come to themselves and taste of the Fatted Calf What ravishing Songs shall amaze the Sphears and the 7 Sirens of Heaven Plato in Macrob. de somn Scip. l. 2. c. 3. Max. Tyr. ser 21. Luk. 2.8 13. Ps 22.22 Heb. 2.12 Rev. 14.3 4. when the Heavenly Intelligences themselves shall sing Glory to God in the Highest and the Shepherds of all the Churches shall be present When the King of the Church himself shall begin the Psalm and sing aloud in the midst of the Congregation above and all the undefiled Virgins shall follow playing with Harps and answering with Voices to the New Song of the Lamb before the Throne the 4 living Creatures in allusion to the 4 Cherubims in Solomon's Temple and the 24 Elders representing the 24 Orders of Priests Though none can learn this Song but who are redeemed from the Earth yet 't is compos'd and laid before those Heavenly Spirits by the Pen of the Beloved Disciple Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne Rov 5.8 and to the Lamb for ever and ever And while this Song is melodiously answered by the warbling Harps the joyful Guests are entertain'd with fragrant Odours perfuming the Celestial Mercy-seat and the Spiknard of the Gardens of Zion of the Forest of Lebanon sends forth its delicious Smell as the King of the Church in all his Royalty sits at his Table in Glory Song 1.12 But alas who can reach the Lustre of that day which will amaze Angels themselves It sinks our Spirits to think of Eternity 't is a bottomless Gulf to the thoughts of most raised Souls But as we cast our selves here by Faith upon the Heart and Love of Christ so must we rest in his Love to fulfil all his glorious Promises Zeph. 3.17 and capacitate the Soul for these Accomplishments But before that august and resplendent day which will sit upon the Throne of Magnificence we must remember and ponder seriously upon the awakening Trumpet of the Archangel at his own appearance Job 5.28 when the Bodies of all the Saints in order to these unmatch'd Enjoyments shall be rais'd out of their embalmed dust where they lay perfumed by the Spices of their Lords Sacred Body Is 26.19 Which Doctrine of Resurrection to life not only the Holy Scriptures amply confirm for a Foundation of Faith but there are some no contemptible sentiments of the same in many varieties of Nature Every Morning utters it and every Spring revives it Every Trumpet over the new Moon proclaims it and every emersion of the Planets from under the Suns combustion darts a Beam upon this notion Every Insect that starts from the corruption of dissolved Animals is no ignoble Emblem Any Metal or Mineral calcined and reviv'd by a proper menstruum yields us a pleasant specimen Not to enlarge upon those rare experiments which the learned Chemists style by the name of the Trees of Philosophers some whereof are represented both in Gold and Silver French distil p. 181. and one in Copper first corroded by Aqua fortis and revived into Sea green branches like Coral growing in a G1ass by help of the Liquor of Sand or Pebles I have sometimes shewn This curiosity is more exquisitely set forth in Vegetables Borrichius contr Conring p. 36â— Borelli observ p. 325. Beck experim p. 244. Quercitan de hermâ—â— p 293. Libav syntag arcan chymiâ— l. 1. c. 22. p. 48. as the Learned well know by the Writings of Borcllus Borichius Beckius and others to whom the inquisitive may repair Give leave a little to enlarge on that story in Quercetan of a Polonian Doctor who had above 30 Glasses hermetically sealed wherein were the Ashes of so many Plants as the Mary-gold the many colour'd Poppy the Rose c. chemically prepared it may be after the manner of a Clyssus as they term it wherein lay hid the Tinctures Spirits Salts and Oils of each Vegetable and at the request of Visitants would set the gentle heat of a Candle under any Glass and by and by the Plant would begin to rise into a Stalk Branches Leaves and then present a double-flower'd Rose as if it were a Corporeal but really a Spiritual Idea and yet endowed with a spiritual essence and wanted nothing to give it the compleat assumption of a solid body but committing it to the impregnating Salt in a fit and congenial Earth which upon withdrawing of the warmth would slide down gradually and sink into its former chaos in the Glass The truth of which Story I leave to the faith and veracity of that grave learned and experienced Writer not busying our thoughts too much with these faint resemblances nor with imitation of those people in Herodotus who intomb'd their Friends in Glass or of the Egyptians who embalm'd with Myrrhe and Aloes c. or that ingenious fancy of Kerkring Kerkring see in Morhof ' ' Epistle to Langelot p. 50. to invest the body in Amber while we by a stedfast faith rely upon the word of our adored Creator not doubting but Infinite Power is able to persorm what Infinite Wisdom contrives and Infinite Faithfulness hath promised to accomplish Let us with Holy Peter look to and hasten after this Glorious Day 2 Pet. 3.12 and labour to be found in their number who makeup the unspotted Bride of Christ and daily study to prepare and adorn our Souls for that Festival Triumph to have our Loins girt our Lamps burning Zach. 4.14 and our Vessels fill'd with holy Oil from the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole Earth Rev. 11.4 the two Witnesses that dispense the Sanctuary Oil for the Candlesticks of the Church Mat. 25.6 that so at the great cry at midnight Behold the Bridegroom cometh go forth to meet him that being ready we may enter with him to the Marriage in the Bride Chamber 1 Cor. 11.7 Pro. 12.4 As a Holy Wife is the Glory of a Holy Husband and reflects the Graces of his Heart in the Glass of her Pious Life If he be gracious she is likewise and becomes his Glory by reflection His excellency shines in her deportment like the Moon
its Faeces or Terra damnata having opened it by Chymical Anatomy and other Methods we may infer something though but rudely of its Nature Or when we observe its Power in several Effects and Experiments in cleansing the Blood from Leprosies and Scorbutical Infections or the Head and its Nerves from dizziness swimmings and paralytical or waterish resolutions of the Tone of any its curious Engines by its Volatile Tincture We conclude its powerful vertue in Physick though as to the modus operandi the Methods and Manner of its influence we are still at a loss But alas an Angel hath an other-guess Knowledge by an intuitive speculation into the profundity and depth of its Nature without Argument or Process of Medicinal Trials which Method of ours is but a mean low and crazy inquisition and subject to foul Errors But in that Angelical manner we may deem that the Soul shal arrive to that high dignity of penetrating into its Objects by intuition far beyond what Adam or Noah or Solomon ever attained What pleasant work will the Material Beings which may then survive the fatal Fire administer to the Souls Contemplation in that happy Pitch 2 Pet. 3.12 13. whereby to glorifie and honour the infinite wise Creator of all When as these things which we now handle by sense and the dwindling light of the Soul like a Rush-candle in this Night of ignorance being the Objects of our laborious and erring speculations are but middle beings between thousands transcending these in Magnitude and Glory and such innumerable minute essences vastly beneath us as to our power of inquisition as the others are in sublimity beyond and above us So that it may be questioned whether the Majesty of our infinitely to be adored Maker will in that day shine forth more radiantly in the Heavens and other stupendious portions of his Workmanship for greatness or the unspeakable curiosity of Nature in the lesser Fabricks which sink beneath our observation for excess of littleness which the Acumen of our Eyes are not able to discern Besides these upon what immaterial Objects may we a little imagine shall the Soul then feastits Paradisian Faculties Such as may entertain our thoughts with sacred wonder and sit down in the dust of astonishment that their unconceiveable varieties will fill up the capacity and run beside the august and comprehensive Spirits of the Cherubims and yet the Saints shall have and enjoy some cognizance of these transcendent pleasures For the Soul in Glory shall have a neerer Union to Christ then now nay than Angels themselves Heb. 2.16 For he took not upon him the Nature of Angels Joh. 17.22 And our Blessed Lord prays that the Saints may be one even as the Father and the Son are one They shall constitute one mystical body with the Son in a purer and closer Union than possible in this wilderness state The Hypostatical Union of Christ to the Deity is of a sublimer nature than the most Glorified Creature can unfold For the Angels do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stoop and pry into the Mystery of the Golden Mercy-seat 1 Pet. 1.12 and were fixed in that place continually to abide and therefore the Cherubims in that Emblem were made of one piece of Massy Gold together with the Mercy-seat Exod. 25.19.37.7 to shew not only the standing of the Elect Angels by the vertue of Christ's Mediatorship 1 Tim. 5.21 but also to indicate that they could never exhaust and drink in the Knowledge of the Mystery of that Union Mat. 18.10 though they are constantly beholding the Face of our Heavenly Father Yet still this Mystical Union implies a Glorious Approximation of the Saints to Christ in some similitude with Christs Union to the Deity Joh. 17.12 For the Glory which the Father gave unto Christ hath Christ given to the Saints who are blessed in Heavenly Places in Christ and shall sit down with him in his Throne Eph. 1.3 as he is set down with the Father on the paternal Throne Rev. 3.21 and as all Judgment is committed to the Son so shall Saints also judge both the World and Angels A glimpse of this Glory in this State shines into the heart from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in Saints They that are joyned to the Lord Paul says not shall pertake of but are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and thereby in an unspeakable manner become Partakers of the Divine Nature Yet we must ponder on these Deeps with sacred caution For this Mystical Union is infinitely distinct from Hypostatical The Spirit of Christ as he dwells in the Head though in a more eminent manner yet so he also does intimè pervadere enter into the Essence of the Souls of Saints and this Inhabitation may be embleme◠by the Rational Souls dwelling in the Animal Spirits of the Bloud But in Christ the Head he dwells fully and in the Members according to distinct measures and proportions Col. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again the state of the Soul shall be admirable not only in the Limpid Chrystalline clearness of its glorified Eye but the unclothed Majesty of the Objects without Vails and Curtains and the pure Emanation or Eradiation of their Beams into the Soul Saints shall be like unto God and see him as he is a word that has no bottom which Heaven it self cannot sufficiently expound to a finite capacity We shall see him without the Glass of Reflection by Argument as here inferring his Divine Power and God-head from the Works of Creation and without the Magnifying Glass of Ordinances to help the weakness of our spiritual senses and without the Perspective Glass of Faith and promises They shall behold his Face 1 Joh. 3.2 Rev. 22.4.1 Cor. 13.12 Joh. 14.8 Exod. 33.20 23. and know as they are known Philip's desire of having the Father shewn shall then suffice indeed when glorified Saints shall enjoy what was denied to Moses not only to contemplate the Being of Beings but as the Causality the Fountain and Principle of all Essences yea and comprehend with all Saints by the Spirit the unlimited Eph. 3.16.19 unfathomable Love of Christ and be filled with all the fulness of God and hereaster conceive more how the three infinite Persons stand in relative Glory and enjoy more ample light as to the Sons Eternal Generation and the Spirits Divine and Everlasting Procession They shall drink of the River of Light that flows from his Essence Here upon Earth we behold the Sun at a distance but cannot mount up to walk in those Mountains of brightness But then the Church shall be clothed with the Sun of Righteousness Rev. 12.1 There was of old a little spark of Glory in the Temple Ps 27.4 and Holy David desired to see that beauty which shined in the Sanctuary But Oh what perfusions of Glory shall animate the soul in Heaven when it shall be illustrated with the morning knowledge of Angels
Mysteries by light from the Holy Scriptures The Bodies of Saints at that day shall be perfect and intire lacking nothing in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that Day of Refreshment Act. 3.21 that Day of the Restitution of all things They shall be as excellent as perfect as Adams created in the vigour of youth as perfect as Christs who suffered and rose in the strength of his years Into that Sarctuary above Rev. 1.6 where all shall be Kings and Priests to the Father no lame nor impotent person Lev. 21.23 no crooked or maimed no blind or deaf no dwarf or child none blemish'd with redundancy or deficiency of limbs shall be admitted to sacrifice the Everlasting Praise But all the Holy Ones of God that dyed under such inconveniencies shall be raised without spot or wrinkle as the Spouse in the Song Thou art all fair Song 4.7 Phil. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my beloved there 's no spot in thee For the Bodies of our Humiliation shall be like unto his most Glorious Body Blind Isaac shall grope no more and Lame Jaakob shall halt no more Withered David shall need no cherishers and Solomon's Ecclesiastes shall weep no more Elegies over the Hoary head and Palsie Hands and the Trembling Legs of stumbling Age. Then all the inward senses of Fancy Imagination and Memory shall flourish in a perpetual Spring For the Body shall be incorruptible no inequality of temperament but a perennial consistency between the active form and the impressed but scarce passive matter The Peripatetick School fancies the incorruption of the Heavens to arise from its composing Quintessence distinct from the sour Elements But the contrary is evincible by the spots in the Sun by certain nebulous appearances near the South Pole by generation and abolition of Comets above the Moon as that in CassiopeÃa A. 1572 c. Whatever may be determined in these points yet 't is most true of the glorified bodies of the Saints Act. 13.34 that they shall remain incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.42 They shall neither hunger nor thirst more nor be subject to the Influxes of Heavenly Luminaries on digestive matter Rev. 7.16 Here we feed upon and drink in the materials of Corruption But there neither Sun nor any heat shall light upon them which are the great Fomenters of Corruption in purifying subjects For 3dly the Saints shall have glorious bodies The Apostle opposes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.43 Glory to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dishonour Want of Beauty renders the Body uncomely or dishonourable Three things make up a perfect Beauty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmetry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Genuine Colour and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vivacity when the Spirits fill the Face with a lively vigor and a cheerful brisk Alacrity There will be no more bleak meager fixed Visages no more livid leaden blew and pale no more white wan or greenish Aspects but as the Angels are represented like Young Men with sprightly and orient Countenances Mark 16.5 Some say the Lustre of Adam's Body drew the Creatures in Paradise to gaze upon his Beauty How much more will they admire him hereaster if they shall remain as Spectacles of Divine Wisdom Rom. 8.21 when the Exquisite Joy running like Nectar in his Spirits shall beautifie him with most attracting Aimiableness when he shall play upon his Celestial Harp like an alluring Orpheus and all the Animals of the Woods and Mountains shall tread his Musical measures When the Saints shall shine transparent like Moses from Mount Horeb or as Christ in the Vision to Habakkuk with Horns Hab. 3.5 i. e. with Beams flaming from his Hands Dan. 12.3 or as that glorious Triumvirate in the Mountain of Tabor Then shall all the Senses sparkle in their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or transcendent Vigor to render Heaven most delicious when their Eagle Eyes may pierce into the Centres of all the Luminaries and their quickned Ears shall pleasantly air the Melodious Musick of Legions of Angels Their Bodies likewise shall be wonderfully powerful without the least gravitation as our Blessed Lord's which ascended up from Mount Olivet at his pleasure and appear'd to Stephen and Paul when and where his Heavenly Wisdom thought meet I need not here insist upon the nature of Gravity as a quality existent in heavy Bodies but rather as a force imprest by a Magnetical Attraction of the Earth So that whatever body is without or beyond the Atmosphere of the Earth knows no further gravitation or ponderosity but may walk at liberty in the Etherial Regions so that it is no incongruity to conceive that Luminous Bodies being freed from the dark clogs and impediments of grosser matter as the Saints Bodies being like so many Stars and fit for motion may walk on the Sea in the Air and within the Heavens at pleasure if these concretes shall then abide 2 Pet. 3.13 Neither shall they be touch'd with any weariness more receiving a continual afflux of spirits from the beatifick Vision and shall hence evade to be of immense strength insomuch that some have fancied them to be of ability to transplant Mountains nay the Earth it self without the Engines of Archimedes Like the Celestial Intelligences that do circum agitate the Heavenly Bodies of the Stars Ps 103.10 For they shall be like to Angels who excell in strength The Bodies of the Saints are also styled Spiritual in that they shall yield no reluctancy or renitency to the Agitation of their Spirits They shall need no sustentation or reparation by Meat or Drink no relief by intervals of sleep and rest there will be no night to raise cool vapors for the Brain Ps 104.23 but shall be supported quickned and enlivened by the Emanations and Impressions from the Soul and these Spirits influenced by Everlasting Inundations from the Spirit of Christ the Head of the Mystical Body The Sheaths of their Bodies shall not waste or wear out Dan. 7.15 or be cut in pieces by the two-edged swords of their Spirits We faint and are soon dispirited by continuance even of Heavenly Duties Our strength is not that of stones Job 6.12 nor our flesh of Copper Our Animal Spirits here in the Valley are grosser and more unweildy than our Bodies shall be in the Mount of Glory to motion agility and delight in Spiritual Objects Spiritualia erunt Austin de civ l. 14. c. 22. says Austin non quia corpora esse desistent sed quia spiritu vivificante subsistent Our Bodies shall be Spiritual not that they shall cease to be bodies but shall be sustained by a quickning Spirit And during the persistency of that Spirit which is of immortal Linage they shall continue with an indissoluble Union For the Spirit of God hath declared this future Immortality of the Body 1 Cor. 15.53 which is a degree of excellency beyond incorruption because the external sorce of sword
and fire of water and pressure may destroy that Body which otherwise hath no internal principle of dissolution So that though there were granted such a Noble Balsam of Life as the Adeptists glory of their Elixir yet would it not avail against External Invasions But here our Gracious God hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel purchase 2 Tim. 1.10 Here 't is appointed for oil once to dye But there Heb. 0.27 Statutum est non mori It 's a statute Law in Heaven Rev. 21.4 there shall be death no more nor sickness or pain those warning Canons those presaging Bells that ring the loud Lectures of Mortality There will be no Titans to raise any Babel Towers against those sublime and solid Mansions When once the Saints have dipp'd their Bodies in the River of Jordan and gone into Canaan they are beyond the story of Achilles invulnerable and impenetrable all over Rev. 22.2 The Leaf of the Tree of Life is tasted as soon as ever they come within the gates of Paradise is Medicine for without as well as within 1 Pet. 5.4 and the Chaplet or Immortal Crown which they wear in Heaven is formed of the Leaves of that blessed and everliving Tree Since we have touch'd a while upon the Harp of the Body let 's take some view of that Divine Musician the Soul who is then ready to sound the Praises of his Blessed Redeemer who will find no ill humour to affect him resulting from the Bodies Temperament or the Copula the connexive medium between them both For cleare serene and joyful Spirits will nimbly circulate through all the Nerves to associate in the Council Chamber of the Brain where the Animal Soul sits as Queen Regent on the Glandula pinealis the Pine Kernel to dispatch her winged Embassadors There will be no inflammations adustions or corruptions of Blood but all perfect sanguine without impure mixture no infected Air no seculent Food to alienate the state of Complexion All the Humours will stand in aequilibrio in exact poise to a Grain No inconvenient objects to surprize irritate or discompose the Spirits to the least alteration The Old Philosophy held nothing to be in the understanding but what was first in Sense which if universally spoken is but a Fable For what are the connate and concreated notions of the Soul urged by the Platonists And what are those spiritual infusions poured into the Hearts of Believers from Heaven Job 32.8 38.36 Eccl 2.28 but clear Evictions that that Soul can act independent from the Body But how much more when they shall be enthroned in Glory 1 Cor. 15.28 when God shall be all in all and the Soul shall be drawn into more immediate contemplation of God Corporeal Species are in vaine to suck and draw in the Marrow of Incorporeal Objects when the Understanding and all its Powers shall equal if not transcend Heaven it self in purity Then all the Faculties of the Soul shall be intended and amplified into a grand and august capacity to entertain more noble conceptions of the Mystical Union of our Redeemer to the Deity and of the Saints themselves to their Beloved Saviour of the sevenfold Luminaries of the Spirit of Christ to the Saints Rev. 3.5 of his Divine Communications and influences into the Soul They shall behold those streams of the Rivers of light They shall be able to discourse with Angels without Interpreters the Language of spirits shall be familiar That Phrase so frequent in the Hebrew Original of Scripture of God's speaking to the Heart Hos 2.14 which is here sometimes sweetly perceived by Saints shall be then explain'd The gentle Voice which Austin heard in the Garden by Milan Confes l. 9. c. 12. that melted him into tears and from whence he dates his Conversion shall be then more audible and more intelligible Then what is now one great portion of misery in our lapsed state that we so little understand the nature of our own Souls that Christians run to Heathen Oracles to know what 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the first Act of an Organical Body and such Barbarous obscurities shall be hurl'd into the Ocean of Oblivion Then we shall see the Face of our own Souls in Glasses of our own Polishing Here we see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Riddle 1 Cor. 13.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesych in a dark saying and those that would expound the soul confound it more If they had stept with Endymion they had dream'd more pleasantly Butthen the Eye of the Mind shall know no humour but Chrystalline the Retina shall be a capacious Net indeed to cast over the Ocean of the Universe There will arise a most perfect Union between the understanding will and affections and no such Combats about them as some nice Quidditarians assign There will be no inferior Appetite to suggest or abstract from its refined Notions The gracious Habiliments of the Soul shall be more superefluent Gracious habits nay rather activities in perpetual motion springing up to the brim and flowing over God will pour in such an unction of the spirit that shall invigorate the wheels of the soul full of eyes to move by the Spirits instinct conduct like the vision of Cherubims to the Prophet Ezekiel Ez. k. 1. 10. Such a fulness of excellency that swallows up all sinful emulation and envy Saints shall know with better satisfaction what are the Dimensions of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.19 which will so adequately fill the Soul that the Body shall require no sustenance but the Ambrosian Food of Divine Love and Glory Who could have imagin'd the Soul of a Man could have been Hypostatically united to the second person in the Glorious Trinity so that as he is the Son of Man he is said to know the Thoughts of Men Mat. 9.4 6. Act. 17.34 to forgive sins and to judge the world To to glorious an extent can Omnipotent Power exalt the Soul of Man by union to the Deity The Saints moreover shall rise up in some manner to that Excellent Estate of Intuition Luk. 20.36 1 Cor. 13.8 like to the Holy Angels who draw not the Water of Knowledge out of the deep Well of Inferences and long Consequences This manner of gathering Intelligence per discursum shall then probably vanish and perish and be extinguish'd by that Meridian Light of Eternity Here we argue by premisses ex concessis ignota We lay down Maxims Positions and Theorems take some data postulata and deduce mediums from several common places of Arguments As if we would search out the Nature of a Star an Animal a Vegetable or Mineral We argue if we can à priori from its Causes and component Principles or a posteriori from its Effects and Properties For instance in Antimony when we consider its Sulfur its Salt its bloud-red Oil its Phlegm and Vinegar
We may justly wonder at the ravishing delight of those Holy Spirits wherewith they are nourished to ever-springing and soul-fustaining Extasies in their Ministration before him and studying the beautiful Volumes of his Essence Saints shall see him as distinct from all Creatures and unvailed of all Relation and yet take superlative pleasure in that all the Excellencies in their God are in him as an Everlasting Father and he that sitteth on he Throne shall dwell among them Rev. 7.15 17. and the Lamb in the midst of the Throne shall feed them in the Pastures of Glory and lead them to Living Fountains of Water In that day it 's likely they may understand more of his Eternal Counsels of Election Creation Redemption and Salvation then now and dive into the Ocean of his inscrutable Providences and walk among those Coral Rocks and Mines of Pearl that now lye hid in the great Deeps It 's no small advantage to this withering old Age of the World to reflect upon the Passages of all successive Generations both before and since the Floud both before and since the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour 'T is a Cordial to refresh our drooping Spirits in this sink and sullage of times to recal the state of the three Worlds in Peter 2 Pet 3.6 7. and to gather Maxims for direction in difficult and stormy Deluges To revolve the Prophesies and their fulfillings as to the rise growth decrease and fall of the 4 mighty Monarchies in Daniel and to observe that when they touch'd upon the Church the Apple of his Eye how then they began to totter and decline to ruine and thereby to encourage us as to the fatal Destruction of all the Adversaries that shall arise till the Glory of the New Jerusalem That all the Toes of Daniels Image shall as certainly be broken in pieces as the Head and Shoulders Dan. 2.35 the Legs as the Breast and Belly and the Statue shall become like the Chaff of the Somer thresning flowers which the Wind shall carry away and no place be found for them and the Stone that smites that Image shall become a great Mountain a Glorious Kingdom filling the whole Earth But these though such Illustrious Fruits of the Eternal Counsels of God are small things in comparison of what the Saints shall see perfectly in the Mount of Glory Then the reasons of all the motions of the Wheels in Ezekiel conveying the Chariot of Cherubims shall shine as bright as the Wheels themselves Then they shall admire at Heavens Reasons of state for all the Intricacies Perplexities and afflictions of the Church in all Ages and Nations the Foundation of the glory which then shall follow Then shall the saints behold an object which shall transform the Subject of the Spectator into the same refulgent Glory to be like him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Ps 34.5 As they in the Psalmist were enlightned by vision and the longer they behold the optick Nerve of the Soul will advance stronger into the depth of Intellectual beauties 2 Cor. 3.18 and be changed from Glory to Glory Yea when their countenances shine beyond the Sun in his strength they shall sit down in the Kingdom of their Father at a Glorious Supper where blessed Angels shall attend the great Lord and Bridegroom of his Church They shall drink abundantly Songs 5.1 Hebr. Mat. 26.29 Rev. 2.9 be inebriated with new Wine and eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God alluding to that of Eden in the State of Innocence While the Learned dispute about that Trees real existence in nature Danaei mund antiq p. 31. Ep. Augustin de civ l. 13. c. 21. Junius c. though hid from mortals in the Regions of Mesopotamia while others fancy it to be the Imputrible Cedar and that a first Ens or Balsamick Oil may be extracted from it for prolongation of Life Helmont Grembs while they argue let us determine that Saints shall then seed upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Tree of Life Is 65.22 the Lord Jesus himself when the union of our nature in and by him to the Divine shall communicate to all his Mystical Members Eternal Life not only by donation but influence The Jews affirm Joh. 10.28 that Manna tasted to the Palate of their Fathers according to every ones wish and sancy However that story stands we are certain that in this Bread of Life the very desires and wishes of Saints shall be transcended It hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what is prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 That Heavenly Feast will be soul-satisfying to the utmost When I awake says David i. e. in the Resurrection Morning I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness For in the Presence or Face of God will be fulness of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word used for the Exhilaration of the Spirits by Wine Ps 17.15.16.11 Judg. 9 1◠Eccl. 10.19 For infinite Grace and Glory will shine from the Light of his Countenance Rivers of Eden or pleasure flow at his Right Hand for evermore Ezek. 47.7.12 Rev. 22.1 to nourish the delicious Trees of Paradise for Food and Medicine whereby to preserve a Glorious Immortalily in the Life to come In that Triumphal Coronation and Nuptial Feast there will be satiety without cloying satisfaction connex'd with longing a continual enjoyment of the same delights without fear or sense of deprivation For its Duration shall be everlasting It shall never be sung Tibi deserit hesper Olympum No evening shadows shall darken these Olympian Mountains Saints shall never rise from that Festival Table Is 35.10 Rev. 7.17 but everlasting Joy shall set upon their heads and hearts and the everlasting Father shall wipe away all Tears yea the spring of Tears out of their Eyes There King Solomon will sit down with all his Glory in that day in the gladness of his Heart Song 3.11 There will be present the everlasting Comforter abiding with the Saints for ever Joh. 14.16 Rev. 22.17 Heb. 12.22 The Spirit faith Come as well as the Bride There will be an innumerable company of Angels Luk. 24.4 in their Gorgeous Attire of white and shining Raiment and Crowns of Gold upon their Heads Rev. 4.4 Oh what a glittering shew will stand round about the Celestial Saphire Throne Whenas one Angel in his magnificent pomp and splendour were enough to extinguish the Sun and all the bright Lamps of the inferiour Heavens Rev. 21.23 There will be the whole Congregation of the First born from Abel to Enoch from Noah to Abraham from Moses to Samuel under the waving Standards of the Tribes of Israel solacing in each others communion Lazarus talking in the Arms of Abraham and beloved John once again asking questions in the Bosom of Christ The persecuted Thessalonian Brethren shall be the Joy and Crown of Rejoycing to Holy Paul