blessed meeting 8. The multitudes injoying God in Heaven will be no diminution of their Joy Those thousands of Eyes beholding the Sun do not extenuate its Light For the Acts diminish not the Object no more then the King is less for his Courtiers beholding him The King of Heaven can give content to all the Coelestial Inhabitants Psal 16.11 Chap. 36.9 all the Saints shall bath in this pleasant River and drink abundantly of the fountain of life nor will the different Degrees of Glory beget want or envy in such as have less for every Vessel shall be as full as it can hold The Coelestial Courtiers have all God 1 Cor. 15.28 shall be all in all it is thought that such as had more Grace and had done God more service here shall shine brighter then others from Dan. 12.3 1 Cor. 15.41 But yet there shall be no Emulation nay they shall rather rejoyce in each others Graces and Glory 9. That in Heaven there will be a mutual and reciprocal exchange of Gifts and Graces And this will be no small part of their Comfort O what clasping of Arms What endearedness of Affection What inlettings into each others Hearts As the Sun shineth on the Stars so the Stars shine on each other God doth abundantly irradiate their Souls and they comfort one anothers Not but that there is enough in God to delight them but this is in some respect accumulative The Saints above will look on each others Grace as if it were their own Yea there will be a mutual Aptitude and Disposition to serve each other and contribute to their Felicity 10. The sweet Harmony of Spirits will be inconceivable Melody in Heaven far beyond the Musick of the Sphears they talk of Those blessed Inhabitants shall be filled with the Spirit Love Joy Gal. 5.22 Peace then they shall indeed speak among themselves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord Eph. 5.18 19. Then they shall with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God Rom. 15.6 Not one jarring String in the heavenly Consort Their Hearts will be centred on God and their Lines streight with each other O blessed day when there will be no jars or wranglings but Luther and Calvin will sweetly agree when Melancthon and Zuinglius will sweetly conspire to celebrate the Praises of our common Lord O sweet and blessed day CHAP. VIII Reprehension and Conviction of Graceless and Gracious Souls 2. ANother Use is of Conviction 1. O such as are Graceless 2. Of Godly Persons 1. Of unconverted graceless Persons 1. Must there be a gathering together oâ— Saints and only Saints what then will becomâ— of Wicked men They are not to be gathered with Saints they cared not for their Company here and they shall not have their Society in the other World 1. Wicked men shall be banished from among the Godly this is no small Punishment He shall set the sheep on the right-hand and thâ— goats on the left Mat. 25.32 33. He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats In this Worlâ— they were mingled together in the same Kingdom City House Assembly and none waâ— able to distinguish them they were taken tâ— be as Devout as the best and they took themselves to be as good as any But now the shall be detected and the rottenness of theâ—… Hearts shall be laid open before themselves â—ngels and Men and they shall be an abhorring â—nto all flesh so says the Evangelical Prophet â—sal 66.24 This will be none of the least of Wicked mens Punishment to see those that â—hey had scorned slighted and censured as â—ot worthy Humane Society to mount up and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob â—n the Kingdom of Heaven and the Children of â—he Kingdom these Church-members to be â—ast out into utter darkness Mat. 8.11 12. O â—ad parting never to meet again How will â—he Wicked wish they had lived in Prisons Poverty and woful straits in this World so â—hey might now go along with them into Glory O that we had spent our time in Prayer Reading Meditation Conference and Works of Mortification as these Holy Souls â—id then had we been happy as these are But now we see our loss We thought your Life madness but now we are convinced of â—ur Folly and the wisdom of your Choice 2. These poor graceless Souls must be for â—ver banished from the Eternal God the Founâ—ain of all Happiness They bid God depart Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of â—hy ways Job 21.14 If not in so many words yet interpretatively by their Works And now God will say Depart from me ye â—ursed Mat. 25.41 The dreadfullest Word â—n the Bible the most astonishing Sentence that can come out of the Mouth of God or can be heard by the Ears of Men. The enjoyment of God is the Saints Heaven banishment from God is the Wickeds Hell yea thâ— very Hell of Hells the only Venom Sting and Poison of that Infernal Lake They thâ—… are not gathered to God are separated from God and once banished and for ever banish'd they cannot be parted from his Revenging Justice but from his Comfortinâ— Love Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess 1.9 The paiâ— of loss is greater than the pain of sense Oâ— dreadful Case Now poor Sinners will be banished from the Beatifical Presence and shalâ— never more see God or Christ to their Comfort O wretched State Sinners shall theâ— know what the loss of God meaneth They gathered themselves together under Ordinanceâ— but desired not God's Presence in Ordinances more know what Communion with God meant but they shall know what Separation from God now means Where Love ended Wrath begins Fury comes in the room oâ— Mercy Now consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50.22 3. Wicked Men shall be bound up together in bundles and cast into the Fire of Hell So saith the Text Mat. 13.30 In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers gather ye together first the Tares and bind them in bundles to burn them And why in bundles Will this be any ease to them in Torments They are wont to say Here Neighbours Fare is good Fare But it will be otherwise there the sight of each other will increase their Torment where they shall reflect upon their Guilt together how they tempted others and were tempted by others to sin thou wast one Instrument to bring me into this Place of Torment O that I had never known thee Now merry Companions will be torturing Company their sweet Meat must have sour Sauce This this is the dreadful consequence of our frantick Frolicks It is thought that this was the reason why the Rich Man was loth his five Brethren should come to him in Hell
Grace resembles God it widens the Soul's Faculties and makes it altogether unsatisfied with Sublunaries Even an Heathen Seneca could say major sum ad majora natus I am born to higher things than to these Trifles my thoughts are carried quite above visible Objects Mortal things cannot fill an Immortal Soul especially touch'd with a Coal from the Altar and raiseth sparks upwards to the Fountain of Light and Love Our Lord gives this as a certain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or token of a Soul that is either for this or for another World Mat. 6.21 Where your treasure is there will your heart be also The workings of the Heart are an infallible demonstration of a Christian's state Is the rational habitual motion and tendency of your Hearts God-wards Heaven-wards Have you a strong impetuous motion and bent of Soul to things above Are you best pleased when your Hearts are in a frame for God Do you take it ill and resent that with some regret and indignation that obstructs your Soul's motion Have you a strong impulse Heaven-wards by the restless motion of Desire and by the acquiescing affection of Delight Never so well as when you are conversant about Heavenly Objects It 's also the blessed Apostle's Character of a Saint Col. 3.7 If you then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above There there is a Christian's Life his Love and Delight thither he is mounting as on Eagles Wings Isaiah 40. and is never satisfied till he be swallowed up in the Divine Embraces He is glad of Communion of Saints below more glad of Communion with God in his Ordinances but still most restless till he be wrapt up in the full Enjoyment of God above For our Lord hath said in â—uke â—7 37. Wheresoever the body is thither will the Eagles be gathered together The Saints are united to Christ by Faith as Members to the Head and have an innate Propensity to him and cannot be satisfied without a full Enjoyment of him and that will never be till the Soul get above this drossy reeling Earth into the Regions above Is this your frame Are these your aims Are your motions Heaven-wards though alas too often interrupted to the grief of your hearts Your Souls are now espoused to Christ your Husband and you earnestly long for the compleat Nuptials 2 Cor. 11.2 That you may be presented to your Heavenly Husband as chast Virgins CHAP. X. A Perswasion to all to seek after this blessed Gathering at last 4. USE of Exhortation 1. To Sinners 2. To Saints 1. To Sinners A word or two to those Souls that are yet in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 2 Tim. 2.26 and bonds of iniquity tyed with Chains to the Prince of Darkness led captive by him at his pleasure Suffer your selves to be gathered unto Christ what would poor Ministers give that they might prevail with you How doth our Lord spread his Arms to embrace you After all your wandrings and Extravagancies the Father of the Prodigal would run towards the returning Prodigal fall on your Neck kiss you and make you kindly welcom and Godly Christians would not envy your Entertainment but delight in your Society as not diminishing but increasing their Felicity Luke 15.7.10 There is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth saith our Lord yea there 's joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Glad are the Saints of such Consorts glad are the Holy Angels of such Babes to attend upon glad would poor Ministers be if your Souls were savingly converted and gathered to Christ But if you still stand out you have neither part nor lot in this matter but must be Exiles banish'd and punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. As meanly as you think of God's Children now it will be a doleful parting from them in the great Day Now be wise for your precious Souls 1. Yet there 's a possibility that you may be converted and saved Now is the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 now is the day of Salvation to Morrow it may be past and never return again You are yet alive many are past hope past help thousands are dead and damned since you deserved to be in Hell you are yet Monuments of Mercy 2. The Spirit is yet striving with you poor Ministers are studying for you pouring out their Souls to God for you longing after you crying out Why will you die Why will you refuse this blessed Call of God Be it known to you God will not always be affronted Gen. 6.3 His spirit shall not always strive 3. If ever your Souls be converted and saved your selves must be Instruments as well as God is the Efficient cause thereof for God works Morally so as to preserve Men's nature and the principles thereof if ever you repent the Work is your's though the power to work is from God Baxter's Myth Theol. Part III. page 46. Phil. 2.12 13. omne opus humanum est virium nostrarum opus vires nullae sunt nobis nisi à deo libere donatae saith a great Divine The Duty is our's the Grace is his God is the efficient Man the Agent 4. Your work is then to fall down on your Knees and beg of God a Spirit suited to the Grace of God and fitted for this day of gathering Lord I am now going to hear thy Word oh come with power from on high Acts 16.14 open my Heart as thou didst the Heart of Lydia Melt my Heart like wax then set thy stamp upon me 2 Cor. 10.5 Cast down my vain imaginations and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Square my Soul to be a Temple of the holy Ghost Put spiritual Life into my Soul 1 Pet. 2.5 and let me be one of those lively Stones built up a spiritual House with the rest of thy Saints Song 5.4 Put thy Hand in by the hole of the door of my heart and make my bowels move towards thee Let the power of thy Grace be such an hidden prevailing uncontroulable Efficacy as may win my Soul to thee All I can do is nothing unless the Spirit prevail If thou wilt work who can let it If thou work not all I do is in vain O Lord let me not perish with the rest of the Infidel World gather not my soul with sinners Psal 26.9 12. nor my life with bloody men but in the midst of thy congregation let me bless the Lord. 2. But the parties I have to deal with more directly are Christians real Saints who are gathered to Christ and hope to be gathered to him at last with the rest of God's People such as these I will give these few Instructions to and all Professors 1. Be Sincere Be really what you seem to be by Profession It will be a dreadful disappointment to pass for
of Israel They shall no more be prosecuted by Murthering or scattering Acts they shall now be out of date they shall no more hear the Voice of the Oppressour there have been many such days as those in the Apostles times great persecutions against the Church Acts 8.1 that they were all scattered abroad through forreign Regions But now the storms are blown over the clouds scattered and the glorified Saints shall never be broken up or disturbed by the Sons of Violence any more They shall recount those by past troubles with Songs of Praise 8. The Saints of God that have been confined to Prisons shall be set at liberty and injoy sweet content together The Lord made their very Prisons sweet by mutual Communion but Heaven will be sweeter The imprisoned Bird never sings so sweetly in the Cage as at liberty O blessed inlargement Now they are delivered with the rest of the Creation into the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8.21 They walk abroad at liberty at another rate then ever How shall they with joy and triumph recount their wandring about in Deserts and Mountains Heb. 11.37 38. in Dens and Caves of the Earth Sometimes thrust into dark and dirty Dungeons with Felons and Malefactors yea condemned tortured executed but now they have obtained a better Resurrection O happy deliverance These shall have their proper Mansions in their Fathers House and the Coelestial Pallace will resound sweet Eccho's of their triumphant Praises they shall not now with Paul and Silas sing in the Stocks Acts 16.24 25. but above where they shall be advanced together 9. The Saints that have providentially parted one from another upon any occasion shall meet again and part no more When Paul was to be bound at Jerusalem and the Disciples understood it they took on heavily Paul said what mean ye to weep and to break my heart Acts 21.11.13 Their weeping breaks his Heart But especially saith the Text they sorrowed most of all Acts 20.38 for the words that he spake that they should see his face no more And this is the Case of many Christian-friends but the relief is they shall see each others Faces again and their Faces will shine as the Sun and their Contentment shall be exceeding the bounds of any Capacity in this lower World They parted but for a Season that they should receive each other for ever Philemon 15. when the gracious God hath received them into everlasting Habitations 10. The Saints that divided and could not agree to walk together in one Church upon Earth shall be perfectly reconciled above and then shall mutually embrace each other They shall all speak the same thing and never have the least reflecting Speech or Thought against each other Possibly in this World the Contention or Paroxism betwixt a Paul and Barnabas may be so sharp that they may depart asunder one from another Acts 15.39 As all God's People are necessarily scattered into distinct Societies though uniting in Spirit in the bonds of Peace yet good Persons of different Perswasions may in some cases refuse to hold Communion occasionally one with another some being for greater Latitude others for smaller Bonds or being of different Principles in smaller Matters or through Prejudice or Passion yet in Heaven they shall be all of one Mind and one Heart and all Dissention and Division will be laid aside O what perfect Love sweet Harmony and joyful Delight will there be in the Persons and Graces of each other There will be no saying then I am of this Opinion or of this Party or a Member of this Church and not of another but they shall attain to be in the Unity of the Faith and united Members of the Triumphant Church 11. Christians that had their natural Infirmity shall leave them behind them and their united Spirits shall be made perfect How rough-hewn Natures have some godly Souls How unsociable are some that proves a great Affliction to themselves and all about them still quarrelsom and discontented nothing pleaseth them and sometimes they cannot help it though they strive and fight and pray against it it still recurs and returns and breeds much vexation but upon this blessed gathering together the crooked shall be made streight Isa 40.45 and the rough places and spirits plain when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed O happy day when there will be no envy or discontent but the Saints shall rejoyce in each others Graces and Comfort as their own and lie square to each others Spirits Though some Stars shall out-shine others in luster and glory yet every Vessel shall be full both of Grace and Comfort and not a wry Look or peevish Word shall be found there to all Eternity 12. The Saints that here condoled themselves and each other in their Personal afflictions shall leave their Sorrows behind them and all the occasions and grounds thereof and unanimously thank God for compleat Immunity from all some are sick some are pained some are pinched with Poverty others are tormented with wicked Children and bad Relations Some have troubles of Conscience under darkness hidings of God's Face some assaulted with hellish Infections Fatanical Temptations some are deeply Melancholy and under sad Complaints Now we are required to bear one anothers burthens Gal. 6.2 And Paul saith who is weak and I am not weak 2 Cor. 11.29 Who is offended and I burn not Grace in the Heart commands sympathy with others but that perfect State dischargeth all Compassion as well as Passion They that mourned together shall rejoyce together not a sigh or groan shall ever possess a glorified Spirit 13. The Saints shall lay aside all difficult and self-denying Duties There are many personal Duties that require some cost and it becomes a Christian before hand to sit down and count the cost Luke 14.28 to mortify some special Lusts to maintain a strict watch over Heart and Life to worship God in the Spirit exercise every Grace maintain constant Communion with God these will cost a Soul much care and industry and though these are sweet in managing to purpose Prov. 3.17 for wisdoms ways are pleasantness yet because of the corruption of our Hearts and aversness to any thing that 's good they become difficult and then relative Duties are difficult to discharge trust to Relations Parents to Children Masters to Servants Christians one to another mutual Inspection Admonition giving and taking Reproofs faithfully humbly Christians find these Duties hard and grievous to flesh and blood But the more Spiritual any Man grows the more Easy they grow the more Love is in our Hearts to God the less are his commandments grievous 1 John 5.3 Now in Heaven Love will be perfected And holy Souls will be in their Element while they are serving God and doing the works of that Place But the more you can sing in the ways of the Lord Psal 138.5 Jer. 31.12 the
together in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is very emphatical it signifies to recapitalate or recollect or reduce all to an Head it implies that mankind by Sin is separated from God disjointed one from another the Members scattered just like an old ruinous House that 's fallen All the pieces thereof are gone asunder till the workman come and set them together and rear up a stately Fabrick of the old Materials Man hath not lost the faculties of his Soul by the fall but the rectitude thereof Gen. 6.5 Gen. 3.8 Luke 15. All the imaginations of Man's heart are become evil He hath banish't himself from God into a foreign Country In a natural Sense Acts 17.27 God is not far from every one of us But in a moral Sense God and unconverted Sinners are at a great distance Eph. 2.13 Chap. 4.18 they are far off alienated from the life of God but Grace brings Sinners from their wanderings The Spirit in the word unites them by a blessed cement in an efficacious manner and that he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 And the Blood of Christ unites God and the Soul meritoriously O blessed conjunction Oh Eph. 2.13 22. happy meeting God hath found out a way in the Gospel to gather together the outcasts of Israel Isa 56.8 Alass we are all as Sheep going astray Isa 40.11 John 10.16 but our Lord gathers the lambs into his armes and brings them into fold Jews and Gentiles make one fold For saith the Apostle Paul ye are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.26 Faith makes a mistical Union Love a Moral Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love or teaching it in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ Oh this this is the foundation of all the rest conversion is the first collection 2. God gathers his Saints by Death to himself It s said of Abraham that he should be gathered to his Fathers in peace Gen. 15.15 and he was gathered to his people Gen. 25.8 Interpreters observe that this is usually applyed in Scripture to good Men and it refers to the Soul that they go to their godly progenitors Gen. 25.17 Gen. 49.29 and because this is applied to Ishmael therefore the Jews think he was a Penitent But however Num. 20.24 Chap. 27.13 the Phrase is applied most ordinarily to good Men as Jacob and of Aaron of Moses of Josiah 't is said 2 Kings 22.20 I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace It s true he died in Battle but in peace with God and was translated into the everlasting peace with the Saints this is the way of Divine Providence to carry his Children through a tempestuous Sea into an Haven of Rest they shall not always be tormented with Satan's temptations the Worlds oppositions their own corruptions but when they have done their work here in this wary World they shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Isa 57.2 Oh blessed change God gives them a quietus est from the Troubles of this wary Pilgrimage Rev. 14.13 1 Thes 4.14 they rest from their labours their bodies sleep in Jesus and are laid up safe in a quiet Repository Luke 23.43 and their Souls do enter into Paradice i. e. the third Heaven the immediate presence of God As Earth is the common Mother of all so Heaven is the receptacle of all Believers 3. God gathers them up out of their graves by the resurrection of their Bodies and the re-union of their Souls to those self same Bodies This was a Doctrine believed and well digested in the Old Testament Job 19.25 26 27. Though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God thy dead Men shall live saith Isaiah ch 26.19 together with my dead body shall they arise The New Testament doth abundantly confirm this great Article of our Faith John 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 15. Oh what an Army of Saints will start up out of the Earth Their scattered bones and dust shall be reared up and coagulated and our Lord will bring their glorified Souls along with him to sing out the high Praises of Jehovah Roses die sweetest Flowers perish and the beauteous Complexion of the Earth turns to a bleak and withered hue in Winter yet in Summer there is a kind of Resurrection If you say in them life is remaining in the Root and Seed we say the Soul is the root of the Body and Christ the root of the Soul and both are living Col. 3.34 and though there be no physical Contract yet there is a relative Union betwixt Soul and Body and a deep rooted love and inclination the Soul hath to it the silly Snail by its natural life and power can make for it self an Habitation yea a Silk-worm becomes a winged Fly See Mr. Baxter of Self-denial Page 206. the warmth of the Hen turns the Egg into a Chicken these are Emblems of the Resurrection And what cannot the Power of God effect If a skilful work-man can turn a little earth and ashes into such curious transparent Glasses why should we doubt whether the mighty Power of God can communicate a glorious perfection to the Flesh that 's dissolved into its Elements Luther saith I love the noble Art of Chymistry it is such a brave Emblem of the Resurrection O what a blessed ravishing sight will that be to see the sanctified Soul united to the glorified Body to receive their reward together This is the next 4. By the same power of God some shall be changed others raised from the dead the Souls of the glorified Saints shall descend and be united to their own Bodies and then ascend to meet the Lord in the Air and the wicked are left behind on their dunghil the earth in setters to receive their Sentence and confined to their Prisons this is that Mystery which possibly the blessed Apostle Paul heard from God when he was caught up into the third Heaven and heard unspeakable words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worldles words 2 Cor. 12.4 This is 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep i. e. die but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye This is further confirmed and explained in 1 Thes 4.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep And verse 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air Verse 17. Calvin saith he speaks here of the Faithful only Calvin in 1 Cor. 15.5 the resurrection of the Wicked is a kind of
things they are that are uttered and we may lawfully guess at what the Saints above confer of by the holy laudible Discourses they have here and they may be such as these 1. Concerning the Work of Creation For though the visible Heavens and Earth shall be burnt up yet nevertheless according to his Promise they shall see new heavens and new earth wherein dwells Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.12 13. Fire purifies Rev. 18.5 so the visible Heavens which were defiled with Men's Sin shall be purged with Fire Rom. 8.21 and the creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption And oh what a brave shew will that present Far beyond Golden Mountains Rocks of Pearl or Diamonds or Christal streams A semblance of it we have in Rev. 21. which is the wonderful Workmanship of the great Creator enough to imploy the Eyes and Tongues of those Coelestial Inhabitants to the Praise of Jehovah Rev. 4.9 10 11. and though the first Creation be past away yet the mighty Fabrick of this vast Universe will possess the Thoughts of the Saints with admiration of God's Power Wisdom Holiness which shines therein and they will reflect upon with Discourses one to another and adoring God To the Honour of his Majesty 2. Concerning Man's Apostacy How excellently God had placed Man in the Primitive state of Perfection in his own Image with perfect Faculties in the Image of of God Psal 8.6 with dominion over the works of God's hands Yet he unreasonably made defection from God and rose up in rebellion against God by violating the Moral Law engraven in his Heart and the Positive Law of not eating the Fruit of one Tree Whereby he utterly ruined all his Posterity made himself and his Off-spring subject to God's wrath and curse here and hereafter to all Eternity This will be greatly aggravated to the advancement of Free-grace in our deliverance out of it 3. Especially the Saints shall discourse of the Means of our Redemption The infinite Wisdom Grace and Love in God's Contrivance of it the transcendent Love Care Faithfulness of Christ in the managing of it the Nature Birth Death Resurrection Ascention of the Son of God his Offices suited to our State and all his Mediatory Undertakings This will be a Voluminous Book for Saints to read fairly written in indelible Characters Eph. 1.20 21. and the glorious Object before their Eyes at the right Hand of God in heavenly Places above Principalities to be a perpetual Monitor of his glorious Transactions This shall be the triumphant Harmony of the Coelestial Inhabitants to all Eternity Rev. 5.8 9 13 14. 4. The priviledge of Believers the blessed Fruits of Christ's purchases Now they shall more fully understand and take the due dimensions of the Benefits of Reconciliation Justification Adoption peace of Conscience joy of the Holy-Ghost these priviledges will be better understood then and discoursed of one to another O what blessed Effects of Divine Grace We enjoyed them but did not duly conceive of them now we see what it is to be the Children of God to be Justified Sanctified these were greater Mercies then we were aware of Let us cast our Eye back and consider what we were once what Bruits Sots but how we were washed sanctified justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Ah what a pleasant Theam is this 5. The Ordinances injoyed Oh how many savory Sermons have we heard How often have we been feasted together at the Lord's Table What sweet Fellowship have we had with the Saints in the lower World Many an Heart-melting Fast many a Soul-refreshing Thanksgiving many an edifying Heart-warning Conference I could then say it was good for me to draw nigh to God Psal 73.28 Those Duties led us to this Glory God help us to improve Ordinances and now we are got quite above Ordinances 6. The difficulties of our Pilgrimage While the Saints stand on the shore of Eternity and look back at the stormy tempestuous Sea they have passed the Pirats Rocks and Sands they escaped by the conduct of the great Pilot it fills them with Admiration and Astonishment How many roaring Devils surious onsets of Men What Temptations Persecutions they have passed through what hard Duties they have performed what Corruptions they have mortified what Burthens they have born all these do accent their Joy to an high pitch 7. Ministers and their Hearers will communicate their former Experiences Oh will the Convert say it was a blessed Day that ever I saw such a Ministers Face or heard his Voice I remember the Text the Doctrine the Particular that first touched my Heart Cant. 2.3 I sat under that shadow with great delight the fruit was sweet to my Soul God healed me by the same Hand that wounded me possibly the Minister never knew till now all the Souls he hath been an Instrument to Convert Now they have a reciprocal Joy when sower and reaper rejoyce together John 4.26 8. Godly Relations will mutually reflect on Days that are past though now not as Husband and Wife yet as quondam in that Relation They were heirs together of the grace of life prayed wept 1 Pet. 3.7 suffered and sweetly converst togegether the Father wept over the miscarrying Child prevail'd with God his Miscarriages cost him dear but his Conversion was as life from the dead that was a costly Child how the more lovely the gracious Child reflects upon recounts the godly Fathers and Mothers Prayers and Tears Counsels Admonitions 9. The distinction Grace hath made betwixt them and others Such a one as well Born Bred Educated as we sometimes under Convictions sat under the same means of Grace of fine Parts made a Profession and were once as likely for Heaven as I but fell into gross Sin or kept in a course of Formality and these are now swallowed up in Eternal Torments why am not I in their Case Who made us to differ 1 Cor. 4.6 It was nothing but Free grace that gave me a Repenting-heart I was as likely to Perish as he and as unable to help my Self as he 10. Christians will discourse of the various Providences of God in this World I was Sick and the Lord raised me up had I dyed then I had been undone for I was in a graceless State God in faithfulness afflicted me Psal 119.75 I had perished if I had not perished I was wandring and God brought me home by weeping Cross I had not been thus Happy if I had not been Miserable all things did work for my Good The Lord supplyed my Wants supported me in Troubles vouchsafed many Mercies in my Pilgrimage wereby he rendred my Condition comfortable Many a particular Dispensation of Providence will be then laid open to others 11. The seasons of special Inlargement they will then declare what God hath done for their Souls Many things that passed betwixt God and their Souls that were not fit to
Euke 16.28 not for love to them for there 's no such Charity in Hell but Self-love lest their presence should aggravate his Torments Hence is the gnashing of teeth also mentioned Mat. 13.50 for spleen and spight both against themselves and against each other as Communion advanceth the Saints Glory above so Company of old Sinners aggravates the Wicked's misery in Hell 4. It will greatly aggravate Wicked mens Torment to consider that this was their own doing Their destruction is of themselves Hos 13.9 they can challenge none but themselves though they had many Incentives and Temptations Neither the Devil nor Wicked men could ever puâ—… them to Hell against their wills God saith He wills not the death of a Sinner Jesus Chriâ—… expressed his earnest desire of their Salvation by his Death the Spirit came with its lovinâ— motions and impulses Godly Ministers Christian Friends prayed for them took pains witâ— them to save them so that our Lord himselâ— saith Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under heâ— wings and ye would not There was God's gathering time of Mercy but that 's past now there 's a gathering time of Wrath When the Chaff must be burnt iâ— unquenchable fire Mat. 3.12 They mighâ— have been happy but would noâ— They observed lying vanities Jonah 2.8 anâ— forsook their own mercies now there 's no remedy They chose the thing wherein he delighted not and now he will chusâ— their delusions Isa 66.3 4. Alas poor Sinner chuse the Devil's Drudgery here and Goâ— gives them up into his hands to be tormenteâ— for ever and as Christ will gather up his Saint whom he purchased so the Devil will gatheâ— up all his Slaves not one shall escape him the Wicked are gathered by Death to theiâ— Master and to their proper place as it 's said of Judas Acts 1.25 That he wenâ— to his own place that 's Hell Foâ— the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all thâ— Nations that forget God Psal 9.17 O what a vast Assembly will that be Millions Millions of Souls descend down into that Place of Torments Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Mat. 7.13 O tremble lest you be found among this greater number of the Sons of men Remember all Mankind have their Faces Hell-wards when they are born The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking lyes Psal 58.3 There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.10 11 12. we are altogether become unprofitable without a saving turn we are all marching Hell-ward and must be gathered together and like Faggots piled up in that Infernal Lake but especially such as have improved the stock of Original Corruption in a course of Profane Swearing Rioting Drunkenness mocking of Religion ridiculing Preciseness condemning the Righteous justifying the Wicked How can such as these expect to be gathered with the Saints in the other World whom they cannot endure in this Surely the Godly and Wicked go contrary ways when they go off the Stage of this World into an Eternal state 2. As Wicked Graceless Persons state is sad and hopeless so continuing so also professed Christians yea real Saints are in some things too saulty and blame-worthy 1. Shall there be a gathering together at last then how unaccountable are those Distances Animosities and Heart-burnings among Christians There is utterly a fault among us How contrary is this to Christian Love so often recommended by Christ and his Apostles Yea our Lord hath made it the Characteristical Note of his Disciples to love one another John 13.35 It was wont to be said of the Primitive Christians by Heathens See how they love one another But alas Brotherly Love doth not continue It hath been declared to the scandal of our Noble Profession That there are Contentions among us 1 Cor. 1.11 Further it hath been said That where strictest Professors fall out they are most implacable Drunkards will sooner be Friends than these Puritans God forbid it should be true God forbid that there should be Debates 2 Cor. 12.20 envyings wraths strifes back bitings whisperings tumults swellings Alas that such unbecoming Fruits of the Flesh should be found among us There hath been too much of this Evil Spirit O let us take heed lest if we bite and devour one another we be not consumed one by another Gal. 5.15 These are the Devil's Artillery whereby he sights and too often prevails to do abundance of mischief and hinder much good For where envy and strife is there is confusion James 3.16 and every evil work How can you think of the Day of meeting one another in Heaven with such peevish Spirits Will you perpetuate your Quarrels into another World Are you Children of Peace that thus Quarrel For shame lay aside your Differences or lay aside your Profession of this Gospel of Peace 2. If the Saints be gathered at last why do they not keep close together in this World What unaccountable Separations do men make from each other upon small Occasions This is a Duty practiced by all the Saints in all Ages the Primitive Christians continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Acts 2.42 As soon as Paul was converted he assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples Acts 9.26 17.4 and others consorted with Paul and Barnabas Phil. 1.5 The Philippians were in the fellowship of the Gospel from the first day of their Conversion Like will to like It 's Natural for a Child of God to hold close Communion with his Father's Children How comes it to pass then that some that profess themselves Christians keep at a distance Alas have you the same Name Nature and Divine Image and do you not care for their Company How will you like to live with them for ever in Heaven that love not their Society on Earth How comes it to pass that you keep off It 's possible some do it out of modesty they are not worthy to associate with them these are but few Others out of Singularity Retiredness they can find none good enough to whom they think fit to vouchsafe intimate Familiarity Others have a pique against such and such Christians or against the whole Party and most hold off from supine Negligence Carelesness and Oscitancy most men are unconcerned about their Edification How unwilling are some Christians to be drawn to Communion of Saints If it be an Article in their Creed 't is no part of their Practice as though they had never subscribed to it yea there are some that were once forward for this Work of Christian Communion that are now fallen off like those Hebrews that believed of whom the Apostle saith Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Heb. 10.25 The Donatists of old and
the Sectaries of late have made dreadful Rents and Schisms in the Church the more Holy Christians are the more Catholick Spirits they have They are most likely to be sensual that needlesly separate themselves yea not having the spirit Jude 19. however they may boast themselves to be more full of the Spirit than others they separate from Well Sirs consider what you do how you prejudice your selves weaken your Brethrens Hands sadden their Hearts yea you weaken the Interest of Religion hereby What Friends shall one Heaven hold you and cannot one Church hold you Do you look for comfort at Christ's second Coming among his Saints and will you not keep by the foot-steps of the flock The Lord awaken you 3. Some Christians make nothing of offendting the Saints of God that they should not offend that 's a dreadful word Mat. 18.6 Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea I confess this is spoken of open and violent Persecutors whom our Lord will banish among the pushing Goats But even Christians are too apt to offend one another sometimes by provoking words sometimes by offensive carriages doing that which however it seem indifferent to us yet thereby a Brother stumbleth or is offended or made weak Rom. 14.21 Unadvised walking may hinder much good occasion much evil at least may make sad the hearts of those whose hearts God would not have made sad With what comfort or confidence will you look in the Faces of those whom you have justly offended An eminent Divine saith Mr. Baxter in a Letter before Mr. Burgess's Book of Christian Commemoration if it be my weakness I have much ado to think but some shame with confusion will accompany me when I first meet any there that I have been unkind to or wronged or that will know my faults better than here they did and that I shall ask them forgiveness which will be soon granted being forgiven by Christ However matters will go then it becomes all the Saints to be very choice and chary of the Holiness and Comsort of their Fellow-members on Earth and to say with Paul 1 Cor. 8.13 Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend Happy are they that neither give Offence carelesly nor take Offence causelesly 4. Yet still there 's a great if not greater fault of good People and that is to be too familiar with Wicked Men to comply too far with Sinners to the dishonour of God scandal of Religion and wronging of our own Consciences Paul writes and writes again 1 Cor. 5.9.11 not to keep company with fornicators the word is very emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to be mingled with them by intimate familiarity as streams of Water mix together but Christians must be like Oyl that will not mix with Water especially scandalous Professors of the True Religion if such be disorderly Persons Idle Busie-bodies disobedient to the Word sound close-walking Christians must note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed 2 Thess 3.11.14 Brand such an one as infamous discover a strangeness in your Carriage to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he may turn into himself and consider what may be the cause in him of this your alienation from him Such a Recognition may become a means of his Repentance whereas if you still smile upon him as if you saw nothing amiss in him you do but harden him in sin Yet there 's something worse in your sinful complyance you contract Guilt to your own Souls and are in danger to be infected and so partake of their Sins Rev. 18.4 and of their Plagues How often doth God call Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 Cor. 6.14.17 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but reprove them rather Eph. 5.11 How often doth David bid Wicked Men depart from him And if they will not be gone he will flee from them as from a Pest-house Psal 26.4 5. I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with dissemblers I have hated the Congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked And then prays ver 9. Gather not my soul with sinners Oh Friends tremble to be found among Wicked Men in the Gathering-day CHAP. IX Examination of our Souls whether we shall be gathered with Saints 3 ANother Use is of Tryal Whether we be the Persons that shall be gathered to Christ with the rest of his Saints in that Solemn Day of his Appearing 1. Consider you may know whether you be of that number yea or no assurance is possible attainable God's Children have obtained it 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens We can be well content to forego this tottering Cottage because we are well assured of a Coelestial Palace there we shall lodge with God Christ Angels and glorified Spirits for ever 2. Nor is this Assurance only communicated by Divine Revelation but may be obtained in the diligent use of God's appointed means hearing the Word Prayer Meditation exciting and exercising of Grace holy Warfare and Victory over Temptations Corruptions walking close with God particularly by a Practical Syllogism where the Word of God is the Major Conscience the Minor the Spirit makes the Conclusion Thus such whose Eyes are opened that are turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God shall have an inheritance among them that are sanctified Acts 26.18 Then Conscience brings in the Minor I have found my Heart and Life thus changed by Conversion then the holy Spirit brings in the Inference or Conclusion therefore I do groundedly hope I shall obtain the Inheritance of Glory with the rest of the Saints This is called the witnessing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 3. Therefore it is the Duty of all Christians to endeavour after it we are commanded to give diligence to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 We desire saith the Apostle that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the End Heb. 6.11 Such as look not after Assurance conscientiously render their spiritual Estate suspicious For it is the Nature of Grace to put the Possessour forwards to Perfection The sincere Christian will be perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 and press forward to injoy more of God's Presence Let us saith the Apostle draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 19.22 4. And oh the advantage and benefit that
God's Children have by a well-grounded Assurance of their Salvation it will raise your Hearts in praise of God and transport your Spirits in love to and delight in him This drops sweetness into all worldly Injoyments it chears up the Heart in Sufferings Heb. 10.34 fortifies the Soul against Temptations excites the Christian to all Acts of new Obedience gives Contentment in every Condition This strengthens against fears of Death and is a certain preludium and fore-runner of Heaven O happy Soul that can say God is my Father Saints my elder Brothers and I shall meet them all in Glory and sing praises with them to God and the Lamb for evermore Quest But how shall a Man know that he shall be one of those that shall be gathered together to Christ in that Solemn day Answ I desire you will faithfully Answer these Seven Questions 1. Have you been gathered to Christ by converting Grace To him i. e. to Shiloh shall the gathering of the People be Gen. 49.10 Hath the Spirit of God in the Word convinced you of your distance from God prevailed with you to enter into Solemn covenant with him Alas by nature we are as Sheep going astray Psal 119.176 Prodigals in a far Country have neither skill nor will to return to God but Christ the good Shephard calleth his own Sheep by name and leadeth them out they know his voice and follow him John 10.34 Formerly saith the returning Sinner I heard but the Voice of Man now methinks I hear the Voice of God rending my Heart discovering those Secret-lusts that no mortal can know of the very Secrets of my Heart are made manifest I must fall down on my face and worship God and must report that God is there in such an Ordinance of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. What concussions and shakings of Soul have you found to unsettle you from your carnal Peace and Security Hath the Lord hewed you by his Prophets Hos 6.5 and slain you with the words of his mouth What convictions of your lost Condition Hos 11.10 11. What tremblings after the Lord When he roareth as a Lion Are you of those that tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa 66.5 Yet it doth not afright you from him but to him I can be safe no where but under the shadow of his Wings Come let us join our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50.5 I will tie this slippery Heart to the Lord with the strongest and streightest Bonds I will not only say it with my Mouth but subscribe it with my Hand Isa 44.5 yea and swear my self to be the Lords and his only Some indeed Swear by the Name of the Lord Isa 45.23 ch 48. 1. ch 49. 22. but not in truth nor in righteousness but the sincere Christian is most afraid of Hypocrisy longs after sincerity approves his Heart to God resolves to resort to his Standard fight his Battles and be on his Side for ever Let Flesh and Blood and all the Devils in Hell say what they can to the contrary is this your Peremptory resolution 2. Have you separated from Sinners 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you For ver 14. 15. what communion hath light with darkness As Man cannot carry their vain Companions to Heaven so not into the Church-state No unclean thing or person can enter the Gates of this holy City Rev. 21.27 For without are Dogs ch 22. 15. Saints may not deny civil Converse with the worst of Men in Neighbourhood or near Relation 1 Cor. 5.10 But in two respects the Apostle denies Society with gross Sinners 1st Not too much or needless Familiarity with them not to be mingled with them as Water and Oil will not mix Christians must not will not be Hail-fellow with dissolute Persons 2dly Especially with such as are pretended Christians and bely their Profession by scandalous Actions these of all others we must keep at a distance from 2 Thes 3.14 as a piece of their Punishment to bring them to Shame and so to Repentance If you Act as Christians you will let him see a strangeness in you towards him ut quaeras ubi So possit prae pudore occultare that he may turn into himself by Self-reflection recognize his Disorders or seek where to hide himself But that 's not all for a godly Person hath a kind of antipathy against wilful Sinners and avoids them as afraid of being infected by them as Joseph was shy of his Mistress And as Solomon adviseth Prov. 58.9 By familiar Converse you may incourage them in Sin and prejudice your Selves Hence all Pious Persons have been afraid to associate with Sinners so David Psal 26.4 I have not sat with vain Persons neither will I go in with dissemblers For in their Company I shall get either Guilt or Grief if I Act as they I shall be guilty if not I shall be grieved The best is to meddle as little as I can with them for God's Honour and my own Peace I will resolve with Old Jacob Gen. 49.6 O my Soul come not into their Secret I dare not touch the Rope least I hear the Bell 1 Thes 5.22 Jude 23. I will abstain from the appearance of evil and hate the Garment spotted by the flesh 3. Have you associated your Selves to them that fear God Godly Persons were holy David's intimate Friends Psalm 16.3 the Saints were in his Account the excellent in the Earth in whom is all my delight Companion am I to all them that fear thee Psal 119.63 I have wise Senators valiant Souldiers but what are these to me if they be not truly Religious one Jonathan is better then many Joabs one Hushai better then a thousand Achitophels I love them that fear God with a peculiar Love yea though they should be severe upon me if I offend I will not only patiently bear it but thankfully own them as my Benefactors Let the righteous smite me Psal 141.5 Prov. 27.6 it shall be a kindness Faithful are the wounds of a friend I will love Nathan the better whil'st I live for his Faithfulness Sit anima mea piis let my Soul be united to Saints I will live with them on Earth with whom I would sing Praises in Heaven Communion of Saints is not only an Article in my Creed but a main Point of Practice yet next to Communion with God my highest Priviledge These these will I converse familiarly with I will confer with them about the things of God pray and praise God with them sit down with these at the holy Supper and walk hand in hand with them in my journey Heaven-wards There is an holy Union of all Saints which yet is not natural or corporal political nor yet personal but yet it is Real and this Union is either
it is but a short absence there shall be a joyful meeting A little recess shall be attended with an everlasting converse David would not mourn for his dead Child for saith he I shall go to him but he shall not return to me 2 Sam. 12.23 ch 18.33 but he lamented sore for Absolon whom he was never to see again with comfort Those that die in the Lord are not lost but laid up Their Bodies sleep in Jesus and their Souls rest in the bosom of their dear Lord They are with him in Paradise and say Luke 23.28 43. weep not for us but weep for your selves Imitate our Example worship the same God as we do live at the rate of Heaven let your Affections be with ours hold Communion with us This I have treated of in my Book of Heavenly Converse 6. Make ready to follow these crowned Saints They are got above we are below they pray for the filling up of their Number let us pray that we may be made meet to be partakers of the inheritances of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 The Language of Jesus Christ and all the Saints is be ye therefore ready also Luke 12.40 Be dressing your selves for that Marriage-day Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb and have put on their fine linnen clean and white which is the righteousness of Saints Rev. 19. 7 8 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Righteousnesses both inherent and imputed Both are necessary for their several Ends and Uses Whether this refer to the Day of Antichrist's fall or at the Resurrection its true in both There 's great and good things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 freedom from Sin Sorrows perfection of Peace and Joy immediate Communion with God fulness of Grace and eternal Happiness Wherefore beloved seeing that you look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3.14 Watching warring wrestling working well-doing waiting till your change come with your Loins girt your Lamps light Luke 12.35 v. 36. burning and shining with Splendour and you your selves like unto men that wait for your Lord. 7. Be longing for that blessed Day when your Souls shall be gathered among them with our blessed Lord Paul saith he desired to depart and be with Christ Phil. 1.23 which is far better It s good to be with Saints here but it s far better infinitely better to be with them in Heaven where the King makes the Court and the Courtiers are all crowned Kings Is there not great reason the Saints should cry out with Monica Austin's Mother quid hic facio What do I here Or with Calvin usque quo Domine How long Lord Oh when shall my poor imprisoned Soul be set at liberty from this body of clay and this body of death When shall I mount up above the Stars into those Coelestial Regions Oh the groanings of my Soul under this body of death and distance from God Yea I groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with an house which is from heaven 2 Cor. 5.1 2 3. When will my dear Lord break down these clay-walls and break this cage and let this Soul fly up into the Heavens where it shall be perfected How long shall I dwell in Meshech and sojourn in the tents of Kedar Psalm 120.5 I am weary of Sin and distance from my dear Lord most of my godly Friends are gone when shall I follow after Why is his chariot so long in coming why tarry the wheels of his Chariots Jude 5.18 Make hast my beloved and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices Rom. 6.27 Why doth my Soul thus linger and lagg behind my old Companions Such and such are gone with whom I took sweet councel in familiar Conference about the things of God and our heavenly Country many with whom I have pray'd and praised God with whom I have sitten down at the Lord's Table now they are drinking this Wine new in my Father's Kingdom and why am I left thus far behind worshipping afar off Lord come thou down to me or take me up to thee reach out thy hand pluck me out of this low Dungeon and set me where thou hast promised Mat. 19.25 such as have followed thee in the Regeneration upon Thrones yea thou hast promised that such as overcome shall sit with thee in thy throne Rev. 3.21 The preferment is too high for such a worthless worm such a dirty villain as I am but thy promise is sure to be performed I depend upon it I long for such a day some yea thousands have taken possession I am one of thy redeemed ones thou hast given me the earnest of thy Spirit and some foretasts and perelibations of Glory Oh for a full harvest I reach out my arms towards thee and hope at last to injoy thee the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 20. he which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly my soul eccho's Amen even so come Lord Jesus CHAP. XI Encouragement to God's Children from the Saints gathering together in sundry Cases 5. THE last use is of Consolation or Incouragement to the People of God that there shall be such a blessed gathering together 1. That the Saints of God that have lived in all Ages shall then meet and know and injoy each other with mutual Content 'T is worth observing that Plato brings in Socrate's comforting himself with the hopes that upon his Removal hence he should be with Orpheus and Musaeu's with Hesiod and Homer Yea he should greatly be pleased with the Society of Palamedes and Ajax But oh how much more content shall translated Saints take in the Society of those Coelestial Inhabitants of whom they have so often read and heard of with delight when they shall say there stands holy Enoch that walkt with God and was translated Body and Soul to Heaven There stands Noah that just and perfect Man the Father and Founder of a New World There stands Abraham the Father of the Faithful and Friend of God There stands just Lot wrestling Jacob The beloved Joseph more glorious now then in Pharaoh's Court There stands meek Moses the Jews Lawgiver once King in Jeshurun that conversed with God face to face There stands Aaron the Saint of God far more glorious now then in his priestly Garments in the Holy of Holies There appears holy Lot patient Job zealous Josiah David the Man after God's own Heart Behold a troop comes up of Old and New Testament Saints all the Prophets Apostles Ministers Martyrs Confessours and Saints in all Ages which will represent a splendid shew next to the infinite God and our glorious Redeemer Romam in flore Paulum in ore Christum in corpore If Augustin judged it a brave sight and worth
Sting of Death is gone it s but a Trap-door to let us into Heaven Thousands are gone before us they are not lost but laid up We shall meet them again O who would be afraid of Death when Jesus Christ hath perfumed the Grave for us Well may a graceless Soul be afraid to die because he knows not what Company he shall converse with in the other World but may fare with Devils and damned Souls but the righteous hath hope in his death Prov. 14.32 and sees Jesus Christ standing with a Crown on his Head and another in his Hand saying Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life Rev. 2.10 Why should we then fear this King of Terrours that 's disarmed it may hiss but cannot sting us 1 Cor. 15.56 57. It may kill us but cannot hurt us See yonder glorified Assembly of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect have conquered Death and are set upon triumphant Thrones 20. This blessed Society of departed Souls shall continue through the Ages of Eternity In this World they met and parted again there was many intermissions in their sweet Communion But now they shall for ever dwell in the House of the Lord and sing praises to the lamb for evermore Rev. 3.12 Such as overcome shall be pillars in the temple of God and shall go no more out They shall never be banished out of this heavenly Paradise This word ever evermore everlasting puts new Life into the glorious Songs of Praise and daily revives their Spirits After ten thousands of Millions of Ages shall the Joy be as fresh as at their first Entrance That River is still running in thy presence is fulness of joy Psal 16.11 at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Mortality is writ upon all Sublunaries Eternity puts an Accent upon Spirituals There shall be no night there no Clouds no Eclipes of that Glory Rev. 22.5 for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever It is recorded of Diagoras that when he saw his three Son 's crowned in one day at the Olympick Games as Victors died away while he was embracing them for joy But though the Saints shall be in a continual Extacy and transport of Joy in beholding their Children in Christ and their godly Christian-Friends yet their Heart-strings shall not break but be inlarged with comfort and perpetuated for evermore Oh what a day will that be when all the Son 's of the Second Adam shall meet together so many pure Spirits defecated from the sordid dregs of Sin and Suffering shall join their Harmonious Musick and Melody in praising our dear Lord whose glorious Perfections we could never extoll What a brave Quire will that make Not a discordant String among them all But as one Eye moves the other rolls when one String is struck the other sounds such a blending sympathy will there be of well-tuned Praises in that heavenly Chorus Ignatius thinks the Sun Moon and Stars made a Quire about the Star that appeared at Christ's Incarnation oh then what an Halcyon-day will that be when the morning stars shall sing together Job â—8 7 and the son 's of God shall shout for joy O what in harmonious Harmony in perfect Symphoâ—… What mutual Love and Delight in each 〈◊〉 Yea they shall Love one another the better for the perfect Love they have to God And bathing their Souls in that fathomless Ocean of divine Love It s true the infinite God is ultimately and objectively the Saints proper delight both here and in Heaven but glorified Bodies united to these blessed Souls and the blissful Society of Angels and Saints will be no small accessories of the Saints Happiness As there will be no Hypocrite there to cool their Charity so there will not be missing the meanest Member of Christ The weak Christian that cryed out my lameness my lameness shall then be strong The dark Soul that rarely got a glimpse of God or a sealing of the Spirit shall walk for ever in the light of God's countenance The grieved Saint shall be now in an Extacy of Joy Not a gracious Soul shall be missing not the least Grace wanting not a Duty lost all secret Prayers Tears Groans shall come to light and be rewarded Psal 56.8 their Tears were bottled their Prayers bookt and now shall be produced Not an Act of Charity though the Left-hand knew not what the Right-hand did much less others but it shall be brought to light before Angels and Men with high Approbation and Commendation Oh who would not be preparing for such a Day Who would not long for it breath after it and freely welcom it Let all the Children of the bride-chamber make themselves ready Luke 12.35 let your loins be girded about and your lights burning Be waking and watchful attend his Motions be glad of his Approaches and gladly welcom the Bridegrooms coming with all his holy Angels and glorified Spirits descending in the Clouds to fetch you home into those Coelestial Mansions to be for ever with the Lord Be not afraid when he saith surely I come quickly let the redeemed of the Lord eccho Amen even so come Lord Jesus Amen so be it FINIS Advertisement These BOOKS are Publish'd by the Reverend Mr. Oliver Heywood M. A. Minister of the Gospel and Sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three-Crowns in Cheapside viz. 1. BAptismal Bonds Renewed being some Meditations on Psal 50.5 2. Closet Prayer a Christians Duty 3. Sure Mercies of David 4. Israels Lamentation after the Lord. 5. The Holy Life and Happy Death of Mr. John Angier Minister formerly at Denton near Manchester 6. Advice to an only Child or excellent Counsel to all young Persons 7. Best Intail a Discourse on 2 Sam. 23.5 8. Family Altar a Discourse on Gen. 35. 2 3. for to Promote the Worship of God in private Families 9. Meetness for Heaven on Colos 1.12 designed for a Funeral Legacy 10. The New Creature on Galations 6.15 lately Publish'd BOOKS written by the Reverend Mr. J. How OF Thoughtfulness for the Morrow With an Appendix concerning the immoderate Desire of Foreknowing Things to come Of Charity in reference to other Mens Sins A Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Richard Adams M. A. sometime Fellow of Brasen-Nose Colledge in Oxford The Redeemer's Tears wept over lost Souls In a Treatise on Luke 19.41 42. With an Appendix wherein somewhat is occasionally discoursed concerning the Sin against the Holy Ghost and how God is said to will the Salvation of them that perish A Sermon directing what we are to do after a strict enquiry Whether or no we truly love God A Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Esther Sampson the late Wife of Henry Sampson Doctor of Physick The Carnality of Religious Contention In two Sermons preach'd at the Merchants Lecture in Broadstreet A Sermon for Reformation of Manners A Sermon preach't on the Day of Thanksgiving December 2. 1697. to which is prefix'd Dr. Bate's Congratulatory Speech to the KING A Calm and Sober Enquiry concerning the Possibility of a Trinity in the Godhead A Letter to a Friend concerning a Postscript to the Defence of Dr. Sherlock's Notion of the Trinity in Unity relating to the Calm and Sober Enquiry upon the same Subject A View of that part of the late Considerations to H. H. about the Trinity Which concerns the Sober Enquiry on that Subject The Redeemer's Dominion over the Invisible World A Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Hammond A Funeral Sermon for Dr. Will. Bates A Funeral Sermon for Mr. Mat. Mead. BOOKS written by Mr. Flavel 1. THE Fountain of Life open'd or a Display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory containing Forty two Sermons on various Texts Wherein the Impetration of our Redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun carried on and finished by his Covenant Transaction mysterious Incarnation solemn Call and Dedication blessed Offices deep Abasement and Supereminent Advancement 2. A Treatise of the Soul of Man wherein the Divine Original excellent and immortal Nature of the Soul are opened its Love and Inclination to the Body with the necessity of its Separation from it consider'd and Improved The Existence Operations and States of separated Souls both in Heaven and Hell immediately after Death asserted discussed and variously applied Divers knotty and difficult Questions about depraved Souls both Philosophical and Theological stated and determined 3. The Method of Grace in bringing home the Eternal Redemption contrived by the Father and accomplished by the Son through the Effectual Application of the Spirit unto God's Elect being the second Part of Gospel Redemption 4. The Divine Conduct or Mystery of Provividence its Being and Efficacy asserted and vindicated All the Methods of Providence in our Course of Life open'd with Directions how to apply and improve them 5. Navigation spiritualiz'd or a new Compass for Seaman consisting of Thirty two Points of pleasant Observations profitable Applications serious Reflections all concluded with so many spiritual Poems c. 6. Husbandry Spiritualiz'd or the Heavenly use of Earthly things 7. A Token for Mourners 8. The Saint indeed or the Great Work of a Christian 9. The Touch-stone of Sincerity or the sign 's of and symptoms of Hypocrisie Being the Second Part of the Saint Indeed All these Nine by John Flavel late Minister at Dartmouth 1. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mr. Joseph Barret by John Whitlock Junior to which is added his Holy Life his Evidences Experiences Holy Resolves Divine Meditations and his constant Course of Self-Examination being part of an Exact Diary written by his own Hand 2. The Remains of Mr. Joseph Barret being the Second Part taken out of an Exact Diary written by his own Hand