time to put under his everlasting Arm to bear up their Souls and support them under the worst of Tryals and in his due time to deliver them out of all their Afflictions Well but wee 'l see what the Scripture sayes concerning this matter See first Psal 23.4 Yea sayes the Psalmist though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death yet will I fear no evil Mark how bold and resolute the Psalmist is in the midst of strange Difficulties As much as if he should say Although I should walk in a dangerous valley and mine Enemies at the top of the Hill ready to overwhelm me with destruction and though Death should pursue me and be as near to me as my shadow yet will I fear no evil Why David what 's the matter that thou art so exceedingly transported above the fear of evil Certainly thou hast some Reason for it thou could'st never be so full of Courage in such eminent Danger as thou speakest of if thou hadst not something more than ordinary to Support thy Spirit See the Reason therefore in the following words THE LORD IS WITH ME. There 's the business there 's that which is sufficient to fortify my Soul against all fear whatsoever Thy ROD and thy STAFF they Comfort me As much as if he should say Although thy Rod doth a little Correct me yet thy Staff doth exceedingly Support me and thy PRESENCE doth very much Refresh me and betwixt them all I am mightily filled with Comfort and Encouragement Thus the Saints and People of God should Plead their Interest in him in a day of Adversity and he will make all things Comfortable and pleasant unto their Souls and nothing shall be able to make them afraid See also Psal 46.1 2 3. God is our Refuge and Strength a very present help in time of Trouble Well what then What use doth the Psalmist make of this Why therefore will we not fear though the Earth should be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea though the Waters thereof roar and be troubled and though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof Here 's an admirable Spirit filled with Confidence and godly Resolution in the strength of the Lord Challenging as it were the greatest Terrours on Earth to shew themselves in their greatest Rage and Fury yet they shall not so much as diminish his Courage nor make him afraid And the Reason of all is this GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH So that it seems the Consideration of God's supporting Presence is or ought to be one great Reason or Encouragement to bear up our Souls in the worst of Troubles Therefore when troubles do attend us and when our Enemies are most implacable against us and talk of Stoning of us and Banishing of us and putting of us to Death and the like let us with David encourage our selves in the Lord our God 1 Sam. 30.6 And let us consider the Lord is with us and he is a present Help in time of Trouble and if God be for us who can be against us Therefore saith God Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismaid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness As much as if God should say Although all the World should be against thee yet fear thou not keep close to me and I will be with thee and although thou hast never so many Enemies and Adversaries to oppose thee yet be not dismaid for I am thy God and I will strengthen thee And though they set themselves against thee to wrong and oppress thee yet be of good chear I will help thee and take thy part against them And though they think to Conquer thy Spirit and subdue the strength of thy Inward-man by Imprisoning and Punishing of thee yet be not troubled at that do but put thy Trust in me and depend upon me and I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness Therefore seeing the Lord is so much engaged for the good of his People let 's not fear what man can do unto us Reas 2. Why we should not fear man Because the Lord himself will engage and fight against the Enemies of his People and bring them to a reckoning for all their Malice and Cruelty towards them though they may tyrannize and insult over God's Heritage for a time and magnifie themselves against the Lord and his Jewels yet the time will come when the Lord himself 〈◊〉 appear against them in Wrath and Judgement and dash them in â—â—â—ces like a Potter's Vessel for their Rage and Cruelty against his People Therefore this may be another Reason to arm us against the fear of Man because the Lord hath engaged to deal with our Adversaries in Judgement and Recompence Fury upon our Enemies for all their Tyranny towards us and will assuredly work Deliverance and Salvation for his People from all their Troubles See that notable Text Isa 49.25 26. But thus saith the Lord Even the Captives of the Mighty shall be taken away and the Prey of the Terrible shall be delivered for I will contend with them that contendeth with thee and I will save thy Children and I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blond as with swoet Wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and the Mighty One of Jacob thy Redeemer Thus the Lord will one Day deal with the enemies of his People when they have filled up the Measure of their Iniquity then they shall assuredly Drink the dreggs of the Cup of God's Fury and when they are at the highest raging and roaring and swelling in Malice like the Sea against the People of the Lord then is their destruction the nearest and then is Sions Deliverance near at hand Read and Consider well that Scripture Isa 17.12 13 14. compared with Chap. 59.15 to the latter end Wo to the multitude of many People which make a noise like the noise of the Seas and like the rushing of many Waters the Nations shall Rush like the Rushings of mighty Waters But GOD SHALL REBUKE them And they shall flee and be chased as the Chaff of the Mountains before the wind and as Thistle-down before a Whirle-wind Behold this is the Portion of them that spoil us and the Lot of them that Rob us c. Oh! Little doth our Enemies Consider what mischief they are a heaping upon their own heads when they drive on so furiously against the People of God and Persecute the innocent Lambs of Jesus Christ without a Cause What account do you think they can give to the Lord when he shall call them to a Reckoning for these things And how will they be able to stand before the Lord when he shall bring them to a Tryal for dragging his People out of their Houses
from their Callings and casting them into Prisons and Dungeons and keeping of them there by Hundreds and Thousands for nothing but because they are Godly and because they love the Lord Jesus Christ and dare not sin against the Lord Surely the Hand of the Lord will one Day take hold of Judgement for these things and he will assuredly render Vengeance to his Enemies and reward them that hate him for the Arrows of the Lord are ordained against the Persecutors Deut. 32.41 42. Psal 7.13 Therefore though the enemies of God may now flourish and prosper for a while and lye upon Beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flock and the Calves out of the Stall and drink Wine in Bowels and annoint themselves with the chief Ointments yet when the Lord comes to Plead with the Nations for the Controversie of Sion Then they will be ready to run and hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and call to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Therefore under this Consideration let 's not faint nor be discouraged in our Progress towards Heaven for if the Lord be on our side we need not fear what Man can do unto us Reas 3. Because our greatest and our worst Adversaries I mean our Persecutors are but Men that shall die poor vile sinful mortal men whose Breath is in their nostrils whose Lives are uncertain and whose greatest glory is but perishing vanity and when they are at their greatest strength and in their greatest Pride The Lord can but put forth his hand and touch them and lo they become as nothing and the Lord can but put forth his voice and call for their Breath and lo they become but dust and meat for Worms Therefore great Reason why we should not be afraid of their greatest Terrour For alas they may threaten great things against the People of God yea and be ready to Swear it may be that such and such things shall be done unto them the next Week or the next Month when it may be the next day they themselves are summoned to their Graves and so never live to see their wicked Designes accomplished Therefore see how the Scripture Reproves Persons under this Consideration for being afraid of man Isaâ— 51.12 13. Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of man that shall DYE and of the Son of man which shall be made as GRASSE And forgettest the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and laid the Foundations of the Earth and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the Oppressour as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the Oppressour So that it is below the Spirit of a Saint to be afraid of any perishing Creature it is a shame for a Living Saint to be afraid of a Dying Sinner it is a great dishonour to God for Saints to be afraid of a mortal man and forget the fear of the living God it 's a shame for a Saint whose strength is in the Lord to be afraid of a man whose greatest strength is weakness it 's a shame for a Saint whose hope and Confidence is in the God of Jacob to be afraid of a man whose Expectation shall perish it 's a horrid thing that Saints should be more afraid to serve the Lord then wicked men are to serve the Devil Therefore let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering and never fear what man can do unto us Rea. 4. Because though we may be troubled and disturbed on every side by man yet we have Peace and Favour with God and though men may account us as the filth and the off-scouring of the World yet the Lord doth esteem us as his Jewels and his peculiar Treasure And this may be sufficient to bear up our Souls in the greatest of troubles to consider That though the World may hate us with cruel hatred yet the Lord loveth the Righteous and taketh pleasure in his People and though the World may be our Enemy and frown upon us yet the Lord is our Friend and will smile upon us with the Light of his Countenance and refresh our Souls with the choice manifestations of his Spirit and presence and though in the World we may have Tribulation and Sorrow yet in God we may have Peace and Comfort and Joy in the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore see where our Saviour Christ makes this a great Reason against Fear Joh. 14.27 where he speaks thus Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you for alas the world many times giveth Peace and presently takes it away again it may give Peace and rest a little to Day and it may be Sorrow and Trouble to Morrow But now sayes Christ I give not Peace after this manner But my Peace ILEAVE with you that is it shall continue and Tarry with you and none shall be able to take it from you Well what then suppose it be so why let not your hearts be Troubled neither let them be afraid for though your Enemies may Rob and Deprive you of your outward Comforts and outward Enjoyments yet they shall never be able to east you out of my Favour nor Deprive you of that inward Comfort and Spiritual Refreshment that I will give unto you and leave with you Therefore be not afraid of their Terrour neither let your hearts be Troubled And so likewise see the Apostle Rom. 5.1 3. Therefore being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord So that now we do not onely Rejoyce in the hope of Glory But we also Rejoyce and Glory in all our Tribulations and are filled with Comfort in all our afflictions 2 Cor. 7.4 Therefore let us endeavour to keep in the Love and Favour of God and then we need not fear what man can do unto us Rea. 5. Because all our Sufferings which are for Righteousness sake work together for our good and great advantage and will add to our future Glory and happiness there is no misery that can befall us upon the account of Godliness but it will prove an addition to to our Eternal Happiness Every step we trace in sorrow will be to the increase of our Eternal Joy Therefore this may be another great Reason why we should not fear the worst that man can do unto us for alas whatever they do unto us they cannot hurt us if we keep close to God they can do us no Injury at all Nay the more they Persecute us if it be for Christ the more it will conduce to our Good and Benefit Oh what a glorious Encouragement is this for poor Persecuted Saints to hold out in a Day of Tryal and to bear up their Souls
Heavenly Calling by a cheerful continuing in the paths of Holiness Oh! let us take heed that our Actions do not witness against our Words and our Conversations give our Profession the lye But as we bear a Heavenly Profession so let us lead a Heavenly Conversation and let us not suffer our hearts and affections to run out after the things of this Life But if we be risen with Christ let us seek those things which are above and set our Affections there where we profess our Portion is and let us manifest our selves to be Heirs of this Kingdom by our constant continuing in the work of the Kingdom and let us not shame our selves nor disgrace our Royal Profession with doring upon the beggerly things of this World but let us make it appear to the World that we are the Sons of God and Heirs of Heaven by abounding in the fruits of the Spirit and devoting our selves to Heavenly things and let us take heed that we do not defile our selves with any of the works of Darkness nor stain our Heavenly Reputation with wandring in the filthy paths of Iniquity For we that profess our selves to be Heirs of this Glorious Kingdom we must not expect to walk as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds and in the lusts of the flesh for if we do we must expect to be rewarded accordingly But we must if we expect a better Reward than others exercise our selves in a better Work than others and we must put off our former Conversation and cast away the old Man with his deeds which is corrupt and be renewed in the Spirit of our Minds and put on the new Man which after God is created in Righteousness true Holiness that so we may adorn our Princely Profession and walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are Called For pray consider what an unsuitable thing it would be for a Prince or one that is Heir to an Earthly Kingdom to go up and down in Beggers Apparel and associate himself with the meanest and basest of the People and expose himself to such a contemptible Course of life as to spend his time in the works of drudgery and slavish employment and take up his lodging with Beggers on a dunghil or under a hedge and yet keep up his Princely Profession and proclaim himself to be the Son of a King and Heir to a Kingdom I say it would be accounted a very unsuitable thing and a great dishonour to one of his degree and it would very much stain and diminish his Reputation in the eyes of the World and render him very ridiculous amongst his Friends and Relations How much more would it be an unsuitable thing for us that professe our selves to be the Children of GOD and Princes of HEAVEN and Heirs to an ETERNAL Kingdom if we should suffer the rags of unrighteousness to rest upon us and go along with the wicked in the paths of impurity and exercise our selves in the Devils drudgery and set our affections upon the unprofitable dunghils of this Life take up our lodging here under the hedges of Earthly Vanity Oh! how unsuitable would it be to our Heavenly Profession And how greatly would it derogate from God and diminish the Reputation of Godliness And how unworthy and unfit should we render our selves of such a Glorious Inheritance and we should cause the way of Truth to be mightily abused and manifest our selves to be no better than Hypocrites Therefore now let us endeavour to regulate and order our Conversations aright in the fear of the Lord and to walk circumspectly both in Words and Actions redeeming the time because the dayes are evil and let no corrupt Communication proceed out of our mouths nor no corrupt Actions be seen in our lives but rather let the appearance of Gods Grace unto our Souls teach as to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present evil World that so we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing increasing and abounding in the fruits of the Spirit and continuing and persevering in the way of the Lord all the dayes of our lives to the Praise and Glory of him who hath called us to such a Heavenly Glorious unmoveable Kingdom Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant make us perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ our Lord To whom with the Father through the Spirit of Grace be Blessing and Glory Wisdom and Thanksgiving Honour and Power Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for evermore Amen THE END
receive a Glorious Portion from the hands of our Heavenly Father which will be no less than a Crown and Kingdom See another Glorious Testimony for the Truth of this Proposition in Luke 22.28 29 30. Says Christ there to his Disciples Ye are they which have continued with me in my Temptations As much as if he should say you are they which have been with me in all my Troubles and have followed me faithfully in all my Sufferings and have Travelled with me in a difficult path and now for your Comfort and Encouragement here 's a promise for you to make you amends for all your Tryals I 'le see that you shall be sufficiently requited for every thing that you have lost in my service Therefore take notice That I appoint unto you a Kingdom even as my Father hath appointed unto me And you shall eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit upon Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Thus you see what Honour and Dignity what Glory and Majesty the poor despised Saints of God shall one Day have conferred upon them and what an Eminent Portion they shall one Day receive from the hands of their Heavenly Father therefore Here they have no continuing City But they seek one to come Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Therefore I shall conclude the proof of this Proposition with that saying of the Apostle Jam. 2.5 where he speaks thus Hearken my beloved Brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Though they are poor in this World yet they are rich in Faith and Heirs of a Kingdom and though now it may be they are Branded and Stigmatised with filthy names and called Phanaticks and Schismaticks and Hereticks and the like yet they shall one day appear to be the Jewels of God and all Nations shall call them Blessed in a delightful Land and they shall dwell with God in his heavenly habitation For this we know when our Earthly Tabernacle is dissolved we shall have a Building of God an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Mal. 3.12 2 Cor. 5.1 So much shall suffice for the proof of this Proposition viz. That Gods People shall one Day Receive Possesse and enjoy a Kingdom I shall now come to speak a few words concerning the Excellency of this Kingdom and endeavour to shew you in some measure what manner of Kingdom this will be that shall one Day be the Portion of Gods People First That Kingdom which God will one Day give unto his People It is a Heavenly Kingdom It is not an Earthly corruptible Kingdom Adorned with worldly Vanities But it is a Heavenly Incorruptible Kingdom Adorned with Celestial Majesty It is not a mean contemptible Kingdom attended with Earthly corruption But it is a High and Lofty Kingdom filled with Heavenly Beauty It is not an ordinary Kingdom to be found here upon Earth But it is an Extraordinary Kingdom reserved now in Heaven It is such a Kingdom as all the Kingdoms on Earth and all the Monarchs in the World are not worthy to be compared nor put in the Ballance with it Therefore this is one thing which may in a great measure Demonstrate the Excellency of this Kingdom It is such a Heavenly Portion as that all the Earth is not able to afford such a precious Jewel See what the Scripture sayes concerning this Kingdom in this very particular 2 Tim. 4.18 Sayes the Apostle there The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his HEAVENLY Kingdom Mark he will preserve me not onely unto his Kingdom but unto his HEAVENLY Kingdom An excellent Kingdom of a Heavenly Nature nothing on Earth comparable thereunto Therefore sayes Christ also Mat. 5.3 10 12. Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven So that it is not onely a Kingdom but a Kingdom of Heaven it is not onely a Reward but a Reward in Heaven it is not onely a Jerusalem but a Heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12.22 It is not onely a Country but a Heavenly Country Heb. 11.16 It is not onely a Building but a Building in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 A City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11.10 So that this is the first thing that bespeaks the Excellency of this Kingdom It is a Heavenly Kingdom A Portion which this World is not able to afford 2. It is a Gloriom Kingdom or a Kingdom of Glory It is not onely a Heavenly Kingdom But a Glorious Heavenly Kingdom or a Heavenly Glorious Kingdom It is not a Kingdom mixt with worldly pollutions but it is a Kingdom filled with Heavenly Glory It is not a vile Kingdom attended with shame and dishonour But it is a pretious Kingdom full of Honour and Glory It is such a Kingdom as all the Kingdoms on Earth are not worthy to be compared with it for Glory and Beauty there 's no Kingdom on Earth so Glorious out it 's mixt with some shame and contempt But the Saints Kingdom is altogether lovely cloathed with Glory and Majesty there is no Kingdom on Earth so Beautiful but it 's mixt with some silthiness and Deformity but the Saints Kingdom is altogether comely full of Spendour and Beauty there is no Kingdom on Earth so pleasant but it 's mixt with some filth and corruption but the Saints Kingdom is altogether pure full of Excellent Brightness Oh the Excellency and Purity of this Kingdom Oh the Glory and Dignity of this Kingdom who is sufficient to expresse the Majesty and Beauty of this Kingdom The tongue of Men and Angels is not able to speak forth the fulness thereof But now to prove That it is such a Glorious Kingdom see first that saying of the Apostle 1 Thes 2.11 12. You know says Paul how we exhorted and charged every one of you That you would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and GLORY Mark he hath not onely called you to his Kingdom but to his Kingdom and GLORY that is to say to that Glory which is in that Kingdom which plainly shews it is a GLORIOUS Kingdom And further it appears that the greatest Glory and the greatest Excellency that this World can afford is not worthy to be compared with the GLORY of this Kingdom For the Spirit of God in Scripture doth frequently call the greatest Glory and the greatest Honour of this World But vanity and vexation of Spirit and it 's of no Esteem in the account count of God and good Men but the Apostle Paul in this Text Reckons it a great Priviledge and a wonderful happiness to have an Interest in this Kingdom
and GLORY Therefore he strictly charged them to walk worthy or sutable to that great Love of God which had graciously called them to such a GLORIOUS Kingdom And further saith he in another place Rom. 8.18 I Reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which shall be revealed There will be such Inestimable Glory revealed in and for the Saints when they enjoy this Kingdom as there is nothing comparable thereunto there is nothing here below worth the naming in comparison thereof Therefore sayes he in another place 2 Cor 4.17 Our Light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of GLORY So that this is also another thing which doth very much Demonstrate the Excellency of this Kingdom It is not onely a Heavenly Kingdom but a Heavenly Kingdom of GLORY And there is a Crown of Glory in it laid up for all the Little Flock of Christ 1 Pet. 5.1 3 4. verses 3. Lastly It is an unmoveable Kingdom or a Kingdom which cannot be moved It is such a Kingdom as can never be shaken nor moved by all the Powers on Earth nor it can never be thrown down nor destroyed by all the strength in the World All the Force and Violence that men and Devils can use against it can never shake nor move the Foundation of this Kingdom It far exceeds all the Kingdoms on Earth in this particular also For alas all the Kingdoms on Earth are Changeable and Mutable and are very subject to be subdued and destroyed by Power and strength But the Saints Kingdom is Unchangeable and Immutable an Inheritance which fadeth not away Alas the Kingdoms of this World are at no certainty they are often altering and changing in their affairs Sometimes to one thing and sometimes to another sometimes High and sometimes Low sometimes Rich and sometimes Poor sometimes Gaining and sometimes Losing sometimes Peace and sometimes War sometimes Prosperity and sometimes Adversity Alwayes Ebbing and Flowing Rising and Falling Changing and Turning from one thing to another Till many times Kings are even weary of their Kingdoms And again in the Kingdoms of this World things are so Mutable and subject to Change that it 's possible a man may be a King to day and a Beggar to morrow a man may be upon the Throne to day and upon the Dunghil to morrow a man may be in great Honour to day and in great Reproach to morrow yea a man may be a Ruler to day and over-ruled himself to morrow so variable and changable are even the best things of this life By which means all things here below are but vanity and vexation of spirit But now it is not so in the Saints Kingdom it 's altogether Unmovable and Unchangable there 's nothing can alter or change the Excellency of that Kingdom there 's nothing can stain the Glory nor diminish the Beauty of that Kingdom but as it is a Heavenly Kingdom now so it will be a Heavenly Kingdom for EVER and as it is a Glorious Kingdom now so it will be a Glorious Kingdom for Ever and as it is full of Beauty and Majesty now so it will be full of Beauty and Majesty for EVER So that this is also another thing which doth exceedingly proclaim the Excellency of this Kingdom Therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 12.28 Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be MOVED let us hold fast Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and godly Fear Mark not only a Kingdom but a Kingdom which CANNOT be MOVED not only a Building but an ETERNAL Building 2 Cor. 5.1 not only a City but a City which hath FOUNDATIONS whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11.10 not only an Inheritance but an INCORRUPTIBLE Inheritance which fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 So that these three things seriously considered do exceedingly discover the unspeakable Excellency of that Kingdom which the Saints and People of God shall one day receive for their Reward and Portion First It is a HEAVENLY Kingdom Secondly It is a GLORIOUS Kingdom Thirdly It is an UNMOVABLE Kingdom Which being put together make a HEAVENLY GLORIOUS UNMOVABLE Kingdom An excellent Habitation an appointed Portion a precious Reward for the People of God So much shall suffice concerning the Excellency of this Kingdom it self I shall now come to speak something concerning the Priviledges of God's People in this Kingdom and endeavour to give you a glimpse or a Discovery of that Glory and Happiness which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Glorious Unmovable Kingdom The Happiness and Priviledges of God's People in this Kingdom consist in these two general Heads First A Freedome from all Evill Secondly An Enjoyment of all Good But more particularly First They shall be all Righteous and without Sin they shall be altogether pure and without spot they shall be altogether clean and without Corruption they shall be altogether Holy and without Pollution This is a glorious State and one excellent Priviledge that the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Kingdom They shall be wholly freed from Sin and Iniquity and put out of a Capacity of ever Sinning more Oh! this is a blessed Priviledge indeed and much to be desired and longed after Oh! saith many a gracious Soul If I were but altogether free from Sin and Iniquity I should think my self in a happy Condition indeed Oh! If I were but in such a State as that I could never Sin against God what a blessed Condition should I be in But this is such a Condition as cannot be attained on this side the Grave this is such a Priviledge as cannot be found in an Earthly Pilgrimage for alas now we are subject to Sin every day and lyable to fall into Iniquity every hour and many Temptations offer themselves unto us and spread themselves before us and many times occasion us to Sin against the Lord and endanger the destruction of our Souls But now when the Saints enjoy this Kingdom they shall be altogether free from Sin and Iniquity and perfectly Pure and Undefiled before the Lord And all Temptations and all occasions of Sin shall be wholly removed and taken away and they shall never be in a Capacity to Sin any more against the Lord but they shall be all a Tree of Righteousness planted by the pure hand of the Lord And there shall be no more Curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his Servants shall Reign and serve him for Ever and Ever Revel 22.3 5. See also Revel 14.5 And in their mouth was found no guile for they are WITHOUT FAULT before the Throne of God There 's nothing of GUILT to be laid to their Charge there 's nothing of BLAME to be found amongst them there 's none can accuse them of any FAULT But they are altogether RIGHTEOUS without SIN and they shall inherit the
Land for Ever that God may be Glorified Isa 60.21 This is one great Priviledge and one Branch of that Happiness which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this HEAVENLY Kingdom But Secondly Another is this 2. They shall be wholly freed from all Sorrow and from all Trouble of what nature soever they shall be wholly freed from all manner of Grief and Anguish from all manner of Distress and Misery and they shall never know what belongs to Sorrow any more Alas now we are subject to much Sorrow and Misery to much Trouble and Distress and many distempers of Body and defects of Nature do dayly attend us and several Afflictions are every day ready to seize upon us as Sickness Lameness Blindness Hunger and Cold and many other Troubles and Miseries are every day ready to fall upon the outward man in this life which many times occasion great grief and sorrow of heart and great trouble and perplexity of spirit and great complainings under the burthen of bitter Afflictions But now it is not so in this Heavenly Kingdom for when the Saints receive their Portion there then all Sorrow and Trouble shall quite be removed and all occasions of Grief and Anguish shall be wholly taken away and there shall be no more cause of Complaint under the burthen of any Affliction nor no more cause of Grief under the sence of any Misery for they shall hunger no more neither shall they thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them into Fountains of living Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their eyes and there shall be no more Death nor no more Sorrow nor no more Crying neither shall there be any more Pain for all such things shall be past'd away and shall never have a Being in this Heavenly Kingdom Revel 7.16 17. 21.4 Here 's another excellent Priviledge that the Saints shall be made partakers of in this glorious Kingdom they shall never any more taste of Sorrow nor never any more be acquainted with Grief they shall never any more be troubled with Afflictions nor never any more fall under Distress though now it may be they may be laden with Afflictions and burthened with Misery yet the time will come when Afflictions shall fly away and Misery shall be no more For all Trouble shall be swallowed up in Victory and the Lord God will wipe away Tears from off all Faces and the rebuke of his People shall be wholly taken away for the Lord hath spoken it Isa 25.8 Oh! what an Eminent Priviledge will this be for poor despised Saints to be made partakers of Oh! what a blessed condition will they be in that are subjects of this Glorious Kingdom There is no condition on Earth so happy nor no State in the World so Excellent nor no enjoyment under the Sun worthy to be compared with the least Priviledge in this Heavenly Kingdom there is no condition on Earth so happy but it 's subject to misery there is no condition on Earth so joyful but its subjects to sorrow there is no condition on Earth so pleasant but it is subject to pain but now the Saints in their Kingdom shall be wholly delivered from all their afflictions and shall never know what belongs to Trouble any more They shall be wholly exempted from all their Infirmities and be crowned with Perfection without any change So that this is another Excellent Priviledge or a second Branch of that Happiness which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Kingdom But Thirdly Another is this 3. They shall dwell with God and Christ and see them Face to Face they shall be received into the presence of God and behold his Glory and they shall sit down in the presence of the Lamb and behold his Beauty they shall be so much honoured by God and promoted by Jesus Christ as to be Companions with them in Glory and dwell in their presence continually Here 's another Excellent Priviledge and Emninent Dignity which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Glorious Kingdom They shall not onely be freed from shame and reproach but they shall also be Crowned with Honour and Dignity Their eyes shall not onely be freed from vain sights and Terrible objects but they shall also be Blessed with Heavenly Visions and Sights of God and dwell in the presence of the Lamb continually It 's counted a great Honour and an Excellent Priviledge amongst the Men of the World to behold the face of an Earthly King or to be admitted into the presence of a great Person But it 's counted more Honour to be one of the Family and DWELL in his Presence and to be a Companion with Him in his Honour and Dignity But now the Saints in their Kingdom shall have tenfold more Honour and Dignity than all this I mean in Reference to this particular besides all the Rest they shall have more Honour than to behold the face of an Earthly King for they shall behold the face of him that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords they shall have more Honour than to be admitted into the presence of a great Man on Earth for they shall be admitted into the presence of a Great God in Heaven And not onely so but they shall be of his Family and DWELL with him and be Companions with him in his Glorious Kingdom Therefore says the Psalmist Psal 140.13 Surely the Righteous shall give thanks unto thy Name The Upright shall DWELL in thy presence Mark it doth not say onely They shall BE in thy presence for a Little Time But they shall ' DWELL in thy presence They shall continue and abide in thy presence as Persons belonged and related to thy House and Family And they shall sit at the Table with Jesus Christ and see his Face and his Name shall be in their Foreheads and they shall be known to be his servants for Ever Revel 22.4 Luke 22.30 Therefore sayes Christ Joh. 14.3 If I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my Self that where I am THERE Ye may be also So that it seems where the Lord Christ is Exalted there must the Saints be Exalted And where the Lord Christ takes up his habitation there must the Saints be received And they shall dwell in his presence and see him as he is Therefore sayes the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a Glass darkly but then we shall see face to face now we know but in part but then we shall know even as also we are known So that this is also another Excellent Priviledge or a third Branch of that Happiness which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Kingdom They shall DWELL in the Presence of the Lord and continually behold the Majesty of God But Fourthly Another is this 4. They
which the Saints shall be made partakers of in this Heavenly Kingdom Sixthly Another is this 6. They shall have fulness of unspeakable Joy and fulness of Glory and Happiness they shall be exceedingly filled with Gladness and wonderfully crowned with Pleasure they shall not only be freed from Sorrow and Trouble but they shall also be filled with Joy and Rejoycing they shall not only be freed from Pain and Misery but they shall also be filled with Delight and Pleasures they shall not only be freed from Grief and exempted from Misery but they shall also be exceedingly filled with Comfort and crowned with Happiness they shall have Beauty for Ashes Joy for Sorrow Pleasure for Pain Glory for Shame Honour and Dignity for Reproach and Contempt the garment of Praise for the spirit of Heaviness that every way they may be crowned with sulness of Joy and unspeakable Glory according to that saying of the Psalmist In thy Presence is PULNESSE of Joy and at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore Oh! the excellent Priviledge and wonderful Happiness of God's People Oh! how blessed are all those that shall be counted worthy to enter into this Glorious Kingdom Who is able to express the Happiness of Heavenly Subjects Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 31.19 Oh! how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in him Mark what unspeakable language the Psalmist makes use of in these words he is not able to express the great Provisions that the Lord hath laid up in store for his Saints Therefore saith he Oh! how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee He wants a tongue to express it and therefore his heart admires it See also a notable saying of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.9 where it is thus written Eye hath not seen nor Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Mark Here 's wonderful things prepared here 's unspeakable Glory provided Eye hath not seen saith the Apostle the things which God hath prepared and yet the Eye of man hath seen many glorious things and hath beheld many wonderful Objects and eminent shews full of Delight and Pleasure but yet the Eye of man hath not seen SUCH Things as God hath prepared for his People But further Ear hath not heard yet what wonderful strange and excellent things hath been reported to the Ears of man Yea the Ear many times may hear that which the Eye never hath seen but yet the Ear never heard of such Things as the Lord hath laid up for his SAINTS But yet further Neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive Yet what unspeakable things may the heart of man conceive to it self What glorious and excellent things may possibly enter into the Imaginations of the heart Yea the heart may fancy to it self things which are impossible to be and things which cannot be uttered the heart may conceive that which the Eye never saw nor the Ear never heard out yet the Heart of man cannot conceive SUCH Things as the Lord hath provided prepared and laid up in store for them that love him The tongue of men and Angels are not able to express the FULNES of that Joy the GREATNES of that Glory the incomparable Happiness of Saints in their Kingdom All the Joy and Pleasures on Earth are but Sorrow and Misery in comparison of this Heavenly Joy in the Saints Kingdom All the Glory on Earth is but Shame and Contempt in comparison of the Saints Glory in Heaven All the Happiness that can be enjoyed under the Sun is but Vanity and Trouble in comparison of the sweet and heavenly Happiness in the Kingdom of Glory Oh! how may this rejoyce and make glad the spirits of Saints to consider of their Portion in their Father's Kingdom Oh! how may this ravish and strengthen the hearts of Gods People to think of their Fathers love that he should extend his grace and goodness so far towards his Children as to make them Heirs of a Glorious Kingdom and crown them with unspeakable Joy and Happiness So that this is another Excellent Priviledge or a sixth branch of that Happiness which the Saints shall enjoy in their Fathers Kingdome But Seventhly and Lastly 7. That which is the main thing of all and that which is most remarkable is this All this Glory and Happiness and all this Joy and Blessedness will be ETERNAL and shall continue even for ever and ever They shall alwayes be glorious and never know an end of their heavenly Beauty They shall always be blessed and never know an end of their Happiness They shall alwayes be joyful and NEVER know an end of Gladness They shall alwayes be rich and honourable and NEVER know an end of their Excellent Dignity They shall alwayes abound in fulness of Joy and never know an end of their unspeakable Plenty This is that which doth eminently and chiefly demonstrate the Excellent Happiness of the Saints in the Kingdom of Glory for if they were to enjoy never so much Glory and Happiness and never so much Joy and Blessedness yet if this were to continue but for a short time or a little while then indeed it would not be altogether so much worth the prizing but the Glory and Happiness of the Saints in this heavenly Kingdom is not onely for a little time but for ever and ever as their Happiness begins so it shall continue and NEVER have an end as they shall be pure and without sin at first so they shall be pure and without sin for EVER as they shall be freed from sorrow and trouble at first so they shall be freed from sorrow and trouble for EVER as they shall dwell with God and Christ at first so they shall dwell with God and Christ for EVER and enjoy the society of glorious Angels to all Eternity There 's nothing can alter nor change the affairs in this Kingdom nor nothing can bring the Glory of the Saints to an end Oh what an incomparable Priviledge is this where is there such a durable habitation in this world or where is there such a resting-place on earth Alas if the glory of the world do chance to mile upon a person at present and riches and honours do seem to encrease all is so vain and uncertain that there 's no confidence to be put in their lasting The world may soon shew a frowning countenance again and quickly turn its own glory into shame and contempt and quickly turn riches and plenty into poverty and want and all may quickly make themselves wings and vanish away and so procure great trouble and vexation of spirit But now in this Kingdom ALL their Happiness and all their Priviledges are ETERNAL and shall NEVER have an end Their Perfection shall be ALWAYES compleat and NEVER be diminished Their