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
see in vers 4. And I say unto you My Friends Be not afraid of them that kill the Body and afterwards can do no more For the Lord Jesus Christ know right well that his Disciples would be exceedingly hated by the World and that they would meet with implacable Enemies and Adversaries which would oppose them with great force and cruelty in their journey towards Heaven Now as a means to Establish them in the Truth and to arm and fortifie them against the terrour of these implacable Opposites he spreads several Considerations before them from vers 4. to vers 13. And at length sums up all into this Exhortation and Encouragement Fear not little Flock for it 's your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Secondly By Fear in this Text is intended thus much viz. That we must not be afraid of wanting Wordly things relating to the outward Man as Food and Raiment or any thing that may be convenient and necessary for us for many times the World proves such a snare and such a clogge to Christians as that it fetters and intangles them so as they cannot run with patience the Race that is set before them and is ready many times to pull them back again into Egypt when they are Travelling towards Canaan And to make them with Demas forsake the Communion of Saints in the wayes of God and to close in with their Affections to the Transitory things of this present World And many times Christians are very much filled with Fears and Cares and Perplexities of Spirit upon the account of this World fearing that Holiness and Purity being to much opposed by the World will tend too much to Poverty And if they continue and persevere in that Path they shall not be able to find Temporal Subsistance And so under that Consideration they are incident many times to corrupt themselves and close in with any thing for Profit and Advantage Therefore it is the great Care of our Saviour Christ to arm and fortifie them against this kind of Fear also As you may read at large from vers 13. to the words of my Text and there he comes to fasten his Concluding Injunction and backs it with a very Glorious Encouragement Fear not what ye shall do for Food and Raiment do but you continue faithful in your Duty towards God and to be sure he will continue faithful in his Mercies towards you and whatever Crosses and Losses you may sustain in this World yet be of good chear keep on your way the time will come when you shall largely be made amends for all when you shall receive a hundred fold for every particular lofs For it 's your Pather's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom The Words being chus Opened and Explained I shall now come to deduct something from them by way of Doctrinal Observation hoping it may through the Blessing of God be of some use unto our Souls Observ 1. That Christ's Flock is but a little Flock A Mean Contemptible Despised little Flock Little in comparison of that great Multitude which runs the contrary way Mean and Contemptible in the eyes of the World in comparison of the many Mighty and the many Noble which belongs to the Prince of this world There are but few will come and abide in the Fold of Jesus because he will not grant his Flock Liberty to feed upon the fat Pastures of worldly Pleasures nor glut themselves with Sin and Iniquity There are a great many that will run freely and swiftly into the Path of Iniquity but there are but a few that will run so freely into the high-way of Holiness and continue in the Paths of Righteousness Again there are a great many that will take abundance of Care how they may make themselves Rich and how they may grow Great in the World but there are but a few that will take so much Care how they may please the Lord or how they may make themselves Rich in Faith and good Works that so they may be great in the Kingdom of Heaven And again There are a great many that follow the Devi in the broad-way to Destruction but there are but a few that follow Jesus Christ in the narrow-way to Salvation For strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it And again many are Called but few are Chosen So that it seems Christ's Flock is but Little and the Children of Election are but few Well But what 's the Reason that Christ's Flock is so Little And what is the Reason that there are so few runs the narrow-way to Salvation What is the Reason or Cause may some say why so few are saved I shall therefore through the Assistance of God offer to your Consideration some few Reasons or Grounds why I judge so few belong to the Flock of Christ First Negatively What is not the Reason I do not believe that the Cause lyes at all in God but altogether in Man It is not because God hath determined or absolutely Decreed that no more should be saved as some weakly imagine for God desires not the Death of a Sinner nor delights in the Destruction of any man but rather Grieves and Mourns over Persons for their Iniquities and for destroying themselves and is troubled and sorrowful that they will not turn unto him that they might be saved Psal 81.13 Jer. 4.14 compared with Chap. 13.27 and 44.4 Luk. 19.41 42 c. So that it 's clear from all these Scriptures together with many more which might be given That it is not because God hath absolutely Decreed before the Foundation of the World that no more should be Holy and partake of Salvation for he is not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved Neither is it because Christ Died for no more and so they want a Saviour for this is most certain That Christ Died for All 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 10.10 for EVERY Man Heb. 2.9 for the VVorld Joh. 3.16 4.42 yea for the whole VVorld â— Joh 2.2 Therefore glad Tydings is to be Preached to every Creature and all are Commanded to Repent and Believe the Gospel so that it cannot be because Christ Died for no more for Christ Died as well for those that deny him and for those that perish as for those that believe in him and are saved 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Cor. 8.11 Neither is it because God with-holds the Means of Salvation from any man for God affords sufficiency of Means to all People for their Salvation and puts every one into a Capacity to perform that which he requires at their hands and God never did nor never will Condemn any for that which they could not do but alwayes for that which they would not do Psal 81.11 Luk. 13.34 Joh. 5.40 Therefore it is not because God with-holds the Means of Salvation from any for he never Requires that from any
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
Jerusalem what ever it Costs him Therefore said he in his Answer to his Disciples What mean you to Weep and to Break my heart As much as if he should say what mean you to be thus earnest to hinder me from the Work of the Lord away with all your Entreaties and away with all your Perswasions for I am more afflicted and wounded in heart at the Consideration of your perswasions in this Case than I am at the Consideration of all my Sufferings at Jerusalem For I would have you to think that I am Ready not onely to be Bound but also to Dye at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus Oh that this valiant Spirit of Pauls were but Seated and Grounded in the hearts of all Professors at this Day how would it Glorifie God and make his Truth and Gospel shine in the World and mightily amaze and astonish the hearts of our Enemies and exceedingly Engage the Lord to Crown us speedily with Victory and Deliverance Therefore now let us seriously weigh these things and lay them to heart And let us Rouse up our Dull Spirits and be Valiant for God and the more our Adversaries increase in their Rage and Fury against us the more let us increase in our Zeal and Courage for Christ and let us Remember the Lord is with us and for us and if we continue Faithful to him he will never leave us nor forsake us But continually Support us and Comfort us and in his due time deliver us out of all our Troubles and Afflictions Therefore to conclude this point Let us be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his might and take unto our selves the whole Armour of God That we may be able to stand and withstand in this evil Day That so having fought a good Fight and having finished our Course and kept the Faith we may at length receive that Crown of Righteousness and that Eternal weight of Glory which is laid up for all those that love the Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ I have done with this point of Doctrine and shall now come to the last Branch of the Text wherein is comprehended the third and last Observation which I raised from the words I shall now endeavour to Manage and Prosecute that as the Lord shall direct me Therefore I proceed and say That it is the good pleasure of Almighty God to provide and prepare a Kingdom for his People The Lord hath so much Love and Affection for his People as that he takes Delight and Pleasure in their Glory and Happiness therefore he will be sure to have so much Care and Tender Respect towards them as to provide a Reward for his Flock And their Reward shall be no less than a Crown and Kingdom I say it is the good Pleasure of Almighty God to provide an Eminent Reward for his People yea to prepare a Kingdom for his despised little Flock Fear not little Flock for it 's your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom Though possibly now they may not be counted worthy of a poor contemptible Cottage by the Men of the World yet the Lord himself will one Day count them worthy of a Crown and Kingdom though now it may be they are not counted fit to have a being in the World yet the LORD will one Day count them fit to have a Being in a Glorious Kingdom though now it may be they are so much despised by the World as that they are not counted worthy to dwell amongst Sinful Men upon Earth yet they are so much honoured by the Lord as that he will one day count them worthy to dwell with Glorious Angels in Heaven though now it may be they are poor and despised and trampled under Foot yet they shall one Day be Rich and Honourable and sit upon Thrones Though now it may be they are cloathed with Reproach and covered with shame yet they shall one Day be cloathed with Majesty and Crown'd with Glory though now it may be they are tossed to and fro and have no certain dwelling place yet they shall one Day enjoy a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Here 's a Glorious Portion laid up in store for the poor despised Flock of Christ Here 's that which will abundantly make them amends for all their Sorrow and Travel in their Earthly Pilgrimage though now possibly they are counted the filth and the off-scouring of the World yet the very poorest and meanest of God's People shall one day be promoted and advanced to an Honourable Kingdom I say a Kingdom shall one Day be the Portion of the poorest and meanest of Gods People yea even those that are the most despised and most abused are no less than Heirs of a Kingdom they have it now in promise and they shall assuredly one Day have it in possession But for the better Confirmation of this Glorious Truth I shall endeavour to give you some Scripture-Testimonies which strongly bear witness thereunto See one in Mat. 25.34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand which is his little Flock being then Separated from the Goats Come ye Blessed of my Father A Glorious Invitation indeed he doth not onely invite them to come But come ye BLESSED Why what 's the matter Wherein doth their Blessedness consist See the next words and you shall find Inherit the KINGDOM prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Herein doth their Blessedness consist and herein are they Blessed Persons indeed It was the good pleasure of Almighty God to provide and prepare a Kingdom for them now they are called to come and possesse it therefore this is one clear Scripture Testimony to prove the Truth of this Proposition namely That it is the good pleasure of Almighty God to provide and prepare a Kingdom for his People See another in Mat. 5.10 Where our Saviour Christ speaks this Language Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the KINGDOM of Heaven Mark Blessed are they which are PERSECUTED for Righteousness sake Though in a PERSECUTED State yet in a BLESSED State though in troubled Condition yet in a happy Condition Why so How doth it appear that they are Blessed in a Persecuted State Why here 's the business there is a Kingdom-Portion prepared to make them amends for their Suffering-Portion therefore though they may be Persecuted and Reproached and evil spoken of yet their Condition is blessed and happy Because their Reward shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven Alas now we are but strangers and Pilgrims Travelling towards our Fathers house and we must expect to meet with many Rubs and difficult steps in our Journey we must expect to meet with many Storms and bitter Blasts in our way to Heaven and to climb over many troublesome stiles before we come to the Land of Rest But when we come home to our own Country and Arrive at our continuing City Then we shall
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
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
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