Books of Moses the Psalms and the Prophets The Lords portion is his people the Lord the hope of their fathers Jer. 50.7 Happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144.15 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal 146.5 And by all such Phrases and Forms of Speech there which the Holy Ghost makes use of to shew that such of his Creatures as serve and obey him they have also an Interest and Propriety in him He is their God or my God or such like In all these as under a Vail is contained Heaven Immortality and Eternal Life For there is a way of assuredly gathering and reasoning out of the Scriptures to bring out such and such Truths although they seem to speak nothing thereof in plain and express Words Even so it is here for by the same way of assuredly gathering and reasoning out of the Scriptures as is used in Heb. 11.16 He was not ashamed to be called their God so far goes the Text there cited out of the Old-Testament but then saith the Reasoning by the Spirit further for he hath prepared for them a City From this very place we lay down and establish that grand Position and Affirmation which is certainly true That where-ever in the Old Testament God is said to be their God therein is contained the Promise of Heaven Immortality and Eternal Life this being that City which he hath prepared for them And to make this Matter a little more plain and clear the Reason hereof stands on this wise He is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City That is They had Confidence and Assurance that God would do somewhat more for his Servants than Temporal and present Mercies for they were also common unto others But as he is just and good so he would make some Requital for Obedience and for that Hardship and Inconvenience his Servants meet with from the World for his sake which they did expect hereafter in another place and that is Heaven and also themselves should remain or else be raised up again into a State capable to receive and partake of that great Good God had prepared for his Creatures which must be by continuing or giving them Life again For they were sensibly bereaved of this present Life and here they did not continue by reason of Death So that of Necessity therein must virtually be contained the Promise of Immortality and Eternal Life and therefore Paul saith appositely and pertinently to the Matter here treated of in Hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began but hath in due time manifested his Word through preaching Tit. 1.2 for discovery hath been made thereof by little and little It was contained in those general Expressions afore-mentioned the Lord their God I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and such like God was the same then and his Decrees alike sure although they were not so clearly made known unto Men. And therefore now it is called Hope which entreth into that within the vail Heb. 6.19 a better hope Heb. 7.19 a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 all in opposition to those faint Guesses and imperfect Knowledge they had thereof under the Law It is speaking plainly under the Gospel according to John 16.25 in opposition to those dark Speeches which God spake by Moses or those Parables and Proverbs which he spake by his Servants the Prophets They under the Old-Testament Dispensation had but a dull and glimmering Prospect beyond the Earthly Canaan But now the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light thro' the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 And tho in the Gospel it is spoken more plainly concerning Heaven Immortality and Eternal Life and also more suitable unto our Carnal Apprehensions and Fleshly Mind in describing it by the outward Representations of a Marriage Supper Gold Honour Pleasure Satisfaction Blessedness and such like yet there is also somewhat spoken of these things in the Old-Testament But all that and much more than all that is comprehended under that one saying The Lord our God the Lord is my Portion for ever Perhaps the Hearer or Reader may expect that now I am a discoursing of the Happiness of Heaven here I should be unto thee as a very lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice and can play well on an Instrument Ezek. 33.32 This being so very delightful a Subject that if here thou canst not tickle the Ear and please thy Auditory thou never wilt But now suppose I should here use Ten Thousand Words in Rhetorical Flourishes in the greatest Eloquency and Wit of Man with the most smooth Language with the greatest Connexion and Exactness of Stile and all concerning this best of Subjects the Happiness or Joys of Heaven yet as it is said That she who cast her two mites into the treasury cast in more than all they who gave of their abundance So here it would be there would be more said concerning Heaven in these four or five words only the Lord my God or the Lord is my Portion for ever For all these are the Words which the Spirit did dictate so that there is more contain'd in them than in five Millions of other Words concerning it This will also further appear from this following significancy and Reasoning viz. If the Lord is our God or if the Lord is my Strength and my Portion for ever thence it follows also of consequence That all that Blessedness Happiness Goodness Delight Satisfaction and Immortality which is in God the Everlasting Creator of the Ends of the Earth as it is all in him which is any where in the World for they are all but Rays and Emanations from this infinite Fountain of Life and Being I say all these are communicated and imparted forth even as far as the small Vessel is capable to receive brimfull and running over to such of his Creatures and People to whom he is the Lord their God and they are his Portion and the Lot of his Inheritance â—s they can reciprocally say The Lord is my strength and my portion for ever There is but one thing in the World which hinders all the reasonable Creatures on the Earth from this Blessedness and Union with their God and that is Sin O accursed thing which we gather assuredly from what is written Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 As the foregoing part of the Verse doth illustrate and shew that so by the latter part of the Verse the Holy Ghost doth signifie that such of his Creatures as shall then be more nearly and immediately in the Presence of God where is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand are Pleasures for evermore all Refreshing Content Satisfaction yea and
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come Mat. 3.7 We learn that it is a great part of the Ministerial Office and Duty to warn People that they flee from and avoid and use all Care and Diligence lest they fall into Hell and to testifie unto them lest they come to the place of Torment Luk. 16.28 Accordingly I do take such to record who shall Hear or Read this that they do cease and abstain from all Appearance of Evil and be sure not to do those things to which this same future Punishment is annexed and threatned We are told that the Sinners of Zion are afraid fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire who amongst us shall dwell with Everlasting Burnings Isa 33.14 They that do Iniquity shall be cast into a Furnace of Fire Mat. 13.41 42. The wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience Col. 3.6 so that the Consequence is Natural Certain and Necessary That if we would not dwell with devouring Fire and with Everlasting Burnings nor yet be cast into a Furnace of Fire nor yet fall under the Wrath of God we must be sure to avoid all these four Things Sin Hypocrisie Iniquity and Disobedience and also in order to escape Hell set forth by all these kinds of Expression we must avoid Apostacy or falling away which I ground from this following Scripture For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries Heb. 10.25 26. As we here see and know what we must avoid and eschew in order to escape from everlasting Punishment I will repeat them over again for more abundant Safety and Care It is Sin Hypocrisie Iniquity which signifies doing those things that are not equal Disobedience Apostacy or Falling away So on the other hand we are shewed from out of the same Scriptures of Truth what we are to do to obtain Eternal Life If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Mat. 19.17 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right unto the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22.14 Or as it is written The Righteous shall go into life eternal Righteousness is a Comprehensive Word and signifies a Conformity to all the Words of Gods Law in Scripture And it shall be our Righteousness if we observe to do all these Commandments before the Lord our God as he hath commanded us Deut. 6.25 And as Sin Hypocrisie Iniquity and Disobedience do lead towards Hell so this thing of Righteousness through God's gracious acceptation thereof furthers towards Heaven The Happiness and Blessedness whereof is called Life Eternal Now there can be nothing better and more desirable than Life For by Life we receive feel and are rendred capable to enjoy all other things which can be had by Man Accordingly the Word of God which matle Man and the Spirit of God which knows what is in Man do so express it For by Life at first he is enabled to perceive Peace Joy Satisfaction and all those Good things Said Jesus Christ Who is the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and Giveth Life unto the World John 6.33 I am come that bey might have Life more abundantly This is meant of that Godly and Spiritual Life on Earth In order to an Eternal Life in the Heavens As it hath been afore observed How the Everlasting Puâ—ishment is set forth by all those things which are Evil and Painful so it is contrariwise as to Life Eternal for that again is described by all those things which seem Good and Delightful unto us as by Meat Drink Riches Pleasures Gold Peace Joy and such like Labour not for the Meat which perisheth but for the Meat which endureth unto Everlasting Life And so it is most commonly expressed by the addition of that Epithet Everlasting to distinguish â—t from the short and perishing Pleasures here In thy presence is fulness of Joy This is opposite unto and distinct from that short and empty measure thereof we have some times here when the end of our Joy is Grief and there is a mixture of Heaviness even in the midst of it And at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 Which is a great and remarkable diversity from those sudden and perishing Pleasures here It is called Everlasting Joy Isa 35.10 whereas all Joy here is but for a Moment and for the present time It is called pure Gold in opposition to that mixture of Dross which is with it here And Perfect Peace Isa 26.3 To distinguish it again from that broken and interrupted Peace here This Life is but Vain and as a Vapour and continueth not But the future Life is so substantial and enduring that it shall have no End Whatever we meet with here which is delightful or pleasing yet still we should Prefer Jerusalem above our chief Joy Psal 137.6 So this should be the only Standard or Measure of all our Comfort or Vexation as it furthers or hinders in the way to Heaven So we should be contented or pleased therewith and give God thanks for the same As again when it hinders or obstructs or stops up the way against our going or Arriving there this should be Grief and Vexation of Spirit And we should endeavour as much against it as we can Truly mine own easiness or uneasiness of mind doth wholly depend and turn upon this Point As I do any thing which sets me one step forward in the way to Heaven which I know assuredly from the Word of Truth which shews and makes known the way of Life as also from the approbation of mine own Conscience being guided thereby herein I rejoyce and give God thanks on this behalf Again It is unexpressible anguish and vexation of Soul when any thing happens which turns me backward or sets me out of the right way Which again I know by the very same manner as I do the other by its being against the Scriptures as also I find thereupon mine own thoughts accusing me even a sensible Regret and Condemnation Notwithstanding in this rejoyce not that the Spirits are subject unto you which yet is a good cause of rejoycing for those Spirits do very much lett resist and hinder in our doing the Will of God but rather rejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven Luke 10 20. For by your Names being enrolled there you are much more sure of coming to Heaven from the Decree of God than the Spirits can possibly hinder And so the same Reasoning is Whatever your worldly Priviledges and Advantages are whether thou hast Riches or respect from Men whether thou hast Wisdom Beauty Health or whatever is now usually desir'd or esteem'd by the Children of Men. In this rejoyce not but rather rejoyce because thou hast
Happiness doth arise from him as Waters do flow from the Fountain Light doth proceed from the Sun or as Heat doth issue forth from Burning Fire to the things that are next unto it As on the foregoing part of our Being he is our Creator and he is our Preserver in the mean while who holds our Soul in Life all the time that it is in the Body and afterwards also he that first breathed into us the Breath of Life can and also doth preserve it when it is gone forth So in his being our Portion for ever he will take Care of and do good for us in the time to come and throughout the succeeding Eternity Vnto God shall all flesh come Ps 65.2 that is good and bad promiscuously to appear before him in judgment but unto him shall the gathering of the People be Gen. 49.10 This in a particular manner is meant of his own particular Elect Redeemed and Chosen People who in this Life and on this Earth do gather and make towards God by Faith and Obedience by Love Trust and Adherence and hereafter they shall flow back unto as Rivers again to the Sea from whence they did first arise and be admitted into his immediate Presence to the nearest Communion and closest Union with the Godhead himself He will gather all Souls which are his which he hath made and which he hath redeemed that is from Sin here and from Death and the Devil hereafter as nearly and as closely to himself as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her Wings It is somewhat too gross an Expression to say that the Souls of the Righteous shall be incorporated with the Deity for that denotes somewhat too material a Conception of such Spiritual and Immaterial things But the Union will be as near and as close as what is ingrafted into such a Stock is near and close to the same stock and it becomes as one and the same with it And the nations of them that be saved shall walk in the light of it Rev. 21.24 But this is not all for further they shall be one and as it were the same with God himself Holy Father keep thorough thine own Name those whom then hast given me that they may be one as we are And now I come to thee that they may be all in one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us Joh. 17.11 13 21. This being one and as it were the same with God who shall then be all in all but the Creatures have and derive it from him by Union and participation will be the highest and greatest and only Happiness in Heaven The Truth whereof may be hence understood for God is a most happy Being For he created all Happiness and Good and he is comprehensive of all Happiness and Good so that all Happiness and Good do reside and lodge in him as in their Foundation Stock or Fountain from whence do flow forth all Derivations and Emanations of Good and Happiness So as when any one is nearer to the Sun he is nearer to the Light and Heat so the Nations and Persons of those who are saved who are nearer to God are also thereby nearer to Good and Happiness Himself in a peculiar and eminent manner is stiled the Blessed Art thou Christ the Son of the Blessed Mark 14.61 And as Christ himself doth promise Where I am there shall my servant be if any man serve me him will my father honour John 11.26 That they may be all one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one John 17.22 23. which Prayer of Christ is heard and granted accordingly he elsewhere calls him My Father and your Father my God and your God Joh. 20.17 By expressing of which on this wise he shews himself to be the first born of many Brethren that Christ in all things should have the Pre-eminence But from all this put together it may be most surely Argued and Reasoned that if Christ be the Son of the blessed then they that are Christ's are the Sons of the Blessed and accordingly the Scripture doth elsewhere expresly averr the same Behold now are we the sons of God 1 John 3.2 and if they are the Sons of the Blessed then we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is This Reasonng out of the Scriptures is right preaching for so did Paul reason out of the Scriptures concerning several things and so are we allowed to bring out all those many Truths relating to the Kingdom of God and man's Salvation We know further that some of his blessedness will be derived from him and conveyed and communicated forth unto us The least Drop or Ray whereof will then suffice us for we are but little Beings and that is of infinite Contentment and Satisfaction As the Apostle argues Furthermore we have Fathers of our Flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits and live for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our Profit that we might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12.9 10. From which very last words I do reason that if we may be partakers of his Holiness here as this Text doth most plainly import that we may then assuredly we shall be partakers of this Happiness and Blessedness hereafter From whence note That the only way to Happiness is by Holiness because of what is said in this same Chapter Without holiness no man shall see the Lord ver 24. who have not Holiness here that man or Woman will not have Happiness or Blessedness hereafter Concerning this future and everlasting Happiness of Blessedness many things do arise in the Mind which are hard to be uttered and hard to be conceived For since the beginning of the World Men have not heard non perceived by the heart neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa 64.4 As we do this Day in this Ordinance of Hearing his word or that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit Which same Spirit spake by the Prophets Christ and the Apostles out of whose Words and Writings this same description of Heaven and the Joys thereof hath been brought forth And what shall I say more where I begun and found it there I must leave it If I should multiply never so many Words I cannot say more than what I have said already That the whole of Heaven and the Happiness thereof is comprised in these very few Words The Lord our God the Lord is the strength of my heart and my Portion for ever Or in the Language of the Gospel We that is only his Elect shall ever be with the Lord 1 Thess 4.17 If you set aside these kind of Expressions and then if you Read or Hear never so much concerning Heaven yet when you come there you will affirm as the Queen of Sbeba did of the Wisdom of Solomon The one half was not told me But if you once add and mention The Lord shall be my Portion for ever Or We shall ever be with the Lord therein the whole and utmost of Heaven was told unto thee before hand and the Souls of such as shall be Saved and admitted there will make their return As we have heard so have we seen in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will Establish it for ever Selah Psal 48.8 When the Apostle Paul in 1 Thes 4. doth mention how we shall ever be with the Lord He thereupon immediately annexes and subjoyns Wherefore comfort in the Marginal Reading there it is exhort One another with these Words And as it is here said God will establish it that is the City he hath prepared for his People for ever Selah So it is Meet and Right that by the way of Retaliation and Common good Will Paul Calls it a Good Mind towards God this little while that we are in the way that his Servants and their Seed should be established before him in his Worship and Service in finishing his Work and doing his Will They should be settled fixed and rooted herein Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved Mat. 24.13 Hereby also People will be enabled in this World of Tryal and Temptation to chuse rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt For he had respect unto the recompence of reward Heb. 11.25 26. So they will go through the course of what is imagined the dulness irksomness and tediousness of a Religious Life which indeed is real Peace and Satisfaction to the Heart of Man to such who universally comply and conform unto it all along although the World and Strangers to this Joy and also our fleshly corrupt Nature are apt to call it so rather than to enjoy the outward Mirth Recreations and Pleasures of Sin for a season knowing that all the Reproaches and Inconveniencies which we meet withal for holding and continuing in this our good way are greater Riches than the Treasures of the World for we have respect unto the recompence of reward Keep an Eye still to that and this will prevent that we wax not weary in well doing for we shall reap in due season if we faint not Whilest let others do what they will we do all along follow propose and endeavour after an end which is worthy viz. To serve God here with all our Mind Body and Estate that we may enjoy Him hereafter and so ever be with the Lord Amen Written by Richard Stafford FINIS LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by E. Whitlock near Stationers-Hall 1697.