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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A32952 The inheritance of the saints in light set forth in a sermon preach'd at Whitehall, August 11, 1700 / by Ab. Campion ... Campion, Abraham, d. 1701. 1700 (1700) Wing C405; ESTC R1424 15,676 29

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of it I purpose to Discourse on these Words in this Method I. To consider the Nature of the State and Condition of the Saints in the other World It is here set forth as a State of Light II. The Certainty of it the sure Title they have to it It is their Inheritance III. The Qualifications requisite to make them meet to partake of it IV. How these Qualifications are to be obtain'd that so we may upon good grounds give thanks unto God who has made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light We begin with the First The Consideration of the State and Condition of the Saints here signified by a State of Light Light is the most proper word to express a State of Happiness and set forth to us the Heavenly State and Condition in whatever sense we take the word Light whether 1. In its common or natural Sense for a Bodily Quality a visible Lustre or Glory Or 2. For Knowledge which is sometimes call'd Light Or 3. For Purity and Holiness they are all of them Ingredients of the Heavenly State and concurr to compleat its happiness As to the First If Light be taken in its vulgar sense for a visible Lustre and Glory Light seems in this sense to be essential to the Notion of Heaven for Heaven is the Seat the Country of Light The Sun and Stars are Bodies Great and Glorious yet these are but the Ornaments of the outer Court of Heaven serving to Beautifie and Enlighten the lower World For the Heavenly Palace the New Jerusalem as St. John stiles it the Seat of God and of the blessed Spirits that stands not in need of these Lights they shine not there they have no influence above The Divine Apostle Rev. 21. has collected every thing that appears at present most bright and gay to help us to conceive the Glories of that Heavenly City He represents its Walls and Gates as built of the most glistring Pearls and Precious Stones as paved with Gold that there is no Night but a perpetual Day no need of Sun or Moon for the Glory of God does enlighten it for God is Light and the Lamb is the Light thereof ver 23. The Light of the Sun would sully and defile the pure brightness of that Region that being fitted only to serve the uses of this Elementary World is a gross Light a meer Kitchin-Fire if compared to that most refined Light with which God is Cloathed as with a Garment Light inaccessible to us in our present Capacities but those that shall be thought meet to be admitted into that State of Light I pray God it may be the happy Lot of all here present they shall have their Organs strengthned fitted to approach and enjoy that Light For they themselves shall be Cloath'd with Light and dress'd up in the Habit of the Country their Earthly Tabernacles shall be transform'd into Glorious Bodies such as their Saviour wears now in Heaven Mat. 13.43 for they shall shine then as Suns in the Kingdom of their Father he has assured them Their Bodies shall be like the Glorious Body of Christ tho' not equal to it in Glory Amongst the Saints themselves there shall be Degrees of Magnitude as one Star differs from another in Glory They that turn many to Righteousness saith Daniel 12.3 shall shine as Stars for ever and ever and they especially that have Suffer'd with Christ shall be also Glorified with him They that thought nothing too dear for their God but had the Grace and Courage to Die for their Saviour as he had Died for them their mangled Bodies shall shine next to his in Glory This imperfect Account of that State of Light may suggest to us the Happiness of it for Light is pleasant to behold it is so much the experience of every one that has Eyes to behold it as that I need not quote Solomon for it Light gives Beauty to all things it is the Paint and Varnish of the World it is the Life of it for when Light breaks in upon us it awakens and gives new Life to the Soul it brisks the Spirits and puts them in Tune for Joy and Mirth Whereas on the Contrary by Darkness is signified a State of Melancholy and Misery The Scene of Grief and Sorrow is black the Afflicted shut out the Light and condemn themselves to Darkness Darkness is a sad ingredient of the Miseries of Hell it is the essential Character of that place of horrour for the melancholy abode of the Damned is express'd to us by a Dungeon of Darkness of utter extream Darkness the very blackness of Darkness This makes the Sorrows of that Place more oppressive to the Spirit its terrors more frightful and amazing Besides Darkness gives scope and liberty to the Rage of guilty Consciences We know by woful experience that our thoughts are always most tyrannical in the Dark and sting most severely when any thing lies cross or heavy upon the Spirit Then when the Soul has nothing to do but to think has no Pleasure to divert it nor the too common refuge of Drink to drown its Cares nor the least pretence of Business to employ it for a moment The steady remembrance then of the mad follies of a brutish Life being reflected on in the Dark to all Eternity and continually repeated with fresh vexation of Spirit must of necessity strike deep pierce to the quick and wound to the very Centre of the Soul One Prospect of that State of Darkness one serious thought of it would quickly teach us what abundant reason they have to give God thanks as my Text exhorts who are by the Grace of God made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light 2. Light is frequently put for Knowledge in this respect also the State of the Saints in Heaven may properly be stiled a State of Light Knowledge is Spiritual Light it has the same influence upon the Eye of the Mind as Light upon the Eye of the Body Knowledge is pleasant as Light it cheers the Soul it brings in Day upon it it opens the World as Light and gives a prospect even to the utmost ends of the Earth It sees into the very Heavens it takes in past and future Ages into its view and by the help of Revelation even Eternity it self Knowledge gives Confidence and Security the understanding Man goes on freely and cheerfully as he that Travels in the Day He is in no danger of being led aside by Shadows and false Lights whereas Ignorance and Darkness hide and shut up every thing in Obscurity The Ignorant Man is like one locked up in a close Room or that walks in the dark Night he has no prospect of Things about him he knows not whither he goes he stumbles and wanders and fears every step all the Dangers that a benighted Fancy can represent Knowledge is often express'd by Light in the Holy Scriptures Particularly the Gospel-Revelation is