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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87177	The everlasting joys of heaven: or, The blessed life of a Christian, in grace here; and in glory here-after. Set forth for the comfort and encouragement of all those that desire to fear the Lord; / by John Hart, a servant of Jesus Christ. Recommended to the reader, by Obadiah Sedgewick, and Iohn Downam, ministers of the Gospel.	Hart, John, D.D.; Sedgwick, Obadiah, 1600?-1658.; Downame, John, d. 1652.	1656 (1656)	Wing H948; Thomason E1680_2; ESTC R209155	49,553	177

Earthly Tabernacle which is the reason rendred Herbr 11.9 10. Why Abraham was so willing to dwell in Tents for he looked for a City which had a foundation whose builder and maker is God So it is Heb. 13.14 That here we have no continuing City but we look for one to come and as in a City there are gathered together the confluence and riches of all the good things in the Country round about it besides that it is a setled resting place not like Tents and Tabernacles flecting up and down here to day and away to morrow So in heaven The City of the living God the Celestiall Ierusalem there must needs be the abundance of all heavens surmounting excellencies And lastly it is called heaven as a house of the most rare and admirable structure made by God himself without hands wherein we may cōceive if these inferior visible heavens in our view adorned with such varieties of unconceivable beauties so amaze our spirits and the fearfull and wonderfull making of our earthly houses so transport as David confesseth of his fearfull and wonderful making how much more admirable is this rare Building Mansion and resting place of the Almighty all things being so much the more excellent as God sheweth himself to be a immediate agent actor therin 2. The Scituation thereof For lo lo how it stands as it is said of Gods Mountain the Church exalted above the hills Isa. 2.2 and above the tops of the Mountains yea as though Mountains were set above Mountains of the top of one another yet this high and lofty place is far above all the heaven of heavens above all storms and tempests and vexations whatsoever so high and safe as no thief can come to dig through and steal and where our treasures may safely lie in the highest elevation that may be scituate not amongst briars and thorn as our houses are or amongst strangers and oppressors but where we shall be most beloved and welcome amongst all our friends and kindred where Christs is with all the Saints and Angels This shall be heaven to be with Christ wheresoever he is to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory Iohn 17.24 and so To be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4.17 Then also the praise of a building is to be scituate in a pleasant not in an unpleasant dirty place as those cities were which Solomon gave to Hiram King of Tyrus 1 King 9.11 which he therefore refused but this building is placed where pleasures abound for evermore called Psal. 35.18 the Rivers of his pleasures far before the rivers of that earthly Paradise which had but one Tree of Life guarded with Cherubims and a flaming sword watered with four Rivers running through it whereof whosoever drunk might thirst again but here there runneth along a pure River of water of life of which whosoever tasteth and drinketh shall never thirst again but be in them a well of water springing up unto everlasting life with a Tree of Life growing on each side thereof guarded with no flaming sword or affrighting Cherubim but free to enjoy the full vertue thereof to live for ever And then again In our houses we love to have our buildings with excellent lights which is a commendation to them but in Heaven in this buildings this commodity shal be in the perfection thereof Col. 1.12 called The inheritance of the Saints in light out of all morral artificial and natural darkness even the Sun it self being darknesse compared with the light thereof always light and light all over lightened by Christ the Lambe who is the light thereof not like the Sun which lightens but a part of the world and leaves the other dark but light all over and nothing but light no light like unto this always and ever light and many times lighter than that of the Sun mentioned Isaiah 30.26 which is said should be like the light of seven dayes when the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroake of their wound The next Consideration is The Materials Form or Matter of this Building It is immaterial not made of stone or marble or any such like substance a building not made with hands far surpassing all other Buildings as God is the most cunning Master Builder we know not what it is but it is set forth unto us Revel. 21. in the highest expressions of all things which with us are accounted excellent as Gold Pearl Diamonds with all other pretious stones whatsoever and the pavement of Gold as a shining glass Whereby the Holy-Ghost would have us inlarge and stretch forth our meditations unto the furthest extent of comprehension by things within the compasse of our reach to meditate upon things incomprehensible that by all things which are pure and pretious excellent durable attractive and admirable we might be in love with and long after things far above all expression of Men and Angels Another thing is 4. The Capacity and Extent of this Building For it is large and hath room enough for all as Christ speaketh Iohn 14.1 In my fathers house are many dwelling places wherein none shall be straitned as it was with Abraham and Lot whom the land could not bear because of their substance Gen. 13.6 and betwixt Isaac and Abimelech Gen 26. who were therefore forced to divide and part dwellings but in heaven is largenesse and room enough for all not like Tophet Isa. 30.33 which by the Prophet is said to be a place deep and large not for any refreshing but for the Torments and misery therein but none for conveniencie and comfort where for all this largenesse they shall be so straitned as if there were but room for one onely whereas in heaven there shall be such largenesse of room as though heaven were but for one onely there shall be such room for all And then we have to confider 5. The Furniture of this Building For in our houses here usually the glory of them is the riches of their adorning inwardly in heaven is expressed there to be lasting and enduring for ever all the furniture thereof whereas ours are transitory and subject either to corruption and vanishing or both where Theeves may dig through and steal Mat. 6.19 And therefore the Saints are said to have indured joyfully the spoiling of their goods because they had in Heaven a better and more induring substance Heb. 10.34 And 1 Cor. 7.13 He would have us to use this world as though we used it not because the fashion of stage play thereof passeth way But the riches of this building are such as shall endure for ever where no worm can come to eat or consume the furniture thereof which we know not till we see it but it is expressed by Crowns Treasures Whiterobes and the like all understood which may be infinitely comprehended thereby when we enjoy the same The next

maketh us to tread upon the Moon viz. All earthly things being strong in the Lord and having his joy for our strength Nehem. 9. Be armed against all sufferings by this piece of spiritual armour ready The Helmet of our Salvation Ephes. 6. The hope of Glory Being enflamed with that constraining love of God to long to be at home with him and work upon us suitable impressions according unto that subject we rest upon accounting all here below nothing in regard of heaven causing us having this bright Sun light not so to rejoyce any more as we have done in the moon and stars light of this world when there appeareth unto us as far greater glory Yea as it is Iob 5.21.22 making us to laugh at famine and destruction and not to be afraind thereof when it commeth or any other terrour at hand And hereby also we shall learn with Christ to despise and pass by the shame of the Crosse by these overmastring meditations in all things looking unto him who endured such contradiction of paners for the joy and glory that was set belore him Heb. 12.3 And now to conclude all in the last place let this be the upshot of all with holy Abraham and Job to stand in our Tent doors waiting for the comming of Christ for the consumation of the marriage with him for ever this whole lifetime being but our betrothing and perfuming time to fit us for him so with Iob all the daies of our appointed time waiting untill our change shall come which will nothing hinder our sighing and groaning after heaven for the same and that may stand together but every day increase the same the longer waiting for his comming is delaied quickning our appetite for it and giving us so much the more time to treasure up grace that we may be vessels sitted and prepared to engrosse a great deal the more of his excellent glory for ever And let us hereafter look upon heaven as the finisher of all our sorrows crosses cares turmoiling thoughts vexations wants and the like whatsoever where shal be fulnesse of joy and society of all which desires thoughts hopes and expectations beyond all expression learning to spiritualize all things and occurrences unto heavenly ends admiring as is said at the love of Christ who hath freely given and purchased unto us this inheritance knowing this that all the sweetnesse of this life is nothing but bitternesse unlesse he season the same and that the meditation of him in his excellencies and high perfections what he hath done for us here and shall do for us in endlesse Glory is that which onely is able to sweeten all the sowre things of this life unto us And now that we know and are convinced of these things let us do as God commanded Abraham when he gave him the promised Land Gen. 13.17 Arise and walk through the length and breadth of this heavenly Canaan given unto us from the one end of Heaven to the other To rouze up our spiritual meditations by Faith often walking from room to room joy to joy astonishment to astonishment Glory to Glory raising our meditations dayly aloft to think of it often and to joy in the same with mounted affections thither But what do I say of raising our affections and meditations thither O rather in good earnest let us resolve Saintlike to dwell in heaven where our conversation should chiefly be For so it is said of those holy ones oppressed by Antichrist whom he made war against Revel 13.6 That they dwelt in heaven having much and constant entercourse of heavenly conversation and affections bent mounting thither which is to dwel in heaven even whilest we are conversant upon earth By which meditations though thereby we cannot yet take full possession of our heavenly inheritance yet they will make us the better to taste of the milk and honey of that promised land as Moses by faith did of the land of Canaan which God shewed him yet he tasted of the sweetnesse and fulnesse thereof and fed himself with the milk and honey of it suitable whereunto is that which the Prophet David speaks so confidently of Psal. 63.4 Thus will I magnifie thee all my life and lift up my hands unto thy name my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips But when shall this be effected when I remember thee upon my bed and when I think upon thee in the night watches So that often meditations of the promises of heavenly things turneth them as it were unto marrow and fatnesse to be substantial and conatural with us when unto others they are like unto dry bones So may we in our journies through the wildernesse of this world feed our selves fat and fill our bones as it were with this strengthening marrow attained by these heavenly meditations marching from strength to strength faith to faith and glory to glory untill at length we come to be transformed into the blessed image of Christ in holiness and righteousness this mortall having put on immortality and this corruption incorruption to be swallowed up of life there to injoy for ever with a strong inlightned intellectual understanding the mystery of the glorious Beatificall vision in a ravishing and overcoming joy unspeakable and glorious And which is the sum of all which hath been or can be said as it is Ephes. 3.19 To be filled with all the fulnesse of God which is more for ought we know then Saints and Angels are fully capable of FINIS L'ENVOY To Eternities Eternity RApt up in wonders wonders Glories Maze Where endless end the period is of time My ravish'd soul do rise thou mount clime Where million millions joys themselves bewrays With Saints Angels in their glancing rays Near beauties Throne and that eternal light where ne'r shal come appear darkness or night View if thou canst eternities last days Let numbers rise and mount to highest pitch And stretch beyond and numbers O yet then This date outdates the strength of any pen Nor can it multiply its utmost reach Since then no pen can cipher out this story What can suffice for to attain this glory The Table HOw to look on death pag. 10. The Certainty of Heaven pag. 15. Nature leading us to God pag. 17. Our certain knowledge of this Building pag. 19. The Vshers unto our knowledge p. 22. Trials of our assurance and knowledge p. 23. How to know that we know that our knowledge be not counterfeit pag. 32. The distinction betwixt the witnesse of our spirit and the immediate witnesse of Gods spirit by it self pa. 32. 〈◊〉 The witnesse of our spirit in a Calm 2. The witnesse thereof in a Tempest p. 33. Gods spirit witnessing with our spirit p. 36. The sealing of the spirit pa. 37. Impressiions of the spirit at his first possessing of the soul pag. 40. The immediate witnesse of the spirit as it were from heaven above p. 43. How to know that our knowledge is no false illumination pag. 48. The excellency of heaven in general p. 62. In the titles given unto it p. 68. The scituation of heaven pag. 70. The matterials form and matter of heaven pag. 73. The capacity and extent of heaven p. 75. The furniture of heaven p. 76. The company we shal enjoy there pa. 80. The possession and enjoying of heaven p. 82. Five considerable perticulers therein p. 87 The eternity of heaven p 94. Reasons why no other estate can fit the Sainss but an eternal estate pa. 97. What great matters the meditation of eternity setles in the soul p. 104. What use this our life time is for p. 109. Pressures and weights hindering our sighing and groaning for heaven p. 110. Cases wherein very good men cannot sigh and groan for heaven p. 119. Cases wherein the soul cannot chuse but sigh and groan for heaven p. 127. What reason the soul hath to sigh for a house of glory pa. 129. Our heavenly cloathing what it shall be pa 131. Why the soul would not be uncloathed p. 135. The true causes of the souls sighing and groaning p. 137. Uses 4.1 To admire heavens inhabitants among us and love them p. 142. 2. That onely Beleevers are happy people pa. 143. 3. To tread upon ear●hly things p. 145. 4. To wait and expect for the comming of Christ p. 150. FINIS Argument from the course of nature proving the Diety 1 Conviction of the spirit 2 Conviction of the spirit Third Conviction of the Spirit Lib. 13. The Bea●●● cal vi●●e● Death what Times when the soul can sigh and groan for Heaven Our heavenly clothing Why the soul would not be uncloathed Causes of this sighing and groaning ●se 1. Vse 2. Vse 3.

behind them great impressions of humility as Ierem. 33.9 he sheweth the effect of Gods wonderfull favours shewed unto them And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the wealth that I shew unto this City O saith Isaiah when he had seen the Lord upon his Throne Woe is me for I am unclean c. for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6.5 and when God according unto Iobs wish drew near to confer with him then he could say I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eyes seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 4 2.5 This is the first That humility imprints and leaves upon the soul The second is Thankfulnesse these two accompany one another I am lesse then the least of all mercies saith David and Psal. 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me as though there were not enough to render I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord even now in the presence of all his people And thus not onely the spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the children of God but also is pleased now and then to shew himself with more immediate stronger ravishing joies and testimonies of Gods favour as it were immediately from heaven ravishing the soul and giving it here some taste in an extraordinary manner of its future eternall joies so much as mortality is capable of whereof some of the Saints have most experience at their first conversion in such a taste and measure as perhaps they never attain in all their life or seldome the like again in degree And yet as the Sun in heaven though sometimes it hath flashes of extraordinary brightnesse heat and shining when it doth not alwaies shine alike in brightnesse during the clouding damps and eclipses thereof is still the same and lightens the whole world with its height though it do not shine forth with its glorious beams being the same in it self successively never leaving us without some light so the spirits residence in the renewed soul is still the same in himself and us though he shine not forth in our night seasons alwaies alike with his beams upon us for our comfort yet the light thereof shed abroad in the whole parts and powers of the soul still enlightens and upholds the life of Grace in us in its life and being shining out brightly upon us again with its comfortable beams when the storms tempests and mists are gone which occasioned these clouds and damps and when we are so weaned from sense and feelings that we are contented to live by faith and to wait the Lords leisure for his extraordinary favours for then we are best fitted to receive extraordinary favours and mercies from God when we are contented to sit down Saint-like at his feet and to be contented of his allowance whatsoever Deut. 33.2 so that his constant residence with the Saints is ever one way or other firm and perpetuall according unto Christs promise never leaving them comfortlesse altogether manifesting and revealing himself unto them in all their exigents according unto his infinite wisedome for their good making all things work for the best unto them Rom. 8.28 and all his works in his dissertions ebbings and flowings returns manifestations witnessing lesse and more darkly or more clearly alone or with our spirits making all beautifull in time when all the ends of our crosses shall meet together Eccles. 3.11 bringing meat from our eaters and strength from our strongest crosses bringing his marvellous light out of our darknesse and separating the light from the darknesse as at the Creation Gen. 1.4 so in this new Creation which he is a perfecting like the morning light that it may shine more and more untill the perfect day Prov. 4.18 so at his good pleasure and at our need bringing all our comforts unto our remembrance Iohn 14.26 yea and inhansing and raising the estimation taste and price of them daily in his flesh and new Revelations for our joy and comfort 1 Cor. 2.10 all which things are wrought by one and the self-same spirit as Paul speaks distributing to every man severally as he will 1 Cor. 12 11. and guiding them with his counsel until he bring them unto glory Psal. 37.24 And thus not onely We know and Know that we know that this knowledg of our assurance of a better life to come is not counterfeit by Gods spirit witnessing with Our spirits that we are the children of God sometimes in a more high lofty and rare immediate strain of ravishing joy by himself as it were from heaven and alwaies when he pleaseth to join with the witnesse of our spirits sometimes again in a sweet more often and lasting manner unto the end The difference being That the former is a more strong and vehement ravishing joy comming and felt rarely upon extraordinary occasions and hard trials making short abode with us at the time heavens feasting days of extraordinary favours The other by turns in some divers degrees and measures sweet more temperate very sure and holding out with us oftner in those his reports and manifestations unto the end so ballancing the excessive vehemency and measure of the former in its more mild lasting continuance in the latter And thus at length by the assistance of this blessed spirit we are drawing near to view this matchlesse Building not made with hands but eternal in the heavens But O! who is sufficient for these things what tongue of Men or Angels can shew forth the same wherefore O thou great Architect of wonder who thunderest with thy voice and canst do mighty things which we know not who hath made the earth by thy power established the world by thy wisedome and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion who measurest the waters by thy fist who hast comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure weighed the mountains in a weight and the hills in a ballance who canst make weight to the winds and weigh the Waters by measure Thou before whom all nations are as nothing and lesse then nothing and vanity before whom the mountains tremble and the hills melt at whose sight the world is burned up and all that is therein O thou who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain like a molten looking glasse and hath spread them out as tents to dwell in who hast commanded all their armies counting the stars and calling all the hosts of them by their names who leadeth the blind by a way that they have not known making darknesse light before them O do thou take us by the hand and lead us along unto this heavenly building of thine making darknesse light before us who are ignorant how to pass along in these heavenly Labyrinths pave us a passage in this unpaved way opening our eyes and apprehensions to see and understand some of the wonderful things

condition and therefore must needs have an estate of satisfaction Now if a man in that estate might see the end thereof or beyond it it were not satisfactory for the soul Other creatures have no capacity beyond their present estate and therefore are satisfied therewith But it is not so with man who hath a reach beyond all he possesseth or can see even to eternity it being impossible to satisfie an eternal constitution with finite things Therefore we must have an eternal Estate God having stamped upon the soul an impression to look after that onely which is Eternal and Infinite therefore being now in a finite Creature it must look for an eternal Estate hereafter at its departure hence which is Eternal in the Heavens Again Secondly As it is a new Creature there is a principle in the soul to be contented with nothing but Eternity and therefore according unto this Spirituall eternal principle it thirsteth after and must have an Eternal estate For as its original is not of Corruptible seed but of Incorruptible by the word of God who liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.2 3. so must we needs have an Eternal Estate suitable And Lastly In regard that the Saints hopes are Eternal and so nothing else save Eternity can answer the same seeing they are begotten again to a lively hope out of Gods abundant Mercy by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an Inheritance immortal and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Seeing then in this life it is a grievous thing to be disappointed of our hopes which the Saints pray against but would much more be so in heaven seeing here we have no continuing City but wee looke for one to come Therefore our Expectation being strongly upon that Inheritance to come and the hope deferred as Solomon saith being the fainting of the heart if our desires and hopes should misse of this tree of Life in Eternity Wee should be Sick in Heaven which is impossible and therefore our Estate there must of necessity be an Eternal Estate suitable to our lively hopes Now This Meditation of Eternity where it fastens upon the soul works great Matters into it The Meditation I say of our Change and Eternal Glorious Estate to come for Eternity it works stamps and makes strange impressions of wonderfull matters upon the soul as 1. A willingnesse to put off our Earthly house for that Eternal in the Heavens for Such are supposed to have Eternal life already abiding in them 1 John 5.13 which no Murtherer or such like can have and may Know that they have Eternal life which is in Christ their Head who is true and the true God Eternal life 1 John 5.20 They have a Spring of Eternal life abiding in them a Well of water of life springing up unto Everlasting life not contented with this world but having hearts more in heaven then on earth 2. Then again it makes us do all earthly things with a subordination to this eternal estate so as all things may further and nothing may wrong or hinder it and so to improve our time unto the utmost advantages which may further the same contrary unto wicked men who are the most abusers and prodigall of time not following their rule Ephes. 1.4 To redeem the time But the Saints on the other side as they improve their time so they desire to do all things exactly with subordination unto heavenly things especially heavenly things more immediately ushering eternity Whereunto as all their thoughts and meditations bend so do they tend towards eternity in all things because in all their actions they have a design upon eternity doing all things as though they were to answer all at the last day when yet they know that their sins before that time are done away and covered Jerem. 31.34 Micah 7.18 And this meditation of death and eternity of heaven after the same it maketh us also abundant in the work of the Lord knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord and makes us work through all difficulties unto this eternall estate doing all things unto that end not drawing back or indenting with God For seeing it knoweth that there is no determination-of this estate it makes what it cā a suitable endeavor of Eternity upon earth to work in all things toward the same And yet more it filleth the soul ful of honourable thoughts not to be contented to sit down any more doting upon these earthly things on this side of eternity as we have formerly done setting our eyes upon that which is vanity and vexation of spirit nothing yea lesse then nothing compared with eterninity For here as David speaketh Psal. 119.19 We may see an end of all perfection and earthly glory whatsoever in this life But of this heavenly perfection as there is no so we can see no end thereof And this meditation of death and eternity following after it makes this impression upon the soul also as is usuall in disputations To state the grand businesse of heaven and earth aright to weigh all things in the ballance of the Sanctuary wherein they are found light nothing yea lesse then nothing compared with this eternity of heavenly glory to be revealed and so to look for or expect no great matters where they are not to be found But to use this world and all things therein as though we used them not and ther fore laieth this conclusion for an invincible ground that all the afflictiōs of this life are not worthy of that glory which shall be shewed unto us so great that the whole creatiō is said to groan wait for the revelation theoreof with the manifestation of the sons of God Rom. 8.18 Called therefore the fervent desire of the creature waiting groaning and travelling in pain with them to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God And therefore in all the murmurrings and tossings of the body in this life it quiets the same with holy Bernard his speech unto his body to be contented to suffer and wade through all the exigents of this life patiently because the time of the body is not in this life but in the world to come wherin our frail bodies shall be made like unto Christs glorious body Phillip 3. And it further to comfort us in our weary journey assures us That all this life time is nothing else but a time to sit and prepare us for to be Inhabitants of Heaven for ever to learn the language of Canaan in to be indowed with those supernatural habits of heavenly graces putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in all his holy vertues so by viewing of the exceeding rich and precicious promises to be partakers of the Divine Nature And as it was said of those Virgins that were to be brought unto King Ahashuerosh Est 2.12 They were first to be fitted and persumed a year one half thereof

door of life this also is Ours and a great part of our portion one of Christs prime Legacies It seems that Iob had no Crosse or bad apprehensions of Death Job 6.11 What power have I saith he that I should endure or what is my end if I should prolong my life And David he saith Mark the upright man and behold the just for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37.37 and indeed if we look through the Scripture Glasse upon Death it is nothing to a Beleever apprehending it rightly For then we see it to be nothing else but A sleep A peaceable rest A gathering to our fathers and people The funeral day of all our sins and final destruction of all our enemies The gate of heaven as it were Our Coronation day and the Resurrection of all our comforts with which and the like apprehensions we may come as it were to bury death it self The Apostle we see speaking of death he passeth it over slightly mentioneth onely the clothing after it insisting upon that which we shall have when we have put off this earthly Tabernacle And in the Phillipians speaking of Death he passeth over it and mentioneth onely our being with Christ In all these and many more cases too tedious now to insist in the soul cannot sigh and groan earnestly to be cloathed with this heavenly house though otherwise Beleevers and good Christians wherefore in these and the like cases we must not be at quiet with our selves until we have shaken off these lazy pressing down habits of our distempers with holy David chiding our selves as he did his soul Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquietêd within me wait on God for I will yet give him thanks he is my present help and my God But at other times when it pleaseth him to say unto our souls I am thy Salvation when hee anoints our eyes with spiritual eye-salve to see a far off into things invisible when heavens gates are opened unto us by a powerful preaching and opening of the word of truth unto us our beleeving breaking forth into rejoycing when with an enlarged heart we can run the ways of his commandements the feet of them that bring glad tidings being beautiful upon the mountains unto us And Christ comming by them leaping by the mountains and skipping by the hils of our sins to comfort and stablish us when the water of our sanctification is clear and not muddie so as we can read our evidences in brightnesse with many strong reports of the spirit joyning with our spirits when the bloud in our justification runs fully and clearly before us that we can powerfully apprehend the same And when in meditation wrapt a little heaven and heavenly things seem great and glorious unto us and earthly things compared with them mean and contemptible when Christ becommeth that pretious pearl known and beloved above all things for which we are contented to sell all when we have got some sight and assurance of heaven and eternity of glory having been victorious in some sharp crosses trials and afflictions having sacrificed our Isaacs and attained unto some good measure of self denial in uprightnesse and sincerity being humbled Saintlike to sit down at Gods feet and be whatsoever he will have us to be Then then the soul cannot chuse but sigh and groan earnestly to be cloathed with its house which is from heaven And very great reason there is to sigh and groan earnestly for a house of glory such a house as will keep us out of all dangers and supply all our wants This is that cloathing we so sigh and groan earnestly so To be cloathed with our house which is from Heaven of which our Garment cloathing us there is a threefold consideration 1. That cloathing we had in the Estate of Innocencie which covered our shame and nakednesse and which we kept not for sin discovered our shame so that it was quickly lost 2. There is the garment and cloathing of Christs righteousnesse in Iustification and Sanctification consisting in Holinesse and Righteousnesse mentioned Isa. 61.10 called the garment of Salvation and robe of Righteousness cause of great rejoycing to the soul to joy in God being cloathed with the garments of Salvation and covered with the robes of Righteousnesse And 3ly There is under this notion of cloathing the Glory of Heaven understood and looked at Christ his Righteousnesse is indeed a garment of Glory making us all glorious which garment we are now cloathed with I whereunto when there shall be added a tincture of Glory in Heaven then are we cloathed with our house from Heaven for the soul wishes not to be rid of that garment of Grace is now wears but to have it beautified and adorned to the height of all excellencie when it shall be cloathed with a tincture of Glory to make it appear most of all excellent Which glory even Christ himself in the days of his flesh prayed for Iob. 17.5 And now O Father glorifie me with thine own self with that glory which I had with thee before the world was that is that the glory of the Divinity might shine forth joyned with his Humanity as bright as ever Now this cloathing is first a most rich and pretious cloathing above all other cloathing whatsoever exceeding that of the lillies spoken off which surpassed Solomons glory in all his excellency and royalty And the secondly It is a durable cloathing which shall never wear nor wax old but be new and alike fresh for ever as it was said of the children of Israels garments and shoes in their journey unto that earthly Canaan a Type of the heavenly not onely that these did not wear but were as fresh and new as at the first And then thridly It is a lovely garment which shall be perfected with Gods comelinesse and that beauty he shall put upon it mentioned Ezek. 16.14 which if he call it perfect upon earth In how much more perfection of beauty shal this cloathing be in heaven where the fulnesse of glory doth so abundantly shine forth about the Beatificall vision And as for Excellencie so for Vse this garment of glory is such a cloathing as shall cover all our shame and all our nakednesse For if the estate of innocency knew not shame till sin discovered it much lesse shall there be any shame in heaven where this garment of glory so far excels surmountingly our first garment of innocency Such a garment as we shall always keep close about us where no winds troubles or temptations shall be to make us any more in danger to loose our garments as here And then such a garment as shal keep us warm for ever such a house and garment as shall preserve us for ever from all outward incumbrances and troubles supplying all natural wants without naturall helps doing all these things to us so as we shall never have need of them any more A house cloathed