A Glance of Heaven, Title page – To the reader
A GLANCE OF HEAVEN. OR, A PRETIOVS TASTE of a glorious Feast.
Wherein thou mayst taste and see those things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him, &c. Psal 23.14
By R. SIBS D. D. Master of Katherine Hall, and preacher of Grays Inne London.
LONDON Printed by E. G. for Iohn Rothwell,at the Sun in Pauls Church-yard. 1638
To the Christian Reader.
Beloved,
IT's growne a custome, that every booke, whose soever, or of whatsoever subject, must be presented to you in state, with some prescript purposely. Were it not that Custome is a Tyrant, this labour might now be spared. Such matter, from such an Elder as here followes, needs no epistle of recommendation. The Reverend Au…hours▪ is wel approved to be a man of God, a Seer in Israel, by those things which without controule, have already passed the presse. Might I have my with, it should bee no more but a double portion of that Spirit of God which was in him. The divine light, which radiated into his breast, displaies it selfe in many other of his labours, but yet is no where more condens'd than in this following. It's truly sayd of Moses, by faith hee saw him that was invisible, Heb. 11. 27.
And S. Paul prayes for the Ephesians, that they might know the love of that which passeth knowledge, Eph 3. 19. These things imply a contradiction; yet in like phrase I feare not to say of this Father & Brother, he saw those things which eye hath not seen, spake those things which eare hath not heard, and uttered those things which have not entred into the heart of man to conceive. This knot needs no cutting: hee that rightly understands the text, will easily looke through this mystery, without the helpe of an Hyperbole. His scope was to stirre us up to love God: his motive to perswade, is taken from the excellencie of those things which God hath prepared for them who love him. That excellencie is expressed in a strange manner. By intimating it cannot be expressed, no nor so much as comprehended by any naturall abilitie of the body or minde; yet it is expressed in the doctrine of the Godpell sufficiently. So as herein, as in a glasse, we may behold the glory of God, and in beholding, bee changed from glory to glory. What duty more necessary than to love God? what motive more effectuall than the Gospell? for what is the Gospell but a revelation of such things as naturall men could never invent? Such things, that is, so pretious, so useful, so comfortable to us; so divine, admirable, and transcendent in themselves. Many of us are like the Angell of Ephesue, Wee have lost our first love. Rev. 2. 4. yea as our Saviour prophesied, Matth. 24. 12. The love of many maxes cold. One reason may bee, because to see to, wee reape so little fruit of our love. Were it so, that we had nothing in hand, no present pay, that we served God altogether upon trust without so much as an earnest: yet there is something prepared. Let us believe that, and our hearts cannot but bee warmed, wee shall then bee fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Be we perswaded of that, God is not unrighteous, to forget your worke, and labour of love, which you h…ve she…ed to wards his name, Heb. 6. 10. and then wee may triumphantly insult with Paul, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Rom. 8. 38. There is this difference between natural sight and spirituall. The one requires some nearnesse of the object: the other perceives things at greatest distance As Faith makes future things present, so it makes remote things near, & things prepared to affect as if they were enjoyed. But what hath God prepared? If I could answer this, it might not onelyonly …atisfie, but in…briate. Such as eye hath not seene, &c. It seemes to bee a proverbial forme of speech, whereby the rich plenty of the divine blessings and benefits which God intendeth to us in and by Christ, according to the Gospel is shadowed forth. The words are to see to, as a riddle; but here is one of a thousand an Interpreter, at hand to unfold them: I could say much to invite you, but that the matter it selfe is as a Loadstone. My testimony will adde little weight; yet having some care committed to me by Mr. P. N. whom this businesse chiefly concerned, I could doe no lesse then let you understand, here is one rich piece of Spirituall Workmanship, wrought by a Master-builder, very usefull for the building up, and beautifying of Gods Temples. The blessing of God Almightie bee with it, and upon the whole Israel of God.
So prayes L. SEAMAN.