The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. Of the glory of heauen.
1. Cor. 2.9.
But as it is written, The things which eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, neither came into mans heart, are, which God hath prepared for them that louelove him.
HItherto of the principles that concerne the resurrection, & the last iudgement: The principles that concerne the glory of heauen follow.
There are foure principles concerning the glory of heauen.
The first concernes the greatnesse of it: It is vnspeakable, and in respect of vsus heere on earth, incomprehensible, 1. Cor. 2.9. as in the beginning.
1. Ioh. 3.2. Dearly beloued, now are we the sonnes of God, but yet it doth not appeare what we shall bee, and we know, that when we shall appeare, we shall be like him; for wee shall see him as he is.
Colos. 3.3.4. For yee are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ which is our life shall appeare, then shall wee also appeare with him in glory.
2. Cor. 12.4. How that hee was taken vp into Paradise, and heard words which cannot bee spoken, which are not possible for man to vtter,
Reuel. 2.17. Let him that hath an eare heare, what the spirit saith vntounto the Churches: to him that ouercommeth will I giuegive to eate of the manna that is hid, and will giuegive him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth sauing he that receiueth it.
Psal. 16.11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life, in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore.
Psalm. 31.19. How great is thy goodnesse, which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee, and done to them that trust in thee, euen before the sonnes of men?
The second concernes the continuance of it, and so it is eternall; and therefore is this life called eternall life, and immortality, Matthew 25. vers. 46. And these shall goe into euerlasting paine, and the righteous into life eternall.
2. Timoth. 1.10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality vntounto light, through the Gospell.
1. Pet. 1.4. To an inheritance immortall, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserued in heauen for you, &c.
2. Cor. 5.1. For wee know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we hauehave a building giuen of God, that is, an house not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens.
The third concernes the cause of it: Heauen is the gift of God, and proceeds onelyonly from his free grace, and not for any merit in vsus, Luk. 12.32. Feare not little flocke, for it is your Fathers pleasure to giuegive you a kingdome.
Titus 3.4. But when the bountifulnesse and louelove of God our Sauiour toward man appeared; not for our righteousnesse, but according to his mercy he saued vsus, &c.
Ioh. 3.16. For God so loued the world, that he hath giuen his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but hauehave euerlasting life.
Rom. 6.23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternall life, through Iesus Christ our Lord, &c.
1. Pet. 1. all the chapter.
The fourth concernes the persons that shall enioy it: the elect of God onelyonly obtaine this glory, 1. Cor. 15.50. &c. This say I brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdome of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Reuel. 21.27. And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing, neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination, or lies, but they which are written in the Lambes booke of life.
1. Cor. 6.9. Know ye not that the vnrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God? be not deceiued: Neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor wantons, nor buggeres, &c.
Rom. 2.7. That is to them which by continuance in well doing, seeke glory, and honour, and immortality, eternall life.
10. But to eueryevery man that doth good, shall be glory, and honour, and peace, to the Iew first, and also to the Grecian.
The vses follow, and are either for instruction, or for consolation.
First, for instruction: and then the doctrine of the glory of heauen should worke diuers impressions vponupon our hearts.
1. We should with all earnestnesse importune God, to enable vsus to behold by the effectualnesse of contemplation, the greatnesse of that felicity, is prouided for vsus in heauen: wee are naturally extreamly vnable for the contemplation of it, wee should beseech God by his spirit to force open our eyes, and make vsus able to stand and gaze with admiration at the glory to come, Ephes. 1.18.19. Rom. 5.2.3.
2. Our hearts should be fiered with an ardency of desire, and endeauour to praise the glorious and free grace of God, which hath without our deserts appointed vsus vntounto such glory; wee can neuer walke worthy of heauen, till wee be fitted to a daily and affectionate praise of Gods louelove to vsus therin: All ages should stand and wonder at such rich grace and tender kindnesse of God in Iesus Christ, Ephes. 1.6. Ephes. 2.7.
Thirdly, it should raise vp in vsus a wonderfull estimation of the godly, who are therfore the onelyonly excellent Ones, because as princes of God they are borne heires to so great a Kingdome: No meanesse of their outward condition should abate of our reuerence to them, that are so rich in faith, and heires of such glorie, &c. Psalm. 6.3. Iames 2.5.
And seeing we must liue with them for euer, we should choose them, as the most happie companions of our liues here, and receiue them, as Christ receiued vsus to glorie, Rom. 15.7. 1. Ioh. 4.7.17, &c. And liue in all peace with them, Ephes. 4.23. And for this reason husbands should make much of their godly wiues, as heires with them of the same grace of God, 1. Peter 3.8. And Masters should vse with all respect their religious seruants, knowing that of the Lord, their verie seruants shall receiue the reward of inheritance, Colos. 3.23.24.
Fourthly, it should exceedingly raise the price of godlines, and make vsus with all heartie affection deuote our selues to weldoing, seeing there is such an vnualuable gaine ariseth vntounto such, as with patience and painefulnesse continew in doing good: wee should be abundant in the worke of the Lord; if for no reason, yet because of the great reward in heauen, 1. Cor. 15.58. Rom. 2.7.10.
Fifthly, it should make vsus to take off our affections from the World, with disdaine and indignation at our selues for being so foolish, as to settle our hearts on things below. And since necessitie enioynes vsus to vse the world, this religious hope should make vsus vse it, as if wee vsed it not, expressing all sobrietie and temperance, and contempt of those transitory things, and setting our hearts there, where those matchlesse treasures are. What profit is it to win all this World, if our soules bee shut out of Heauen? and what losse can it be, if wee loose this World, and find our right vntounto the World to come? This doctrine should make vsus feelingly know, and professe our selues to bee strangers and pilgrims here; & to desire to be no other, then such, as long to be absent from hence, that we may bee present with the Lord in this glorie.
1. Cor. 7.31. Col. 3.1.2. 1. Pet. 1.13. Matth. 6.19.20. Matth 16.25.26. Heb. 11.13. 2. Cor. 5.6.
Sixthly, we should be especially carefull to be all that, that is required vntounto eternall life.
And so in generall we must be sure, wee bee borne againe, else Christ is peremptory, wee cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen, Ioh. 3.5. Heauen is an inheritance, and therefore we must first be sonnes. That glory must penetrate into our hearts by the beames of it, so as we be changed from glorie to glorie, 2. Corint. 3.18. Wee must enter into the first degree of eternall life, and that is in this life, we must beare the image of Christ.
And in particular, we must distinctly looke to these things:
1. We must be carefull to be prouided of the meanes to teach vsus the way to heauen; we must labour for the meat, that endureth to eternall life, Iohn 6.27. As knowing, that the preaching of the Gospell is the power of God to saluation, Rom. 1.16. Rom. 10.14.
2. We must seriously studie the mysteries of this Kingdome, and keep our selues close to profitable things, which may edifie vsus, Matth. 13.11. Titus 3.8.9.
3. We must purge our selues as he is pure, we must seriously, and soundly imploy our selues in the duties of mortification of our corruptions, 1. Iohn 3.3. And euerie man tha… hath this hope in him, purgeth himselfe, as he is pure, &c.
4. We must be sure, that the tempter deceiue vsus not in our faith: for that is our euidence for those things, which are not seene, and that makes them (as it were) present, Heb. 11.1. Now faith is the ground of things which are hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene.
1. Thes. 3.5. Euen for this cause, when I could no longer forbeare, I sent him that I might know of your faith; lest the tempter had tempted you in any sort, and that our labour had been in vaine.
1 Pet. 1.7. That the triall of your faith, being much more precious then gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fier, might be found vntounto your praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Iesus Christ.
2. Cor. 13.5. Proue your selues, whether you are in the faith: examine your selues, know yee not your owne selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
For by faith Christ liues in vsus, Gal. 2.20.
5. We must be sure, wee bee not ashamed of Christ in this World, and that we doe not denie him here on earth, but contrariwise, Matth. 10.32. Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse mee before men, him will I confesse also before my Father, which is in heauen.
Vers. 33. But whosoeuer shall deny me before men, him will I also denie before my Father, which is in heauen.
6. Wee must get the earnest of this inheritance, which is the spirit of promise: for that will stablish vsus, Ephes. 1.14. 2. Cor. 1.22.23.
For when God giues glorie in heauen, then the spirit of glorie rests vponupon men in this life, 1. Pet. 4.14.
And the spirit is our earnest, either by anointing vsus with sauing grace, (for they assure vsus as infallibly of this kingdom, as the oile poured on the Kings, did assure them of their Kingdome) or by refreshing, and satisfying our hearts, in hearing the promises, or receiuing the Sacraments, or answering our prayers:
But in all this we must remember these things:
1. To do this worke first: first, seeke the Kingdom of God, Mat. 6.33. deferre not the time to the last gaspe.
2. To doe it constantly: Let him that is righteous be righteous still, Reuel. 22.
3. Praying in the holy Ghost, and keeping our selues in the louelove of God, Iude, 20.21.
4. To doe it violently: Heauen shoul suffer violence, Matth. 11.12.
5. To doe it humbly, renouncing all our owne merits, and ascribing all to the free grace of God, and the merits of Iesus Christ, Rom. 6.23. Ephes. 2.8.9.
For heauen is an inheritance, and therefore comes by fauour, not by purchase; and besides, we are adopted children too, and not naturall.
6. Hauing finished al things, to stand fast, and hope perfectly for the grace of God to bee brought vntounto vsus at the reuelation of Iesus Christ, 1. Pet. 1.13.
Secondly, these principles may serue for singular consolation, and so
1. Against the instabilitie of this present life, while wee looke vponupon our abiding Citie in Heauen. Thus the Patriarches comforted themselues, Heb. 11.13.
2. Against the griefe for the death of our friends, why doe we sorrow for them, that are so happie?
3. Against the many afflictions of this life, the feare and care of which should bee swallowed with the hope of eternall life, as these places shew, Rom. 8.18. For I count, that the afflictions of this present time, are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vntounto vsus.
2. Cor. 4.17.18. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, causeth vntounto vsus a farre most excellent, and an eternall waight of glory, while wee looke not on the things which are seene, but on the things which are not seene: for the things which are seene are temporall; but the things which are not seene, are eternall.
4. Against the feare of death: for these principles teach vsus to belieue, that the dead are blessed, Reuelat. 14.13. Then I heard a voice from heauen saying vntounto me; Write, Blessed are the dead, which hereafter die in the Lord: euen so saith the Spirit: for they rest from their labours, and their workes follow them. And that this death will be quickly swallowed vp of victorious life, 1. Cor. 15.16.17. The sting of death is sinne, and the strength of sinne is the Law.
But thanks be to God, which hath giuen vsus victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ.
These comforts will bee the more abundant, if wee consider, either, first, the particulars of this glory; secondly, or the properties of it.
For the first, our glory in heauen may be thus shadowed out;
It consists of perfection of holinesse and happinesse.
Our holinesse shall then bee perfect, we shall be without spot or wrinkle, Ephes. 5.27. Gods people shall then bee all righteous, Isaiah 60.21. Thy people also shall be all righteous. And this perfection shall be both of Nature, and of Action.
In nature we shall be perfectly holy, which may bee considered in respect of the holinesse.
First, of our soules; secondly, of our bodies; thirdly, of our soule and bodie together.
First, in our soules there shall bee
1. Exquisite knowledge; wee shal then know as we are known, when that which is in part is done away: we shall no more vnderstand as children, but shall hauehave our minds enlightned aboue the knowledge of Prophets and Apostles in this world: for God himselfe shall be our euerlasting light, 1. Cor. 13.10.11.12. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be abolished.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I vnderstood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childishnes, or childish things:
For now we see through a glasse darkely, but then shall we see face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know, euen as I am knowne.
Isaiah 60.19. Thou shalt hauehave no more Sunne to shine by day, neither shall the brightnes of the Moone shine vntounto thee: for the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
2. Freedome of will, when all the impediments of desire and endeuours shall bee taken off, which now as fetters hinder vsus in communion with God, and as cords, hale vsus after vanitie: where it shall bee also as easie to doe good, as to desire it.
3. Vnspeakeable charitie; our hearts being fild with al those affections, that are now any way required in the word of God, either toward God or man, 1. Cor. 13.8 LoueLove doth neuer fall away, though that prophesying be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away. What is now the life of our liues more, then to louelove and to be beloued? This earthly louelove is but a sparke in comparison.
Secondly, in our bodies, there shall be a perfect conformitie of all the members for the seruice of God and the soule, they shall bee no more weapons of vnrighteousnesse, as they hauehave been, Rom. 6.13. Rom. 6.19.
Thirdly, in both body and soule, there shall be,
1. The perfect Vision of the admirable beauties of God, which of it selfe is more worth then the possession of the whole world, and this Vision of God shall not onelyonly be mentall by contemplation, of which 2. Cor. 12.2. but also corporal; for so Iob auoucheth Cap. 19.25. For I am sure my Redeemer liueth, and he shall stand the last on earth.
Vers. 26. And though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie: yet shall I see God in my flesh,
Vers. 27. Whom I my selfe shall see, and my eies behold, and none other for mee, though my reines are consumed within me.
We shall then see him perfectly in the creatures, and hauehave him perfectly in our selues, and behold the Trinitie in the glorie of it after a way now vnutterable.
2. The perfection of the image of God in both: we shall then be, as hee is, partaking perfectly of the diuine nature, 1. Iohn 3.2. 2. Pet. 1.4. which is signified by those pure white garments, mentioned, Reuel. 3.4.5. & 6.11. & 7.13. & 19.8.
Thus shall we be perfect in nature.
The perfection of our actions, or obedience shall then bee obtained, wee shall then serue God, & louelove our brethren without all defect. We shall praise God with the Angels to all eternitie: for that shall be the maine outward seruice of God: for prayer shal thē cease, Reuel. 4.10.11.
Thus of the perfection of holinesse.
The perfection of happines shal hauehave in it diuers things.
The first part of our felicity is acknowledgement in the kingdom of heauen; which is a worke of Christ, declaring vsus in particular to bee elected of God, and his children, and friends. And this is more comfortable, because we shall thus bee proclaimed the heires apparant of heauen before God, and all his holy Angels, Matth. 10.32. Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse mee before men, him will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen.
2. Glorious liberty reserued for the sonnes of God vntounto that day, of which, Rom. 8.21.
And this liberty may be considered two waies, viz.
1. From what we shall bee free.
2. To what we shall bee free.
For the first, we shall then be free:
First, from the torments and miseries of the damned in hell, wee shall hauehave an eternall discharge from that most fearfull place, which is promised vsus already in this life, Rom. 8.1. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, which walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit, &c.
Reuel. 20.14. And death and Hell were cast into the lake of fier: this is the second death, &c.
Secondly, from the displeasure of God; he will neuer be angry with vsus any more, there shall be no more curse, or Anathema, Reuel. 22.3. And there shall bee no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it, and his seruants shall serue him.
Thirdly, from sinne, and the power to sinne: our holinesse shal be better then Adams in Paradise; he might sinne, but wee shall be confirmed, as the Angels of heauen: so as we shall not only bee free from sinne, but from the possibility to sinne, Ephes. 5.26.
Fourthly, from all aduerfary power; we shall neuer more bee molested by diuels, nor by wicked men, either spirituall, or corporall. There shall be a perpetuall triumph without warre; all our enemies shall bee cast into the lake of fier, Reuel. 21.8. Reuel. 20.14. Reuel. 22.3. As wee shall not loose a friend; so wee shall not feare an enemy.
Fifthly, from all infirmitie in our natures; as from ignorance, and all disabilities, from sorrow, discouragement, hardnesse of heart, feare, and perturbations, Reuel. 21.4. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes, and there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there bee any more paine; for the first things are passed. And so also from all such graces, as suppose either imperfection in vsus: such as faith, hope, and repentance: or misery in the creatures without vsus, as griefe, anger, feare, hatred, and the like, 1. Cor. 13.
Sixthly, from all inferiority, and subiection, and seruitude, none shall bee vnderunder the iurisdiction of others: all Oeconomicall, Politicall, and Ecclesiasticall relations shall then cease. Wee shall sit downe with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, in the kingdome of heauen, Matth. 8.11.
Seuenthly, from all labour and affliction of life. Their labours shall cease, and afflictions shall bee cast into the sea, they shall enioy an eternall Sabbath, the true Canaan, Reuel. 14.13. Then I heard a voice from heauen, saying vntounto me; Write, blessed are the dead, which hereafter die in the Lord, euen so saith the spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their workes follow them, &c.
Heb. 4.9. There remaineth therfore a rest to the people of God, &c.
2. Thes. 1.7. And to you which are troubled, rest with vsus, when the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen with his mighty Angels, &c. And by labors, I vnderstand also all the paines or difficulties we are at, euen about the seruice of God: for God shall bee all in all.
Eighthly, from all shame and blushing: There shall be nothing but honour and praise to all eternity: whereas in this world the inward shame of some offence imputed, or committed, make life it selfe many times a burthen, and there is little ease to the minde, but in remembrance of the day of Christ, when it shall be remoued.
Ninthly, from all enuie: enuie is said to be bitter, 1. Cor. 3.3. But when charity shall be perfect, then shall that property of not enuying bee made perfect too, 1. Cor. 13.
Tenthly, from all interruption both in holinesse and felicity; which in this life is grieuous, and ariseth many times from good things, and good persons as well as euill.
Eleuenthly, from all the means of a naturall life, and from the inconueniences too: there shall be no need of meat, drinke, sleep, marriage, raiment, physicke, nor the light of the Sunne: For there shall be no hunger, thirst, heate, cold, darknesse, or the like grieuances, but wee shall liue as the Angels of heauen, &c.
And so in a word we shall bee free from the first things, Reuel. 2.4.
Thus much of what wee shall be free from.
Now followes, what wee shall be free to.
First, we shall bee free of heauen, the most holy place, Heb. 10.19. Seeing therefore brethren, that by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place.
Paradise: Luk. 23.43. Then Iesus said vntounto him, verily I say vntounto thee, to day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
Our fathers house: Iohn 14.2. In my Fathers house are many dwelling places: if it were not so, I would hauehave told you, I goe to prepare a place for you.
The new Ierusalem: Reuel. 21.2. And I saw the holy City, new Ierusalem, come downe from God out of heauen, prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband.
The heauē of heauens, which for lightnes, largenes, purenes, delightfulnes, and all praises of a place almost infinitely excels all this visible world. Nor shall the godly be restrained only to heauen, but they shall be free of the new earth, wherein dwels righteousnesse, 2. Pet. 3.13. But wee looke for a new heauen, and a new earth, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righteousnesse, &c.
Secondly, we shall be free to the enioying of the happy society of all the glorious Saints and Angels of heauen, Hebr. 12.22.23. But ye are come vntounto the mount Sion, and to the City of the liuing God, the celestiall Ierusalem, and to the company of innumerable Angels.
And to the congregation of the first borne, which are written in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spirits of iust and perfect men.
Thirdly, to the glorious presence of God, and the Lambe; we shall alwaies dwell in the Kings presence, Reuel. 21.3. And I heard a great voice out of heauen, saying, behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himselfe shall be their God with them.
Reuel. 21.23. And the City hath no need of the sunne, neither of the moone to shine in it: for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the light of it.
Reuel. 22.3.4. And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God, and of the Lambe shall be in it, and his seruants shall serue him.
And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their fore-heads.
Fourthly, to all the treasures of heauen; which are vnexpressable, shadowed out by some comparisons; as by being free to eate of the tree of life, Reuel. 22.2. In the middest of the streete of it, and of either side of the riuer was the tree of life, which bare twelue manner of fruits, and gaue fruit eueryevery monethmonth, & the leaues of the tree serued to heale the nations with, &c.
As also by being free to drink of the water of life freely, Reuel. 21.6. And hee said vntounto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and I will giuegive to him that is athirst of the well of the waters of life freely: euen out of a riuer, that is pure as Chrystall, Reuel. 22.1. And hee shewed me a pure riuer of water of life, cleare as Chrystall, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lambe: And such like.
Thus of Liberty.
The third part of our felicity in heauen is maiesty: al the godly shall be there seated as Princes in thrones of Maiesty, and prince-like splendor, being crowned with crowns of glory; which glory shall be so great, that the Kings of the earth are supposed to bring all their glory and honour to it, and yet all too little to shadow out this exceeding glory of all the Saints, Reuel. 3.21. To him that ouercommeth will I grant to sit with me in my throne, euen as I ouercome, and sit with my father in his throne.
2. Tim. 4.8. For henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giuegive me at that day: and not to mee onelyonly, but vntounto all them also that louelove his appearing.
Reuel. 21.24. And the people which are saued, shall walke in the light of it, and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour vntounto it.
Which as it imports a perfection of splendor in eueryevery Saint, so it doth not dissolue the degrees or orders of glory, eueryevery man shall bee aduanced in his owne lot, Dan. 12.13. But goe thou thy way, till the end be; for thou shalt rest and stand vp in thy lot at the end of the dayes.
1. Cor. 15.40. There are also heauenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heauenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. Patriarches, Prophets, Euangelists, Martyrs, shall not want their eminency in heauen.
The fourth is dominion, and rule ouer all creatures; that which we lost in Adam, shall be perfectly restored in heauen, after the last iudgement, Reuel. 2.26. For hee that ouercommeth and keepeth my words vntounto the end, to him will I giuegive power ouer nations.
The fifth is possession of all the pleasures, which are at Gods right hand, vnutterable ioyes, riuers of pleasures. This is that, which in a sparing language is called the time of refreshing, Act. 3.19. Amend your liues therefore, and turne, that your sinnes may be put away, when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Psalm. 16.11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy; and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore. For if the ioy of the godly in this life be called, 1. Pet. 1.17. A ioy vnspeakable and glorious.
And if the Lord giuegive them drink out of the riuer of thy pleasures in this world, as Psal. 36.8.9. How much more shall it exceed all language in heauen! called the masters ioy.
The felicities which I hauehave here mentioned, are for the most part common both to soule and body.
Now there is a peculiar felicity in heauen belonging to the bodies of men, which consists in that maruellous transfiguration of them to a condition, in respect of qualities, farre aboue what they are, or can be in this world. Our bodies in generall shall be made like the glorious body of Christ, though on earth they are but vile, Philip. 3.21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like vntounto his glorious body, according to the working, wherby hee is able euen to subdue all things vntounto himselfe.
They shall enioy eternall health, but of the glory of the body I hauehave entreated before, in the vse of the doctrine of the Resurrection.
Thus of the parts of this glory.
The Adiuncts of it follow.
And so there bee foure things in the consideration of the glory to come, should much affect vsus.
First, that it is a glory vnspeakable, that is, it is so great, that no language on earth can describe it. For though we mention those foresaid parts of it, yet our narrow hearts and mouthes are infinitely straitned, in comparison of the full glory of man in these things, 1 Cor. 2.9. But as it is written, The things which eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, neither came into mans heart, are, which God hath prepared for them, that louelove him, &c.
Secondly, that it is certaine, and we cannot be disappointed of it: else it were vncomfortable to heare of so much felicitie and holinesse, and yet not bee sure to possesse it. The certaintie of it, that God will bestow such glory, may appeare diuers waies.
1. There is an act or ordinance for it in Gods eternall Counsell, 2. Tim. 2.19. But the foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seale; The Lord knoweth who are his, and, Let eueryevery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie.
Ephes. 1.4. As he hath chosen vsus in him, before the foundation of the world, that wee should bee holy, and without blame before him in louelove.
Rom. 8.30. Moreouer, whom he predestinate, them also he called; and whom he called, them also he iustified; and whom hee iustified, them he also glorified.
Matth. 25.34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit ye the Kingdome prepared for you, from the foundations of the world.
2. Christ purchased it with his blood, Ephes. 1.14.
3. Christ hath made intercession, when he was on earth vntounto his Father, that hee might hauehave his redeemed Ones to be where he is, Iohn, 17.11. And now am I no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, holy Father, keepe them in thy name.
Vers. 24. Father, I will that they which thou hast giuen mee, bee with me, euen where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast giuen me: for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world.
4. God hath made vsus many promises, and giuen vsus not onelyonly his word, but his oth to assure it vntounto vsus, Heb. 6.17. So God willing more abundantly to shew vntounto the heires of promise, the stablenesse of his Counsell, bound himselfe by an oath,
Vers. 18. That by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie, we might hauehave strong consolation, which hauehave our refuge to hold fast the hope that is set before vsus, &c.
5. He hath sealed to it, not only in the Sacrament, but by his spirit, which will bee our witnesse, and is our earnest, Ephes. 1.13. Wherein also after that yee beleeued, you were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise.
Vers. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vntounto the praise of his glory.
6. He hath begun eternall life in vsus already.
7. Christ is gone into heauen of purpose to prouide a place ready for vsus, Ioh. 14.3. And though I goe to prepare a place for you: I will come againe, and receiue you vntounto my selfe, that where I am, there may ye be also.
Heb. 10.19. Seeing therefore bretheren, that by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place,
Vers. 20. By the new and liuing way, which he hath prepared for vsus through the vale, which is his flesh.
Thus of the certaintie of it.
The third thing is the eternitie of it, all this glory were the lesse, if it were thought, it would euer end: but it shall neuer end: for
1. Nothing of it shall be lost, or decay.
2. There shall bee no death there: for death and hell are cast into the lake of fier.
3. There shall be no old age, or withering condition in men that possesse it: it withers not, 1. Pet. 1.4. To an inheritance immortall, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserued in heauen for you.
4. God being all in all, there shal be no wearinesse, no fulnesse of affections, or satietie, no loathing.
Diuines are wont to shadow out eternity, by the similitude of a little bird drinking vp a drop of water out of the sea; if eueryevery ten thousand yeeres the bird should come & drink vp but one drop, yet the sea might bee dry at length: but yet this lasting of the sea, is nothing in comparison to the lasting of the glory of heauen.
Fourthly, and vntounto these may bee added the proximity of it: the day of the Lord is at hand. It were some lessening of our happines, if it were a long time to it.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
Pag. 4. lin. 22. for Praises, reade Oracles. p. 51. l. 4. r. by a perpetuall decree. p. 74. l. 16. put out, a. p. 107. l. 17. r. vp, for vponupon. p. 108. l. 16. for Sould, r Should. p. 407. l. 4 r. wrinckle. p. 434. l. 17.21. and p. 435. l. 8 put out Sol and r. Secondly, Thirdly, Fourthly. p. 486. l. 11. put out, all the Chapter. p. 499. l. 11. r. or secondly.
End of the text · Nicholas Byfield, The Pattern of Wholesome Words (1618)