Heaven Opened, Treatise · Chapter 18
A SOLILOQUY, Repreſenting The Believers Triumph in Gods Covenant: And the various Conflicts, and glorious Conqueſts of Faith over Vnbelief. By the ſame Authour. CHAP. XVIII.
The ſoul taketh hold on Gods Covenant.YEa, Hath God ſaid [I will be a God unto thee?] Is it true indeed? Will the Lord be mine? Will he lay aſide the Controverſie, and conclude a Peace? Will he receive the Rebel to mercy, and open his doors to his Prodigal? I will ſurely go unto my Father, I will take unto me words, and bow my ſelf before his Foot-ſtool, and ſay; Eſay 56.4.O Lord, I have heard thy words, and do here lay hold on thy Covenant. I accept the kindneſs of God, and will adventure my ſelf upon thy Fidelity, and truſt my whole happineſs here and hereafter upon theſe thy Promiſes.
Farewel deceitful world, get thee under my feet. Too long have I feared thy vain threats; too long have I been deluded with thy flattering Promiſes. Canſt thou promiſe me, or deny me ſuch things as God hath Covenanted to give me? I know thou canſt not, and therefore I renounce thee for ever, from being the Object of my Faith, or Fear. Nor longer will I lean to this rotten Reed, no longer will I truſt to this broken Idol. Avoid Sathan with thy tempting Baits. In vain doſt thou dreſs the Harlot in her Paint and Bravery, and tell me, Matt. 4.8,9.ALL THIS WILL I GIVE THEE. Canſt thou ſhew me ſuch a Crown, ſuch a kingdom, as God hath promiſed to ſettle upon me? Or that which will ballance the loſs of an infinite God, who here gives himſelf unto me? Away deceitful Luſts, and Pleaſures; get you hence. I have enough in Chriſt and his Promiſes, to give my ſoul full content. Theſe have I lodged in my heart, and there is no longer room for ſuch gueſts as you: Never ſhall you have quiet entertainment more within theſe doors.
Thou God of Truth, I here take thee at thy word. Thou requireſt but my acceptance and conſent, and here thou haſt it. Good is the word of the Lord which he hath ſpoken, and as my Lord hath ſaid, ſo will thy ſervant do. My ſoul catcheth hold of thy Promiſes. Theſe have I taken as my heritage for ever. Let others carry the Preferments, and Poſſeſſions of this world; it ſhal be enough to me to be an Heir of thy Promiſes.
She maketh her boaſt in God.O happy Soul, how rich art thou! What a Booty have I gotten! It is all mine own. I have the Promiſes of this life, and of that which is to come. Oh what can I wiſh more! How full a Charter is here! Now my doubting Soul may boldly and believingly ſay with Thomas, 1 Tim. 4.8.My Lord, and my God! What need we any further witneſs? We have heard his words. He hath ſworn by his Holineſs, that his Decree may not be changed; and hath ſigned it with his own Signet.
Rejoyce ye Heavens, ſtrike up Celeſtial Quires. Help Heaven and Earth; Sing unto the Lord, O ye Saints of his. Bleſs the Lord O my Soul. Oh had I the tongue of men and Angels, all were too little for my ſingle turn. Had I as many tongues as hairs, the whole Quire were not ſufficient to utter my Creators praiſes.
Cant. 2.16.My Beloved is mine, and I am His. The Grant is clear, and my claim is firm. Who durſt deny it, when God himſelf doth own it. Is it an hard adventure to ſpeak after Chriſt himſelf? Why, this is the Meſſage that he hath ſent me; I aſcend to my Father, and your Father; Joh. 20.17my God, and your God. He hath put words into my mouth, and bid me to ſay OUR FATHER.
I believe, Lord help mine unbelief. O my God, and my Father, I accept thee with all humble thankfulneſs, and am bold to take hold of thee. O my King, and my God, I ſubject my ſoul, and all its Powers to thee. O my Glory, in thee will I boaſt all the day. Oh my Rock, on thee will I build all my confidence, and my hopes. Cant. 2.3.O ſtaff of my life, and ſtrength of my heart, the life of my joyes, and joy of my life, I will ſit and ſing under thy ſhadow, and glory in thy holy Name.
O my Soul, ariſe, and take poſſeſſion. Inherit thy bleſſedneſs, and caſt up thy riches. Thine is the Kingdome, thine is the Glory, and thine is the Victory. The whole Trinity is thine. All the Perſons in the Godhead, all the Attributes in the Godhead are thine. And behold here is the Evidence, and theſe are the writings, by which all is made ſure to thee for ever.
Pſal. 116.7. Pſal. 16.6And now return to thy reſt, O my Soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Say if thy Lines be not fallen to thee in a pleaſant place, and if this be not a goodly Heritage! She quelleth Diſcontent, and reaſoneth down unbelief in Sequentib.Oh Blaſphemous Diſcontent! How abſurd and unreaſonable an evill art thou, whom all the fulneſs of the Godhead cannot ſatisfie, becauſe thou art denyed in a petty comfort, or croſt in thy vain expectations from the world. O my unthankful Soul, ſhall not a Trinity content thee? Shall not Allſufficiency ſuffice thee? Silence you murmuring thoughts for ever. I have enough, I abound, and am full. Infiniteneſs, and Eternity is mine, and what more can I ask?
The Aſſaults of unbelief. 1. It queſtions the truth of the Promiſe.But methinks I feel ſome ſecret Damps upon my joy, and when I would ſoar aloft, and triumph in the riches of my Portion, a ſecret diffidence plucks me back, as the ſtring doth the Bird, and unbelief whiſpers in mine ear, Sure this is too good to be true.
The Triumph of Faith in the certainty of Gods Truth.But who art thou that diſputeſt againſt God? The Lord hath ſpoken it, and ſhall not I believe him? Will he be angry if I give my aſſent, and ſpeak it confidently upon the credit of his word?
Eſay 54.5. Hoſ. 2.19. Jer. 3.19. Pſal. 50.7. 2 Cor. 6.18.O my Lord ſuffer me to ſpread the writing before thee. Haſt not thou ſaid, Thy Maker is thy Husband; I will betroth thee unto me: Thou ſhalt call me, My Father? I pray thee O Lord, was not this thy ſaying; I am God, even thy God; I will be a Father unto you, and ye my Sons and Daughters? Why then ſhould I doubt? Is not the truth of the living God ſure-footing for my faith?
Eſay 31.3 Prov. 23.5Silence then O quarrelling Unbelief. I know in whom I have believed. Not in Friends, though numerous and potent; for they are men, and not God. Pſal. 146.3,4.Not in Riches, for they make themſelves wings. Not in Princes, for their breath is in their Noſtrils. But let God be true, and every man a Lyar. In God have I put my truſt, in his word do I hope. Matt. 7.25. 2 Tim. 2.19.Oh ſure word! Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away, but not one jot, nor tittle of this. I have not built upon the ſand of mortality. Let the rain deſcend, and the floods come, and the winds blow; nevertheleſs the Foundation of God ſtandeth ſure. His everlaſting Counſel, and everlaſting Covenant are my ſtay. I am built upon his Promiſes, and let Hell and Earth do their worſt to blow up this Foundation.
Now ſhall my Faith triumph, and my heart be glad, and my glory rejoyce. 1 Kin. 18.39 Heb. 11.16.I will ſhout with the exulting Multitude. The Lord he is the God, and he is not aſhamed to be called My God. He is not aſhamed of my Raggs, nor Poverty, of my Parrentage, not Pedigree▪ and ſince his infinite condeſcention will own me, will he take it ill if I own him? 1 Cor. 1.29,31.Though I have nothing of my own to glory in, (unleſs I ſhould glory in my ſhame) yet I will glory in the Lord, and bleſs my ſelf in him.
Deut. 33.26.For who is like unto the God of Jeſhurun? Bring forth your gods, O ye Nations. Lift up now your eyes, and behold who hath created all theſe things. Can any do for their Favourites as the Lord can? Or if he be angry, who is that God that ſhal deliver out of his hands? Will you ſet Dagon before the Ark? Or ſhal Mammon contend with the Holy One! O ambitious Haman, where is now thine Idol-honour? O rich Glutton, that madeſt a god of Pleaſure, where is now the god whom thou haſt ſerved? O ſenſual worldling, that kneweſt not where, nor how to beſtow thy Goods: Do riches profit thee? Could Mammon ſave thee? Deceived ſouls! Go now to the gods that you have choſen. Alas, they cannot for ever adminiſter a drop of water to cool your tongues.
Jer. 10.16. Pſa. 90.2.But the Portion of Jacob is not like them: From everlaſting to everlaſting he is God. His Power is my confidence; his Goodneſs is my maintenance; his Truth is my ſhield and my buckler.
2. It confounds the ſoul with amazing Greatneſs, and difficulty of the things.But my clamourous unbelief hath many wiles, and afreſh aſſaults me with the difficulty of the things promiſed, and labours to nonplus and confound me with their amazing greatneſs.
The Triumph of Faith in Gods Omnipotency and Veracity.But why ſhould I ſtagger at the Promiſe through unbelief, robbing at once my Maſter of his glory, and my ſoul of her comfort. It is my great ſin to doubt and diſpute, and yet ſhal I be affraid to believe? O my ſoul, it is the higheſt honour thou canſt put upon thy Lord, to believe againſt difficulties, and to look for, and reckon upon great things and wonderful, paſſing all created Power, and humane faith.
Let not the greatneſs, nor the ſtrangeneſs of the benefits bequeathed to thee, put thee to a ſtand. It is with a God thou haſt to do, and therefore thou muſt not look for little things; that were to darken the glory of his munificence, and the Infiniteneſs of his Power and Goodneſs. Knoweſt thou not that it is his deſign to make his Name glorious? and to make thee know he is able to do for thee, above all thou canſt ask or think? Surely they cannot be any ſmall or ordinary things, that ſhal be done for thee, when the Lord ſhal ſhew in thee, what a God can do, and ſhal carry thee in Triumph before the world, and make Proclamation before thee. Thus ſhal it be done to the man, whom the Lord delighteth to honour. What wonder if thou canſt not comprehend theſe things? If they exceed all thy apprehenſions and conceptions? This is a good Argument for thy faith: for this is that which the Lord hath ſaid, That it hath not entered into the heart of man, to conceive what things he hath prepared for them that love him. Now if thou couldeſt conceive and comprehend them, how ſhould his word be made good. It is enough for thee that the Lord hath ſpoken it. Is not the word nigh thee? Hath God ſaid I will receive you? You ſhal be Kings and Prieſts unto God, and inherit all things; and ſhal ſit in Thrones, and judge Angels, and be ever with the Lord, and ſhal I dare to ſay him nay? Unreaſonable Unbelief! What never ſatisfied? Still contradicting, and blaſpheming? Falſe whiſperer, no more of thy tales. Acts 27.25.I believe God, that it ſhall be as he hath told me.
2 Cor. 2.14. Pſal. 71.23. Pſal. 92.4. Pſal. 104.33.And now thanks be to God, who alwaies cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt; therefore my lips ſhal praiſe thee, and my ſoul which thou haſt redeemed. For thou haſt made me glad through thy word, and I will triumph in the works of thy hands. I will praiſe the Lord whileſt I live; I will ſing praiſes to my God whileſt I have any being.
Oh my ſoul, if thou couldeſt wear out thy fingers upon the Harp, and wear thy tongue to the Roots, thou couldeſt yet never ſufficiently praiſe thy Redeemer.
O mine Enemies, where is now your confidence, and where is your Armour, wherein you truſted? I will ſet Chriſt alone, againſt all your multitudes, and all the Power, and Malice, and Policy wherewith they are Armed. Col. 2 15. 1 Cor. 15.57.The field is already won, and the Captain of our ſalvation returned, with the ſpoils of his Enemies, having made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in his Croſs. And thanks be to God, who hath given us the Victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Of whom then ſhould I be affraid? Behold he is near that juſtifieth me, who ſhal plead with me?
Matt. 16.18.O ye Powers of Hell! you are but chained Captives, and we have a ſure word, that the gates of Hell ſhal not prevail againſt us. Though the world be in Arms againſt us, and the Devil in the head of them as their Champion; 1 Sam. 17.45,46,47yet who is this uncircumciſed Philiſtine, that he ſhould defie the Armies of the living God? Behold I come out to thee, as the ſtripling againſt Goliah, not with Sword and with Spear, but in the Name of the Lord of Hoſts, in whoſe ſtrength I am more then a Conquerour.
O Grave, where is now thy Victory? Chriſt is riſen, and hath broken up thy Priſon, and rolled away the ſtone, ſo that all thy Priſoners have made an eſcape. Mic. 7,8.Rejoyce not againſt me, O mine Enemy; though I fall, I ſhal riſe again; though I lie in darkneſs, the Lord ſhal be a light unto me. Enlarge not thy deſires O Tophet, but ſhut up thy flaming Rom. 8.1.mouth for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus.
Joh. 16.33 1 Cor. 3.22.O deceitful world, thou art already overcome, and the conquered Enemy is become my ſervant, and I am fed with the honey taken out of the carkaſs of the ſlain Lyon. 1 Pet. 1.5. 1 Joh. 5.4.I fear not thy Threats, nor the Enchantments of thy Syren-ſongs, being kept by the Power of God, through a Victorious faith unto ſalvation.
O my ſins, you are already buried, never to have any Reſurrection, and the remembrance of you ſhal be no more. Heb. 8.12.I ſee my ſins nailed to the Croſs, and their dominion is taken away, though their lives be prolonged yet for a little ſeaſon. Awake therefore, O my glory, awake Pſaltery and Harp, and meet the Deliverer with triumph; Pſal. 98.1,3.for his right Hand, and his holy Arm have gotten us the Victory, and all the ends of the Earth, have ſeen the ſalvation of our God.
3. It upbraids the trembling Soul with its Vnworthineſs.Yet methinks my unworthineſs flies in my face, and I hear my cavilling Unbelief thus upbraiding me, and crying out, O proud Preſumption! That thou that art conſcious to thy ſelf of thy great unworthineſs, ſhouldeſt pretend a claim to God and glory! Shal daring duſt think to ſhare with the Almighty? and ſay of his endleſs Perfections, They are my right? Bold ſinner, ſtand off, and tremble at thy preſumptuous Arrogance.
Faith ſubſcribes the charge, and Triumphs in Gods free grace.O my God, I lay my hand upon my mouth. I confeſs the charge of mine unworthineſs. My guilt and ſhame is ſuch as I cannot cover, but thou canſt, and doſt. Thou haſt caſt a Mantle upon my nakedneſs, and haſt promiſed my tranſgreſſions ſhal not be mentioned, and that thou wilt multiply Pardons. And ſhal I rake up what thou haſt buried, and then affright my ſelf with the Ghoſts that infidelity hath raiſed? Is it preſumption to take the Pardon that thou doſt offer? or to receive and claim thee as mine, when it is but what thou haſt promiſed. I durſt not have approached thee, but upon thy call; nor have pretended a Title, but upon thy Grant. I ſhould have thought it Diobolical pride, to have pleaded an Intereſt in thee, and claimed kinred to thee, but that thou haſt ſhewed me the way.
And thou my ſoul, art thou ignorant of Gods great Deſign? Knoweſt thou not, that it is his purpoſe to glorifie Free-Grace? And how ſhould Grace appear to be Grace indeed, were there any worthineſs in the ſubject. Thine unworthineſs is but a foyle, to ſet off the Beauty and Riches of Free Love and Mercy.
4. It queſtions the Believers Title to Gods grace and intereſt in the Promiſe.But I cannot ſhake off this Briar. Alas, what a cavilling Sophiſter is Unbelief! And will never be anſwered! Now is it ready to tell me, What if the Promiſe ſhould be a ſure Foundation? yet thou mayeſt not build upon another mans ground. What though the grace and mercies of God are infinite? yet Doggs may not catch at the Childrens bread. Thou haſt not right, nor title to the Promiſe, therefore ceaſe thy pretended claim.
The Triumph of Faith in the clearneſs of the B…lievers Evidences.But O my ſoul, wherefore ſhouldſt thou doubt? Whoſe Image and Superſcription is this? Doſt thou not bear upon thee the marks of the Lord Jeſus? I have given up my name to him, and taken hold of his Covenant, and therefore may claim an intereſt.
Eſay 56.4.I have accepted the matter, and cloſed with the Mediator, and ſubſcribed to the conditions of the Covenant, and therefore cannot queſtion but it is mine.
The Lord hath offered to be my God, and I have took hold of his offer. Pſal. 73.25,26.I have taken him as God, and given him the ſupremacy. O my ſoul, look round about thee in Heaven and in Earth; is there any thou doſt eſteem or value in compariſon of God? Phil. 3.8.Is there any thou doſt love like him, or take that content or felicity in, that thou doſt in him? Phil. 1 20Are not thy chief deſires and deſignes to glorifie, and enjoy him? Thou canſt not deny but it is truly thus. Pſal 26.8. and 84 1,2,3. Pſal. 27.4. and 119.57. Pſa. 119 38 2 Cor. 5.8 Act. 24.16. with Rom. 6.19. Luke 14.33. Pſal 16 5,6.I am ſure nothing but God will content me. I am never ſo well in all the world, as in his company. My ſoul ſeeketh him above all, and reſts in him alone, as my ſatiſfactory Portion. He offereth to take me as one of his people, and I have reſigned my ſelf accordingly to him as his; and have put both my Inward, and Outward man under his Government, and given up All to his diſpoſe, and am reſolved to be content with him, as my Allſufficient happineſs.
John 1.12.Beſides I have taken him in his own way through Chriſt, whom he hath tendered to me as my Head and Husband, and I have accordingly, ſolemnly and deliberately taken him. Luke 14.26. to the end. Matth. 11.29. Phil. 3.9. 2 Tim. 1.12.O my ſoul, doſt not thou know thy often debates? haſt thou not put Chriſt and all the world into the ballance? haſt thou not caſt up the coſt, and reckoned upon the Croſs, and willingly put thy neck under Chriſts yoke, and ventured thy ſalvation upon Chriſt alone, and truſted him with all thy happineſs, and all thy hopes? haſt thou not over and over reſolved to take him with what comes, and that he ſhall be enough, though in the loſs of all things? 1 Cor. 1.20.Thou canſt not but know, that theſe have been the tranſactions between Chriſt and thee, and therefore he is thine, and all the Promiſes. Yea and Amen to thee through him.
Act. 20.21: Rom. 2.7.And for the terms of the Covenant, I love, and like them: my ſoul embraceth them; neither do I deſire to be ſaved in any other way, then by repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſincere obedience to his Go…pel.
Phil. 3.…. to the 10. 2 Cor. 5.7. 2 Cor. 4.18. 1 Theſ. 1.9 10. Tit. 2.13. Heb. 10 34. & 11.35.I am willing to go out of my fleſh, and do look unto Jeſu for righteouſneſs, and ſtrength, and truſt my ſalvation wholly in this bottome. I am content to deal upon truſt, and venture all in hopes of what is to come, and to tarry till the next world for my preferment. I am willing to wait till the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and have laid up my happineſs on the other ſide the Grave.
Rom. 7.24. Gal. 5.17.And though my ſins be many, yet I ſhould belye mine own knowledge, if I ſhould ſay they were not my conſtant trouble and burthen, and the enemies againſt which I daily watch, and with whom my ſoul hath no peace. Pſal. 39.1. & 17.3.Mine own heart knoweth that I hate them, and deſire and endeavour their utter deſtruction, and do reſolve againſt them all, and am willing to uſe all Gods means (that I know) to mortifie them. Pſal. 119.101,104. Rom. 7.15,16, &c. 1 Cor. 9.26,27. 1 John 1.9. Rom 6.16. Pſal. 119.6. Pſal. 119.5 30,173. Mat. 6.33. 2 Cor. 5.9.'Tis too true that I often fall, and fail; yet my conſcience beareth me witneſs, that I confeſs and bewail it, and do not ordinarily, and deliberately allow my ſelf in any ſin whatſoever againſt my knowledge. And though my obedience be miſerably lame, yet, O Lord, thou knoweſt, that I have reſpect unto all thy commandments, and do ſtrive to come up to what thou requireſt. The Holy Ghoſt is witneſs, and my conſcience alſo, that I firſt ſeek the Kingdome of God, and the righteouſneſs thereof; and that it is my chief care to pleaſe God, and keep from ſin. Pſa. 18.23. & 19.13. & 119.133. Matt. 5.6.Speak Oh my ſoul, Is not holineſs thy deſign? doſt thou not thirſt for it, and follow after it? doſt thou not in thy ſetled choice prefer the holy wayes of God, before all the pleaſures and delights of ſin? Pſal. 119.14,15,16. 111,112.Thou knoweſt it is thus; and therefore no more diſputing; thou haſt ſincerely taken hold of Gods Covenant, and without controverſie it muſt be thine.
O my God, I ſee thou haſt been at work with my ſoul. I find the prints, I ſee the footſteps. Surely this is the finger of God. I am thy Servant, O Lord, truly I am thy Servant; Pſal. 116.16. Pſal. 16.2.and my ſoul hath ſaid unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. It muſt be ſo. Wouldſt thou ever ſet thy mark upon anothers goods? or ſhall God diſown his own workmanſhip? My name is written in Heaven. Thou haſt written thy Name upon my heart, and therefore I cannot queſtion but thou haſt my name on thine heart. I have choſen thee O Lord as my happineſs, and heritage, and therefore I am ſure thou haſt choſen me; 1 John 4.19.for I could not have loved thee, except thou hadſt loved me firſt. O my Lord diſcern, I pray thee, whoſe are theſe, the ſignet, the bracelets, and the ſtaffe? I know thou wilt acknowledge them.
1 Pet. 1.3.And now bleſſed be God, and the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who of his abundant mercy hath begotten me again to a lively hope.
Faith makes its claim to all the benefits of the Covenant, and ſtirs up the ſoul to joy and thankfulneſs, in ſequentib.And thou my ſoul, believe, and wait, look through the window, and cry through the lattice, and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God.aHab. 2.3. The Viſion is for an appointed time, wait for it. It will come in the end, & will not tarry.bJam. 5 7. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the Earth. Be thou alſo patient. He hath long patience, and wilt not thou have a little patience? he for the fruits of the Earth, but thou for the joyes of Heaven. He upon meer probabilities, but thou upon infallible certainties. He for a Crop of Corn, but thou for a Crown of Glory. Were he but ſure that every Corn would bear a Crow, how plentifully would he ſowe, how joyfully would he wait? Why ſuch is thy harveſt. As ſure as the Summer delights do follow the Winters ſeverities; as ſure as the wiſht-for Harveſt doth follow the toilſome and coſtly Seeds-time, ſo ſure ſhall thy Lord return, and bring thy reward with him. Revel. 22.12.Therefore my ſoul, love and long for the approaching Jubile, and wait all the daies of my appointed time, until my change ſhall come.
O bleſſed ſtate that my Lord hath tranſlated me into! O happy change that he hath made! I was a ſtranger, and he took me in, and made me an heir; and preferred me from the Dunghill to the Throne, and from a Hewer of wood, and Drawer of water, to attend his Court, and know his Counſels, and do his pleaſure. Happy am I that ever I was born to partake of this endleſs dignity.
Hebr. 12.22,23,24.O my Lord, it is no little thing thou haſt given me in hand. I am already come to mount Zion, and the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels; to the general Aſſembly and Church of the firſt-born, and to God the Judge of all, and unto the Spirits of Juſt men made perfect, and unto Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and unto the blood of ſprinkling. Gal. 4.6. Luke 5.20.My heart reviveth, as Jacobs, when I behold the tokens which thou haſt ſent me, the ſpirit of Adoption, the pardon of my ſins, my patent for Heaven, the chain of thy Graces, the Son of thy Boſome, and the New Teſtament in his blood, 1 Cor. 11.25. Luk. 12.32. Cant. 1.10. Joh. 3.16. Joh. 14.21,23.and the Letters of his love. My Lord hath ſaid that he will love me, and manifeſt himſelf unto me; and that the Father will love me, and both will come unto me, and make their abode in me. But is it true indeed? Will the Lord dwel on Earth? Or if he will, ſhal ſo foul a Stable, ſo unclean a Stye, as my heart hath been, ſhal this be the place that the Lord of life will take up his lodging, and keep his Court in? Will he indeed come with all his Train of Graces, and live, and walk in me? How can theſe things be? But he hath ſaid it, and I do, and I will believe it.
Pſal. 31.19.Yet all this is but the earneſt of what is to come. Oh how great is thy goodneſs, laid up for them that fear thee? Yet a little while, and my warfare ſhal be accompliſhed, and the Heavens muſt receive me, till the time of the reſtitution of all things. 2 Pet. 1.14.It is but for a ſhort term that I ſhal dwel in this dirty fleſh, in an earthen Tabernacle. Joh. 12.26My Lord hath ſhewed me, that where he is, there ſhal his ſervant be. Now the living, is tyed to the dead; and my Soul is a Stage of ſtrife, and a Field of war. 1 Cor. 13.10.But tis but a little moment, and that which is perfect ſhal come; perfect Holineſs, and perfect Peace; eternal Serenity, and a Serene Eternity.
O my ſins. Rev. 21.27.I am going where you cannot come; where no unclean thing ſhal enter, nor any thing that defileth. Methinks I ſee all my Afflictions and Temptations, all mine infirmities, and corruptions falling off me, as Elijah's Mantle at his tranſlation.
O my Soul, doſt thou not ſee the Chariots of fire, and the Horſes of fire come to take thee up? Luk. 16.22.Be thou as poor as Lazarus, yet God will not diſdain to ſend a Party of Angels to conduct thee home. How canſt thou doubt of ready reception, who haſt ſuch a friend in Court, who will lead thee with boldneſs into his Fathers preſence. Gen. 45.16.If there were Joy in Pharaoh's Court, when it was ſaid, Joſeph's Brethren are come; ſurely it will be welcom newes in Heaven, when its told, Jeſus his Brethren are come.
My Soul, fear not to enter, though the Lord be clothed with Terrour and Majeſty: For thy Redeemer will procure thee favour, and plead thy right. Joh. 16.27I am ſure of welcom, for the Father himſelf loveth me. I have taſted and tryed his love; Luke 15.and when I had played the wicked Prodigal, yet he deſpiſed not my Raggs, but fell on my neck, and kiſſed me, and Heaven it ſelf made merry over me. Much more will he receive me gladly, and let out his loves upon me, when preſented to him by his Son, in his perfect likeneſs, as a fit Object for his everlaſting delight. Fear not, O my Soul, as if thou wert going to a ſtrange place. Why Heaven is thy Countrey, and thy home: wilt thou doubt of leave, or fear of welcome, when it is thine own home? Why, my Soul, thou waſt born from above, and here is thy Kindred, and thy Fathers Houſe, and therefore thou ſhalt ſurely be admitted. And then ſhall I ſee the glorious preparations of Eternal Love, and the bliſsful Manſions of the Heavenly Inhabitants.
Doubtleſs it ſhal be thus. Theſe are not ſick-mens Dreams, or childrens hopes. The living God cannot deceive me: and may not I certainly promiſe my ſelf, what the Lord hath promiſed me? I will ſooner think that all my ſenſes are deluded, and what I ſee and feel, and taſte, is but a fancy, then think that the living God will deceive me, or that his unchangeable Covenant will fail. 1 Joh. 3.2.Now I am a ſon of God, but it doth not yet appear what I ſhal be: but this I know, I ſhal be like him, and ſee him as he is.
I know it ſhal be thus. Why, what ſecurity ſhould I ask of God? He hath given me all the aſſurance in the world. And though the word of God be enough, yet he willing to ſhew more abundantly to the Heits of Promiſe, the immutability of his Counſel, confirmed it by an Oath: Heb. 6.17.that by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, I might have ſtrong conſolation. O unreaſonable Unbelief! What ſhal not the Oath of a God put an end to thy ſtrife?
O my God, I am ſatisfied: it is enough. Now I may be bold without preſumption, and boaſt without Pride. And will no more call my Duty Arrogance, nor my Faith a Fancy.
O my Soul! There is but a ſhort life betwixt thee and Glory, where holy Angels, and glorified Saints ſhal be mine onelyonly Aſſociates, and Love and Praiſe mine onelyonly employment. Job. 38.7.Methinks I hear already how the Morningſtars ſing together, and all the ſons of God ſhout for joy. O that I could come in for one! But it was ſaid unto me, I ſhould reſt yet for a little ſeaſon, but I ſhal ſtand in the lot at the end of the daies.Dan. 12.13.
It is well Lord; thy word is enough. Thy Bond is as good, as ready payment. The holy Ghoſt tells me, that life and glory abide me; Luk. 23.43.that look what day I looſe from the body, the ſame day I ſhal be landed in Paradiſe. Amen. It is as I would have it.
But this is not all. When my body hath ſlept a ſhort Nap in the duſt, Chriſt will call to it, Come up hither. Ah true Yoke-fellow, it will be hard parting, but welcome meeting. I could not leave thee, but to live with Chriſt. Col. 3.4.But he will raiſe thee a glorious Temple; and when he ſhal appear, will bring me with himſelf in glory; and then I ſhal reenter thee as a Royal Manſion, wherein I ſhal abide with the Lord for ever. For as we have ſerved our Redeemer together, ſo we muſt be glorified together with him. And when the Lord hath married us both together again, then will he marry us both unto himſelf. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhal ſtand at the laſt day over the Earth. And though after my skin, wormes deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh I ſhal ſee God. Whom I ſhal ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhal behold, and not another, though my Reines be conſumed within me. My Lord hath already told me how it ſhall be. He hath ſet down the time, and ſhewed me the Robes of immortality, and the Crown of life, that I muſt put on; and the Throne of glory, and the Seat of judgement, that I muſt ſit in. He hath told me the manner in which I ſhal be preſented to him, and eſpouſed by him. He hath told me where he will ſet me, and what he will ſay to me, and how he will acknowledge my mean ſervices, and remember what I have forgotten: Mat 25.35,37.how he will praiſe the works, that I have been aſhamed of, and reward me openly, for what I have buried in ſecrecy; Mat. 6.4.and not forget the pooreſt Almes that I have given for his Name. Then will he confeſs me before his Father, and before the Angels of God. Thus ſaith the true, and faithful witneſs, and we know that his Teſtimony is true.
1 Joh. 5.10Ah my Soul, ſee that thou make not God a Lyar.
O my God, I have believed thy report, and do look for all theſe things, according to thy Promiſe. I know thou intendeſt me but for a very little while for this lower Region. This world is but the houſe of my Pilgrimage, and my ſoul now is but like a Bird in the shel: but when the ſhel is crackt, then ſhal ſhe take wings like a Dove, and ſoar aloft to thee, and flee away, and be at reſt.
Yet I doubt not thy care for my deſpicable duſt. I know that nothing will be loſt; Joh. 6.39.I know not where they will lay me: but thy wakeful eye obſerveth, and will not be to ſeeking at what door to knock, nor at what grave to call for me. I believe, and am ſure that I ſhal come a glorious piece out of thy hands, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, crowned with honour and glory. And when my Abſolution is read, and ſentence paſt upon the world, then muſt I be taken up to dwell with thee.
Let not my Lord be angry, that thy duſt and aſhes ſpeaketh thus unto thee. Thou Lord haſt raiſed my expectations, and haſte made me to look for all theſe great things from thee. In vain haſte thou written all theſe things unto me, if I ſhould not believe them; and a diſtruſtful diffidence would put a high diſhonour upon thy Truth.
O Lord it repenteth me, it repenteth me of my jealouſies, and my doubtful thoughts about thee. I know thou loveſt an humble confidence, and delighteſt in nothing more then to ſee thy children truſt thee. I know the building of my hopes, lies not an hairs breadth over the foundation of thy Promiſes; yea, 'tis ſure, my expectations are infinitely ſhort of what I ſhal find.
Joh. 3.33. Eph. 2.20 Mat 7.25 Pſal. 39.7.O my God, my heart truſteth ſafely in thee, and I here ſet to my ſeal that thou art true. Chriſt is my Bottom in which I venture, and the Corner-ſtone on which I build, and therefore my fraught is enſured, and my building ſhall challenge the winds and floods.
And now, O Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. O my bleſſedneſs, let me enjoy thee. O my life, let me poſſeſs thee. O deſire of mine eyes, let me ſee thy face, and hear thy voice; for thy voice is ſweet, and thy countenance is comely. I ask but what thou haſt promiſed: Matth. 5.8.for thou haſt told me, that I ſhall ſee God, and thou wilt ſpeak to me mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark ſpeeches, and the ſimilitude of God ſhall I behold.
1 Cor. 13.9,…0.So ſhall my knowledge be perfected, and I ſhall ſee the inacceſſible light, and my tender eye ſhall not water, nor my ſight dazle; but I ſhall with open face look ſtedfaſtly on the Son of Righteouſneſs, and behold his glory. Then ſhall Faith be turned into fruition, and Hope into Poſſeſſion, and Love ſhall ariſe like the full Moon in her brightneſs, and never wax, nor wane more.
O thou God of my hopes, I look for a new body, and a new ſoul, for new Heavens, and for a new Earth, according to thy promiſe; when my whole ſoul ſhall be wholly taken up with thee, and all mine affections ſtrained to the higheſt Peg, and all the Wheels of my raiſed powers ſet in moſt vigorous and perpetual motion towards thee, ſtill letting in, and ſtill laying out: and thus ſhall there be an everlaſting communication of joy and glory from thee, and of love and praiſe from me.
O my ſoul, thou art rich indeed, and increaſed in goods. Thou haſt no reaſon to envy the glory nor grandeur of the mightieſt on earth: Pſa. 49.14,17.For their glory ſhall not deſcend after them; like Sheep ſhall they be laid in their graves, and Death ſhall feed upon them, and there's an eternal end of all their pomp and excellency. But my Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome. My Robes ſhall never wear, my Crown ſhall never totter, my Throne ſhall never be vacant; My Bread ſhall never mold, my Garland ſhall never wither, my Houſe ſhall never moulder, my Wine ſhall never ſowre, but everlaſting joy ſhall be upon my head, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall flie away.
O my God, how happy haſt thou made me! It is better then I could have wiſhed. Thou haſt done all things well. Thou haſt ſetled them for ever. The whole Earth cannot ſhew any ſuch heritage or Tenure. The world can ſtate out her poſſeſſions but for years, nor can ſhe make a good title for that neither. But mine Inheritance is for ever, and none can put me out of poſſeſſion. The thing is eſtabliſhed in Heaven; and in the Volume of the Book it is written of me. My evidence cannot be loſt. It is recorded in the Court above, and enrolled in the ſacred leaves of the Word, and entred upon the Book of my Conſcience, and herein I do, and will rejoyce.
Now my ſoul wipe up thine eyes, and go away with Hannah, and be no more ſad. What though mine Houſe be not ſo with God, ſo happy, ſo proſperous as I could wiſh? What though they be encreaſed that trouble me, and my temptations and afflictions be like the rolling Billows, riding on one anothers backs for haſte. Yet ſhall my ſoul be as a rock unmoved, and ſit down ſatisfied in the ſecurity and amplitude of my portion. For God hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things, and ſure; and herein is all my ſalvation, and all my deſire.
And now what remaineth, O Lord, but that I ſhould ſpend the remainder of my daies in loving, praiſing, and admiring thee. But wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, or bow my ſelf to the moſt High God. What ſhall I give thee to expreſs my thankfulneſs, though not to requite thy bounty? Alas my poor little ſoul! Alas that thou art ſo little. How narrow are thy capacities! How diſproportionate are thy powers! Alas that my voice can reach to no higher a note! But ſhall I do nothing, becauſe I cannot do all?
Lord I reſign to thee. With the poor Widow, I caſt my two mites (my ſoul and body) into thy Treaſury. All my powers ſhall love and ſerve thee. All my members ſhall be weapons of Righteouſneſs for thee. Here is my good will. Behold my ſubſtance is thy ſtock; mine intereſt is for thy ſervice. I lay all at thy feet: There thou haſt them, they are thine. My Children I enter as thy Servants. My poſſeſſions I reſign as thy right. I will call nothing mine, but thee. All mine are thine: I can ſay My Lord, and my God, and that is enough; I thankfully quit my claim to all things elſe. I will no more ſay, My Houſe is mine, or my Eſtate mine; I my ſelf am not mine own: Yet it is infinitely better for me to be thine, then if I were mine own. This is my happineſs, that I can ſay my own God, my own Father. And O what a bleſſed exchange haſt thou made with me! to give me thy Self who art an infinite Sum, for my ſelf who am but an inſignificant Cypher.
And now Lord, do thou accept, and own my claim. I am not worthy of any thing of thine, much leſs of thee. But ſith I have a Deed to ſhew, I bring thy Word in my hand, and am bold to take poſſeſſion. Doſt thou not know this hand? wilt thou not own this name? wilt thou not confirm thine own grant? It were infidelity to doubt it. I will not diſparage the faithfulneſs of my Lord, nor be afraid to averre, and ſtand to what he hath ſaid and ſworn. Haſt thou ſaid, Thou art my God, and ſhall I fear thou art mine enemy? Haſt thou told me, Thou art my Father, and ſhall I ſtand aloof, as if I were a ſtranger? I will believe. Lord ſilence my fears; and as thou haſt given me the claim and title of a Child, ſo give me the confidence of a Child. Let my heart be daily kept alive by thy promiſes, and with this ſtaffe let me paſs over Jordan. May theſe be my undivided companions, and comforters: When I go, let them lead me; when I ſleep, let them keep me; when I awake, let them talk with me. And do thou keep theſe things for ever upon the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of thy people, and prepare their hearts unto thee. And let the heart of thy Servant be the Ark of thy Teſtament, wherein the ſacred records of what hath paſſed between thee and my ſoul, may for ever be preſerved. Amen.
Thus far my Friend. So be it.