Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 9 – Chapter 12
CHAP. IX. Four Reaſons why the Saints have their Converſations in Heaven.
But now, If you demand the reaſon, why it is that the Saints have their Converſations in Heaven?
To that I anſwer briefly thus.
The firſt Reaſon.
Becauſe their ſouls that are their better part, they are from Heaven. You know, that when God made Man, He breathed into his noſtrils the breath of life. The Soul of man, it is as it were, the breath of God: God did not ſay of Mans Soul as of other creatures, Let it be made, let there be a ſoul in mans body. No, but when he had formed the body, he breathed the ſoul into him. It was to note, that the ſoul of man had a more Heavenly, and Divine original, than any of the other creatures that are here in this world; and becauſe the original it is ſo Divine, and Heavenly, therefore it is, that when the ſoul is (as it were) its ſelf, is ſet at liberty, it would be at its original: Indeed, though mans ſoul be of a Divine, and Heavenly Nature, yea through the fall of man, ſo it is, that the ſoul of man is even almoſt turned to be fleſh, and ſo mingled with unclean droſſie things as if it had no ſuch Divine and Heavenly original? and therefore a natural man is called fleſh, That that is born of the fleſh, is fleſh; as if he had no ſoul at all: for I ſay, the ſoul of man through his fall, the Nature of it ſeemed to be changed, it is at leaſt depreſſed down to ſuch vile things, as if it never had ſuch a Divine and Heavenly original. But now, when God works grace in the ſoul, the ſoul of man begins to return to its ſelf, and to know its ſelf, and begins to return to its own nature that it had in its firſt creation: and as ſoon as ever the ſoul begins to know its ſelf, it looks then preſently at all theſe things that are here below as vile things in compariſon, as contemptable; for indeed, all theſe things in this world are infinitly beneath the ſoul of a man: [Infinitly] that is, in compariſon, we may even call it an infinite diſtance between mans ſoul and all theſe things that are here below in the world; the ſoul of man is neer unto God himſelf, and therefore when as the ſoul returne unto its ſelf, it would be ſome where elſe than where it is, and would converſe with thoſe things that are ſutable to its original. As it is with a man that hath a noble birth, ſuppoſe a Prince is got into another Country, and there being a child, is uſed like a ſlave, ſet to rake channels, and ſuch mean imployment; now all the while that he is there and not know his original, he minds nothing but to get his victuals, and do his work that he is ſet about; but if once he come to know from whence he was, namely, born the Heir unto ſuch a great Prince, or Emperour that lives in ſo much glory in ſuch a Country; then he that liv'd like a ſlave, his thoughts, and mind, and longings are, to be in the Country where his birth was ſo high, Oh that he might be but there, he ſhould be happy then; and it doth him good to hear any man ſpeak of that Country. Truly, ſo it is with the ſouls of men, they are the birth (as I may ſo ſpeak) of the high God, of the great King of Heaven and Earth, being breathed ſo into the noſtrils of man. Now through mans fall the ſoul comes to be a ſlave to the Devil, and is ſet about drudggery to provide for the fleſh: but now, when God is pleaſed to convert the ſoul, the Lord comes then to declare to a man or woman, Oh man, woman! thou art born from on high, thy ſoul is (as it were) a ſparkle of the Divinity (as I may ſo ſay) thy Father by creation, nay, not only by creation as he is the Creator of all Creatures, is God, but by a more ſpecial work of his, by a more ſpecial work (I ſay) than in the firſt creation of other things; thy ſoul is from God, and of a Divine Nature, and is therefore capable of Communion with Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt; Certainly, thou never hadſt ſuch a Divine and Excellent being given the meerly that thou ſhouldeſt delight in the fleſh, and be ſervicable to thy body, in eating, and drinking here a while; Oh! conſider of thy Country whence thou cameſt at firſt; here's one work of grace, to know the Excellency of our ſouls, and from whence they came: ſurely, if grace do this, it muſt needs turn the heart of one that is converted to God, to have his Converſation to be in Heaven. That's the firſt Reaſon.
The Second Reaſon.
But not only ſo, becauſe the ſoul had a Heavenly original, and therefore will not be content with a portion here in this world, But ſecondly, When grace comes there, the ſoul hath a Divine Nature put into it beyond the excellency that it had in its firſt Creation: I ſay, there is a Divine Nature higher than is meer natural excellency; in the 2 Peter. 1. 3. According (ſaith he) as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlineſs, and whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiſes, that by theſe you might be partakers of the Divine Nature. Certainly the Apoſtle did not here mean, meerly what Adam had in innocency, I never read that that's cal'd the Divine Nature; though it's true, there is a renewing of the Image of God in man when he is converted; I but there is ſomewhat more in the ſoul of man than repairing of this; the holy Ghoſt coming and dwelling in the ſoul in a higher way than it dwelt in the ſoul of Adam at the firſt; indeed before it was a creature, but ſuch a creature as only had reference to God, as God was the Creator, and man was the creature; but now it hath reference to God as being made one with the Second Perſon in Trinity, and ſo one with the Father: and therefore of a higher Nature than man was in the ſtate of innocency. And you know what is ſaid of Adam in Paradice, He was of the earth earthly, he was of the earth in compariſon of the ſecond Adam, (take Adam in innocency in compariſon of the ſecond Adam, he was but of the earth earthly) and ſo his poſterity though Adam had ſtood ſhould have been but of the earth earthly, & their portion its like ſhould have bin but in a happines in this world: we never read in Scripture of a Heavenly condition Adam had been in though he had ſtood; but the ſecond Adam is from Heaven Heavenly. And the poſterity of the ſecond Adam that is, thoſe that are by Regeneration made the children of the everlaſting Father, that are made the poſterity of Jeſus Chriſt by faith are from Heaven Heavenly; therefore their ſouls are indued with a Divine Nature, with ſuch high principles of grace as it muſt needs carry up their ſouls to Heaven: If a lump of earth ſhould be ſo changed as to have a ſpirit and a life put into it, and to be made of ſuch an Airial nature as any of the birds are, this lump of earth would fly in the air preſently. It is ſo in the work of converſion, All men and women are earthly, and therefore they fink down to the earth, and the earth is their proper center; but when once they come to be converted, there is a ſpirit put into them whereby they come to mount up aloft: It is not more natural for the Earth to fall down low, than it is for the fire and air to aſcend up high, becauſe every creature doth move towards the Center of it, heavie things fall down becauſe below is the proper place of them; light things riſe up, becauſe their proper place is to be above: and ſo, the Converſations of the Saints muſt needs be in Heaven, becauſe there's their Center, there's that that's ſutable to the Divine Nature that is put into them.
The Third Reaſon.
Their Converſations muſt needs be in Heaven, Becauſe thoſe things that are the moſt choice things unto them are in Heaven. I ſhould have named a great many particulars here to ſhew what are the choice things that concern the Saints, and how they are all in Heaven.
Their Father, God, is in Heaven: Our Father which art in Heaven. Jeſus Chriſt he is in Heaven; Seek the things above where Jeſus Chriſt is ſitting at the right hand of the Father. Jeſus Chriſt that is their Head in Heaven. Their Huſband is in Heaven. Their Elder Brother is in heaven. Their King is in heaven. Their Treaſure is in heaven. Their Inheritance in heaven. Their Hope is in heaven. Their Mantion-houſe in heaven. Their chief Friends are in heaven. Their Subſtance is in heaven. Their Reward is in heaven. Their wages are in heaven. All theſe things being in heaven, no marvail though their Converſations are in heaven. And they are going to Heaven; now being that they are going that way, travelling towards heaven, they muſt needs be there in their hearts, heaven is the place that they ſhal come to ere long, they ſhal be there, and they know that here in this world they are to be but a while, but for ever to be there, We ſhall be caught up into the clouds …nd be for ever with him: Yea, their Converſations muſt needs be in Heaven, for they have much of heaven alreadie, there's much of heaven in the Saints, the Kingdom of Heaven it is within them, the Scripture ſaith: They having ſo much of Heaven for the preſent, it muſt needs be that their Converſation… are there, and ſo that Scripture in the 10. Heb. 34. Knowing in your ſelves that ye have in Heaven a better and enduring ſubſtance. You may reade it thus, Knowing you have Heaven: a better enduring ſubſtance in your ſelves; ſo that the words [knowing in your ſelves] hath not only reference to what they know by hear-ſay, though this be a true note, that they may know heaven by hear-ſay; they hear Miniſters ſpeak of Heaven, and reade it in the Word of God, but they know it in themſelves, they know it by what God hath revealed in their own hearts, yea, though t… were no books that ever they ſhould ſee more, though they be not book-learn'd, and though they cannot reade a letter in the book, though they ſhould hear no more Sermons, yet by what is revealed in themſelves, They know in themſelves that they have a more better and enduring ſubſtance: That's a truth. But the words may be more proper to the original, read thus: Kowing, that you have Heaven in your ſelves, a Better and Enduring ſubſtance: Eternal life is begun alreadie in the hearts of the Saints, there is Heaven alreadie in the Saints; and therefore no marvel though their Converſations be in Heaven.
The Fourth Reaſon.
God hath ſo ordered things in this world on purpoſe, that he might wean the hearts of the Saints from the world. The Lord loves to have the hearts of his Saints to be in Heaven where he hath treaſured up ſuch glorious things for them, and becauſe that the Saints while they are here in the world, & have ſo much of the world in them, they would feign be living here in the world; therefore God doth ſo order things that they ſhall meet with little content in this world, that they may be weary of it, and be wearied from it: and indeed, here's the reaſon why Gods people have met with ſuch croſſes in the world, why the Lord hath kept his Saints ſo low and mean in the world: It may be you are ready to draw ill concluſions from thence, and to think, I am afraid God doth not love me that he keeps me ſo low and mean, and I meet with ſuch croſſes, and others do not. Oh! gather not ſuch ill concluſions as theſe are; It is, becauſe he would gather your hearts to Heaven, and wean you from the world, that you might long to be with him in Heaven, for you are abſent from him here in this world, and the Lord would have the full ſtream of your affections to run after thoſe things that you ſhal have with him in Heaven. This uſe you are to make of thoſe afflictions you meet withal, and thoſe croſſes that befall you in this world, And thus we have gone through the Doctrinal point, of the Saints having their Converſations in Heaven.
CHAP. X.
WEE have treated long upon that point of An Heavenly Converſation, and have opened to you, what that Heavenly Converſation is, wherein it conſiſts in many particulars: But now we ſhal proceed to the Application of al. Though as I have gone along, I have endeavoured not only to ſpeak to your heads, but your hearts, and to quicken what I have ſaid, ſo as might quicken your hearts: yet from the conſideration of all, there are divers Uſes that may be profitable unto you.
The Firſt Ʋſe.
The firſt is this, If the Saints live ſuch a Heavenly Converſation as hath been opened to you, Oh how far are they from being Saints, from being godly, Who are ſo far from having their Converſations in Heaven, as they have their Converſations in Hell. There are a generation of men that profeſs themſelves to be Chriſtians, & ſay, that they hope to go to Heaven; and yet if you behold their Converſation, it is no other than the Converſation of hell: Certainly, 'tis not what men ſay, but how they live that will caſt them another day: he that is of Heaven, or for Heaven, his Converſation is in Heaven: and he that is for hell, his Converſation is helliſh: now that's a Converſation in hell that is like to what is done in hell, what is there in hell, but blaſpheming and curſing? What is there in hell, but hatred and malice? what is there in hell, but raging and filthineſs? Theſe things are the Converſations of many men who are even devils incarnate. In many families there's the Name of God blaſphemed, there's curſing, and railing, and malice, and wrath, and pride, ſo that though they be here in this world, yet they manifeſt to what place they do belong. So that as the Saints have their Converſations in Heaven, when they die they go to their own place, that is to heaven where their Converſations were: ſo on the contrary, the wicked having their Converſations in hell, when they die they go to their own place: as it was ſaid of Judas, He went to his own place: So a wicked man dying, having his Converſation in hell while he liv'd, (I ſay) when he dies he goes to his own place, that's his own proper place, he took content and delight in thoſe things that were done there, and ſo when he dies, there he ſhall go. As the tree falls ſo it lies. As thy Converſation is, and the bent of thy heart is there, ſo it muſt lie to all eternity.
CHAP. XI.
The Second Ʋſe.
THis Point likewiſe, rebukes Hypocrites, as wicked prophane ones that have their Converſations in hell: ſo there's another kind of men that are unſound profeſſors, Hypocrites, and they have their Converſations between Heaven and Earth: It's not in Heaven nor in Hell, nor altogether upon the Earth, but between Earth, and Heaven, and Hell. Sometimes they ſeem to be a loft, above; ſometimes very forward and zealous in the profeſſion of Religion, ſometimes much inlarged in Duties, at other times again they are as baſe earthly ſpirits as any, yea, ſomtimes, there's much of Hell in their hearts, and in their waies, they profeſſe themſelves the ſeed of Abraham, but they are not as the ſtars of heaven, but as Meteors that are between Heaven and Earth: we call them blazing ſtars; but they are not ſo bright as the ſtars, nor are they of ſuch a heavenly nature as the ſtars, they are but made of a few unclean vapours that come out of the earth, which being got up neer the heavens, do make a ſhew as if they were ſome ſtar in heaven, but you find a great deal of difference between the ſtars and them in this, for within a little while they fall, and vaniſh, and come to nothing; and ſo it is with many hypocrites, they by the Word are raiſed up a little for the preſent, and ſeem to be above the ſtars, and they have a glittering ſhew as if they had ſomthing heavenly in them, even like the ſtars of heaven, they ſeem to be got above others: your blazing ſtar, a child would think it a great deal bigger than one of the ſtars that is an hundred times bigger than that is; ſo 'tis with many hypocrites, they have a greater ſhew of Religion than many that have truth of Godlineſs, and that are truly gracious, they look upon them as wondering at the excellent parts that they have, excellent abilities, it may be, they will diſcourſe ſometimes in an excellent manner about heavenly things; you ſhall find ſome that have no ſoundneſs at all, yet will have very excellent diſcourſe, they ſpeak the very language of Canaan, but it is in ſuch company where they may gain reſpect by it, but ſtill are but as meteors that hang between heaven and earth: whereas the truth is, while they ſeem to be ſo high above others, and ſo heavenly, yet their hearts are groveling upon the earth: many times while they have moſt excellent expreſſions in prayer, yet God ſees their hearts baſely cleaving to ſome earthly thing, there is ſome baſe earthly contentment that their hearts are upon, while they ſeem to be ſo heavenly, much like to the Kite that flies on high as if it were an Eagle, but the eye of it while it is above in the air is fixed upon ſome carrion, upon ſome prey that it hath upon the earth, and as ſoon as ever it ſees a fit opportunity to ſeiſe upon the prey, it comes down to ſeiſe upon it, and that's the place the Kite would be at, that's the place he doth moſt delight in, to be upon his prey: And ſo an hypocrite, though he riſes high in ſome actions, yet the truth is, his eye is upon ſome earthly prey, and when he ſees his opportunity, thither he goes and finks down to thoſe things, and that's his moſt proper place, there he takes moſt delight and content in his Converſation, though his actions may ſeem to be Heavenly, and therefore he will fall down and never attain to the higheſt Heavens that the Saints ſhall go to, but to hell at the laſt.
CHAP. XII.
The Third Ʋſe.
THE Third Uſe is this, The Saints Converſation is in Heaven. Hence then for ſhame, let us not find fault with ſtrictneſs in the waies of God, let not man ſpeak againſt the waies of God, as being too ſtrict, and what need we be ſo Circumſpect, and ſo preciſe, and ſo pure? what need we labor to do ſo much? what! canſt thou attain to a more ſtrict and holy Converſation than a Heavenly Converſation? It is a very carnal expreſſion that ſome have, Why? we cannot be Saints? we are not Saints; yes, the holy Ghoſt cals all beleevers, all that have the very leaſt degree of true grace, he call them Saints. When we come to Heaven, then we ſhall live better, but while we are in this world we cannot. Ye…, while you are in this world your Converſation is to be in Heaven; ſurely men either are not acquainted with the Word, or they ſhut their eyes and will not ſee and conſider what the Word ſaith about a ſtrict Converſation: Sometimes you find in Scripture, that we are commanded, to be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect; It's a ſtrange ſpeech, and yet it's the ſpeech of Chriſt himſelf. And we muſt walk as Chriſt walked, and he that hath this hope, purifieth himſelf as he is pure; and then our Converſation is in Heaven. Put theſe together, Perfect as our Heavenly father is perfect; Walk as Chriſt walked; Purge our ſelves as he is pure. Our Converſation is in Heaven: what do all theſe things tend to? Surely it tends to a great deal of ſtrictneſs and holineſs of life. And theſe things ſhew that the work of a Chriſtian here in this world is a buſie work, that a Chriſtian-life it is not an idle, dull, heavy, or ſluggiſh life; you that are Chriſtians, you had need quicken up your ſelves, you had need awaken thoſe drouſie ſpirits of yours, if this be required of you, that you ſhould be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect, Walk as Chriſt walked, Purifie your ſelves as he is pure, Holy as he is holy, and to have your Converſations in Heaven, ſurely, there need be a great deal of quickneſs and life in the hearts of Chriſtians; and you are not to content your ſelves in a meer poſſeſſion, and doing ſome little matter in the way of Religion, or being ſomewhat better than others, you are to aim at heaven, look up there, and make that to be your pattern.