A Sovereign Antidote Against the Fear of Death, Tract · Meditation 10

A Sovereign Antidote Against the Fear of Death · Tract · Meditation 10

p. 233MEDITAT. X. Of Heavens Glory, the reward of dying for Chriſt.

OH my ſoul, thou haſt ſeen the danger of revolting, and denying Chriſt, thou haſt had a view of hell, which is the reward of this ſin, thou haſt looked into it, and had a glimpſe of it, though it was but a little repreſentation; a true map of it the Devil himſelf cannot make, nor give a full diſcription; but here is enough to ſtay thy ſtomach; how thinkſt of it? if thou trade for it, canſt thou make a ſavers bargain, if thou loſe thy ſoul to ſave thy life? For this is the trade thou driveſt, if thou deny Chriſt: here is the Devils offered wages, 'tis true; he ſugers this bitter pill with a promiſe of a longer miſerable life in a cheating world, but he cannot make good his bargain, though he will not be behind hand with his wages; Mat. 25.41Matt 25:41if thou depart from Chriſt now, he will bid thee depart from him for ever; what is thy reſolution? Halt not between two opinions: if p. 234God be God ſerve him, 1 Kin. 18.27.1 Kgs 18:27if Baal be God ſerve him: thou canſt not ſerve two maſters, God and Mammon: If thou pretend to both, thou art like to be caſt off by both, by God and the world; as many hypocrites are: the world hates them becauſe they look like the godly, and God hates them becauſe they are really wicked; conſider therefore who is like to be the beſt maſter, and who will give the beſt wages; and if the ballances are yet equally poized, I ſhall put in one weight more, even an eternal weight of glory into Gods end, which may haply turn the ſcales though the whole world were in the other end; for if thou be faithful to the death, thou ſhalt receive a crown of life, and this crown will really over-ballance all that the Devil can put into the other end. Thou haſt ſeen there is but a little in the world worth the loſing, and a great deal in hell worth the fearing, let us ſee if there be any thing in heaven worth the enjoying: in the world is nothing but vanity, in hell nothing but miſery, and in Heaven nothing but felicity; now what wiſe man would loſe this felicity, and endure this miſery, for a little while to enjoy this vanity? Thou haſt ſeen the Devils wages, that is, the beſt of it, for p. 235the worſt the Devil himſelf cannot make thee underſtand, for it is inexpreſſible, and no word in humane language can ſet it forth to the life, yet thou haſt had a taſt of it, and a taſt is better than a whole draught: Now if thou would'ſt ſee what wages God will give thee, thou muſt make a journey alſo into Heaven, and ſee if there be any thing that may win upon thy affections; thou ſeeſt already what the Devil and the world have bidden thee, ſee alſo what wages God offers thee, and then chooſe as thou ſeeſt cauſe; ſee if there be any thing in Heaven to make up all thy loſſes, croſſes, ſufferings and pains which thou muſt be at for Chriſts ſake, and if there be not, take thy courſe and make another choice; view thoſe celeſtial habitations, thoſe manſions of glory prepared for thoſe that confeſs Chriſt before men, and loſe any thing for his ſake: view this purchaſed Inheritance, this Crown of glory and thoſe eternal pleaſures that are at Gods right hand, and ſee if God do not outbid the Devil and the World, and ſo beſt deſerves thy affections; and conſider whether this may not a little allay thy overmuch deſire of life, and fear of death, and make thee willing to be at p. 236thy Redeemers will, and Makers pleaſure: one view of this celeſtial Paradice may make thee diſreliſh all temporal felicity. But how ſhall we ſing the ſongs of Sion in a ſtrange land, or what conceptions can we have of theſe Heavenly Manſions, while we abide in houſes of clay? Water can aſcend no higher than the Fountain-head, and Nature cannot tranſcend Nature: what conceptions can a beaſt have of a rational being? much lower muſt we have of a celeſtial being; for the diſproportion is greater: how canſt thou view thoſe gloryes ſurpaſſing a thouſand Suns, when thou canſt not view one Sun when it ſhines in its ſplendour but thy weak eyes are offended? how canſt utter thoſe things which the Apoſtle that ſaw them calls inutterable? how canſt diſcourſe of the Father of Spirits, and knoweſt ſo little of the nature of a Spirit, nay art ſo ignorant of thy own ſoul; or tell what it is to enjoy God in; glory, when thoſe little glimpſes of him here, are inexpreſſible? or how canſt thou diſcourſe of that, which eye never ſaw, ear never heard of, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive of, viz. What God is, and what he hath prepared for thoſe that love him? p. 237for as thoſe helliſh flames which the wicked ſuffer, cannot be fully deſcribed by thoſe that endure them, no more can thoſe celeſtial joyes by thoſe that enjoy them; much leſs by a frail creature, that hath had very little taſt of thoſe honey-dews that fall upon the heirs of glory: In this wilderneſs of troubles, we ſee few of thoſe Canaans grapes and foretaſts of Glory, the full fruition no man living can diſcover. Yet let us get a Piſgah ſight of Canaan, a remote view of glory, and judge a little of the worth of the Jewel by the richneſs of the Cabinet that holds it; and haply thou maiſt by the report, as the Queen of Sheba of Solomons wiſdom, get ſome conceptions of it, that may make thee, like her, be willing to take the journey, though thou heareſt not the one half of what there really is to be ſeen; and though thy conceptions reach not the matter in hand, yet may they reach thy affections, and ſerve to dazle thine eyes, that all earthly glory ſhall ſeem little to it. To this purpoſe let us view the beſpangled Spheres, adorned with thoſe beauty ſpots, the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, for 'tis by viſible things we muſt reach after thoſe that are inviſible; and ſee whether this beauty do not ſomething p. 238thing allure us; David upon conſideration thereof was amazed, Pſal. 8.4.Ps 8:4and cryes out, Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the ſon of man that thou regardeſt him? When he beheld thoſe vaſt bodies at ſuch an incredible diſtance, and all made for mans ſake, and conſidering what a poor worm man was, wondered that God ſhould have any reſpect for him; and haply he might raiſe his thoughts higher, which might increaſe his admiration. Now theſe viſible Orbs which are the Canopy over our heads, ſhall then be but the Pavement under our feet; yea the pavement ſhall be doubtleſs much more glorious; and if the porch be ſo glorious, what is the palace? what is the throne? and what is the Preſence Chamber? theſe viſible things though gorious, are made for the uſe of man while he is upon the earth, and when he is gone hence for ought we know there will be no uſe of them: in heaven there needs no Sun, the glory of the Lord is the light thereof; in Hell they ſhall not enjoy it, which is a place of horrid darkneſs, even blackneſs of darkneſs for ever: but concerning thoſe celeſtial bodies which we ſee by day or by night, the greateſt wits in the world have been imployed, yea puzled in the ſearch of the myſteries in them contained; their p. 239matter, diſtance, magnitude, vertues and influences; and thoſe that caſt the moſt rational conjecture concerning thoſe things, muſt needs ſay, if they will ſpeak their conſciences, much of it lyes in the dark; and thoſe that have ſearched natures garden from end to end, muſt ſay, many things are unſearchable and paſt finding out; and if we underſtand not earthly things which we dayly ſee, how ſhall we underſtand heavenly things which we never ſaw? neither can we deſcribe them if we did ſee them. If the footmen have wearyed us, Jer. 12.5.Jer 12:5how ſhall we contend with horſes? The Philoſophers have found out many heavens, and yet 'tis to be feared fall ſhort of this we now diſcourſe of; the ſeveral Orbs in which the Planets move, they reckon as diſtinct heavens, becauſe they move in a different Sphere, ſome higher, ſome lower, the eighth Sphere being the Orb of the fixed Stars, and above that they have their primum mobile, or firſt mover. I ſhall not quarrel with their diviſion, only being to diſcourſe of Divinity not Philoſophy, which yet is uſeful in its place, I ſhall take the Scripture diſtinction, and ſo we find mention made of three heavens; the firſt is the Sphere below the Moon, the region of the air, here the fowls of heaven fly; ſometimes called the fowls of the air, and p. 240here the clouds of heaven are ſcattered about by the winds; theſe are Gods Chambers out of which he waters the earth; theſe are the bottles of heaven, when they are poured out the earth is refreſhed, and …hen they are reſtrained it languiſheth … are Gods treaſure houſes, out of which …ends plenty; and when he withholds his …and, want and penury follow. The next above this is the Starry region, which the Scripture calls the Firmament of the heaven; here the Stars keep their courſes according to divine appointment: below the fixed Stars are the ſeveral Orbs of the Planets, which the Philoſophers call ſo many Heavens; and above it, is the primum mobile which ſets the reſt on work, unto whom God himſelf gives the firſt puſh, and is the ſpring that makes all the wheels move: but above this is the third heaven we are now deſcribing; but there is no inſtrument made or deviſed to be made, that can make any obſervation of it: all their Perſpectives, Tubes and Teleſcopes will not reach it; neither can we ſee it with our bodily eyes, but by the eye of Faith, and by Scripture-light; this is the place where the bleſſed Angels, and glorified Saints are bleſſed with Gods immediate preſence, and enjoy that beatifical viſion, in the enjoyment whereof true happineſs doth p. 241conſiſt: not that God is included in Heaven; For the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him: 1 King 8.17. 2 Chro. 2.6.1 Kgs 8:172 Chr 2:6He is preſent in all places, but circumſcribed in none: but as on Earth he was ſpecially preſent in the Temple, ſo is he much more in Heaven; here he moſt eminently diſcovers himſelf to the beſt of his Creatures, Angels and Saints, and manifeſts himſelf to be Love it ſelf; for never frown was there ſeen in his face, or wrinkle upon his brow; hither it was that Chriſt aſcended after the Reſurrection, and here it is that he ſits at the right hand of God, making interceſſion for us; and from hence it is he will come to Judgment: It was from hence that Lucifer that Sun of the morning fell, that the Devil and his Angels were caſt out, and their place was found no more there; hither it was that Paul was carried, whether in the body or out of the body, 2 Cor. 12.22 Cor 12:2he knew not, and heard unſpeakable words, ſuch as are not lawful or poſſible to be uttered: This Heaven it was that Stephen ſaw opened, and Jeſus ſtanding at the right hand of God; hither it was that Enoch and Elijah were tranſlated; and from hence it was that Moſes and Elijah appeared, in the transfiguratiof Chriſt; and hither it was that the Angels carried the Soul of Lazarus into Ahrabams boſom; and here it was that the believing p. 242Thief was to be with Chriſt that day in Paradice; and hither it is that the ſouls of believers paſs when death hath ſeparated them from their bodies. Now thou ſeeſt there is ſuch a place; but it being out of the reach of ſence, it cannot be ſeen but by faith, and lies out of the Philoſophers reach; the ableſt of them cannot by any inſtrument they can make, make any obſervation thereof; though they ſeem by theſe helps even to command the Stars themſelves, yet cannot reach this Heaven of Heavens; no one can ſee it but by Scripture light, nor enter into or view thoſe Manſions of glory, but by a clue of thred thence borrowed. Now as thoſe things viſible excell in glory, I mean thoſe celeſtial bodies, all other viſible beautyes that ever God created; ſo the Scripture holds out, that the Heaven of Heavens, or the third Heaven, excells theſe in beauty and ſplendor; for it is both a vaſt and a beautiful place, far exceeding in both our apprehenſions: theſe outward things were made for mans ſake while he was in: houſe of clay, but thoſe in Heaven were made for his ſake when he ſhall be refined from the dregs of corruption, and made … to enjoy them; and 'tis, no doubt, repleat with all manner of felicity; where God p. 243himſelf vouchſafes to communicate himſelf to Angels and men; here the body of Chriſt ſhines forth in a moſt reſplendent manner, here the holy Angels and glorified Saints enjoy thoſe Manſions of glory prepared for them from the foundation of the world; and though we are not capable of underſtanding what Heavens glory is in reality, yet we have a Piſgah ſight, a glimpſe of it in the Scripture; we find among other places ſome deſcription of it Revel. 21. yet muſt we not imagine it ſet out to the full, for words cannot expreſs it, neither can we apprehend it as it is; we may rather ſpeak what it is not, than what it is; as no humane language can expreſs what God is, no more can it what Heaven is, or what are the Joyes thereof; for how can a little Veſſel comprehend all the water in the Ocean? but by what falls under our ſenfes we muſt be lead to higher conceptions, and by thoſe things which we moſt highly prize we may conſider of thoſe that are beyond our eſtimation. For as 'tis deſcribed, Rev. 21.15 &c.Rev 21:15'tis moſt glorious, yet we muſt imagine 'tis far more glorious than 'tis deſcribed, becauſe our underſtanding cannot conceive of it as it is: we find the Angel meaſuring this holy City, the New Jeruſalem, and the length and breadth and height thereof were equal, p. 244for each way it was twelve thouſand furlongs, which according to our meaſure is a thouſand and five hundred miles; the length, breadth and heighth equal; now if all the buildings in the world were meaſured, I ſuppoſe they would not reach to this extent, nor amount unto ſuch a magnitude: But we muſt imagine that this is the exact meaſure of this heavenly Jeruſalem, this ſeat of the bleſſed; the Holy Ghoſt here gives us a figurative deſcription, as of the materials, ſo of the extent, and brings it in here as a ſpacious, ſpecious and glorious City, according to our capacity; for our ſhallow capacities cannot reach what it really is; and moſt ſpacious it muſt needs be, when ſo many miriads of inhabitants have their manſions prepared for them: For thouſand thouſands miniſter to him, Dan. 7.10.Dan 7:10and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtand before him: Yea all the Saints that ever did live, do live, or ſhall live, ſhall there inhabit: or if we make another gueſs how ſpacious this Heaven of Heavens may be, let us conſider, this terreſtrial Globe is imagined to be above twenty two thouſand miles in the circumference, and from hence to the ſtarry Region or Orb of the fixed Stars, as our Aſtronomers and thoſe that have taken moſt pains in thoſe matters imagine, there is above ſeventy p. 245four millions of miles, and the circumference of that Orb muſt be above ſix times as much; and the Emperial Heaven includes all the lower Orbs, as the Scales of an Onion, that outermoſt includes all the reſt; this is that ſpacious place where God manifeſts his glory to Angels and men, where they trumpet out his praiſes: here Chriſt is, and where he is, his ſervants ſhall be alſo; hither it is that he is aſcended to his Father, Joh. 12.26. & 20.17. Lu. 23.43.John 12:26John 20:17and our Father: and here the believing thief is with him in glory; methinks a departing ſoul ſhould rejoice to think, that within a few dayes or hours it ſhould be one of this heavenly quire with holy Angels and glorified Saints, chaunting out the praiſes of the ever bleſſed God, viewing his face and beholding his glory, and lying in the arms of Chriſt: Here is the deſired port which a believer bends all his ſails to, and hither it is all winds blow him; this is the point that his Needle toucht with a divine Load-ſtone alwayes points to; this is the mark that alwayes is in his eye, the white he alwaies aims at; this is his Journeyes end, which he travails hard to come to; here is the prize he runs for, the Crown …e fights for, and the Reward he hopes for; here or no where his ſoul finds ſatisfaction; here is his purchaſed Inheritance, here is p. 246the place where he is to receive his wages for his work, the reward of all his ſufferings for Chriſt; here is the end of all his labour, and all his painful duties; there is no need now of any more Preaching, Praying, Faſting, or humbling duties; there Humility and Self-denial will be no difficult work: here will be a conſtant Feaſt, a perpetual Sabbath, a continual Jubilee, where the holy Angels and glorified Saints ſhall for ever chaunt out the Praiſes of the ever-living God, without wearineſs or Satiety: now is the Harveſt over, the Tares burnt, the Corn ſecured, the Labourers call'd home to receive their Wages, and the godly put into the poſſeſſion of their prepared Manſions, which ſhall be as Glorious as Spacious; but when we come there, we may ſay as the Queen of Sheba, of Solomons Court and Wiſdom, Much we have heard, but the one half was not told us; yea a thouſandth part of Heavens glory is not revealed to us: How glorious doth one Sun make the morning? but what will ten thouſand, yea thouſand thouſands of Saints and Angels, ſhining more clear than the Sun, make that day, that ſhall never ſee night? 'Tis thought by ſome, that were …ll the Starres gathered and contracted p. 247into ſuch Globes, and ſet in the ſame Orb, they would make three hundred Suns; and ſhould it be ſo, yet would not the Glory of all theſe be like the ſplendor of Heaven. Some have imagined, that theſe celeſtial bodies dart their light upward as well as downward, and ſo ſerve to beautify heaven it ſelf, as well as the earth; but let's leave this as uncertain, or rather fabulous; for the Scripture tells us, There is no need of the Sun there; for God himſelf is the light thereof: Heaven will be glorious without them, for there is no uſe for them, nor need of them; but we know not how better to conceive of Heavens glory, than by ſuch viſible glory which falls under the ſences: for this City Jeruſalem which is taken up into Heaven, is further deſcribed to be made of the moſt glorious things the world affords, as of Gold, and Pearls, and precious Stones: not that 'tis really made of ſuch; no, this garbage of the Earth is too baſe materials for this Spiritual building; but theſe things being moſt valued by man, ſhadow out thoſe glorious things which cannot be expreſſed, or otherwiſe conceived of by man; therefore the walls are ſaid to be of Jaſper, and the City of pure Gold, like unto Chryſtal; it had twelve Foundations, of twelve Precious Stones; p. 248the Gates thereof being twelve, were twelve Pearls; the Streets thereof were pure Gold, Rev. 21.18Rev 21:18like to tranſparent Glaſs; and there was no night there. Oh how beautiful, how amiable muſt this City needs be, which yet as far tranſcends the deſcription as the City here deſcribed doth our Country Villages, the Holy Ghoſt deſcending as low as may be to our capacities, when no word in humane language can fully expreſs it; and if it could, no created underſtanding could reach it: but ſeeing there is no earthly thing more glorious than thoſe mentioned, we may conclude the Glory here intended is very great; for as we know not how to ſpeak of God but by borrowed and improper words; attributing that to him which properly belongs to man, or ſome other creatures, as underſtanding, will, affection, paſſions; or more improperly, head, heart, arm, hand, face, finger, and ſuch like, when God hath no ſuch diſtinct faculties, parts or members, but whatſoever is in God is God; ſo we may ſay of Heaven, there is no ſuch thing there as Gold and Pearl; but there is ſomething more precious, which is darkly reſembled by theſe things; But if the external parts of the City, the walls, the ſtreets, the Foundations be ſo glorious, what are the inner p. 249Buildings, what the Palace, the Throne, the Preſence-chamber of the great King? the Kings of the earth bring their glory to this, their Crowns, and Scepters, but what doth this add to its luſtre? but the glory of the place is much increaſed by the inhabitants, which are the Holy Angels and glorified Saints; for theſe ſhine every one as a diſtinct Sun, Dan. 12.3. Phil. 3.21.Dan 12:3Phil 3:21when their bodies are made like unto the glorified body of Chriſt; which far exceeds the native beauty of the place, nay in compariſon of whom the Sun it ſelf is but a darkſome ſpot: 'Tis true, the Saints and Angels ſhine with a borrowed light, for the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhines upon them, but this Sun ſhall never be Eclipſed, and no Cloud ſhall ever interpoſe, and the glory of the Soul ſhall exceed the glory of the Body: Now if one Sun make the Morning ſo glorious, what will thoſe thouſand thouſands of glorified Saints, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand Holy Angels, doe, who ſhall ſhine as ſo many Suns? Well may it be ſaid, there ſhall be no night there; but if this be not enough, God bleſſed for ever is more than all the light and glory of the place; ſo that there needs no Sun, for all the reſt borrow their light from him, and no Cloud ſhall ever cover his face, no Earth interpoſe between him and his Saints, or p. 250cauſe an Eclipſe. It is not in heaven as 'tis in this ſtarry vault, where there is here one beauty ſpot, and there another, but the Sun ſhines from every point, as if it were a thouſand thouſand Suns ſhining in their luſtre. Oh what fools are we, that deliberately chooſe to live in theſe darkſome cells, thoſe houſes of clay, when ſuch an habitation is offered to us! We have ſeen ſome famous Fabricks, ſome well contrived Houſes, with pleaſant Walks and curious Gardens, and theſe we are taken with, and willingly would ſpend ou… time here, and ſhall the Heaven of Heavens be leſs deſired? 'Tis true, we muſt be willing to live here while God will have us, and to this end we muſt keep up theſe ear thly tabernacles in repair if we can, we muſt not remove our ſtation without our Captains conſent; yet ſhould we willingly ſubmit to him when he calls us off our ſervice, and not deſpiſe thoſe heavenly Manſions and this Crown of glory when offered. Crowns and Kingdoms are held to be the top of humane felicity, and the greateſt ambition is but to enjoy them: Rule and Soveraignty is held mans chiefeſt good, and many times this is dear bought, with the loſs of many thouſand lives; yea of tentimes thoſe that aſcend theſe ſteps of honour, break their necks p. 251in the fall, e're ever they come to the top of the Ladder; or if they do aſcend the throne, dye before they are well warmed in their Seats, or are thruſt out by ſome rival; and yet theſe men value not Heaven, where there is none of thoſe fears or dangers: they are like Aeſops Cock, preferr a grain of Barly before a precious Jewel, the worlds glory before Heavens happineſs, which yet as far exceeds it as the brighteſt morning Sun a Gloworm, or a piece of ſhining wood; for all the worlds happineſs bears no more proportion to true felicity, than painted fire upon a wall, that hath neither light nor heat, to true fire; or a King upon a Stage to a King upon his Throne, or a liveleſs Image to a living man, or a Crown of thorns to the Kings Crown; yet many prefer a corruptible Crown, which many times proves a Crown of thorns, before that which is incorruptible and fadeth not away; this is that Crown of righteouſneſs under which no injuſtice is lodged, when pride and tyranny and oppreſſion are often ingraven upon earthly Crowns; this is a Crown of life, when others have a deaths head pourtrayed on them, and ſometimes prove as mortal as the owner, yea dye before them; they cannot at the beſt preſerve life, and many times haſten their p. 252owners death. Oh how giorious things are ſpoken of thee, O City of God, where no dirty Dog ſhall tread upon the Pavement, where no unclean thing ſhall ever enter! Rivers of pleaſures are there at the right hand of God, and in his preſence is joy for evermore; Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, ſuch as eye hath not ſeen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive of. In the midſt of this Paradice of God is the Tree of Life, which beareth twelve manners of Fruit, and bringeth forth her fruit every month, whoſe leaves were alwayes green and fragrant, and ſerved for the healing of the Nations: Rev. 12.12Rev 12:12here alſo is the pure River of the water of life, clear as Chryſtal, Ch. 3.4.proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb; and here it is there ſhall be no more curſe: Here it is his Servants ſhall ſerve him, and they ſhall ſee his face, and his Name ſhall be in their Foreheads; here is that ſpiritual Manna, Angels food, for they ſhall feed upon God himſelf; here is that eternal Inheritance that never ſhall decay; here their joyes never fade, their pleaſures ſhall be alwayes freſh and fragrant, and the Spring ſhall never end, no Winter blaſt ſhall ever nip them, no Summer Sun ſhall make them wither: But how ſhall this their joy be expreſſed by one that never ſaw it, never p. 253heard it, nor never did nor was able to conceive of it? or how can that be uttered which the Apoſtle ſaith is unutterable? the moſt precious things of the world cannot expreſs it, but darkly ſhadow it out, and we cannot reach beyond them; for there be neither Gold nor Silver, precious Jemmes nor Jewels in this building, the materials thereof are more precious, but what they are we know not: By theſe the ſoul may attain ſome higher conceptions, but know not how to expreſs them; water can aſcend no higher than the Fountain-head; we know not what God is, or what a Spirit is, or what the Soul is, and how ſhall we know what Heaven is? we may better know what theſe are not, than what they are, by ſubſtracting from them what implies Imperfection; but a corporeal Creature cannot reach what is above its reach: What conceptions can a brute beaſt have of a Rational being? no better can we have of celeſtial things, which are ſo far out of the reach of ſenſe. Kings are the higheſt degree of honour and dignity among men, and therefore all the Saints are ſaid to be Kings; Kings wear Crowns, and ſo do they, but theſe Crowns are not made of gold but of Glory; but what that glory is we yet know not. God is the Sun of righteouſneſs p. 254that caſteth abroad his beams, and the Angels and glorified Saints are as the Moon, that are inlightned with his rayes, and by reflexion become light and ſhine as the Stars in the Firmament by their borrowed light; and how many millions of Suns then will appear at once in this Horizon which ſhall never ſet again? Oh the wonderful love and mercy of God! that this body of clay ſhall then ſhine as the Sun, and be made like unto the glorified body of the Lord Chriſt: this is the place where ſin and ſorrow ſhall be no more, they ſhall never enter theſe gates, or ever reach the heart of any Believer; no painful pang, no hard labour, no ſickneſs, no ſorrow, nothing that beſpeaks evil ſhall ever enter, but everlaſtſting Joy and endleſs triumph; thoſe that believe this, and believe that they have a have a part in this, they may well ſay with Paul, I deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt. If Cleombeotus hearing Plato's diſcourſe of the Immortality of the ſoul, haſtened his own death that he might have the pleaſure of another world, well may a Chriſtian, though not lay violent hands upon himſelf, yet wait every day when his appointed time come, and cry out, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Thus thou ſeeſt the place is glorious, and the p. 255company delightful, and adding more luſtre to the place, and more happineſs to one another. Here upon earth, as thou art among ſorrows and troubles, ſo in a bad Neighbourhood, even among men ſpiritually dead; moſt thou converſeſt with are ſo, and who but mad men would live among the tombes? every family have ſome, moſt families have all thus dead in treſpaſſes and ſins; nay, not only dead but infectious alſo: every one hath ſome plague-ſore or other running upon him, and thou art apt to take the infection; nay, many are infected to the danger of the life of the ſoul, and who would live in ſuch an infected air, in ſuch a peſt-houſe? thou liveſt alſo amongſt enemies, ſome open, ſome ſecret, the latter many times worſt of all; ſome ſeek thy Eſtate by unjuſt dealing, ſome would rob thee of thy good Name by detraction and reproaches, by lyes and ſlanders; others of thy liberty, by perſecution, and ſome of thy life; but the greateſt enemies ſeek the deſtruction of both body and ſoul, and all theſe lay ſnares in thy way to intrap thee; many wait for thy halting, and for an occaſion to do thee a miſchief; but in heaven here is a good neighbourhood, good ſociety, the inhabitants there are free from guile, free from corruption, ſelf ſeeking, every one loving p. 256another as himſelf, and God better than all; here both the Saints and Angels are perfect in Holineſs, without ſpot or ſtain, without ſin or ſinful inclination: here thou ſhalt ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of thy Father, and have no worſe company than the Spirits of juſt men made perfect. It was Socrates (the wiſeſt of the Philoſophers) comfort when he was to dye, that he ſhould after death converſe with Homer, Heſiod and other excellent men in another world: It was Cato's comfort againſt the pains of death, that now he was to leave the Colluvies, as he calls them, that filthy, ſordid, baſe, unworthy company with which he was forc'd to converſe, thoſe beaſtly belly-gods, and that he ſhould converſe with the Souls of wiſe men departed: But of all men in the world believers may comfort themſelves, that they ſhall in Heaven enjoy the company of Saints and Angels, yea with God himſelf, and come to the City of the great King, Heb. 12.23Heb 12:23the Heavenly Jeruſalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Aſſembly and Church of the firſt born which are written in Heaven: for if the Society of the Saints were ſo delightful here, when yet they had their Sins and Imperfections, what will they be there, when they ſhall p. 257be there, when they ſhall be healed of all their corruptions? if here they were Comely though black, what will they be when they are without Spot or wrinkle? here on Earth they are like fire-ſticks, ſetting one another on a flame of love; provoking each other to love and to good works, building each other up in their moſt holy faith, exciting each others zeal for Gods glory, and the common good, watching over each other, ſympathizing each with other, and helping to bear each others aflictions; but oh how ſweet then wil… their Society be, when all imperfections ſhall be done away, and they ſhall be perfect in holineſs, when nothing will appear but perfect Love, Unity and Amity one with another; when all ſhall be of one mind, and every one ſhall ſpeak the ſame thing, and there ſhall be nothing to interrupt their joy, or break their peace, or fruſtrate their hopes, or croſs their wills? Oh bleſſed Society, between whom is no ſtrife, no contention, no difference in judgment, no diſcontent can ariſe; where there is no hypocrite, diſſembler, or hollow-hearted perſon among them; but all mind, all purſue the ſame thing, the praiſe of their dear Redeemer; when there is no Error in Judgment, no diſorder in the affections, p. 258no diſobedience in their wills, no trouble in the conſcience, no defect in the memory. Oh happy day, when will it come, when I ſhall enjoy thoſe miriads of Angels and glorified Saints in glory! here the Saints are toſſed to and fro in the world, as if they were not fit to live in it, but there they come to their reſting place: this is their center, where they are as firm as mount Sion, and ſhall not be moved; here is their work, but there is their wages, here is their ſuffering, there is their Reward: here is their pilgrimage, there is their Country: here they are ſubject to infirmities, there they are made perfect in holineſs: here are thoſe nimble Poſts of Heaven, Gen. 28.12.Gen 28:12which Jacob ſaw aſcending and deſcending upon the Ladder in his Viſion; theſe are Gods Army, theſe are Believers Guardians, and in Heaven they ſhall be their fellow Brethren: here are the Noble Army of Martyrs, that loved not their lives to the death, whoſe garments were dyed red with their own blood, Rev. 14.Rev 14and now are made white in the blood of the Lamb: here are the hundred forty four thouſand John ſaw, with harps in their hands, which follow the Lamb which way ſoever he goes, ſinging Halelujahs, Salvation, honour, power and glory be unto our p. 259God: here are the innumerable company which he ſaw out of all Nations and Countries and Languages, which no man could number: here are the Prophets and Apoſtles, Martyrs and Profeſſors, who together with the Holy Angels the heavenly hoaſt make up that Heavenly Quire, that day and night chaunt out the praiſes of God. Rev. 5.11.Rev 5:11Oh bleſſed God, that ſuch an earthly Tabernacle, ſuch a houſe of clay as my body is, ſhould dwell for ever among thoſe incorporeal Spirits, thoſe bleſſed Angels! even ſo Lord, for ſo it ſeems good to thy godly wiſdom: Chriſt himſelf in his humane Nature is there, and where he is his Servants ſhall be alſo. If the Eaſtern wiſe men rejoyced ſo much to ſee him in the Manger, in that low degree of his humiliation, oh how glorious a ſight will it be to ſee him on his Throne, on the right hand of God, the higheſt degree of his Exaltation, when all his enemies ſhall lye proſtrate at his feet! and ſhall ſuch a poor worm as I ſear a little trouble, a little pain, a few wrinkles in the face of death, to ſee ſuch a ſight, yea to enjoy it for ever? God forbid: …uch a ſight ſeen by the eye of Faith, will make a Believer breathe out longing deſires, Pſal. 42.Ps 42When ſhall I come and appear p. 260before God! when will that happy day be! come Lord Jeſus, come quickly; when wilt thou ſend for me in thy triumphant Chariot, and fetch me into thy boſom, and land me ſafe at the port of reſt, and put me out of the reach of all theſe ſtorms and tempeſts which now I ſuffer! Pſal. 42.12.Ps 42:12If Davids heart ſo panted after the preſence of God in his Ordinances, how will a believing ſoul thirſt after the enjoyment of him in Heaven, where he ſhall ſee him face to face, the beholding of whom raviſheth the Angels themſelves? who then can long to dwell in Meſhech, Pſal. 87.3.Ps 87:3or to ſojourn in the tents of Kedar? Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O City of God; in thee is no fear, in thee is no ſorrow, Pſal. 38.8.9.Ps 38:8Ps 38:9whatſoever a man can wiſh for is there preſent: God will abundantly ſatisfie them with the fatneſs of his houſe, and make them drink the Rivers of his pleaſures; for in him is the Fountain of light, and in his light they ſhall ſee light. Oh my Soul, here thou ſhalt receive great things for ſmall, and eternal things for temporal: God himſelf is he that fills the empty ſoul, the ſight and enjoyment of all the reſt, how glorious ſoever, would not ſatisfie it, but Union and Communion with God will do it; p. 261this is the adequate object of our happineſs, all other glory which heaven affords falls ſhort of this; like the Moon they all ſhine by a borrowed light, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhines upon them they are glorious, if not, they ſuffer an Eclipſe; Job 25.5.Job 25:5behold to the Moon and it ſhineth not, and the Stars are not clean in his ſight; ten thouſand Suns will vaniſh at his preſence, as the leſſer Stars withdraw at the Suns approach: ſome few glimpſes of him we have here, which yield ſome refreſhing, but then we ſhall not only with Moſes ſee his backparts, but his face, and enjoy him for ever, and be filled and ſatisfyed with his glory. 'Tis true, we cannot comprehend him, for can an infinite God be comprehended by a finite Creature? and we ſhall be no other, we ſhall be like Veſſels caſt into the Sea, every one ſhall be full, yet the Sea is not emptied; we ſhall have enough to ſatisfie and give us content; we ſhall then ſee him, but it muſt be by his own light, as we ſee the Sun by the light of the Sun: we ſee ſomething of him by Scripture light, but then we ſhall have a clearer viſion; we ſee him now as in a glaſs, then face … face: every power and faculty ſhall p. 262be filled with him, and know no want, nor deſire more; for a deſire of more implyes want and imperfection: but in him are all variety of delights, in his preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at his right hand pleaſure for evermore. Hence Luther ſaith, he had rather be in Hell with God, than in Heaven without him: for his preſence is the Heaven of Heavens, and were God ſpecially preſent in Hell, it would be no Hell; and Heaven would not be Heaven if he were abſent. If thou go not with us (ſaith Moſes) carry us not hence: Exod. 33.15. 1 Joh 3.2.Exod 33:151 John 3:2here it is that Moſes may behold Gods face and live, and ſee his glory: here we ſhall fully underſtand thoſe deep myſteries that now we only can admire, and ſee reaſon for them; as that of the Trinity, of the Incarnation of Chriſt, the Decrees of Election and Reprobation, the whole deſign and work of the Redemption, and why the Angels that fell were not redeemed as well as man, and all thoſe dark and myſterious Propheſies and Providences we now underſtand not, and how all theſe work together for Gods glory, and his Churches good: all ſcales of ignorance will then fail from our eyes, and truth and error will then be known, which now ſo puzzles Gods people, and ſo rents and tears the Church in pieces: here the ſoul, as it enjoyes p. 263God, whom to know is life eternal, ſo it ſhall burn in love to God, and nothing can withdraw its affection; for nothing but ignorance can ſtave off our affections from him now, but there ignorance cannot enter: and God will love his image in us, and no vicious quality will be left in us to alienate him from us, and this love of God is enough, if there were no more, for his loving kindneſs is better than life. Oh what wiſe man is there, but would be contented to be rent out of the Arms of a beloved Wife, and be ſeparated from Father and Mother, Wife and Children, Brethren and Siſters, and neareſt Relations, and deareſt Friends, to come to Chriſt, when he calls, and forſake all other lovers to lye in Chriſts boſom, and be made partaker of this endleſs bliſs, this celeſtial glory? If the foretaſtes of it be ſo ſweet, that made Galeacius the Italian Marqueſs to ſay, Let their money periſh with them, that hold all the wealth in the world worth one daies communion with Chriſt; Oh what is the full enjoyment of him? if the ſhadow be ſo delightful, what is the ſubſtance, when we ſhall be capacitated to know him and enjoy him, without intermiſſion, without fear or interruption? Oh my Soul, thou feeſt the company is not leſs glorious than p. 264the place, nay much more glorious; for God himſelf is the glory of the place: here thou ſhalt have no guilt upon thy ſpirit, thou ſhalt not need with Adam and Eve to hide thy ſelf when God calls thee: if thou part with thy friends here, thou ſhalt receive them again with advantage, when their natures are changed, and their corruptions done away; here the Angels which now cannot be beheld by poor mortals, ſhall be our fellow Citizens, Rev. 22.9. Lu. 15.10.Rev 22:9our fellow brethren: they that delighted in our converſion, will then rejoyce at our coronation; and ſhould God ſend for thee, Oh my ſoul, in a fiery Chariot, wouldſt refuſe to go? what if thou art taken away by a violent hand, what hurt is in it? the greateſt wound is to themſelves, for thou wilt be among thoſe Souls under the Altar, among thoſe that are ſlain for the teſtimony of Jeſus, and ſhalt receive a Crown of Martyrdom. Oh happy wilt thou be if thou canſt be of this bleſſed ſociety in Heaven, and make up this heavenly Conſort in chaunting out the praiſes of the ever living God: what thinkſt thou of it? is it worth having? is it worth deſiring? is it worth labouring or ſuffering for? ſure there is a prize put into thy hands, if there be but a heart in thee to ſeek it: thou ſeeſt 'tis p. 265a glorious place, but the one half of the glory thereof is not told thee, cannot be told thee; the Subject of Happineſs here will be both Soul and Body: theſe worldly pleaſures can but tickle the ſenſes, they reach not the ſoul, but in Heaven both are concerned, but the Soul eſpecially; both had a ſhare in the work, and both muſt ſhare in the reward; both muſt fight and get the victory, and both muſt have a ſhare in the Crown; the body without the ſoul is incapable of thoſe heavenly Joyes, and the Soul without the Body is incompleat; it muſt be the whole man, ſoul and body, that muſt be glorified: for our vile bodies muſt be faſhioned like unto his glorious body: both run the race, and both muſt receive the prize; both are purchaſed by Chriſt, and he will not loſe any thing that he hath purchaſed: the body as well as the ſoul are members of Chriſt: 1 Cor. 6.151 Cor 6:15and Chriſts body ſhall not be imperfect, or any member loſt, but ſhall all be raiſed up at the laſt day; the ſoul being the more excellent part of man, and more capable of ſerving God than the body, it ſhall doubtleſs be the more glorious, yet the body ſhall not want its glory: the ſoul ſhall be freed from corruption, and the body from imperfection; this corruptible p. 266ſhall put on incorruption, and this mortal ſhall put on immortality; then, and not till death, ſhall all the diſeaſes and diſtempers be removed, and perfectly cured, all infirmities and deformities be taken away, and both body and ſoul be made beautiful and comely, yea Veſſels of glory: whatſoever implies any imperfection, ſhall be done away; there ſhall be no immature Youth, or ſtooping crooked wrinkled Old Age, but as Divines conceive, all perfect men and women, in their perfect age and ſtrength, in beauty and comelineſs, as if no infirmity or deformity had hindred: Jacob ſhall not be halt, nor Mephthoſheth lame, nor Leah blear-eyed; and though the body be ſown a natural body, 1 Cor. 15.44.1 Cor 15:44it ſhall ariſe a ſpiritual body; not a real ſpirit, but ſhall retain the properties of a true body, but ſpiritualized, and it ſhall much reſemble a ſpirit in activity, ability, nimbleneſs and power. Chriſt had a real body after his Reſurrection, which a Spirit hath not: yet ſhall they be freed from the clog and burden of fleſh which now they bear, and no more be an hinderance to the ſoul; they ſhall alſo be freed from all need of food or phyſick, cloaths and ſuch like, which now are neceſſary for the preſervation of life; from the need of all creature-comforts, p. 267from all that any wayes imply infirmity or miſery, inward or outward: thou ſhalt never have aking head, or heart, or back, or bone; for there ſhall be no more pain, but perfect health and ſtrength, and immortality, and ſet out of the reach of death; for death it ſelf ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire, and ſhall be ſwallowed up of victory: no noxious humour or vicious quality ſhall ever trouble it more, no decay of nature, Deu. 34.7.Deut 34:7ſhall then appear, but like Moſes in the Wilderneſs, though he lived to old age, to an hundred and twenty years of Age, yet was not his eye dim, nor his natural force abated: There no diſtemper within, nor caſualty without can work a decay, the fleſh ſhall be no more a burden to the body, nor a clog to the ſoul, but man ſhall be like unto the Angels, who neither eat nor drink, neither marry nor are given in marriage; neither need they any creaturehelps, or comforts, for God is their life, and he upholds their beings; where that body that now is a clod of walking breathing clay, ſhall then be like the body of Chriſt, more amiable than the celeſtial Orbs and glittering Stars: by death it is ſown a natural body, but ſhall ſpring up a ſpiritual body; it is ſown in diſhonour, 1 Cor. 15.43, 44, 45.1 Cor 15:431 Cor 15:441 Cor 15:45but raiſed in honour; it is ſown in weakneſs, but p. 268raiſed in power; for when death hath ſtruck the fatal ſtroak, God will ſend his Angels to carry the ſoul to Heaven, and gather our duſt and put it in this Ʋrn, into his Cabinet, not one grain of it ſhall be loſt, which he will keep as precious Jewels, when many glittering Stones ſhall be caſt by into ſhame and contempt; Dan. 12.2.Dan 12:2many that ſleep in the duſt of the earth ſhall awake, ſome to everlaſting life, and ſome to ſhame and everlaſting contempt: Thoſe that honour God he will honour, and thoſe that deſpiſe him ſhall be lightly eſteemed; and at the reſnrrection of the juſt, theſe houſes of clay ſhall be formed into the ſimilitude of a Palace, at Gods own coſt and charges: Oh who would not have his Cottage pull'd down upon ſuch an account? But if the body be ſo glorious, not admitting the leaſt infirmity or deformity, how tranſcendently glorious will the ſoul be? this Jewel will not be loſt in the rubbiſh of death; nay, nay, death cannot touch it, but only break down the priſon walls, and ſet it free: the body, 'tis true, by dying is made immortal, death ſhall have no more power of it; but the ſoul is immortal be Creation, and Gods Inſtitution, it muſt run parallel with the longeſt line of eternity; death hath no power over it; fear not p. 269thoſe (ſaith Chriſt) that can kill the body, and can do more, but fear him that can caſt both ſoul and body into Hell. Many would perſwade themſelves, and 'tis their intereſt ſo to do, if they could make it out, that the ſoul ſhall dye with the body, and that at death men breathe out their ſouls with their laſt breath, as a beaſt doth; and well were it for them if it were ſo, for then they might follow their pleaſure, and drive on their deſigns more vigorouſly, and then they might brutifie themſelves more than they do, which needeth not; but theſe men rather would than do believe their own doctrine, the conſcience in the mean time giving them many bitter thrutches: No, no, this Lamp of Gods own lighting will never out; they muſt ſhine in Heaven, Mat. 25.46Matt 25:46or burn in Hell; everlaſting Joy, or endleſs Torments muſt be their portion: They are capable of communion with God, and if they miſs of this, are capable of endleſs torments; neither are the faculties of the ſoul deſtroyed by death, the underſtanding, will, affections, memory, conſcience ſhall remain in Heaven or Hell; otherwiſe it were bad news to the godly, but good to the wicked; theſe are inlarged to the wicked, to make them more capable of torment; to the godly to make them more capable of Heavenly p. 270delights, and more fit for their enjoyments, and imployments and their company: It ſignifies little if a ſmall Veſſe… be caſt into the Ocean, it is quickly full, when every little pit of water may do as much: the underſtanding of a wicked man ſhall be inlarged to know the worth of the things he hath loſt, and the vanity of thoſe he did prefer: the other ſhall have their underſtandings inlarged to know the worth of things he enjoyes, to know God, and ſee him as he is. The ſight of God and Chriſt begun here on earth in the godly by the eye of faith, 1 Joh. 3.2.1 John 3:2ſhall there be perfected and compleated; this ſhall be perfected when their holineſs is perfected and not before; for there can be no union or communion where there is no conformity: can two walk together except they are agreed? what fellowſhip hath light with darkneſs, or Chriſt with Belial? There can be no ſatisfying apprehenſions of the Object, where there is no ſuitable Organ and fit medium: thoſe that would ſee God who is Holineſs it ſelf, muſt be holy alſo: Bleſſed are the pure in heart, Mat. 5.8.Matt 5:8for they ſhall ſee God: no unholy perſon can ever pleaſe him, or enjoy him. The Image of God ſtampt upon, man in the firſt Creation, did capacitate him to hold commuion and correſpondency with God, and when this Image was defaced, p. 271this Priviledge was loſt, and Adam ſtood at a diſtance, and was afraid to come to God, but remained at a diſtance, in a ſtate of enmity, till Chriſt made up the breach, and by Grace renewed this Image in the Elect, and accordingly God communicated himſelf again to them; but the Image of God was renewed but in part, no more is our communion: for as our obedience was full of interruption, ſo is our communion; and as there is but a little of this Image of God ſeen upon us, ſo there is little communion with God to be perceived; and where holineſs is moſt to be found, this alſo is to be found: a little glimmering light of him we have, and but a little, like as when the day begins to break, but in Heaven, when the Sun of righteouſneſs doth ariſe, the ſhadows fly away; no cloud there can interpoſe, no earth cauſe an Eclipſe: our communion with God ſhall be without interruption, it ſhall alwayes be a ſerene sky, a clear air; no ſin then ſhall hide his face from us, or make him bend his brows: here one cloud or other alwayes interrupts, one ſin or other alwayes breaks our peace, and ſpoils our Joy, and our communion, and hides Gods face, and proves like a skreen drawn between God and the ſoul; p. 272but this in Heaven ſhall be removed, and the ſoul ſhall ſee nothing but ſmiles in the face of her beloved, and meet with nothing but embraces from him. There ſhall then be a perfect conformity of our wills to Gods will, and they ſhall be as it were melted into his, as two bells melted together make one, and the ſoul ſhall receive the utmoſt degree of perfection that a finite creature is capable of: then ſhall he perfectly know God, whom to know is life eternal, and his will, Joh. 17.5.John 17:5and ſhall be out of all capacity of erring, and ſhall know all neceſſary Truths that tend to his happineſs: The meaneſt Saint ſhall exceed the knowledge of all the Learned …abbies in the world now, and all thoſe abſtruſe points in Divinity that now puzzle this Learned Age, thoſe that now call rather for Faith to believe, than Reaſon to apprehend; thoſe we now take upon Gods Word, and an ipſe dixit muſt ſuffice us, we ſhall then know reaſon for it; for all the skales of ignorance ſhall then fall from our eyes, and all the miſts of darkneſs and clouds of errour, ſhall be blown over, and a clear diſcovery made of all our miſtakes, and a reſolution given to all our doubts: here we know but in part, we underſtand but in part, but then what is weak ſhall be done away, and the truth ſhall appear; p. 273we ſhall never then have a diſcontented thought ariſe in the heart, occaſioned by any diſpenſation of Providence, as here ſometimes we have, when they lye hid from our underſtanding; Pſal. 37. &c.Ps 37as David alſo had his miſtakes about the proſperity of wicked men; for here we ſhall underſtand the reaſon and ground of all: and our affections alſo ſhall be perfectly ſet upon right Objects, and our love, deſire and delight ſhall never be ſet upon any forbidden object. In a word, all the powers and faculties of the Soul, and members of the Body, ſhall be in perfect conformity to God, without the leaſt deviation, even more perfect than in the firſt Creation, and this to eternity; for the worm of time ſhall never eat out the heart of our heavenly Joyes, neither ſhall there be any ſatiety and deſire of change, as it is in this world in the beſt Joyes we can meet with; and ſhall we yet be afraid of entring into this condition, and be put above all fears of an alteration, but for ever enjoy that God that is the ſouls reſt, and the Saints …appineſs? Knowledge is a delightful thing …o a wiſe man; If the face of humane Learning (ſaith Aeneas Silvius) were but ſeen, it is more beautiful than the Evening or p. 274the morning Star. 'Tis a delightful thing to know the natures, the properties, the ends and uſes of natural things; 'tis a ſtudy well beſeeming Solomon himſelf, who ſpent much time this way; and many abſtruſe points in Philoſophy there are which the greateſt wits are at a loſs about, and which they would give much to underſtand; and Divinity it ſelf is not without its myſteries, and ſuch Arcana as will never be known while we are here: Alas, how little do we know about God, or the nature and properties, offices and dignities of the Angels? nay, how little of our own Souls, about the Decrees, work of Redemption, Free will, and many more? but there nothing ſhall be hid; and no doubt there we ſhall have the knowledge one of another: for ſhall we ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, and not know them? or did Dives know Abraham, and Lazarus in his boſom, and ſhall not the Saints in heaven know them? do they know one another in this world after a little time of converſe, and when our knowledge is perfected will not eternity bring us to acquaintance? and doubtleſs the enjoyment of the Saints in glory will be part of the ſouls happineſs. Now all earthly delights p. 275to theſe heavenly Joyes are but a ſhadow, a very dream, the very dream of a ſhadow, to what is there enjoyed; where the glorified Souls ſhall be Kings and Prieſts for ever, of the moſt high God; they wear Crowns upon their heads, and palms in their hands, which they caſt down at the feet of him that liveth for ever. Theſe little flaſhes of ſpiritual Joy, (and indeed it is no more) will be blown up into a flame: here no fumes of Melancholy ſhall diſturb the Fancy, or interrupt the Joy. Malignant Saturn cannot ſend any influence into theſe ſuperiour Orbs; but here is that far more and eternal weight of Glory to be enjoyed. O my ſoul, hadſt thou had but ſuch a glimpſe of Glory as Stephen had, thou wouldſt not have feared to have faln aſleep with him. Now thou art in the body, and abſent from God, but when death hath cloſed thine eyes, and covered thy face with a winding-ſheet, thou ſhalt not only ſee God, but be preſent with him, and behold his glory. Now thy glimpſes of him are like a flaſh of lightning, ſoon gone; much like a man that gazeth at a Star through an Optick-glaſs held with a palſy hand; now and then thou catcheſt a ſight, but quickly loſeſt it again; but there he will alwayes be p. 276before thine eyes, thou ſhalt behold his face there, and not his back parts only; whether with bodily eyes or otherwiſe, is not well known, nor much material; 'tis probable it may, and the eye capacitated to behold the Object, though here 'tis dazled with a weaker glory: we find Job ſeems to be of that mind: Job 19.52. &c.Job 19:52I know, ſaith he, that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold him, and not another, though my reins be conſumed within me. When this mortal hath put on immortality, and this body which is ſown a natural body become ſpiritual, we know not but theſe Organs of our eyes may be capacitated to behold ſpiritual objects, as well as our underſtandings be enabled to know him as he is. 1 Joh. 3.2.1 John 3:2This we know, God will make himſelf known, and that is ſufficient to us; whether the one way, or the other, let us not anxiouſly trouble our ſelves about the manner of it: this know, if God do not enlarge and capacitate our powers and faculties of the ſoul, we can neither know him, ſee him, nor enjoy him as he is, which he hath promifed we ſhall p. 277do; and he that believeth in him and hath not yet ſeen him, ſhall ſee him on whom he hath believed: 'tis Chriſts prayer, John 17.24.John 17:24that thoſe that are given to him, may be where he is, to behold his glory; and if thoſe eyes were bleſſed, that ſaw him in his miſery, how much more thoſe that behold him in glory? if the dawning of the day be ſo glorious, how much more glorious will it be when the Sun ſhines in his full ſtrength, and all the ſhadows are fled away? If thoſe that bear his Image here (and they are more excellent than their neighbours) be ſo lovely, what will they be when this Image of God is perfectly reſtored, and they freed from all corruption? here they have ſung forth his praiſes, then ſhall ſing continual Halelujahs for ever: how will they run the wayes of Gods commandments, when all the clogs of corruption are taken off, and their feet are inlarged? Now their labour ſhall be turned into leiſure to praiſe him, when they have nothing elſe to do, yea nothing which they delight more to do, than that. Now 'tis death, and death alone that can put us into the poſſeſſion of this glory, where we ſhall have fulneſs of Joy and Glory, and be Heirs, yea Coheirs with Chriſt; and would p. 278any wiſe man deny to take poſſeſſion? Oh my ſoul, wilt thou yet hang back, and plead Nonage? art thou afraid of Eternity, when Joy and Happineſs is added to it? couldſt thou wiſh the worm of time were at the root, to make it wither? art thou come to the door, and thou makeſt a halt at the threſhold? and art willing another ſhould take thy Crown, and wouldſt thou ſurrender thy intereſt? when Paul looks through the Perſpective glaſs of Faith, and ſees happineſs at the end, he was willing to dye and be with Chriſt; thou knoweſt whom thou haſt believed, and dareſt not truſt thy Redeemer with thy life, that loſt his own for thy ſake? whatever thou loſeſt, whatever thou ſuffereſt for him, it will never repent thee when thou art in Heaven; it will reward thee for all thy coſt and charges, Chriſt tells thee, an hundred fold, and I may well ſay a thouſand; one day in Gods Courts here on earth was better to Davîd than a thouſand elſewhere, and one day in Heaven is much better than that; yea, but if thy life be cut off for his ſake, for one day thou looſeſt upon earth, thou ſhalt have a thouſand in Heaven for it, he will make thee Eagle-eyed, that thou ſhalt behold the Sun of righteouſneſs in his ſplendour, and the Organ not offended. p. 279If Paul and Silas could ſing in the Priſon, what will they do when they come into this heavenly Quire? Iſa. 15.5.Isa 15:5Here the eyes of the blind ſhall be opened, the ears of the deaf unſtopped, the lame man ſhall leap as an Hart, and the tongue of the dumb ſhall ſing: this is the marriage of the Lamb, and his wife hath made her ſelf ready; and who will not rejoyce upon the Wedding-day, when the Bridegrooms voice is heard? Now the marriage ſhall be ſolemnized, that was ſo long ago contracted between Chriſt and the Soul; this is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoyce and be glad in it: this is thy pay-day, when thou art to receive thy wages, the harveſt of thy hopes; when thou ſhalt receive a plentiful crop of glory; that which was ſown in tears, ſhall now be reaped with joy: now thy deſires, thy longings and thy pantings ſhall be ſatisfied; now is the time when the Crown of Martyrdom ſhall be put upon the head of the Martyr, and a Crown of Righteouſneſs upon the Juſt mans head: now is the time that Sincerity will be diſcerned from Hypocriſie, let it be ſpun with never ſo fine a thred, and true Gold from counterfeit: now is the time that thoſe that have Oyl in their Veſſels, as well as Lamps in their hands, ſhall go in with the Bridegroom p. 280to the Marriage, and thoſe that have not ſhall be ſhut out; now he that hath a wedding-garment ſhall be a welcom Gueſt, Mat. 22.12Matt 22:12and he that hath none ſhall be caſt into utter darkneſs: now is the time that thoſe that have forſaken any thing for Chriſt, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and thoſe that have loſt their lives for him ſhall receive the greateſt ſhare, though thoſe that have the leaſt meaſure ſhal have Joy unſpeakable and full of glory, yea as much as they can hold; and who but a mad man notwithſtanding this, will look upon Religion as a Frenzy, and the profeſſors thereof little better than frantick, becauſe they run themſelves upon the pikes of danger, and expoſe themſelves to loſſes and croſſes, to troubles and trials, yea to death it ſelf, and that for conſcience ſake? but did theſe men ſee the prize they run for, the Crown they fight for, they would run the ſame race, and fight the ſame fight; if any of them were but offered an handful of Gold for a handful of Silver, they would not refuſe it, much leſs if they might have an handful of Angels for a handful of Muck; but believers make a better exchange, for they receive Heaven for the Earth, and God for the Creatures, yea eternal Life for that which is temporal: did others know the reward, they would do the work; did they ſee p. 281the joy that is ſet before them, they would endure the croſs and deſpiſe the ſhame as well as they; but how can thoſe ſee that are ſpiritually blind, or know whoſe fooliſh hearts are darkned; they are at leaſt ſand blind, and cannot ſee at a diſtance, nor diſcern what it is that ſtands beyond death, and ſeeing no other pleaſure but what only reaches the ſenſes, take up with that, and think there is no better: did they ſee better, they would deſire better; thoſe that know no better than Hell, never look after Heaven: were they nearer to God that Spiritual Loadſtone, they would be drawn to him, they would then contemn theſe fading delights, and lay hold upon everlaſting happineſs; they would contemn this unrighteous Mammon, and ſeek after True Treaſure: they ſee indeed both wayes, but cannot ſee to the end; the one they ſee broad and eaſie, green and pleaſant, but they ſee not the dangerous Precipice it leads to, and the fiery Gulph it ends in; they ſee the other alſo, which is rough and craggy, ſteep and hilly, which few men walk in, but they ſee not the Pleaſures it ends in, and therefore they chooſe the other, and think they do wiſely, and think they are Fools that do otherwiſe; but had they the Saints ſpectacles, they would change their minds: p. 282but this their way is their folly, and nothing but ignorance can make them walk in it; the time will come they would change their courſe but cannot, as the fooliſh Virgins would have had Oyl when it was too late; corrupted Reaſon being inchanted by ſenſe proves a Caterer for the fleſh, but were it rectifyed by faith, it would look for happineſs elſewhere. There are too many like a Cardinal I have read of, that uſually ſaid, I will not leave my part in Paris for a part in Paradiſe: they are wedded to the world, and are loth to be divorced. 'Tis true, believers know little of the nature of Heavens joyes, theſe know nothing of it; the former have ſome glimpſes of the glory, ſome foretaſtes of the ſweetneſs of Canaans fruits, this ſets them a longing; the other are ſtrangers to it; ignotus nulla cupido: The godly know not the quantity of it, for how can that be diſcovered that is unſpeakable, or conceived of, that is inconceivable? or how can that be meaſured that is infinite? this we may build upon, 'tis our maſters Joy, and therefore great; it cannot enter into us, but we muſt enter into it: methinks when we ſpeak or hear of Joy unſpeakable, of Light inacceſſible, and of Glory immortal, our hearts may burn within us, like the Diſciples which p. 283were going to Emaus, when Chriſt ſpake to them; it ſhould make us caſt a deſpiſing eye upon all the worlds glory, and make us think no pains too much, nor coſt too dear, to come to the enjoyment of it; it might make us run that we may obtain, fight that we might conquer, and travel hard to come to our journeys end; for then all our work will be done, all our pains over, and we ſhall have nothing to do but to praiſe the Lord, which will be our wages as well as our work: for when we are ſpiritualized, and the droſs of corruption left behind, it will be as natural to us as to live, and as now it is to breathe; for there is nothing but our corruption now, that makes this Angelical duty troubleſome. And is there enough in Heaven to make amends for all our loſſes and croſſes upon earth? let us then never ſtick at the price, for whatſoever we expend for Chriſt, or Heaven, it ſhall be paid back with advantage. If Solomons Servants were ſo happy in ſeeing his glory, and hearing his wiſdom, Oh what a happineſs will it be to ſee his glory in Heaven when it will be increaſed, and hear his wiſdom when 'tis perfected! nay in enjoying Solomons God, and partaking both of his glory and wiſdom! and Oh the Honour that believers will have in ſuch p. 284a Relation, where they will have God for their Father, Chriſt for their Husband, the Angels and Saints for their Brethren and companions, and not only ſeed upon Angels food, but be ſet upon an Angelical Employment, and have the Angel reward! And if this be not enough to ſatisfie for all the pains, troubles, loſſes, and croſſes, thou ſuſtain upon this account, never take upon thee the profeſſion of Religion: but I am ſure there is puniſhment enough in hell for all thoſe that make light of Chriſt, and ſlight the offers of the Goſpel. Oh the purblind world, that can ſee nothing but what is under their feet! had they but ſuch a ſight of God and Glory as ſome others have had, they would deſire with Paul to be diſſolved, Phil. 1.23. Rev. 22.20Phil 1:23Rev 22:20and with the Church, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Here thou complaineſt of vain thoughts, and roving imaginations, and well thou maiſt, but thou wilt never be cured of them but by death, and after death thou ſhalt never be troubled with them more, but ſhalt ſerve God without diſtraction. In the world thou couldſt never meet with content, in Heaven thou ſhall never meet with diſcontent; and art thou yet content to be in the world? here thou meeteſt with no ſatisfaction, and art thou ſatisfied without ſatisfaction? well, p. 285whatever thoughts thou haſt of Chriſt now, the time is coming thou wilt have uſe of him, and need of him; for at death one glimpſe of his favour, one ſmile of his countenance, will do thee more good than all the Cordials thy Doctors can give thee. Moſes ſaw but his back-parts, and his face did ſhine, how doth he ſhine now in beholding his glory! the fruition of God in glory is the ſouls happineſs, and happy are they that do enjoy him; but what this fruition is, we neither know, nor can know in this world; no word in humane language can expreſs it; for how can a Cockle-ſhell comprehend all the water in the Ocean? we can have no right conceptions what God is, or what it is to enjoy him; and if we ſhould form the higheſt conceptions imaginable, it would fall far ſhort: for how can a finite creature conceive of what is infinite; or a bruit beaſt of a rational Soul? Mahomet proves himſelf a fool, in fancying to himſelf and his followers a ſenſual happineſs in Heaven, as the enjoyment of beautiful women, and other ſenſual delights; and though Believers far outgo him, yet ſtill ſhoot ſhort when they aim at the deſcription of Heavens Glory; and no wonder, we that know ſo little of Spirits, of their nature and properties, p. 286muſt needs be in the dark when we diſcourſe of God, the Father of Spirits, and the Creator of Angels: while we are in the fleſh we know little of the nature and Original of our own ſouls, how then can we ſpeak of thoſe glorious ſpirits, or know what their enjoyments in Heaven are? if we conſult with things below, and ſearch Natures Garden from end to end, we may find work enough to do; nay the leaſt of creatures hath ſomething in it to puzzle Natures beſt Secretaries: the Gnat, the Bee, thoſe poor Inſects are not without their wonders; and what then if we conſider Gods greateſt works, the Sun, Moon and Stars, and all the hoſt of Heaven; and if we underſtand not earthly things, about which we are daily converſant, how ſhall we underſtand heavenly things ſo far above our reach? if we underſtand not things viſible, and thoſe ſubjected to our ſenſes, what ſhall we ſay of inviſibles, ſo remote from us? If the footmen have wearied us, how ſhall we contend with horſes? If we cannot wade a ſmall Rivulet, what ſhall we do with the Ocean? what conceptions can a poor worm have of an Angel, or a rational ſoul? and proportionably muſt we have of the great God: what conceptions can a man born blind have of Colours, p. 287or of the Sun it ſelf? or what conceptions can a man born deaf have of ſounds, or of Muſick? ſuch like imperfect conceptions can we have of God, of Heaven, or heavenly Joyes: the proportion is greater between God and the beſt of men, than between that man and the meaneſt Worm that crawls under his feet, nay between a worm and an Angel; theſe are fellow-Creatures, made by the ſame hand, but what proportion between the Pot and the Pot-maker? all light is in this Sun, all the water of conſolation is in this Sea, and all the lines of goodneſs here concenter; his power, his wiſdom, his goodneſs, are infinite, but what Infinite is, we cannot tell: we ſhall enjoy all happineſs in him, and with him, but what this Happineſs is, we know not: That which eye hath not ſeen, ear hath not heard of, neither hath it entred into mans heart to conceive of: What can we ſay of it? the eye of man hath ſeen much, the ear hath heard of more, but the heart of man may conceive more than this, but all this falls yet ſhort; for this joy is unconceivable, and if we could reach a conception, we cannot frame an expreſſion: the Apoſtle ſaw things unutterable, no word in humane Language can expreſs the language of this Country; the Scripture holds p. 288out: to us, that there is a relative Union between Chriſt and the believing ſoul, which is ſometimes ſet forth by the union between the Head and the Members, the Vine and the branches, the Husband and the Wife, &c. but wherein this union doth conſiſt, is not eaſie to demonſtrate; yet it may ſuffice us that there is ſuch a Union; and ſhall we not be willing to come to him when he calls us to make us happy, unleſs we fully know what the Joyes of Heaven are, and the utmoſt extent of it, when yet we know 'tis beyond our deſert? ſhall a Beggar refuſe an Alms, if he muſt not know before how much it will be: Oh my Soul, thou ſpeakeſt hardly of the world, as if thou hadſt wrong done thee, and doſt think God wrongs thee alſo if he call thee hence? thou raileſt upon ſin, and yet art loth to leave it; thou complaineſt of thy ſuffering, and yet doſt fear nothing more than deliverance: Oh what diſſembling is this with God and Man! thou ſpendeſt many hours in preaching, praying, hearing, reading, ſtudying, meditating, &c. and all to learn a way thou art not willing to walk in, and travelleſt in a road thou art not willing to find thy journeys end: wilt thou run a race, and wilt not lay hold on the prize, p. 289and fight a Battel and not be glad of the Victory? what hypocriſie is this, to lye upon thy knees hour after hour, to pray to be rid of that thou art not willing to leave; to get a plaiſter for a ſore thou art not willing to have healed? thou pretendeſt thou believeſt everlaſting Happineſs to be the reward of faithfull Obedience, thou profeſſeſt hope that thou haſt a ſhare in it, and dareſt not truſt God with the conduct of thy ſoul to this happineſs, who only knows the way? Well, I have but one thing more to offer thee, and that is this: That as the Place is magnificent and ſtately, the Company glorious and Royal, the enjoyments excellent and unſpeakable, ſo is the Happineſs eternal, and ſhall never know end or diminution ſo long as there is a Heaven, which will be while there is a God: Thy Joyes ſhall never end, but run parallel with the longeſt line of Eternity, when that Vanity is writ upon all earthly enjoyments; and this one Epithite ſpoils all the ſport, and marres the ſplendour of all ſublunary things, and diſgraces all the worlds pomp and glory, that 'tis mortal, fading, tranſitory, and endureth not: were it not for the Eternity of them Heavens Glory were not ſo deſirable, p. 290nor Hells Torments ſo dreadful: for if after a hundred thouſand millions of years the glorified Saints ſhould leave their Habitation, and the damned Spirits their Priſon, this would be a Corroſive to the one, and a Comfort to the other, that after a long tract of time an end would come: Nay, if after the Revolution of this long time they ſhould exchange places, thoſe in Heaven would have infinitely the worſer bargain; but this will not be ſo, otherwiſe the Reverſion of Heaven would be better than the preſent poſſeſſion, and the Reverſion of Hell worſe. The Sun of the wicked mans comforts ſets at Noon, but in Heaven the godly mans comforts ſhall never ſet, Iſa. 60.20.Isa 60:20nor go behind a Cloud: For there ſhall be no night; Thy Sun ſhall no more go down, (ſaith God) neither ſhall thy Moon withdraw it ſelf: for the Lord ſhall be thine everlaſting Light, and the dayes of thy mourning ſhall be ended. Thy people alſo ſhall be all righteous; they ſhall inherit the land for ever. Well may I ſay, Return unto thy reſt, O my ſoul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: he hath delivered my ſoul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. Oh Eternity, how amazing, how confounding art thou to the p. 291workers of Iniquity! but how amiable and delightful are the thoughts of thee to the godly! for they have Eternity added to their Happineſs, the other to their Miſery: Oh what a long Leaſe will this be of Heavens glory, that ſhall never expire! the want of duration makes the worlds glory of little worth; but Eternity makes Hells torments ſo Tormenting, and Heavens Joy ſo deſirable: theſe ſhall never wax old, nor know end. Here thou …eedeſt not weary thy ſelf in Counting he fleeting hours, or the return of weeks, or months, or years; here is neither Clock nor Watch, nor Dial to obſerve Time by, nor Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars, to diſtinguiſh Day from Night, or Summer from Winter; for Time ſhall be no more, it will be ſwallowed up of Eternity: one day with the Lord is as a thouſand years, and a thouſand years as one day: God reckons not time as we do; their Sun ſhall know no Eclipſe, nor their Moon no Change. When death opens the door for the ſoul to enter into Eternity, it ſhall not float there, but be immediately poſted into glory; the Spirit ſhall return to God that gave it, where it ſhall enjoy for ever thoſe good things which it hath laboured for and thirſted after, and p. 292reap the fruit of all the pains it hath taken for Heaven. Oh my ſoul, Eternity will be the very Crown of thy Crown, and the Crown of Heaven it ſelf; for if thou didſt certainly know thy Joyes would expire, Heaven would be filled with ſad thoughts, and ſowre ſawce to thy ſweet meat, and ſpoil all thy mirth. Oh my ſoul, thou haſt no… a price put into thy hands, the Lord give thee a heart to get wiſdom: let not the thoughts of a ſhort trouble, or a little pain make thee lo…e the race, and mis the prize; but rather ſuffer any temporal pain, than eternal; and ſuffer any loſs, rather than the loſs of thy ſoul, the loſs of thy God, thy Heaven, and thy happineſs. Thou haſt ſeen what death is both to the godly and wicked; that it is common to both, but no enemy to a Believer; that there is nothing in the world of equal value with celeſtial Treaſures; that Death can do thee no hurt, but much good, in freeing thee from evil and putting thee into the poſſeſſion of all that is really good: thou haſt ſeen the reward of Obedience, and the puniſhment of denying Chriſt; what is thy reſolution? Wilt thou be faithful to the death? then here is offered p. 293a Crown of life: Rev. 2.10.Rev 2:10If thou wilt prove an Apoſtate, thou muſt have thy portion with Judas, and go down to thy place. Heaven and Hell, Life and Death are ſet before thee, chooſe which thou wilt. Oh my God, I ſee reaſon ſufficient, why I ſhould give up my Life to thy diſpoſe; I am convinc'd that it is my Duty and my Intereſt. Lord ſuffer not this treacherous heart to deceive me, let me conſult with Faith and not with Sence; let me never truſt in my own ſtrength, neither diſtruſt thine: Lord, through thy ſtrength I can do all things, but without thee I can do nothing. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief; let me honour thee both by my life, and by my death: if thou wilt thou canſt let this Cup paſs from me, yet not my will but thine be done. Lord, fit the back before thou lay on the burden, enable me to obey, and then command what thou wilt: if it be thy will I ſhall be ſacrificed, Lord accept of the Sacrifice, and thy will be done: let thy ſtrength be ſeen in my weakneſs, and Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

PAge 24. line 25. add ſome, P. 36. l. 24. for may r. many, P. 79. l. 6 blot out to, P. 114. l. 30. blot out the, p. 117. l. 9. add or, p. 145. l. 22. for they were r. thou wert, p. 147. l. 24. add out, p. 188. l. 28. blot out from, p. 195. l. 22. for defirmity r. deformity, p. 212. l. 27. for ſtench r. ſtink, p. 214. l. 22. for him r. it, p. 229. l. 29. add he, p. 236. l. 23. no comma after in, p. 241. for transfigurati r. transfiguration, p. 254. l. 20. blot out have a, p. 267. l. 10. for it r. thee, p. 268. l. 23. blot out nay, l. 27. for be r. by, p. 282. l. 19. for ignotus r. ignotis.

EPISTLE DEDICATORY.

Page 3. line 18. for triffs r. trifles, p. 10. l. 16. add ſi, p. 17. l. 10. for neſcit r. ſcivit.

TO THE READER.

Page 15. line 12. for parllael r. parallel, p. 23. l. 10. for iguotus r. ignotis.

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One hundred ſelect Sermons: By Dr. Horton.

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The Fiery Jeſuit.

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