The Saints Convoy to Heaven, Application 2
Uſe II. Comfort.
That Angels are the Convoy of the Soul on its Paſſage to Glory, adminiſters Comfort to all thoſe that are Heirs of Salvation.1 Cor. 2. 9. God hath not only prepared ſuch things for us in Heaven, which Eye hath not ſeen nor Ear heard, nor can we now conceive how great and Glorious they are; ſet forth by a Kingdom, Mat. 25. 34 Jam. 1. 12. Col. 1. 12. John 14. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2 Cor. 4. 17.a Crown, an Inheritance, Manſions in our Father's Houſe, a Paradiſe, a City that hath Foundations, an Houſe not made with Hands, a Weight of Glory, Incorruptible Treaſures, &c. But hath alſo ſecured our Way unto them, by the Miniſtration of his Angels, who are to conduct our ſeparated Souls to the actual Poſſeſſion of them.
I ſhall amplify this for our greater Delight and Joy in the Fore thoughts of it, by ſuch Conſiderations that do by immediate and neceſſary Conſequence flow from the Convoy of Angels receiving the Souls of Believers, at their Diſſolution, wherever they die, and tranſporting them into the immediate glorious Preſence of God in the Higheſt Heavens, where when once lodg'd they will be happy for ever.
1. The Excellency of their Company from Earth to Heaven.
2. Their Safety in their Paſſage from the one to the other.
3. Their Dignity before they are actually glorified in Heaven,
4. Their Celerity and ſpeedy Motion, from and to ſuch diſtant Places.
5. The Exultancies of Joy, both of the Tranſporters and the Paſſengers, at their Arrival at the Haven of Happineſs.
1. The Excellency of the Company the gracious ſeparated Soul is immediately received into, doth cauſe abundant Delight and Joy unto it. The Difference of the Company it had while in the Body, and hath as ſoon as out of the Body, doth preſently ſhew it is got into another State, into a New World. It had often heard of the Heavenly Principalities and Powers,Mat. 28. 2, 3, 4. Luke 1. 12. but they never appeared unto it before. Angels are ſuch glorious Creatures, that in this mortal State, we could not without Fear, Amazement and Trembling bear their appearing unto us. But when the Gracious Soul is out of the Body, the Preſence, Company, and Viſion of Glorious Angels ſhall tranſport it with Joy, and fill it with great Delight.
Tho' we cannot tell the Names of Angels that ſhall be ſent to convey our Souls to Heaven (there being but one Proper Name in Sacred Scripture attributed to a Created Angel, viz. Gabriel, Dan. 8. 16. and 9. 21. Luke 1. 19, 26. which ſignifieth a ſtrong Man of God, and might be a common Name to any Angel ſent by God upon any ſpecial Meſſage, for every one is a ſtrong Man of God) yet the Titles and Properties aſcribed to them all, are ſufficient Grounds of Satisfaction to us, whoever of them ſhall be commiſſioned by God, to Conduct us to the bleſſed State above.
Twice we read of an Archangel, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. Jude V. 9. which is Michael, ſignifying, who as God, or who is equal to God; to be underſtood of Chriſt, the Son of God, the only uncreated Angel, for it pleaſed God to ſend his Son as his Meſſenger to declare to Men his Holy Will, and is often, in Scripture, called an Angel, and he is that Archangel, who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers, Col. 2. 20. and all the other are his Servants and Attendants.
How much the ſeparated Soul (being then made perfect in Holineſs) will be delighted with the Sight and Knowledge of this new Company, ſent to convey it to Glory, we might apprehend by Titles given to them, ſetting forth the excellency of them.
1. This Convoy ſent for it, are Holy Ones: In Holineſs they were at firſt created, and their Holineſs they ſtill retain, perſevering in it, Dan. 4. 13. 17. and often called, Holy Angels, Mat. 8. 28. and 25. 31.
2. They are Men of God, aſſuming the Shape of Men, when ſent to Men by God, Judg. 13. 6, 9.
3. They are Sons of God, having ſtill the Likeneſs of God, in which they were at firſt produced, Job. 1. 6.
4. They are ſtiled Gods; not that God that is Jehovah, but ſuch Gods as are called Elohim, Pſal. 8. 5. comp. Pſal. 97. 7.
5. They are God's Hoſt, Gen. 32. 2. by theſe God doth protect his People.
6. They are twice called Seraphims, becauſe of their burning Zeal for God's Glory, in executing of his Commands, Iſa. 6. 2, 6.
7. They are called Cherubims, Gen. 3. 24. Col. 1. 16.Thrones, Dominions, Principalities and Powers, implying their Vigour, Dignity, Government under God, over Things and Perſons in this World, and the Right they have to the Government they take upon them.
Who can tell the Greetings, the Salutations betwixt theſe Glorious Angels and the Gracious Soul, at their firſt Meeting, after its Separation from the Body? All Hail, O Bleſſed Soul! Haſt thou fought a good Fight? We are come to carry thee in Triumph. Haſt thou run thy Race? We are appointed to fetch thee to thy incorruptible Crown. Haſt thou finiſhed thy Courſe? We are ſent to conduct thee to thy Eternal Reſt. The Soul might be conceived to reply, what Joy am I filled with at this your Salutation! O ye Holy Ones, how glad am I to ſee you? ye Men of God, ye Sons of God, how do I rejoice to meet you? Are the Gods, the Hoſt of God, come to guard me on my way to Glory? Are theſe Seraphims flaming with Zeal for God, burning in Love to me, come to take me newly ſeparated from my Body, to convey me to my Manſion in my Father's Houſe? Are theſe Cherubims, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities and Powers come to defend me from the Principalities and Powers of Hell, and from the Spiritual Wickedneſſes in high Places, through whoſe Territories I am to paſs, unto the Place and Happineſs purchaſed, promiſed and prepared for me? O how glad am I of your Company in this long Journey I am to go! How am I rejoiced I ſhall have your Conduct in this Way I never went before?
And Bleſſed, for ever Bleſſed be my God, that hath ſent his Angels to be my Guide and Guard. I muſt Praiſe him, I muſt Praiſe him before I get to Heaven, who hath ſent ſuch a glorious Train to lead me to it: This is the Hoſt of that God that I did love, and ſerve, and Truſt and hope in: This is the Army of that God of Heaven, to whom I committed my ſelf, and reſigned my ſelf, when I was parting with my Body on my dying Bed: He hath not forgot me, nor his Promiſes that he made unto me: when my Father, my Mother, and all my Friends forſook me, becauſe they could go no further with me, he hath ſent his Angels to take me up. O the Difference betwixt the Company that I have lest, and this which I have found!
In the Body I was in Company with ſinful Men, which were my Grief; out of the Body I am in Company with Holy Angels, which is my Joy.
In the Body I did converſe with imperfect Saints; now out of the Body, with pure, ſpotleſs Angels.
In the Body I was with mourning Friends; out of the Body, with triumphing Angels.
In the Body I was with weak, tho' loving Relations, that would have helped me, but they could not; out of the Body I am with theſe Angels that both can and will.
In the Body, on my dying Bed, I was with a few that watched with me Night and Day, till I had made them almoſt weary; but now, out of the Body, I have many Holy ones ſent from Heaven, to watch me on my way unto that Place, where they and I never ſhall be weary.
O Bleſſed Company! O Bleſſed change of Company! I never was on ſuch a Journey before; I never was in ſuch Company on any Journey before; I never found ſuch Pleaſure in any Way I went, in any Company I was ever in before; and ſure the Place I am going to, I ſhall find to be ſuch, as I was never in before. Come, put on.
II. The Safety of the ſeparated Soul by the Convoy of Angels, will increaſe its Joy on its Way to Glory. It ſhall be preſently freed from all Fears of Danger.
In the Body it was not without its Fears: Fears from without and within; from above and below: many Fears it was filled with.
1. From a Tempting Devil, that on his dying Bed endeavoured to diſturb his Peace, ſuggeſting evil Thoughts, repreſenting the Evil of his Sin, multiplying and magnifying them by the Aggravations that did accompany them.
2. From In-dwelling Sin; there being the Remains of Sin abiding in his heart. I fear what this hard, unbelieving Heart will expoſe me to.
3. From the Imperfection and Weakneſs of his Grace. I fear I do not love God; I fear God loves not me; I fear I am not ſincere; I am afraid all my Duties have been done in Hypocriſy, and that I have not walked before God with an Upright Heart.
4. From approaching Death. Poſſeſt with Fear about the Pains and Pangs of Death, how to bear them, and go thro' them; about his readineſs and preparedneſs for Death; about his Meetneſs for a Participation of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.
5. And therefore from the Want of his Evidences of his Title to Heaven, and Aſſurance of Salvation: For which Cauſe the departing Soul was filled with trembling, perceiving it could not continue much longer in the Body, and yet afraid to leave it, ſaying, what if I ſhould be deceived? What if I ſhould make an Error in my Death about my Eternal State? What if, while I am in the Body, I ſhould ſuppoſe that I have the Truth of Grace, and when out of the Body find that I had none? This makes me afraid to think of Heaven, leaſt I ſhould miſs of it, or of Hell, leaſt I ſhould be doomed to it.
But as ſoon as the Gracious Soul is ſeparated from its Body, and beholds the Chariot and Horſes which God hath ſent for him, all his Doubts are immediately reſolved, and all his Fears preſently expelled, and the Clouds that intercepted the Light of God's Countenance from him, are forthwith ſcattered and diſperſed.
Now the Safety of the gracious ſeparated Soul, and its Freedom from all Fears of Danger on its Travil to Heaven, by reaſon of this Angelical Convoy, will appear by theſe Circumſtances, or rather Qualifications of the Meſſengers ſent for it.
Firſt, Becauſe the Soul is guarded with ſuch powerful Angels. Evil Angels that will endeavour to way lay the Soul are ſtrong and powerful Spirits; but the Holy Angels that are to defend it on its way, are ſtronger and more powerful than they; not only in themſelves, compared with the other, but alſo becauſe Evil Angels oppoſe the Soul in their own Strength, by meer Permiſſion, without Aſſiſtance from God; but Holy Angels act not only by that Power they are indued with from God, but alſo by Commiſſion and Aſſiſtance from him; and therefore when we read of any Fight and Conflict between the Bad and Holy Angels, the Good always overcame; becauſe Chriſt, who is that Michael, is the Lord General of the Heavenly Hoſt, and they fight under his Banner, and he that is the Captain of our Salvation, is the Captain, Leader, and Commander in Chief of this Heavenly Army: Rev. 12. 7, 8. And there was War in Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not, neither was there Place ſound any more in Heaven. 9. And the great Dragon was caſt out, that old Serpent, called, the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; he was caſt out into the Earth, and his Angels were caſt out with him, Rev. 20. 1. I ſaw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomleſs Pit, and a great Chain in his Hand. 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a Thouſand Years. 3. And caſt him into the bottomleſs Pit, and ſet a Seal upon him, that he ſhould deceive the Nations no more. Thus the Holy Angels are celebrated for their Power, being mighty Angels, 2 Theſ. 1. 7. and do excel in Strength, Pſal. 103. 20. Their Power, under God, is the Soul's Safety, on its Way from Earth to Heaven.
Secondly, The Soul by this Convoy is ſafe, becauſe conducted by ſuch knowing Angels: Evil Angels, though they have loſt all that Holineſs they were at firſt created with, yet they retain great Meaſures of Knowledge, therefore we read of the Subtilty,2 Cor. 11. 3. 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 11. of the Stratagems and Devices of the Devil; yet the Holy Holy Angels are more knowing than they, for when Devils are caſt out, the good Angels do always behold the Face of God in Heaven, Mat. 18. 10. So that God revealing his Will to them about any Matter, Meſſage, or Perſon, they readily know, and as readily execute what he reveals to them to be his Will to be done by them. As to our preſent Purpoſe, by God's Revelation to them:
1. They know thoſe that are ſincerely Holy; for they rejoice at their Converſion.
2. They know when any Believer is diſſolved by Death, and when his Soul is ſeparated from his Body; elſe how ſhould they know when to come for it?
3. They know where any Believer dies, at home or abroad, on his Bed or in the Field, by Land or Sea; elſe how ſhould they know where to come for it?
4. They know the Soul ſeparated, which is the Soul of a ſanctified Man, and which of one unholy; elſe how ſhould they know which to take, and which to leave; which to carry to Heaven, and which to leave to Devils to be carried to Hell; and here (thro' Divine Revelation) they never make any Miſtake.
5. They know the Way from any part of this World, to the bleſſed World above, by their often coming and going, and never miſs their Way.
All which laid together, ſhews the Safety of Believers Souls, wherever they live, wherever they die, whoever they be, that there is no fear that they ſhould not be found by the miniſtring Angels, or that finding them at Death, they ſhould loſe their Way to Heaven. So that the ſeparated Soul at the firſt Appearance of Angels to it, will ſee the Love and Care of God concerning it, and with admiring Thoughts thereof, may ſay, hath God made known to you the Place where I did leave my Body, and the very Moment when I parted from it, and that I was ſincere in Heart to God, and gave you charge to come and guide me in my Way, unto his Glorious Preſence; how chearfully will I go with you? knowing that by your Power, under God, I ſhall not be ſeized by evil Spirits, and by your Skill I ſhall not loſe my Way.
Thirdly, The ſeparated Soul, by Angels Miniſtration, is ſafe, becauſe convoyed by ſuch faithful Angels, that are always true to their Truſt. If a Man be on a Journey in Company that is able to protect him, and skilful to direct him, yet if any in the Company be unfaithful, they may betray him; but here can be no Danger, nor Ground of Fear in reſpect of this Convoy.
1. Elſe Holy Angels would not be faithful to God the Father, in betraying any one Soul choſen by him to Eternal Life.
2. Nor to God the Son, in loſing any whom he hath redeemed and purchaſed by his moſt precious Blood.
3. Nor to the Holy Spirit of God, by dropping any by the Way, which by the ſpecial Operation of his powerful Grace, he hath prepared and made meet for Glory, and had given to them the Pledge and Earneſt thereof.
4. Nor to the Soul committed to their Charge to bring to Heaven; for wherein could greater Unfaithfulneſs to it be ſhewn, than in what concerns its Eternal State.
5. Nor to their own Office or Commiſſion to them, without fail to conduct ſuch an one to the Happineſs of Heaven.
Such Unfaithfulneſs is inconſiſtent with the Perfection and ſpotleſs Purity of Holy Angels, which being confirmed, cannot at any time fall into the leaſt Error or Miſcarriage, for then would they ceaſe to be Holy Angels.
What Joy then is this to the ſeparated Soul, that hath ſuch a Convoy ſent for it, as ſhall not indanger it by Weakneſs or want of Power, by Ignorance or want of Skill in the Way, or by Unfaithfulneſs or want of Fidelity to their Truſt: O how happy am I on my Way to Happineſs! How ſure am I my Way will be proſperous! How certain is it I ſhall get ſafely thither!
Fourthly, The gracious ſeparated Soul will be ſafe, becauſe tranſported by ſuch zealous Angels,Iſay. 6. 2, 6. therefore called Seraphims, becauſe they have a burning Zeal in executing all that God gives them a Charge to do. Devils are furious, envious and malicious, and are bent to deſtroy, devour and damn as many as they can, by watching, by walking to and fro throughout the Earth,Job 1. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 8. by tempting, and at laſt by dragging Souls to Hell, when ſeparated from their Bodies. The Holy Angels are more for God's Glory, the Intereſt of Chriſt, the Good of Souls, than Devils are againſt them, for I ſuppoſe the Holy Angels do more exceed in Goodneſs, than evil Angels, as bad as they are, are filled with Wickedneſs: For in Devils there is ſomething Materially Good (beſides their Being) tho' it may be Formally or Circumſtantially Evil, as much of their Knowledge: but in Holy Angels there is nothing that is Materially or Circumſtantially Evil.
Therefore the Holy ſeparated Soul received into the Company of Holy Angels, on its Way to Heaven, may delight it ſelf and ſay, While in the Body, I was aſſaulted with Satans Temptations, Devils did endeavour to perſuade me to ſin; but whatſoever Violence they may now aſſault me with, they ſhall no more with any Hopes entice me from my God, and the good Company I am in will defend me from them. What Zeal do theſe Holy ones ſhew in protecting of me? What burning Love do I feel in their Embracements? What Indignation and Anger do they diſcover, as I go along, againſt any evil Spirits appearing to endanger me? What Aſſaults the Spiritual Wickedneſſes have made, my Convoy hath ſecured me from: when they did draw near, theſe did beat them back: they are repulſed; and I, ſurrounded with theſe, go ſafely on.
Fifthly, The gracious ſeparated Soul will be ſafe, becauſe defended by numerous Angels. Whether more Angels revolted than are confirmed, is not needful to enquire: ſure we are, there are multitudes of Thouſands that did never ſin, but retain their Integrity, Dan. 7. 10. A thouſand thouſands miniſtred unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſands ſtood before him. Rev. 5. 11. And I beheld, and I heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne, and the Beaſts and the Elders, and the Number of them was ten thouſand times ten thouſands, and thouſands of thouſands. So many that they are innumerable, Heb. 12. 22.
How many Angels may be ſent to convey one particular Soul, is more than I do know: But we may be ſure of this, that a Guard of ſo many ſhall be employed, as is ſufficient to protect it againſt all the Principalities and Powers of Hell; ſo that the Soul might paſs without fear of Danger, and ſay, This Number God hath ſent, will ſee me ſafe in Heaven; for every one of them is Mighty, Powerful, every one is Knowing and skilful in the Way, and every one is Faithful to his Truſt,2. King. 6. 16. 17. every one is Zealous for God's Glory in my Salvation, and mine Eyes being opened, I ſee there is more for me than againſt me.
III. The Convoy of Angels ſhews us the Dignity and Honour that God puts upon the ſeparated Soul. Lazarus was much deſpiſed, ſlighted and neglected, when Body and Soul remained united, and whatſoever Contempt his dead Body was expoſed to, his ſeparated Soul was honoured with the Company of Angels. Strange Change! one while lying amongſt the Dogs, and another while carried by Angels: It's ſaid, the Romans, after their Victories, in their Triumphs had their Charriots drawn ſometimes with Elephants, ſometimes with nimblefooted Jennets, ſometimes with Pyde Horſes; and Amaſis, King of Egypt, had his Chariot drawn with Four Kings, whom he had conquered. But the Soul of a Believer is carried in greater Triumph by Angels into Heaven.
When the King asked Haman, what ſhall be done to the Man whom the King delighteth to Honour, he (ſuppoſing it ſhould be himſelf) ſaid, Let the Royal Apparel be brought, which the King uſeth to wear, and the Horſe that the King rideth upon, and the Crown Royal which is ſet upon his Head, and let this Apparel and Horſe be delivered to the Hand of one of the King's moſt Noble Princes, that they may aray the Man withal, whom the King delighteth to Honour, and bring him on Horſeback through the Street of the City, and proclaim before him, thus ſhall it be done to the Man whom the King delighteth to Honour, Eſth. 6. 6, to 12.
Tho' we cannot ſee the Soul when it leaves the Body, nor the Guard of Angels ſtanding ready to receive it, nor hear the Songs of Triumph as they paſs along, yet we may conceive what is proclaimed (if not verbally, yet really in the thing done) in the Heavenly Hoſt, as they paſs through the Air, Thus ſhall it be done to the Soul, whom the King of Glory delighteth to Honour.
We may alſo imagin how the Soul it ſelf is tranſported with Joy, and beats its Part in thoſe Triumphant Songs, and is revived more than Jacob's fainting Heart was, when his Sons told him all the Words of Joſeph, and when he ſaw the Wagons which Joſeph had ſent to carry him,Gen. 45. 27. ſo when the Soul ſeeth the Chariots that God hath ſent to carry it to Jeſus, is comforted and filled with Admiration, ſaying, I have lived hitherto in a ſtrange Land, where God did ſet me to be prepared for a State of Glory▪ to be taught and inſtructed in Chriſt's School, by his appointed Ordinances, to be made meet to be a Partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: I have been a Pilgrim and a Sojourner in the lower World, where I dwelt in an Earthly Tabernacle and Cottage of Clay, where I looked for a City which hath Foundations, whoſe Maker and Builder is God; and now my Father hath ſent, lo, what Glorious Angels he hath ſent to fetch me home, to poſſeſs the Manſion prepared for me in his own Houſe, and ſtately Palace in the higheſt Heavens: I am going to a better Country than ever yet I was in: I am on my Way to my Eternal Bleſſed Home, and with what Honour am I conducted thither? For
The Nobleſt of God's Creatures are ſent by him to fetch me to his Glorious Preſence, to the Place of Light, and Life, and Love.
The Courtiers of Heaven, are my Attendants thither.
Theſe Favourites of the great King are come to lead me to his Palace, and to introduce me (under Chriſt) into his Preſence.
Theſe Morning Stars are to go before me (which make me to rejoice with exceeding great Joy) theſe are to go before me to guide me to the Place where Jeſus is (not lying in a Manger, but) ſitting on his Throne at the Right Hand of the Majeſty on high.
Theſe that are to God, what Gentlemen of the Bed chamber are, to Earthly Kings are come down to fetch me up. Never had an (unbelieving) Earthly King ſuch a Lifeguard as this; nor ſuch Attendants to wait upon him or to miniſter to him: All his Lords and Nobles and Captains, are far inferior to theſe Angels, and it is the great God's good Pleaſure, that it ſhould be done thus, to all the Souls whom he delighteth to honour.
IV. The Celerity and ſpeedy Paſſage of the ſeparated Soul, from Earth to Heaven, is evidenced by its being carried by Angels from the one Place to the other: Tho' the Diſtance from this Earth to the higheſt Heaven, is conceived to be Millions of Miles, and a further Voyage than from any part in this lower World, to another moſt remote, in point of Diſtance; yet the Paſſage is not ſo long, in reſpect of time, tho' the Way be long between the Term from which, and the Term to which the Soul is carried; yet it is not long the Soul is paſſing through the intermediate Diſtance, becauſe it is helped by the ſpedy Motion of the Angels; which, that we may the better conceive, let us conſider,
1. The Motion of Angels from Heaven to Earth, and back again, cannot be but through the Intermediate Diſtance of the one from the other: For the Continuity of Angels Motion is not to be taken only from the Continuity of the Duration (while they move) but alſo from the Continuity of the Space through which they remove.
2. The Motion of Angels from ſuch diſtant Extreams as Heaven and Earth, cannot be properly and ſtrictly an inſtantaneous Motion. When an Angel is actually in Heaven, the Term from which, it is only potentially on Earth, the Term to which: Now if an Angel could move in one indiviſible inſtant, from one to the other, it would be in Heaven and on Earth at the ſame Inſtant, and ſo in the ſame Moment it would be actually in both the extream Terms, when he was only actually in the one, and potentially in the other, which is to ſay, he is actually in one, and not in the other in the ſame Moment, and yet in the ſame Moment he is in both, which is a Contradiction.
3. Angels being Spirits, and not corporeal Subſtances, are not hindered in their Motion by thoſe things that Bodies are: Bodies move more ſlowly or more ſwiftly, according as the Medium is, as they move ſwifter in the Air than in the Water, becauſe the Air being more thin and ſubtile doth not ſo much reſiſt the Mover, as the Water that is more denſe and groſs, muſt needs do: alſo becauſe one Body cannot be penetrated by another, as a Man cannot go thro' a Door, when it is ſhut, the one muſt hinder the other in its Motion: But Angels, being Spirits, cannot be retarded in their Motion, by the Solidity or Thickneſs of Doors or Walls, to hinder them from coming into a Priſon, Caſtle or a Chamber where a Believer is a dying, for the receiving of his Soul: For though one body cannot be in the ſame particular Place where another Body is, becauſe then there would be a Penetration of Dimenſions; yet Angels by Bodies are not excluded, becauſe they are immaterial, as appears by a Legion of evil Spirits (which is Six Thouſand Five Hundred) being in one Man: And tho' One Angel, becauſe Finite, cannot be in Two diſtant Places at once, yet many Angels, becauſe Immaterial, might be in One (where) or Place together at once; and ſo their Motion not hindred by the Preſence of Bodies, or the Preſence one of another.
4. The Motion of the Angels is exceeding Swift; and to expreſs it, they are ſaid to have Wings,Iſay. 6. 2. Dan. 9. 21. and that they fly ſwiftly, more ſpeedily than the Sun that moves Thouſands of Miles in an Hour; it might come near in reſemblance to the Motion of the Eye, that can ſo quickly turn and look up to Heaven, or to Lightning, that runs in a little time, from one part of the Heavens to the other, and ſo comes nearest to an inſtantaneous Motion.
But the Scripture, that is the ſureſt Rule to judge by, doth teach us, that an Angel can come from Heaven to Earth, while a Man is making of his Prayer to God, Dan. 9. 20. While I was ſpeaking and praying, and confeſſing my Sin, and the Sin of my People I…rael, and preſenting my Supplication before the Lord my God, for the Holy Mountain of my God. 21. Yea, while I was ſpeaking in Prayer, even the Man Gabriel, whom I had ſeen in the Viſion at the Beginning, being cauſed to fly ſwiftly, touched me about the time of the Evening Oblation. 22. And he informed me, and talked with me, and ſaid, ODaniel, I am now come forth to give thee Skill and Underſtanding. 23. At the Beginning of thy Supplication the Commandment came forth, and I am come to ſhew thee, for thou art greatly beloved.—Where we might obſerve,
1. The ſpeedy Return that is ſometimes made to Prayer; while a Believer is praying, the Anſwer is made; While the Prayer is going up, the Mercy is coming down.
2. The Angels ſtand ready before the Lord, waiting to be employed by him for the Good and Comfort of his People, at his Pleaſure.
3. God doth but give the Word, and Angels doth obey: The Commandment, or the Word, came forth, and I am come.
4. Angels make Haſte to execute God's Commands: Gabriel was cauſed to fly ſwiftly.
5. The Time of his coming was, while Daniel was praying: At the Beginning of his Prayer Gabriel was in Heaven, before the Ending of it, he was with Daniel.
That the Soul is not long in its Journey to Heaven, is clear, from Chriſt's Word to the Thief on the Croſs, Luke, 23. 43. Verily I ſay unto thee, to Day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. The ſame Day he was on the Croſs, he was in Heaven: The ſame Day he was Crucified, the ſame Day he was Glorified: And though the Day was far ſpent, yet that Day was his Soul in Heaven: The Soul may be carried from its Body to the Place of Glory, in a part of a Day. This is wonderful.
How comfortable is this to a dying Believer; who might, ſpeaking to his weeping Friends about his Bed, ſay, What mean your Tears, your Sighs and Groans? Why are ye caſt down? And why are your Hearts troubled? Would you grieve thus if I were going a Voyage to the Indies, in Hopes of Gain, with a ſafe and ſtrong Convoy? Why I am going to a better Place, with a ſafer Convoy, for greater Gain, and tho' the Place be far off, I ſhall ſoon be there; the ſame Day I go from you on Earth, being helped on my Way by ſwift and flying Angels, I ſhall go to Chriſt in Heaven. So ſoon! O then how near will my ſeparated Soul be to my Manſion above! What! turned out of the Body, and received into Heaven the ſame Day! Make what ſpeed you can or will to interr the Body I ſhall leave with you, my Soul ſhall be carried by God's Holy Angels into Abraham's Boſom, before my Body can be carried by Men, and lodged in the Boſom of the Earth.
And when the Soul is breathed out, and received into the Angels Arms, and perceives the ſwiftneſs of the Motion they carried it with, how greatly will it be delighted to think, tho' the Way be long, yet it will not be long before I ſhall be at my Journey's End: O the haſte! the haſte! the ſpeedy haſte they do make to lodge me in my Saviour's Arms! Methinks, they think it long till they ſhew me, what in Heaven is prepared for me! Methinks, they are Holily Ambitious to help me forward, that I might ſee the State, and Place, and Company above, and how Glorious they all are! O, how do they fly! How do they fly! How ſwiftly do they fly with me in their Arms, that they may lodge me in that Place of Reſt and Joy, wherein they have for ſo long a Duration ſeen the Face of God, joyed in their Reſt, and reſted in their Joy, and are deſirous to have me there, that I, with God, and Chriſt, and them, might Reſt, and Joy to all Eternity. I am now out of hearing of the Clocks, and ſee not the artificial Dials, by which Men ſee hourly the Motion of the Sun, whereby they meaſure their Time, and on their Journeys know how many Miles an Hour they go over: If in an Hour to their Earthly Home, they travel, with the Help of Horſes and Chariots, Eight or Ten Miles, what haſte do they think they make? How ſoon do they think they ſhall be at Home, received and entertained with Joy, with loving Embracements, by Friends waiting, looking, longing for their coming Home? But their ſwifteſt Pace to their Earthly Home, is ſlow to mine, to my Heavenly Home: It is, to mine, as the Crawling of a Snail, to the Motion of the Sun. God is looking for me, and Chriſt is looking for me, and the Bleſſed Inhabitants above are looking for me: Is the Cry in Heaven, Why is yonder Soul ſo long a coming? When will it be here, that we might have a new Lodger in our Dwellings? Angels were ordered to go for him, the Horſes and the Chariots were ſent to fetch him up: Why is his Chariot ſo long a coming? Why tarry the Wheels of his Chariot? The Soul on its Journey looking out of his Chariot, and up to Heaven, and ſeeing them out of the Windows of Heaven looking for him, and calling, come away, make haſte and come to us, it replies. I haſten, I haſten, I come, behold I come quickly.
V. The Angels being the Carriers, and the Soul the carried, it will be Matter of Joy to both, at their Arrival at the Port of Happineſs; both Angels the Tranſporters, and the Soul that is the Paſſenger, ſhall rejoice when landed at their intended Haven. As Mariners with their Paſſengers, ſailing through tempeſtuous Seas, ſtormy Winds, and raging Waves, having eſcaped the Sands and Rocks, and Hands of Pyrates, and being come to their deſigned Harbour, are filled with Joy, and do ſhoot and ſhout, thereby giving out their Signs of Joy: So the Angels, and the Soul whom they have conveyed to the Gates of Heaven, do rejoice that their Voyage hath been ſo proſperous.
1. The Angels, that were the Carriers, do with Joy preſent the Soul to Christ, ſaying, O our Lord and King, thou gaveſt us Command to go and fetch this Soul to thee, and ſet it in Heaven, before thee, and lo here it is. Thou gaveſt us in Charge to conduct it in Safety to the Gates of thy Glorious Kingdom, and ſo we have. Thou didſt enjoyn us to defend it from the Powers of Darkneſs, and all Helliſh Principalities that might aſſault it by the Way, and we have brought it to thee through their Hoſt, and here it is, we preſent it to thee, and to the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
It is welcomed to the Kingdom by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt.
God the Father doth graciouſly entertain it, as we muſt ſpeak in our Manner, to ſet forth this Joy, as if he ſaid to this purpoſe, come thou bleſſed Soul, come in, behold the Kingdom, and the Glorious State that I did chooſe thee to: look and ſee what I prepared for thee before the Foundation of the World: All this Glory I did deſign for thee, from all Eternity to all Eternity. There were but a few, in Compariſon of thoſe I juſtly paſſed by, that I choſe unto this Happineſs, and it pleaſed me to make thee one of thoſe few, thou waſt involved in Sin and Guilt, thou waſt wallowing in thy Blood, thou waſt dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, as well as others: but it was my pleaſure to ordain thee to be brought unto this Place and Paradiſe of Joy, which now thou doſt behold, and which I ſent my Angels to bring thee to: Come, welcom to my Glorious Palace; come, enter in, and ſit down with all this Happy Company, that before thee I have received hither.
God the Son will alſo entertain it, ſaying, Come, O dear and precious Soul, I am Jeſus thy Redeemer, I am Chriſt thy Saviour, I am he that went from Heaven to Earth, that thou and others might be brought from Earth to Heaven; I am he that ſuffered that thou might'ſt be ſaved, that died that thou might'ſt live; I am he that for thy ſake did wear a Crown of Thorns, that thou for my ſake might'ſt wear a Crown of Glory. Behold me, for I am he that was crucified for thee, that thou might'ſt be Glorified with me. Come, enter into thy Maſter's Joy, welcome to my Kingdom, welcome to my Preſence; come, enter into thy Maſter's Joy.
God the Holy Ghoſt ſhall alſo Graciouſly receive it to his Glory, ſaying, (as we may conceive) Draw near, thou dear and precious Soul, draw near; my Comforts ſhall delight thee more than Ever: Thou ſhalt be filled with my Joy more than ever. Thou waſt born in Sin, but I cauſed thee to be born again, thou waſt unclean, but I did waſh thee in thy Saviour's Blood. Thou waſt unfit for this Glorious Place and Company; but I did prepare and make thee meet to be a Partaker of this Inheritance, with theſe Saints, in Light: The Image of God, by Sin, was raced out of thee; But I did, with my own Finger, engrave it again upon thee: … work in thee what Grace was found in thee: I did enable thee to pray, and hope, and wait for this Crown of Life, of Righteouſneſs and Glory, which is now ſet upon thy Head: I did give thee the Pledge, and Earneſt, and Firſt-fruits of this Glory, which now thou art poſſeſſed of: I bid thee Welcome to thy Entrance into it.
2. The Soul that was brought by Angels, and thus entertained by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, at its firſt Arrival there, ſhall be filled and tranſported with unſpeakable Joy; when received in, and looking about, might be conceived to ſay, What Glorious Place is this! what a Glorious Company is this! But let me turn mine Eyes unto my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt! My Lord! I did love thee before I ever ſaw thee: O how Glorious is my Lord! This is he that redeemed me by his Blood: This is he who bought me with his Blood, who bought me with his Blood; who when I was a Captive redeemed me, and bought me with his Blood. How low was he abaſed, how high is he exalted! How much was he abuſed, how much is he now admired! O, how did I long to ſee my Lord! How deſirous have I been to be with him, where he is, and ſo I am; I was not, but now I am! O how good is it to be here! I never was in ſuch a Place before: I never was in ſuch Company before, except in my Paſſage to it: Here are ſuch Glorious Sights I never ſaw, ſuch harmonious Songs and Praiſes, as before I never heard. Is this the State I prayed for, and hoped, and waited for! I heard much of it, before I came into it, but at my firſt Entrance, I ſee more, I enjoy more, I feel more than I did ever hear. O the Joy! the Joy! the Fulneſs of Joy that I am filled with!
O God my Father, I do Praiſe thee, I do Praiſe thee; I will for ever Praiſe thee that it was thy Pleaſure to chooſe me to it.
O God my Lord Redeemer, I do Praiſe thee, I do Praiſe thee, I will for ever Praiſe thee, that thou didſt ſo freely, ſo greatly Love me, with ſuch a coſtly Love, as with the Price of thy Blood, to purchaſe this Poſſeſſion for me, and me to be brought to this Poſſeſſion, to be an Heir and Inheritor of ſuch a Kingdom.
O God the Holy Ghoſt, my Sanctifier, I Praiſe thee, I Praiſe thee, I will for ever Praiſe thee, that by thy Powerful changing of my Heart, bowing of my Will, renewing of my Nature, haſt prepared me, that I might be and am received into this Glorious State.
I am but newly entred in, and I muſt begin my joyful Praiſes; and becauſe this Happy State ſhall never end, my Praiſe ſhall never end.
3. The Holy Angels that are in Heaven ſhall with Joy receive the Soul that is brought by other Angels to the Gates thereof, as ſome of the Angels were ready to come for it; ſo thoſe that ſtaid Above will be ready to ſet open the Gates for its Entrance; for if they rejoiced when it was converted, much more will they when actually ſaved.
4. The Saints that were there before will, with Joy, welcome the Newcomers; for if Good Men on Earth are rejoiced when others are made Good, much more will ſaved Souls above rejoice, when others with them, are actually ſaved; and as Abraham did Lazarus, receive them into their Boſoms.