Two Discourses, Section 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
A fourth ſort of additional Confirmations, drawn from the Harmonies that are between it, and other Divine Truths.
I Shall in the laſt place caſt in ſome Harmonies, or Congruities and Correſpondencies, which this holds, and makes up with other Divine Truths: And in ſuch Harmonies, and Concords, there is much of Reaſon, at leaſt to confirm, if not demonſtrate Truths in Divinity.
1. To begin where I left. Hereby it comes to paſs, that as the Souls of Men and other Spirits were immediately made and created by God (who is therefore in a peculiar reſpect, and with an oppoſite diſtinction to the Fathers of our Bodies, ſaid to be the Father of Spirits, and the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh) So, that their laſt termination or end, ſhould be, into and by his immediate Hands alſo: This makes up a congruous and ſuitable Diſpenſation. That look, as they receive their firſt Being from him, likewiſe they ſhould return to him, as Eccleſiaſtes ſpeaks, as to their ſole and immediate Author and Creator; and ſo receive from him, as a Father of Spirits their Portion at his immediat Hands. And Man's ultimate end, either way, is called their Portion, Pſal. 11. 6. Mat. 24. 51. whether it be, in bleſſedneſs as their Inheritance out of his Love, or Miſery as the wages of their Sin. And thus hereby God himſelf is made the end, and the beginning or terminus, the Alpha and Omega of Souls: to whom be Glory for ever.
2. Thereby alſo, there comes to paſs an anſwerableneſs and a proportion held between the two conditions of Heaven and Hell: Which the Apoſtle ſeems to make the ultimate aim and determination of God's Counſels. Unto which all in this World are but preparations, as he calls them. (Thus Rom. 9. 22, 23.) for the ſhewing forth of his own immediate Glory. What if God willing to ſhew his Wrath, and to make his Power known, endured with much long-ſuffering the Veſſels of Wrath fitted to Deſtruction: And that he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Veſſels of Mercy, which he had afore prepared unto Glory?
And thirdly alſo: It is ſaid that after that Chriſt the Judg of All, hath delivered up his Adminiſtration and Kingdom unto his Father, then God ſhould become all in all, 1 Cor. 15. 28. (not in reſpect of Being) that is, not as if the Being of all things ſhall return into God again, as ſome have wickedly dreamed: Or, that God's bleſſed Being, and the Creatures ſhould become one: that can never be. 'Tis a contradiction to ſay, a Creature made out of nothing ſhould come to be of it ſelf: and ſuch God in his Being is. But all in all, in reſpect of immediate Diſpenſation. And ſo look as to the Veſſels of Mercy, he will then be all in all, ſo that they ſhall not need the light of the Sun and the Moon, &c. (that is, the comfort of any Creature, though all created Excellencies in the Spirit and quinteſence of them ſhall be there) why ſhould it not be alſo meant that the ſame God (which makes up a Parallel, ſeeing Mens Sins deſerve it) ſhall be all in all, in Hell too, in a contrary way to the other?
4. And the rather this may be thought, becauſe when God ſhall have cauſed this viſible World to paſs away, the Earth and the Heavens, we now behold (as duplicate page duplicate page ſome judicious Divines have inclined to think from Job. 14. 12. and other Scriptures) either by turning them into nothing, or into their firſt Chaos: And ſo there being none (that is, of this old World) left, but pure Heaven and Hell, (which are as two ſpiritual Places or Worlds) and therein theſe two ſorts of Creatures rational; either thoſe who are wholly Spirits (as Angels good and bad) or the Spirits of Men (whoſe Bodies are raiſed Spiritual, and ſo fitted for that other kind of World) both of which are capable of Happineſs or Wo from him. That then theſe two ſorts of intelligent Natures, God and they being left thus alone (the bruitiſh part of the World being done away) ſhould have to do with him for ever immediately, either in a way of Wrath or Bleſſedneſs. And ſo God ſhall be all in all, in either Worlds, and this to be the final ending, and Cataſtrophe of all. But theſe I urge not, but only mention.