A Fiery Pillar of Heavenly Truth, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Question.
VVHat is the sixth step by which God doth proceed in the work of mans Salvation?
Answ. Glorification. Rom. 8.30. 1 Thes. 2.12.
Quest. How may we be assured that there is a future estate of glory and happinesse reserved for the righteous?
Answ. 1 By the cleere and plentifull testimony of the Scriptures. Iob. 19.25, 26. Dan. 12.2. Isai. 25, 6, 7, 8. Isa. 57.2. Io. 5.29. Matt. 13.43. Mat. 19.29, &c.
2 By the perfection of Gods Goodnesse, he is the chiefest good, and will most perfectly communicate himselfe unto his beloved. Psrl. 36.9.
3 By the equity of his Justice, rendring to all men according to their doings. 2 Thes. 1.7. 2 Tim. 4.8.
4 By the Truth of Gods promise. Tit. 1.2. 1 Ioh. 2.25.
5 By the power of God to accomplish his purpose. Ioh. 10.28, 29.
6 By the dignity of Christs merit. Heb. 7.25.
7 By the efficacie of Christs Intercession. Rom. 8.34.
8 By the Termes of Relation between Christ, and his people; he is an eternall King, Husband, and Saviour, and therefore must-needs have Subjects, a Spouse, and a saved people, which shall live in glory for ever.
Quest. What is glorification?
Answ. It is the blessed estate of Gods people after this life, wherein they shall have freedome from all sin, and misery, and the full perfection of grace and glory, both in soule and body. Ephes. 5.27. Isa. 60.21. 1 Cor. 13.10, 11. 12. Rev. 21.4, 5.
Quest. Who is the Author or cause efficient of this Glorification, and blessed estate of Gods people?
Ans. God of his free grace, and favour in Christ. Rom. 6.23. and that,
1 In regard of Preparation. Mat. 25.34. Isa. 64, 4.
2 In regard of Stipulation, God hath promised life eternall. 1 Io. 2.25.
3 In regard of Acquisition. God gave Christ to purchase this glory for us. Ioh. 3.16.
4 In regard of Application. God 1 by the Ministery of his Word and Spirit, revealing this life eternall to them, working faith in their hearts to beleeve it, and sealing up the same unto their soules. Rom. 8.16, 17. Ephes. 1.14. Ephes. 4.30. Secondly, at the day of their death by the Ministery of his Angels carrying them into Abrahams Bosome. Luk. 16.22. Thirdly, in the last day by Jesus Christ, raising their bodies againe to a glorious estate. Joh. 5.29.
5 In regard of Conservation, and continuance, God will for ever confirme them in that glorious condition. Rev. 3.12. Luk 20.36.
Quest. What doth the name of that blessednesse or glorification which the people of God shall have in the next life comprise under it?
Answ. 1 A complete presence of all good.
2 An utter absence of all evill.
3 An unchangeablenesse of felicitie.
4 A perfect fruition of God himself, who is the blessednesse of his servants.
5 A most cleere knowledge of their glory in regard of the understanding, fervent love to it in regard of the will, a comfortable, and abundant acquiescence in it in regard of the affection of the heart, from whence ariseth joy unspeakable, and glorious in the Souls of Gods servants.
Quest. In what order, or by what degrees doth God bring men to this glorious estate after death?
Answ. 1 The Soule of every true Beleever is immediately after death, by the power of God, and Ministery of the holy Angels, conveyed into the estate of happinesse. Lu. 16.26. Lu. 23.43.
2 The Bodies returne to the dust, as to a place of rest from all evills. Isa. 57.2. Rev. 14.13.
3 The bodies of all men shall be raised againe at the last day, and their soules shall enter into them again, and then body and soule of all true Beleevers shall be jointly, fully, and everlastingly glorified, and the soule and body of the wicked, joyntly and endlesly tormented. Iob 19.25, 26. Isa. 26.19. 1 Cor 15.16. Rev. 20.12, 13. Io. 6 44.
4 There shall be at the last day a generall, strict, and righteous Judgment, wherein Christ shall be the Judge; the secrets of mens natures, and works shall be opened, and all men shall be judged according to their works. 2 Pet. 3.10. Dan. 7.9, 10. Rom. 14.10.
Quest. Wherein doth the state of Gods people in glory differ from their estate in Sanctity here on earth?
Answ. 1 In this life Gods people have need of the externall Ministery of the Word, and internal Ministration of the Spirit, which in the next life they shall not need. 1 Cor. 13.8, 9, 10.
2 In this life good and bad are mixed, in the next life Gods children shall have absolute freedome from all sinfull people. Matth. 13.30. Matth. 25.33.34.
3 In this life Gods children are troubled with inward corruptions, many failings, and temptations, and persecutions, but in the next life they shall have a plenary discharge from all evills. 1 Ioh. 1.8. Eph. 5.26, 27.
4 Here Gods people see, and know God obscurely, by means, there they shall see him face to face, know him fully, and have the immediate fruition of his presence. 1 Cor. 13.12.
Quest. Shew me briefly wherein standeth the excellency of the glorious estate of Gods faithfull people?
Ans. In a full freedome from all evill, and in a perfect fruition of all good. Psal. 16.11. Rev. 21.4, 5.
Quest. What are the evills from which they are freed?
Ans. From all bodily labours, diseases, and afflictions, from all naturall infirmities, from all sin, and inclination to sin, from all bodily and spirituall adversaries, from all shame, and sorrow for their owne, or the sins of others, from the displeasure of God, and from the trouble of an evill Conscience. Rev. 14.13. Heb. 4.9, 10. 2 Thes. 1.7. Rev. 21.4. Eph. 5.26. Rev. 20.10. Rev. 22.3.
Quest. Wherein standeth that good whereof they shall have the full fruition?
Answ. 1 Their knowledge of God, inclination to good, Love to God, and his people, shall be in every degree complete; the whole man shall be perfectly conformable to the Will of God, and Gods Image, both in soule and body shall be perfectly restored. 1 Cor. 13.8.10.11. Ro. 6.13.19. Rev. 3.4.5. 1 Joh. 3.2.
2 They shall have the full and blessed vision of God for ever, and everlasting communion with Christ Jesus, the glorious Angels, and all Saints in the highest heavens. Rev. 22.3, 4, 5.
Quest. What Inducements are there to move us to labour for this glorious Estate?
Answ. 1 The vanity and emptinesse of the Creature; it cannot content us, make us happy, comfort us in heavinesse, deliver us out of dangers, nor perpetuate our earthly estate, and condition; no, not when wee have it in the greatest abundance. Eccl. 9.2.11. Eccl. 5.10, 11. Iob. 20.22.
2 The sweet and comfortable fulnesse which for the present we shall finde in God, even when wee are in the lowest estate. Psal. 36.8. Gen. 17.1. Gene. 15.1, 2. Io. 1.16. Psal. 62.9, 10, 11, 12. Psal. 4.6.
3 The great things which Christ hath done to make us partakers of that glorious estate. Tit. 2.12, 13, 14. Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13, 14.
4 The insufferable and endlesse shame, sorrow, and torments we shall draw upon our selves, if we prepare not for that estate. Mat. 25.41. Isa. 30.33.
5 The glorious condition, and everlasting continuance of this blessed estate in heaven. Rev. 21.2.23. 1 Pet. 1.4.
Laus Deo in aeternûm.
FINIS.
End of the text · Alexander Grosse, A Fiery Pillar of Heavenly Truth (1641)