A Prospect of Heaven, Treatise · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
1. IS there unſpeakable glory to be revealed in the Saints hereafter; then be not troubled at your preſent ſtate, whatever it is; O ye righteous, let not your preſent mean, obſcure, baſe condition in the World trouble your hearts, but lift up your heads becauſe of the glory which ſhall be revealed; be not troubled at the ſhame of the Croſs, be not terrified with the rage and cruelty of ungodly men at any time, fear none of theſe things, becauſe it is your Fathers will to give you a Kingdom of glory. Bid afflictions welcome for glories-ſake, bid reproaches welcome for glories-ſake; let this comfort thy Soul in all abaſements and preſſures, yet I ſhall be glorified: the World is pleaſed to reveal their malice in me, but my God will reveal glory in me: the World reveals their hatred againſt me, but my God will reveal his love in me; how deſpicable ſoever I am at this preſent, yet I ſhall appear in glory.
You know the glory of Chriſt was hidden for thirty three years; though he was the Lord of glory, yet how deſpicable and contemptible was he? all men ſcorn'd him, rejected him, mocked him, perſecuted him; but now he is in glory, and will one day appear in glory to the World: put caſe thou ſhalt paſs as many years in reproaches, and afflictions, yet thou ſhalt appear in glory together with Chriſt, and thou doſt at preſent but drink of the ſame Cup the Lord of glory drank of before thee. Ye that are afflicted for Righteouſneſs ſake, what cauſe have ye to count it all joy, for if any have more abundantly revelations of glory in them, undoubtedly they have who have abounded in ſufferings for Chriſt.
This ſhould work in us a bleſſed contempt of all the torments and cruelties that Hell or Earth can invent, or execute; a few hours in Heaven will make amends for all the tortures of this life, were every torture an Hell to us: Oh the perfection, beauty, glory, and tranſcendent excellency of thoſe joys which ſhall be revealed in that day.
2. The conſideration of the revelation of this glory may fortifie our Spirits againſt all fears and dangers; though the thing feared be not preſent, yet fears are many times preſent with us; there is enough in this conſideration to raiſe our hearts above fears; the hope of this revelation heightens a Chriſtians courage, gives him the Almighty for his ſecond, and makes him Triumph over all his fears, and overcome all difficulties: this hath ſo fortified many Saints and Martyrs that they have even laught at Tyrants and Devils, the greateſt cruelty being not able to raviſh from them what they loved: the hope of eternal glory will ſtrengthen the heart againſt the worſt of fears and dangers which the worſt of times and men can threaten: were this hope well kept up, it would carry a believer through a whole Sea of trouble; and the rougher the Sea proved, the nearer would the Soul be carried to the Haven.
3. This likewiſe may ſtrengthen the hearts of God's Children againſt the preſent ſnares, which Sin, Satan, or the World, can lay before them; ſince there ſhall be a Revelation of glory in us, what Soul is there that is prevented and engaged with the love of God, that may not ſee good ground to diſdain all the offers that a ſinful world can make him to enſnare his Soul; as Abraham did not only reject the offers of the King of Sodom, but did it with diſdain, Gen. 14.23. The moſt high God was Abraham's portion, therefore he would not be beholden to a wicked King for any thing, no not ſo much as a ſhoelatchet; he would not be ſo injurious to the poſſeſſour of Heaven and Earth: ſo when a child of God is tempted to that which is evil, with preſent honours, profits, and preferments in the world, this will make him with a holy diſdain to refuſe theſe proffers that the World, and the God of the World make unto him, becauſe of the glory that ſhall be revealed in him: the promiſes of the World are very falſe, and thoſe imaginary contentments it allures us with, gives us nothing but real torments in the end.