The General Assembly, Doctrine · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Encouragement to God's Children from the Saints gathering together in ſundry Caſes.
5. THE laſt uſe is of Conſolation, or Incouragement to the People of God, that there ſhall be ſuch a bleſſed gathering together.
1. That the Saints of God that have lived in all Ages, ſhall then meet and know and injoy each other with mutual Content. 'Tis worth obſerving, that Plato brings in Socrate's comforting himſelf with the hopes that upon his Removal hence, he ſhould be with Orpheus and Muſaeu's, with Heſiod and Homer: Yea, he ſhould greatly be pleaſed with the Society of Palamedes and Ajax: But oh how much more content ſhall tranſlated Saints take in the Society of thoſe Coeleſtial Inhabitants, of whom they have ſo often read, and heard of with delight, when they ſhall ſay, there ſtands holy Enoch that walkt with God, and was tranſlated Body and Soul to Heaven: There ſtands Noah that juſt and perfect Man, the Father and Founder of a New World: There ſtands Abraham the Father of the Faithful, and Friend of God: There ſtands juſt Lot, wreſtling Jacob: The beloved Joſeph more glorious now then in Pharaoh's Court: There ſtands meek Moſes the Jews Lawgiver, once King in Jeſhurun, that converſed with God face to face: There ſtands Aaron the Saint of God far more glorious now then in his prieſtly Garments in the Holy of Holies: There appears holy Lot, patient Job, zealous Joſiah, David the Man after God's own Heart: Behold a troop comes up of Old and New Teſtament Saints, all the Prophets, Apoſtles, Miniſters, Martyrs, Confeſſours, and Saints in all Ages; which will repreſent a ſplendid ſhew, next to the infinite God, and our glorious Redeemer:Romam in flore Paulum in ore Chriſtum in corpore. If Auguſtin judged it a brave ſight, and worth wiſhing for to ſee Rome Flouriſhing, hear Paul Preaching, and behold Chriſt in the Fleſh, much more will it be a raviſhing ſight to behold our glorifyed Redeemer ſurrounded with myriads of bleſſed Souls: This will be a delectable ſight.
2. Saints that have injoyed ſweet Communion together in this World, ſhall injoy ſweeter and perpetual Communion above; they that have kept day's of Faſting and Prayer, day's of Thankſgiving and Conference, that have ſitten under the ſame Preaching, have ſung Pſalms together, have ſat down together at the holy Supper, and feaſted upon the Fruits of Chriſt's meritorious Sacrifice, ſhall now drink this Wine new with him, in his Fathers Kingdom: Oh what communication of Experiences, of what they met with in their Paſſage through this Wilderneſs into their Coeleſtial Canaan: How will they eccho to each other and ſay, We ſat down under his ſhadow with great delight, Song 2.3.and his fruit was ſweet to my taſt: It was ſweet then, it is ſweeter now: O the peculiar Acts of diſtinguiſhing Grace! Why did God chuſe us rather then others to be Objects of this tranſcendent Love! We were fed with Manna in the Wilderneſs, now we are come into the Land of Promiſe, we have royal dainties, and drink abundantly of theſe Rivers of Pleaſures; and bath our Souls in this boundleſs Sea of ſatisfying Delights; then they will ſing with a lowder Eccho then ever, Come, and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul: Pſalm 66.16.I was with my dear Lord in ſuch a corner, now I declare his Goodneſs in the height of Zion.
3. Saints that parted ſorrowfully with their Relations by Death, now meet them again to part no more. Death drew a Cloud over our Natural and Chriſtian Friends: They diſappeared, and we ſaw them again no more; but now we are met again in a better place than in our Houſes, or Temples made with hands. We once took mutual content in each other, but that was but a ſhadow, a ſaint reſemblance of that we now enjoy; the Huſband and Wife were heirs together of the grace of life, 1 Pet. 3.7.now they are Poſſeſſors together of the fulneſs of that Grace in Glory. We prayed, wept, diſcourſed together: We loved each other in the Fleſh, but now our ſpark is become a flame; we love one another at another rate. The Godly Child will ſay, This is my tender-hearted Mother, my prudent, pious Father, that ſhed many a Tear for me. The Parent ſhall ſay, This my Child coſt me many times a ſad heart, many a bitter groan, he is the Son of my Vows; then the Child of my Hopes, now the Child of my Joys; his miſcarriages coſt me dear, his happineſs raiſeth my Spirits; he cauſed me to make many an Errand to the Throne of Grace, he now raiſeth my Spirit into an Extaſie of Joy: My Prayers are fully heard, my Joy is fulfilled in the Enjoyment of God with my dear Relations.
4. Souls fully refined from the dregs of Paſſion and Corruption, ſhall then without ſuch allays injoy each other: Alas, we cannot diſcourſe together here, but ſome piece of Vanity interpoſeth it ſelf: Our diſcourſes are oft impertinent, ſometimes unſavory, ſometimes giving and often taking offence: Alas, what diſcords, diſtances, diſſentions are there among Chriſtians: Even Paul and Barnabas may part in a pet: Alas, what Animoſities and Heart-burnings are to be found here in this lower World even among the Saints! That we may ſadly ſigh and ſay [tant aene animis coeleſtibus irae] how comes it to paſs that ſuch helliſh ſulphurous Flames ſhould riſe out of heavenly Hearts! But now thoſe Flames are quenched, now they all unite in an harmonious Melody, ſinging the Song of Moſes, and of the Lamb, now they are perfect, of good comfort, of one mind, 2 Cor. 13.11.they live in peace, and the God of love and peace is with them, and they are with God. They ſhall never quarrel more. O the delectable Melody of this Palm-bearing Company! Far beyond the Muſick of the Sphears: Not one jarring ſtring in all that bleſſed Conſort: They have left behind them all their cudgils at the entrance of this Temple of Peace: Their Hearts are centred in God, and their Loins are ſtreight with each other: Luther and Calvin are there perfectly agreed, never to contend more.
5. Saints ſhall be perfectly drained from the Converſe with vile Perſons in this dirty World! Here the godly and wicked are mixed: It is impoſſible to forbear ſome civil Converſe with carnal Neighbours, for then muſt we needs go out of the world: 1 Cor. 5.10.Even notorious Blaſphemers, Idolaters, Covetous, that …et and vex the Hearts of the godly: But in Heaven there's none ſuch: No unclean thing enters there: The godly Soul ſhall never be vexed with unruly Company more: There in a day when the Saints and none but Saints ſhall be gathered together: There ſhall be no more the Canaanite (or Hypocrite) in the houſe of the Lord of hoſts: Not a prophane Eſau, Zecha. 14.21.or a ſcoffing Iſhmael in that houſhold of God, among all thoſe innumerable Saints: Theſe have left the mad World on Earth ſinning, or in Hell ſuffering for ever.
6. Godly Miniſters and their gracious Converts ſhall meet together with Joy: Oh what reciprocal Joy, and tranſcendent Satisfaction will they take in each other, when both he that ſoweth and he that reapeth ſhall rejoyce together: John 4.36.O ſaith the glorified Saint, yonder is my ſpiritual Father, under whoſe Miniſtry I have ſate with trembling many a time, by aſtoniſhing Convictions upon my Conſcience, when the Law hath thundred wrath againſt me: The ſame hand hath cloſed the wound and applyed a plaiſter of a Goſpel-promiſe to my bleeding Soul: Many melting, heart ſcearching Truths, have theſe Ears heard from that Mouth, that have come warm to my Heart: Bleſſed be God that ever I ſaw his Face or heard his Voice: The Miniſter ſhall be ſurprized with a tranſport of Joy when he ſhall ſee his ſpiritual Children, begot in the bonds of the Goſpel, over whom he hath wept many a Tear, travelled with Cares and Fears, and for whom he hath put up many affectionate Prayers: Now he ſhall ſee, and ſay his Labour was not in vain in the Lord; I muſt ſay of theſe, what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoycing? are not even ye in the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his coming; for ye are our glory and joy, 1 Theſſ. 2.19, 20.
7. Chriſtians that have been ſcattered by Perſecution, ſhall now quietly meet and part no more: How will they with comfort reflect on the ſolemn Aſſemblies ſorrowfully broken up by Officers and unruly Bailiffs, their Names taken, their Perſons dragg'd before Magiſtrates, their Houſes rifled, and themſelves hurried to Priſon; now thoſe days are over and gone, no danger of Conventicles or unlawful Aſſemblies in that upper Region, they ſhall worſhip God on an Hill, in the Mountain of the height of Iſrael: They ſhall no more be proſecuted by Murthering or ſcattering Acts, they ſhall now be out of date, they ſhall no more hear the Voice of the Oppreſſour, there have been many ſuch days as thoſe in the Apoſtles times, great perſecutions againſt the Church,Acts 8.1. that they were all ſcattered abroad through forreign Regions: But now the ſtorms are blown over, the clouds ſcattered, and the glorified Saints ſhall never be broken up or diſturbed by the Sons of Violence any more: They ſhall recount thoſe by paſt troubles with Songs of Praiſe.
8. The Saints of God that have been confined to Priſons, ſhall be ſet at liberty and injoy ſweet content together: The Lord made their very Priſons ſweet by mutual Communion, but Heaven will be ſweeter: The impriſoned Bird never ſings ſo ſweetly in the Cage as at liberty: O bleſſed inlargement! Now they are delivered (with the reſt of the Creation) into the glorious liberty of the children of God: Rom. 8.21.They walk abroad at liberty at another rate then ever: How ſhall they with joy and triumph recount their wandring about in Deſerts and Mountains,Heb. 11.37, 38. in Dens and Caves of the Earth: Sometimes thruſt into dark and dirty Dungeons with Felons and Malefactors, yea condemned, tortured, executed, but now they have obtained a better Reſurrection: O happy deliverance! Theſe ſhall have their proper Manſions in their Fathers Houſe, and the Coeleſtial Pallace will reſound ſweet Eccho's of their triumphant Praiſes, they ſhall not now with Paul and Silas ſing in the Stocks,Acts 16.24, 25. but above where they ſhall be advanced together.
9. The Saints that have providentially parted one from another upon any occaſion, ſhall meet again and part no more: When Paul was to be bound at Jeruſalem, and the Diſciples underſtood it, they took on heavily, Paul ſaid, what mean ye to weep and to break my heart? Acts 21.11.13.Their weeping breaks his Heart: But eſpecially ſaith the Text, they ſorrowed moſt of all,Acts 20.38. for the words that he ſpake, that they ſhould ſee his face no more: And this is the Caſe of many Chriſtian-friends, but the relief is, they ſhall ſee each others Faces again, and their Faces will ſhine as the Sun, and their Contentment ſhall be exceeding the bounds of any Capacity in this lower World: They parted but for a Seaſon, that they ſhould receive each other for ever, Philemon. 15.when the gracious God hath received them into everlaſting Habitations.
10. The Saints that divided and could not agree to walk together in one Church upon Earth, ſhall be perfectly reconciled above, and then ſhall mutually embrace each other: They ſhall all ſpeak the ſame thing, and never have the leaſt reflecting Speech or Thought againſt each other: Poſſibly in this World the Contention [or Paroxiſm] betwixt a Paul, and Barnabas may be ſo ſharp that they may depart aſunder one from another: Acts 15.39.As all God's People are neceſſarily ſcattered into diſtinct Societies, though uniting in Spirit in the bonds of Peace; yet good Perſons of different Perſwaſions, may in ſome caſes refuſe to hold Communion occaſionally one with another (ſome being for greater Latitude, others for ſmaller Bonds, or being of different Principles in ſmaller Matters, or through Prejudice or Paſſion,) yet in Heaven they ſhall be all of one Mind and one Heart, and all Diſſention and Diviſion will be laid aſide; O what perfect Love, ſweet Harmony, and joyful Delight will there be in the Perſons and Graces of each other! There will be no ſaying then, I am of this Opinion, or of this Party, or a Member of this Church and not of another; but they ſhall attain to be in the Unity of the Faith, and united Members of the Triumphant Church.
11. Chriſtians that had their natural Infirmity, ſhall leave them behind them, and their united Spirits ſhall be made perfect: How rough-hewn Natures have ſome godly Souls? How unſociable are ſome that proves a great Affliction to themſelves and all about them, ſtill quarrelſom and diſcontented, nothing pleaſeth them, and ſometimes they cannot help it, though they ſtrive and fight and pray againſt it, it ſtill recurs and returns, and breeds much vexation; but upon this bleſſed gathering together, the crooked ſhall be made ſtreight, Iſa. 40.45.and the rough places (and ſpirits) plain, when the glory of the Lord ſhall be revealed: O happy day, when there will be no envy or diſcontent, but the Saints ſhall rejoyce in each others Graces and Comfort as their own, and lie ſquare to each others Spirits: Though ſome Stars ſhall outſhine others in luſter and glory, yet every Veſſel ſhall be full both of Grace and Comfort, and not a wry Look or peeviſh Word ſhall be found there to all Eternity.
12. The Saints that here condoled themſelves and each other in their Perſonal afflictions, ſhall leave their Sorrows behind them, and all the occaſions and grounds thereof, and unanimouſly thank God for compleat Immunity from all, ſome are ſick, ſome are pained, ſome are pinched with Poverty, others are tormented with wicked Children and bad Relations: Some have troubles of Conſcience under darkneſs, hidings of God's Face, ſome aſſaulted with helliſh Infections, Fatanical Temptations, ſome are deeply Melancholy, and under ſad Complaints: Now we are required to bear one anothers burthens: Gal. 6.2.And Paul ſaith, who is weak and I am not weak? 2 Cor. 11.29.Who is offended and I burn not? Grace in the Heart commands ſympathy with others; but that perfect State diſchargeth all Compaſſion as well as Paſſion: They that mourned together ſhall rejoyce together, not a ſigh or groan ſhall ever poſſeſs a glorified Spirit.
13. The Saints ſhall lay aſide all difficult and ſelf-denying Duties: There are many perſonal Duties that require ſome coſt, and it becomes a Chriſtian before hand to ſit down and count the coſt, Luke 14.28.to mortify ſome ſpecial Luſts, to maintain a ſtrict watch over Heart and Life, to worſhip God in the Spirit, exerciſe every Grace, maintain conſtant Communion with God, theſe will coſt a Soul much care and induſtry, and though theſe are ſweet in managing to purpoſe,Prov. 3.17. for wiſdoms ways are pleaſantneſs, yet becauſe of the corruption of our Hearts, and averſneſs to any thing that's good, they become difficult, and then relative Duties are difficult, to diſcharge truſt to Relations, Parents to Children, Maſters to Servants, Chriſtians one to another, mutual Inſpection, Admonition, giving and taking Reproofs, faithfully, humbly: Chriſtians find theſe Duties hard and grievous to fleſh and blood: But the more Spiritual any Man grows, the more Eaſy they grow, the more Love is in our Hearts to God, the leſs are his commandments grievous: 1 John 5.3.Now in Heaven Love will be perfected: And holy Souls will be in their Element while they are ſerving God and doing the works of that Place: But the more you can ſing in the ways of the Lord, Pſal. 138.5. Jer. 31.12.the more chearfully will you ſing in the height of Zion.
14. The Saints that have attended Ordinances with many defects and imperfections will leave them all behind them, and attend the Lord without the leaſt defect, diſtraction or imperfection: The beſt of God's Children have a weight hanging on them, and a ſin that too eaſily beſets them, Heb. 12.1.and impedes their Motion and obſtructs their Aſcent upwards: But theſe ſhackles ſhall be ſhak'd off with the Body, never a wandring Thought more to all Eternity: Here we weaken the hands one of another,Heb. 12.12. by our hands falling down and our feeble knees, bodily infirmities oft render the beſt Services weariſom, becauſe the holieſt Saints have but a Meaſure of Affection, hence it was that Three of Chriſt's choiceſt Diſciples ſlept while Jeſus was in his Agony, for though the ſpirit was willing yet the fleſh was weak: Mat. 26.36,—41.Alas Aaron and Hur muſt hold up Moſes hands here, the beſt at ſome ſeaſons may be out of frame for Duty; but in Heaven the Saints ſhall join hearts and hands without wearineſs or diſtraction in ſinging the high Praiſes of God in that heavenly Quire, and none ſhall fail his Fellow, or fall ſhort of Duty.
15. Saints of the meaneſt ſtature and ſtanding here ſhall be compleat, and commence the higheſt degree of Grace in Glory: I ſay, not that all the Saints ſhall have equal Degrees of Glory; the Text ſaith, that at the Reſurrection,1 Cor. 15.41, 42. one ſtar differeth from another ſtar in glory: Its true all theſe heavenly luminaries ſhall be perfectly joined in one conſtellation: But good Divines think, that as there will be Degrees of Torments in Hell, ſo of Joys in Heaven: As the Veſſels are larger to contain more, or as Men have honoured God more here below, yet the meaneſt Saint will be top full of glory: For they that are wiſe ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the firmament, and they that turn many unto righteouſneſs, as the ſtars for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3. Weak Chriſtians ſhall no more complain of Defects, but he that it feeble in that day ſhall be as David,Zech. 12.8. and the houſe of David as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them: There will no more be thence an infant of days: Iſa. 65.20.The meaneſt Chriſtian will in ſome reſpects be equal with the Angels in heaven. Mat. 22.30.Children in Grace ſhall be grown up to be perfect Men,Eph. 4.13. to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt.
16. Saints at that day ſhall he raiſed above the revilings, calumnies, and ſlanders of a malicious World, and be advanced to the higheſt Honour: In this World every one can throw dirt on God's Children, and account them the vileſt of Men, not worthy to live upon Earth, and cry as they againſt Paul, away with ſuch a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that he ſhould live: Acts 22.22.But what ſaith God of ſuch: Of whom the world was not worthy: Heb. 11.38.No Nicknames ſhall follow them to Heaven, they ſhall not be there called Puritans, Fanaticks, Schiſmaticks, Fools, nay, poſſibly they ſhall be honoured among Men when dead and raiſed to glory:Prov. 10.7, 14. The memory of the juſt is bleſſed: The godly above ſhall honour them, though ſometimes they thought and ſpoke ſlightly of them, nay, the wicked and damned in Hell ſhall eſteem honourably of them, as the Rich Man that thought (once Poor) Lazarus a fit Embaſſadour to ſend to his Rich Brethren on Earth, yea it may be wretched Hypocrites on Earth will build the tombs of deceaſed prophets, Luke 16.28.and garniſh the ſepulchers of the righteous, Mat. 23.29.in honour to them, whom they or ſuch as they were, did once abuſe and revile on Earth, they will call the dead Saints and canonize them, when as they miſcal ſuch as they, are Hypocrites and no better then Devils: God oft turns the Scales and rolls away the Reproach of all his Servants.
17. Saints that have exerciſed Charity and Hoſpitality, and ſuch as received their Bounty, ſhall embrace each other with mutual Alacrity: Our Lord affirms it, That whoſoever gives but a cup of cold water (if he hath not a fire to warm it) to a little one in the name of a diſciple (though he may be miſtaken) verily I ſay unto you, he ſhall in no wiſe loſe his reward, Mat. 10.42. O will the poor Beggar ſay, there's my loving Benefactor, the Debtor will there own his Creditor that forgave him all when he had nothing to pay; Mat. 18.26, 27.well ſaith the Free-hearted diſburſer, I do not repent it, ſince I am ſo richly rewarded, this Recompence is above my expectations, and contrary to my deſerts: Strange that I ſhould receive ſo much for laying out ſo little, this is above Iſaac's reaping an hundred Fold: How comfortable will that Language of our Lord be, when he ſhall ſay as in Mat. 25.34,—40. Come ye bleſſed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you, &c. Behold my Deputies, in relieving of whom you relieved me, I took it as done to my Perſon what you did to my Members, and you ſhall be glorified together.
18. Saints that have wanted many things in this World, when they meet above ſhall want nothing: In this World the Body is full of Wants, we want neceſſaries to ſupply Nature, we want food to nouriſh us, cloaths to cover us, phyſick to cure us, arrows to defend us, ſleep to refreſh us, yet theſe but ſupply particular wants, and Men ordinarily have dependance one upon another for Supplies: But when God's Children get above, yet though they ſhall have ſweet Communion with each other, yet their Happineſs chiefly depends on the Viſion and Fruition of God: With him is the fountain of life, Pſal. 36.9. Pſal. 16.11.in in his light they ſee light, in his preſence is fulneſs of joy: The Sun doth dart its Beams through the whole Univerſe: God's Preſence (not Saints) makes Heaven: The King makes the Court not Courtiers: Nothing can ſatisfy the capacious Soul but duplicate page duplicate page God: I ſhall be ſatisfied, ſaith David, when I awake with thy likeneſs: Pſal. 17.15.That and nothing elſe gives content: Angels, and glorified Spirits, as Creatures muſt ſay, it is not in me to ſatisfy you: God alone can: Now and never till now the Soul ſaith, I have enough, I need no more: I have not only taſted but drunk deep of this River of Pleaſures, yea bathed my Soul in this bleſſed Ocean of Delights: Nor do I ſurfeit upon theſe, but freſh Springs of joy yield me perpetual contentment.
19. All Saints paſs through the valley of the ſhadow of Death to that Glory: None exempted but Enock and Elias, and thoſe that ſhall be found alive at the laſt day: It is no ſtrange thing, For it is appointed to Men once to die: Heb. 9.27.It is the common Lot of Mankind, even the beſt Men: The Sting of Death is gone, its but a Trap-door to let us into Heaven: Thouſands are gone before us, they are not loſt but laid up: We ſhall meet them again: O who would be afraid of Death when Jeſus Chriſt hath perfumed the Grave for us? Well may a graceleſs Soul be afraid to die, becauſe he knows not what Company he ſhall converſe with in the other World, but may fare with Devils and damned Souls, but the righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32.and ſees Jeſus Chriſt ſtanding with a Crown on his Head and another in his Hand, ſaying Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life: Rev. 2.10.Why ſhould we then fear this King of Terrours that's diſarmed, it may hiſs, but cannot ſting us:1 Cor. 15.56, 57. It may kill us, but cannot hurt us: See yonder glorified Aſſembly of the Spirits of Juſt Men made perfect have conquered Death, and are ſet upon triumphant Thrones.
20. This bleſſed Society of departed Souls, ſhall continue through the Ages of Eternity: In this World they met and parted again, there was many intermiſſions in their ſweet Communion: But now they ſhall for ever dwell in the Houſe of the Lord, and ſing praiſes to the lamb for evermore: Rev. 3.12.Such as overcome ſhall be pillars in the temple of God, and ſhall go no more out: They ſhall never be baniſhed out of this heavenly Paradiſe: This word ever, evermore, everlaſting, puts new Life into the glorious Songs of Praiſe, and daily revives their Spirits: After ten thouſands of Millions of Ages ſhall the Joy be as freſh as at their firſt Entrance: That River is ſtill running, in thy preſence is fulneſs of joy, Pſal. 16.11.at thy right hand there are pleaſures for evermore: Mortality is writ upon all Sublunaries: Eternity puts an Accent upon Spirituals: There ſhall be no night there [no Clouds, no Eclipes of that Glory,Rev. 22.5.] for the Lord God giveth them light, and they ſhall reign for ever and ever: It is recorded of Diagoras, that when he ſaw his three Son's crowned in one day at the Olympick Games as Victors, died away while he was embracing them for joy: But though the Saints ſhall be in a continual Extacy and tranſport of Joy, in beholding their Children in Chriſt, and their godly Chriſtian-Friends, yet their Heart-ſtrings ſhall not break, but be inlarged with comfort, and perpetuated for evermore.
Oh what a day will that be, when all the Son's of the Second Adam ſhall meet together, ſo many pure Spirits defecated from the ſordid dregs of Sin and Suffering ſhall join their, Harmonious Muſick and Melody in praiſing our dear Lord, whoſe glorious Perfections we could never extoll! What a brave Quire will that make! Not a diſcordant String among them all: But as one Eye moves the other rolls, when one String is ſtruck the other ſounds, ſuch a blending ſympathy will there be of well-tuned Praiſes in that heavenly Chorus: Ignatius thinks the Sun Moon and Stars, made a Quire about the Star that appeared at Chriſt's Incarnation; oh then what an Halcyon-day will that be, when the morning ſtars ſhall ſing together, Job …8.7.and the ſon's of God ſhall ſhout for joy: O what in harmonious Harmony, in perfect Sympho… What mutual Love and Delight in each … Yea they ſhall Love one another the better for the perfect Love they have to God: And bathing their Souls in that fathomleſs Ocean of divine Love.
Its true, the infinite God is ultimately and objectively the Saints proper delight both here and in Heaven, but glorified Bodies united to theſe bleſſed Souls, and the bliſsful Society of Angels and Saints, will be no ſmall acceſſories of the Saints Happineſs: As there will be no Hypocrite there to cool their Charity, ſo there will not be miſſing the meaneſt Member of Chriſt: The weak Chriſtian that cryed out my lameneſs, my lameneſs, ſhall then be ſtrong: The dark Soul that rarely got a glimpſe of God, or a ſealing of the Spirit, ſhall walk for ever in the light of God's countenance: The grieved Saint ſhall be now in an Extacy of Joy: Not a gracious Soul ſhall be miſſing, not the leaſt Grace wanting, not a Duty loſt, all ſecret Prayers, Tears, Groans, ſhall come to light and be rewarded,Pſal. 56.8. their Tears were bottled, their Prayers bookt, and now ſhall be produced: Not an Act of Charity, though the Left-hand knew not what the Right-hand did (much leſs others) but it ſhall be brought to light before Angels and Men, with high Approbation and Commendation.
Oh who would not be preparing for ſuch a Day? Who would not long for it, breath after it, and freely welcom it? Let all the Children of the bride-chamber make themſelves ready, Luke 12.35.let your loins be girded about and your lights burning: Be waking and watchful, attend his Motions, be glad of his Approaches, and gladly welcom the Bridegrooms coming with all his holy Angels and glorified Spirits, deſcending in the Clouds to fetch you home into thoſe Coeleſtial Manſions to be for ever with the Lord: Be not afraid, when he ſaith, ſurely I come quickly, let the redeemed of the Lord eccho, Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus, Amen, ſo be it.
FINIS.