Meetness for Heaven Promoted, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Some practical Inferences from this Doctrine.
USE of all this briefly is in four conſectaries.
1. That there is undoubtedly ſuch a future ſtate as bliſs and bleſſedneſs for Gods' Children after this life. There remaineth a reſt to the people of God. Heb. 4.9. I need not go about to prove this, its ſufficiently and abundantly confirmed by abler hands; not only from Scripture, but Nature, Reaſon, Divine Providence in the world, and the grace of God in the hearts of his people. Enough is ſaid to ſilence Atheiſm in our Spirits, and to ſtop the mouths of all Atheiſts on Earth. Can any rationally imagine that God ſhould endow Man with ſuch a noble Soul, and endue that Soul with ſuch noble faculties of Mind, Will, and Conſcience, and Affections, capable of knowing, loving, injoying God, with fears and hopes of a future ſtate, and all this in vain? Can we think the holy, juſt, good, wiſe, righteous God will always promote the wicked and puniſh the godly, and not right theſe things in the next world? Hath Chriſt come into the world to no purpoſe? What would become of his Birth, Life, Doctrine, Death, Reſurrection, Aſcention, Interceſſion, coming to Judgment if there were no life of future retribution? What would become of the precepts, promiſes, threatnings, motives, means, helps to an holy life here, and to attain eternal life hereafter, if there were no ſuch thing? Can we imagine that the great God governs the world by a lye. Are Heaven and Hell bug-bears, or meer imaginations of brain-ſick fools? Is there not a reality in Satans temptations, to draw or drive us from God and future happineſs? Or are there no Devils or Spirits, and ſo by conſequence no God? Away with theſe wild conceits, contrary to the ſentiments of all Mankind.
2. Then it follows that aſſurance is attainable; not only objective aſſurance, that there is a glorious inheritance, and that God will give it to ſome; but ſubjective alſo, that this is mine, that its for me; I have a title to it; elſe how could perſons thank God for making meet for this inheritance. This aſſurance ariſeth from actings of Faith, and produceth rejoycing in hope of this glory of God. Rom. 5.1. The goſpel is a goſpel of peace, not of fears and doubts. Aſſurance may be had, not only by divine revelation, but in the uſe of ordinary means. I know in whom I have believed. 2 Tim. 1.12. Read on, and you'l find not only his aſſurance of his preſent ſtate, but his perſeverance and future felicity; and its not his peculiar priviledge, but common to other Believers. 2. Cor. 5.1. Its true God is a free Agent, and may beſtow it on whom, and when he pleaſeth: Some have it moſt clearly at firſt Converſion; as Bernard for a time after his Converſion, remained, as it were, deprived of his Senſes, by the exceſſive conſolations he had from God. Cyprian ſaith, He thought before his Converſion, it was impoſſible to find ſuch raptures and raviſhments as now he found in a Chriſtian courſe. Many a cloſe walking Chriſtian can ſet his ſeal to this truth; only it ordinarily comes in after hard conflicts, with temptation, wreſtlings with God, much experience, and exact walking with God: There is Salvation and there is the joy of Gods Salvation. Pſal. 51.12. This (ſaith Mr. Latimer) is the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good Conſcience. There are many other dainty diſhes at the feaſt, but this is the banquet: This is better felt then expreſſed; but muſt be endeavoured after, prayed for: Ask, ſaith our Lord, and ye ſhall receive that your joy may be full. Joh. 16.24.
3. That the work of thankfulneſs is the great duty of a Chriſtian. This, this is the proper character and imployment of a Chriſtian. God commands it, priviledges call for it, gracious Souls have been much in it; it is comprehenſive of mans whole duty. Ʋrſin entitles the practical part of his Carechiſm [de Gratitudine] of Gratitude. Oh that Chriſtians were more in it! Praiſe is comely for the upright. This is the Epitome of Religion, the Emblem of Heaven, the proper Air in which a Chriſtian breaths: Its moſt acceptable to God, creditable to Religion, and profitable to the Chriſtian. Mr. Fox tells us, the City Zurick ingraved the Year of their deliverance from Popery upon Pillars, in Letters of Gold, for a laſting Memorial: And have not Chriſtians cauſe to thank God for grace and glory? The Heathens could ſay, Call a Man ingrateful, and you cannot call him worſe. Hezekiah brought wrath on himſelf, Judah and Jeruſalem, for not rendring to the Lord according to benefits done to him. 2 Chron. 32.25. Oh Sirs, you little know what an evil ingratitude is; you fill your Souls with guilt; you too much reſemble wicked men whoſe character is unthankful: 2 Tim. 3.2. That ſin makes hard times; yea, it makes you like the worſt of Heathen, for which ſin God gave them up; Rom. 1.21, 24. you act diſingenuouſly, as thoſe that have ſerved their turns of God, and then diſown him. How can you own God in the next ſtrait, that are ſo much in arrears? Will not your mouth be ſtopt, and Conſcience fly in your face? Do you not daily depend on God for new Mercies? And is not thankfulneſs a natural duty? Is not gratitude for Spiritual Mercies, a great evidence of your intereſt in them? And is not every Mercy ſweetened by thankfulneſs? Nay is not this a mean to continue them? The more thankful any have been the more eminent they have been: Their graces have ſhined and gliſtered like Pearls and Diamonds. Yea once more, the more thankful you are, and the more cauſe of thankfulneſs you will both have and ſee. Thankfulneſs for what you are ſure you have, will produce a fuller evidence of that you are doubtful of. The Lord humble us for our groſs ingratitude; which is (as one ſaith) a Monſter in Nature, a Solaeciſm in Manners, a Paradox in Divinity, and a parching Wind to damme up the Fountain of Divine Favours.
You'l ſay, Oh Sir, I could be thankful with all my heart, if I knew I were fit for Heaven, and that my Soul ſhall at death enter into peace; but alas, as long as I am doubtful and at uncertainties, how can I be thankful? Conſcience would check and condemn me; and indeed I have more cauſe to be humbled and aſhamed for my unmeetneſs, then thankful for any meetneſs I find in me for Heaven.
Anſ. 1. There may be grounds both of humiliation and thankfulneſs in the ſame ſoul and ſubject. Let the beſt Saints do the beſt they can, and attain to the higheſt pitch imaginable, they ſhall have cauſe of humiliation for their defects.
2. Holy jealouſie, fears, cares, do well in Gods Children, to keep them humble; and indeed, as grace increaſeth, fight of imperfections increaſeth, and ſenſe of ſhort-coming; the more diſcoveries of Gods holineſs, the viler will the Chriſtian be in his own eyes; as Job and Iſaiah, Job 42. Iſa. 6.5. and the humbler the Soul is the fitter for God. Iſa. 57.15. and 66.2. Thank God for that humility.
3. You may and muſt be thankful for the Mercies which you have, and cannot deny but God hath vouchſafed: You have your lives for a prey; are out of Hell, which is more then you deſerve; you have abundant outward Mercies, do not theſe deſerve thankfulneſs? Yea, Chriſt hath purchaſed grace and glory for ſome; nay further, he hath put thouſands into poſſeſſion of this inheritance, and ſhould not this make you thankful? Yea further, Heaven is offered to you, and you are under the means of grace, and in a poſſibility of obtaining this happineſs, which Devils and damned Souls are not; and is not this ground of thankfulneſs?
4. Be ſure you keep in mind the diſtinction of habitual and actual meetneſs for Heaven: If you have not the former, either relative or real, be not adopted or juſtified, are neither converted, nor covenanted with God, I ſay, the Lord have mercy on you, your caſe is doleful; you have great cauſe of lamentation. Oh man, I am not now ſpeaking to thee; Be afflicted and mourn, let your laughter be turned into mourning, your joy to heavineſs. Jam. 4.9. Yea, you graceleſs rich men, weep and houl, for your miſeries that ſhall come upon you. Jam. 5.1. I have not a word of comfort from the Lord to you. Your eatthly inheritances ſhall be taken from you, and you ſhall be thruſt into the dungeon of Hell. You may for a while kindle a fire, and walk warm in the ſparks you have kindled, but, faith God, this ſhall you have of mine hand, ye ſhall lye down in ſorrow, Iſa. 50.11. Stand you by while the Saints take comfort in their portion. Read Iſa. 65.13, 14, 15.
It is to you the heirs of promiſe, to whom I am now ſpeaking, and bear you this in mind, that its one thing to have right to this inheritance, another to know you have right. Many a gracious Soul is much in the dark about its relation, yet its ſtate ſafe for the main. What ſayeſt thou? Haſt thou not the things that accompany Salvation? Heb. 6.9. Hath not God been dealing with thy heart, as he uſeth to deal with ſuch as he deſigns for Heaven? Haſt thou not ſeen thy woful ſtate by Nature? The neceſſity of Chriſt and grace? Haſt thou not experienced a change from Nature to Grace, from Death to Life? Hath not this new birth coſt thee griefs and groans, prayers and tears? Doſt thou not delight now in what thou didſt diſdain? Is not thy principle, rule, end, otherwiſe then formerly? Haſt thou not changed thy company, courſes, manner of life? Speak out man, belye not thy ſelf, deny not Gods grace; ſomething like grace thou ſeeſt in thy ſelf, and to be ſure Satan and World oppoſe it, and man and thy ſelf could not work it. It is of God, a ſeed ſown by the hand of omnipotency. And he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jeſus Chriſt. Phil. 1.6.
As to actual meetneſs for Heaven, I refer you to what hath been laid down before; look it over, deal impartially; ſee if your experience do not anſwer thoſe heads; hath not God helped you in the exerciſe of the graces of Faith, Hope, Love, Humility? Hath not God given you ſome grounded evidence of ſincerity, by diligence in duty, reflection on your ſtate, appealing to God, and pleading with God for the Spirits ſealings? Hath not God helpt you to be diſpatching your work off your hands, Spiritual, Temporal, Relative and Publick? Are you not much mortified to corruption, worldly injoyments, and have you not ſpiritualized earthly things, and got more intimate familiarity with God? What ſay you to theſe things? Do not your hearts eccho back, with your [probatum eſt] ſetting your ſeal to theſe things? I have not time nor room to inlarge further; but I would have you diligently compare your ſelves now with what you were ſome years ago. Is not your Repentance more Evangelical? Doth not the ſenſe of divine love extort from you more tears of godly ſorrow, and more vehement hatred of all ſin, purely it is offenſive to God? Hath not your Faith been more vigorous in its actings upon your dear Lord? In cloſing more fully with promiſes? Have you not been more frequent and ſerious in renewing your Covenant with God? And have not ſuch dayes and duties been ſolemn heart-melting opportunities? Have you not been more conſtant and inlarged in the duty of ſecret Prayer, with ſhorter intermiſſionsand more favourineſs? Do you ſpend your time better then formerly? Do you fill up every vacancy with ſome uſeful buſineſs for Earth or Heaven? Have you not more incomes of grace and aſſiſtance in duties both as to matter and manner? To knit your minds, and raiſe your affections to God, and ſometimes ſuggeſt words to you? Do you not more concern your ſelves for the Souls of Relations and others in Prayer and Diſcourſe? being more weighted with the neceſſity of their Converſion? Are you not more endeared to Saints as Saints, though poor, or diſobliging, and of a different perſwaſion? Have you not got power over your Paſſions, to regulate them? And if you feel unruly motions, can you pray them down, and through grace calm them? Can you not put up injuries and affronts, and not only ſo as not to revenge and forgive, but pray more heartily for the repentance and remiſſion of ſuch as are moſt malicious againſt you? Is it not more the grief of thy heart when God is diſhonoured, his Spirit grieved, his Goſpel reproached by the ſins of profane or profeſſours? If thou think any body is offended by thee, is it not more a real trouble to thee then formerly? And thou canſt not be quiet till thou ſeekeſt Reconciliation? And if thou be conſcious of giving them juſt occaſion, thou confeſſeſt thy fault and humbleſt thy ſelf to them? Haſt thou not learned more faithfully and diſcreetly to manage the duty of private admonition of an offending Chriſtian? Drawing out bowels of compaſſion for and to ſuch as are fallen? Do not publick concerns of Church or Nation lye nearer thy heart daily? Canſt thou not more rejoyce in the gifts, graces, holineſs, uſefulneſs of others, though it obſcure thine? Art thou not more glad when corruptions are mortified then gratified? When occaſions of ſinning are removed, rather then afforded, though it coſt thee dear? Doſt thou not more ſenſibly underſtand the ſweet life of faith in temporals? Committing all to God, thou findeſt proviſions have been ſtrangely made? Are not thy affections more ſpiritualized towards deareſt Relations? Doſt thou not love them in the Lord, and the Lord in them, and canſt freely part with them upon Gods call? Art thou not more taken up with Gods Mercies, to give him the glory of them, then any perſonal content thou haſt in them? Is not thy heart daily more weary of the world, and longing for Heaven? Yet after all this canſt thou not ſay, thou art nothing, deſerveſt nothing but Hell? And if God glorifie his Juſtice in thy confuſion, thy mouth is ſtopped, and thou muſt juſtifie him for ever with flames about thine Eares? Doſt thou not account thy ſelf the greateſt of Sinners, leaſt of Saints, and by the grace of God thou art what thou art? And this thou canſt truly ſay, that God is more thy exceeding joy, and Chriſt more precious to thy Soul then ever?
Canſt thou in thy ſober, ſolid, ſetled frame, anſwer theſe queſtions, thy ſtate is ſafe and ſweet, and thou art meet for Heaven; yet not ſo meet, but ſtill breathing after more meetneſs, till thy laſt gaſp of breath; for no man on this ſide death was ever meet enough, and all muſt be aſcribed to grace, grace in the foundation, grace in the topſtone: I ſhall conclude all with a part of a Poem in Mr. Herbert, called Grace; p. 52.
Death is ſtill working like a Mole,
And digs my Grave at each remove:
Let Grace work too, and on my Soul,
Drop from above.
Sin is ſtill hammering my heart
Ʋnto an hardneſs void of love;
Let ſuppling Grace to croſs his art,
Drop from above.
O come! for thou doſt know the way,
Or if to me thou wilt not move;
Remove me where I need not ſay,
Drop from above.
2 Cor. 5.8. We are confident, I ſay, and willing rather to be abſent frrm the body, and to be preſent with the Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
Some Books to be Sold by Thomas Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide.
A Call to Sinners, ſuch as are under ſentence of Death, and ſuch as are under any proſpect of it from the long ſuffering, and gracious, but moſt righteous God.
Three Queſtions reſolved briefly and plainly, viz. 1. What Conceptions ought we to have of the bleſſed God? 2. What are thoſe Truths, whereof the Knowledge appeareth moſt indiſpenſably neceſſary unto our Salvation; and (therefore) to be firſt and moſt learnt by us? 3. What is the change wrought in a Man by Gods H. Word and Spirit, before he can ſafely conclude himſelf paſſed from Death to Life? Being the Summ of three Sermons.
The Chriſtian Temper: Or, the Quiet ſtate of Mind that Gods Servants labour for. Set forth in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Ʋrſula Collins.
A ſeaſonable Queſtion plainly reſolved, (viz.) What are we to judge of their ſpiritual eſtate who neglect the Lords Supper.
And what is that diſcerning of the Lords Body in it, without which men do Eat and Drink their own Damnation.
The Chriſtians earneſt Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Set forth in a Diſcourſe occaſioned by the Deceaſe of that Excellent Chriſtian and Miniſter of Chriſt, Mr. Noah Webb, late of Sandhurſt in the County of Berks.
FINIS.
End of the text · Oliver Heywood, Meetness for Heaven Promoted (1679)