Invisible Realities, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
2 Cor. 4.18.
While we look not at the things which are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen; for the things which are ſeen are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen are eternal.
Thirdly, IT may reprove Chriſtians, thoſe that have made Religion their Buſineſs more than others, that they have not made this their Buſineſs more, been no more careful,
(1.) In looking at unſeen things; (2.) In aiming at; (3.) In ſeeking of; (4.) In following after; (5.) In clearing their Title to the unſeen things of Heaven and Glory.
Alas, Sirs, this is verily a Fault among Chriſtians, we are much in looking at ſeen, but we are little in looking at unſeen things. That you may not live in this Neglect, but be more in looking this way, pray conſider,
1. That you are not much concerned to look after ſeen things, for they are but foreign, they'l not laſt as long as Eternity laſts; nay, they'l not reach another World, not go one ſtep with you in another World: As ſoon as ever you are paſſed into another World, The former things are paſſed away, Rev. 21.4. i. e. all the things that are preſent, both good and bad: none of the ill things of the preſent World will follow the Saints into another World; nor will any of the good things of the preſent World, follow Sinners into another World: Seen things laſt but a while, reach but a little way.
2. Unſeen things are the beſt things, better than any thing that is ſeen; weigh what you will againſt them, and you'l find they can bear no weight with the things of Heaven. As,
(1.) If you weigh againſt them Riches, Gold, Silver, all the Treaſures of Darkneſs, and hidden Store of ſecret Places, yet they'l all be inconſiderable, and amount to nothing, leſs than a Drop of Water to the Ocean, than a lump of Lead to a Mountain of Pearl; they are things of no worth in Heaven, things that have no place in Heaven: It's a Country (as the Martyr ſaid) where Money bears no maſtery, where that that goes here for Hundreds and Thouſands, will not go for Pence and Farthings.
(2.) And if you weigh againſt them Honours, and Powers, and Greatneſs, why as little is there in them to bear any proportion with the things of Heaven; add theſe to the former, and put both together (viz. all the Treaſures, and all the Crowns and Kingdoms under Heaven) in the Ballance with the Crown and Kingdom of Heaven, and they'l be leſs than little to them.
(3.) If you weigh Pleaſures againſt them, you ſhall ſtill find they weigh nothing; add theſe to the two former, even all the Delights of the Sons of Men, and put all three together in the Ballance with the unſeen things of Heaven, and they will be of no weight; unſeen things are the beſt things, there is no worth in Riches to the Riches of Glory, there is no weight in Crowns to the Crown of Glory, there is no ſweetneſs in Pleaſures to the Pleaſures, the Rivers of Pleaſures at God's right Hand.
3. Nothing ſhort of unſeen things is of any moment, or worth looking at; unſeen things are not only the beſt things that you or I can look at, but there is nothing elſe we can look at that is of any moment. The Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking of ſeen things, uſeth moſt diminiſhing Terms, he calls Wealth thick Clay, Hab. 2.6. Wo to him that ladeth himſelf with thick Clay. The Duſt of the Earth, Amos 2.7. They pant after the Duſt of the Earth. Wind, Eccleſ. 5.16. What Profit hath he that hath laboured for the Wind? Graſs, and the Flower of the Graſs, James 1.11. The Sun is no ſooner riſen with a burning Heat, but it withereth the Graſs, and the Flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the faſhion of it periſheth: ſo alſo ſhall the rich Man fade away in his Ways. He ſtiles Power, and Pomp, and Glory, Fancy, Acts 25.23. The whole World a Surface, an Out-ſide, an empty Shadow, 1 Cor. 7.31. For the Faſhion of this World paſſeth away. A vain ſhew, Pſal. 39.6. Surely every Man walketh in a vain ſhew. On this faſhion the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of theſe ſeen things; and ſurely on this faſhion, they who are ſeeing unſeen things, are thinking of ſeen things to day; the beſt, the greateſt, the choiceſt of them, are but Clay, and Duſt in their Eyes. Alas, look but on ſeen things in the Glaſs of Scripture, and you'l ſee there is nothing in ſight that deſerves to be look'd at; they are either unſeen things, or nothing that you muſt make your Object, Eccleſ. 1.2, 3.
4. All your Happineſs lies in things unſeen. Thoſe Grecians loſt the Comfort of their Lives, (ſaith the Hiſtorian) who ſaw not Alexander ſit in Darius's Throne. I may ſay, thoſe loſe the Comfort of their Lives, that don't lift up their Minds to the high things belonging to the heavenly Throne. Niſi ad haec admitterer, non fuerat operae pretium naſci. Alas, there is no true and ſolid Happineſs to be had in ſeen things; all the things that are under the great Vault of Heaven, and on this ſide the Sun and Moon, (how fair ſoever they look) are but the droſſy part (as we ſay) of God's Creation: Like the Goats-hair and Badgers-skins on the Tabernacle without, that was overlaid with Gold within; Gold within, and Skins without; ſo, I ſay, theſe ſeen things are but very ſorry things, poor Shadows, empty Vanities, broken Ciſterns; nothing to unſeen things, nothing that can make us happy.
5. Your unalterable and unchangeable Happineſs lies in unſeen things, not in any thing that is in ſight. It's true, ſometimes ſeen things may have ſuch a kind and favourable Aſpect towards you, as may tempt you to ſay as David once, Pſal. 30.6, 7. That your Mountain is made to ſtand ſtrong, and you ſhall never be moved. But as he was preſently convinced of his Miſtake, ſo will you find yours; for, alas, this World is the Stage of Changes and Revolutions, wherein all things are on a Wheel and in motion. (1.) The Sun riſes and ſets; (2.) Seas ebb and flow; (3.) Winds riſe and fall; (4.) Rivers run Day and Night; (5.) Cities and Kingdoms are up and down; (6.) Perſons and Families are coming up and going down; (7.) Rich and Poor are meeting. 1 Sam. 2.4, 5. The Bows of the Mighty are broken, and they that ſtumbled are girt with ſtrength. They that were full, have hired out themſelves for Bread; and they that were hungry, ceaſed: ſo that the Barren hath born ſeven, and ſhe that hath many Children is waxed feeble. All things are (as we ſay) on their Feet, none can ſit or lie; ſome go backward, ſome go forward: it were endleſs to enumerate the Changes that are acted every day upon the Stage of this World; here is no conſtancy, no ſtability in any thing, this is only to be found above in the unſeen World, and there all things are unchangeable and unalterable for ever. (1.) God the Portion and Happineſs of his Choſen, is unchangeable; (2.) Angels unchangeable; (3.) Saints unchangeable; (4.) The heavenly Manſions unchangeable; (5.) The Riches of Glory; (6.) The Joy in God's Preſence; (7.) The Pleaſures at his right Hand, are for evermore; here will be an unchangeable unalterable State of Reſt and Happineſs, without any Flux or Reflux, Change or Variation, for ever. O therefore Chriſtians, check your ſelves that you have not looked, that you are not looking more at unſeen things, and longing more to come unto the ſeeing of them. It's reported of great Ariſtotle, that he ſhould ſay when he was dying, I rejoice that I am now going out of a World of Contraries. How much more may the ſerious Chriſtian rejoice, to think of going out of a World of Contraries, and off a Stage of Changes, to unchangeable Bleſſedneſs?
The third Uſe, is a Uſe of Exhortation. Is it the great Part, Duty, and Concernment of Chriſtians to look at unſeen things? then it may be for Exhortation to Chriſtians, in theſe three things.
Firſt, Look at and fix your Eye on unſeen things, this is the firſt. Chriſtians, be perſwaded to look at things which are not ſeen, above, beyond, and paſt all that is now in ſight, over all that is preſent, to the future and unſeen Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell, that are yet out of ſight, yet unſeen. Conſider, this looking at unſeen things will be of very great Advantage to you on many Accounts; it's your Duty, as you have ſeen, and it will be your Gain and for your Good, as you may ſee, if you conſider theſe ſeven or eight things: this looking at unſeen things will help very much,
1. To mortify your Hearts to ſeen things, to the World and the things thereof. Seen things are full of Snares, the World has been the Deſtruction of a world of Souls; it's a bleſſed thing to have a Heart that is looſe from, and dead to it: Any thing that tends to part, and keep the Heart and the World aſunder, deſerves to have a Room and Place in our Hearts. Now nothing is more ſovereign in this Caſe, than a cloſe and conſtant practice of this propoſed Duty, a looking at unſeen things. Aeternis inhianti in faſtidio ſunt omnia tranſitoria; He that looks at unſeen eternal Things, will make light of ſeen temporal Things; this will take Affections off things below, up to things above. It's ſaid, that the great Cities of Campania ſeem but ſmall Cottages, to them that ſtand on the top of the Alps: So truly all the great and ſpecious, and precious things of the World, that ſo many Eyes admire, and ſo many Hearts dote on, all the Thrones, Crowns, Pleaſures, Profits, Beauties, Braveries, and Glories of this World, ſeem but little to them that have an Eye looking at that within the Vail. If you look but a little upon the Sun, why when you look down again upon the Earth, you can ſcarce for a time ſee any thing of all the things about you; the Light and Beauty of that which you have ſeen, makes theſe things diſappear: Why ſo, a looking at unſeen things, will hugely darken and leſſen ſeen things in our Eye, and make that we ſhall ſee little in them to be much ſet by. Some Writers ſay, that after Lazarus was raiſed from the Dead, he was never ſeen to ſmile, or make any matter of the Matters of the World; he had ſeen that which did keep his Heart dead to theſe things, as poor and worthleſs. My Beloved, if we might ſuppoſe, that ſome of the Saints now in Heaven ſhould be ſent back again to us in this World, what would they do? how would they look on all theſe things? Do you think they'd be taken with them, or preſs after them? (1.) Would they fall in love with your Houſes, or Fields, or Gardens? (2.) Would they ſet by your Gold and Silver? (3.) Would they make any thing of that you make moſt of? Surely, no, the whole World would be no other than a Wilderneſs to them; they that tread the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars under their Feet, would ſurely trample all that is ſpecious in the Earth under their Feet as ſo much Dung. And as they would make nothing, ſo ſurely Chriſtians (who are going to ſhare with them) would make leſs than ordinarily they do of all ſeen things, if they looked but more to unſeen things, to the Place and Poſſeſſions of the Saints in Light. Wouldſt thou be accompanied with a mortified Heart to the World; (1.) To the Luſts of the World; (2.) To the Pleaſures of the World; (3.) To the greatneſs of the World; (4.) To the Gain; (5.) To the Glory of the World? then look, look at unſeen things.
2. It will help to make you Content in every Condition, (this another) and with whatſoever is your Portion in this World. The Holy Apoſtle had his Converſation in Heaven; Philip. 3.20. For our Converſation is in Heaven▪ And had learned, Chap. 4.11. in whatſoever ſtate he was, therewith to be Content. His Converſe with Heaven, had taught him to be Content with his Condition on Earth. O Sirs, believing views of the things above, that a Believer is going to, are enough to make a Chriſtian ſay, when in the worſt, moſt needy and wanting outward Condition in the World, with David, Pſal. 16.6. The Lines are fallen to me in pleaſant Places; yea, I have a goodly Heritage: yonder's better Countrey, where there is no Curſe, no Night, no Hunger; yonder Inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; yonder Kingdom, Crown, and weight of Glory will make amends for all. Wants are now hanging on me, but I ſhall want nothing when I am come to my Father's Houſe, to the new Heavens, and the new Earth, to the pure River of the Water of Life, and to the Tree of Life in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God; all will be well in the World to come, and I ſhall have enough when I am called to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, and brought to eat and drink continually at his Table in his Kingdom.
I remember Jerome, comforting a young Hermite that was ſad, bade him look up to Heaven, & Paradiſum mente deambulare, and ſays he, tamdiu in Eremo non eris: So may I ſay to you that fear God, when you are in a Wilderneſs, when Wants are on you, and diſcontented Paſſions are ready to riſe, then look up to Heaven, look at unſeen things, and ſo long you'l not be diſcontent; the Thoughts of ſeeing God, and following the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth, will be enough to make you at Peace with your preſent States.
3. It will help to leſſen all the Loſſes of the World, and of ſeen things. The believing Hebrews did not only bear the ſpoiling of their Goods, but took it joyfully, Heb. 10.34. But how came it to be thus? how came they to take this ſo chearfully, that has broken the Heart of many a one in the World? Why their Eyes were looking upwards as high as Heaven, and the things of Heaven took away their Diſcontent; knowing in your ſelves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring Subſtance. Mark, their Eye, the Eye of Faith and Hope was on the Eternal Riches in Heaven's keeping for them; and this was their Encouragement, this made them, non modo aequis animis ſed etiam laetis, to take their Loſſes. Do Loſſes come upon me? do I loſe this, and that, and the other Comfort and Enjoyment? why, while I look at things not ſeen; (1.) I ſee I ſhall not need them. (2.) I ſee I ſhall have better in the Room of them. (3.) I ſee I ſhall have Comfort that will not be loſable. When the Danites had taken away Micah's Idols, and Prieſt, he cries out after them, Judges 18.24. What have I more? that is, (as tho he had ſaid) you have taken all, you have left me nothing: thus it may be with a carnal Perſon, he may loſe this to day, and that to morrow, and ſo on till it come to this, what have I more? Ay, but it can never come to this with a gracious Perſon, let Loſſes come on him as thick and as faſt as on Job; yet after, and at the End of all, he can look up and ſay, I have a Treaſure more, I have a Crown more, I have an everlaſting Kingdom more, I have a whole World more, out of ſight and danger too; that and the other thing is gone, but it's not Chriſt, it's not Heaven, Chriſt is left, and Heaven is left: and this now cannot but very much leſſen any Loſs.
4. It will help to lighten all the Croſſes and Afflictions in the World. Our Saviour himſelf went through the Sufferings and Shame of the World, with an Eye ſet on the Joy ſet before him: Heb. 12.2. Who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the Shame, and is ſet down at the right Hand of the Throne of God. Mark pray, for the lightning of the Croſs, and Shame, he took the Joy in his Eye, and this Joy in his Eye took the Weight out of the Croſs, and the Shame out of the Shame of the World, for the Joy that was ſet before him. And Chriſtians are here called to look at him herein, as their Pattern and Example that they are to follow in like Caſes, looking at Jeſus the Author and finiſher of our Faith. The Apoſtles here in this Place had their Sufferings lightned by this; in the Verſe foregoing the Text, you have them weighing their Affliction and finding it light, meaſuring their Affliction and finding it ſhort: but how came it to be thus in their Account? why this you have in the Text, While we look not at things which are ſeen which are Temporal, but at things which are not ſeen which are Eternal: their preſent and ſeen Affliction was light, while they weighed it with the Weight of unſeen Glory, and it was likewiſe ſhort while they meaſured it with the Eternity of unſeen Glory. O Sirs, there's enough in unſeen things to lighten any Croſs, Suffering, or Affliction a Chriſtian can come under, and to make him quiet, ſilent, and patient under all: the unſeen things of Heaven are enough to quiet, the unſeen things of Hell are enough to ſilence under all: look, Soul, but either of theſe ways when thou art going under any Croſs, and ſo long ſure it cannot be heavy on thee; are Sufferings now on thee? look at the Priſon, Chains, Darkneſs, Worm, Fire of the Damned, what they are ſuffering on whom God is raining Snares, Fire, Brimſtone, and an horrible Tempeſt; and thou canſt not think them heavy: or look at the Reſt, Joy, Goodneſs, Glory, laid up for the Saints in Heaven, and thou canſt not but ſay with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the Sufferings of this preſent Life, are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that ſhall be revealed.
5. It will be a remedy againſt all Temptations: while Moſes his Eye was upon the recompence of Reward, the Riches, Honours, and the Pleaſures of Pharaoh's Court were eaſily overlook'd. Heb. 11.25, 26, 27. Chuſing rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin for a Seaſon; eſteeming the Reproaches of Chriſt greater Riches than the Treaſures in Egypt: for he had reſpect to the recompence of Reward. By Faith he forſook Egypt, not fearing the Wrath of the King; for he endured as ſeeing him who is inviſible. This ſets a Chriſtian above Temptation as it were, it mortifies to the World as before; and this is commonly the Matter of Temptation, the great Baits that Satan makes uſe of are the things of the World; he tempts ſometimes with the Beauty, ſometimes with the Gain, ſometimes with the Glory, and ordinarily with ſomething or other of the World. Now, I ſay, this looking to things unſeen, helps to crucify to the World the Matter of Temptation, and ſo is a ſpecial Antidote againſt Temptation; for when the Heart is dead to the Matter of a Temptation, it will not eaſily faſten on the Tempted: beſides, the looking at unſeen things brings greater things into ſight, than any that can be preſented in a Temptation. Does the Tempter come with ſpecious and alluring Temptations, as he came to our Saviour with all the Kingdoms of the World, and all the Glory of them? why an Eye ſet on unſeen things, ſees greater things than all the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them. Doth he come with terrifying and affrighting Temptations, as Bonds, or Baniſhment, or Tortures? why an Eye ſet on unſeen things, ſees worſer: Unſeen Glory in Heaven is greater than all the ſeen Excellencies on Earth; and unſeen Torments in Hell are worſe than all the ſeen Tortures of this Life. This is another Privilege of looking at unſeen things; would you be out of the way of Temptations, Temptations that have caſt many a one down, and coſt them much of their Peace and Comfort in the World? then be much in this Duty, keep an Eye on unſeen things. When a Temptation comes in its Power, look before you as far as Death, as Judgment, as Heaven, as Hell; and while theſe are in your Eye, they'l keep your Heart and the Temptation aſunder. As long as the Bird keeps above in the Air, ſhe is out of the way of Snares, her falling into theſe is by lighting on the Earth.
6. A ſingular Remedy againſt Sin in theſe ſinning Times, wherein Iniquity abounds: Solomon preſcribes this to young Men, Eccleſ. 11.9. Rejoice, O young Man, in thy Youth, and let thy Heart chear thee in the Days of thy Youth; and walk in the ways of thy Heart, and in the ſight of thine Eyes: but know thou, that for all theſe things God will bring thee to Judgment. Mark, that they may be ſtopped in theſe Courſes, he calls them to look over their preſent ways, to the unſeen Judgment before them. O Sirs, theſe unſeen, unſeen things have much weight in them, if Chriſtians would but carry them on their Hearts, and look at them when Sin is at the Door. I have read of a young Woman, who being preſſed by a Gallant to gratify his Luſts, anſwered him, if you'l but grant me one requeſt I will do what you deſire: What is that ſaid he again? why, ſaith ſhe, it's but this, do but hold your Finger one Hour in the Blaze of this Candle: he replied, No: then ſaid ſhe, will you not for my ſake hold your Finger one Hour in this Candle, and would you have me throw my ſelf into an everlaſting Fire for you? and this ſilenced him. Why Chriſtians, pray try this Courſe, when Sin is at the Door, when you are ready to go out to any Evil, take unſeen things into your Eye, look at Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell; and ſee if you can, if you dare meet or meddle with that Sin, with theſe in ſight, or while they are in ſight: Surely, Sirs, this would be a mighty great Preſervative: and if you would but walk more as ſeeing things inviſible, you ſhould be more undefiled in the Way.
7. It will make you more fit to live any where, in any Place, among any kind of Perſons. He that hath filled his Eye with unſeen things, is prepared to live among a Generation, (1.) Of profane Creatures, without being drawn to run with them to the ſame exceſs of Riot. (2.) Among a Company of Worldlings, that are crying up the Mammon of Unrighteouſneſs, without being enticed to approve their way by ſeeing them hurry and rake this World together by all means. (3.) Among Perſons of mutable and temporizing Spirits, that are off and on, one thing at one time, another at another time: he that looks at unſeen things, has that in his Eyes which will keep him one and the ſame at all times, and in all Places; a Noah in the old World, a Lot in Sodom, a Job in Ʋz; a God-fearing Perſon whereever he comes or is caſt.
8. Looking at unſeen things will make you more willing to die, and go to the ſeeing of unſeen things: whence is it that many Chriſtians are ſo loth to leave and go from ſeen things, to part with ſeen Relations, and ſeen Poſſeſſions, and ſeen Comforts? is it not from a want of lively Apprehenſions, and believing Views of the unſeen Proviſions made for them in Heaven? I remember I have read of a devout Pilgrim travelling to Jeruſalem, who in his way paſſing through many Cities, and ſeeing many rare and choice Monuments, yet took no content in any thing that he ſaw, but would ſtill ſay, this is not Jeruſalem, this is not Jeruſalem: why ſo truly if we had but our Eye as the Apoſtle, on things unſeen, we ſhould among all our ſeen Comforts, ſay, this is not Heaven, this is not ſeeing of God, ſeeing his Face, ſeeing him Face to Face; this is not being before the Throne, this is not the inheriting of all things; and our Hearts and Souls would be more there, more ſet on going thither.
Secondly, This may ſerve to exhort us to prepare for unſeen things, for a ſeeing of things yet unſeen: are there ſuch? O then, Sirs, let it be your great Matter now Day and Night, Night and Day, to get into a readineſs for a comfortable ſeeing of theſe things which are not ſeen. This is the next word I would leave with you, I pray take it up into your Practice, and make it your Work. Heb. 11.7. By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not ſeen as yet, moved with Fear, prepared an Ark to the ſaving of his Houſe. My Beloved, I may ſay to you, (1.) You have been warned of God this Day (by the Hand of one of his Meſſengers) of things not ſeen as yet. (2.) You have been told that theſe things not ſeen as yet, are certain and great, greater than the things that Noah was warned of, and unavoidable, and near, and Eternal: O do as Noah here in this Caſe did, i. e. (1.) Believe the coming of theſe things not ſeen as yet. (2.) Fear, fear being taken unready by them at their Coming. And (3.) prepare an Ark to the ſaving of your ſelves; make Proviſion, timely Proviſion for the Coming of theſe things; that as Noah and his Houſe were ſaved when the Deluge came, ſo you may be ſaved in the Day when theſe things begin to come to paſs. I might tell you, (1.) That you are warned of them for this. (2.) That you are called to this, to prepare an Ark. (3.) That you have Means and Helps betruſted with you for this. (4.) That you have your Time for this. (5.) That you muſt not tarry long with ſeen things (6.) That dreadful things will come in ſight, and continue for ever in ſight, if you have no Ark, no Proviſion ready. (7.) That glorious things will appear at th s Appearing of things not ſeen as yet, to them that have made due and ſeaſonable Preparation for them; only let me give you a word by way of Direction: If you ſay, but how may we prepare an Ark to the ſaving of our ſelves? How may we provide and get into ſuch readineſs as when unſeen things come into ſight, we may ſee God? Why in a word I would tell you;
1ſt. Negatively.
1. That ſeen things will be no Proviſion for unſeen things, will not ſerve to meet them with. I pray you take notice of it, they are ſeen things now that we ſpend moſt of our Time on, that we lay out moſt of our Care about, that we make the greateſt ſtir about; yet alas, I tell you, none of them all, neither one, nor another, will be Proviſion to meet theſe unſeen things with. Dear Sirs, when you have done all that ever you can, and laid up the ſeen things together, they'l all ſerve for and ſignify nothing; you cannot, you cannot meet Death with Houſes and Lands, you cannot go to Judgment with Gold and Silver, you can't go to Heaven by Maſter, and Sir, by Titles and Greatneſs among your Neighbours: think a little of it, I pray, with your ſelves when alone, ſeen things will be no Proviſion for unſeen, they may be your undoing when you come to enter on unſeen, as they have been to many thouſands who are gone before, but they can't be any Proviſion for them: remember this, while you are hurrying up and down among ſeen things for ſeen things, you are wearying your ſelves for things that will not profit when unſeen things come upon you.
2. Only unſeen things are Proviſion for unſeen things: things that will ſerve to meet them with, as an Intereſt in Chriſt, a new Creature, a pure Heart, a good Conſcience, a Treaſure of ſaving Grace laid in; theſe are the things that will be Proviſion to meet the things not yet ſeen with. When the Flood came upon the old World, Houſes, and Lands, and Treaſures, and Multitudes of Friends, and all ſeen things they had about were nothing; many a one then periſhed, that had a fine Houſe, a fair Eſtate, that was living in the midſt of Pomp and Pleaſure, and Plenty; and only Noah and his Houſe that had the Ark, and were got into it, were ſaved. So, Sirs, when theſe things begin to come into ſight, all ſeen things (as I have ſaid) will be nothing; it will be all one, whether you have Houſes or no Houſes, Riches or Rags, all will be if you have the Ark, i. e. if you have Chriſt, if you be in him; only this, an Intereſt in Chriſt will carry through unſeen Death, through unſeen Judgment, and to unſeen Glory, to the new Heavens, and the new Earth, to the Throne of God and of the Lamb, to the Temple of God, to the Crown of Life, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Inheritance of all things. 1 John 5.12. He that hath the Son hath Life, and he that hath not the Son hath not Life; Life in Death, Life at Judgment, Life in Glory, and ſhall live with God for ever. This, this is the Proviſion that will not fail. So that if you would be in readineſs for this ſeeing of unſeen things, ſee that you get into the Ark, I ſay; that you hang not about it only by a general Profeſſion, but that you come into it; that you get a Poſſeſſion of Chriſt, a part in Chriſt, and then you are ſafe; then, and never till then you ſhall be ready. A Man in a Market is then ready to go Home when he has done all his Buſineſs that he came about, when he has bought in Proviſion for his Houſe, &c. and ſo a Perſon is then ready for this great opening of unſeen things, when all his Time and worldly Buſineſſes are ended, and his Proviſion for Eternity are in readineſs; and this is when he is got into the Ark, Chriſt.
3. We may hence be exhorted, to deſire and ſeek to come to the ſeeing of theſe unſeen things. This is the third Word. (1.) Look at; (2.) Prepare for; (3.) Seek and long to go to the ſeeing of them. If looking at them was ſuch a Cordial and Corroboration to the Apoſtles among their many Preſſures: O then what, what is this ſeeing, the enjoying of them? It's ſaid of the Patriarchs, that they were Strangers and Pilgrims, Heb. 11.13. Theſe all died in Faith, not having received the Promiſes, but having ſeen them afar off, and were perſwaded of them, and embraced them, and confeſſed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth. Ver. 16. They deſired a better Countrey. Of Abraham, Ver. 10. 'tis ſaid, he looked for a City that had Foundations.
Why on this Faſhion Chriſtians, (1.) Live as Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth. (2.) Seek a City, and look for a better Countrey. (3.) Deſire to go to ſee the things that God hath prepared.
O methinks this News of unſeen things ſhould ſet afoot great Deſires, Longings, and Breathings in Chriſtians after Heaven, where they are to be ſeen. But O the Unbelief and Carnality that lodges in us! if we were told of wonderful things that were fallen to us in far Countries, (1.) What haſte would we make towards them? (2.) How loth would we be to tarry from them? (3.) How long ſhould we think it e're we came to them? But alas, the Holy Ghoſt hath made great Diſcoveries to us, to us of glorious things within the Vail, of Crowns, and Kingdoms, and Reſt, &c. and yet we, we linger here among unſeen things, make little haſte towards unſeen things, or think it long that we are from them. Pray conſider, in a word, Chriſtians, that your Deſires after this ſeeing of unſeen things may be warmed and raiſed, I ſay, conſider theſe three things.
1. Who and what is there (viz. in Heaven) this may quicken you to this longing for: I may tell you,
(1.) That all your beſt Friends are there, your Father is there, and your Chriſt is there, and your Comforter is there, and your Brethren are there; all the Sons, and all the Daughters of God, who have been going hence from Adam to this Day, are gone thither, and are now there. Is it not very deſirable to go to, and to be with them? Where ſhould a Child of God chuſe or deſire to be, if not there where his Father and all his beſt Friends are?
(2.) Conſider that your beſt Eſtate is there; as your beſt Friends live, ſo your beſt Eſtate lies there, your Reſt, your Inheritance, your Crown, your Kingdom, your World, and all lies there. It may be, (1.) Here you have no Reſt, and there you ſhall have no Labour. (2.) Here you have Shame, and there you ſhall have a Crown of Glory. (3.) Here you have no Inheritance, not ſo much as whereon to ſet a Foot, or at moſt but a poor, narrow, and dirty one, full of Incumbrances; there you have a full and fair Inheritance. (4.) Here you are pent up in a narrow Compaſs; there you have a whole Kingdom, a World of your own to turn you to; where ſhould you deſire and chuſe to be?
(3.) Your everlaſting Home is there, your eternal Abode, the Place where you ſhall be for ever and ever. Here you are as Strangers in a Foreign Country, as Travellers in an Inn; there's your Countrey, there's your Home; how ſhould you long to be there! This is one.
2. Conſider what there is not, what you ſhall not ſee there. The Jews that were left of the Captivity, were ſet on going into Egypt, becauſe there they hoped to be exempted from the Dangers and Wants that attended them in their preſent Station: Jer. 42.14. We will go into Egypt, where we ſhall ſee no War, nor hear of the ſound of the Trumpet, nor have hunger of Bread, and there will we dwell. O Sirs, how ſhould Saints be ſet on going for Heaven, where they ſhall ſee no War, nor hunger of Bread! O think of it. (1.) There you ſhall ſee no Luſts to entice; (2.) No Devil to tempt; (3.) No World to ſeduce; (4.) No Afflictions to load; (5.) No Labours to weary; (6.) No Cares to perplex; (7.) No Loſſes to vex; (8.) No Evils to exerciſe and diſquiet: All theſe things that are now ſeen, ſhall then be unſeen things for ever. Saints now in Heaven are ſeeing none of them, ſhall never ſee any of them again for ever. Do you now, Sirs, conflict with all, or moſt of theſe, Day after Day? Do you groan and ſigh under, are your Lives imbitter'd by them? Why ſhould you not long then to be at the unſeen things, where theſe will be unſeen for ever?
3. Conſider what you ſhall ſee there. But how can I tell you this? They are unſeen things that are to be ſeen there; beyond all that hath been ſeen, and paſt all that can be thought by the Sons of Men! Expect not to be told, till you come to ſee: Only I may tell you, that when you are come to the ſeeing theſe unſeen things; Then,
1. You ſhall ſee God; John 1.18. No Man hath ſeen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the Boſom of the Father, he hath declar'd him. A ſight of God is beyond all that is attainable here: But there you ſhall ſee him Face to Face: 1 Cor. 13.12. For now we ſee through a Glaſs darkly, but then Face to Face: Now I know in part, but then ſhall I know, even as alſo I am known. Then (i. e.) in Heaven, 1 John 3.2. But we know that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him; for we ſhall ſee him as he is. You ſhall then ſee the Divine Eſſence, the Trinity of Perſons, the great Myſtery, God manifeſt in the Fleſh, the perſonal Union of the two Natures in the Son of God, the glorious Attributes of God. 1. His almighty Power. 2. His infinite Wiſdom. 3. His boundleſs Goodneſs. 4. His bottomleſs Mercy. 5. His endleſs Love, &c. And O this will be another manner of Sight than any that ever has come in ſight!
2. You ſhall ſee the Angels, the holy Angels of God; 1. Their infinite Number; 2. Their beautiful Order; 3. Their bleſſed Work; 4. Their glorious Properties and Perfections. O what a ſight will this be! If when only one Angel appeared to the Shepherds (in his Night-clothes, as I may ſay) they were ſurrounded with ſo great Glory, that it's ſaid, Luke 2.9. The Glory of the Lord ſhone round about them, that is, a tranſcendent and ſurpaſſing Glory; I ſay, if the preſence of one Angel was accompanied with ſo great a Glory, then what will it be to ſee the thouſand thouſands that miniſter to Chriſt, and the ten thouſand times ten thouſand that fall down before him!
3. You ſhall ſee all the Saints of God, all that are gone to God, and are with God this Day in Glory. If, my Beloved, but one of theſe were ſent from Heaven; if but Abraham, or Moſes, or David, or Peter, or Paul, ſhould come again into this World, how far would you not go to ſee this one? When Lazarus was raiſed from the Dead, it's ſaid, John 12.9. And they came not for Jeſus ſake only, but that they might ſee Lazarus alſo, whom he had raiſed from the Dead. The rarity of the ſight, viz. a Man that had been in, that was come out of another World, brought many from far and near: Why ſo would you not go a great way to ſee ſuch a Man? Why how willing then ſhould you be to go to Heaven, where you ſhall come to ſee, not one but all the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, Confeſſors and Saints out of every Nation under Heaven: Here you ſhall ſee Abraham, and Moſes, and David; here Parents ſhall ſee their Children again, and Children their Parents; Huſbands ſhall ſee their Wives again, and Wives their Husbands; Paſtors ſhall ſee their People again, and People their Paſtors.
Quos modo miramus Regione videbimus illa,
Et veteres inter fuſcipiemus Avos.
Bapt. Mantuanus.
And you ſhall not only ſee them thus, but ſee them without all thoſe Afflictions, Burdens, Blemiſhes, Corruptions, Imperfections, and Infirmities that did accompany them in this State, and clothed with glorious Perfections.
4. You ſhall ſee all thoſe great things, which the great God hath prepared for his Saints before the Foundation of the World; the things that are (as before) ſet out by the Names and Titles of a better Country, Paradiſe, a Houſe, a City, an Inheritance, Crown, Kingdom, and the reſt. You ſhall ſee all, all theſe, all the things wherein the Purpoſes and Counſels of the Father, the Purchaſes and Performances of the Son, the Workings and Operations of the Spirit, meet in their Perfection, and have their full, perfect, and eternal Accompliſhment and Conſummation. O who would not long for ſuch a ſight? Who would be unwilling to go from ſeeing Sin, and Sorrow, and Want, to ſee ſuch a ſight as this for ever?
5. I might further tell you, that you ſhall there ſee a clear and ſatisfying Reſolution of all hard and doubtful Queſtions, a full determination of the voluminous Controverſies and Diſputations about the great Myſteries of Election, Redemption, Juſtification, Sanctification, the Reſurrection, Conſummation, Judgment, &c.
6. A plain and full Expoſition of all dark and obſcure Places in the Scripture; the true and full meaning of every Text, even thoſe that now the numerous and voluminous Commentaries of the moſt learned and eminent Writers of all Ages, leave us in the dark about. There are foreign, things hard to be underſtood; and foreign, Knots that cannot be untied: But then dark things ſhall be perfectly cleared, and doubtful things fully reſolved to a plenary Satisfaction.
This is the third thing, to exhort us to deſire and ſeek to come to the ſeeing of theſe unſeen things.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henry Pendlebury, Invisible Realities (1696)