The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 6
SECT. VI.
VI. Fulness of the Spirit of Glory, in the room of the world.
WHom the Lord doth justifi…, those he doth glorifie, Rom. 8. 30. i. e. with the Glory of another world, which though it be hid for a time from others, and somtimes from themselves, yet they do partake of it now, and it shall be revealed upon them another day, 1 Pet. 5. 1. Now though Hypocrites may tast of the Word, nay, of the powers of the world to …, yet they f…ll short of this measure of Glory. And I say, this fills them in the room of this world.
How ar… men full of the world? And what is the Spirit of Glory?Quest.
I shall … three Conclusions.Answ.
That the … rest and peace of the soul it's to be found only in the presence of God Almigh…y,Conclu. 1. in this Being of Beings. Hi… Perfections are in …self, and hence …
…. A … to the Church to be … God as …e can.
…. The son of …, to whom the Promises … made.
And then, 3. King of Ierusalem, the last and least, He is that house and home of his people, whether in fleeting or setled condition, from one generation to another, Psel. …. 1. So that the Prophet finding this to be most true, I say, stands astonished at men; and because men had deaf ears here, and their bellies could not hear, he cries to the Heavens to be astonished at this, Ier. 2. 12, 13. This wine the Lord puts under his Lock and Key; 'Tis not to be found in earth, in Church-Liberties, you may soon see this Temple not one stone left upon another, nor in Heaven simply, nor in Fellowship of Angels; onelyonly 'tis in the Lord, drawing nigh to the soul in these, and drawing the soul at last near to himself by these.
That all Reprobates being estranged from God, and God from them, are also strangers to this resty this life of God,Conclu. 2. this life of Glory, Eph. 4. 18. and therefore seek for it and seek it out of the Paps of the …reature, and that which is not God. And thus their hearts are full of the world, Psal. 17. 14. Dust they eat, and upon their bell…es they go, shift for it where they will, they shall never find it in him: And if they do find it any where else in this world, let them fill themselves to the full, for they have their portion, they have their reward. And hence they do (… unregenera…e men living) find their rest in somthing out of God▪ rest to their Co…sciences in duties, and somthing of God, rest of their hearts in some Creatures, either …lawful or …ful, Mat. 24. 38. And there is never a carnal bea…, but give him his imaginary content here, and he would desire to live here as a… …xile from God, and to be without him, if there were no Hell, no plagues, etc. For here is their treasure, not above; here are thy good things: and this is the very reason why a man lives without God, nay when he stands convinced …, nay when troubled with thoughts of this, and no duties can ease him, because somthing out of God is his bottom to stand upon, and his rest and peace; It may be meat, drink, health, sleep, occasional delights and a quiet life. That as 'tis with Seamen, they can endure winds and weather, and rent Sayls, and torn Masts, because they live upon that Trade; another will not: So 'tis here. Though many troubles of mind, yet they ply that Oa…, 'tis their living.
That all those whom the Lord intends good unto,Concl. 3. those he calls in time out of this world into his eternal Glory of rest and peace, out of this world into another. And as their hearts were filled with another world before, so their hearts are filled with the Glory of this other world now, Iohn 17. 14, 16. 1 Pe…. 5. 1…. And this rest and peace in God is the Glory of the Saints. That look as 'tis with Reprobates, What is their last and great woe? 2 Thes. 1. 9. 'Tis separation from the Lord; So this is the great Glory of the Saints, to enter in to him, as M…s… did into the Cloud, and so to rest in him. I go to my God and your God. Hence the Saints are said to sell away all for this Treasure, for this Pearle, for the Lord: And so the Lord is in stead of all, and better to them than all they had before. They can live royally upon him, having but one thing to look to, and having all things … this one thing; and more royally than the Prin… of the world can upon their Lusts and earthly Treasures. This is the rest and … the Saints have, …. 4. 3. They that beli… do enter into rest. God … them out of the world by some bitterness of it, or by some cloying and … and making their hearts weary of the sweetness thereof, and then they enter into Glory. The Lord sees nothing can fill their hearts no… stop their cries, … him, and now this Sea of Glory breaks in upon them, and fills their hearts: And this the Lord doth two waies, according as there are two things in that good that fills the heart:
1. Proportion.
2. Propriety.
So there are two Raies of eternal Glory chiefly, whereby the Lord give full rest and peace, and so Glory to his people.
1. He reveals the good they are to enjoy in another world, in its full proportion, viz. what is the riches of the inheritance of the Saints, Eph. 1. 17, 18. For no good satisfies till 'tis known in its greatness, though yet there be degrees of this. For we shall see many Christians have assurance, where is the joy of it? No… affected with it, because he knowes not what it is at that time. At another time his heart is above all the world, because he sees what is that Glory the Saints …, and that he hath it, it swallows him up and confounds him. Why me Lo…d! And this is the reason why the Saints doubt, whom the Lord hath loosned from their lusts and all things here. What so vile, and all that … ▪ And this the reason why when doubting, so that there is nothing in this … that doth quiet them, nothing from God that doth ease them, yet their hearts are sweetly eased: Their desires are after him, and their delights in his company, better go to Hell thus than in my sins; and the thoughts of the Lord are sweet, because he hath and doth secretly fill their hearts. Somthing they have or do see in him, Isa. 26. 8. And hence is the reason of the sorrows of them, when their hearts are worst, now though they have the world, yet are not at rest, because they have and do see somthing of this.
2. He reveals by the Spirit and Light of Glory that this good is theirs, their propriety. The first gives rest to the soul, viz, the Spirit of vision incompleatly. This Spirit of Faith whereby the soul knows all this good is mine, this gives it compleatly. Now the New Ierusalem is come dow… …rom Heaven, and God is among men, 1 Pet. 1. 8. For if a Christian sees the greatness of this glory, but not as his, the soul will never cleave to the Lord indeed, nor finde full rest; and hence when the riches of Gods grace is revealed, and the Feast set before them, they do not eat, because they fear they were not bidden. Now both these give full peace and rest to the soul, when the soul hath the Lord Ieh…vah in his arms, and hence he cares not now when death comes: Oh it shall be a welcome day to them! And hence they wish they might sin no more, or cease to be. And hence they wish they could set even the whole world a wondring. Was it ever heard since the world began of s…ch a pattern of mercy? Its true, the Lord indeed keeps his Servants for a time under much darkness and doubts, but it's certain even in the meanest Saint this light is sown for them, and joy for the upright in heart, and some work there is for the Lord to do for them, and then he kee…s a Sabbath of rest in them.
But have not many Hypocrites their joyes,Quest. their peace, their Glory?
Yes,Answ. they have some tasts and likeness to this, but want this indeed; and the difference appears in three Particulars.
1. The peace and joy and assurance of that Glory which eye never saw in the Saints, 'tis from the witness of the Spirit of Glory; not only because that God is their God, but because they are his people. 'Tis I say from the witness of God in his Word, not from themselves, nor from man only that they approve me, … from dreams and Diabolical breathings, but from the Spirit of God, … of it, and from such a Spirit (that yo… may know it) that not only shews you God is your God, and so you rejoyce because of this, for thus 'tis with many a carnal heart, and he hath peace, being i… horro…, from this, the Lord loves me; but he makes you to rejoyce because you are the Lords people, because he hath changed your heart, now the peace is sound, and joy is right; and here I would try the peace of any man, God hath witnessed pardon to thee, but … he shown thee thou art his? If so, be thankful. But here is the doubt, for it may be the change is not right. And hence those two are ever joyned together, Zach. 13. 9. Iohn 14. 20, 21, 22. Horror lies heavy, hence love is sweet; sin lies heavy, hence this witness, they are changed, they are subd…ed and shall be so, this is sweet also.
2. The rest and peace the Saints have, 'tis not only from God, but in him. 'Tis with the soul as with a Malefactor imprisoned and condemned, the Jaylor comes and tells him that he hath his pardon here brought him from the King; How shall it be proved whether it be a device of his own Brain or no? Why if it be of the Jaylors own devising, he will never lead him before the face of the King, but from him he shall be carried: But if the Messenger carry him before the King, and sets him down before him, and as it was with Ioseph, his Prisongarments are put off, and he stands before the King, and glories in his presence, now 'tis …. So many have peace, and Satan sets them at liberty, but carries them from God. But when there is a witness of peace from him, and then you stand before him, now 'tis from Heaven, Psal. 36. 7, 8. There is peace from him and … in him, Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy self in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. When 'tis thus, all you desire is granted.
3. The peace the Saints have both from God and in God, fills them with everlasting content and peace, Rom. 15. 13. Isa. 11. 9. Filled with the Knowledge of the Lord at the waters cover the Sea. The earth is the rest of the waters, and the waters fill all its empty place: So 'tis here, the soul is the rest of the Lord, Isa. 11. 10. and he fills their empty hearts. A Malefactor may dream …e is before the King, when he hath his Fetters on his legs; but his dream feeds him not, but when he awakes, he is hungry: And so 'tis with many a carnal heart that is in a dream for a time, but he meets not with eternal satisfaction, Psal. 65. 4. & Psal. 90. 14. And hence men after they have had their peace, grow more bold to sin, and more impenitent in sin, and more worldly than ever before, because they have not everlasting joy; as those, Isa. 35. 10. Everlasting joyes shall be upon their head (whereas a carnal heart hath soon enough of God) not everlasting, without intermission of joy, for they must have their rights and tears, as well as their days and joys; but everlasting, without decay of joy; that though they have their tears, yet God wipes them away; there is nothing else, their joy, their peace, and so their hearts are for ever satisfied here. As Christ, when he knew it was finished, now he gave up the Ghost, so when the oul …inds he is come, now it dies to the world, and makes its perpetual abode in him. Others will have their Carrion, and their stolen waters, how clean soever they … their mouths.
But have not the Saints many sorrowes,Object. 1. reproaches, persecutions?
Rom. 8. 18.Answ. They are not worthy the Glory to be revealed. 2 Cor. 4. 17. They work a weight of Glory, and in these they glory. Oh the Lords Love is shed in their hearts▪ Rom. 5. 3, 5.
But have they not many losses,Object. 2. and wants, and straights? and then where is their joy?
A camal heart he murmures indeed,Answ. and sinks, and dies away, but 'tis not so he…e, Ha…. 3. 17, 18. A Saint take… it out in him, in the Lord, it makes all the world too narrow for him. Others are burnt and consumed in the fire, but so is not he that hath the Son of God with him.
But he hath many sins and Temptations.Object. 3.
1 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7. You greatly rejoyce in the Salvation reserved for you, though now your Faith have a precious trial by manifold temptations.
But are not the hearts of the Saints taken off from the Lord,Object. 4. and taken up with other things?
No,Answ. never as carnal mens are, Tit. 2. 12. For Gods Grace that hath appeared to them, teacheth them to deny worldly lusts, as we deny children their asking. They may greedily carry the soul by fits from the Lord, but he denies them their fill in any Creature, and calls them all to come up hither. He denies them as we do Beggars entrance, and if they do enter, he denies them lodging, they shall not have good looks from them. Every vile heart hath either a proud, or worldly, or covetous heart, and these lusts being urgent and entreiting long, he cannot deny them the best room he has. Oh 'tis the woe of men they cannot but do thus.
But thus you see this world is cast out, and Glory comes in to all Saints: Oh this world is the cause of all sin!
1. W…y do men neglect duties in secret?
2. Sleep at Meetings?
3. Though so fair abroad, yet passionate at home, and storms there?
4. Whence are wars and wranglings about rates and lots? Oh this world!
5. Whence Apostacy? 'Tis not with you as in former times, worse now th…n in persecution; and Sermon-proof now? Oh this world! Whence is hardness of heart? Oh somthing of the world easeth you! And whence is it that men with rich stocks are goodly things, and wondred at; and Holiness and walking with God, and things of Heaven are nothing? Oh this evil world! Oh Adulterers and Adulteresses, know you not that you hate the Lord, and the Lord you? 'Tis the cause of all thy sin, but see withal 'tis the cause of all thy sorrow, Heaven and the Glory of that would enter, but for it, but that it cannot, because thou art full of it. Oh poor Creatures, take your Farewel quickly of it, or the Lord will meet with you for it! Cry to the Lord, oh call me to come up unto thy self!
Thus you see the Fulness of the Spirit which the Saints have; and therefore that conceit, that Saints have nothing whereby to discern them, let it for ever perish and rot.