A New Years Gift, Section 20
SECT. XX.
The Eternal Bleſſedneſs of HEAVEN, conſidered, as the Perfection of Holineſs, to quicken our Deſires, and Endeavours after greater Meetneſs to poſſeſs it.
DOth one Year after another, haſten me to the End of Time? And doth the Bleſſedneſs of Eternity depend on the Communications I now receive from God? On the Preparations I now make, and the Meetneſs I can now attain for Eternal Felicity, in the Preſence of my God and Saviour? O, with what Intenſeneſs of Mind, ſhould I now proſecute that Glorious Object; with what unwearied Diligence, ſhould I run the Race that is ſet before me, leſt I fall ſhort of the Incorruptible Crown of Life? How ſhould every thing be undervalued and rejected, that would divert, retard, or hinder me from purſuing this End? Lord! be not a Stranger to my Soul, in this diſtant Wilderneſs ſtate! Let me ſee more of thy Light! be transform'd more into thine Image! experience more of thy Love! feel more of thy vital Preſence, and quickning Spirit; Let the Divine Life in my Soul be more powerful, and the Characters of thy Likeneſs be more legibly ſtampt upon it! by the daily Exerciſe of Faith, and Hope, and Holy Affections, carry me through this World! 'till my Pilgrim ſtate be over, and thou haſt brought me to perfect, Everlaſting Holineſs! And let the believing Fore-thoughts of it, fill all the Powers of my Soul with Joy, and Wonder, Deſire and Love!
Give me, Lord! to think aright of the Heavenly Glory; as a Confirmed State of poſitive, perfect Holineſs; of Heavenly Light, Love, Liberty and Joy, with the ſatisfying Viſion of God, in the Face of Chriſt, and his impreſſed Likeneſs; dwelling for ever in the direct, and ſteady View of his Transforming Glory; with compleat Conformity of the Soul to Eternal Goodneſs, Truth and Love, as its Perfection; eſteeming nothing, deſiring nothing, but that God and Chriſt may be glorified, with an entire Subjection to his Will, Adherence to him; Reſt and Confidence in him, Swallowed up in the Love, Admiration, and Praiſe of God, and our Lord Jeſus; living in joyful repeated Acts of Subjection, Adoration, and Acknowledg'd Dependance; raviſh'd to behold the Glory of God, in the Face of Chriſt, to ſee his bleſſed Image perfect in every one of the Saints, &c. When all the preſent Blindneſs of our Minds, the Errors of our Judgment, the Perverſeneſs of our Will, the Diſorder and Rebellion of our Paſſions, the remaining Averſation from God, and Diſaffection to him, which in this World we complain of, ſhall all be done away: The Fleſh ſhall no more luſt againſt the Spirit; or the Law in our Members againſt the Law of our Minds; but an Everlaſting Tranquility and Holy Peace take place; a Peace which paſſeth all Underſtanding, without any outward Moleſtation, or inward Cauſe of Diſquiet.
Our corrupted Nature ſhall no more caſt forth Mire and Dirt as now; we ſhall have no more vain, or wicked Thoughts, no more ſinful Fears, or fooliſh Hopes; unbecoming Heats, unruly Deſires, Senſual Inclinations, Earthly Affections, Feeble, Sloathful, Spiritleſs Duties, Dead and Heartleſs Prayers, Cold Thankſgivings, &c. But as we ſhall then know God without Errors, and ſee our Lord Jeſus Face to Face; ſo we ſhall love him without reſerve, more than now we can think; and ſerve him without Dulneſs and Diſtraction, and Praiſe him without Wearineſs; the Spiritual Actings of our Souls ſhall have no Allay of Droſs. And thus ſhall we be with him, and admire, and injoy him, without end.
Thus when Death is ſwallowed up in Victory; and what was imperfect is done away, and what was Corruptible and Mortal, hath put on Immortality; God in Chriſt, ſhall be All in All: And when it is truly and perfectly ſo, Then it is Heaven. The Bleſſedneſs whereof is Unconceivable. A Bleſſed Perſon, is not expreſt in the Singular Number by the Hebrews, but in the Abſtract, and in the Plural. Beatitudes, inſtead of Bleſſed, becauſe the Bleſſings are as many and great, as they have Powers and Capacities to partake of Bleſſedneſs. So will it be in Heaven. A Word, tho' commonly uſed as little underſtood, as Holineſs; which is one of the greateſt Myſteries in the World; but will hereafter be fully and delightfully underſtood by the Bleſſed Saints; as the Malignity and Intrinſick Evil of Sin ſhall be, by the damned Spirits.
Oh, that I might now feel more of this Heavenly Life, begun and carried on in my Soul, by a farther Participation of his Holy Image, and Conformity to his Will! by more vital Effects of his indwelling Spirit in my Soul, forming it to be a Temple to himſelf, for his own Delightful Reſidence! that forgetting that, which I have received, I may ſtill be Coveting, and deſirous of more; forgetting what I have attain'd, I may preſs on, with an Holy Eagerneſs and Fervency, towards the Mark!
When I ſeriouſly examine my own Heart, had I nothing elſe, to prove the Weakneſs of my Grace, and the ſinful Remainders of Unbelief, but the low Deſires, and few Comfortable Thoughts, the ſeldom joyful Proſpect of this Bleſſed State; how ſad an Evidence were it of my low Attainments, that I breath with no more Impatience, after that Bleſſed, Holy Reſt, in the Injoyment of God and Chriſt; and labour no more in preparing for it? When we profeſs to believe, that all the Deſires of our Souls ſhall be fix'd on Him, and filled with Him, as our Infinite and Supreme Good; and all the Expectations of Faith and Hope, ſwallowed up in Endleſs Admiration, Gratitude and Joy; being fully ſatisfied, and at Reſt, in the Preſence and Viſion of God; without the leaſt Inclination, or Deſire of Change. And by Conſequence,
There will be no need of Novelty, as now, to a give a Reliſh to our Happineſs. All Happineſs in this World is, by comparing a Man's preſent Condition, with his paſt, or with that of ſome Inferiours. But the Intrinſick Good, Felicity, and Joy of Heaven, will need no ſuch Foil to ſet it off; no ſuch Compariſon to make it prized. The Bleſſed Spirits will never loſe the lively Senſe, of that low and miſerable Condition, from which they were raiſed to ſo great a Glory; and ſo will ever equally rejoyce in the Happineſs of their Tranſlation and Wonderful Change. And what was at firſt delightful, will for Ever be ſo; and not diſdain'd, or leſſen'd by a Continuance; as it happens in this World, from the Emptineſs, Shallowneſs, and Vanity of the Creature. An Affectation of Variety, and Deſire of Change, proceeding always from a Senſe of Want. But Holy Souls ſhall never be weary of Seeing, Loving, and Enjoying God; his Bleſſed Preſence will afford us Undecaying and Endleſs Satisfacton; Pleaſure, never to be interupted, or abated, and never to ceaſe. The Bleſſed Object is abſolutely Infinite, and ſo will be always new to a Finite Underſtanding; and Continual Freſh Communications from his Infinite Fulneſs, muſt needs make our Subjective Happineſs to be always new, and Eternally ſuch.
Let me by ſuch Thoughts, quicken and excite my Diligent Endeavours; after a greater Meetneſs to injoy ſo great a Bliſs. And to that end, Conſider, whether any of thoſe Happy Souls, who have finiſht their Courſe, and obtained the Prize, do now regret their utmoſt Diligence, Patience, and Perſeverance, during their ſhort Abode here, to ſecure the Bleſſedneſs of an Endleſs Life: No, no, they are far from repenting the Time they ſpent, the Trouble they were at, the Care they uſed, the Difficulties they met with, the Sufferings they endured; to conflct with the World, and the Fleſh, to reſiſt Temptation, to watch over their Hearts, and Words, and Ways, to work out their Salvation, to pleaſe God, and be faithful to him, &c. They find to their Unſpeakable Comfort, and Everlaſting Joy, that Heaven makes amends for all; they could do or ſuffer, in order to their Coming thither. Yea, they find that they were not Diligent, and Humble, and Patient, and Circumſpect enough. That they did not love God, and ſeek his Glory, redeem their Time, and improve all their Talents, and Opportunities of doing and receiving Good, and give up themſelves intirely to prepare for Heaven, to that degree they ſhould have done. They find, by the Tranſcendency of the Bleſſed Recompence; that it deſerved infinitely more than the moſt Active, Zealous Chriſtian upon Earth did ever do; in order to it.
Lord! Quicken my Reſolutions and Endeavours, by ſuch Thoughts as theſe. Inſpire my Sluggiſh, Carnal Heart, with Holy Light, and Life, and Zeal, and Fervour! that looking to the Things which are not ſeen, which are Eternal; I may (*)1 Tim. 1.19.lay up a good Foundation againſt the Time to come, and ſo lay hold on Eternal Life!
But Alas! How much have I neglected the great Duty of Holy Meditation? How little Skill and Experience have I in it? How taſtleſs and inſpid oftentimes are my Thoughts of God! how confuſed and unſteady! how little Pleaſure or Advantage have I, by Contemplating his Higheſt Excellencies? Yet, methinks, could I but retain the ſame awakened, lively Thoughts of Heaven, and Eternal Life, which ſometimes I have had; might I continually feel the Sweet and Sacred Influence, as for a little Seaſon I have ſometimes felt it; how little, how very a Nothing, would all this World be to me! How comparatively weak, its ſtrongeſt and moſt alluring Snares, to draw me off from God! with what an unſhaken Mind could I refuſe and reſiſt 'em! with what an unconcerned Indifference, could I look upon all its moſt charming Glory!
Could I maintain ſuch a Frame of Spirit, as I have ſometimes had for a little while; in the ſerious Contemplation of Divine Miſteries, in Fervent Prayers, and other Solemn Duties of Religion; when the Acts of Faith were ſtrong and lively, my Heart ſet on fire with Love to God, and Holy Breathings after Him; admiring his matchleſs Grace to fallen Sinners, (and to my Soul in particular) when he brought me to the very Suburbs of Heaven, (tho' alas! how ſeldom!) by the delightful Thought of what the Bleſſed Spirits above enjoy, in being where Chriſt is, and beholding his Glory; when I was ready to ſay within my ſelf, 'Tis good to be here; this is no other than the Gate of Heaven; Oh! when ſhall Mortality be ſwallowed up of Life! But when I thought at any time, to fix and ſettle in ſuch ſweet Contemplations; how quickly did my lazy, backward Heart fly off! how ſoon did the Flame decay and dye away! how ſoon did I find my ſelf fallen down to Earth again! ſunk down from the Boſom of my Lord, preſently forgot my ſelf and Heaven, to dwell among the Pots, and embrace a Dunghill! 'Twas not on my own Wings, O Lord! that I ſoared ſo high; but I hope, by the Breathings of that Holy Spirit of Light and Love, who bloweth when, and where, and how long he liſteth; who gave me at any time, any ſuch firſt Fruits of the Spirit; who convinc'd me of the Certainty of the Heavenly Inheritance, by a lively believing Foreſight of it; who made me earneſtly deſire the Wings of a Dove to be gone, and appear before God in Sion; made me Pant and Groan to be delivered, and to be with God and Chriſt, with inexpreſſible Deſire and Joy, unconceivably mixt with Sighs and Groans. O my God! let not this experience be only ſuch a Taſte of the Powers of the World to come, as is conſiſtent with final Apoſtacy! only the ſeeming Zeal of the ſtony Ground! the rapturous Joy of an Hypocite! from the Power of Imagination, and a heated Fancy; from the workings of meer Natural Self-love; upon Miſtaken Apprehenſions of God, and a falſe Opinion of Heaven; but by the Holy Effects, let me be aſſured of the Cauſe and Principle; that was of God.
Teach me, from the Sweetneſs of all Spiritual Communion with God now, in any of his appointed Ordinances; to argue to my ſelf, what the moſt raviſhing Satisfaction will be; that the Enjoyment of God in Heaven will afford the Soul. Our Holineſs is now imperfect, to what it ſhall be; and therefore our Conſolation, Peace and Joy, is but in part; and incomparably leſs than we are aſſured it will be, when we ſhall be admitted to behold the Glory of the Lord. 'Tis now at moſt, but as the Break of Day, to the Luſtre of the Meridian Sun. But if in this low imperfect State, we can ſometimes obtain ſo near a View of his Glory, and feel ſuch ſweet Communications of his Grace; how much more of this Conſolation and Joy, is reſerved to Heaven? If in this Pilgrim State, the Gifts and Graces, and Comforts of the Holy Spirit are ſo refreſhing: O! what hath God prepared beyond the Grave, for thoſe who love him? If now he ſometimes ſhed abroad his Love in our Hearts, after ſuch a Manner; how much better ſhall I love him, and feel the Influence, and Evidence of his Love to me; when I ſhall be with him, and ſee him Face to Face? If the Apprehenſions of this Future Bleſſedneſs, do now encourage, raiſe, and animate my drooping Soul: O, what ſhall I know and ſee? And how ſhall I rejoyce, when the Vail is removed? If a Sacramental Communion with God and Jeſus Chriſt, be ſometimes ſo ſweet, and ſo affecting; what will the Bleſſed Communion with God, and all his Saints above, amount to? when I ſhall ſit down with all the Children of God, in the Preſence of the Bridegroom, at the laſt Great Supper of the Lamb in Glory! If the Earneſt of our Inheritance be ſo reviving, what will be the full Poſſeſſion of it? If the Hopes of that Glorious Day, by Holy Meditation, be ſo tranſporting; what will be the End of our Faith and Hope? If a Grape or two in the Wilderneſs, be ſuch a Cordial; what will be the whole Vintage in the Land of Promiſe?
Shall I after all this, forget my own Experience, and run from God and Heaven, to embrace or ſeek a periſhing Toy? Shall I hide my ſelf with Saul, among the Stuff and Lumber of this World; when God is calling me to a Glorious Crown? Art thou, O my Soul! a King's Son, an Heir of Heaven, an Expectant of ſuch great Felicity, and yet ſtoop ſo low? Hope for Heaven, and yet graſp this Earth; and hug the vain Appearances of Earthly Good? Hope to be like to God, (and Oh how Glorious an Hope is that!) to partake of his Image, and live Eternally with him; and yet be ſolicitous, anxious, and diſquieted about Honour, and Money, and a Temporal Intereſt? And mightily concerned about the Momentany Gratifications of the Fleſh, and the Enjoyments of this World? Art thou a Pilgrim and Stranger here, and travelling Home to the Heavenly Country, and yet eager and paſſionate about Earthly Things? Should an Heart that is ſet upon Heaven, (or may be ſo, and ought to be ſo) ſhould it burn with ſuch Kitchin, ſuch Common-Fire? And neglect the unconceivable Riches and Pleaſures, and immortal Honours of the other Life, and the Dawnings of that Glory upon my Soul, by the Foretaſts of it in this? How great is the Diſproportion between the Heavens and the Earth? How vaſt the Circumference of the one, and how ſmall a Point the other? How many thouſand Miles, doth the Sun travel in the Heavens, while it paſſeth but one Inch upon a Dial? Oh! that my Affections were carried to Heavenly Things, with a ſwiftneſs ſomewhat anſwerable to the Glorious Object. And let their Motion to Earthly Things, be rather ſlow and inſenſible, like that of the Sun on a Dial. Since I profeſs to believe, and wait for the Heavenly Glory; ſhould I not live, as ſeeking ſuch Things, as expecting ſuch a Glory? And are careleſs and indifferent Thoughts, ſleepy, heartleſs Prayers, faint and weak Endeavours, becoming in ſuch a Caſe? Shall I not mend my Pace, and double my Diligence in my preparatory Work? When I can believingly foreſee the Bleſſed Recompence; waiting for that Everlaſting Light of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, which no Eclipſe ſhall ever darken or obſcure; for that Eternal Glorious Day, which ſhall never be cloſed with an Evening. When I ſhall ſee the Face of God in Chriſt, and be like him; participate more of his Image, reſt in his Love, and dwell for ever in the Light of his Countenance, according to the Prayer and Promiſe of my Bleſſed Saviour.
And ought not ſuch a Proſpect, to ſweeten the Bitterneſs of all our intermediate Sufferings? We are now, oftentimes in Heavineſs and Sorrow; but Eternity will be enough for an uninterrupted Joy. When we ſhall exchange all our Troubles for Everlaſting Reſt, our Priſons for Perfect Liberty, our Poverty for the Riches of God; Darkneſs for Light; Diſcord for Love; Deformity for Beauty; our Weakneſſes and preſent Languiſhings, for Strength and Vigor; Folly for Wiſdom; Diſgrace for Glory; Sickneſs and Pain for Eternal Eaſe and Health; the Animal for the Angelical Life; Imperfection and Pollution for Conſummate Holineſs; our Sighs, and Tears, and Sorrows, and Complaints, for Triumphant Everlaſting Praiſe; our Loſſes, Affronts, Diſappointments, Perplexities, Fears, Groans, and Death; for Crowns and Scepters, Hymns and Hallelujahs, Light and Life, and Bliſs unutterable; and ſuch great things as are fit for us to hope, but too great to be now particularly underſtood, and talkt of; while we know but in part, and ſee through a Glaſs darkly. Yea, it ſeems as if it were not lawful to utter 'em, 2 Cor. 12.4. and now they cannot be expreſt, or fully known; For Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, or can it enter into the Heart of man to conceive, that prepared Glory.