The Mystery of the Marriage Song, Exposition · Verse 15

The Mystery of the Marriage Song · Exposition · Verse 15

p. 225VERS. XV. With gladneſſe and rejoycing ſhall they be brought: they ſhall enter into the Kings Pallace.

THis Verſe coheres with the former, and is a continued ſpeech of the glory and happines of the Spouſe of Chriſt, which on all hands ſhall be accompanied with exceeding gladneſſe and rejoycing, repreſented here by the entertainment of the Bride, who on the day of marriage was received with great joy,Great joy among the Jewes at their Marriages. eſpecially by the Bridegroom and his friends or companions; as the cuſtome was among the Hebrews (to which this refers) who did exceedingly rejoyce on the day of marriage, when the Bride was brought to the Bridegroom, as appeareth by three things.**See Weems Synagog. Cap. 6. para. 11. Diatr. 2. p. 190, 191.

1 They had their Marriage feaſt, which ordinarily laſted ſeven dayes, Judges 14.17.

2 The houſe of Marriage was called Bethhillula, the houſe of prayſe and rejoycing; and

3 Their Marriage Song Hillulim, Goodwin Moyſ. and Aaron, lib. 6. cap. 4. p. 285.the Song of praiſe, which was ſung by the Bridegrooms intimate friends and Companions, who are called the Children of the Bride Chamber, Mat. 9.13, 15. In which Song they had theſe words, Let there be the voyce of joy and gladneſſe, the voyce of the Bridegroom and the Bride. The voyce of exultation in the Bride-Chamber is ſweeter then any Feaſt. See Jer. 33.11.

Thus we ſee the Bride on the day of marriage among the Jewes was received with great joy by the Bridegroom and his friends, John 3.29. But eſpecially the Kings Bride or Wife, for this of all marriages was accompanied with moſt joy and exulation; and hereby the Holy Ghoſt doth illuſtrate the mutuall joy of the ſpirituall Bridegroom p. 226and Bride. Hence Obſerve.

Obſerv. 1 That when all the people of God that have lived from the beginning to the end of the world, are gathered together, That there will be unſpeakable joy when the Saints are received into the Kings Pallace.and received into glorious manſions, there will be unſpeakable joy and gladneſſe.

This will be as the joy of Harvest, this will be a feaſt of fat things indeed. Here we expect more then yet we enjoy, here we groan under many diſtempers, but then all tears ſhall be wiped away, Iſa. 25.8. Rev. 7.17. Sorrow and ſighing ſhall for ever ceaſe, Iſa. 35.10. There ſhall be no more cauſe of mourning or complaining.

[With joy and gladneſſe ſhall they be brought, &c.]

The whole Company, God and Chriſt, the bleſſed Angels and Saints, will all rejoyce, there will be a generall joy as at a Marriage feaſt.

Firſt, 1 God himſelf will be glad of their company.God himſelf will infinitely rejoyce in and over his people whom he made for himſelf. He might well have been without us (being perfectly bleſſed happy and glorious in and of himſelf) before we had a being he rejoyced infinitly in himſelf, and if we had never been born he would have been as perfectly bleſſed as now he is. Saints and Angels, nay the humane nature of Chriſt add nothing to his perfection; but now having ſet his love upon us, and taken us into fellowſhip with himſelf, he delighteth in us, and rejoyceth over us, and that with ſinging, even in this life, Iſa. 65.19. Zeph 3.17. And if it be ſo now, how will it be when his Jeruſalem is fully tranſlated into Heaven, and hath nothing in her but what is lovely and matter of rejoycing. The Saints ſhall be as Jewells made up, Mal. … 17. A Jewel muſt be polliſhed and ſet in gold hat it may ſhine forth brightly; now the Saints are p. 227Jewels, but rough and unpolliſhed; God will make up theſe Jewels, and ſet them in gold, and put a luſtre upon them.

Secondly. 2 Chriſt will infinitly rejoyce in the Saints.Chriſt (who is clothed with our Nature fleſh and blood) will alſo rejoyce over his Bride with exceeding joy in beholding the bleſſed fruit of the travaile of his ſoule, Iſa. 53.11. The glorious iſſue of his Incarnation, Sufferings, Reſurrection, Interceſſion, Victories, having ſweat great drops and clods of blood, and endured unſpeakable agonies in his ſoule, that he might bring many Sons to glory, Mat. 26.38. Mat 27.46. Heb 5.7. Heb. 2.10. O what a merry meeting, what intercourſe of raviſhing joyes and heavenly unmixed delights, will there be between Chriſt and his Spouſe! A woman doth greatly rejoyce (notwithſtanding her painfull travaile) when ſhe hath brought forth a Man-child, John 16.21. yea, the more painfull her travaile hath been, the more joyfull and acceptable will her iſſue be to her.

Every one delighteth in the proſperous iſſue of his labours. Moyſes (that man of God) having travailed long, and undergone many dangers with and for the Iſraelites; and the Apoſtle Paul having been in ſpirituall travaile once and again with the Galathians, Chap 4.19. did rejoyce exceedingly to ſee the fruit of their labours; and ſo (no doubt) it is with other faithfull men.

But Chriſt much more will rejoyce to ſee the bleſſed fruit of his labours and ſufferings. Chriſt loves his own with an infinite love, and therefore he will rejoyce in them with an infinite joy: Come …ee bleſſed of my Father, O come and inherite the Kingdome prepared for you, Mat. 26.34. The joy (as alſo the ſufferings) of Chriſt perſonall, are compleat already, but the ſufferings and happines of his Members doe contribute to the filling up of the ſufferings and joy of Chriſt Myſticall (the Church being his body, the fullneſſe of him that p. 228filleth all in all) Col. 1.24. Epheſ. 2.23.

Thirdly, 3 The Angels will exceedingly rejoyce in the Saints.The Angels of God who are appointed to gather the Elect from the foure Quarters of the world, Mat. 24.31. will entertaine the Saints with unſpeakable rejoycing. Angells are ſtrong, excellent, ſweet, wiſe, loving, amiable, heavenly, delightfull ſpirits, they are chief Princes above all the Princes of the earth, 2 Sam. 14.20. Pſal. 103.20. Dan. 10.13. Col. 1.16. and there is an innumerable company of them, Heb. 12.22. Dan. 7.10. They now delight to pry into the myſtery of mans redemption by Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.12. To them is made known by the Church, the manifold wiſedome of God in this Myſtery, Epheſ. 3.10. And though Chriſt who took not on him the nature of Angels, but the ſeed of Abraham, Heb. 2.16. did not by his death ſatisfie for the elect Angels (who had no ſin to be expiated) yet by him they are confirmed in their bleſſed eſtate (he being head of Angells as well as of men Col. 2.10.) If now the bleſſed Angels ſto… down with delight to look into the myſtery of our Redemption, they will ſurely rejoyce exceedingly when the Redeemed ones of the Lord are brought to everlaſting glory.

'Tis their buſineſſe now to preſerve the Saints from the rage of evill Angels, and wicked men; to direct and comfort them, and to watch over their ſouls and bodies, Deut. 33.3. Zach. 14.4. Mark 1.13. Rev. 5.11. Heb. 1.14. Pſal. 91.1, 11. Mat. 18.10. As the embroydered Cherubims did environ the Tabernacle, ſo doe theſe heavenly ſpirits Guard the Saints here, Exod. 26.1. Dan. 4.14. Pſal. 34.7. 2 Kings 6.17. Gen. 32.1, 2 Dan. 10.20. Pſal. 35.1, 5, 6. Mat. 6.10. and carry their ſoules, when they depart out of the… bodies, into Abrahams boſome, Luke 16.22.

If they rejoyce now when a poor ſinner is converted, Luke 15.10. then much more when the converted ſinner is glorified; yea, when the generall Aſſembly of all the Saints ſhall meet together p. 229in Heaven, and be glorified for ever both in ſoule and body. Then ſhall they be brought with gladneſſe and rejoycing.

Fourthly, As God and Chriſt will infinitly,4 The Saints will exceedingly rejoyce in communion with God and Chriſt, and the Angels. and the Angels exceedingly rejoyce in the company of the Saints Triumphant, ſo the Saints will greatly rejoyce in their glorious communion with God, and Chriſt, and the bleſſed Angels, as the Bridegroom will rejoyce in his Bride, ſo the Bride will rejoyce in the Bridegroom. The Lord in this life will create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and his people a Joy, Iſa 65.18. ſhe ſhall greatly rejoyce in the Lord who hath clothed her with the Garments of ſalvation, as a Bridegroom decketh himſelf with Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with Jewels, Iſa. 61.10. Chriſt the Bridegroom would have his people greatly rejoyce in him, whilſt they abide here, John 15.11. John 16.27. John 17.13. 1 John 1.4. But then the Joy of the Lord ſhall perſectly abide in them, and their Joy ſhall be full. I will ſee you again (ſaith Chriſt) and your hearts ſhall rejoyce, and your joy no man ſhall take from you, John 16.23. And O what unſpeakable mutuall rejoycing will there be at that day between Paſter and people, between the faithfull Preachers of the Goſpel, and thoſe ſoules who were converted by the bleſſing of God upon their labours; theſe are their joy and Crown now, Phil. 2.2. Phil. 4.1. 1 Theſſ. 2.19, 20. 3 Ep: John 4. but much more then.

Ʋſe. 1 FIrſt then, this may ſerve to Comfort and ſuppore the Saints, who now mourn in Sion: Their ſorrow ſhall be turned into Joy, God will give them beauty for aſhes, the Oyle of joy for mourning, and the Garment of praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſſe, Iſa. 61.3. He that ſoweth in tears, ſhall reap in joy; he that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſſe come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him, Pſal. 126.5, 6. Mat. 5.4. It may be before this Generation p. 230paſſe away, the Church ſhall be made the joy and praiſe of the whole earth; however the ſoule ſhall ſurely be filled with the fullneſſe of joy when it is brought by Angels into the Kings preſence, and therefore we ſhould call and cry inceſſantly, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, Rev. 22.17.

Ʋſe. 2 SEcondly, The thoughts of this generall concourſe and meeting of all the Saints in Joy and gladneſſe ſhould mitigate the preſent affliction that lyes upon us by reaſon of our diviſions, ſcatterings, envyings, ſtrange and unbrotherly carriage one towards another. All the ſcattered divided ones of Chriſt (notwithſtanding their odd fooliſh humours and paſſions) ſhall be gathered together into one place; Heaven will hold us all, by what names or Titles ſoever we be now diſtinguiſhed, we ſhall meet with joy and gladneſſe in our ſathers Houſe. Though now the Saints are ſo ſtrange and ſhy one of another, that they will ſcarce meet to pray or ſpeak together, yet they ſhall be better acquainted when they come to Heaven.

As it followeth.

[They ſhall enter into the Kings Tallace.]

The Pſalmiſt here in the Type alludes to the Princeſſe being brought in great pomp and magnificence into the Pallace Royall, where the King with his Royall Attendants ſtand ready to receive her.

By the Kings Pallace is meant the third heave 2 Cor 12.2. that which is called Coelum Emy… um, which is the Throne of God, the place and habitation of the bleſſed Saints.2 Obſerv. God hath created a glorious Pallace for his Saints.

We may hence Note.

That the Lord hath erected a glorious Pallace … his Saints to be brought unto, and to abide in.

p. 231There are two rich Pallaces mentioned in this Pſalm.

1 The one an Ivory Pallace, verſ. 8. whereby is ſignified the Aſſemblies of the Saints, and Ordinances of Divine worſhip, in which the Lord manifeſts himſelf graciouſly. Here the preſence of the Lord is ſweet and amiable, Cant. 1.8. Pſal. 84.

2 The other Pallace is mentioned in this 15 Verſe, and it is a Pallace of glory, a Pallace more bright and ſplendid then the fineſt gold, glorious Manſions, John 14.2.

Now this Pallace may well be ſaid to be erected by God himſelf, and to be exceeding glorious, for theſe Reaſons.

Firſt, Becauſe the Lord hath prepared it,1 This Pallace is prepared by God. Mat. 15.34. 1 Cor. 2.9. Heb. 11.16. John 14.3.

Secondly, It is bought with Gods own money,2 Purchaſed by his blood. purchaſed with his blood, Epheſ. 1.14. Acts 20.28. Heb. 9.14.

Thirdly, 3 Chriſt hath poſſeſſed it for us.The Lord Jeſus as our head and forerunner hath taken poſſeſſion for us, and in our ſtead, Eph. 2.6. John 14.3, 4. Heb. 6.20.

Fourthly, 4 Hath given us the pledge of it.God hath given us the pledge ſeale and earneſt of it, by his Spirit dwelling and working in us, Gal. 4.6. Epheſ. 1.13. Epheſ. 4.30. Rom. 8.16. So that we have already the firſt fruits of glory.

Fifthly, 5 God will put us ſhortly in poſſeſſion of it.The Lord will ſhortly give us the full poſſeſſion of this glorious Pallace in our own perſons, Luke 12.32. John 17.24.

Sixthly, 6 The glorious preſence of God is the beauty of this Pallace.God himſelf is the beauty and glory of this Pallace, Rev. 21.22, 23. Rev. 22.5. Where the King is, there is the Court; the preſence of God makes Heaven to be Heaven indeed.

I had rather (ſaith Luther) were it poſſible, be with Chriſt in Hell, then in Heaven without him.

This glorious Pallace which the moſt Eagleeyed p. 232Philoſophers were ignorant of, is frequently mentioned in Scripture,The Excellency of this Pallace is further ſet forth by three things. 2 Cor. 5.1. Heb 11.10. Heb. 13.14. Heb. 12.22. Luke 23.43. 1 Kings 8.27.

The excellency thereof appeareth in three things.

1 It is far above the viſible Heavens, Epheſ. 4.10. Epheſ. 1.3. Heb. 7.25. being the third heaven, or heaven of heaven. The Region of the ayr to the Moon is the firſt Heaven; from the Moon to the higheſt Stars is the ſecond Heaven; and the Heaven above the higheſt Stars is the habitation of God (whom yet the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, 1 Kings 8.27.) and of the glorified Saints, and this we call the third Heaven. Into this the Apoſtle Paul was rapt up in a ſpirituall extaſie, 2 Cor. 12.2. Into this Enock was tranſlated, Heb. 11.5. and Elias taken up in a fiery Chariot, 2 Kings 2.11. The naturall eye cannot behold this glorious Pallace, it muſt be known by Divine Revelation.

2 This third Heaven was immediatly created by God himſelf, without any preexiſtent matter or principle, and therefore is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 1.4. 2 Cor. 5.1. though in compariſon of the pure Eſſence of God, the very Heavens and Angels have no purity in them.

3. It is bright, ſhining and tranſparent. All the beauty of the viſible Heavens (which yet far excells the moſt beautifull things on Earth) all the reſplendency of the very quinteſſence of Gemms, Mettals, Pearls, precious ſtones, are not comparable to the beauty of this Pallace. The Grand Seigniors Seraglio, the Pallace of the Roman Emperor (when Rome flouriſhed) was but a Dungeon to this; yea the inward part of Solomons Temple, which was of the fineſt gold, was but a ſhadow of this glorious Pallace; it is large and ſpatious, here's room enough for millions of Saints Iohn 14.2. Rev. 21.16. It is alſo pleaſant and p. 233delightfull, free from all evill, full of all good,Norton. Orth. Eva. pag. 344. a proportionable object (as one well obſerves) to a glorified eye, a ſutable habitation for a glorified body. Let me for ever behold and abide in this Pallace, and then it matters not if I never ſee thoſe rich glorious Pallaces of the Princes of this world, which ſome Travellers ſpeak of.

Ʋſe. 1 BE exhorted both rich and poor to entertain ſerious thoughts and meditations of this glorious Pallace, which is far above the viſible Heavens, and therefore muſt be contemplated with a ſpiritual eye. And

Firſt, For ſuch as abound in the things of this world, as pleaſant Houſes, Lands, Gardens, Orchards, and other delights, alas what are all theſe thy enjoyments being compared with the whole earth, ſo far as it is known (for a great part of it is not yet diſcovered) let the rich man ſee his Lands and Houſes in the Map of the world if he can; and yet the whole Earth is but as a little pins point to the ſecond Heaven, and that but as a little point to the third Heaven; why therefore wilt thou ſet thy heart upon ſuch a poor trifle as a little Earth, or clay, which ſhall ſhortly be conſumed? When we walk in pleaſant Paſtures, and Gardens, or in the Courts or Pallaces of Princes, we ſhould ſeriouſly meditate on this heavenly glorious Pallace, that we may not dote on theſe earthly things. We are but ſtrangers here below, our houſe, our home is above the viſible Heavens. There is much beauty in the Sun, and in the Firmament when it is bright and clear, and beſpangled with the Stars of Heaven; but there is a Heaven above theſe Heavens, which we muſt aſcend up unto.

Secondly, Let not the poor Chriſtian be diſcouraged; perhaps thou haſt not in this world a manſion or houſe to put thy head in; thus it was with thy Lord and Maſter; The Foxes have holes, and the Birds of the aire have neſts, but the Son of p. 234man hath not where to lay his head, Mat. 8.20. What then? thou haſt a houſe in Heaven, a glorious Pallace, which thou ſhalt ſhortly enter into. Who would think much to abide a little while in a poor Cottage, or in the open field, without a houſe, being aſſured that ere long he ſhall poſſeſſe a Royall Pallace? We faint not whilſt we doe not look at the things that are ſeen, but at the things that are not ſeen, 2 Cor. 4. laſt. Were we more aſſured of our intereſt in this Pallace, we ſhould leſſe deſire an intereſt in the Pallaces and Courts of the Princes of this world.

Ʋſe. 2 Again, This Doctrine may help to fortifie us againſt a ſtrong Deluſion, namely that Heaven doth not at all admit of a locall conſideration. Some will boldly tell us that there is no Heaven not Hell but what is within them (the ſame men caſt away the Offices, word, and Ordinances of Chriſt as empty ſhadowes) This is a great deluſion; indeed were it poſſible to live in the Pallace of heaven, and to have no ſpirituall light within, it would be uncomfortable.

Oec…lampadi… a little before his death, being aſked whether he would have a light, clapt his hand on his breaſt, and ſaid, Here it a light within. But this may very well conſiſt with the locall conſideration of heaven; and that there is ſuch a place as the third heaven, no man will dare to deny, that makes conſcience of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures.

I ſhall ſhut up this Diſcourſe of the glory of heaven,A twofold Meditation. from the 14 and 15 Verſes, with a two-fold Meditation. The one of our true ſpirituall Reſt, and the other of the beatificall viſion of God.

I. A Meditation of the true Reſt of the ſoule, and the vanity of all other Rests.1 Medita. Of the ſoules Reſt.

Why art thou caſt down (O my ſoulé) why p. 235art thou diſquieted within me; Truſt and reſt in his love who is love it ſelf. God himſelf reſts in his love to thee, Zeph. 3.17. and therefore well may his love be thy reſt. The tearm of all motion is reſt, every thing moves to its Centre; God in Chriſt is the Centre of a gracious ſonle.

The Jewes **See Mr. Bur. Moyſ. Choy. cap. 47. pag. 614. This Name is firſt mentiond Gen. 2.4. when God had finiſhed all his works and reſted. It conſiſteth only of letters of reſt (as the Hebrews call them) to ſhew that there is no reſt till we come to Jehovah, and that in him we may ſecurely reſt. Leigh. Crit. Sac. p. 56.Gen 2:4have a note from the name Jehovah, that the letters of this name are Literae quieſcentes, in which there is a Myſtery, becauſe all our Reſt is in God. They that ſeek for ſatisfaction in ſenſitive delights, goe out from God, as Rivers from the Fountain, and ſo as the Prophet ſpeaks, forget their reſting place, Jer. 50.6.

The ſoule of man is more worthy then all outward things, and therefore cannot find reſt in them, as being far below her; nay, the more ſhe ſeeks for reſt in theſe things, the ſuller of trouble and anxiety ſhe is: Theſe are but finite and tranſitory, but the ſoule is an immortall ſubſtance, and deſireth an infinite good.

Why ſhouldeſt thou (O my ſoule) ſeek the living among the dead? The riches of this world are without us; pleaſures belong onelyonly to this life, honour is a vain uncertain thing (eſpecially in our times) That which muſt ſatisfie the ſoule which was created for eternity, muſt be a ſpirituall, durable, everlaſting good, and that is onelyonly God himſelf. Return therefore to thy reſt O my ſoule, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee, Pſal. 116.7. The Lord hath made the ſoule for himſelf, and it will not be quiet till it return to him.**Domine fecis …i not pro te & mqvietum eſt cor noſtrum donec veniat a… …. Auguſt.

Every Creature moves to its place and Centre; the vegetative and the ſenſitive, and the rationall Creatures move to thoſe objects which are ſutable to their natures. Thus it is with an enlightened renewed ſoule; man came from God, but doth not return to God till he partake of a new Divine nature; he runs up and down as it were in a Circle, and hath no regular direct motion to God as his reſting place.

p. 236The poor ſoule is like Noah's Dove, which cannot reſt till it come into the Ark. No true reſt in our owne righteouſneſs.He that believeth enters into reſt, Heb. 4.3. Many ſeek reſt in their own Righteouſneſſe and performances, but it is not Moyſes but Ioſhua, not the Law, but Chriſt in the Goſpel, that gives reſt. Come unto me all yee that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt, Mat. 11.28. There muſt not only be a thirſting after, but a coming to the water of life. The ſoul is filled with peace and reſt in believing, Chriſt is an adequate object for a poor troubled ſoule to reſt upon. In his righteouſneſſe ſhe reſts againſt ſin, in his wounds (hiding her ſelf in the clefts of this Rock, Cant 2.14. Iſa. 2.10.) ſhe reſts againſt the wrath of God, in his ſatisfaction ſhe reſts againſt the terrors of the Law; in his victories ſhe reſts againſt the accuſations of Satan, and the miſgivings of conſcience; in his Reſurrection and interceſſion ſhe reſts againſt the fear of death and mortality, in him ſhe is more then a Conqueror over ſin, Satan, death and Hell.

We are not yet entred into perfect Reſt, becauſe we doe not enjoy the Lord fully. Perfect fruition of the object beloved, will bring to the ſoule perfect Reſt. The will deſires more, longs after more then yet it enjoyeth. We are not fully happy, becauſe we doe not fully poſſeſſe what we love. **Be…us non eſt qui non fruitur quod amat.Love affects the neareſt union with, and carries the lover (as it were) out of himſelf, to the object beloved. The union that ariſeth out of love, produceth a mutuall ſimilitude and conformity, and alſo a mutuall fruition and propriety. God loved man in the firſt Creation, and made man like himſelf: God loved man in the ſecond Creation, and made himſelf like man,**Reynolds on Paſſ. cap. 10, 11. pag. 82, 83. and when the ſoule is fully gathered up into Divine love, it ſhall be at perfect Reſt.

A Chriſtian here finds a reſtleſneſſe in all Creatures, in all conditions; the beſt Creature is but a ſnare; man at his beſt eſtate is vanity, every thing is full of anxiety, the active power of the p. 237will how ſoon is it waſted and weakned?A reſtleſneſs in all Creatures and conditiions here below. we ſpend our ſpirits, and are preſently weary; all is vanity and vexation of ſpirit; we our ſelves are full of vanity, and the things which we uſe are empty and vain, and full of vexation to them that ſeek for reſt in them; they are empty, and doe deceive, mortall and doe decay, mutable and inconſtant, and doe diſappoint us; they are but as broken Reeds, which doe not onelyonly faile, but wound and pierce us; but as for God, the more we know him, the better we ſhall love him, and like him; he onelyonly can fill up the va…uities of the ſoule; in him is fullneſſe to make the ſoule perfectly happy, with him is immortality, to make the ſoule perpetually happy.

There remains a Reſt for the people of God, We ſhall enter into an everlaſting Sabbath.Heb. 4.9. an everlaſting Sabbatiſme, whereof this Sabbath is but a Type: In the heavenly and glorious Sabbath (O my ſoule) thou ſhalt be for ever exerciſed in the higheſt and moſt ſpirituall acts; thou ſhalt be alwayes up, and never down; now alaſſe! the poor ſoule attempts to fly up heaven ward, with the wings of faith and Diviue contemplation,Anſelme. but (like a Bird that hath a ſtone tyed to its legg) ſhe is preſently pulled down with the weight of corruption. O miſerable man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? How acceptable is Reſt to the poor labouring man? Think often of thy Reſt (O my ſoule) that thou mayeſt not faint in this irkſome Wilderneſſe.

II. A Meditation of the Beatificall Viſion of God.

In the ſight of the God of glory (O my ſoul) conſiſteth the Eſſentiall Glory of the Saints;II. Medita. Of the Viſion of God. I will (ſaith Chriſt) that they may behold my glory, John 17.14. Reſt and Glory ſeldome meet in this world; commonly they that have the honours p. 238of the world, have but little reſt; but in heaven we ſhall have both; God will be all in all to the ſoule; he will be perfect light to the underſtanding, perfect peace and reſt to the will, and everlaſting ſatisfaction to the memory. The mind ſhall ſo clearly, ſo fully contemplate and behold the Divine Eſſence, that it ſhall not need the help of faith, (which is the evidence of things not ſeen) all mediums ſhall be removed, all glaſſes ſhall be broken, but only the glaſſe of the Trinity.

The Beatificall Viſion is ſuch a glory, that ſome have thought that the ſole happineſſe of the Saints ſhall conſiſt in it; but there will be not onelyonly viſion, but fruition. Now we live by faith, when we hear of three in one, and one in three, of two Natures in one perſon, of the reſurrection, &c. we believe the ſame, grounding our faith on the word of God. But in the Beatificall Viſion, we ſhall perfectly ſee and know the Myſtery of the Father, Son, and Spirit; all doubts ſhall be fully reſolved, all knotty controverſies decided; the Myſteries now ſealed up, ſhall be clearly opened and revealed. The leaſt Saint in heaven ſhall know more then all the learned Doctors of this world.

In this fraile condition none can ſee God and live;Whilſt we are in the body, we cannot perfectly ſee God and live. the appearance of God or an Angel, is a terror to man; but in heaven the ſoule ſhall be ſo elevated, that it ſhall be able to behold the bleſſed Trinity without end, to love God without loathing, to praiſe and delight in him without being weary. O what a joy will this be? a joy ſurpaſſing all joyes; here joy enters into us, but there we ſhall enter into the fullneſſe of joy; if the joy of the Saints be now unſpeakable and glorious, 1 Pet. 1.8. what will it be then? if the ſeed time be ſo glorious, what will the harveſt be?

The ſoul ſhall not only ſee the Attributes of God, his Mercy, Juſtice, Truth, Wiſedome, but the very ſimple pure Eſſence of God (and yet the Attributes of God are not really diſtinguiſhed from his eſſence, for whatſoever is in God, is God; we ſhall behold p. 239the eſſence with the manner of ſubſiſtence, which now is an unconceiveable Myſtery.

If the ſight of Joſeph, who was thought to be dead, was ſuch a comfort to his good old father, what will it be to us to behold our bleſſed father and Saviour? If the ſight of Angells and Saints, and of the glorified body of Chriſt, will be exceeding glorious and raviſhing, what will it be then to ſee the Divine face of God? that moſt bright and glorious face, that moſt excellent beauty, which comprehends all beauty? what will it be (O my ſoule) to behold that Eſſence which is ſo pure, ſo ſimple, ſo wonderfull, ſo incommunicable,We ſhall perfectly behold the myſtery of the Trinity. and with one view to behold therein the Myſtery of the moſt bleſſed Trinity, the glory of the Father, the wiſedome of the Son, and the goodneſſe and love of the Holy Ghoſt?

We ſhall ſee God, and in God we ſhall perfectly ſee and know our ſelves and all things. As he that looks on himſelf in a Glaſſe, ſeeth the Glaſſe and himſelf in the Glaſſe, and all other things that are before the Glaſſe. So when we have the beatificall Viſion of the Divine Eſſence, we ſhall ſee God and our ſelves, and all things in God; then ſhall the Creature be ſeen in God in a far more excellent manner then in it ſelf. If we could but ſee the building in the perfect conception of the Artificer, it would appear far more excellent then in the building it ſelf.

In thy light (O my God) I ſhall ſee light, Of the light of glory.Pſal. 36.9. I ſhall ſee thee in thy ſelf in the brightneſs of thy countenance, in the beauty of thy glory.

To make us ſee the glorious things that ſhall be ſeen in Heaven, there ſhall need no outward mediums or helps, no Preaching, Sacraments,Norton. Orths. Evan. cap. 15. pag. 33. bodily apparitions, but only the light of glory, Col. 1.12. There ſhall be a glorious ſupernaturall influence, which will enable the glorified underſtanding to ſee God, and all things in God.

p. 240Stephen having his underſtanding gloriouſly illuminated and elevated, did behold the glory of Chriſt at the right hand of his father. In corporeall Viſion the eye is united to the Object by the help of ſenſible ſpecies; in intellectuall viſion, the underſtanding is united to the object by intellectuall ſpecies; but in the beatificall viſion, the Divine Eſſence it ſelf, and the light and glory thereof ſhall ſupply the place of intellegible ſpecies.

Lift up thy ſelf in the mean while (O my ſoule) and conſider what a glory is prepared for thee. If to ſee King Solomon in his glory, was ſo deſireable a thing, Bleſſed are they (ſaid the Queen of Sheba) that ſtand before thy preſence, and behold thy wiſedome, 1 Kings 10. Oh what will it be to behold and contemplate perfectly and everlaſtingly the glorious raviſhing face of God. Man naturally deſireth to ſee God himſelf, as the cauſe of cauſes; the effects being once found, we deſire to ſee the cauſe and Originall of thoſe effects. Lift up thy ſelf (O my ſoule) for thou ſhalt behold that univerſall good in whom is all good, without whom there is no good; thou ſhalt ſee that great inviſible world which containes all worlds; thou ſhalt ſee him who being one, is all things, and being but one ſimple indiviſible Eſſence, comprehends in himſelf the perfection of all things: Herein thy mind ſhall have perfect reſt, and ſhall deſire to know no more. Iſſachar ſaw that the reſt was good, and the Land was beſt, Gen. 49.15. The reſt and glory of the Saints is good, O but the hand that bringeth it forth, even the Eternall love of God, is beſt.

And now ſince the mind ſhall be ſo taken up and employed in the Contemplation of the Divine Eſſence to eternity, why ſhouldeſt thou (O my ſoule) be taken up with the poor empty things of the world? why ſhouldeſt thou dote on theſe things which doe but debaſe the mind of man; Learn to look beyond them (O my ſoule) and ſix upon thoſe objects which perfect the underſtanding. p. 241Others deſire Wine, and Corn, and Oyle, but Lord doe thou lift up the light of thy countenance upon me, and when I awake let me be ſatisfied with thy likeneſſe.