Christs Certain and Sudden Appearance to Judgment, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
HAving spoken to Sinners, I come now to speak,
2. To Believers, and that in two words.
1. For the Tryal of them.
2. For the comforting of them.
1. For the tryal of Believers; the Doctrine of Christs certain and sudden appearance to Judgement, is a most dreadful Doctrine to sinners, which are in sin; and it is a most comfortable Doctrine to believers, which are in Christ: but because many sinners, which are stil held fast in the bond of iniquity, and are under the reigning power of some sins, are apt to mistake, and without good ground do perswade themselves that they are believers, who at the last day will be found to be hypocrites; and through their mistake of their state, do ward off those strokes of Gods threatnings which are made at them, and save themselves hereby from those terrible apprehensions of Christs appearance to Judge and condemn them, which did they entertain, might be a meanes to startle them, and awaken them to take an effectual and speedy course for the salvation of themselves from future vengeance; and because many true believers, who are really united unto Christ by faith, are apt also through the temptation of Sathan, and their own ignorance, and doubting misgiving-heart, to mistake themselves, and look upon themselves to be hypocrites, and therefore fear that when Christ doth appear, that they shall be condemned by him, being so ready to condemn themselves, and therefore gather matter for trouble from this Doctrine, which indeed is matter of the greatest comfort; therefore it will be needful for the undeceiving of the former, that they may not falfly apply comfort, and the rectifying the mistakes of the latter, that they may not put off comfort, to make some tryal of true believers: It would be too large to present to you all the character which we may finde in the Word of God of true believers: therefore I shall make mention but of one, which the Text holds forth, and is the second Doctrine observed from the Words, in the begining of our Discourse.
Doct. 2. That there is an earnest desire in the Church, or true Believers, after the second appearance of the Lord Iesus Christ.
You may try your selves whether you are true believers by your desires after Christs appearance; this is the Character which the Apostle Paul giveth of Believers, that they are such as love, and by consequence desire the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of right…sness, which the Lord, the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that love his appearance: All such, and none but such shall have a Crown of righteousness, who love Christs appearing; believers are said to look for Christs coming, Heb. 9. 28. VntoUnto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation. He will appear unto all, but only to them that look for him, will he appear unto salvation. Believers look for Christs appearance, with an eye of faith, of hope, and of desire.
1. Believers look for Christs appearance with an eye of faith; they expect it as sure as death, yea as more sure, because the death of some will be prevented by it; it is not impossible that the Lord Jesus should come in our days: they surely believe that the Lord will come.
2. Believers look for the appearance of Christ with an eye of hope; Tit. 2. 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearance of the great God, and our Saviour. As they have hopes of the glory of Heaven, so they have hopes of the coming of Christ, who will receive them into glory, who will put the Crown upon their Heads, and bring them with Triumph unto the new Ierusalem.
3. Believers look for the appearance of Christ with an eye of love and desire; they love and long for his appearance, they look with many a glance of love towards the Pallace above, where their Lord is, and they have many a longing wish, that he would come forth, and come down, and receive them unto himself, that where he is, there they might be also. The Bride saith come, and the desire of the Spouse is, Make haste my belived, and be as Roe upon the Mountains of Spices: Cant. 8. 14. Believers pray, Thy Kingdome come, in the Lord's Prayer, which he taught his Disciples, they desire the coming, not only of the Kingdome of grace, but also of the Kingdome of glory; and in the Text, the Church breathes forth this desire, after Christs appearance, Amen, even so come Lord Iesus.
Now examine your selves whether you are true believers by this Character. Do you love and desire Christs appearance?
Obj. If any object against themselves, and say, alas! we fear then we are no true believers, because we cannot say that we love and desire Christs appearance, we are so far from desiring it, that we are afraid of it, and it is matter of the greatest trouble unto us to think of it.
Ans. 1. See you to that, many go under the name of believers, which have only the name; take heed that none of you be found in the number of such, at the last day.
2. Possibly some of you may condemn your selves without reason, as Gods Children are more forward to do than hypocrites, who have the most reason; It may be you do not desire that Christ should come immediatly, but do not you desire that Christ should come at all? a Wife may sincerely and greatly desire the coming home of her Husband, when he is gone a long journey; and yet if her House be out of order, and not fitted to her minde for the receiving of him, if she be not dressed and got into such a garb, as she knows would be pleasing to him; she may be content that he would stay a little longer, until she be better prepared, yea she may be afraid of his coming whilst she is unprepared; the Harlot or Adulteress could be content that her Husband should never return, but the true wife doth desire the coming of her husband, though sometimes not the present coming: so true believers they do desire Christs coming, who is gone a long journey to Heaven, though they may not desire his present coming, because they are not so fitted as they desire to befor the receiving of him; they desire his coming, they would not for all the World that he should stay away for ever in Heaven; unbelievers could be content Christ should stay away for ever, and that they might live for ever upon Earth, but believers could not be so content, they may fer Christs immediate coming, because of their unpreparation, but they desire his coming.
Quest. How should we know whether our desires after Christs coming be sincere?
Answ. 1. If you love Christs person, it is … sign your desires after his coming are sincere; … desire the coming of friends to us, whom we love▪ Do you love Christ in sincerity? Do you love him for himself, for his own excellencies, his love…liness, his love, and spiritual love-tokens? do you love him upon a spiritual account?
2. If you do sincerely desire the comming … Christ into your hearts in regard of his Spirit and grace, it is a sign you have sincere desires after his coming in glorie; when grace will arrive to it… perfection; Can you understandingly and heartily pray Thy Kingdome come; I mean, that Christ's Kingdome of grace should be erected in your hearts; and are sincerely desirous to have all things within you brought into subjection and obedience thereunto? Do you sincerely and earnestly desire the presence of Christ and the breathings of his Spirit upon your hearts in his Ordinances? it is a sign that there are at least true radical desires in you after his second appearance, though by reason of doubts and feares they may not be so expresse.
3. If you have laid up your treasure in Heaven, and placed your happinesse in things above: if you have cast the Anchor of your hope upward into that which is within the Vail, it is a sign you have true desires after Christ's appearance, that he might give you possession of the happinesse which you have made choice of.
4. If you are careful to please the Lord, and whether present or absent, to be accepted of him; and are affraid of sin, because it is grievous to him; and are diligent in the use of means to fit and prepare your selves, and make all things readie for the receiving of him, it is a sign you do both look for his coming, and do desire it.
5. And lastly, if you have lively hopes of his coming, and can rejoice in those hopes, if you can with earnestness pray, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly; this is a sign indeed of your desires, though all true Believer have not attained to so great a heighth.
Unbelievers, they do not desire Christ's appearance, because they do not believe in him, because they do not love him, because their hearts are set upon the world, because they are under the guilt and power of sin, and because when Christ doth appear, he will judge them, condemn them, and punish them; But though they do not desire Christ's coming, nor think of it, nor prepare for it, yet Christ will come, and his coming will be dreadful unto them.
Believers, they desire Christ's coming, they … looking for it, and waiting for it, they are … ping for it, and preparing for it, and he will certainly, he will quickly appear, and they shall appear with him in glorie, and this appearance … be a most comfortable and joyful appearance u… them: which leads unto the second Word whi… I am to speak.
2. For the comforting of Believer.
Will the Lord Jesus Christ certainly and quic… ly appear to Judgment: here then is a full brea… of the sweetest consolation, at which you may su… and be satisfied and exceedingly refreshed; As … very word in this Doctrine speaks terror to Si… ners, so every word doth breathe forth comfort true Believers: and therefore I shall endeavo… hence to help work up your hearts unto sp… ritual Joy.
1. Rejoice, Believers rejoice! Christ will app… to Iudgment: Christ will appear in his Glorie, t… great God and your Saviour will appear, He, th… is your Saviour and Advocate will then be th… Judge of the World; your Lord and King wi… appear attended with a glorious Train of he… venlie Courtiers, decked with glorious bea… of most excellent Majestie! Your Captain … appear, the Captain of your Salvation, with … spoils of his and your enemies: and he will ri… triumphantly in the Clouds; your dearly belove… Friend and Husband will appear with such beaut… and lovelinesse in his face, and with such de… love towards you in his heart, as hath not entre… into your hearts to conceive: the Lord Jesus Chri… will be glorious in the eyes of the whole world on that day; and should not this rejoice your heart to think of the glorie of your Lord, which will be then so conspicuous, and of your interest in such a Person?
2. Rejoice, Believers rejoice! Christ will certainly appear: if there were any grounds to doubt the truth of this thing, you would have reason to grieve; but when the thing is so certain, when God hath revealed it in his Word so clearlie, when the Lord hath promised it to his people so faithfully, and given his People hopes and expectations of it, he will not disappoint them: You have reason to rejoice, there is nothing more certain, as hath been proved, than the second appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ at the last day,
3. Rejoice Believer…s, rejoice! Christ will quickly appear; the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; there is a time set, though you cannot know it, because God hath locked up this secret in his own bosome; yet you may know that it cannot now be far off; the Lord will not tarrie much longer in Heaven before he come down to Judgment: Look up then, and lift up your heads with joy, for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21. 28. You will not long groan under the bondage and burden of corruption; You will not long mourn and complain under the persecutions of cruel Enemies; You will not long be assaulted and bufferred with the temptations of Sathan; You will not long live in the dark Prison of the world, Christ will quickly be here and open the Prison-doors, and deliver you into the glorious libertie of the Children of God.
4. Rejoice, Believers rejoice! When Christ doth appear, yee also shall appear; Possibly some of you may remain alive until his appearance, be sure all of you shall be made alive; if you go down into your dust before, you shall not be hid there for ever, you shall not be buried there in eternal oblivion; but the Lord Jesus will awaken you out of your long sleep of Death; and raise you out of your beds of darkness; He will send his Angels to gather you from the four Winds; Think, O think how joyful a day this day will be unto you, when the Voice is proclaimed the Bridegroom is come, Go yee forth to meet him; when the Trumpet doth sound in the Air, and you are called out of your graves by the Angels, and gathered into the companie of all the Saints of God which lived in all generations from the beginning of the Creation; and in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye, such of you as are alive shall finde your bodie… strangelie transformed, and all that come forth of the ground made incorruptible and immortal; and when you shall see the Lord Jesus Christ come down with such brightnesse, and beautie, and glorie, and such royal Attendants, and you are all caught up to meet with him in the Air; when you shall finde your selves in the number of those blessed; happy ones, whom the Lord will send for, and receive to himself, when the greatest part of the World will be left behind, crying to the Rock to cover them, and the Mountains to fall upo… them, to hide them from the wrath of this furio… Judge, that is come to condemn them; O how will your hearts then be filled, and even ravished with transporting joy, which no heart now can conceive!
5. Rejoyce, believers rejoyce! when Christ d… appear, yee shall be judged by him; yee shall not be condemned by him, but yee shall be judged by him; your advocate will be your judge: Who shall then lay any thing to your charge? God will then justify you; who then shall condemn you? Christ will acquit and absolve you. You will openly be declared righteous on that day, through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which here hath been imputed to you▪ Christ will own you then for his redeemed people, whom he hath purchased with his own blood; then all your works of mercy will be made mention of; all your services of Christ in the World will be had in remembrance; all your graces will be taken notice of; and the Lord will kindly accept of the improvement of the smallest talents, which he hath intrusted you withall, Well done good and faithfull Servants, yee have been faithful in a few things, enter into the joy of your Lord, Matth. 25. 21. And if you have been persecuted for righteousness sake; if you have been imprisoned, banished, reproached, and greatly afflicted for Christs sake; if you have left Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Houses, Lands, yea and have laid down your lives for the testimony of Jesus, and that you might keep a good conscience, think what entertainment the Lord Jesus will give to you at that time? and O how will you rejoyce that the Lord should confer so great honour and dignity upon you, as to call you forth and enable you to suffer for his name? and think how sweetly the sentence which Christ shall pronounce upon you, will sound in your eares! Come yee blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World.
6. Rejoyce Believers rejoyce! when Christ doth appear, he will reward you, he will give you a crown of glory, which fadeth not away; he will not only judge and sentence you to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven, but he will receive you into the Kingdome, he will give you possession thereof, he will carry you along with him unto glory, he will lead you, and bring you into the new Ierusalem: he will show you the Father unto your full satisfaction, and you shall behold his glory and share in it, he will put you into those mansions which he hath prepared for you; Then, and never till then shall you be perfectly happy, and the fore-thoughts of this is matter of exceeding great comfort, especially if you consider these four properties of Heavens happiness.
1. Believers consider the greatness of the happiness of Heaven, it will be full, and you will be filled therewith unto your utmost capacity, yea beyond what here you are capable of; consider these particulars in your happiness of Heaven.
1. Think what bodies you will have; they will be most beautiful and glorious bodies, they will be most healthful, strong and immortal bodies; you will then bear the image of the Heavenly Adam, in regard of your bodies, as well as in regard of your souls.
Rejoyce then believers rejoyce! what though some of you have crooked and deformed bodies now? what though some of you are blinde or lame, or maimed, or have your bodies filled with irksome pains, and weakned with long sickness? what though you live in expectation of death, and these bodies, whatever their mold and shape be, must ere long be carried to the cold stinking grave, and be turned into putrefaction? yet rejoice you that are believers, because your bodies will be made so glorious in the resurrection, when all blemishes of nature will be healed, and all sickness and pain will be removed, because they will be raised in incorruption, and freed from any more dominion of death for ever.
2. Think what Souls you shall have; you will be glorious without, your bodies will shine; but you will be far more glorious within, your souls will shine much more; then your souls shall be washed clean from all remainders of sin, so that they shall not have the least spot or stain; then you shall be cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and arrive unto perfection of holiness; then the feeds of grace will be grown up into the flowers of glory, and O what a fragrant garden will your souls be? when the rude draught, as it were of Christ here in your hearts, shall be finished and perfected by Gods Pensil, and your spirits shall be made perfectly like unto your glorious Lord, O how beautiful will they be in the eyes of God!
Rejoice then believers, rejoice! it grieveth you when you look within you, and perceive so much remaining defilement; when you feel such strong opposition of the flesh against the spirit, and you finde your selves sometimes foiled thereby, your weaknesses and infirmities trouble you; but rejoyce believers, because in Heaven you will be perfectly freed from sin, you will never be foiled nor defiled with it any more, but you will be made perfectly holy, and perfectly happy.
3. Think what habitations ye shall have; you shall have Mansions in the Fathers house, Joh. 14. 2. A building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5. 1. your persons will be glorious, and your habitations will be glorious.
Rejoyce then believers, rejoyce! what though some of you live in poor and mean cottages; then you shall live in the glorious? Pallace of the King of Kings; what though your houses have been burned with fire, and some of you have not where to lay your head, and none of you have a certain dwelling place which you can secure to your selves? yet rejoyce because there are Mansions provided for you, out of which it will be impossible for you to be burned or turned out for ever. The City which is above hath foundations which cannot be over turned, and the building of God which is not made with hands, cannot be destroyed by hands, neither is exposed to flames of fire, which may demolish the fairest City in the world.
4. Think what Company you shall have: you shall have the presence of the Father, you shall dwell with the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God will dwell in you for ever; you shall have the company of holy Angels, and all the glorified Saints; all your companions will be most lovely and glorious.
Rejoyce then believers rejoyce! what though wicked men separate you from their company, and think you unworthy of their fellowship? God will not think you unworthy of his fellowship, nor separate you from his presence; what though some of you are forced to dwell in Meseck, and are linked in neer relations to some ungodly persons, and are every day vexed with their ungodly conversation? Rejoyce, for in Heaven you will be freed from such company, no wicked person will be permitted to come into that place.
5. Think what Treasures you shall have; you shall have Treasures which cannot be corrupted by moth, nor stoln by thief, your riches will be durable and unsearchable.
Rejoice then believers, rejoice! what though you are poor in the world? you are rich in saith, and hope; what though you have no inheritance on earth? yet you are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, you shall have an inheritance which is incorruptible, and undefiled; what though you indure some hardship in your journey through the world? when you come home to your Fathers house you shall be freed from all want, and have such treasures to spend upon, which can never be exhausted.
6. Think what Honours you shall have; the meanest of you will be exalted unto higher dignity than the greatest Monarch that ever lived; you will be crowned with immortal glory, you will be honoured by God and the Angels; and you will not only have honour, but you will be made most honourable.
Rejoice then believers, and take comfort, though you are scorned by some, and accounted as the off-scouring of the earth; you are reproached and vilified by men here, but all your reproaches, especially those which you have born for the sake of Jesus Christ, shall be wreathed into a Crown, and make you the more glorious in Heaven; there you shall not have the least disgrace cast upon you any more; and you shall be kept from doing any unbecoming action to blot and sullie you in the least, but you shall shine like so many Stars, or glorious Suns in the Kingdom of your Father.
7. Think what Peace and Rest you shall have; you shall have a most sweet peace and tranquilitie of mind, no enemie without to disturb and molest you, no devil to tempt and assault you, no lusts within, or distempered passion to disquiet you; then you shall have perfect peace; and then you shall rest from all wearisome imploiments, and take up your repose in God for ever.
Rejoice then believers, and set this chear your hearts in your passage through the tempestuous sea of this world; ere long you will come to the haven, where there will be no waves nor winds; sometimes now you are troubled on every side, and have no rest in your spirits; without are fightings, within are fears; but in Heaven you shall be freed perfectlie from all disturbance and molestation.
8. Think what Ioyes and Pleasures you shall have; you shall have fulness of Joy, Psal. 16. 11. you shall drink of the rivers of pleasures, Psal. 36. 8. O the delights which you shall have in the immediate views of Gods face, in the sense of Gods love, in the high actings of your love; in the fruition of the chiefest good, and the high emploiment which you shall have in Heaven.
Rejoice then believers, rejoice in hope of these joyes; now you mourn and weep for your sin, and because of the eclipses of the light of Gods countenance; it troubles your hearts that you can see and enjoy so little of God, that your love is so low and inconstant, that your highest services are but mean, and diverted many times by little trifling businesses in the world, from converse with God; in heaven all tears will be wiped away from your eyes, and all sorrow, with all the grounds thereof will be removed, you will come with singing into the new Ierusalem; you will enter and live in the vision and fruition, in the love and joy, and spend an eternity in the praise of the Lord.
2. Believers, consider the sureness of the happiness of Heaven; as surely as you are believers, so surely shall you obtain this happiness; you cannot be sure of any thing in the world, but you may be sure of the glory of heaven, and though there be not the certitudo subjecti: and many of you be not assured of it, but are full of doubts and fears that you shall fall short; yet there is certitudo objecti, the thing is sure to you.
Rejoice then believers, rejoice! your names are written in the book of life, our of which they shall never be blotted, labour to answer your doubts, and to get your hearts wrought up to a full assurance of this happiness, by such arguments as these, which will evidently prove, that if you be true believers, you shall not, you cannot miss of Heaven.
I. God hath chosen you to glory, he hath elected you to salvation before the world was, Act. 13. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. Hence it follows, that all believers were ordained to eternal life; and I Thes. 2. 13. God hath chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the spirit, and beliefe of the truth. All true believers are elected persons, and Gods decree of election cannot be frustrated, because God is unchangeable; because God changeth not, therefore you are not consumed; because God changeth not, therefore you shall be saved.
2. God hath promised this happiness to you, I Iohn 2. 24. This is the promise which he hath promised, even eternal life. And Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie hath promised. If God hath promised this happiness, and your faith doth give you interest in the promises, and God be faithful to fulfil to them, it being impossible for God to lie; then as certainly as God is true, you that are believers shall obtain.
3. The Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased this happiness for you, it is called the purchased posfession, Eph. 1. 14. as certain as the purchase, so certain will be the possession.
4. The Lord Jesus hath taken possession of Heaven for you, The fore-runner is for us entred, Heb. 6. 20. He is preparing these mansions in the fathers house for you, Ioh. 14. 2. and as certain as Christ is in Heaven, so certainly shall those that are believers be received thither in time.
5. Christ praied that you might have this happiness whilst he was on the earth, Iah. 17. 24. Father I will that those which thou host given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold the glory which thou host given me. Which prayer was made for you, if believers, as well as for his present Disciples, v. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. And for this thing Chirst intercedes above, and whatever he praies and intercedes for, he will prevail for you, and therefore you will obtain.
6. Ye are Christs, as ye are believers, and therefore all things are yours, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. amongst which, things to come are enumerated; ye are Christs servants, and do his work, and he will give you your wages; You honour him in the world, and therefore you shall be honoured by him; You follow your Master in a way of self-denial and suffering, and if you suffer with him, you shall reign with him, 2 Tim. 2. 12. and be glorified together, Rom. 8. 17. and where Christ is, there shall his servants be, Ioh. 12. 26. Ye are Christs members, and where the head is, there shall the members be; Ye are Christs Sponse, you are joined, married to him, and therefore shall live with him, all the powers of earth and hell, cannot separate you from his love, and therefore cannot keep you out of heaven, Rom. 8. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
7. Ye are justified by faith, Rom. 5. 1. and therefore absolved from the guilt of sin, therefore freed from the condemnation of hell, Rom. 8. 1. therefore shall not perish, seeing the cause thereof is removed, therfore you shall have eternal life, Ioh. 3. 16. whom God justifieth, them he also glorifieth, Rom. 8. 30.
8. Yee are the adopted children of God, Gal. 3. 26. For ye are all the Children of God, by faith in Iesus Christ. And if children, then heirs, Rom. 8. 17. and if heirs, you shall be sure to have the inheritance.
9. Ye are called with a Holy calling, and sanctified with the holy Spirit, and thereby in some measure fitted and qualified for this happiness by the work of grace, consormity to the Lord in holiness; grace is glory begun, and is called eternal life, and God hath promised to perfect it, Philip. 1. 6. grace hath relation to Heaven, as sin hath relation to hell; and as sin will certainly bring men to hell if it be not pardoned, and subdued; so grace will certainly bring men to heaven, because it cannot be wholly eradicated.
10. You have made choice of Heaven for your portion, you have laid up there your treasure, and God hath set your souls a longing after it, and given you hopes of it; and therefore you shall not miss it, your desires shall be satisfied, and your hopes shall not make you ashamed, Rom. 5. 5.
11. And if besides all this, you have the witness, and seal, and earnest of the spirit, giving you some first fruits, and foretastes of this happiness; (though all believers do not obtain it) then you may know without question, that this is a sure happiness, both in its self, and unto you.
Therefore believers exercise your faith, that you may be filled with all joy and peace in believing.
3. Believers consider the neerness of the happiness of Heaven, Christs appearance is not far off, but your happiness may be neerer, I mean the happiness of your souls in Heaven, which will begin, so soon as your lives come to an end: the wicked walk upon the brink of Hell every day, when they die, thither they are carried; you walk upon the borders of the Heavenly Canaan, the Paradise which is above, when you die, thither you shall be conveyed; and you may die suddenlie, and as s…ddenlie you will be in glory.
Rejoice then believers, rejoice! you may be in Heaven before you are aware; it may be to morrow God will send for you, within a few daies you may be out of the body, and present with …he Lord Jesus, and amongst the spirits of just Men made perfect; when you break Prison from the body, you will be delivered into the marvelous light of Gods glory; rejoice to think how neer your happiness is.
4. Believers consider the everlastingness of the happiness of Heaven, there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore; Psal. 18. 11. When you are come to Heaven, there you shall abide, your happiness will be constant and eternal, without diminution, intermixture of sin or sorrow, without interruption, or possibility that ever it should be brought to an end. It would alleviate the torments of the damned, if they had any hopes of ever being let out of Hell; and it would weaken the joyes of the Saints, yea fill them with unspeakable grief, if there were any danger and fear of being ever thrust out of Heaven.
Rejoice then yee believers; yee shall rejoice for evermore in the eternal vision and fruition of God, labour to begin your Heavens joyes now; let faith so realize and bring neer the things which you hope for, and make evident the things which as yet you do not see, but shall possess, that you may have a sweet foretaste of this happiness; and begin your Heavens work to praise the Lord for his great and undeserved love wherewith he hath loved you, and for those things beyond conception, which out of love he hath prepared for you.