The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 3 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Of the felicitie and blessednesse of the whole man, bodie and soule, consisting in his freedome from euill, and fruition of good.
ANd thus hauehave I shadowed out the ioyes, which§. Sect. 1. That we shall no more be molested with our turbulent affections. we shal attaine vntounto in our bodies and soules seuerally, when we come into our heauenly countrie. Now wee are to speake of those which concerne the whole man, consisting both in our freedome from euils; and in our communication of that positiue good, and those vnspeakable ioyes which are there prepared for vsus. The euils from which wee shal then be deliuered, are either internal, or external; the former are such as are inherent in our selues, and the other adherent and accidental; from al which we shal be freed in this day of our ful redemption. As first, we shal be deliuered from the corruption, and troublesome disorder of our turbulent affections; some whereof, being in their owne nature euil; and some vnprofitable, and of no further vse, shal be vtterly abolished; and the rest which are stil necessarie, shal be perfectly sanctified, and made so holy and pure, that they shal in al things be subiect to Gods wil, and to the rule of holy reason, and fit and readie to serue and glorifie God. Then shal malice cease, seeing there shal bee no enemie to maligne: there pining enuie shal hauehave no place, because our owne desires shal be fullie satisfied, and we shal be as glorious and happie as we would be; and if any hauehave more glorie then we, our ioy shal be the greater because we shal communicate with him therein, by reason of our perfect louelove▪ There shal be no place for scorneful contempt, and proud disdaine▪ because eueryevery one shall bee glorious and happie, and ye… hauehave no greater happinesse and glorie, then eueryevery …ther of the Saints shal like and approoue. Neither then shall wee hauehave any doubts, or bee subiect to despaire, because alo… hopes shal bee fully satisfied, and we shal hauehave secure assurance of Gods louelove. There shall be no need of desiring, longing, and wishing, because we shal inioy al which wee can desire; and all that we can wish is, that (if it were possible) we might more glorifie God, who of his infinit grace and mercy hath thus glorified vsus. There we shal not bee distracted betweene hope and feare, for our hopes shal be fully satisfied, and all cause of feare shal bee taken away, so that those passions of dull stupiditie, pale wannesse, and trembling horror, shal no more annoy vsus, seeing we shal be freed from al danger of losing our heauenly happinesse, and of being circumuented by the malice of any enemy: then shall our hearts no more boile with anger, nor burne with desire of cruel reuenge; seeing there shal be no euil to offend vsus, nor any foe to oppose against vsus; for the Lambe of God, and the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda▪ wil at that day hauehave al his and our enemies subdued and trodden vnderunder soote: There shal bee no place for zeale, seeing we shal al alike louelove God, and chearefully ioyne together in his worship and seruice; nor yet for hatred, seeing sinne shall be abolished both in our selues and others; there shal be no shamefastnesse, because no guiltines; nor no need of merciemercy, because there is no sense of miserie. There shal be no ielousies and suspitions, because our hearts being transparent, we shal clearely see, and bee certainely assured of one anothers louelove; nor contēding emulation, vnlesse it be, who shal louelove God best, and shew most louelove, both to Christ our head, and al our fellow-members of his glorious bodie. Finally, in this heauenly ioy, there shal be no place for sorrow, heauinesse, griefe and mourning, no sighing and groning, weeping and sobbing: for at that day the Lord wil aEsay 25. 8. Apoc. 7. 17.wipe away the teares from all faces and e…es, and there shal in this new Ierusalem, bApoc. 21. 4. Esay 65. 29. &the voice of we…ping be no more heard, nor the voice of crying; and because death, griefe and paine, shal hauehave no place, the c60. 20.daies of sorrow and mourning shall then bee …nded. But the other affections which are of necessarie vse, shal then being purified and perfitted, bee made seruiceable for the glorifying of God. For there we shal hauehave perfection of louelove, and no more affecting the world, and worldly things, nor the sinfull pleasures of the flesh, but contemning the one, in comparison of our heauenly excellencies, and being quite wained and purged from the other, wee shall with all our hearts, minds and soules, louelove the Lord aboue all things, and his holy Saints and Angels, our brethren, and copartners in ioy, as our selues. There shall we hauehave perfect affiance in God, securely resting, and wholly depending vponupon his louelove and power for our preseruation, and the continuance of our ioy; and then shall our hearts and minds be full of holie admiration, and rauishing wonder, to see and inioy the glorious Trinitie, and the vnconceiueable pleasures of this heauenly happinesse. Then shall we be full of ioy and gladnesse in the fruition of God, and that eternal felicitie, yea we shall triumph with ioy, and with an holy boasting glory in our gladnesse. And finally, we shal then hauehave peaceful minds, and full contentment, hauing what wee will, and not hauing what we will not. Neither shall there at this day be any reluctation or repugnancie betweene our passions and affections, the one crossing the other, as they doe in this life, but then, they being all subiected to holy reason, shall hauehave conformitie,§. Sect. 2. That we shall be freed from all impotencie and sinne. Hic preceptum est vt non peccemus: ibi praemium est non posse peccari, &c. August. ad Bonifac. lib. 3. cap. 7. tom. 7. peace, and concord among themselues.
Furthermore, in these heauenly ioyes wee shall bee freed from all weakenesse and impotencie, and shall bee indued with power and abilitie to doe whatsoeuer we wil; for (as I hauehave said) our wils shal be perfectly conformable to Gods wil, so that he shal wil whatsoeuer we wil, whose wil and power nothing can resist. So also we shal be freed from al sin, not onelyonly in respect of the guilt and punishment, but also the corruption and power of sinning. For (as one saith) here wee are commanded that we doe not sinne; there we are rewarded that we cannot sinne; heere we are inioyned not to obey our sinful concupiscence, there our reward shal …e, not to hauehave any concupiscence vntounto sin. So elsewhere: we shal not then sin, not only in act and deed, but not so much as in concupiscence and desire, when as we shal behold the face of God, which subdueth al concupiscence vntounto euil: for so sweetSatietas crit insatiabilis, nullum fastidium: semper esuriemus, semper saturi erimus. August. de Tempore, Serm. 1. Dominic. in 70. Tom. 10. is he and beautiful, that when we see him nothing else can delight vsus; but there we shal hauehave an vnsatiable satiety, without lothing, and being alwaies ful we shal stil hunger. Now what can be more cōfortable then this, to be freed not only from sin, but from power of sinning▪ to be deliuered not only from the wrath and dispeasure of God, but from committing any thing which might deserue it? what can be more effectual to make vsus loath this world; and with longing desire to seeke this heauenly and holy kingdome, and with the Apostle Paul to be dissolued, and to be with Christ, seeingRom. 7. 24. then we shal be freed from this bodie of sin, and be vnburthened of this massie and heauie load of wickednesse? the sense whereof made the Apostle Paul lamentablie to complaine:2. Cor. 12. 8. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death; and to labour so earnestly with God by heartie prayer, that he might be freed from these buffettings of Satan, and this pricke in the flesh? Finally, as we shal at this day be freed from sinne the cursed mother, so also from death the dreadful ofspring of that wicked parent; for then being made equal with the Angels, aLuke 20. 36.we shal (as our Sauiour saith) die no more, neither bApoc. 21. 4.shal there be there any more death, seeing cEsay …5. 8. 1. Cor. 15. 26.God will destroy death for euer, as the Prophet speaketh; so that it being swallowed vp in victorie, we may with the Apostle triumphingly say, O death where is thy sting! O graue 1. Cor. 15. 54. 55. 57.where is thy victorie! and conclude with that grateful praise of Gods merciemercy and goodnesse; Thankes be vntounto God which hath giuen vsus victorie, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
And as we shal be deliuered frō these internal euils, so also§. Sect. 3. That in our heauenly happinesse we shall be freed from all externall euils: as painfull labour, wicked companie, and the assaults of all enemie…▪ &c. frō those which are external & accidental: as for example, we shal be freed from our painful labors, wherin we heere spend our liues, & cōsume our strength; & shal obtaine eternal rest, and keepe a perpetual Sabbath vntounto God: & whereas in this life we cānot lawfully eat our bread, vnlesse we earne it with the sweat of our browes; nor purchase vntounto our selues any thing which is good, without the coine of painful labour; in this estate of blessednesse this troublesome toile shal cease▪ and we shal attaine vntounto whatsoeuer we can desire, with rest and quietnesse. So also in this heauenly happinesse we shal be freed from the societie and company of worldly wicked men, and shal no more be corrupted and poisoned by their euil example, whilest either we are drawne to imitate them, or to giuegive some approbation to their sins by word or countenance, because we would not incurre their displeasure, or1. Pet. 2. 8. lose some worldly aduantage: nor yet be offended when by their euil conuersation they dishonor God, and vex our righteous soules, making vsus often to crie out with Dauid: Psalme 120. 5.Woe is me that I remaine in Meshech, and dwell in the tents of Kedar: for being deliuered from this sinful world, we looke 2. Pet. 3. 13.for new heauens, and a new earth, according to Gods promise, wherein dwelleth righteousnesse, as the Apostle speaketh. Againe, as we shal be deliuered from the companie, so also from the crueltie of wicked worldlings, and be no more endangered to their iniuries, oppressions, and bloodie persecutions. For then we shal hauehave the vpper hand of al who assault vsus; and triumph in victorie ouer them, who hauehave formerly troden vsus vnderunder foot: then shal our noisome prisons be changed into a paradise of heauenly pleasures: then shal our bands and bolts, be turned into most glorious and precious ornaments of ioy and happines: then for mens railings and proud menaces, we shal hauehave the approbation of God; and applause of the Saints and Angels: then our reproches and disgraces shal be turned into heauenly honor, and euerlasting glorie; and for our bitter sufferings, and sore combats we shal hauehave a crowne of victorie, and a ful recompence of reward. Furthermore, we shal then be deliuered from the cruel assaults of our spiritual enemies, and attaine vntounto, after a ful and final victorie, a glorious triumph, and euerlasting peace. In this world we are exercised and turmoiled in a continual conflict against the cruel enemies of our saluation, Satan, the world, and our owne flesh: and sometime Amelek, sometime Israel hath the vpper hand: but then we shal be freed from these troubles and dangers, so as we shal no more need to feare the assaults of Satan, the allurements and persecutions of the world, not the frailtie and treacherie of our owne flesh; neither shal they then be able to ouercome and foile vsus, nor so much as to assault vsus, or once by al their power and malice to disturbe our ioyes: for in the heauenly happines (as one saith)In coelestibus gaudijs nullus perit amicus: nullus admittitur inimicus. August. Apocal. 21. 25. Iob 11. 16. no friend perisheth, nor enemie entreth: and therefore the gates of this heauenly citie need no shutting, because no enemie can approch vntounto them. Finally, by this heauenly happinesse we shal be exempted and freed from all miseries and afflictions, with which this mortal life is made bitter and irkesome, and then (as Zophar speaketh) we shall forget our miseries, or remember them as waters that are past: for thereBenè regnum Dei aestati comparatur▪ quoniam tunc moeroris nostri nubila transeunt, & vita dies aterni solis claritate fulgescunt. Gregor. lib. 40 Homil. Homil. 1. shal be no thunder, lightnings, and earth-quakes, no stormie tempests, scorching heate, nor extremitie of cold; there shal be no nakednesse, famine, warre, or plague; no griefe for the departure of true friends, nor discontent for the treacherie and infidelitie of those which are false. But I shal not need to insist in particulars, seeing I hauehave alreadie more largely expressed them; vntounto which, if need were, I doubt not but eueryevery Reader may adde a great number out of his owne feeling and experience.
But as the whole man shal be freed from al euils; so also he§. Sect. 4. Reasons to proue that the ioyes of heauen must needs be most excellent and blessed. 1. Cor. 2. 9. shal be replenished with al good, and hauehave the fruition of those heauenly ioyes; which as they are vnconceiueable and infinit, so also they shal be endlesse and euerlasting: the former point the Apostle expresseth, where he saith, that the things which the eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, neither euer came into mans heart, are which God hath prepared for them that louelove him. For if this be true of the great worke of our redemption, and of the hidden mysteries of Christian religion; how much more of that greater worke of our glorification, and of those vnspeakeable and incomprehensible ioyes, which God hath prepared for his Saints and Angels? which though they be vntounto vsus inuisible, and in themselues infinite, yet it shal not be amisse according to that smal measure of knowledge which we hauehave receiued, to adde something of them, that by the consideration hereof, we may … our affections weaned from the immoderate louelove of these base and earthly vanities, and may hauehave our hearts so inflamed with these diuine and heauenly excellencies, that w… may vse al good meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto them. And that we may the better conceiue of the greatnesse of▪ these ioies which are in themselues vnconceiueable, and may hauehave some little glimpse of this glorious light, I wil first set downe some reasons which may necessarily proue, that though in this place of banishment and time of ignorance, we cannot perfectly know and distinctly expresse what these ioyes are, yet it must needs be that they are most excellent; and afterward in some darke description shadow out this blessednesse and vnconceiueable glory, by setting downe (though but darkely) some particulars wherein their excellencie and perfection doth consist. The arguments to proue this point may be taken from the lesse to the greater, wherein we are to vse the best things of the world, as steps wherby being raised we may obtaine some dark prospect of this glorie, as it were a farre off; and as foiles to set out the better the incomparable beautie of that inualuable iewel the blessednesse of the Saints, and ioyes of heauen: for thus we may reason and necessarily conclude, that if the Lord who is infinite in al goodnes, wisdome and power, hath in this life prouided such a world for the good and bad together, for strangers as wel as his friends, yea for Turkes, Pagans, Infidels, Atheists, blasphemers, and persecutors, who are his professed enemies, as wel as his faithful seruants and deare children; what glory and happinesse hath he prepared for them alone in the world to come? If al hauehave in common such profits and delights, how glorious and great is that peculiar portion reserued for the Saints? if this world destinated to destruction, hauehave such a goodly vaulted roofe, adorned in the day with such a glorious Sunne, and in the night with the Moone, shining with such beautie and brightnes, bespangled also with such a multitude of starres, as it were precious shining iewels and rich diamonds, and such a goodly floore as the earth is, beautified with such variety of beasts, birds, trees, plants, wholesome hearbes, and odoriferous flowers, no lesse delightfull to the sight for their admirable colours and figures, the… to the smel for their pleasant and sweet sent, and watred with so many crystal springs, and cleare streames, riuers and brookes; if we hauehave heere such musicke to delight the eare, the natural melodie of sweet singing birds, and the artificial harmonie of instruments and voices made by men; such delightful meats and drinkes to please the taste, and such soft … beautiful rayment, goodly houses, and downe lodgings to delight the feeling; such orchards, such gardens, such walkes, such groues and shades, such fields, such medowes, such iewels and such treasures, in al which Gods enemies and reprobate men hauehave for the most part a far larger share, then the deare seruants of God; then how incomparably more excellent is the kingdom of heauen, the place of Gods owne residence, appointed to continue for euer, and purposely prepared for the holy Saints, the vessels of Gods merciemercy, ordained to life and glorie, whom God loueth as the apple of his eye, and for whose sake he made the world and al these creatures, and gaue his Sonne of infinite more worth then many worlds, to worke the worke of their redemption and saluation? If this world, which in comparison is but a cottage, prepared, not for lasting habitation, but as it were for present vse, like a shed to beare off a storme, be so stately built and so richly furnished, what shal we think of the state, beautie, and glorie which is reserued for vsus in our manour and mansion houses, which are the chiefe seates of our heauenly inheritance? if the out-borders of Gods kingdome be so rich and beautiful, how much more excellent is the Kings Court, the great Monarch of heauen and earth, where he chiefely sheweth his glorie and Maiestie? If the Lord in his rich bountie, hath appointed vntounto vsus a place of such profit and delight for our exile and banishment, how rich and ful of al pleasures is his own countrie, which he reserueth for his own vse, to shew therin his own glorious presence; and for the reward of those whom he most graceth with his fauour? If the place of our pilgrimage hauehave so many delights & comforts, what pleasure and contentment shal we find in our heauenly home? If we hauehave so many causes of ioy and reioycing in this valley of teares, and time of mourning for our sins; how shal we triumph with ioy, and be euen rauished with delight, on our mariage day, when as al our sins being forgiuen, and we reconciled and restored to the fauour of God, we shal hauehave the wedding betweene vsus and our husband Christ solemnized,Luke 12. 36. 37. when as girding himselfe about, and making vsus to sit downe at the table, he will come forth in great maiestie and glorie, and minister vntounto vsus at his feast; and afterwards carie vsus into the bridall chamber of rest and happinesse, that we may eternally solace our selues with him in heauenly delights? If the world, which is but as it were a prison, wherein we are kept in safe custodie, til we be brought forth to appeare before Gods tribunal seat at the day of iudgement, be so excellently adorned, and so richly furnished with varietieIohn 14. 3. of delights, that worldly men could find in their hearts to remaine in it for euer; how excellent and absolute in al perfection, is that kingdome which he hath prepared to be the countrie and citie of the Saints, and his owne kingly palace which he hath built to be the seat of his Maiestie, and as it were the throne and theater of his glorie? Finally, if there be so great varietie of profits and pleasures in this world, where the Lord would hauehave his elect afflicted and corrected for their faults, that they might amend them, what infinite and incomparable treasures, ioyes and delights, hath he prouided for them in heauen, where he purposeth to reward them, to communicate vntounto them the ful streames of his bountie and goodnes, to set vponupon their heads crownes of glorie, and to cloth and compasse them about with ioy and happinesse? Surely the ioyes of this place are so infinit and incomprehensible, that the Apostle Paul who had seene them in vision only, was so delighted and euen rauished with them, that it was needful that he should hauehave a pricke in the flesh, and the2. Cor. 12. 7. messenger of Satan to buffet him, that he might not be exalted aboue measure, through the excellencie and abundance of reuelations. And therefore if Paul so triumphed in ioy, because he had for a short time beheld that heauenly happines in vision only, what vnspeakeable rauishing delight shal the elect attaine vntounto, who shall not only see it, but enioy it, and that not for a short time alone, but for euer and euer.