The Works of Jeremiah Burroughs 9-11, Treatise 2 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Two more Grounds why the Saints Hope makes them purifie themselves. First, Because the things hoped for, are such pure and holy things. Lastly, Because the purging of the heart is but a preparation for the enjoyment of all the Good a gracious heart hopes for.
FIrst, If we consider what are the holy things that the soul doth hope for, that is, the Objects of Hope, as before the greatness of the things, so the things themselves true saving Hope pitches upon, they are things so holy and pure, that it cannot be but that the Hopes of such things must needs purifie the heart as thus; I need go no further than the very verse before the Text, Now we are the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is: And every man that hath this Hope in him, purifies himself, even as he is pure: He that hath this Hope, What Hope? that is, The Hope that when Jesus Christ shall appear, we shall be like Christ, and shall see him as he is; Oh one day I shall be like to Jesus Christ; the great thing that I Hope for, it is not so much that I shall for ever be freed from Hell, and the unspeakable torments of the damned; but this I hope, that though I have a wretched heart of mine own, yet I hope one day I shall be made even like to Jesus Christ himself, and I shall see Jesus Christ as he is in all his Holiness, and all his Glory, I hope for this. Certainly if these be the things that I hope for, then it must needs be sutable to this that I must labor to be as like Christ as I can; if so be that people did but understand what they mean when they say they hope to go to Heaven, it could not but cause them to purge themselves from sin and wickedness; thou hopest to go to Heaven, what dost thou hope for in Heaven? truly that we cannot tell, but we shall be happy and glorious; but what is it? If God hath acquainted thy soul with true Hope, this is thy happiness, That thou shalt be for ever in Heaven with Jesus Christ, and be like him, and thou shalt see him in his holiness and glory, that thou hopest for; that is the happiness of Heaven that thou rejoycest in every time thou thinkest of: Certainly, if thou canst rejoyce in this Hope, then the soul should labor to be as like Christ as it can be: that which I account should be the glory of Heaven to my soul, certainly if thy heart be in Heaven, thou wouldest be glad to have as much of Heaven here on Earth as thou canst for the present.
The last thing is this, Surely he that hath this Hope must needs purge himself, because the purging of the soul is but a preparation for the enjoyment of all the good a gracious heart hopes for: now if it hopes for it, it must needs follow that it will labor to prepare for that it hopes for: as thus, Suppose there hath been a treaty of a Match between two, if it be quite off, and there be little hopes that it will go on, they never trouble themselves about preparation for it; but when there is a treaty of a Match, and it begins to go on hopefully, and they have ground fully to perswade themselves that it wil proceed, and they expect the very day when the Solemnize shall be, now they begin to think of preparation, of their cloathes, and of their friends, and where they should keep their Marriage Feast; then they begin to prepare when once they make account that the thing will go on, and that the day is appointed: Thus is the difference between those that are Carnal and Spiritual; you that are carnal, perhaps you hear of Christ, and of a match between the soul and Christ in the general; but the holy Spirit comes, and not only reveals such a thing in general, but comes and perswades the soul, though very poor and wretched in its self, yet perswades this soul, well, God the Father intends his son to be a Match for you, and the thing it is determined in Heaven, that thou art the soul that shalt enjoy Jesus Christ for thy husband to all Eternity, and the glory of Jesus Christ shall be upon thee, and the time is appointed when Jesus Christ shall come with all his glory for the full Solemnity of this Match, and to take thy soul and body to himself to live for evermore with him in those mansions he is gone to prepare: now when the soul comes first to beleeve this, and beleeving this, then comes to have Hope raised, and hopes for that day coming, the soul thinks, what must I do to prepare my self then for this Bridegroom? how shall I fit my self for this day of the coming of Jesus Christ? It is indeed as excellent a sign of true Grace as any one I know, when the heart is taken off from other things, and now hath such a cleer manifestation of Christ, and such Faith and Hope in Christ, and of the part that it shall have in Christ, and communion with him: the great care and work of such a soul in the whol course of its Life here, is nothing else but to prepare it self for the meeting of this Bridegroom, to meet with Jesus Christ, and so to meet with him as to enjoy everlasting communion with him, whereas before my thoughts and care was about this and the other thing in the world, to make provision for my self though I may follow my calling in an orderly way as before I came to Christ, yet the strength of my soul is upon this great work, to prepare my soul to meet with Jesus Christ when he comes, that I may be presented blameless before him at his coming, whensoever it shall be, I have Hopes of this glorious Match; the great day of Judgment that shall be the day of horror and vexation of ungodly and wicked men, shall be the day of the glorious Match of my soul to Christ, and therefore what is the course of my life, and the care of my heart, but to prepare my soul for this time? other men and women may be busied about this matter, and the other business, but the work that I have to do is to prepare my soul for the coming of Jesus Christ that I do expect to behold, and be made like unto him; now can this stand with the living in any way of known sin? it's impossible but where there are such things as these are, such a soul must purifie himself as he is pure.