The Morning Exercise Methodized, Sermon 27
OF HEAVEN.
MATTH. 25.34.
Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
THE Deſcription of Heaven is a work fitter for an Aaron the High Prieſt of the Moſt High, when upon Mount Hor he is ſtripping himſelf of the vile body of ſin; or for a Moſes when on the top of Nebo, after a Piſgah proſpect*Deut. 34.5. (as the Jews comment) he died at the*Cant. 1.2. kiſs of God, refunding that*Gen. 2.7. breath of life, and expiring his ſoul into the boſome of God; Nay, more fit to be deſcribed by a pen taken from the Wing of a Cherubim, than the ſtammering tongue of any mortal man. For whoever attempts to ſpeak of an heavenly ſtate while himſelf is on earth, his diſcourſes of that, muſt needs be like the dark dreams and imaginations of a child concerning the affaires of this world, while it ſelf is yet ſwadled and cradled in the womb. Yet diſcourſes of Heaven were never more ſeaſonable upon earth. When*foreign. Dio. Laer. Anaxagoras was accuſed as not ſtudying Politicks for his Countryes good, he replied, I have a very great care of my Country, pointing up to heaven; if ever Chriſtians had cauſe to make all honeſt haſte to heaven, 'tis in a ſinful and a perverſe generation; when the waters cover the earth, whether ſhould a Dove-like ſoul fly, but to the Ark of God? when Gods judgements and his Avengers of blood threaten us on every hand, what City of refuge can we run to but the Sanctuary of God? when we know not how ſoon the members of Chriſts body in conformity to their Head, may be called to ſweat drops of blood; 'tis wiſdom for us with our bitter hearbs to keep the Paſsover, and to think on that*Luke 22.12. large upper Roome, wherein we may be Feaſted at the Supper of the Lamb. Therefore with holy David, when the floods of ungodly men made him afraid, Pſal. 18.4.let us take the wings of a Dove, fly away, and be at rest, in that deſart of men, but Paradiſe of God, while we meditate on theſe words, Come ye Bleſsed, &c.
A little before the Text, you have ſuch a diviſion of this world, as you ſhall never ſee (as many diviſions as there are) till you come to judgement; a Herd of hairy, rough, luſtful Goats on the left hand, which (like Pythagoras his ſecond number) are accurſed for departing from unity, and have a ſharp ſentence with the unprofitable ſervant,*foreign. Mat. 24.51. Cut him in ſunder, and appoint him his po…tion with the hypocrites. But the ſheep on the right hand, are all folded up in the arms of Chriſt, Come ye bleſsed, &c.
In which words, you have
1. A Poſſeſſion.
2. The admiſſion into that poſſeſſion.
In the Poſſeſſion,
1. The nature and qualification of it, it is a Kingdome.
2. The Preparation of it, From the foundation of the World.
In the Admiſſion,
1. The Title, and that is, Inheritance.
2. The Heirs, The bleſſed of my Father.
3. The formal Introduction, Come ye bleſsed of my Father, inherit, &c.
Firſt, The Poſſeſſion, and in that its nature and quality, it is a Kingdome; *Pſal. 47.7.God is King of all the earth; *Pſal. 97.1.the Lord reigns, let the earth rejoyce, and the multitudes of Iſles be glad thereof; for no places ſo ſubject to tempeſts, inundations and changes in the ayr and ſtate, as they. Every creature payes him allegiance in the K…ngdom of his power. But the Scepter of his grace is ſtretched out over Zion, *Rev. 14.3.he is King of Saints, who are not only Subjects to his power, but his holy Will, being*Pſal. 110.3. made willing in the day of his power. But yet the ſeeds of Rebellion are in their hearts; but when they enter the Kingdom of his glory, they ſhall not only become perfect Subjects, but Kings and Conquerours over his and their enemies; Come enter into this Kingdom prepared for you. Now in every Kingdom erected, there is ſomething to be depoſed, which they are to be deveſted of, ſomething to be impoſed, which they are to be inveſted in.
Firſt, Therefore to make way for this Kingdom, the black Regiment of errours, ignorance, and miſapprehenſion, ſhall be disbanded; though all the Subjects of Chriſts Kingdom here, are freed from*2 Pet. 2.1. damnable hereſies, and recovered from the abſolute dominion of the Prince of darkneſs, yet they are ſubject to ſuch errours and miſtakes, as may make them troubleſome not only to the Church of God, but to the wor d. Te tullian Montanizeth, Cyprian rebaptize h, and*Cujus ingenium Eccleſiae Sacramentum. Origen brings others from thoſe errors himſelf fell into, as he did Saint Ambro…e from the Ʋalentinian Hereſie, to the*foreign. Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. lib. 6. c. 13. Orthodox fa…th. Bu… theſe and all other ſhadows on the minds of Saints ſhall vaniſh, when the morning ſhall appear as the darkneſs of the night is routed by the riſing Sun. All thoſe groundleſs ſcruples that now gravel tender hearts; and*Mat. 13.41. whatever offends, ſhall be gathered …ut of this Kingdome. All laborious ſtudies, Controverſies, and Polemical Diſputations, ſhal… then have a final determination. All ſubtile diſtinctions, Jeſuitical aequivocations and evaſions (the uſual masks, and genuine Vermilion of that Scarlet whore, whereby to render the fowleſt actions ſpecious to the eye of the world) ſhall be then ſwept away as a Refuge of lyes; Death will be the*foreign. molting time to deplume men of all thoſe phantaſtick opinions, and Mercurian fancies, which they now wing their heads withal; all thoſe.*Act. 9.18. Scales of ignorance wherein they*Job 41.15. and 31. pride themſelves as the Leviathan, and fling the world into aeſtuations, ſhall then drop off their eyes; their*Jer. 13.23. Leopards ſpots, and Aethiopian skins contracted by too hot a Sun, and too open a converſe with the proſperities of this world, ſhall be taken off. And though now upon our eye-lids ſits the very ſhadow of death, Job 16.16.yet there the meaneſt underſtanding ſhall confute the ignorant determinations of a whole Sanerdrim of Rabbi's, and look down upon all the grandure of Humane Policies, and reaſons of State, with as ſcornful an eye, as we now look up with to the meaneſt Cobweb in our Windows.
2. All that turbulent Rout of affections ſhall be caſhiered; as all thoſe clouds of ignorance ſhall be blown over, ſo all that thunder and lightning of paſſion which they involve and travel with, ſhall paſs away. All thoſe furious waves which now ebb and flow in mens hearts, according to the various and lunatick impreſſions of worldly intereſts and imaginations, which make men ſtorm like the winds, rage like the Seas, and foame forth their own ſhame, ſhall be reduced to a calm; theſe murmuring Gadarens, and their ſwiniſh luſts ſhall be buried in a dead ſea.Aeolus ſis affectuum tuorum Neirim…. de arte volun. We ſhall hold all theſe *Prov 30.4. Iſa. 40.12.winds in our fists, and theſe waves in the hollow of our hands. All thoſe peeviſh, fiery Policicks, Eccleſiaſticks, and blinders of natural conſcience, wherewith men ſting one another in theſe dayes of ſin, ſhall be eternally extinguiſhed; thoſe mutinous commotions of ſpirits, which now dethrone jugement, and conſcience in mens breaſts (and therefore enforce judgement-ſeats without them to be ſet up) ſhall be as calmly ſubdued, as the Sun puts out the fire; thunders, lightnings, peſtilences, earth-quakes, ſhake not the world ſo much, as mens paſſions. The pride and envy of a Caeſar and a Pompey, were able to inroll three hundred thouſand Heads in the duſt. The impetuous motions of theſe luſtful affections, breed thoſe miſerable neceſſities men talk of; but as Augustine ſayes*Tum fin…untur iſtae neceſſitates quum vincuntur illae cupiditates. Aug. in Epiſto. 70., thoſe neceſſities will be ended, when theſe luſts are conquered; then men will be*Rom. 8.37. foreign. more than conquerours; and ſhall be able to conquer themſelves, their paſſions, which Victors themſelves obtain not to do here. Men are now like bruits, ſtaked down to particular intereſts, humours and luſts; but then, and not till then,*Liberum arbitrium crit liberatum. Aug. free-will it ſelf ſhall take up its freedom, and all thoſe*Epheſ. 2.3. foreign. Wills of the fleſh, ſhall have a totaI and final circumciſion, when this eighth day, and great Sabbath of the Saints is come.
3. The whole body of bodily infirmities ſhall be ſhaked off. So long as the ſoul weareth the body, it carries an Almanack about it, by vertue of thoſe paſſions which*foreign. Jamb. in vi. Pyth. button ſoul and body together, and convey its diſtempers to the mind; and the ſoul on the other hand, as primarily affected with ſin, as a ruſty ſword infects the ſcabbard; but when the body call'd the ſheath of the ſoul by the Prophet*Chap. 7.15. foreign vagi…. Daniel, ſhall drop off, the ſoul like the*Gen. 3.24. flaming ſword or Cherubim rather, ſhall enter into the Paradiſe of God. How long is the ſoul, that*Prov. 20.27. Candle of the Lord, in the dark Lan ho…n of the body, ere it ſhine at all? and when it begins to flame forth, the Lanthorn burnes; one feaveriſh diſtemper or other comes, and that is raked up as a ſpark in its aſhes. That great*Sen de brev. vi. Pub…ican of time, Sleep, what an Exciſe upon cuſtom hath it out of our lives? and our*Venter vitae Charybdis. bellies are the graves of a great part of our days; But meats for the b…lly, and the belly for meats, but God ſhall deſtroy both it and them; that is, as to their preſe…t uſe*1 Cor. 6.13. quoad uſum. Ut in carina prora puppiſque, &c. Tertul. de Reſurrect.. As in a Ship, all the Maſts, Sails, Poop and Sterne abide when in the Haven, as …hey were in the Voyage, ſo all the Tackling of the bo…y may remain in heaven; Elijah dropped his Mantle, none of his cloaths; ſo the looſer humours, dull phlegm, and melancholy, which clog us with indiſpoſitions, and make us*foreign. Anton. foreign. Pſal. Sept. 4.2. Pſal. 30.5. heavy-hearted, and dull-ſpirited in holy duties, ſhall be all drawn off, and then we ſhall ſerve God without any laſſitude, fainting or tediouſneſs; Heavineſs may endure for this night, but joy cometh in that morning, when with the Sun,*Pſal. 19.5. we ſhall rejoyce as a Gyant, to runne our race.
4. All that Legion of fowle ſpirits, with their armoury of tentations, ſhall be confined for ever in their*Jude 6. chaines of darkneſs; the Prince of this world ſhall be depoſed when this Kingdom taketh place; the *Rev. 20.3.great old Serpent cast into the bot…omeleſſe pit. No Serpent ſhall hiſs in that Paradiſe. And though all this world, the*Job 7.1. foreign. 70 ſcene of his tentations, ſhould remain after its purifying by fire, and all creatures as mans ſervants be cloathed with a better Livery, when their Maſter is advanced; yet they could no more faſten a tentation on a Saint in glory, then you can now ſhoot an arrow into the heart of the Sun. Though Satan and the world are now alwayes nibling at a Chriſtians heels, that as many ej…culations as the ſoul hath to God, it finds as many injections from the Devil, yet the God of peace will then finally bruiſe Satan under their feet. Rom. 16.20.The ground that now Lords it over men, and is the Lordſhip, not the man, and plows up his heart with c…reful ſolicitudes, and caſts its furrows, and wrinckles in his face, ſhall never give Thornes and Thiſtles to his eyes more; but he ſhall be able to ſerve God*1 Cor. 7.35. foreign. without any Vellications, Convulſions, Cramps, of Diſtractions, from the ſowre Fermentations of the Fleſh and the World.
Secondly, As theſe enemies ſhall be depoſed and diſappear; ſo there is ſomething to be ſuper-induced, in order to the confummation of this happineſs.
1. Therefore all the Subjects of this State, ſhall*Rev. 19.8. be cloathed with long white R …bes, whi h is the righteouſneſs of the Saints; they ſhall be*Pſal. 110.3. in the beauties of holineſs, from the very womb and first opening of that morning; every infant-grace ſhall then have its adoleſcence into a perfect man, Epheſ. 4.13.and to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. Here is imperfection, intermiſſion, and remiſſion in our devotions of the higheſt elevation. David himſelf when his heart was moſt ſtrung with Divine affections, and in the beſt tune; yet he had his Cadences. His Hallelujahs, and higheſt ſtraines of praiſe, came off with*foreign proſtravit. Buxt. Selah, a Proſtration of voice, and an affectionate pauſe; but in that Quire of ſouls once entered*Sanctum ſanctorum. the holy of holies, ſhall ſing, Bleſſing, and glory, and honour, and power, to him that ſits on the Throne, and the Lamb for ever and ever, with an*Rev. 5.13. Amen Hallelujah, with the moſt diſtended faculties and intentions of ſoul to all eternity, in that*Rev. 19.4. houſe of praiſes, and at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Here every Chriſtian hath*foreign Hebraeis domus nuptialis dicitur candore ſanguinis. his Garments made white in the blood of the Lamb, being juſtified from his iniquities by Faith in Jeſus; but when they ſhall be tranſlated to that Mountain of Bliſs,*Rev. 7.14. their faces ſhall appear as the Sun, and their Garments of light as the top of Lebanon, *Mat. 17.2. Mark 9.2. Candore nivis.ſhall ſhine as white as Snow. Here like poor common Souldiers, ſome get one piece of Armour, others another, one is skilled at one weapon, others at another; Job gets a Helmet of Patience, David a Girdle of Truth on his Loynes, and Peter a Shield of Faith, after they had been trained up to the uſe of them in many combates; but there every one ſhall have put upon him, the whole*Rom. 13.12. Armour of Light, not to fight but triumph in; for*1 Cor. 15.28. God will be to them all in all: and the*Pſal. 48.11. Sun himſelf being their Shield,*Rev. 21.22. Sanctuary, and holy temple of his holy ones; yea, the*Rev. 12.1. cloathing of his Saints; all ſublunary glories, like your half-mooned honours, ſhall be under their feet, but an aſteriſm and Crown of everlaſting Righteouſneſs ſhall be upon their heads.
2. As they ſhall have this Royal Apparel when they enter into this Kingdome as their Robes, ſo they ſhall have their*Rev. 7.9. palms in their hands; the *1 Kings 6.33.doores of the holy of holies were made of Olive Trees, Palms, Cherubims, and open flowers canved on them, which ſignified that abſolute Peace, compleat Victory, Angelical felicity, and an*1 Pet. 1.4. incorruptible Crown of glory, that never fadeth away, to be their inheritance that enter into that place. There is no worm in the fruit of this Paradiſe,*Pax est traaquillitas ordinis. Aug. de civ. Dei 19. l. 14. Ordinata requies appetitionum, &c. but tranquil order in the ſoul,*Iſa. 32.17. 1 Cor. 6.17. the fruit of rightoouſneſs here being * peace, and the effect of it joy and aſſurance for ever; Surely there where we ſhall * be joyned to the Lord, and become one Spirit, his mind and will perfectly taking place in us;*Iſa. 48.18. our peace will be as a River, when our righteouſneſs ſhall be as the waves of the Sea. No reflections upon ſins or ſorrows paſs'd with bitterneſs of ſpirit, as now we have in our greateſt Triumphs and feſtivities, as the Jews in their Feaſts of Tabernacles,Lev. 23.40. had their willow boughs among their Palmes, while they remembred the dangers they paſſed in the Wilderneſs on their Feſtival Revolutions, but every review (if actual felicity can poſſibly give way to it) will only widen and dilate the ſoul for a more ample fruition of the preſent ſtate, even*Si quaeris de viſione Dei qualis est actio aut quies potius ut rerum di cam, veſcio. Deciv. 22.29. that peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding. So that as Auguſtine ſayes, if you ask what this enjoyment is of God, what kind of action, or rather reſt? to ſpeak truth, I know not; and no wonder when that which is enjoyed here*Phil. 4.7. foreign., containes more than any underſtanding can comprehend.
3. To make up the Kingdom there muſt be a Crown, and ſo there is; but this Crown is the King himſelf; here the King of glory enters in at our everlaſting gates, but there we ſhall enter in to the King of glory;*Gen. 15.1. I am thy exceeding great Reward. But there are three wreaths in this Crown.
1. God as conſidered the object of Viſion, the Chryſtal Ocean of all Truth; and there we ſhall be able to read every truth in the Original, and ſee it in him as our faces in a glaſs; not only thoſe truths that are ſo mainly conducing to our happineſs, but thoſe more ſpeculative to*Etiam curioſitas ſatietur. Anſelm. the ſatisfaction of curioſity it ſelf. Luther diſcourſing at Supper the night before he died, ſaid, That as Adam after his ſleep knew his Wife to be bone of his bone, and call'd all the Creatures by their names; ſo after*Pſal. 17.15. we ſhall awake, we ſhall not only be ſatisfied with Gods image, but ſhall know one another; yea, all things to be known; Philoſophy will then be not a dead contemplation, but a meditation of life; and every idiot now, ſhall then have the collection, and pure extract of all the notions in the world, while the book of life lies open and legible before his face, the idea's, and Repreſentations of all beings in God the Father, the mirrors of all grace and truth in Jeſus Chriſt, the beauty of all delights and ſweetneſſes imaginable in the holy Spirit, and all theſe in all, and all in one, with infinite variety in unity tranſcendent to all imaginable reflections of glory. But who of us*foreign, &c. Ariſ. dark creatures can bear this inacceſſible light? and therefore he*1 King. 8.10, 11. appeared in the Temple in Divine darkneſs, all the pureſt light in the world being but a ſhadow of God. If an idolatrous Temple of Diana's was ſo bright, that the door-keepers cryed always to them that entred in, Take heed to your eyes, 'tis difficult to imagine how, even an immortal *Exod. 33.20.eye ſhould ſee him and live. Therefore*Rev. 2.28. to him that overcomes, he will give the morning ſtarre, a*Lumen confort ans uti Scholastici loquuntur. light to ſtrengthen the eye to behold this glory, as all the Starres can look upon the Sun; we ſhall then not only have all the Riddles of providence unfolded, ſeeing how one Politician was uſed to crack anothers Crown, and one Serpent broke the head of another; but the glorious Majeſty of God ſhall be reflected to us in the all-glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt as the rain-bow about the Throne; Rev. 4.3.nay, ſome think the very Angels ſhall aſſume aery bodies to feed the eyes of the Saints with all, and to be in a nearer capacity of converſing with them. Yea, Saint Auguſtine ſayes,De civit. Dei. lib. 22. c. 29. we ſhall ſee God in his Saints and their glorious actings, as well, and as manifeſtly as we now ſee mens bodies in the vital actions of the bodies.
2. The next wreath in this Crown, is the perception of Divine goodneſs to the ſatisfaction of our love as all other deſires; this is the great Sabbath of loves, and the ſoul like a Phaenix ſhall lie down in a bed of Spices, and live like a Salamander in thoſe*Cant. 8.6. Coals of Juniper, deſiring exſtatically to be in its beſt ſelf, and archetypon God himſelf.Iſa. 33.14. But who of us can dwell with devouring flames? who of us can lie down with everlaſting burnings? even the love wherewith God loveth himſelf, and loveth his Saints; but then we ſhall find his love ſtrengthening of us to love him with his own love; and theſe dull earthly hearts of ours by beholding of that Sun, ſhall be converted into fixed Stars, reflecting back his own glory; we ſhall then feel the ſweetneſs of Gods Electing love from all eternity; the love of our bleſſed Jeſus, which was*Cant. 8.6. stronger than death; yea, we ſhall then enjoy the Spirit of love, who is1 John 4.8. love it ſelf, and whoſe*Pſal. 63.3. Sicut ferrum immiſſum in ignem totum fit lignis, ſic Paulus accenſus charitate totus fit charitas. loving-kindneſs is better than life. And as one ſayes of Paul, that as Iron put into the fire becomes all fire, ſo Paul enflamed with charity and love, becomes altogether love. If The Philoſophers ſay the reaſon of the Irons cleaving to the Loadſtone ſo conſtantly, is becauſe the pores of both bodies are alike, and ſo there are effluxes and emanations that ſlide through them, and unite them together; now this will be the magnetiſm of heaven, that our wills ſhall perfectly fall in with the Divine Will, and nothing ſeem good to us, but what is good in Gods eſteem, ſo that we ſhall then need no threatnings to drive us, nor promiſes to lead us; but Divine goodneſs will ſo perfectly attract us, that we ſhall be naturalized to God and goodneſs, and be no more able to turn off from that ineffable ſweetneſs, than the Loadſtone is to convert it ſelf to the Weſt.
3. The laſt wreath is the reſult of both the former; from viſion and fruition of infinite truth and goodneſs, reflected in the Center of the ſoul, ſprings up delight to all eternity; Heaven is nothing but*Gaudium de veritate. Aug. Alicubi. the joy of truth. After a tedious Racking of our braines on a knotty probleme, if we diſcover any ſatisfaction, with what an exultancy do we break out into the Mathematicians phraſe,*foreign. Archimed. I have found, I have found, what I a long time ſtudied for. What joy will it be then, to ſee every truth in God as our faces in a glaſs, without all ſtudying? for the joyes of heaven are therefore oftner compared to drink, than meat in Scripture, becauſe there is no labour in chewing upon them, nor any diminution of them, but they ſlide in ſmoothly, and fully repleniſh the ſoul with delight; the pleaſures of ſenſe are ſhort, no longer than the Oeſophagus, a*foreign. Ariſtip. in Dio. Laer. glib ſwallow, a grateful hogough; but there the quire of Divine powers ſhall be fixed in an everlaſting fruition of eternal felicities. Now the Saints may have ſome fits of that joy, but then they ſhall have their fill. Now they have many a*Suavis hora brevis mora. Bern. ſweet houre, but a ſhort one, but then joy ſhall be a ſtanding diſh, and we ſhall be*Pſa. 36.8. ſatisfied with the fatneſs of Gods houſe. Now their memories are ſlippery, but then there ſhall be an actual ſenſation of Divine joyes continually, when we ſhall ſee God face to face;*Concupiſcibile replebitur fonte juſtitiae, raſcibile perpetuâ tranquillitate. Bern. the concupiſcible part ſhall be filled with a Fountain of righteouſneſs, the iraſcible with perpetual tranquillity. We ſhall come within the verge of Gods own happineſs; when*Mat. 25.21. we ſhall enter into our Maſters joy, when we ſhall joy more in his happineſs, than in our own; there ſhall be joy upon joy, joy above all joy, joy without which there is no joy.*Gaudium ſuper gaudium, gaudium vincens omne gaudium, gaudium ext…a quod non eſt gaudium. Aug. de civ. 22. We ſhall be perfectly at leaſure for God, and ſee him, we ſhall ſee him and love him, we ſhall love him and praiſe him in the end without all end; for as the ſeventh day*Vacabimus & videbimus, videbimus & amabimus, amabimus & laudabimus, in fine ſine ſine. Aug. deciv. 22. 30. had no evening mentioned, and the New*Gen. 2.2. Jeruſalem hath no night; its*Revelat. 21.25. length, breadth, &c. all alike cubed for perpetuity. And if ever we be happy, we muſt be aſſured of the eternity of that ſtate; for elſe, fear of the loſs doth leſſen our joy, or elſe we think it is perpetual, and yet it is not, and ſo we are miſerable in our ignorance and miſtake;*Verſe 6. and as the joy of that ſtate is not leſſened by future fears, ſo neither by paſſed or preſent ſorrows,*Revelations 21.4. all tears being then to be wiped from their eyes; and the view of their neareſt Relations in the bottomleſs Pit, ſhall no more be an allay to their joy, than if they ſaw ſo many fiſh caught in a Net; but they ſhall rejoyce as well in the Juſtice of God glorified in the ruine of his incorrigible enemies, as in the glory of his mercy in their own Salvation; all thoſe feeble affections that are now ſo ſtrongly contracted to poor particularities, ſhall be divorced when once we come to be Eſpouſed to thoſe dilated joyes in the Immenſe Deity.
But yet there are two acceſſary Coronets we may add to this Crown of happineſs as compleaters of it.
1. When the bodies of the Saints ſhall be re-united to their ſouls, there ſhall be an acceſſion of joy; as the Schooles ſay, The body muſt have its dowry, ere it be Eſpouſed to Chriſt. If the vile body of an ambitious and imperious*Reference Qu. Curtio. Alexander, had ſuch a craſis and temperament, that it gave a perfume to the ayr when he was dead, doubtleſs thoſe that have conquer'd the world, and are to triumph for ever in the world to come, their very bodies ſhall give (as the flowers of that Paradiſe) a very fragrant ſmell, being members of the body of Chriſt, whoſe very crucified body was an*Eph. 5.2. offering of a ſweet ſmelling ſavour unto God. Anſelme tells us, the bodies of Saints ſhall be ſo endued with ſtrength, that they will be able to remove the whole earth with one touch of their foot, when on the contrary the wicked ſhall be ſo weakened by ſin and wrath, that they ſhall not be able to a move a very worm from feeding upon their eyes; and the*Ezek. 32.27. Prophet ſayes, that Meſhech and Tubal are gone down to hell with their Weapons of War, and they have laid their Swords under their heads, but their iniquities ſhall be upon their bones, though they have been the terrour of the mighty in the Land of the living. But the bodies of the Saints ſhall be*1 Cor. 15.44. Spiritui ſubdita. spiritual bodies; that is, every way ſubject to the motions and deſires of the ſoul, full of agility; as Macarius ſayes, God made not man wings as birds, though his Neſt be above the Stars, becauſe after the Reſurrection, he ſhould have in Tertullians Phraſe*Carnem Angelificatam; de reſur. Angelified fleſh; and as the Apoſtle ſayes*1 Theſ. 4, 17. and 1 Cor. 15.52. foreign., In a moment we ſhall be all ſnatched, and changed in the twinckling of an eye to meet the Lord; there ſhall be ſuch agility of body, and nimble collection of the parts, that the body ſhall be no more liable to a ſtroke or a wound, than the ayr, or the heavens, or the Sun it ſelf. And as the ſoul now drinks in dark informations, obſcure apprehenſions, and cloudy notions by the corporeal ſenſes, thoſe painted Windows of theſe Houſes of clay; yet when the ſoul is become a Veſſel repleniſhed with immortal and unſpotted light, it will tranſmit ſuch rays into the very body, that it ſhall ſhine as the*Dan. 12.3. Mat. 13.43. ſtars, nay, as the glorious body of the Sun in the Firmament for ever.
2. The ſecond acceſſory to this Crown, is the bliſsful ſociety of all the Saints and Angels about the Throne. In this life it is the happineſs of true believers; that whether Paul, Apollo, or Cephas, all their eloquence, learning, gifts, and graces, they are all theirs for their benefit and ſpiritual advantage. But then, whether Prophets, or Apoſtles (whoſe imaginary relliques ſome go many a weary Pilgrimage to ſee) all the Martyrs with their glorious ſcarres of honour; nay, Angels, Cherubims, Seraphims, and all that bleſſed Quire of Spirits, who have done them, while they were in dangers here, many an inviſible courteſie which they could never thank them for, they being*Heb. 1.14. miniſtring ſpirits ſent forth to miniſter for them, who ſhall be heires of ſalvation; all theſe are theirs. If a Diagoras when he ſaw his three Sonnes crowned in one day at the Olympick games as Victors, died away while he was embracing them for joy; and good old Simeon when he ſaw Chriſt but in a body ſubject to the infirmities of our natures, and had him in his armes, cried out,*Luk. 2.29. Now Lord lettest thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for my eyes have ſeen thy Salvation. What unſpeakable joy will it be to ſee your Chriſtian Friends and Relations; to whom you have been inſtrumental in their New Birth and Regeneration, all Crowned in one day with an everlaſting Diadem of Bliſs which never ſhall decay. There ſhall be no hypocrite then for you to loſe your love upon, which is now the great cooler of your charity, and keeps your affections in a greater reſerve; but there none but true Eagles, and heaven-born ſouls will be able to look upon that Sun in glory; you ſhall then rejoyce, that there are ſo many pure ſpirits able to praiſe and love that God whom you could never yet, nor will then be able to love and praiſe enough, or as you deſire. When the glorious Angels begin their Hallelujahs, the Saints ſhall alſo joyn in one common Quire,*Pſal. 149, 5. they ſhall be joyful in glory, and ſing aloud upon their everlasting beds of rest. Oh how the Arches of heaven will eccho, when the high praiſes of God ſhall be in the mouths of ſuch a Congregation! for as when one eye moves, the other roles; and when one ſtring in concord with another is ſtruck, the other ſounds; ſuch a blend and ſympathy of praiſes ſhall there be in that heavenly Chorus, with theſe *Pſal. 150.6.high ſounding Cymbals in moſt flouriſhing expreſſions, and anthems upon the divine glory. If the Sun, Moon, and Stars did as Ignatius ſayes, make all*foreign, in Epiſt. ad Eph. Luke 15.7. a Quire as 'twere about the Star that appeared at Chriſts Incarnation, * and there be joy in heaven at the converſion of a ſinner; no wonder then*Job 38.7. the morning ſtarres ſhall ſing together, and the Sons of God ſhou… for joy, when there ſhall be*Heb. 12.23. a general Aſsembly, and Church of the firſt-borne, and the spirits of all the juſt ſhall be made perfect. And though there may be one Starre differ from another in glory, yet there will be no*Videbit civitas illa quod inferior non invidebit. Aug. de civ. 22. 29. envying one anothers happineſs, but every one bear his part whatever it be in the lower or higher praiſes of the God of glory, with a moſt harmonious variety in perfect ſymphony; for there we ſhall love one another as our ſelves, love God and our bleſſed Saviour, better than our ſelves, and he will love us better than we can love our ſelves, or one another.*Oh quot & quanta gaudia obtiniebit qui de tot & tantis beatitudinibus ſanctorum jubilabit. Anſ. alicu. ni fallor de beatitu. Oh how many, and how great joyes ſhall he poſſeſs, who ſhall keep an eternal Jubilee in the enjoyment of ſo many and ſo great beatitudes and felicities of others as truly as of his own!
I have done with the poſſeſſion and its qualification, it is a Kingdom.
I now come to its preparation, prepared for you from the foundation of the, &c.
But how is this Kingdom of ſo long preparation, when Chriſt tells his Diſciples, I go to prepare a place for you, when he departed hence?John 14.1.
1. Therefore this Kingdom was prepared even when the foundations of the world were laid*Job 38.7., for there the morning ſtarres did ſing together. God Created the Heavens, and then the earth, and the ſpiritual world of Angels above, before the foundation of the earth below: though as ſome judge, Moſes mention'd it not, being to teach a dull people by ſenſible objects, concealed the notion of ſpirits, leſt they ſhould Idolatrouſly worſhip and attribute the Creation of the world to them. And ſo the Empyrean Heaven, and ſeat of glory, ſome venture to ſay, God then made; and determinately too in the Aequinoctial Eaſt of Judea, call'd therefore the Navel of the whole earth; to confirm it, they tell us Adam was made with his face towards the Eaſt, and ſo they worſhipped Eaſtward three thouſand and odd years. And thence Chriſt call'd the*Luke 1.79. foreign. Eaſt, or day-ſpring from on high, and*Zac. 3.8. foreign Lev. 16.14. the blood was to be ſprinkled on the mercy-ſeat Eaſtward ſeven times. But we may anſwer the curioſity of this enquiry about the Ubi and determinate place, as he of old was anſwered, that asked what God was doing before he created the world? he was making Hell for ſuch unbelieving Queriſts, and Heaven for the reward of an humble Believer.
2. It was prepared from the foundation of the world, in regard of divine predeſtination, for that which is laſt in obtaining, is firſt in the intention of rational agents; ſo God from eternity deſigning his own glory in the ſalvation of the Elect, and their bliſſeful fruition of himſelf, may be ſaid to have ſet the Crown upon them, while they were in the womb of his Decree; and to have prepared them a Kingdome before they were born. And though God made all the world for man, yet it was to be kept under his feet; he reſerved himſelf to be the Crown of his hopes, and Portion of his heart. He choſe us in Chriſt before the Foundation of the World, therefore*Epheſ. 1.4. all was ready. But
3. In regard of Divine D…ſpenſation, the carrying on the whole oeconomy hath been from the Foundation of the World, and ſo being, the Kingdome is not yet given up all unto the Father; it may be ſtill ſaid to be preparing; for though God being our heaven, it was always ready, yet by our fall we loſt our title to this Paradiſe; Chriſt intervenes to divert the flaming Sword of vengeance, enters a Covenant with his Father, ſends the glad tydings of it into the World*Gal. 3.8. before he came*Levit. 16.6. Hebr 9.7., typifies in the*Gal. 4.4. fuln…ſſe of time, makes*Rom. 5.11. 1 John 2.2. atonement, proclaims reconciliation and pardon to penitent ſinners, ſends his Word and Spirit to wait to be gracious, to ſollicit the World, till all that are the truly called gueſts are invited and brought in; then he ſhuts up the door of mercy, opens the grave, ſummons all to judgme…t by the laſt Trumpet, makes the ſeparation, and then pronounceth this Benediction; ſo that though the Kingdome was from the Foundations of the World prepared, yet in regard every Kingdome includes Subjects as well as Soveraign, Chriſt when he was going, that ſo he might ſend his Spirit to comfort his Diſciples, and to gather in more Subjects, may be ſaid to prepare a place for them, though moſt ſignificantly he went to prepare them for that Kingdome. But Parabolical and Metonymical Expreſſions muſt not have too rigid an Interpretation exacted from them; but our Saviour having bid his Diſciples to go before and prepare a place for him to eat the Paſſeover with them in, he tells them that he is going to prepare the Supper of the Lamb, and a place for them, to which*Luk. 13.28.29. they ſhall come from the Eaſt, and from the Weſt; from the North, and f…om the South; and ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob in the Kingd…me of God; and this to raiſe the appetites of their faith and hopes, when a Supper of ſo many thouſand years preparation is the entertainment they are invited to.
And ſo I come to the ſecond Part of the Text, and that is the admiſſion into this prepared Poſſeſſion, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, &c.
When a Kingdome is propoſed, every man is ready to be catching at a Crown; but therefore our Saviour tells us it muſt be had by inheritance; that is the title by which we muſt be admitted;*foreign. inherit, as the Jews had Canaan divided and apportioned to the ſeveral Tribes by*Numb. 26.55 lot; ſo ſome too curiouſly and boldly adventure to aſſign to every Saint a Manſion bigger than the whole earth, which is true indeed in this ſenſe, in regard immenſity and God himſelf is the*Pſal. 16.5. lot of their inheritance; but it is an inheritance in regard
1. There is a claim made to it only by the new-born and firſt-born of God, and ſo by right of birth except *John 3.3.a man be b…rn again, cannot ſee the Kingdome of God; the ſpirit of a ſlave cannot manage the Scepter of a Prince; nay, they that look to ſit on Thrones of glory with Chriſt*Mat. 19.28., must follow him in the regeneration of the body *1 Cor. 15.36., that muſt dye ere it be quickned *1 Cor. 15.50.; for fleſh and blood in corruption, moral or*Exod. 33.20. natural, cannot inherit the Kingdome of God, which made the*Moriar ne moriar, ut te videam. Aug. confeſſii. Father cry out, Oh then Lord let me dye, leſt I dye, that ſo I may ſee thee. Now if an unregenerate body cannot enter, much leſſe an unregenerate ſoul. An infamous perſon*Turpis perſona. Mynſ. in inſtit. in the Civil Law may be excepted againſt as not fit to be an heir; and ſhall the Laws of men be purer than the Laws of God? If the pure in heart *Mat. 5.8.only can ſee God here in reflections, and*1 Cor. 13.12. through a glaſſe darkly, then ſurely they muſt be without*2 Pet. 3.14. ſpot or wrinkle, who muſt ſee him face to face: Heaven is entailed upon holy ſouls; 'tis their birth-right; for no other but*Rev. 22.14. they that keep the Commandments of God have right to eat of the Tree of life, or enter in through the Gates into that Jeruſalem, and viſion of peace.
2. They inherit by right of Adoption; for Chriſt is heir, and we heirs of his righteouſneſſe, and ſo co-heirs of his glory; and*Rom. 8.17. h…irs of God; if ſons, then heirs; now we are the ſons of God by Adoption; Regeneration makes us not perfectly holy, and ſo not perfectly ſons, and ſo not heirs, and therefore we*Gal. 4.5. 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. receive the Adoption of ſons, and being called to be we are ſons, and if ſons, then heirs; for if a ſon be paſſed by in his Fathers Will, and not named, and a reaſon of the paſſing of him by, the Teſtament is invalid in Civil Law, when ano…her is made he…r; and God, his nature and love tranſcends all the compaſſions of men, and is a greater obligation than any Laws among them; ſo that if thou canſt make it out that thou haſt the ſpirit of Adoption, thou art as ſure to inherit this Kingdome, as thou mayſt be ſure thou art not by name excepted from the inheritance in the Goſpel of Chriſt, which is his Will and Teſtament.
3. 'Tis inherited by right of Donation and Gift;*Luke 12.32. Fear not l…ttle fl…ck, it is your Fathers will to give you a Kingdome; and though the wages of ſin be death, and men are but juſtly rewarded therein for their demerit, yet*Rom. 6.23. eternal life is the gift of God; and it is not ſuch a gift as is a ſalary or ſtipend for our work,*foreign. pay for our ſervice; for*Luke 17.10. when we have done all that we can, we are but unprofitable ſervants, and deſerve nothing, unleſſe it be to be*Luke 12.47. beaten with many ſtripes: It is not an honorary gift, as he that had loſt an Arme in Battel, his Commander General gave him an Arme of gold, as an honourable reward of his ſervice; but alas,*Matth. 5.47. foreign. What ſingular thing can we do to emerit any thing at Gods hands? when the more we do, we are the further from merit, in regard we are the more indebted to our Maſter, who gave us the opportunity and grace to performe it: Nor is it an Eleemoſynary gift of charity, ſuch as we extend to poor fellow creatures; for that is but a piece of juſtice, and ſelf-love, if we have that in abundance, which others want to relieve them. Every act of charity is but a piece of equity, a paying of our debts; for we are to*Rom. 13.8. owe every man love; but God ows us nothing, nor is he bound to pity our poverty, which we have by our own default contracted on our ſelves; but this gift of God is a meer*foreign. gratuitous act of bounty and grace; but when it is promiſed and given, then it is but an act of juſtice to grant poſſeſſion, and ſo the title is inheritance, but by way of free Donation.
4. By right of Redemption they may be ſaid to inherit; for under the Law the next of Kin was to redeem a ſold or morgaged poſſeſſion; accordingly Chriſt took our nature upon him,Ruth. 4.5. that he might be of our conſanguin…ty; he became*Gal. 3 13. a curſe for us, *2 Cor. 5.22.was made ſin, that he might ranſome penitent believers from the curſe; and*Hebr. 7.25. having ſatisfied to the utmoſt, and*1 Cor. 6.20. bought us with a responſible price, he hath right to give his ſheep *John 10.28.eternal life; and therefore it is cal…ed*Epheſ. 1.14. the purchaſed poſſeſſion. In Law, he that buys a ſlave, may diſpoſe of him as he pleaſe by his will; accordingly Chriſt hath made h…s will to diſpoſe of all thoſe he hath bought:*John 17.24. Father, I will that where I am, theſe may be alſo: And ſo they are heirs by Will and Teſtament of him that took upon him the right of Redemption.
Now I come to the ſecond thing in the ſecond general, and that is the heirs of this inheritance, deſcribed in theſe words, Ye bleſsed *Patris est benedicere.of my Father; 'tis the Fathers work to bleſſe his Son; and when Iſaac bleſſed Jacob, he made him his heir; ſo Gods bleſſing makes us a title to this inheritance.
1. Then ye that are bleſſed of my Father from the foundation of the World in his Electing love, and they whom he hath ſo bleſſed, they ſhall be bleſſed; the*foreign. word ſignifies well-ſpoken to; now Gods Eternal thoughts are*Verba mentis. his words; and they that were in his thoughts from Eternity, their names were written in the book of l fe: God had Eternal purpoſes of grace to them,*John 17.6. thine they were, and thou gaveſt th…m me; they were bleſſed in the thoughts of his heart before all generations; this is an Elective Kingdome, yet we are ſaved not according to the merit of*2 Tim. 1.9. our works done o… fore-ſeen, but accord ng to his own purpoſe and grace, which was given in Chriſt Jeſus befor… the World began. And in vain …id Chriſt Covenant with his Father, or make a Teſtament for us, unleſſe the he…rs purchaſed were fore-known*Haeres caput Teſtamenti., heirs being the ground-work of a Teſtament.
2. Well ſpoken to in the Word of God by the powerful vocation of his Spirit*Rom. 1.7.; they are called to be holy, and he *Epheſ. 1.3.bleſſeth them with all spiritual bleſſings in heavenly places by Chriſt Jeſus. There are none come, but they that are*Rev. 19.9. invited to the Supper of the Lamb; they that God hath*Gen. 9.27. Cant. 1.4. perſwaded to dwell in the Tents of Shem; whom*Hoſea 11.4. he hath drawn with the cords of his love, and made them a*Pſal. 110.3. people of a free-will offering in the day of his power; whom the*Luke 1.78. day-spring from on high hath viſited, and the womb of the morning of the day of grace hath brought them forth; thoſe that God*Hoſ. 2.14. hath allured and brought into the Wilderneſſe, that he might ſpeak to their hearts. None ſhall be followers of the Lamb but thoſe that are*Rev. 17.14. called faithful and choſen.
3. Well-ſpoken of in the Word and Promiſes of the Goſpel; thoſe that are*Mat. 5.3, &c. meek, poor in sp…rit, pure in heart, merciful, perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake, and merciful; for all theſe ſhall obtain mercy; as it follows in the Verſes after the Text, Come ye bleſsed, &c. For*Mat. 25.35. I was an hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me drink; a ſtranger, and you took me in; naked, and you cloathed me; ſick, and you viſited me; in priſon, and you came to me: And he ſaid, Ʋerily inaſmuch as you have done it to one o… theſe my brethren, theſe littte ones, you have done it unto me; for*Rom. 2.13. not the hearers, but the doers of the Word are bleſsed; the*Hebr. 6.17. & 17. heirs of theſe promiſes are the only heirs of glory.
4. Bleſſed in the final pardon, abſolution and juſtification which ſhall be pronounced at the laſt day. Ye ſhall inherit, whom the righteous Judge of all the world ſhall acquit and diſcharge from your ſins, to whom God ſhall ſay*Matth. 9.2., ſon be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee; nay, Euge, well done *Mat. 25.1.good and faithful ſervant, enter into thy Maſters joy; thou haſt been faithful over a few things, I will make thee Ruler over many. Oh how good a word will this be to a ſoul, as ſoon as it is got up out of the Wilderneſſe of this World! yet*Pſal. 128.4. thus ſhalt thou be bleſſed that feareſt God. He will give thee then to be ſure*Rev. 3.12. a new name, and a white ſtone, and write upon thee, as a Pillar, or a Trophy erected after victory, his own Name; and when God ſhall thus bleſſe thee, and ſpeak to thee, thou wilt need never a word more to make thee happy, but the generations that come up after thee, ſhall when they riſe up to heaven, call thee bleſſed.
And ſo I come to the third particular, the formal introduction of theſe bleſſed heirs into their inheritance, Come ye bleſſed, &c.
1. This is the ſpeech of one that gives us an everlaſting avocation from the troubles and vanities of this preſent world.foreign vox avo…antis. Chriſt will ſpeak to them in this manner, only in more emphatical ſignificancies, Come poor ſouls, where have you been all this while? poor ſheep, where have you been wandring upon the barren Mountains of the earth, climbing the cliffs of preferment and worldly honours, as if you had been of the number of the Goats, and had no title to the bleſſings on my right hand? In what a pickle have you been in, in a naſty World which*John 5.19. lies altogether in filthineſſe, in a muddy body of ſin, pepſed with a number of tentations; you have lain a long time*Pſal 68.13. among the pots, griming your ſelves, and defiling your garments amongſt the Aegyptians on my left hand. I but now you ſhall have the wings of a Dove, which are all covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold. I will never more*Pſal. 74.19. give the ſoul of my Turtle Dove into the hands of her enemies; you ſhall never more be cooped up in a Cage with ſuch a company of unclean Birds; no,*Cant. 5.2. Come my Love and Dove, and flie away.
Vox admittentis.2. 'Tis the ſpeech of one that admits us into this inheritance; Chriſt is pleaſed to condeſcend ſo low as to ſtile himſelf*John 10.7. the door; nay, the Keeper of the door; he opened a door of hope by his death, a door of faith by his preaching the Goſpel, a door of life by his reſurrection, and heaven-gates alſo by this admiſſion; and when he hath admitted his heirs of glory, and taken them out of this deluge of ſin and ſorrow into that Ark of ſalvation, he will*Gen. 7.16. ſhut them in as God did Noah; and though they have an*2 Pet. 1.11. abundant entrance miniſtred to them into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; yet when entred, the door is ſhut, and no egreſs or back-door of Apoſtacy can be found in that ſtate. Adam was created out of Paradiſe to ſhew that his admiſſion, even in his innocency, was of grace; much more is it of grace upon a recovery from his fall. Chriſt while in the Kingdome of his patience, doth call his to many a penitent groan, to mournful prayers, and many tribulations, which make a very bed of duſt to be a ſoft couch of repoſe; and he calls them thither,*Iſa. 26.20. Come my people, enter thou into thy Chambers, ſhut thy doors about thee, hide thy ſelf for a little moment, till the indignation be over-paſt. Come child, go to bed in the grave; oh but then his*Cant. 2.14. v ice will be ſweet, when he ſhall call to them to come up to*Iſa. 25.6. this Mountain, to a feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of wine on the Lees, of fat things full of ma…row, of wines on the Lees well refined.
Laetiſſimè excipientis.3. 'Tis the ſpeech of one that bids us welcome to the feaſt too; Come my friends; I, it is Come and welcome now; Come poor heart, thou haſt been coming a long time, I went my ſelf to call thee; I *2 Chron. 36.15.ſent my Meſſengers, riſing up early, and ſending them continually to invite thee to come in. I ſent my holy Spirit alſo like a Dove from heaven, and it did light upon thee, and gave thee an Olive branch of peace in the Wilderneſſe of thy fears; when it allured thee, and call'd thee from all thy wandrings, then I ſent my black rod for thee by that grim Serjeant death, to ſtrip thee of thy ſoul body of ſin, not to be touched, but by the Angel of death; then I ſent my Angels to bring thy ſoul to the Courts of thy God, and now by the ſounding of the laſt Trumpet I have call'd for thy ſleepy body to ariſe out of the*Pſal. 22.15. dust of death: And now after all theſe Meſſengers thou art come, I will not upbraid thee for thy delays, but come, come bleſſed ſoul with as many welcomes as there are Saints and Angels in glory; I have*John 14.2. prepared a place for thee, *Cant. 5.1.thou at come into my Garden; Eat oh friends, Drink, yea drink abundantly, oh beloved!
And ſo I have done with the explication of the ſeveral branches of the Text; now let us ſee what fruit they bear that may be*Cant. 2.3. ſweet to oru taſte.
Firſt,1. Infer. Then if there be a Kingdome prepared before the foundation of the World for the bleſſed Saints and holy ones; then what manner of perſons are *2 Pet. 3.11.we in all unholy Converſation and godleſsneſſe in this generation? Men are as dead to Religion, as if heaven was but a dream; and as hot upon ſin, as if hell had no fire, or was all vaniſhed into ſmoak; as atheiſtical and wretched, as if neither heaven, hell nor earth, neither did feel a God, or any memorandum's of his Providence. Therefore a little to fortifie this notion, which artificial wickedneſſe hath endeavoured to expel, and expunge out of natural conſciences, I ſhall endeavour to confirme your faith by Scripture and reaſon. The Socinians deny the revelation of eternal life, and a ſtate to come, to have been propounded under the Old Teſtament; and the reward being only earth, their Law and obedience to be but carnal and low, which is to level the Jews to the order of brutes, that ſo the Gentiles under the Goſpel might be advanced to the ſtate of men, and ſo by vertue of rhe new prize of immortal life propoſed, they ſhould have a new command, as their care to run; which is all as true as that all the Tribes of Iſrael were converted into Iſacar's, *Gen. 49.4.ſtrong aſses couching down between two burdens; but*Luke 7.35. wiſdome is justified of her children; and the Chaldee paraphraſe renders thoſe words,*Gen. 4.7. Remittetur tibi in ſaeculo futuro. if thou doſt well, ſhalt thou not be accepted? by this gloſſe, Amend thy works in this world, and thou ſhalt be forgiven in the world to come; and the …argum ſays, the very diſpute betwixt Cain and Abel, was concerning a world to come; and thoſe carnal Hereticks that*Jude ver. 10.11, 19. are ſenſual, not having the ſpirit; in what they know naturally as brute beaſts, corrupt themſelves, they are gone into the way of Cain: But when God tells Abraham *Gen 15.1.I am thy exceeding great reward; and Jacob cries out,*Gen. 49.18. I have waited for thy ſalvation O Lord, even when about to dye; God ſtiling himſe…f their God, is not by our Saviours authority*Mat. 22.32. the God of the dead, but of the living; therefore God held out eternal life in the promiſes, yea and in the very command too,*Levit. 18.3. & Gen. 3.12. do this and live; the reward of that obeeience there enjoyned, was no leſſe than this everlaſting life, as appeareth by our Saviours interpretation when the Lawyer came to him,*Luke 10.25.28. ſaying, Maſter, What ſhall I do to inherit eternal life? and he ſaid, What is written in the Law? how readeſt thou? and he anſwered, thou ſhalt love the Lord, &c. and Jeſus ſaid, Thou haſt anſwered right, this do and thou ſhalt live; that is, thou ſhalt have that thou deſiredſt; viz. inherit eternal life; and the very reproach of the Sadduces, and the diſtinction of their Sect from Phariſees and others, argueth ſufficiently the world to come was a very common notion among all the Jews; and indeed the whole land of Canaan was but a comprehenſive type and ſhadow of heaven, and all their Religion but a*Hebr. 10.1. ſhadow of good things to come in the Kingdome of heaven, as well as in the Kingdome of the Meſſiah*John 8.56. whoſe day they then ſaw, and were glad; and if the Goſpel contain the promiſe of eternal life, then they had it in Abrahams days;*Gal. 3.8. for the Gospel was preached before to him; yea, and before to Adam, *Gen 3.15.that the ſeed of the woman ſhould break the S rpents head; and the skins of the Sacrifices wherewith he was cloathed might ſuggeſt the putting on of that promiſed ſeed and his obedience, who was*Iſa. 53.5. to be bruiſed for the iniquities of his people: But now to awaken Atheiſtical ſouls that deny not only the revelation of this Kingdome of God under the old Teſtament, but its reality and exiſtence under old and new; conſider theſe foure things very briefly, as the limits of this Exerciſe command.
1. The whole Creation is a Book which always lyeth open, wherein we may read that there is a God who made the goodly Structure and Fabrick of Heaven and Earth; Who elſe could be able to*Job 26.7. hang the vaſt body of the Earth upon nothing! or to*Ver. 10. girdle the Sea, and all its mountainous Waves with a Rope of Sand, *Pſal. 104.2.to ſpread the heavens as a Curtain, and hang up thoſe vaſt Veſſels of light in the Skies; there muſt be a being exiſtent from, and of himſelf; and ſo being improduced, is infinitely perfect, and comprehendeth all thoſe perfections diſperſed through the whole Creation, and infinitely more; yet what he makes, is like himſelf; every creature bears his footſteps; but*Pſal. 8 3. Gen. 1.27. the heavens are the works of his fingers, and man bears the very image of God. We ſee in the ſeveral ſtories and degrees of the Creation, love and communicativeneſſe to their off-ſpring, groweth more and more; the higher you go it grows, more in brutes than plants, in men than in brutes; in God therefore love and goodneſſe, which are moſt communicative, are moſt tranſcendent: Now God himſelf is the heaven we plead for; he is the Region of ſouls and ſpirits; and for the reſurrection of the body, his infinite power can ſurely*1 Cor. 15.38. give to every ſeed its own body; though one part of our fleſh was ſublimated into the fire, another precipitated into aſhes, and caſt into the midſt of the Sea, devoured by a fiſh, taken and eaten again by men; and another part diſſipated into the Aire, and ſucked into ſome other body;Borel. Med. Pari. ita refert. yet if a Chymick can out of the aſhes of a flower reproduce the flower in its former beauty; nay, out of the dung of beaſts reproduce the very herbs they have eaten, notwithſtanding what is paſſed into nouriſhment, by the architectonical parts and ſpirits yet abiding in thoſe Reliques; much more can God recover our bodies from all poſſible diſperſions, and converſions into other bodies, when all the World ſhall be his Furnace, and every thing reſolved into its firſt ſeminal parts by the reverberation of the flames, and give to every body*Florem Reſurrectionis. Tert. de Reſur. the flowre of reſurrection, and a refloreſcence into glory.
2. As there is a God, and ſo that Kingdome, ſo there are heirs, and they are immortal ſouls, and therefore fitted to be*foreign, uti Platonici. in Divine conjunction; for that which is contiguous to an Eternal,Omne contiguum aeterno ſpirituali, eſt aeternum spirituale. Spiritual Being, is Eternal and Spiritual; but man is here only himſelf, when in communion with God and ſpiritual things: And God when he infuſed the reaſonable ſoul, he breathed into man the*Gen. 2.7. foreign. breath of lives. And Tertullian who had too groſſe a conception of the nature of the ſoul, yet calls it*Vaginam afflatus Divini, liberalitatis ſuae haeredem, Religionis ſuae ſacerdotem, Christi ſui ſororem. the ſheath and ſcabbard of Divine breath, heir of his bounty, &c. in the exerciſe of thoſe acts of apprehenſion, judgement and argumentation; it is impoſſible ſuch ſteddy and orderly conſequential actions ſhould be performed by a fortuitous concurſe of atomes; or its reflexive acts much leſſe by the pureſt flame, no body being able to penetrate it ſelf, nor to dive into it ſelf without a diſorder of its parts. But Religion rather then Reaſon being the great*Religio penè ſola quae hominem diſcernat à mutis. Lactan. de divi. praemio l. 7. difference of a man from brutes, 'tis a ſign he is made for communion with a better being; and therefore as Auguſtine ſayes, Thou haſt made our heart O Lord for thee, and it will never*Quum tibi inhaeſero ex toto, me viva erit vita mea, plena te tota nunc autem quia plenus tui non ſum oneri mihi ſum. lib. de confeſ. reſt till it come to thee; and when I ſhall wholly inhere and cleave to thee, then my life will be lively; but now being not full of the enjoyments of thee, I am a burden to my ſelf: The World was made for brutes to live in, but for man to*foreign. Lact. ibid. contemplate the Wiſdome and Power of God; he made many brutes, but one man, that he might be chieflly for the*Dei ſocius. Aug. de Civ. l. 12.20. ut cohaereat autori. lib. 22.1. ſociety of God, and keep coherence to his Maker. And alas the World is but a dry Morſel to an immortal ſoul, whoſe vaſt Chaos of deſires cannot be ſatisfied by it, though every drop of comfort in it was ſwelled into an Ocean. There is upon the ſoul ſuch a drought without God, as*Cant. 8.7. all the waters in the world cannot quench it; ſuch an endleſſe thirſt after truth, and goodneſſe in the general notion, as it can never be ſatisfied, till it find out the*Pſal. 36.9. fountain of this water of life.
3. This Eternal ſtate is the common ſenſe of the World; and the voice of natural conſcience hath in all Ages proclaimed it. Every Nation hath ſome Diety or other, and ſo a Religion; Heathens ſacrifice, though it may be it be to the Divel, who cruelly ſucks their very blood. Turks and Saracens muſt have the black drop cut out of their breaſt, and their circumciſion; every Religion puts ſome reſtraints upon mens luſts and lives. Now though I believe, though there were no reward, or a future ſtate, Religion would be as good for our bodies, as prunings are to Trees,*Prov. 3.8. health to our navels, marrow to our bones; yet its ſeverities would in no degree down with men, were it not for the urgings and prickings on of natural conſcience. But Chriſtians above*1 Cor. 15.19. all men were most miſerable, if in this life only they had hope, whoſe principles enjoin the higheſt degree of ſelf-denial, patience and bearing of the Croſſe. But every good man, let the mad World prate as it will, and vomit all its gall and bitterneſſe in reproaches and perſecutions, yet if he ſuffer for righteouſneſſe ſake in innocent patience, his own conſcience gives him an acquittance, and a ſecret abſolution, ſo as he can*Rom. 5.3. glory even in tribulation; yea, every devout ſoul more or leſſe taſteth of thoſe firſt fruits of heavenly delight, in being conſcious*2 Cor. 1.12. of his duty diſcharged in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, whatever calamities may attend him in this life; which if they were not pledges of a fuller crop in that future harveſt of joys, the beſt men were moſt unhappy by that great fruſtration and diſappointment of their expectations. And ſo wicked men, though the World may applaud their actions as highly vertuous by a ſordid ſpirit of flattery; yet*Mens habet attonitos & ſurdo verbere coedit. Per. their own conſciences affr ght them, and ſmite them with many a deadly and deaf blow, which no body elſe doth hear or obſerve Cain may build his Cities and his Walls as high as the Clouds, yet there is that within as he ſaid to the Emperour, that will ruine all;*Gen. 4.5. his countenance falls, and the guilt of his Brothers blood maketh his ſoul to bluſh, and pulleth down his high looks. The higheſt-formed ſinners that have ſinned themſelves into deſpaire, have nothing left them*Heb. 10.27. but a certain fearful looking for of judgement, and fiery indignation, which ſh…ll devoure ſuch Adverſaries. Others that have ſinn'd themſelves into the higheſt preſumptions, never come to any ſenſeleſs eaſe, till they attaine to*Iſa. 28.15. make a Covenant with Hell, and can be content to*Heb. 11.25. ſuffer torments to eternity with the enemies of God, rather than to part with the pleaſures of ſinne which a…e bu… for a ſeaſon; and ſeem to have that wrote on the tables of their hearts, which that Wretch ſubſcribed under the Image of God and the Devil,*Domine, ſi tu non vis, iste me rogitat. Lord, if thou wilt not, here is one that begs of me to be his, and his I will be. Now if there be a Law, a Judge, puniſhments, and rewards in ſome degree here, then every man is a Prophet, in this caſe of this Future ſtate.
4. The promiſcuous diſpenſations and providences of God in this world,*Eccleſ. 9.2. Pſal. 17.14. Lam. 3.16. all things coming alike to all; nay, the wicked it may be have their belly full of a large portion in this life, when the godly have their teeth broken with gravel ſtones, and covered with aſhes; theſe argue,
1. There is a day to come when the ſcales ſhall be turned; Abel is ſlaine for his piety, when Cain lives and builds Cities; Herod reigns, Herodias danceth, when John Baptiſts head is ſerv'd in in a Charger. And though God ſometimes by extempore and ſudden juſtice hangs up ſome wicked wretches in chaines, yet many times the moſt wretched oppreſſors are too ſtrong and high for juſtice in this world; and they that live like Lyons, die like Lambs; they have liberty in their lives, and *Pſal. 73.4.no bands in their deaths. Dionyſius a bloody Tyrant, dies quietly in his bed, when David lies*Pſal. 32.3. roaring all night, and a good Joſiah falls in Battle; which made the Prophet cry out*Hab. 1.8., Wherefore doth the wicked devour one more righteous than himſelf? the just must therefore live by his Faith in the world to come, or elſe all Piety will die; therefore there ſhall be a judgement hereafter; for*Heb. 6.10. Pſal. 58.11. God is not unrighteou… to forget their labour of love, and patience; doubtleſs there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
2. Is the life to come ſuch a Kingdome? then here is field-room for all our ambition, avarice, and contention, to ſhew it ſelf; be ambitious for ſomething; if we muſt be ambitious, let us all King it here. What ſcuffling and ſcrambling is there for Crowns and Scepters in the world, out of that impetuous luſt of dominering; whereas a prophane Eſau ſold his Birth-right, which had a Kingdome and a Bleſſing too in it,*Gen. 25.34. for a meſs of pottage! Lyſimachus when inflamed with thirſt, profered his Kingdome for a draught of cold water; and how much gold, or how many Kingdomes would Dives give, if he had them,*Luke 16.24. for a drop of cold water, or to be delivered from that one Kingdome of the Devil? and ſhall Christians contend about theſe things? Alas, Chriſtian Religion was never made for a ſecular Engine; we may as ſoon turn Axiomes of Truth into Swords and Speares; the Rules of holy living, into Canons and Muſquets; and prayers and teares into powder and ſhot, as to make Religion a troubler of the order and peace of the world; that is of a Dove-like*Mat. 10.16. innocent temper, full of*Jam. 3.17. meekneſſe, humility, gentleneſſe, eaſineſſe, to be entreated, without partiality, without hypocriſie, can ſuffer any evil, but do none; can live and ſecure it ſelf better by ſuffering, than the crafty world by acting; to uſe ſinful means to avoid ſuffering, or preſerve worldly greatneſs, is like him that when one hoped to ſee him at his Dioceſs ere long, Replyed, He feared he ſhould be in heaven before that time ſhould come. It is not Chriſtian Religion, but that Anti-Chriſtian ſpirit, which diffuſeth it ſelf all over Chriſtendome in its Doctrines and Agitations, its Philtres and Poyſons, that inflames it more with contentions and Warres, than any part of the world beſides. For Religion truly Chriſtian,*Mat. 12.25. takes only the Kingdome of Heaven by violence. Let one Romane Emperour buſie himſelf in catching flies, another gather Cockle-ſhells with his Army on the Sands, after great preparations for an Expedition; ſilly emblemes of the moſt valiant attempts of many highly-famed Mortals; but let Chriſtians March with all Zeale only for the holy Land of Promiſe. All thoſe tittles of Honour (for we pronounce them too long) which the world playes with, as children with Farthing Candles, blowing them in with one breath, puffing them out with another; if they had never ſo good a*Membrana dignitatis. Sen. Pattent, yet what will they come to,*Iſa. 34.4. Rev. 6.14. when the Heavens ſhall role up as a Scrole? much more ſhall theſe ſhrivel up as a piece of Parchment before the Flames, when all the Armes and Enſignes of Honour, ſhall be blazoned alike in a Field ardent at the judgement day. Beauty, that bloſſome of fleſh and blood, which now carries ſo many Captives at her Wheeles, tyrannizing over fond mortals affections, when we come to thoſe beauties of Glory, will be no more comely than a dry skull, in compariſon of the Raviſhing Luſtre that will be in the moſt deformed body of the Pooreſt Lazarillo, whoſe Brightneſs will tranſcend the lovelieſt face more, than the rareſt Jewel doth a vile piece of Jett. And though perhaps difference of Sexes may remaine for all Scotus his Gloſſe, That in Chriſt Jeſus there is neither male nor female; yet*Delectent intuitum, non inflectent ad vitium. they will only delight the eye, not incline to any vicious thought, all luſt being fired out, and no ſpark of concupiſcence left in the Saints, but Grace triumphing in thoſe objects that conquered it here, when*Mat. 11.12. they ſhall be as the Angels of God, only pure flames of Divine Love and joy. When all the pure gold in the World ſhall be melted out of the veins of the Earth, and mens Coffers into one common ſtreame, and all Pearles, and precious Stones ſhould lie as the gravel on the ſide of that River, yet they would ſcarcely be thought fit then to make a Metaphor of for the very Pavement of the new Jeruſalem, one ſight whereof will dimm and deface all the glory of the World.
3. Muſt the Title be Inheritance? then look to your evidences, Regeneration, and Adoption; as ever you look for this Kingdome, prove your Fathers Will, and your ſelves Sonnes; it is no matter how your names are wrote on earth, in duſt or Marble, in reproach or renown, if they be written in Heaven. Some ſay this world is but a ſhadow of that above (and it was ſo before ſin had blotted and defaced all) therefore look for the lineaments of that Kingdome above, to be pourtrayed on you; all are for an Heaven; but as Euſebius ſays, there were many*Ebionitarum, Encratitarum, Nazaraeorum, &c. ſpurious Goſpels, ſo Baſilis aſſerted one hundred ſixty five Heavens, as many Heavens as dayes in a yeare. The Turks delighting in flowers, and their Tulipomania, dreame of ſuch a Paradiſe. A ſilly Countrey Woman coming upon the Exchange, was ſo amazed at the view, that ſhe fell down, and ſaid, She had oft heard of Heaven, but never was in it before; The voluptuous Epicure will have his a Poetical Heaven of Nectar and Ambroſia; the ambitious an Heaven of honours and Gallantry. But holy Abraham paſſed all theſe, by*Heb. 11.10. looking for a City that had foundations. The Kingdomes of the world want legs and foundations to ſtand upon; and while men dream of ſuch Paradiſes, they do but build Caſtles in the ayre, without any baſis but imagination. But look you for the new Heavens, Iſa. 65.17.wherein dwells Righetouſneſs; get a Copy of grace in your hearts out of Scripture-Records, the Court-Roles of Heaven, and then you have*1 Tim. 6.19. laid hold upon eternal life. 'Tis eaſie to be a Saint of the earth, a State-Saint, a deſigning Saint; nay, a Church-Saint; but it muſt be a heavenly Saint, one truly holy, that is*Col. 1.12. meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in light. Examine therefore what Authority and entertainment have the moſt ſearching truths, and cutting Providences of God with you? what ſpiritual wickedneſſe that never hurt your body, Purie, or Fame, have you forſaken for Chriſt? This ſincere beauty of holineſſe, …s able to make you Ornaments even to heaven it ſelf.
4. Is this Kingdome prepared for thoſe that are Bleſſed of the Father? Oh then labour to obtain your Fathers bleſſing, though*Heb. 12.17. you ſeek it with teares. Now the Father ſayes, Bleſſed are the pure, the poor in heart, the merciful, they that pray for them which perſecute them; be careful not only*Mat. 25.4. to have oyle in your Lamps, grace in your hearts, but get your*Ver. 7. Lamps trimmed, be upon your Watch,*Ver. 13. for you know not what houre your Maſter comes. Look how you improve your Talents, what good you do in the world; Remember it runnes thus in the laſt account, I was an hungry, you fed me; naked, you cloathed me; in Priſon, you viſited me; and*Mat. 16.27. every man ſhall be rewarded according to his Works; and the more you have of Heaven and Divine love here, the more you ſhall have hereafter; for one piece of it will lie in comfortable reflections upon what good we have done in the world; though every one hath his*Mat. 20.9. peny, that comes in at the Eleventh houre; viz. all that is eſſential unto happineſſe, yet*1 Cor. 15.41. one Starre differs from another in glory. Art thou therefore in Authority? uſe it for God? Art rich? alas,*Prov. 23.5. riches make themſelves wings and fly away; Up then, and be doing good, and make thy ſelf wings of thy Wealth for Heaven, by all charitable expreſſions; there is no way to lay your treaſure up in Heaven, but by laying it out here; no way to lend God any thing, but by giving to the poor; How will hopes of Preferment nouriſh Conformity?
Tully tells us, A Prince is to be fed with glory, and drawn to worthy acts by the allurement of Honour and Renown. Did but Chriſtians feed more upon the Heritage of Jacob, Iſa. 58.14.and their Immortal hopes, they would act more for their immortal honour; ſuch Meditations do as the Philoſopher ſayes of ſpeculations,*foreign. Ariſt. E…. immortalize men, and make them ſpiritual ones indeed, or as Ambroſe phraſeth it, carry them upwards, as Birds of Paradiſe,*Volucris in Spiritu factus. Exod. 19.4. all upon Eagles Wings to ſoare on high.
Fifthly, Will Chriſt ſay, Come ye bleſſed, &c. then here is an Io triumphe over all the World; Let it look as grim as it will upon thee, yet Chriſt will ſmile; though it gnaſh its teeth upon thee, yet Chriſt will open his lips, and*Cant. 1.2. kiſs thee with the kiſses of his mouth; Lapides loquitur.though the world ſpeak words as hard as ſtones about Stephens ears, yet Chriſt will ſpeak comfortably. If the World ſay Go, Get you hence; yet Chriſt will ſay Come; if that ſay Go, ye Curſed; Chriſt will ſay Come ye Bleſſed. Though men ſay Go ye Curſed Generation who are hated of all men; yet Chriſt will ſay Come ye bleſsed of my Father. They ſay Turn out; Chriſt will ſay Turn in; they cry, Away from houſes and lands, and wives, and children, and all for Chriſts ſake; yet be not diſcouraged poor heart, for Chriſt will recompence thee a hundred fold, and thou ſhalt have a Kingdome for thy Cottage. And when they have done all, this, they rejoyce that their Plot hath taken effect, for they deſigned your ruine long ago; I but Chriſts thoughts of love run higher yet, Come bleſſed ſoul, inherit the Kingdome prepared for thee from the foundation of the World. The World may thruſt thee out with both hands, Chriſt will receive thee with both arms. When Cyrus gave one of his friends a kiſſe, another a wedge of gold, he that had the gold, envied him that had the kiſſe, as a greater expreſſion of his favour; what if thou haſt not the onions of Egypt, if thou have the Quails and Manna in the Wilderneſſe,Pſal. 17.14. if thou beeſt a man of G ds hand, if thou beeſt one of his heart, there is ſmall ground to complain. Upon all, if an Epicurus was the beſt of the Philoſophers without an Elyſium; If a Platonick lecture of the immortality of the ſoul made another caſt his life away that he might enter upon that ſtate; If an Ariſtotle upon Euripus banks being not able to reſolve himſelf of the cauſe of its motion, diſſolved himſelf, by caſting himſelf into the ſtreame, ſaying, If I cannot take thee, take thou me; when we have ſuch a glory as eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard; nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath *1 Cor. 2.9.prepared for thoſe that love him; how ſhameful…y are we run a ground, if we cannot have a kinde of *Phil. 1.23. foreign. Rev. 22.20.luſt to be diſſolved; and when Chriſt holds this price in his hand, and cryes, Come ye bleſſed, we do not anſwer, Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly!