A Little Cabinet, Section 55
Of the happy and bleſſed eſtate of the Elect in Heaven.
THey ſhall be unſpeakably and everlaſtingly bleſſed and glorious in bo…y and ſoul, being freed from all imperfections and infirmities, and endowd with perfect wiſdom and holineſs, poſſeſſed with all the pleaſures that are at the right hand of God, ſeated as Princes in thrones of Majeſly, crowned with crowns of Glory, poſſeſſing the third Heaven, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs, beholding and being filled with the fruition of the glorious preſence of God, and of the Lamb Jeſus Chriſt, in the company of innumerabl Angels, and Saints, 1 Cor 13. 10. Pſal. 16. 11. Rev. 3. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Pſal. 17. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 17. Heb. 12. 22.
O what variety of joyes may be conſidered in the glorification of man, in the delights of heavenly manſions, and in the bleſſed ſociety of the Saints, but chiefly in the beholding of God: the body glorified, the ſoul ſhall be far more prefect then it was in the ſtate of innocency, for in it ſhall be underſtanding without error, light without darkneſs, wiſdom without ignorance, reaſon without obſcurity: the Lord ſhall in the ſight and hearing of all world pronounce unto his ſervants, Matthew 25. 34. Come ye bleſſed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
1. Come ye, here is our union and communion with the Trinity.
2. Bleſſed, here is our abſolution, from all ſins, and our endowments with all happineſs.
3. Of my father, here is the Author from whom proceeds our felicity.
4. Inherit, here is faith ending in fruition, and the promiſes in poſſeſſion.
5. The Kingdom, behold our birth right according to grace, 2 Tim. 1. 9.
6. Prepared, See Gods fatherly care for his choſen, John 14. 2.
7. From the foundation of the world, O the free and eternal love of God in Chriſt! having made this introduction, let me crave leave of thee reader to ſpeak more particularly of the moſt glorious ſtate of a Chriſtian in heaven after the ſentence of abſolution at the laſt day of judgement, and to this point I ſhall rather liſp, then ſpeak, being not able to conceive, much leſs to deſcribe that moſt excellent bliſs, and eternal wait of glory; but we may take a ſcantling thereof thus, the Lord in his word doth ſet forth to our capacity the glory of our eternal life after death, in eight things.
1. Their bodies ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the Sun.
2. The ſoul ſhall be far more perfect then it was in the ſtate of innocency.
3. Conſider the place where we ſhall be, and that is in the third heaven.
4. Conſider whoſe preſence we ſhall enjoy, Father, Son, and and holy Spirit, Saints and Angels, &c.
5. In this ſ…ate we ſhall know one another.
6. In this ſtate we ſhall ſpeak one to another.
7. Conſider the variety of joy that there ſhall be in heaven.
8. Conſider the duration and continuance of this bleſſed ſtate.
1. Their bodies ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the Sun in the firmament, like the glorious body of Chriſt. The Glory of a thouſand Suns made into one, will be but as ſack-cloath to that wherein Chriſt ſhall appear in mans nature, he being in the Glory of his Father, Mat 16. 27. And we ſhall be like him. 1 John 3. 2. Then ſhall the righteous ſhine forth as the Sun, in the Kingdom of their father, as appears in this Scripture, Mat. 13. 43.
2. The ſoul ſhall be far more perfect then it was in the ſtate of innocency; ſor in it ſhall be underſtanding without errour, Light without darkneſs, wiſdom without Ignorance, reaſon without obſcurity, memory without oblivion, the Will alſo ſhall be without perverſneſs, joy without ſorrow, pleaſure without pain. In the ſlate of innocency, there was in man a poſſibility not to Sin, but in the ſtate of Glory there ſhall be no poſſibility to ſin. In a word, both body and ſoul in heaven, ſhall be in ſuch a bleſſed ſtate, that neither our tongue can expreſs it, nor our mind conceive it.
The ſoul ſhall be more happy in being preſent with Jeſus Chriſt in heaven, then if it had been preſent with Adam in the ſtate of innocency. Adam was inſtated only in an earthly paradiſe; but now thou being with Chriſt, art inſtated in an everlaſting Kingdom; Again, Adam though pleaſed in a ſtate of innocency, yet he was liable to loſe that bleſſed ſlate, and did loſe it, though he were a perfect creature; but by Chriſt we are inſtated in a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, or loſt.
Again, When Adam was made by God in innocency, he enjoyed only the ſociety of beaſts on the earth, and birds of the air; but when Chriſt brings a ſoul to heaven, God the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt, Angels and Saints ſhall be his companions.
3. Conſider the place where the Saints ſhall be after the Judgement, and that is in the third heaven: we read of Saints departed, that they ſee the face of God. They that are in the third heaven, are in the preſence of God, the Saints departed are in the third heaven, they are in paradiſe, Luke 23. 43. which is the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 2, 4. The place of the bleſſed is uſually known by the name of the third heaven: the third heaven is a ſhining body, created immediately of God, the throne of his ſpecial preſence, and of the gracious manifeſtation of his perfections, and the habitation of the bleſſed, both Angels and men. The whole Region of the air, unto the Moon, is in Scripture called the firſt heaven, from the Moon to the higheſt ſtars incluſively, the ſecond heav…n.
That which is above theſe (the place of happineſs) is the thi…d heaven▪ 2 Cor. 12. 2. This third heaven is called a houſe not made with hands, 2 Cor. 5▪ A City whoſe mak…r and builder is God, Heb. 11. 10. The City of the living God. H…b. 12. 22. This is Ch…iſts fathers houſe. John 14. 2. Paradiſe. Luke 23▪ 43. Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens. 1 Kin. 8. 27. The wo…ld … this is the great City of the g…eat King, he meaſured with the reed twelve thouſand …urlo…gs; the length, and the bredth, and the height of it are equal, Rev. 21. 16.
It is the Court of God and Chriſt, wherein are habitations for in numerable company of Saints and Angels, John 14. 2. Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24.
This heaven of heavens hath twelve foundations, Rev. 21. 14. The matter of the building of the wall of it was of Jaſper, and the City was pure gold, like unto clear glaſs, Rev. 21. 18. the form four ſquare, ver. 16.
Twelve thouſand furlongs, that is, fifteen hundred Engliſh miles ſquare; the gates are in number twelve, made of twelve pearls; every ſeveral gate was of one pearl, ver. 21. Situate, Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South; three looking every way, ver. 13. Having ingraven upon them the names of the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, and twelve Angels for the keepers of them; the ſtreets are of pure gold, ver. 21. Its Temple is God, and the Lamb, its Light, the glory of God, and the Lamb; its Inhabitants are the Lords people, ver. 24. Its water a pure river of Life, Chap. 22. 1. Its fruits are the fruits of the tree of Life. ver. 2. In a word, there is no place ſo glorious by creation, ſo beautiful with delectation, ſo rich in poſſeſſion, ſo comfortable for habitation: for there the King is Chriſt, the Law is Love, the honour verity, the peace felicity, the Life eternity; there is Light without drakneſs, mirth without ſadneſs, health without ſickneſs, wealth without want, credit without diſgrace, beauty without blemiſh, eaſe without labour, riches without ruſt, bleſſedneſs without miſery.
Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O thou City of God, Pſalm 87. 3.
4. Let us yet conſider whoſe preſence we ſhall enjoy; and that is, the prſence of Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt, Angels and Saints, Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24.
The whole man ſhall enjoy fellowſhip with God, fellowſhip with the Lamb, and fellowſhip with the Angels: A happy ſociety and ſweet communion, all holineſs, all happineſs, all joys ſhall be enjoyed.
All that God beſtowed upon Moſes could not ſatisfie his mind, unleſs he might ſee the face of God.
When Paul had once ſeen this bleſſed ſight, he ever after counted all the riches and Glory of the world to be but dung; and all his Life after was but ſighing out, I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt: Father I will, ſaith Chriſt▪ that they which thou haſt given me, be even where I am, that they may behold my Glory.
5. The next thing to be conſidered is, that in this bleſſed ſtate we ſhall all know one another, and have Communion one with another, and ſweet content flowing from that Communion: we ſhall know the power of the Father, and the wiſdom of the Son▪ the grace of the holy Ghoſt, and the inviſible nature of the bleſſed Trinity, and in him we ſhall know all our friends who died in the faith, and all the faithful that ever were or ſhall be, Luke 13. 28. Chriſt tels the Jews, that they ſhall ſee Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob▪ and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, therefore we ſhall know them: Adam knew Eve▪ whom he had never ſeen before, muchmore then ſhall we know thoſe we have known here. David implyeth that he ſhall know his child when he comforted himſelf, that he ſhould go to it, 2 Sam. 12, 23. The Apoſtles knew Chriſt after his reſurrection, Peter, James, and John knew Moſes and Elias in the tranſfiguration; how much more ſhall we know one another, when we ſhall be all glorified? Mat. 17. 4 Luke 9. 33. The rich man knew Abraham and Lazarus, Luke 16. Surely then Abraham and Lazarus ſhall know one another. 1 Cor. 13. 12. S…int Paul ſaith, at that day we ſhall know as we are known of God. Love never faileth, therefore knowledge, the ground thereof, remains in another life. Our knowledge in another life ſhall as far exceed the knowledge of this life, as the Light of the Sun doth exceed the Light of a candle. They who thirſt for knowledge, Let them long be ſtudients of this Univerſity: for all the Light by which we know any thing in this world, is nothing but the very ſhadow of God.
Dives in Hell, knew Lazarus in heaven, and why ſhall not the godly know one another there?
We read Mat. 13. That Peter, James and John, knew Moſes in the transfiguration, as before, &c.
Boulton here thinks it ſhould detract much from the happineſs of every Saint in heaven, if every Saint ſhould not know one another there.
6. Another priviledge is▪ we ſhall not only know one another, and have communion together, but we ſhall ſpeak one to another: Our communion and conference one with another may be gathered from the like in the Angels, who doubtleſs ſpeak one to another, though not vocally as we now do, yet in their manner, viz. Angelically, and ſpiritually, which is thought to be nothing elſe but a ſpiritual inſinuation, inſtillation or communication of their minds, notions & meanings one to another: to think that the Angles and Spirits of the juſt made perfect, do not ſpeak in their heavenly and ſpiritual manner, communicating their minds one to anotheras they ſee cauſe, is againſt reaſon, and inconſiſting with the ſtate of bleſſedneſs; and to think they ſpeak in this manner, is not againſt Scripture or reaſon, though the full reſolution to this thing, viz. with what tongues the Angels and ſouls departed, ſpeak, ſeems to be reſerved till we come to heaven; ſome conceive we ſhall then all ſpeak in the Hebrew tongue.
7. Let us conſider the variety of joyes in heaven, and thoſe admirable good things which God hath prepared, and which Chriſt hath purchaſed for his ſervants; it is not for any wit of man to conceive, or any tongue to relate, or any pen to ſet down: nevertheleſs let us ſet down a taſte of them as we find them revealed in Scriptures; in that life there ſhall be no earthly or ſinfull miſery, there ſhall be no ſin at all, no ſickneſs, no ſorrows, no diſeaſes nor malady, no croſs nor curſe, no vexation nor calamity, no defect nor deformity, no tumults not troubles, no pain nor penury, all tears ſhall be done away, all evils removed, all ſin aboliſhed, all wants ſupplyed, Rev. 22. 3. Rev. 21. 4.
There ſhall be a perpetual poſſeſſion of all good things, even of God himſelf, who is goodneſs it ſelf; there ſhall be perfection of knowledge, no defect in love, certain ſecurity, coniſtant amity, and ſecure tranquility; the end why all this ſhall be given to us, is, that God may manifeſt his exceeding love to us, and that we might enjoy the full fruit of Chriſts death and paſſion; and laſtly, that we might acknowledge the wonderful mercies of God unto us, and celebrate his name for ever; then ſhall we be in a ſtate of exemption from ſin, and from the cauſes of ſin, and from the puniſhment of ſin. The morall Philoſophers ſay, that hail, ſtorm and tempeſt are ingendred in the middle region, but above the middle region there is no wind, no ſtorm or tempeſt, but whilſt we are here below, ſet us expect ſtorms, winds, and bluſtering temptations: but when God takes us above this middle region, there is no ſtorm nor tempeſt to trouble us: then the Angels that rejoyced at our converſion, will much rejoyce together with us at our entrance into heaven
8. Let us conſider the duration and continuance of this bleſſed ſtate, this life is an everlaſting life, Mat. 25. 45. It ſhall continue world without end: life eternal is the higheſt degree of bleſſedneſs, in which we ſhall be made partakers of Chriſts glory, enjoying the ſight of God, and heavenly joyes for ever and ever, therefore it is termed everlaſting life, John 16. 22. and Chriſt faith that our joy ſhall no man take from us. Oh who can bear this and not admire it! Who can meditate on it, and not be amazed at it? as ſoon as any Saint in this life felt but a true taſte of theſe everlaſting joys, they preſently accounted all the riches and pleaſures of this life to be but loſs and dung in reſpect of that, and therefore with fervent prayers, faſtings, tears, faith, and good life, they gave all diligence, and laboured to aſcertain themſelves of this eternal life, and for the love thereof, they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and poſſeſſions, to lay up treaſure in heaven.
Abraham and Sarah left their own country and poſſeſſions to look for a City, whoſe maker and builder is God, Heb. 11. 10, 15, 16. David preferreth one day in this place, before a thouſand elſewhere, Pſal. 84. 10.
Elias earneſtly beſought the Lord to receive his ſoul into his Kingdom, and went willingly, though in a fiery Chariot, King. 19. 4.
Saint Paul having once ſeen heaven, continually deſi…eth to be diſſolved, that he might be with Chriſt, Phil. 1. 23.
Saint Peter having eſpyed but a glimpſe of eternal glory in the mount, wiſhed that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life, Mat. 17. 4. ſaying, Maſter it is good for us to be here, &c.
Chriſt a little before his death, prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory, Joh. 17. 5.
And the Apoſtle witneſſeth, Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was ſet before them, they endured the croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away, &c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration, decay or conſumption, waſte or diminution; mans eternal condition admits of no compariſon, revocation or concluſion, &c.