Zech. 4.7 Especially since our freedom rescues us from Hellish tortures as Pauls did him from scourging and makes us heirs of Heaven 5. Peculiar advantages not afforded to all gives grounds of thankfulness such is this Our Lord said Matth. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father Lord of He aven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Alas what have any of us but what we have received Discriminating kindnesses call for the greatest gratitude What did God see in any of us that might procure for us Heaven Or within us what preparation for Heaven You and I are of the same polluted lump of Mankind as others Most unlikely to become heirs of such a glorious inheritance as Heaven is What could God see in us to attract his heart to us Nay what did he not see in us to turn his stomach against us It was the kindness and love of God our Saviour Not by works ef Righteousness which we had done but according to his Mercy he saved us Tit. 3.3 4. Alas what loveliness could God see or foresee in us to make us Children then heirs of God joynt-heirs with Christ We may say with honest Judas Job 14.22 How is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world It must be answered Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight When thousands are left why art thou taken How came it to pass that when Philosophers and wise Sages of the World bewildred so in the dark about felicity that God should shew you the right way to true happiness and lead you into it and in it Surely all is of free grace 6. Fittedness to any duty or dispensation is a Mercy worth thanking God for Such is the Christian frame that makes meet for Heaven such a person is fit to do Gods will or suffer Gods will he is suited to a prosperous and adverse condition his foot standeth in an even place like a Watch in a Mans pocket turn it this way or that way it keeps its motion so the Christian in all conditions his station and motion Heaven-wards The righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger Job 17.9 He is utrinque paratus ready for any thing that God calls him to Like the man of God mentioned 2 Tim. 3.17 That is perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Oh what a blessed thing is it to be in a capacity to embrace a motion to pray read conser meditate receive the Lords Supper upon an invitation from Men or summons from God! The Church in Cant. 5.2 found the want of this when she saith I sleep but my heart waketh i. e. I have the principle but want the exercise of grace and alas how unready was she to entertain her beloved though she had given him a call and the sad consequences of this unfit frame are obvious both as to her sin and suffering But oh what a mercy is it to have an heart ready pressed for Gods service Give God the glory of it and its worth something to be in a readiness for Mercy Affliction Death Judgment as those are that are meet for Heaven It was a noble Speech of Basil when Modestus the Praefect threatened Confiscation Torments Banishment he answered He need not fear Confiscation that hath nothing to lose nor Banishment to whom Heaven only is a Countrey nor Torments when his Body would be dasht with one blow nor Death which is the only way to set him at liberty Polycarp was ready for Beasts or any kind of death for he was ready for Heaven For as this Christian is delivered from danger by death so from the fear of death Heb. 2.15 Death it self is the day break of eternal brightness to the Child of God and is not this worth thanking God for 7. Heaven is surely worth thanking God for Could we get a glimpse of that state and place of glory and this inheritance of the Saints in light together with our title to it Oh how would it dazzle and transport us its said that the Temple of Diana was so bright that the Door-keeper still cryed to such as entered Take heed to your Eyes Much more may we say so of the surprizing glory of the Heaven of Heavens and therefore our Lord saith None can see his face and live But death blows dust out of the Eyes of glorified Saints and the Morning-Star at the Resurrection doth so fortifie the sight that it can behold this inaccessible light with admiration even as all the Stars look upon the Sun Fear not little flock saith our Saviour Luk. 12.32 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Is not a Kingdom worth thanks and such a Kingdom and to have this freely of gift not to wade to it through Wars and Blood and all this by hereditary right which is the clearest title Oh Sirs do you know what Heaven is It is the immediate injoyment of God an immunity from all evils a possession of all good the perfection of our natures the maturity of our graces the destruction of all sin the banishment of Satan and his temptations the fulness of joy and total death of all grief Indeed it is such a state as can neither be expressed nor conceived How vile and contemptible would all things below appear to one that with Paul is rapt up into this Paradice I read of one Adrianus an Heathen that was present when Martyrs were examined and tormented he asked What was the Reason they suffered such Tortures it was answered in the words of that Text 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him The very rehearsal of which words converted this Adrianus and he became a Martyr also Oh what a transcendent reward is there in these Mansions above And God doth not grudge us the knowledge of these glorious things He is not like some rich men that will not let their heirs know what they will do for them till they dye no the Text saith ver 10. that God revealeth them to us by his Spirit and v. 12. that we may know the things freely given to us of God We may know them perceptively not comprehensively by Faith tho' not by Sense We know but yet in part non rem sed aliquid rei but then we shall know as we are known not as God knoweth us for our knowledge and Gods must not be so comparatively likened but as holy Spirits know us both now and for ever we shall both know and be known by immediate intuition yet in this world God gives his Children though differently some glimpses and dark representations per Species as through a glass by Metaphors or Parables and this discovery is to raise up our hearts in thankfulness admiration and longing desires to
lying upon his Death-bed discoursed sweetly of Heaven Bullinger standing by alleadged that in Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven True said the sick man it is in Heaven sed non in Coelo Brentii quod nusquam est not in the Heaven of Brentius which is no where There is doubtless a Coelum Empyreum called a Third Heaven or Paradice into which Paul was wrapt in his Extacy 2 Cor. 12.2 4. into which Christ was carryed Body and Soul Luke 24.51 The habitation of Gods Holiness and Glory Isa 63.15 It s true God himself is called Heaven Dan. 4.26 The Heavens do rule So Matth. 21.25 And it s as true God fills Heaven and Earth Jer. 23.24 And its true where the King is there is the Court But yet God manifests himself far differently in all places he is in Hell by the execution of his Justice in Heaven by manifestation of his Grace on Earth by displaying both and his other Glorious Attributes according to his infinite Wisdom and Pleasure But let vain Men please themselves in their fond conceits or desperately leap into the other World let you and me duely weigh the vast difference betwixt Graceless and Gracious Souls in this and in the other World and though men will not believe because they see not any such difference yet a time is coming when they shall return and discern betwixt the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Mal. 3.18 Then all the World must be ranked into two Regiments sheep and goats the one at Christs right hand the other on his left to the one he will say come ye blessed to the other go ye cursed Mat. 25.32 46. They that love not to hear discriminating Truths here shall meet with discriminating Acts at that day And can we think that there will be such a difference at that day and is there none in this World Yes certainly Though all things come alike to all as to common Providences in this World Eccles 9.2 yet Grace makes a difference in Persons dispositions here and there will be a vast difference in Divine Dispensations hereafter much greater then betwixt a Man and a Bruit yea like that which is betwixt an Angel and a Devil Oh that men would study and understand this now Grace makes the difference now and Glory compleats it 1. In point of Assimilation Gods Children are like their Father now but shall be more like him at that day 1 Joh. 3.2 Our former similitude is from Faith and so imperfect but the latter is from immediate Vision and so perfect and compleat 2. In point of Satisfaction In this World the weary Soul is working towards its rest Psal 116.7 and doth by Faith enter into this rest Heb. 4.3 yet there is another remaining ver 9. Some satisfaction is in Ordinances Psal 36.8 but more in that Blessed Morning when Gods Children awake Psal 17.15 3. In point of Participation For Gods Children are not tantalized by beholding that they have no right to no they have Heaven by appropriation by Faith here so Eph. 2.8 and by compleat possession in the other World abundant evidence of peculiar relation Rev. 21.3 4. In point of Fruition Gods Children do enjoy fellowship with God already in this world 1 Joh. 1.3 but alas it is but through a glass darkly but then face to face immediately 1 Cor. 13.12 Now it is but rarely but now and then but then constantly and perpetually as the Angels that always behold the face of our Father Matth. 18.10 Their Eye is never off God even when they are sent on any Errands to Earth about the Saints It s defective in degree here but full and compleat above It s oft obstructed and obscured here but above this Glory shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 and so never darkened or eclipsed with clouds of interposing guilt O ye Children of men prove your Fathers will and your selves Children make sure of this Inheritance make no reckoning of the stuff of this World for the good of the upper Country above is before you Heaven will pay for all your losses and countervail all your crosses here No matter how your Names are written on Earth in Dust or Marble if they be written in Heaven Some say this World is but a shadow of that above look you for the lineaments of that Kingdom above to be pourtrayed on you Basil asserted One Hundred Sixty Five Heavens You must pass by all the fancyed Heavens of Men and look for a City that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11.10 Take this Kingdom of Heaven by violence Matth. 11.12 Get a Copy of Grace in your hearts out of Scripture Records the Court Rolls of Heaven so you are sure of it and lay hold of Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.19 Heaven must be begun here or never enjoyed hereafter Holiness of Heart and Life is like the Old Testament Tabernacle an example and shadow of heavenly things Happiness is the injoyment of good commensurate to our desires and our desires must be suited to that happiness Criticks observe that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies happiness is plural not only denoting a confluence of many good things to make one happy but because there is an happiness in this life preparing for and anticipating the happiness in the other They differ not in kind but degree that above is the same state but in an higher stature the same Book but in a more correct Edition and a larger Character The Saints above differ from us as Man from a Child as Noon sun from the Morning light we are in the same house only they are got into the upper room at the same feast only they are at the upper end of the Table Let us make hast after them They were once as you are groveling on this Dung-hill but are exalted to the Throne aspire you to the same preferment It may be had it must be had or you are undone Study the way of God how this Inheritance is made over to the Sons of Men and that is 1. By Regeneration Matth. 19.28.2 By Adoption Romans 8.17.3 By Donation Luke 12.32 4. By right of Redemption Joh◠10.28 Eph. 1.14 and they say he that hath bought a Slave may dispose of him as he please by his will Our Lord made his will thus Joh. 17.24 Father I will that where I am these may be also Clear this and clear all then you are safe fail in this and you are undone But this is not all you are not only to get and clear up a title to this Inheritance but to press after a due meetness for it and this is the design of this small Treatise which was for the substance of it Preached and Writ Thirty Five Years ago and now revised and published upon these Considerations 1. For my own help and furtherance in preparation for Heaven having passed to the sixtieth year of my Life the date of
Meetness FOR HEAVEN Promoted in some brief MEDITATIONS UPON COLOS. 1.12 Discovering the nature and necessity of habitual and actual Meetness for Heaven here in all that hope for Heaven hereafter Designed for a Funeral Legacy By O. H. an unworthy Minister of the Gospel of Christ Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward received me to Glory Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City London Printed by J. R. for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside AN EPISTLE To my Dearly Beloved Hearers Friends and Neighbours and others that will be at the cost to buy or take the pains to read this small Treatise Dearly Beloved A Desire after Happiness is so ingraven in the Nature of Man that it was never put to the debate whether he would be happy or no This needs no choice all are agreed in this as the end of a rational Agent And therefore at last Felicity was accounted a Goddess among the Romans and St. Augustine tells us that Lucullus built her a Temple only he wonders that the Romans that were worshippers of so many Gods had not given Divine Honour to Felicity sooner which alone would have sufficed in stead of all the rest of their Deities which he reckons up and saith at last of Numa that having chosen so many Gods and Goddesses 't is strange he neglected this An eam forte in tanta turbâ videre non potuit but though they at last had got a notion of Felicity yet having no true Piety that veneration ended in the greatest misery and infelicity nothing but Wars ensued Vid. Aug. de civit Dei lib 4. cap. 23. This indeed is the case All men would be happy but few know the due object and true means leading to Happiness It is possible as the same Father saith there to find a man that is unwilling to be made King nullus autem invenitur qui se nolit esse foelicem that is loath to be made happy But indeed most men blunder in the dark and few find the thing they seek The same Father tells us de civ Dei lib 19. c. 1. that Varro in his Book of Philosophy that had diligently searched the various Opinions of men about the chiefest good reduceth them to two hundred eighty eight Sects or Sentences non quae jam essent sed quae esse possent and Augustine reduceth them to their several heads But I pass by Heathens that are bewildred in the dark and know no better Even professing or pretended Christians either do not understand or will not embrace the way of Peace and Rest The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14.2 3. All mankind is degenerate and few are regenerated We set out for Hell as soon as we are born and till converting Grace turn us Heaven-wards we go blindfold to the pit The whole World lyeth in ignorance and wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 But no such ignorance as that which is wilful This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil Joh. 3.19 No man perisheth but by his own will Men will sin and love death rather then life You will not come to me saith Christ that you may have life Joh. 5.40 He that rejecteth the means rejecteth the end All they that hate Christ love death Prov. 8.36 They do both not directly or designedly but interpretatively and consequentially Most men observe lying vanities and so forsake their own Mercies Jon. 2.8 as he leaves the East that goes to the West My people saith God have committed two evils Observe it it 's but one act yet there 's two evils in it what are they they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.13 Oh what evil is in the bowels of one sin But especially in the sin of Vnbelief The evil of sin brings on the evil of punishment Miss of Heaven and you purchase Hell What mad man will refuse this gift that is better then Gold What beast will run into a pit or praecipice But some men make a jest of Heaven as that Bishop who when one said I hope to see you at your Diocess ere long replyed I fear I shall be in Heaven before that time come Others like Martha are so incumbred in the World that they are staked down to Terrene Objects and Answer as he that being asked if he saw the Eclipse answered No I have so much business on Earth that I have no leisure to look up to Heaven This is most mens ease Alas the World eats out many mens Religion as the Sun shining eats out the fire So that men are as dead to Religion as if Heaven were but a dream and as hot upon sin as if Hell had no fire or were all vanisht into smoke Nay it 's well if some look not on Heaven and Hell as if they were but a Fable or Romance a scar-crow to fright weak headed people or the meer invention of designing Priests to keep men in awe But they shall know one day to their cost that there is an Heaven by the loss of it and that there is an Hell by the torments of it Let these ask the rich man in torment whether there is an Hell or no Targum saith the dispute betwixt Cain and Abel was concerning a World to come And indeed this is the Controversie betwixt the faithful and unbelievers Though the wicked say the Creed wherein they profess a belief of the Resurrection Judgment and Eternal Life yet it s but notional not experimental practical They know nothing of it initially inchoatively by feeling the beginnings of it here and living to the rates of it It is to be feared that the greatest part of Mankind will fall to the Devils share How little are men concerned about a future state How many put away from them the evil day Some have a foolish imagination that Heaven is every where that there is neither Heaven nor Hell but in a mans own Conscience and then they can shift well enough for they can stop the mouth of a bawling Conscience and speak Peace to themselves But how long will either of these last When God arms a man against himself he shall be a Magormissabib a fear round about Witness Cain Saul Judas that thought Hell was easier then his own Conscience and therefore desperately leapt into it to the crushing of his Body and the damning of his Soul They shall find that there is an Heaven and Hell after this natural Life is ended It is recorded of Peter Martyr that he
the Life of Paul the aged within a few days and my Lord only knows how soon my sun may set though I cannot say my Natural Vigour either of Body or Mind is in the least abated but I am mortal and am loath to be surprized unawares 2. I see a great failure in my self and other Christians in this that terminate our studies and endeavours in getting a title and then think all is well we need no more but surely there is much behind we have abundance of work upon our hands for obtaining actual meetness without which we cannot evidence our habitual meetness 3. I never yet met with any Treatise upon this subject though it be of great importance for every Christian surely Heaven is worth minding and methinks Abrahams Query in another case should be ours Gen. 15.8 O Lord God whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it 4. I have observed a commendable practice of some Christians which is to order some Books to be distributed at their Funerals The first that I knew of that nature was Mr. R. A. his Vindiciae Pietatis and some other practical pieces which by Gods Blessing have done much good Such a Memorandum would I bequeath as my last Legacy to you my dear People amongst whom I have laboured above thirty nine years in publick and private serving the Lord in some measure of Integrity and Humility with many Tears and Temptations through variety of Dispensations Excommunications Banishments Confiscations and Imprisonments but out of all these the Lord hath delivered me and set my feet in a large place and God that searcheth the heart knows what hath been my design in studying preaching praying preparing you a place to meet in to Worship God and what are the agonies and jealousies of my Spirit to this day least I leave any of you unconverted and so cashiered from Gods presence at the great day and now at last I solemnly charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that you rest not in a graceless state another day lest that be the last day and you be found unready And I solemnly require you that have a principle of Grace gird up your Loins trim your Lamps and observe these few Rules and the dispositions mentioned in this small Treatise I only hint further Be much in the love of God Dayly act Faith on Christ Walk in the Spirit Design Gods Glory Intermit not holy duties Be not content therein without communion with God Mingle Religion with civil acts Increase every Grace Redeem time Profitably converse with Gods Children Aim at perfection Maintain tender Consciences Keep strict accounts Study the life of Heaven Be still doing or getting good Set God before your eyes Trample on worldly things Live in dayly view of death Be nothing in your own eyes Be much in heavenly praises Say O Lord who am I and what is my Fathers house that thou hast brought me hitherto What is man what am I the least and worst of the children of men that the heart of God should be working for me and towards me in infinite bowels of eternal love That the Lord Jesus should shed his heart-blood for me That the holy Spirit should take possession of me That God should provide such an inheritance for me Assure me of it by precious Promises seal it to me in his holy Supper That ever God should give me an heart to fear him Heal so many backslidings Prevent total Apostacy Pardon all my iniquities Vouchsafe me such large priviledges Supply my wants Hear my Prayers Help me over so many a foul place in my journey Brought me to the borders of Canaan Given me so many foretasts of the promised Land Tells me the Jordan of death shall be driven back and give me a safe passage to Heaven O Blessed blessed be God all this is from sovereign Grace God doth what he pleaseth I would not exchange this hope for the worlds possessions Eternity will be little enough to be taken up in the praises of rich grace Thus the gracious Soul may quickly lose it self in these Divine Praises and Contemplations as that zealous German Martyr Giles Titleman who in his Prayers was so ardent kneeling by himself in some secret place that he seemed to forget himself being called many times to meat he neither heard nor saw them that stood by him till he was lift up by the Arms and then gently he would speak to them as one waked out of a deep sleep Oh that there were such a spirit in Gods children That our hearts were so intent on things above as to pass through the world as unconcerned in it Then shall you be content to leave all and go to Christ Then will you not be afraid of the King of Terrors though armed with Halberts Racks Fires Gibbets then will you have a brighter Crown and higher degrees of Glory and shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as one Star differs from another in Glory so you will be set in the highest Orb and having had largest capacities on Earth shall have fullest joys in Heaven I will conclude with the blessed Apostles Prayer 1 Th. 3.12 13. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints Amen and Amen Thus prayeth Your Servant in our dearest Lord Oliver Heywood COLOS. 1.12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light CHAP. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised and explained PRayer and Praise are the two wings upon which a devout Soul mounts Heavenwards Prayer fetcheth down occasions of Praise These two are as Chariots and Factors to maintain intercourse betwixt God and his Children Paul was a great man in both for after the Inscription Subscription and Benediction in this Epistle he falls to Praise ver 3. then to Prayer ver 9. and in the Text he falls again to Praise and Thanksgiving wherein observe 1. The Duty Praise 2. The Mercy for what In the former observe 1. The Act giving thanks 2. The Object the Father 1. The Act 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies a being of a good Grace having a very grateful Spirit and expressing it in words and actions Col. 3.15 Be ye thank ful or be ye amiable one to another or grateful both in conferring and receiving Benefits But here it referrs to God Obs 1. That thank fulness is the duty and property of a Christian Thankful retribution for Mercies is the study and enquiry of gracious Souls Psal 116.12 Prayer and Thanks are like the double motion of the Lungs the air of Mercy that is sucked in by Prayer is breathed out again by the duty of Praise O happy Christian that can and must in every
our Lord say such honour shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father Matth. 20.23 Can you think to wrest Heaven out of Gods hands whether he will or not And must he falsifie his word to gratifie you Will he set the Crown on Rebels heads Or give this Inheritance of Saints to the Devils slaves No doubtless you must be adopted Sons or no Lawful Heirs Bastards heir no Land Jephthahs Brethren thrust him out saying Thou shalt not inherit in our Fathers house for thou art the Son of a strange Woman Judg. 11.2 And what bold intruder art thou that darest expect to claim such an Inheritance as Heaven without the relation of a Son Adam its true was Gods Son by Creation but alas he and we in him have quite lost that sweet Relation and we must either be restored in Christ Gods well-beloved Son or we are like to be banisht for ever God sent his own Son that through him we might receive the adoption of Sons Gal. 4.5 6. And have you the Spirit of his Son in your hearts to cry Abba Father which elsewhere is called the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Tell me not that all Men are the Sons of God So were the Devils God will make you know that this is a peculiar priviledge known to very few injoyed by fewer but it is the fruit of singular Love and is attended with this unparalell'd advantage of seeing God as he is and a day is coming when these Sons and Heirs in disguise shall then be like their Father 1 Joh. 3.1 2. then Atheists that will not believe that there is any such difference among Men and bold intruders that dreamed of a right without pretending or proving their Adoption shall be utterly confounded 2. But besides this Relative change there is also a real change upon those Souls that God makes meet for Heaven and this consists in 1. Conversion to God 2. Covenanting with God 1. Conversion to God This is expressed in the words immediately following my Text Ver. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son This is a description of Conversion and a preparation for Glory Compare this with Acts 26.18 See there the priviledge annexed Observe it Conversion makes Saints and only Saints partake of this Inheritance If all the Men on Earth and Angels in Heaven should joyn their Forces together they could not save one unconverted Soul Truth it self hath asserted it with a solemn asseveration Matth. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven The like doth the same mouth assert with a fourfold asseveration Joh. 3.3 5. I wonder often how careless sinners ners that are conscious to themselves that never any such work passed on them can eat and drink or sleep quietly and never so much as ask this question Am I converted or am I not If I be when or how did my Soul pass through the pangs of the new birth What tears fears what groans and agonies hath it cost me What fruits hath it brought forth in me Where 's this new Creature the Divine Nature the Image and Seed of God working Heaven-wards What stamp what sheep-mark can I shew as the fruit of Gods being at work on my Soul and an earnest of this glorious Inheritance But if there be no such change as I doubt there is not how can I be quiet Sure my pillow is soft or my heart hard and my Conscience seared that hear or read my own doom in such a Scripture from the mouth of the Judge himself standing at Heaven-gates and shutting me out as if he named me saying Be gone thou unconverted sinner I know thee not converting Grace never changed thy Heart or Life though I often summoned thee and knockt at thy door yet thou hadst no heart or desire to turn from thy sinful ways nor so much as fall down on thy knees and ask this grace of Conversion of me or use the means for it or so much as examine whether thou hast it or no but wentest on in a golden dream and now I must tell thee roundly to thy cost depart oh be gone from my presence thou poor wretched unconverted sinner This state this place is for none but sincere Converts 2. Covenanting with God When the glorious day of our Lords appearing shall spring he calls forth his covenanted people to crown his gracious promises with compleat performance Psal 50 5. Gather my Saints together those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice q. d. I take little notice of common or outside Worshippers they shall be set on my left hand but there is amongst you some serious Souls that look beyond the Ordinance I have observed them they have solemnly devoted themselves to me and accepted me in a Covenant-way These these are the persons and these only that I have taken for the lot of my inheritance and for whom I have laid up a safe and satisfying inheritance But to the uncovenanted soul or hypocritical pretender to covenant God will say What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 What ground hast thou to own me Or to claim any thing from me for this world or another Man as a creature can have no intercourse with God but in a Covenant-way much less can a sinner expect any good from God but by vertue of Covenant But what canst thou say for this promised Inheritance that hast nothing to do with the promises For all the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 But thou hast never spent one hour solemnly to review and renew thy Baptismal Covenant and ingage thy Soul to God and since thou art an Alien from the Commonwealth of Israel and a stranger from the Covenant of Promise by consequence thou art without Christ and without God in this world and therefore without hope of a better state in the other world Eph. 2.12 But strangers and forreigners are become fellow-citizens with the Saints of this new Jerusalem ver 19. How is that Doubtless by taking this sacred Oath of Fealty and Allegiance to the King of Heaven By Covenant you have a title to all the good things of Earth and Heaven Sinner think of this thou that lovest to be loose and scornest the setters of this Holy League thou dost in effect say I will have none of God Christ Pardon Heaven If I must have them on no other terms but under such bonds and obligations let them take this Heavenly Inheritance for me And dost thou think this golden chain of honour worse then the Devils iron fetters of sin and amazing reward of flames and torments If you need not God and Heaven be it known to you God needs not you but can strain for the revenue of Glory to his Justice
at the rate of that Inheritance he is heir to Thus the Christian gets everlasting Consolation because he hath good hopes through Grace 2 Thess 2.16 O saith the Believer Divine Revelations have so fully demonstrated the reality of future Glory that my Faith no more doubts of it then of going to Bed at night and why should not my Flesh and Spirit rest in hope Psal 16.9 Why should not then my heart be glad Why may not my glory rejoyce Yea I will rejoyce in hope of the glory of God for my hope will not make me ashamed Rom. 5.2 5. I dare venture my hopes and my all in this blessed Covenant-bottom My soul hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him and that for ever Psal 42.11 3. Love That 's a grace that shines brightest in its proper Orb above but the more it is exercised here below the more of Heaven Love resembles the Soul most to God and raiseth the Soul to an Heavenly Life God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 Joh. 4.16 The Soul that is carried out to God in pure flames of holy love hath mounted already into the highest Region and bathes it self in those pure streams that raise and ravish the Spirit in a continued extasie The more Love the more fittedness for Heaven If love be increased and abound our hearts are established unblameable at his coming 1 Th. 3.12 13. Yea the more Love the more of Heaven for what is our love but a reflexion of Gods love 1 Joh. 4.19 Oh saith the Christian I feel the sweet beams of the Sun of Righteousness warming my heart methinks those Heavenly sparks have set me in a flame that when I am Musing the fire burns when I am Praying or Praising God my Soul mounts up to my Lord as pillars of smoak and I love to be near him and to be acting for him Oh how sweet is every Love-letter that comes from him How pleasant are some tokens of love that come from the hand and heart of my beloved Here is the soul that is meet for Heaven 4 Humility and Self-denyal Will you believe it The lower the Christian casts himself down the nearer Heaven But this is a truth Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven God makes his court in the humble and contrite Spirit Isa 57.15 Oh saith Christian this grace have I found in me that duty is performed by me this corruption have I mortified that burden have I born what say I That I have done this or that O no By the grace of God I am what I am I laboured yet not I but the grace of God 1 Cor. 15.10 I dare not say any thing is my own but sin and what 's performed by me is mixt with sin and imperfection Horreo quicquid de meo est I tremble for fear saith Luther at any thing that is of mine own I must not depend on mine own Righteousness O that I may be found in Christ I am nothing can do nothing deserve nothing but Death and Hell If ever I be admitted into Heaven it must be upon the account of Christ his Merits upon the Cross his Intercession in Heaven That 's an excellent Text Rev. 19.7 8. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready But how is she ready Why to her was graunted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the sine linnen is the righteousness of Saints Indeed it s no other then Christs Righteousness imputed This is the upper garment that must not only cover our nakedness but the tattered rags of our own Righteousness whether that relate to a glorious state of the Church on Earth or in Heaven I dispute not But I am sure its the bravest suit that she can put on and she will look trim in that only and woe to them that appear in their best inherent Righteousness Let the proud self-justiciary say Coelum gratis non accipiam I will not have Heaven gratis or for nothing I will pay a proportionable rate for it then thou art like to go without it for it s not saleable Ware Rom. 9.31 But let a poor self-condemning Publican come and beg Pardon and Heaven for Christs sake and God will not deny him For he resisteth the proud but gives grace and glory to the humble Jam. 4.6 CHAP. IV. Meetness for Heaven in clear evidences of Title to it 2. THe next particular wherein a meetness for Heaven doth consist is Assurance or grounded evidence of our title to this Heavenly Inheritance for no Man is ready to go out of this World but he that hath solid grounds of his safe estate for another World for doubts breed fears and those lears beget unwillingness to go hence He dare not dye that knows not whither he must go and he is not meet for death that hath not used Gods appointed means to obtain assurance a thousand to one a Soul at uncertainties hath been a slothful negligent Soul for in an usual way diligence be gets assurance For so saith the Apostle Heb. 6.11 We desire that every one of you would shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end that ye be not slothful ver 12. So 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure And what then Why then ver 11. he adds For so an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ A Ship may make an hard shift to get sneaking into the Harbor with Anchors lost Cables rent Sails torn Masts broken these get safe in but with much ado but oh how gallantly doth another ride in to the credit of her Master good example to others comfort and satisfaction to all in the Ship when she comes in with Sails spread Flags up Trumpets sounding and well Victualled surely these come in bravely This is just the difference betwixt a lazy Professor that wants assurance and an active Christian in his voyage to this blessed Haven God requires this assurance means are appointed for attaining it serious Christians have gained it so mayest thou and so must thou endeavour after it You 'll say how is it got By what means may a Christian come to the assurance of his title to this Heavenly Inheritance that he may be meet or fit to take possession of it at death I Answer in general it must be supposed that you have a title which is your habitual meetness or else how can you be assured of it You that are unregenerate you have a greater work to pass through before you are capable of obtaining assurance But supposing this I answer 1. An holy diligence in increasing exercising graces and performance of duty This I hinted before Acts evidence habits Improving grace is Gods way to
find of Bishop Juel that long before his sickness he foretold it approaching and in his sickness the precise day of his death he dyed in the fiftieth year of his age The like we have of James Andreas who foretold the year yea hour of his death I shall but add one instance of that Holy Man of God and my dear Friend Mr. Isaac Ambrose his surviving Wife told me of his solemn farewel he gave to his Daughter and some other Friends Yea the very day of his death several Friends from Garstang visited him at Preston with whom he discoursed piously and chearfully telling them he had finisht his work having the night before sent his discourse of Angels to the Press attended them to their Horses returned dyed that Evening in his Parlour where he had shut up himself for Meditation Thus Gods children are made meet for Heaven by dispatching their work on earth CHAP. VI. Meetness for Heaven by being mortified to Sin Time and Earthly Objects and being elevated to Heavenly Objects 4. THE last thing wherein meetness for Heaven doth consist is a being dead or being mortified to all things below and alive and lively to God and things above It is true converting grace deadens the heart to all sublunaries and lifts it up to divine things Yea sometimes the first convictions take off the sinners Spirit more then is meet and quite damps the affections to lawful comforts and makes him think he must do nothing in worldly business but give himself to Reading Praying and Hearing but Gods grace in a little time discovers this to be a Temptation Yet as grace gets the upper hand and the Christian mellows and ripens for glory so he is mortified and gradually transformed and advanced 1. By further victory over his corruptions for as the Christian perfects holiness in the fear of God so he doth by degrees cleanse himself from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 Sin and grace being like two buckets at one chain as the one comes up the other goes down Or as the ebbing and flowing of the Sea where it gaineth in one place it loseth in another the more holiness the less sin Now the Christian grows stronger and stronger The inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 So the body of sin is weakened till at last his fleshly lusts are laid at his feet and spiritual sins pay tribute to the grace of God in his Soul Pride hardness unbelief and security keep the Christian humble and watchful jealous of himself and maintaining spiritual conflicts against them so occasionally he is a gainer by his losses a riser by his falls however the Christian grows more in sight of and serves under the burden of sin as Paul he cryes out Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7.24 O saith the Christian what shall I do with this untoward heart I am weary of these Daughters of Heth Fain would I get rid of this indwelling corruption Sin I hope hath not dominion over me but oh when shall the time come that it shall have no indwelling within me But this is my grief and I must bear it I am discontentedly contented with my burden Discontent with sin content with Gods pleasure But there 's nothing makes me weary of the World but sin Could I live without sin I should live without sorrow The less sin the more of Heaven Lord set me at liberty 2. By loosening the affections from all worldly injoyments Oh how sapless and insipid doth the World grow to the Soul that is a making meet for Heaven He is crucified to the World and the World to him Gal. 6.14 In vain doth this Harlot think to allure me by her laying out her two fair Breasts of Profit and Pleasure Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a Child that is weaned of his Mother My Soul is even as a weaned Child Psal 131.2 There 's no more rellish in these gaudy things to my pallate then in the white of an Egg every thing grows a burden to me were it not duty to follow my calling and be thankful for my injoyments Methinks I injoy my Wife Husband and dearest Relations as if I had none I weep for outward losses as if I wept not rejoyce in comforts below as if I rejoyced not 1 Cor. 7.29 30. my thoughts are taken up with other objects The men of the world slight me many seem to be weary of me and I am as weary of them Non est mortale quod opto Its none of these earthly things that my Heart is set upon my Soul is set on things above my treasure is in Heaven and I would have my Heart there also I have sent before me all my goods into another Country and am shortly for flitting and when I look about me I see a bare empty house and am ready to say with Monica quid hic facio what do I here My Father Husband Mother Jerusalem above my Brethren Sister best Friends are above Methinks I grudge the World any thing of my Heart and think not these temporal visible things worth a cast of my Eye compared with things invisible and eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. I do not only say with afflicted Job chap. 7.16 I loath it I would not live alway but even with Solomon in the top of all Earthly felicity Eccl. 2.17 18. Therefore I hated life yea I hated all my labour which I had taken under the Sun i. e. In comparison or in competition with Heavenly injoyments 3. By spiritualizing Worldly things and using them as steps by which the Soul mounts Heaven-wards The Believer considers these things were made not for themselves but for higher ends All things are as Talents to trade with for another World Matth. 25.16 for an account must be given of them not only Ordinances and Gospel-priviledges but Providences both sweet and severe yea Creature-comfors yea all visible objects Thus our Lord who had grace in perfection made notable Spiritual improvement of outward Water Bread vines for holy ends and the more Heavenly the Christian is the liker he is to his Head and so meeter for Heaven Whatever this golden hand of Faith toucheth is turned into Gold The Christian fetcheth honey thus out of the hard Rock Out of the eater comes meat O saith the believing Soul if meat be so sweet to an hungry stomach how much more excellent is Gods loving kindness If drink be so refreshing to the thirsty soul oh how sweet are those rivers of pleasures Surely his love is better then wine If it be so pleasant for the Eyes to behold the Sun how amiable is the Son of Righteousness How sweet is home to the weary Traveller And the Haven to the weather-beaten Mariner But infinitely sweet and contentful is Heaven to the tempted burdened tired Saint Methinks all I see and do and have minds me of my home and saith Arise depart this
is not thy rest When I am abroad in a storm I hast to a shelter Oh think I then that I were with my dear Lord who is as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land When I consider my dim Eyes my decrepit Feet my palsie Hands my panting Lungs Oh think I when shall this silver cord be loosned and the bowl broken at the Cistern That my Soul may return to God This is a pitiful ruinous Cottage when shall I be brought into the Kings Pallace In this my Earthly Tabernacle methinks I find now a pin loosened and a stake taken down then I say and sigh with the blessed Apostle 2 Cor. 5.4 We which are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be uncloathed but cloathed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life Here 's the Soul taking wing to fly into another World 4. The Christian is made meet for Heaven by intimate familiarity with the God of Heaven This indeed is the height of a Christians perfection on Earth The fitter for and freer intercourse with God the fitter is that Soul for glory VVhat is Heaven but the injoyment of God The nearer God the nearer Heaven for where the King is there is the Court Truly saith the Apostle Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 Jo. 1.3 Communion with God and assimilation to God is the life and perfection of our Religion and the former leads on to the latter 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. As grace increaseth glory increaseth and the vision of God tho' but through a glass mightily increaseth grace and fitteth for glory Now it is said of some great persons that they have spoken more with God then with Man Oh faith the Christian I could not tell how to spend my time if my Soul had not sometime free access to and intercourse with my best friend above Oh that it were oftner and longer sed rara hora brevis moka it were a brave resemblance of Heaven to have fixed communion with him but however I write that day as black and lost wherein God and my Soul are not together I cannot be content in a publick ordinance when I miss my beloved I follow him into my Closet and there usually I find him whom my Soul loveth O then think I that God would now stop this breath and translate my Soul into his immediate presence That as it s said of Moses that he dyed at the mouth or kiss of God Deut. 34.5 so some read it that he was kissed to death or overpoured with divine embraces VVould to God it were thus with me Methinks I am loath to part with these first-fruits without a full harvest now let me go over Jordan and see that goodly Mountain and Lebanon Oh let me not return down into this tempting world to be banisht again from thee O come thou down to me or take me up to thee Its pity my Soul should be thus tantalized with the sight of that which I cannot at present injoy well since it is thy pleasure I am content to be dismounted and descend down to take my lot with the rising Sons of Adam only I will be stretching out Neck and Arms and be looking for and hasting to the coming of my dear Lord. Come Lord Jesus come quickly Make hast my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountains of spices Object You will say such an height of meetness for the Heavenly inheritance as you have described is not practicable or attainable in this life if none be saved but such as you have described woe be to all the world Answ 1. Most part of men are not capable of this actual meetness not having the habitual namely a relation to God and a principle of saving grace and no wonder if unexperienced persons call this Enthusianism and unintelligible nonsense for wisdom is too high for a fool it s not to be thought strange if some speak evil of that they know not and turn real experiments into a ridicule Alas they have no grace how then can they exercise it How can they evidence a title to Heaven that have none How can they dispatch their work that never begun it to purpose Or be mortified to things below that have their portion in this present life were never divorced from their lusts and have no treasure above We may pity such souls for Salvation is far from the wicked 2. But Wisdom is justified of her Children Sanctified souls know what these things mean and tho' the best complain of their low attainments yet the weakest sincere Christian can set to his seal that something of these things he hath found in his bosom as to sincerity and is aiming at further degrees and is not content to sit down short of perfection but is pressing toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 3. There 's a great difference in Christians attainments in this world Some active vigorous souls get nearer to God then others some are Children others Fathers others are young Men that are strong and the word of God abides in them and they have overcome the wicked one 1 Joh. 2.12 13 14. The meanest child God hath in his Family will own and follow his Father tho' some dare not say he is my Father But some are grown up to great intimacy with God as that choice man of God Mr. Holland that said on his Death-bed Speak it when I am gone and Preach it at my Funeral that God deals familiarly with man 4. Yet it s every ones duty to endeavour after the highest pitch of meetness that is attainable in this life For as it is the nature of true grace to become deeper and deeper like the waters in Ezekiels vision and ascend higher and higher as the flame or rising Sun so the Christian dare not but obey Gods command to grow in grace and sees it necessary to comply with our Lords command Mat. 24.44 Therefore be ye also ready And this is one reason amongst the rest which I shall next add what a Godly dying Minister of my acquaintance said That the best preparation of the best man is all little enough when we come to dye But more of this anon This is the former head What is that meetness for Heaven that Christians must have or endeavour after CHAP. VII Some Reasons propounded why such must be made meet for Heaven here that hope to be saved hereafter THE second head in the Doctrinal part is the Reasons of this point That all those and only those that shall eternally partake of this Heavenly Inheritance in the other World are made meet for it in this World In handling this I shall endeavour not only
to evince the truth of it but convince the Conscience of the necessity of it and perswade the Affections to comply with it 1. It s fit persons be made meet because no man by nature is meet for Heaven Man is estranged from God even from the Womb Psal 58.3 and are these fit to live with God till brought nigh Man is shapen and conceived in sin Psal 51.5 and is this fit to dwell with an Holy God till sanctified Man is dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 and is such a dead block meet to converse with the living God Man is darkness Eph. 5.8 and what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 Man by nature is a child of wrath Eph. 2.3 and how can dryed stubble dwell with consuming fire Alas we are all enemies to God in our minds Col. 1.21 yea enmity it self Rom. 8.7 and can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3.3 Can the sin-revenging God and the guilty sinner hold intimate correspondence till they be reconciled O no it will never be Heaven and Hell will as soon joyn as God and an unregenerate sinner Will the holy God take such vipers into his bosom Can you imagine God will deface or lay aside his immaculate Holiness to take you from the Swine-sty into his holy Sanctuary What cleanly person can endure to have a filthy swine a bed and board with him in his Parlour or Bed-chamber Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee Psal 94.20 No no God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity with liking and delight Hab. 1.13 If God should take men a caeno ad coelum from the dunghil into his Palace others would conclude that God is reconciled to sin that its an harmless thing and not that abominable thing which his Soul hates No it can never be graceless sinners so remaining cannot dwell with God Psal 5.4 5. 2. Because this is the divine ordination and appointment that there should be a connexion betwixt grace and glory holiness and happiness Psal 84.11 As Sin and Hell are joyned by divine commination so Grace and Heaven are knit together by divine promise So saith the Text Rom. 2.7 10. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life This is a connexion of grace not of merit of promise not of debt yet inviolable for Gods Justice and Truth are ingaged in it It s fit the infinite God should distribute his Mercies to whom and upon what termes he pleaseth now he hath said peremptorily without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 All things are ordered and wrought after the councel of his will Eph. 1.11 First he chuseth them before the foundation of the world that they should be holy Eph. 1.4 They are redeemed to be holy Tit. 2.14 called with an holy calling 2 Tim. 1.9 and therefore they are holy Brethren that are partakers of this Heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 Let wicked scoffers mock on to their guilt and cost Such there are in the world and such must they be if they think to inherit Heaven Its Gods ordination you must be Saints in this world or never Crowned as Saints in the other tho' Canonized for Saints by Men when gone Consider sinner whose word shall stand Gods or thine Thou hopest to go to Heaven without Saintship or meetness for it God saith it yea swears it Heb. 3.18 that thou shalt never enter into his rest This is Gods councel that men must be brought through Sanctification to Salvation 2 Thess 2.13 and can you think to overturn his appointed Will or contradict his Councels Must the Earth be forsaken for thee Must the immutable God falsifie his word to save chee against his will yea against thy will For thou wilst not come to him for life God will not be merciful to any wicked transgressour The eternal determination of Heaven is recorded in that chain of Salvation Rom. 8.30 and all the Men on Earth and Devils in Hell cannot break one link of it Predestination Vocation Justification Salvation or Glorification Go try the turning Day into Night or Winter into Summer or stop the course of the Sun before thou think to divert the proceedings of grace in the salvation of Souls but its vain to attempt either for his councel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure 3. This is the design of God in all his Ordinances to make Souls meet for Heaven It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 Ministers and Ordinances were given for perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.11 12 13. This is the means of Conversion the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 the means of edification of resolution of doubts consolation and confirmation so are the Seals of the Covenant given to this end to bring Souls onward to this glorious Inheritance Now Sirs consider shall you receive this grace of God in vain Shall all the Ordinances be lost upon you You must give account of Sabbaths Sermons Sacraments shall they be the savour of death unto death to you or the savour of life unto life Alas how do poor Ministers toyl and travel pray and watch weep and sigh to the breaking of their Loyns spending of their Spirits to bring you to God and Heaven and you pretend kindness to us but have no real kindness to your own Souls we dare not but warn you in the name of Christ lest you fail of the grace of God and fall short of this Inheritance We watch for your Souls as those that must give an account O let us do it with joy and not with grief Heb. 13.17 If it be uncomfortable to us it will be unprofitable to you Must our sweat and labour be in vain But it will not be in vain to us for our work is with the Lord we shall not lose our reward God will pay the Nurse though the Child dye Our Crown will be given us if we be faithful though we be not successful for that 's in Gods hands But woe be to those souls that have sitten under powerful Ordinances and miss of this Inheritance O woe woe to you you cannot miss of Heaven but be plunged into a deeper Hell O ease our Hearts and save your own Souls Kill us and damn your selves nay murder your selves and you again Crucifie Christ whose person we represent Rather give us leave to espouse you to one Husband 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fitted you as things that are pieced together glued or soddered let us do so with you that we may present you as chast virgins in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 Would to God this were the fruit of our labours 4. This is the design of all Gods Providential dispensations Mercies afflictions smiles frowns come upon this errand to make Souls meet for Heaven Cords of love draw rods of wrath drive the poor sinner
state and loves and lives in sin lyes and dyes in the old Adam That 's the sadest word in all the Bible pronounced twice in a breath by our blessed Lord Joh. 8.21 24. Ye shall dye in your sins i. e. under the guilt of your sins and sentence of condemnation This is surprizing from what he adds in the first place whither I go you cannot come that is to Heaven whither sinners cannot enter You 'l say then no man can enter into Heaven for all men are sinners even to the last breath When are men cleansed is it in Articulo mortis in the passage of the Soul out of the Body May not all be cleansed alike then Answ It s true all are sinning to the last gasp of breathing out their Souls but 1. You must distinguish betwixt a state of sin and having fin The best have relicks of Original corruption as long as they live The death of the body will only annihilate the body of death Death is not properly the punishment but period of sin It reigns not in Gods Children at present it shall not remain in them when dead The guilt of sin is already gone for there 's no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and the filth yea being of sin is taken away as soon as death strikes the stroke 2. I see not but the mighty God can perfectly expel sin out of the Soul and also perfect defective graces in the instant of the Souls separation from the Body as well as he did infuse a principle of grace into the Soul in an instant at the Souls first conversion for by death the spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Mind it it is just men not wicked God will not infuse grace into men ordinarily in their passage out of the world qualis vita finis ita as men live so they dye and if men imagine God will put another principle into their hearts just as they pass out of this World as this is a daring presumption so they will be mistaken for how is a departing Soul capable of such receptions or reflections as are necessary in the work of conversion Alas the Eyes being set Lips quivering Memory failing and the Body in a cold sweat is unfit for any thing their hopes giving up the ghost as their breaths depart and it s a wonder that the Souls of wicked men go quietly out of their Bodies its strange they depart not as the Devils out of the Demonaicks rending raging tearing foming but if Conscience be asleep death will awake it could you follow their departing Souls a minute out of their Bodies you would hear howlings and roarings 3. Heaven will not receive any Souls but such as are made meet for it on Earth Rev. 21.27 There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither what soever worketh abomination for without are dogs Rev. 22.15 They say Ireland will not brook a Toad a Snake or venomous Creature to live and like in it I am sure Heaven will not admit but cast out an unsanctified heart The Legions of apostate Angels knew this who abode not one moment in that holy place after they left their innocency It is said of the Halcyons nest that it will hold nothing but its own Bird The same may be said of Heaven the Serpent could wind himself into the Earthly Paradice but none of the Serpentine brood shall once peep into this Heavenly Paradice For 1 The Text saith It is an Inheritance now an Inheritance is for none but Children its true all Gods Children are heirs Rom. 8.17 but none shall inherit Heaven except Children By nature we are Children of Wrath by grace and adoption Children of God All Gods Children are begot again to a lively hope for this incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. 2. It s the inheritance of Saints i. e. of holy sanctified Souls Persons must not think that Heaven is like Mahemets Paradice where there is delicious fare pleasant gardens fair women and all sensual delights fit lettice for an Epicures Lips No no Heaven is a state of perfect immediate and perpetual injoyment of God suited to the raised faculties of a sanctified Soul 3. It s the inheritance of Saints in light It s a bright and lightsome state suited to seeing Souls blind sinners can see no beauty there such as are not changed from darkness to light are not fit for that state see Acts 26.18 Alas a blind man can take no content in beautiful objects though the Sun shine never so gloriously Heaven and light are synonymous but light and darkness are directly contrary If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1.6 and such dark sinners are far from a suitableness to this state and place of light O therefore poor sinners consider this the holy God hates all the workers of iniquity the holy Heaven is no sanctuary for Rebels and Traytors God will not take such vipers into his bosom thou must either be renewed or never received into glory it is an undefiled inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 a dirty sinner must not enter this would disparage and contradict all Gods Attributes as his Justice then God should give to the wicked according to the work of the righteous it would blemish his Holiness as though unclean were delighted in equally with the clean it would contradict his Truth as though God regarded not what he said or swore that no unclean thing shall enter there Every Attribute would have dirt cast upon it if God should save the unsanctified Soul Nay it contradicts the undertakings of Jesus Christ who came to save his people from their sins not in their sins It exposeth the office and operations of the Holy Ghost whose office it is to sanctifie sinners and prepare Souls for Heaven that sinner must surely be in a desperate case that must un God the infinite Jehovah God blessed for ever or else he cannot be saved 4. The unsanctified sinner would by no means like in Heaven Heaven would be an Hell to him except his Nature were changed and renewed Most Men mistake the nature of Heaven they only look upon it as a place of happiness it is so but withal it is a state of perfect holiness They are holy priviledges injoyment of God and what care wicked men for his company They say unto God depart from us and their choice shall be their punishment They are holy joys and delights how will they like that who were never pleased but with sensual laughter which is madness There 's holy company above of Saints but they cannot abide to be near them on Earth how then can they like to be associated to them in Heaven There is holy imployment above but alas they are not at all qualified for nor can they be delighted in the work of loving praising or taking pleasure in God Augustine hath a saying
Canticum novum vetus homo male concordant That the new Song and old Man agree not well together No man could learn that new Song but the hundred fourty four thousand which were redeemed from the earth Rev. 14.3 Alas they have not hearts nor harps tuned for it Suppose it were possible that our Lord should bring an unsanctified person to Heaven saith one he could take no more felicity there then a beast if you should bring him into a beautiful room to the society of learned Men or a well furnisht Table when as the poor thing would much rather be grazing with his fellow bruits thus a poor graceless sinner would rather be with his Cups or Queans at best in his Markets and counting his Bags but there 's no such things in Heaven therefore if he were there he would be quite out of his Element tanquam Piscis in avido as a Fish in the Air or a Bird in the Water or Fire Can you charm a Beast with Musick Or can you bring him to your melody or make him keep time with your skilful quire So the Anthems of Heaven saith one fit not a carnal mans mouth suit not his ear Poor wretches they now think Sermons long Sabbaths long Prayers and Praises long and cry what a weariness is it When will it be over And are these think you fit for this Heavenly imployment to all Eternity where this noble company of Coelestial inhabitants serve God day and night in the Temple Rev 7.15 Alas the poor unregenerate sinner hath no faculties suited to such a glorious state and work as that above is the Mind Will Memory and Conscience are like a full stomach that loaths the honey-comb These old Bottles cannot hold the new Wine of glory You may as well hew the Marble without Tools or draw a Picture without Colours or build without Instruments or Materials as a Soul not qualified with Grace can do the work of God acceptably either on Earth or in Heaven Oh Sirs think of this you must be prepar'd fitted qualified for Heaven here or else Heaven will be no Heaven to you CHAP. IX An use of conviction and lamentation over Souls that are unmeet for Heaven I Now proceed to Application and all the Uses I shall make of this point shall be of Lamentation and Exhortation 1. Of Conviction Humiliation Lamentation A man would think upon such plain demonstrations as are oft laid before sinners in the ministry of the Word they would once at last reflect upon themselves and say am I thus or thus qualified Upon what terms stand I for another world Am I an adopted child of God Am I justified Am I converted to God and brought through the pangs of regeneration Have I made a covenant with God and taken God for my God and given my self to him What saving work hath passed upon my heart If I should come to you one by one and pose you with this solemn question Friends whither bound Whither are you going Are you for Heaven or Hell Oh no you 'l say God forbid but that we shall go to Heaven God is a merciful God Christ dyed to save sinners we do not doubt but through the merits of Christ we shall be saved as well as others Alas Sirs these are too general grounds to build your hopes of Salvation upon God is merciful but he is also just Christ dyed for sinners but do you imagine all shall be saved by him Let me ask you a few sober questions and answer them not according to your fancies but according to Scripture rule Do you believe that all men shall be saved What is Hell then for that 's so oft mention'd in the Bible Or do you think that the gates of Heaven are as wide as the gates of Hell or that as many shall be saved as damned Dare you so directly contradict our blessed Saviour and give him the lye Mat. 7 13 14. Can you imagine that our Lord Jesus who is the door-keeper keeper of Heaven will admit any but those that he saith he will entertain Or do you think he will admit those that he saith he will keep out What think you can any secretly steal in unknown to him or forcibly thrust in against his will Is the infinite all-seeing God grown so weak or blind that you can couzen or conquer him Or can you bribe him to let you in with fair words or large gifts Or dare you stand to plead in his face that you are qualified and meet for Heaven when he tells you that you are not Do you think there is such a thing as a groundless presumption or rotten hope that will give up the ghost Is not the Devil a cheat Are not your hearts treacherous And are not they fools that trust these and will not try by the word what they affirm And have you solemnly and faithfully tryed your title to Heaven Have you not taken all for granted without a serious proving of your state meerly because you would have it so And are you content to do so in temporals And will you madly venture your immortal Souls on such grounds as you dare not try And can you think to escape the strict tryal of the omniscient God Sirs the business is important Heaven and Hell depend upon it We Ministers that believe an Eternity and certainly know upon what terms Souls are saved dare not but be faithful to you and declare the whole councel of God I must 1. Tell you who those are that are far off Salvation and are utterly unmeet for this Inheritance and can pretend no claim to it 2. Such as pretend a claim but its groundless and but a pretended claim and cannot be made out on Scripture grounds 1. Their are a sort of persons within the pale of the visible Church for I here meddle not with Heathens or Jews that are ipso facto point-blank excluded in as plain terms as can be spoken These are a sort of sinners that carry the black brand in their foreheads of whom a man may say without breach of charity these carry visibly the doleful tokens of eternal death and damnation View two catalogues of these one is in 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not i. e. Methinks you cannot plead ignorance in so notorious a case so oft inculcated that 1. the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God i. e. That grind the poor over-reach their brethren when they have them at advantage God is the avenger of such 1 Thess 4.6 therefore not the rewarder with Heaven 2. Neither Fornicators shall inherit the Kingdom of God Such filthy goats must be set at Gods left hand This sin as venial a sin as it s reckoned by some is damning and excludes men from Heaven Do you think such dirty dogs shall ever trample on this golden pavement when God would not suffer even the price of a whore or dog to come into his house Deut. 23.18 3. Nor Idolaters gross or more refined
and the humbler the Soul is the fitter for God Isa 57.15 and 66.2 Thank God for that humility 3. You may and must be thankful for the Mercies which you have and cannot deny but God hath vouchsafed You have your lives for a prey are out of Hell which is more then you deserve you have abundant outward Mercies do not these deserve thankfulness Yea Christ hath purchased grace and glory for some nay further he hath put thousands into possession of this inheritance and should not this make you thankful Yea further Heaven is offered to you and you are under the means of grace and in a possibility of obtaining this happiness which Devils and damned Souls are not and is not this ground of thankfulness 4. Be sure you keep in mind the distinction of habitual and actual meetness for Heaven If you have not the former either relative or real be not adopted or justified are neither converted nor covenanted with God I say the Lord have mercy on you your case is doleful you have great cause of lamentation Oh man I am not now speaking to thee Be afflicted and mourn let your laughter be turned into mourning your joy to heaviness Jam. 4.9 Yea you graceless rich men weep and houl for your miseries that shall come upon you Jam. 5.1 I have not a word of comfort from the Lord to you Your eatthly inheritances shall be taken from you and you shall be thrust into the dungeon of Hell You may for a while kindle a fire and walk warm in the sparks you have kindled but faith God this shall you have of mine hand ye shall lye down in sorrow Isa 50.11 Stand you by while the Saints take comfort in their portion Read Isa 65.13 14 15. It is to you the heirs of promise to whom I am now speaking and bear you this in mind that its one thing to have right to this inheritance another to know you have right Many a gracious Soul is much in the dark about its relation yet its state safe for the main What sayest thou Hast thou not the things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6.9 Hath not God been dealing with thy heart as he useth to deal with such as he designs for Heaven Hast thou not seen thy woful state by Nature The necessity of Christ and grace Hast thou not experienced a change from Nature to Grace from Death to Life Hath not this new birth cost thee griefs and groans prayers and tears Dost thou not delight now in what thou didst disdain Is not thy principle rule end otherwise then formerly Hast thou not changed thy company courses manner of life Speak out man belye not thy self deny not Gods grace something like grace thou seest in thy self and to be sure Satan and World oppose it and man and thy self could not work it It is of God a seed sown by the hand of omnipotency And he that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 As to actual meetness for Heaven I refer you to what hath been laid down before look it over deal impartially see if your experience do not answer those heads hath not God helped you in the exercise of the graces of Faith Hope Love Humility Hath not God given you some grounded evidence of sincerity by diligence in duty reflection on your state appealing to God and pleading with God for the Spirits sealings Hath not God helpt you to be dispatching your work off your hands Spiritual Temporal Relative and Publick Are you not much mortified to corruption worldly injoyments and have you not spiritualized earthly things and got more intimate familiarity with God What say you to these things Do not your hearts eccho back with your probatum est setting your seal to these things I have not time nor room to inlarge further but I would have you diligently compare your selves now with what you were some years ago Is not your Repentance more Evangelical Doth not the sense of divine love extort from you more tears of godly sorrow and more vehement hatred of all sin purely it is offensive to God Hath not your Faith been more vigorous in its actings upon your dear Lord In closing more fully with promises Have you not been more frequent and serious in renewing your Covenant with God And have not such dayes and duties been solemn heart-melting opportunities Have you not been more constant and inlarged in the duty of secret Prayer with shorter intermissions and more favouriness Do you spend your time better then formerly Do you fill up every vacancy with some useful business for Earth or Heaven Have you not more incomes of grace and assistance in duties both as to matter and manner To knit your minds and raise your affections to God and sometimes suggest words to you Do you not more concern your selves for the Souls of Relations and others in Prayer and Discourse being more weighted with the necessity of their Conversion Are you not more endeared to Saints as Saints though poor or disobliging and of a different perswasion Have you not got power over your Passions to regulate them And if you feel unruly motions can you pray them down and through grace calm them Can you not put up injuries and affronts and not only so as not to revenge and forgive but pray more heartily for the repentance and remission of such as are most malicious against you Is it not more the grief of thy heart when God is dishonoured his Spirit grieved his Gospel reproached by the sins of profane or professours If thou think any body is offended by thee is it not more a real trouble to thee then formerly And thou canst not be quiet till thou seekest Reconciliation And if thou be conscious of giving them just occasion thou confessest thy fault and humblest thy self to them Hast thou not learned more faithfully and discreetly to manage the duty of private admonition of an offending Christian Drawing out bowels of compassion for and to such as are fallen Do not publick concerns of Church or Nation lye nearer thy heart daily Canst thou not more rejoyce in the gifts graces holiness usefulness of others though it obscure thine Art thou not more glad when corruptions are mortified then gratified When occasions of sinning are removed rather then afforded though it cost thee dear Dost thou not more sensibly understand the sweet life of faith in temporals Committing all to God thou findest provisions have been strangely made Are not thy affections more spiritualized towards dearest Relations Dost thou not love them in the Lord and the Lord in them and canst freely part with them upon Gods call Art thou not more taken up with Gods Mercies to give him the glory of them then any personal content thou hast in them Is not thy heart daily more weary of the world and longing for Heaven Yet after all this canst thou not say thou art nothing deservest nothing but Hell And if God glorifie his Justice in thy confusion thy mouth is stopped and thou must justifie him for ever with flames about thine Eares Dost thou not account thy self the greatest of Sinners least of Saints and by the grace of God thou art what thou art And this thou canst truly say that God is more thy exceeding joy and Christ more precious to thy Soul then ever Canst thou in thy sober solid setled frame answer these questions thy state is safe and sweet and thou art meet for Heaven yet not so meet but still breathing after more meetness till thy last gasp of breath for no man on this side death was ever meet enough and all must be ascribed to grace grace in the foundation grace in the topstone I shall conclude all with a part of a Poem in Mr. Herbert called Grace p. 52. Death is still working like a Mole And digs my Grave at each remove Let Grace work too and on my Soul Drop from above Sin is still hammering my heart Vnto an hardness void of love Let suppling Grace to cross his art Drop from above O come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above 2 Cor. 5.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent frrm the body and to be present with the Lord. Amen FINIS Some Books to be Sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside A Call to Sinners such as are under sentence of Death and such as are under any prospect of it from the long suffering and gracious but most righteous God Three Questions resolved briefly and plainly viz. 1. What Conceptions ought we to have of the blessed God 2. What are those Truths whereof the Knowledge appeareth most indispensably necessary unto our Salvation and therefore to be first and most learnt by us 3. What is the change wrought in a Man by Gods H. Word and Spirit before he can safely conclude himself passed from Death to Life Being the Summ of three Sermons The Christian Temper Or the Quiet state of Mind that Gods Servants labour for Set forth in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Vrsula Collins A seasonable Question plainly resolved viz. What are we to judge of their spiritual estate who neglect the Lords Supper And what is that discerning of the Lords Body in it without which men do Eat and Drink their own Damnation The Christians earnest Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Set forth in a Discourse occasioned by the Decease of that Excellent Christian and Minister of Christ Mr. Noah Webb late of Sandhurst in the County of Berks. FINIS In Answer to this question see 3 Opinions in Dr. Tuckney Theses Praet Theol. ubi videa praeclare furius disputata p. 269. ad p. 292.