It is Storied of Alexander that when he heard of the riches of the Indies he gave away all his present Possessions that he had in Macedon and being asked why he did so He answered I hope and look for far greater things than these Oh that we could imitate this Heroick Resolution To contemn our present enjoyments in comparison of our future hopes This is the third Duty Duty The fourth The fourth and last is this Let us frame our selves to a Heavenly Conversation Though our commoration or abode be upon earth let our Conversation be in heaven Phil. 3.20 For hereby we shall be sitting our selves for that Glory that shall be revealed If one of you were to have an Inheritance in Spayn you would learn the Spanish tongue and the Spanish fashion you would frame your selves to the custom of that Country or Kingdom where you were to spend your dayes Why surely ye look for an Inheritance in Heaven among the Angels yea to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Equal to the Angels Luke 20.36 Why do you not frame your selves to an Angelical Conversation You look to be like them in dignity strive to be like them in duty To do your Fathers Will on earth as the Angels do it in heaven To this end Let us every day take a turn or two with Christ on Mount Tabor take a prospect of heaven and turn every Solemnity into a school of Divinity Let us say as Fulgentius did when he saw the Nobitity of Rome sit mounted in their bravery Si talis est Roma terrestris qualis est Roma caelestis If Rome be such a glorious place what is Heaven If the Musick on earth be so delightfull how unconceivably sweet and melodious will the Musick of heaven be Thus a Sanctified fancy may make every creature a ladder to heaven Use 2 To close up al with a word of Consolation This Doctrine may be as an Alabaster box of precious oyntment to refresh and revive the spirits of all true Believers all the Saints and Servants of Christ in the midst of all the troubles and trials sorrows and sufferings that can befal them There is a Crown of Eternal Glory prepared for you which may make your hearts dance for joy yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry and when he comes he brings his Reward with him Rev. 22.12 Then shall ye hear him speaking comfortably to you he will speak to your hearts and say Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Enter ye into the joy of your Lord and Master Mat. 25 20. q. d. This joy cannot enter into you because of your straitness but ye may enter into it because of its fullness The Sea cannot enter into a Hogshead because the Vessel cannot contain it But the Hogshead may enter into the Sea because the Sea can fill it To conclude There are 4. principal Names whereby the Holy Ghost expresseth the felicity of the Saints in heaven 1. It is called a Life and such a Life as is Eternal 2. It is called a Glory and such a Glory as is a Crown 3. It is called a Kingdom and such a Kingdom as is Immutable and Unmoveable 4. It is called an Inheritance and such an Inheritance as is Immortal Now tell me poor fainting drooping Soul What is it that thy heart can wish Or what can bear up thy spirit under all afflictions reproaches difficulties and discouragements whatsoever if this cannot do it Is there any thing thou lovest better than life Is there any better life than a life of glory Is there any glory greater than a Crown of glory Is there any Crown so desireable as that which comes by Inheritance Is there any Inheritance so admirable or delightfull as that which is immortal undefiled and such as newer shall fade away Lift up thy head therefore because thy Redemption and eternal Glorification are so near at hand say to thy own Soul as that godly man did on his death-bed Hold out faith and patience thy work is almost at an end Encourage thy self as Basil tells us the Martyrs encouraged one another when they were cast out naked in a Winters night being to be burned at a stake the next day Sharp it the cold but let us endure a while and Abraham's bosom will warm us Troublesond is the way but the end of the journey will be sweet and pleasant Let our feet burn awhile that we may dance for ever with the Angels Let our hands feel they fire that we may lay hold on Eternal Life The Lord Jesus work these things upon our hearts that they may make an abiding Impression Amen I have done with the Text. Let me speak something to the Occasion How seasonably this Text may be applied to our dear deceased Brother Daniel Waldoe Esquire one that fined for Alderman in this famous City whose Funerals we this day solemnize ye that knew him and his Conversation may easily conceive He was a man trained up in the school of affliction for many years together being exercised with that acute and tormenting disease of the Stone about 30. years And doubtless God by that long and sharp affiction was preparing him for eternal glory partly by purging out his dross and making him white as the Scripture phraseth it Dan. 11.35 and partly by teaching him the exercise of Patience and perseverance For that speech of the Apostle was verified in him Rom. 5.3 Tribulation worketh patience It is a Paradox to Reason for affliction in its self and its own nature worketh Impatience and makes a man fret and fume like a wild Bull in a net as the Prophet speaks Isa 51.20 But when God works with it then it worketh patience and makes a man say with David Be silent unto the Lord O my Soul Psal 62.5 Do not utter an impatient word Yea his Afflictions taught him not onely Patience and submission but also self-denial and sympathy or a fellow-feeling with others miseries He could sigh in their sorrows and bleed in their wounds and be affected with their sufferings as if they had been his own In brief the Rod taught him that excellent Lesson To have a heart weaned from the world for the Rod has a voice Micah 6.9 and it spake to him in that language which the Prophet used to the Jewes in Babilon Micah 2.10 Arise ye and depart for this is not your rest The Testimony therefore that I may give of this worthy Citizen without flattery or partiality is this First He was a very humble man low in his own eyes no way self-consident or self-conceited And I am of the same opinion with that famous Divine Dr. Harris late of Oxford that was wont to say He valued no man for his gifts but for his humility under them Certainly the more Grace any man hath in his heart the more base he will be in his own eyes Did ye
easie the glory of beleever in the life to come is a weighty glory Weighty did I say Yea It is an hyperbolical or transcendent glory The Apostle useth such a high-flown expression here in the Text as is not to be found in any other Author sacred or prophane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an exceeding excessive weight He could not find a word high enough to express the greatnesse of it Deus coeâ—um non patiuntur hyperbolen God is so â—nfinitely great and heaven is so unconceiveably glorious that we cannot either think or speak too highly of them for eye hath not seen nor ear heard neiâ—her have entred into the heart of man then things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Thirdly The Afflictions of a Beleever in this life are but for a moment the glory wherewith he shall be invested in the life to come is an everlasting glory The words being thus opened and cut out there are three points of Doctrine especially observable in them which will draw out the strength of the Text Viz. Doctr. 1 1. The Afflictions which the godly meet with here on earth make way for that glory and happiness which is laid up for them in heaven Doctr. 2 2. The Afflictions of this life are but light and eafie The glory of the life to come is a weighty and transcendent glory Doctr. 3 3. The Afflictions of this life are but for a momenty The glory prepared in the life to come is an everlasting glory To begin with the first Doctrine which is this The Afflictions which the godly meet with here on earth make way for that happinesse which is laid up for them in heaven For the explication and confirmation of this truth there are three Queries would be satisfied 1. What those afflictions are which the godly meet with here on earth 2. Why God will have his children exercised with those afflictions 3. How or in what respect these afslictions make way for that glory and â—appiness that is laid up for them in â—eaven For the first Querie What those afâ—lictions are Ans The godly meet with afflictions of all sorts both inward and outward â—roubles 1. They are exercised often with inward troubles viz. temptations and spiâ—â—ual desertions the tumblings tosâ—ings and disquietments of their own pirits which lye as a heavy burden upâ—n the soul far more afflictive and inâ—upportable then any outward crosse or â—ffliction on the body or estate can be for a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 Thus ye hear Heman that godly wise man complaining Psal 88.3 My soul is full of troubles and David crying out Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquteted within me yea it sometimes falls out that the terrors of the Almighty do set themselves in battel array against them Job 6.4 and come upon them with that violence that they are distracted under them Psal 88.15 While I suffer thy terrors saith Heman I am distracted so that a godly man ye see may be brought to the condition of distraction and a child of light may for a time walk in darkness without the least sense or apprehension of peace or comfort Isa 50.10 Secondly The godly are exercised with outward troubles such as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the five terrible things that Aristotle speaks on Viz. Ignominy poverty persecution sickness and death For the first of these viz. Ignominy the best of Gods children have been reproached and reviled counted troublers of Israel as Elijah was 1 Kings 18.17 and men of contention is Jeremy was Jer. 15.10 and pestilent fellows and movers of sedition as Paul was Acts 24.5 Yea they are counted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the scum and off-scouring of all things to this day 1 Cor. 4.13 Was not the lord Jesus reviled to his very face John 8.48 Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil Yea accounted an Impostor or deceiver Matth. 27.63 a blasphemer Matth. 26. 65. he hath spoken blasphemy and a sad-man John 10.20 He is mad and â—ath a devil why do ye hear him For the second of these Viz. Poverâ—y it hath been the condition of the Saints here on earth God hath kept them very low that by the poverty of their condition they might be brought to poverty of spirit God usually keeps his soundest sheep on the shortest Commons Ye read of poor Saints 〈◊〉 Jerusalem Acts 15.26 They were precious Saints yet very poor yea some of whom the world was not worthy yet wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute wanting some necessaries for a time afflicted and tormented Heb. 11.37 For the third particular viz. Persecution it hath been the portion of Gods most eminent servants as our Saviour has foretold Matth. 10.23 They shall persecute you from one City to another yea all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 Christ himself was no sooner born then banished Matth. 2.13 It was the Motto of famous Mr. Rothwel who was called the Apostle of the North Persecutio est pignus futurae gloria Persecution is the pledge of that eternal glory which we expect For the fourth viz. Sickness the best of Cods servants are exercised with it Timothy was a rare yong man eminent for piety nourished or nursed up in the words of faith and of good doctrine 1 Tim. 4.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he had sucked piety with his mothers milk yet he was much acquainted with bodily sickness and distempers as appears by Pauls counsel to him 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomacks sake and thine often infirmities He had not onlyone infirmity but divers infirmities and those not once but often disturbing his health yea God will have it so that the sickness of the body may conduce to the health of the soul A very Heathen could say Tunde Anaxarchi manticam nam Anaxarchi minime teris Beat my sack saith he meaning his body but thou canst not hurt my soul So here God will have the body which is but the sack for the soul is the treasure in the sack beaten and bruised with sickness aches and infirmities that the soul may be preserved and kept without hurt till the day of the Lord Jesus For the fifth particular viz. Death The best of Gods servants are not exexempted from it for what man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul h. e. his life from the hand of the grave Psal 89.48 It is true the Lord Christ has delivered his members from the sting of death but he hath not exempted them from the storke of death and the reason may be this because he will have his members conformable to their head that as the Captain of our salvation was made perfect by sufferings Hebr. 2.10 and by the gates of death entred into glory so must all his
and the more it is emptied the more capable it is of Gods grace and mercy it is the humbled soul that prizes the Lord Jesus at the highest rate saith of him as the Church does Cant. 5.10 My beloved is white and â—uddy white in his innocency and ruddy â—n his passion the choicest of ten thousand â—t is true our humiliation does not serve â—o make us more precious to Christ but it â—â—…vs to make Christ more precious to us 2. Thy affliction is sanctified if it make thee more holy and heavenly minded if the hardship thou meetest with here in the wilderness make thee long to be at thy Fathers house If the losse of earthly treasures or outward advantages make thee lay up treasure in Heaven where neither moth can corrupt nor theeves break in and steal if the disappointments thou meetest with here on earth and the uncertainty of outward riches make thee more eagerly seek for the durable riches which Solomon speaks of Prov. 8.18 Riches and honour are with me saith Wisdome yea durable riches and righteousness why what are those durable riches surely such as these peace of Conscience joy in the Holy Ghost assurance of Gods love and favour an evidence of Christ Jesus dwelling in us the saving sanctifying graces of the spirit of God and inward comfort flowing from those graces these are such commodities that the world can neither give us nor take from us they are Maries portion that shall never be taken away Luke 10.42 If I say affliction make thee drive a trade for heaven more vigorously certainly affliction is sanctified to thee and thou art much bettered by thy affliction Sign 3 3. If thy affliction teach thee obedience to thy heavenly Father 1. Active obedience to do what he enjoyneth If thou canst say with Paul after he was unhorst and humbled What wilt thou have me to do Lord Acts 9.6 as if he should say though it be never so crosse and contrary to my carnal and corrupt nature though it be a parting with my right hand or right eye a sin as dear to me as either of them I will be content to do it 2. If it teach thee Passive obedience patiently to suffer what he inflicteth as it was said of our dear Saviour Hebr. 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered so if thou canst say It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth I will put my mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope Lam. 3.17 29. In brief if thou canst say as the Church does Mic. 7.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him certainly affliction has a kindly work upon thy soul 4. If affliction teach thee to prize mercies more and to surfet on them lesse to be more thankful in using them and more fearful of abusing them then thou hast been heretofore it is a token thou hast profited by thy affliction we usually in the Sun-shine of prosperity fall asleep and forget God and our duty to him yea forget our selves and the vows we made in time of trouble it fares with us as with little children the pap makes us wanton Hos 13.6 According to their pasture so were they filled h. e. when God had brought them out of the wildernesse into a land flowing with milk and honey and had fed them to the full they were filled and their heart was exalted therefore have they forgotten me Ephraim and Manasseh ye know were brethren Ephraim in Hebrew signifies fruitful Manasseh signifies forgetful fruitfulness and forgetfulness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are sworn brethren but if the Lord by imbittering our comforts or mingling water with our wine teach us temperance or a spiritual moderation in our carnal desires that which the Scripture call 1 Cor. 7.29 31. That they who have wives be as though they had none and they that rejoyce be as though they rejoyced not and they that use this world is not overusing it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then certainly such an imbitterment is in mercy Sign 5 Fifthly If Affliction help to melt and mollifie thy heart as Job spake though in another sense God maketh my heart soft and the almighty troubleth me Job 23.16 God sometimes softens our hearts by troubling of us If the bitterness of sorrow make thee to tast the bitternesse of sin and feelingly cry out O what a bitter thing it is that I have forsaken the Lord my God who is the fountain of living water and have been digging broken cisterns that will hold no water Jer. 2.19 13. O what an evill and bitter thing it is that I have so often parted with my peace for the tickling pleasures of sin for a season But it is bitter and bitter again that I have grieved that holy Spirit of God wherewith I am or might have been sealed up to the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 If thy soul can bespeak it self in that language which Josephs brethren used one to another after their consciences were awakened for that sinful and injurious act of selling their innocent brother into the hands of the Ishmaelites Gen. 42.21 We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and we would not hear so if thou canst say thus to thy soul Ah vile unworthy wretch that I am verily I am guilty deeply guilty before the Lord for my unkindness and undutifulness to the Holy Spirit of God when he besought med in his heart-melting motions saying Oh do not that abominable thing that I hate Jer 44.4 Do not go on in a way of pride and presumption security and formality brutishness and earthly mindedness but I would not hearken I turned a deaf ear to all his piercing motions and pressing commands Alas alas Is not this that sweet spirit of grace whose counsels I have despised whose secret whisperings I have slighted whose warnings I have resisted and whose warmings I have quenched Might it not be just with God to say to his spirit Never knock more at this sinners heart never strive more with him to bring him to repentance but seeing he will be filthy let him be filthy still Oh that for this my eyes could run down with tears and my eye-lids gush out with waters as the Prophet speaks Jer. 9.18 If thy heart be thus melted with some penitential thawings and heart-irking grief for thy miscarriages certainly affliction has had a kindly work upon thy soul such a softning and sanctifying affliction is an evident sign of thy adoption Sign 6 Sixthly Then is affliction sanctified when it makes thee more fearful of offending such a gracious God and Father If it have taught thee that lesson which Elihu lays down for us all to learn Job 34.31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou
The afflictions of this life are but light and easie the glory of the life to come is a weighty and superlative glory There are two Branches in this Doctrine which I must distinctly open and confirm Viz. 1. That the afflictions of this life are but light and easie 2. That the glory of the life to come is a weighty and superlative glory Branch 1 For the first of these That our afflictions are light and easie This ye will say seems very strange and incredible for it may be objected Object Do not we see Gods own children sometimes groaning under such heavy burdens as are ready to break their backs or sink them down into the dust doth not David say Psal 69.2 I sink in deep mire where there is no standing I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me doth not Heman that godly wise man complain Psal 88.7.15 Thy wrath lies hard upon me and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves yea I am so sadly afflicted that I am ready to die and that which â—s yet sadder these afflictions have lasted not a few days or years but a long time Even from my youth up till this say And does not holy Paul speaking of the trouble which befell him in Asia say expresly 2 Cor. 1.8 That we were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of life How then can the afflictions of the godly be said to be light and easie Answ To this I answer The afflictions of the godly are not light and easie in themselves but lye heavy upon them and make them sometimes cry out in the anguish and bitterness of their spirits as Job did chap. 6.12 Is my strength the strength of stones or is my flesh of brass Am I made of so hard mettal that I can endure any thing Am I a sea or a whale that thou settest a watch over me ch 7.12 How long wilt thou not depart from me nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle ver 19. But in two respects they may be said to be light and easie to be born 1. If ye consider them comparatively compared either with The torments of Hell which are prevented Or the joyes of heaven which are prepared for them For the first of these Compare the afflictions of this life with the Torments of hell and they are but a fleabiting in comparison of that worm that dieth not and that fire that shall never be quenched Oh who is there living upon earth that understands the power of Gods anger or that dreadful indignation the mountains and milstones of wrath that lie upon the damned in hell and will lye for evermore Psal 90.11 It was a devout Meditation of Austin Domine hic ure hic seca modò in aeternum parcas Lord cut me here on earth with the sharpest knife of affliction bruise me here nay burn me here to that thou spare me hereafter and keep me from everlasting fire For the second Compare the afflictions of this life with the joyes of heaven that are prepared for the godly and then they are exceeding light and inconsiderable what is a drop of Vinegar put into a hogshead of Wine it is nothing it is swallowed up and not discerned What is it for a Prince to travel in a rainie stormie day when he is riding to take possession of a Kingdom He esteems steems the rain not worth regarding Pericula non respicit Martyr coronam respicit saith Basil A Martyr looks not at the danger that is before him but at the Crown of glory that is beyond that danger If one of you should have a Jewel of five hundred pound thrown at you and in the throwing it gives you a blow upon the hand but you have the Jewel for the blows sake you would esteem the blow as nothing for the Jewels sake What one affliction crosse or calamity is there that can be named which is able to posze one smile of Gods face And if a smile an earth be able to sweeten the bitterest cup and to ease the heaviest burden that can lie upon us what will the full fruition of God in glory be If a woman in travel though she have torturing pain for a while yet as soon as she is delivered of the child remembers the anguish no more for joy that a man is born into the world as our Saviour tells us John 16.21 How much more may that unconceivable joy and happiness that is laid up in heaven when it is enjoyed but one day nay but one hour make the godly forget all their sorrows and sufferings which they endured here on earth for many yeers together 2. Afflictions are light and easie in regard of Gods gracious supportation that he affords his servants in bearing of them Here the Psalmist speaking out of his own experience Psal 94.17 19. Unless the Lord had been my helper my soul had almost dwelt in silence When I said my foot slippeth thy mercy o Lord held me up In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Gods supporting hand made a heavy burden easily born And indeed it is worthy our Observation ☜ Obs When God does not support a man in the day of tryal the lightest affliction will be so heavy that he shall sink under it see it in Ahitophel when he saw that his counsel was not followed a man would have thought this had been a very small tryal for so wise a man and so great a Politician to grapple with but God leaving him to himself he sinks under it he goes home to his house and hanged himself 2 Sam. 17.23 On the contrary when God does support a man in a dark and cloudy day as the Prophet calls it Ezek. 36.12 the heaviest affliction that can befall him shall be so equally poized that he shall be able to stand under it see an instance in David 1 Sam. 30.1 6. His City Ziklag is burnt with fire his two wives Ahinoam and Abigail were taken captive David and the people that were with him wept till they could weep no longer and that which was yet worst of all the people spake of stoning him for very grief and anger that their sons and daughters were carried captive here was a sore affliction indeed such a doleful distress as might have broken a man to pieces but God supporting David he stands under it without fainting He encouraged himself in the Lord his God Thus I have made good the first Branch of the Doctrine That the afflictions of the Godly are light and easie Branch 2 The second Branch is this That the glory of the life to come is a weighty and superlative glory It is called here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A weight of glory alluding to the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies both weight and glory It is the weight of gold that adds much to the value of it The more weighty a Crown is the more it is
worth in our esteem Nay yet more This glory is not only a weighty glory but an hyperbolical transcendent glory far surpassing the capacity and comprehension of such poor creatures as we are for such is the excellency beauty and sweetness of it that as one saith excellently * Bolton of the four last things No mortal man can describe it no created understanding can conceive it or comprehend it 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 1 Cor. 2.9 The eye has seene admirable things Solomons Temple and the glory of it which was so great That for the Temples sake at Jerusalem even Kings did bring presents unto God Psal 68.29 and Solomons stately house which was thirteen years in building 1 Kin. 7.1 and all the wonders of the world The ear has heard most delicious exquisite heart-ravishing musick the heart of man can conceive yet much more then either eye hath seen or ear hath heard for in conceit it can turn all the stones upon earth into pearls all the sand upon the sea-shore into Silver and all the water of the Sea into liquid gold yet the height and happiness of heavenly glory do's far surpass all this especially if ye consider these three things most worthy of our meditation 1. The place where this glory is prepared 2. The Properties wherewith it is adorned 3. The Priviledges wherewith it is attended For the first The place where it is prepared is Heaven The new Jerusalem The City of the great King this must needs be a glorious place it ye consider these particulars 1. God himself is the maker and builder of it Hebr. 11.10 The most goodly Palaces that ever were built on earth are but the work of mens hands but this is a house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made without hands 2 Cor. 5.1 God himself made it without mans help 2. God built this house for himself for the honour of his Majesty to be the place of his residence where he will keep his court as if he should say Here will I dwell for I have a delight therein 3. In building this house he shewed all his skill it was his Master-piece therefore there are two words used in the Text Heb 11.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The former of them signifies an Artificer a curious workman or contriver God did not only build this house but he shew'd extraordinary workmanship in contriving it the frame or fabrick of this earthly globe ye see it is a goodly piece full of beauty but alas this is but a stage or scaffold set up for a while viz. for 5 or 6 thousand years which is but a moment in comparison of eternity but this heavenly house is to last for ever Now if the scaffold be so glorious how infinitely beautiful will the house it self be 4. It must needs be a glorious place because of the Glorious Company there residing viz. The great God of heaven and earth the Lord Christ with a glorified body and all the holy Angels and spirits of just men made perfect continually triumphing in the praises of the Holy One rejoycing in him and he in them For the Second The Properties wherewith this glory is adorned I will name but these three 1 It is a pure Glory without the least mixture of misery or infelicity There the Saints enjoy light without darkness mirth without mourning health without sickness wealth without wo beauty without blemish and honour without envy In this life all our comforts have some mixture of bitterness in them but there are unmixed joyes and delights without the least wormwood or gall mingled with them 2 It is a perfect glory nothing shall be wanting that the soul can desire Fulnesse of joy Psal 16.11 and a full Reward 2 Joh. 8. 3 It is a satisfying Glory The Saints shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and he will make them drink of the River of his Pleasures Psalm 36.8 All the pleasures and treasures that this world can afford us will not give satisfaction to an immortal Soul They do not feed Esurientem animam but esuriem animae The hungry soul is not filled but the hunger of the soul is increased by them But this glory will so fully delight beautifie and satisfie the soul that it can desire no more For the third The Privileges wherewith this glory is attended They are of two sorts some are Privative Positive 1 Privative in the freedom from all evil For example The soul is here subject to temptations and corruptions desertions from God and provocations from wicked men Psal 120.5 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech c. These are so exceeding grievous to a gracious heart that they make a man cry out with holy Job My soul chuseth strangling and death rather than life Job 7.15 But when the Soul comes to enjoy that glory all these shall be removed All tears shall be wiped away from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 21.4 2. Positive Priviledges in the fruition of all good things that can be conceived or desired For the Saints shall have an Immediate Communion with God these three wayes viz. By Seeing God Enjoying God Being made like to God 1. The Saints shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 This is that which is called the Beatifical or blessed-making vision for in his presence Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his faces is fulness of joy If a man had all the pains of hell upon him this vision were able to make a man rejoyce because totam amaritudinem Gehennae absorberet saith Chrysost It would swallow up the bitterness of hell it self 2. The Saints shall enjoy him as their Portion He shall be All in All that is as one sweetly expresseth it He shall be joy to our Souls Life to our Bodies Beauty to our eyes Musick to our ears Perfume to our nostrils Honey to our mouthes and Contentment to our hearts for what can be wanting to him that has that God for his Portion who has and does all and fills all things in heaven and earth 3. The Saints shall be made like to God and conformed to the Image of his Son Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29 1. Like him in Soul by perfection of Grace for they shall have perfect knowledg perfect holiness and righteousness as much as Creatures can be capable to receive 2. Like him in Body For he shall change our vile Bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body Phil. 3.21 Then shall our Bodies be Spiritual 1 Cor. 15.44 active lively and nimble as Spirits And they shall be Impassible such as are not capable of suffering and Immortal such as can never dye In brief they shall have such an admirable beauty and lustre put upon them that they shall shine forth as the Sun