Earthly Tabernacle which is the reason rendred Herbr 11.9 10. Why Abraham was so willing to dwell in Tents for he looked for a City which had a foundation whose builder and maker is God So it is Heb. 13.14 That here we have no continuing City but we look for one to come and as in a City there are gathered together the confluence and riches of all the good things in the Country round about it besides that it is a setled resting place not like Tents and Tabernacles flecting up and down here to day and away to morrow So in heaven The City of the living God the Celestiall Ierusalem there must needs be the abundance of all heavens surmounting excellencies And lastly it is called heaven as a house of the most rare and admirable structure made by God himself without hands wherein we may cōceive if these inferior visible heavens in our view adorned with such varieties of unconceivable beauties so amaze our spirits and the fearfull and wonderfull making of our earthly houses so transport as David confesseth of his fearfull and wonderful making how much more admirable is this rare Building Mansion and resting place of the Almighty all things being so much the more excellent as God sheweth himself to be a immediate agent actor therin 2. The Scituation thereof For lo lo how it stands as it is said of Gods Mountain the Church exalted above the hills Isa. 2.2 and above the tops of the Mountains yea as though Mountains were set above Mountains of the top of one another yet this high and lofty place is far above all the heaven of heavens above all storms and tempests and vexations whatsoever so high and safe as no thief can come to dig through and steal and where our treasures may safely lie in the highest elevation that may be scituate not amongst briars and thorn as our houses are or amongst strangers and oppressors but where we shall be most beloved and welcome amongst all our friends and kindred where Christs is with all the Saints and Angels This shall be heaven to be with Christ wheresoever he is to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory Iohn 17.24 and so To be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4.17 Then also the praise of a building is to be scituate in a pleasant not in an unpleasant dirty place as those cities were which Solomon gave to Hiram King of Tyrus 1 King 9.11 which he therefore refused but this building is placed where pleasures abound for evermore called Psal. 35.18 the Rivers of his pleasures far before the rivers of that earthly Paradise which had but one Tree of Life guarded with Cherubims and a flaming sword watered with four Rivers running through it whereof whosoever drunk might thirst again but here there runneth along a pure River of water of life of which whosoever tasteth and drinketh shall never thirst again but be in them a well of water springing up unto everlasting life with a Tree of Life growing on each side thereof guarded with no flaming sword or affrighting Cherubim but free to enjoy the full vertue thereof to live for ever And then again In our houses we love to have our buildings with excellent lights which is a commendation to them but in Heaven in this buildings this commodity shal be in the perfection thereof Col. 1.12 called The inheritance of the Saints in light out of all morral artificial and natural darkness even the Sun it self being darknesse compared with the light thereof always light and light all over lightened by Christ the Lambe who is the light thereof not like the Sun which lightens but a part of the world and leaves the other dark but light all over and nothing but light no light like unto this always and ever light and many times lighter than that of the Sun mentioned Isaiah 30.26 which is said should be like the light of seven dayes when the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroake of their wound The next Consideration is The Materials Form or Matter of this Building It is immaterial not made of stone or marble or any such like substance a building not made with hands far surpassing all other Buildings as God is the most cunning Master Builder we know not what it is but it is set forth unto us Revel. 21. in the highest expressions of all things which with us are accounted excellent as Gold Pearl Diamonds with all other pretious stones whatsoever and the pavement of Gold as a shining glass Whereby the Holy-Ghost would have us inlarge and stretch forth our meditations unto the furthest extent of comprehension by things within the compasse of our reach to meditate upon things incomprehensible that by all things which are pure and pretious excellent durable attractive and admirable we might be in love with and long after things far above all expression of Men and Angels Another thing is 4. The Capacity and Extent of this Building For it is large and hath room enough for all as Christ speaketh Iohn 14.1 In my fathers house are many dwelling places wherein none shall be straitned as it was with Abraham and Lot whom the land could not bear because of their substance Gen. 13.6 and betwixt Isaac and Abimelech Gen 26. who were therefore forced to divide and part dwellings but in heaven is largenesse and room enough for all not like Tophet Isa. 30.33 which by the Prophet is said to be a place deep and large not for any refreshing but for the Torments and misery therein but none for conveniencie and comfort where for all this largenesse they shall be so straitned as if there were but room for one onely whereas in heaven there shall be such largenesse of room as though heaven were but for one onely there shall be such room for all And then we have to confider 5. The Furniture of this Building For in our houses here usually the glory of them is the riches of their adorning inwardly in heaven is expressed there to be lasting and enduring for ever all the furniture thereof whereas ours are transitory and subject either to corruption and vanishing or both where Theeves may dig through and steal Mat. 6.19 And therefore the Saints are said to have indured joyfully the spoiling of their goods because they had in Heaven a better and more induring substance Heb. 10.34 And 1 Cor. 7.13 He would have us to use this world as though we used it not because the fashion of stage play thereof passeth way But the riches of this building are such as shall endure for ever where no worm can come to eat or consume the furniture thereof which we know not till we see it but it is expressed by Crowns Treasures Whiterobes and the like all understood which may be infinitely comprehended thereby when we enjoy the same The next
of all the tempest of his afflictions supporting himself with the hope of the life and glory to come and his interest therein For I am sure that my Redeomer liveth c. And what is more frequent in all the Scriptures than still upon all occasions to raise up our thoughts from hence unto Heaven I will onely instance a few more places that 2 Thes. 1.7 He comforts that distressed estate they were in with that everlasting rest they should enjoy when the Lord Jesus should shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire against wicked men c. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and made marvellous in all them that beleeve and 2 Pet. 3.13 after he hath spoken of the heavens and the earth to be burnt up and renewed which now are he adds But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousness And Christ in all his exhortations to the seven Churches in the Revelation still points them unto those glorious things to come where he promiseth the overcomers To eat of the tree of life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God not to be overcome of the second death to have a Crown of life to eat of that Manna which is hid to have a white stone and new names written upon them to write upon them the new name of God the City of God the new Ierusalem and to sit with him in his Throne as he overcame and sitteth with the Father in his Throne All which I have onely named to shew a glimpse of that support the Scriptures afford in general for comfort against afflictions here and wherewith the former darling Saint in the ancient times in the days of their flesh have stayed and supported themselves and to shew that in all our destractions present We must soundly anchor in heaven ere we can find true comfort upon earth or be throughly armed against the fear of death To which effect it is written Heb. 2.14 That forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood Christ himself also likewise took part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the Divel and that he might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage In which case we must not look upon death alone without Christ who by his death hath perfumed the grave for us otherwise without him it is a passage onely unto the King of terrours and everlasting death but as it is subdued by Christ as it is 〈◊〉 Cor. 15. swallowed up in victory O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victorie and as it is a smooth passage unto heaven and blessednesse to go home unto our fathers house as it is a sleep after the weary toils of this life a gathering unto our people and fathers again from whence for a while we have been estranged and as it is a passage from mortality to put on immortallity to be swallowed up of life Thus must we look upon death as upon a stinglesse Serpent which now onely affrights but hath no sting to hurt and as upon our best friend who rids us in a moment for ever of all those Amalekites and vexing Perrizites those fins and cares as thorns in our sides that as Sampson we may be contented to lose our lives with these Philstims of all which and the like vexations whatsoever we may then confidently and rejoycingly say as Moses did of those Egyptian Persecutors of the Church of God Exod. 13.14 Fear ye not stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord which he will shew you this day for the Egyptians whom you have seen this day ye shall never see them again a wonderfull comfort to be freed from all at once And it seems that the Saints in Scripture upon their removall hence make thus much good in their unmoved departures How quetly did Iacob and Ioseph die having finished all their earthly business with what peace did Moses and Aaron die in their appointed Mounts And what shall we say of holy David I Chron. 29.10 Who departed hence so chearfully blessing God after that he had given order for them Temple building and old Barzillai when he would no more remain at Court craves leave to go home and die all whom with Steven amongst a shower of stones saw unto the other side of Death so making a peaceable resignation of this life to exchange it for a better And so I make no question others may if their whole life hath been so spent in meditation and engrossing the Scripture comforts against that day But yet the surest and most lasting comfort against that encounter is to be often every day washed in the fountain of Christs blood with the seasonable right application of his everlasting Righteousnesse unto the soul which will Comfort that we being in him and he in us by the habitation of his spirit That there is no Condemnation to such Rom. 8.1 And that they already sit with him their head in heavenly places Ephes. 2.6 When being transformed into his blessed image from Glory to Glory in this life and having put on the Lord Jesus in all his holy vertues being thereby pertakers of the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.3 they need not to fear but being transplanted from nature to Grace and planted with him in regeneration unto the similitude of his death but they shall be also made like unto the similitude of his Resurrection Rom. 6.5 So that Christ the head being in heaven he must of necessity quicken and draw all his members after him who is said to be the Resurrection and the life Iohn 11.25 and therefore must raise and quicken all again But this is not our intended work at this time to treat of death though I have bordered upon it and could not shun it it standing so just in our way as we are now in our journey towards life but to outface it look through and beyond it at the Certainty and excellencie of heaven and the glory to come thereby to arm us against it that we may see what a royall exchange we shal make with parting from our earthly house for That building not made with hands but eternall in the heavens in the Certainty of which building as I take it there is a Double certainty 1. The Certainty of the thing that there is such a building 2. Our Certainty of attaining unto it For the first The Certainty that there is such a Place as Heaven I Will be short therein for besides what the Scriptures speak thereof which should abundantly satisfie us and which is wonderfull large The whole frame of Nature it self proclaims with a loud voice That there is such a place and mansion of Eternitie called Heaven the Eternal dwelling of God Angels and blessed souls departed which Building even the outside thereof David Psal. 8. admires O
Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the world which hast set thy glory above the heavens When I behold thine heavens even the work of thy singers the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained What is man say I c. And Psal. 19.1 There he shews that the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shews the work of his hands day and night uttering the same running through all speeches and langauges unto the ends of the world wherein he hath set a Tabernacle for the Sun which compasseth round the whole earth in a miraculous manner which earth now by the mighty power and word of God in the middle of the heavens stands supported and hanging upon nothing All which Gods wonderfull and marvellous works proclaim the miraculous dwelling place of the Almighty in heaven provided above all his visible works to welcome and entertain man in before and after the Resurrection for ever Wherein Faith whose nature is like a Vine to take hold of every little help besides the Scriptures even by strength of naturall reason takes advantage to fortifie it self by that Even Nature it self might lead us unto the God of Nature and of all things by a strong argument drawn from our mortality and change from whence it strongly concludes The Creation of man and consequently of The whole frame of nature thus Whatsoever hath a being independent of it self were able also by virtue of that independency and being to have kept if self in that being from mutability and change But no creature since the creation ever yet had that power by virtue of its being to have kept it self in being from mutability and change Therefore it had a Creator which is the Almighty Jehovah only able to give a being to his words the same for ever Alpha and Omega And thus we leave The Certainty of the building to draw near therefore unto the building it self and The Certainty of our knowledge of a future glorious estate therein for ever attainable by us God in Trinity blessed for evermore who had sufficiently from all eternity lived in all Glory and Contentation being that infinite wisedome set up from everlasting from the beginning and before the earth works thereof were made minding at length to have a Creature made which should bear his image be Lord of all the creatures to be made and able to conceive and reflect back again his excellēcies at length to be taken up from the earth into heavē for ever into the association participation of the heavēly Quire of Angels in his fulness of time even then rejoycing in the habitable part of the earth having his delight with the sons of men in resolution and intention created Prov. 8.27 prepared the heavens and set his compass upon the deep established the clouds above when he confirmed the fountains of the deep had given a decree to the Sea that it should not passe his Commandement and appointed the foundations of the earth having furnished the heavens with all the hosts of them and the earth with all usefull creatures therein fitted for recreation comfort and delight of his new guests to be created at length when all things were fitted for him created Man his last and greatest work of wonder for whose sake and for reflexion of his glory in inioying of his works of wonder all these things created before him were given to him these visible heavens with all the creatures shewed unto him with a use of and insight in them and manifestation and revelation after his fall of a Heaven of Heavens the mansion of the Beatifical vision revealed in the Scriptures wherein he should at length be received having finished his course upon earth called for the sublimity and exceeding height thereof Gods dwelling place The high and lofty place of him who inhabiteth eternity Isa. 57.15 and by St. Paul a building not made with hands but eternal in the heavens of the assurance whereof he speaks confidently For we know c. and this is put without all peradventure 2 Cor. 5.1 For saith he we know and therefore in this we sigh earnestly wherein there is a Certainty set down That in this life we may come to be assured of a future glorious estate to come saith he we know Therefore though alreadie we be come near and on our way to view this glorious Building not made with hands yet seeing wee are a prettie distance off it to comfort our selves in our way thither let us take a brief survey of this Knowledge St. Paul so confidently speaks of what it is For we know In unfolding whereof if I be not mistaken these four things will discover it 1. A Description of the Qualification and Subject wherein this knowledge resides 2. How this is known of us 3. How we may know that we know what we know 4. How to trie the truth of what we know from that which is but a counterfeit thereof By help whereof we may by Gods blessing attain to the knowledge here meant For the First The Subject wherein it resides usually Qualifleation thereof There commonly ushers the same A strong Conviction called by our Saviour Joh. 16.8 The Conviction of the Spirit which there is said to be Threefold 1. A Convincing of Sin 2. Of Righteousness 3. Of Iudgement then there is a full way opened unto this knowledge spoken of Wee know Now for this 1. Gonviction We must know That there is nothing in this world so difficult then to convince us of these two things 1. How wicked we are and how good God is which is the sum of the two first convictions to convince us of these two things 1. How out of measure sinful sin is How miserably besotted we are with it in this our depraved nature in how great danger we are thereby of everlasting damnation how dangerous it is to retein it how insupportable the burthen thereof would be without Gods great mercy to us and that the sooner we leave it is and will be the better for us But the second is greater then this for it is an easier matter to throw us down then to raise us up again being fallen the Divell will both help to pull us down and keep us so being dejected when he sees us a going But to convince us that notwithstanding all this misery that we are in That there is an everlasting righteousnesse attainable freely purchased for us and given unto us of free gift by Christ who hath redeemed us from death and condemnation satisfied the fathers Justice unto the full infinitely far in value beyond all the sins of the world who being the onely be gotten son of God assumed our flesh and in that nature hath appeased divine justice so as henceforth whosoever will lay down the weapons of their rebellion and ensigns of their disobedience beleeve in him and sue forth their pardon living and being hereafter governed by the laws of his Kingdome like
THE EVERLASTING Joys of HEAVEN OR The blessed life of a Christian in Grace here and in Glory here-after Set forth for the comfort and encouragement of all those that desire to fear the Lord By JOHN HART a Servant of JESUS CHRIST Recommended to the Reader by Obadiah Sedgewick and Iohn Downam Ministers of the Gospel PHIL. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven 1 COR. 2.9 As it is written eye hath not seen or ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him London Printed for John Andrews at the White Lion in the Old Baily 1656. JOHN HART D. D. Psal. 73.25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee My heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever TO The Right Honourable Noble and Vertuous Lady Most Worthy of all HONOVR ELIZABETH COUNTES and DOWAGER of EXCETER c. Right Honourable GRACE as I conceive it under Correction is nothing else but a Compound of GLORY and GLORY is nothing else but a Compound of Sanctification whilest the soul receiving out of Christs fullnesse Grace for Grace is transformed into the same Image from Glory to Glory one degree of Sanctification to another until at length like fire mounting upwards unto its proper Orb the higher and purer it grows partaking of the Divine Nature spreading it self perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincense and all the spices of the Merchant it vent it self sorth in all the Divine Vertues of Him who hath called it out of Darknesse unto his marvellous Light Now God out his Infinite rich Goodnesse and Mercy having conferred upon your Honour all the rare endowments both of Grace and Nature with a rich and plentifull Estate and which is more then all a large Heart to use it well for the Glory of God your own Comfort and the Miseries and Necessities of others whereby you have Purchased your self that High Honour to be a Mirrour to all the Great Ladies of this Age of unparalell'd Worth shining forth in Religion and Pietie to the admiration of all I therefore being taken in this number have adventured to present unto your Honour this short discourse and pithie of Grace leading unto Glory that it might give you yet a further insight into things invisible Comfort you now in your Journey homewards Mount you one Step higher upon Iacob's Ladder to view your Heavenly Countrey to have a Glimpse of that Infinite Glory provided for you for which the great Bodie of Saints so sigh and groan dayly and which in Gods good time you shall enjoy Eternally for ever when your Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and your Mortal Immortality to be swallowed up of Life which is and shall be ever the Wish Prayer and desire of Your Honours humble Servant to Command J H I have perused this Book intituled Grace leading unto Glory or a Glimpse of the Glory Excellency and Eternity of Heaâ—â—â— being a collection of many heavenly and comfortable Fruins which by Gods blessing in hope that it might do much good and incourage many in their heavenly journey I have therefore allowed thereof to be Printed Imprimatur Obadiah Sedgwick To the Reader GRace leading unto Glory is the subject of this ensuing discourse Grace is Glory Grace leads unto Glory Grace of Necessity must end into Glory and without Grace we shall never come unto Glory A truly justified person cannot stand still but must go further and further and add Grace to Grace ere he can come to glory Seeing the New Creature which aspireth unto heaven admits of no measure or stature thereof high enough untill it be in Heaven having attained unto the age of the measure and stature of the fulnesse of Christ Which how it comes to passe to manifest unto the world is the scope and aim of this little Book how Grace wherein is included the beauty of Holinesse in the Fabrick of the News Creature is justly by Christ in that his Heavenly Prayer called Glory because it is nothing else but imperfect Glory and Glory it self nothing else but the perfection of Sanctification unless there may be added there unto some extra ordinary shining lustre such as Moses had a tincture of when his face shone so as the people could not look upon him after be came down from the mountain Wherefore whether we respect Grace which is imperfect Glory or the Glory of Heaven theper ection of Glory which this discourse points at in the full enjoyment fruition of the Beatifical Vision both no question ma yjustly invite thee to peruse this smal treatise an hope to reap some profit hereby For here stands no affrighting Cherubims with a flaming sword to guard thee from this Paradice of Glory but all possible invitement unto thee to enter boldly in by that new and living way prepared for thee And when thy heart and mounting miditaions shall be lifted up and warmed in the sweet apprehensions and ravishment of the joys of that Glory to come herein mentioned with joyings and stronger resolutions in the prosecutions attending so glorious and eternall an inheritance not to loose or hazard the same for a few transtâ—â—â—â—lying vantries Then remember those in thy best thoughts by whose means this hath been conveyed unto thee by Thy unworthy servant in Christ Jesus J. H To the Book expressing the Sum thereof SERAPHICK wings it first assumes to flie Saints all among who are both great and small Anoints their eys Heavens eye-salve with to see The wonders great it doth present to all How their great peace freeing them so from thral Acquitted full by Heavens most high Decree From storms and tempests all hath set them free Crushing for them Sin Hell Divel Death and all How then their mounting sad and changing states By ebbs and flows of strong and heavenly graces With sour sweet joys and sighs he interlaces It tels them till they come to Heavens gates Redoubling force then helps them how to scale The Heavens and lifts them up whitin the veil Christian Reader THere is no subject of our thoughts and meditations nor of our discourse and writings more sweet and comfortable unto those who by a lively faith are interessed in them then the eternall joies and happinesse of that heavenly Kingdome which God in his rich mercy through and for the merits and mediation of his dear Son and our alone Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ hath prepared for his elect and faithful sons and servants for what can be more pleasing and full of ravishing joy unto us in the sea of this miserable world wherein we are tosted in storms and tempests endangered daily to be spilt and wracked upon rocks and sands and to be robbed and rifled with mercilesse Pyrats then to be assured that within a while we shall safely arrive at our wished Haven where we shall be eternally secured from all these perils and injoy
behind them great impressions of humility as Ierem. 33.9 he sheweth the effect of Gods wonderfull favours shewed unto them And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the wealth that I shew unto this City O saith Isaiah when he had seen the Lord upon his Throne Woe is me for I am unclean c. for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6.5 and when God according unto Iobs wish drew near to confer with him then he could say I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eyes seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 4 2.5 This is the first That humility imprints and leaves upon the soul The second is Thankfulnesse these two accompany one another I am lesse then the least of all mercies saith David and Psal. 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me as though there were not enough to render I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord even now in the presence of all his people And thus not onely the spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the children of God but also is pleased now and then to shew himself with more immediate stronger ravishing joies and testimonies of Gods favour as it were immediately from heaven ravishing the soul and giving it here some taste in an extraordinary manner of its future eternall joies so much as mortality is capable of whereof some of the Saints have most experience at their first conversion in such a taste and measure as perhaps they never attain in all their life or seldome the like again in degree And yet as the Sun in heaven though sometimes it hath flashes of extraordinary brightnesse heat and shining when it doth not alwaies shine alike in brightnesse during the clouding damps and eclipses thereof is still the same and lightens the whole world with its height though it do not shine forth with its glorious beams being the same in it self successively never leaving us without some light so the spirits residence in the renewed soul is still the same in himself and us though he shine not forth in our night seasons alwaies alike with his beams upon us for our comfort yet the light thereof shed abroad in the whole parts and powers of the soul still enlightens and upholds the life of Grace in us in its life and being shining out brightly upon us again with its comfortable beams when the storms tempests and mists are gone which occasioned these clouds and damps and when we are so weaned from sense and feelings that we are contented to live by faith and to wait the Lords leisure for his extraordinary favours for then we are best fitted to receive extraordinary favours and mercies from God when we are contented to sit down Saint-like at his feet and to be contented of his allowance whatsoever Deut. 33.2 so that his constant residence with the Saints is ever one way or other firm and perpetuall according unto Christs promise never leaving them comfortlesse altogether manifesting and revealing himself unto them in all their exigents according unto his infinite wisedome for their good making all things work for the best unto them Rom. 8.28 and all his works in his dissertions ebbings and flowings returns manifestations witnessing lesse and more darkly or more clearly alone or with our spirits making all beautifull in time when all the ends of our crosses shall meet together Eccles. 3.11 bringing meat from our eaters and strength from our strongest crosses bringing his marvellous light out of our darknesse and separating the light from the darknesse as at the Creation Gen. 1.4 so in this new Creation which he is a perfecting like the morning light that it may shine more and more untill the perfect day Prov. 4.18 so at his good pleasure and at our need bringing all our comforts unto our remembrance Iohn 14.26 yea and inhansing and raising the estimation taste and price of them daily in his flesh and new Revelations for our joy and comfort 1 Cor. 2.10 all which things are wrought by one and the self-same spirit as Paul speaks distributing to every man severally as he will 1 Cor. 12 11. and guiding them with his counsel until he bring them unto glory Psal. 37.24 And thus not onely We know and Know that we know that this knowledg of our assurance of a better life to come is not counterfeit by Gods spirit witnessing with Our spirits that we are the children of God sometimes in a more high lofty and rare immediate strain of ravishing joy by himself as it were from heaven and alwaies when he pleaseth to join with the witnesse of our spirits sometimes again in a sweet more often and lasting manner unto the end The difference being That the former is a more strong and vehement ravishing joy comming and felt rarely upon extraordinary occasions and hard trials making short abode with us at the time heavens feasting days of extraordinary favours The other by turns in some divers degrees and measures sweet more temperate very sure and holding out with us oftner in those his reports and manifestations unto the end so ballancing the excessive vehemency and measure of the former in its more mild lasting continuance in the latter And thus at length by the assistance of this blessed spirit we are drawing near to view this matchlesse Building not made with hands but eternal in the heavens But O! who is sufficient for these things what tongue of Men or Angels can shew forth the same wherefore O thou great Architect of wonder who thunderest with thy voice and canst do mighty things which we know not who hath made the earth by thy power established the world by thy wisedome and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion who measurest the waters by thy fist who hast comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure weighed the mountains in a weight and the hills in a ballance who canst make weight to the winds and weigh the Waters by measure Thou before whom all nations are as nothing and lesse then nothing and vanity before whom the mountains tremble and the hills melt at whose sight the world is burned up and all that is therein O thou who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain like a molten looking glasse and hath spread them out as tents to dwell in who hast commanded all their armies counting the stars and calling all the hosts of them by their names who leadeth the blind by a way that they have not known making darknesse light before them O do thou take us by the hand and lead us along unto this heavenly building of thine making darknesse light before us who are ignorant how to pass along in these heavenly Labyrinths pave us a passage in this unpaved way opening our eyes and apprehensions to see and understand some of the wonderful things
of this infinite ravishing astonishing glory of the fulness of God the loadstone of heaven which shall fasten and draw the eys of this whole great body upon it as we see put Irō in the fire within a while it shews not Iron but red all fire being defused through the same So the love of God and those glorious influences of heavenly rays comming from him shall set the whole soul so a fire with the love of God as it shall shew all love to him with suitable returns of what continually floweth from him reflecting upon us As the Ocean out of its fulnesse filleth and floweth into the rivers which continually return of that fulnesse back again into the Ocean so shall it be continually betwixt God and us And to fill up the fulnesse of this blessed injoyment there shall be withal a ful report made unto the soul that all this joy and blessednesse shal be so for ever without any end It were else a dimunition of this fulness of joy and enjoyment thereof if therewith there should not be a report made unto the soul and assurance of the endless continuance of the same for ever in that same degree of fulness and ravishing joy But this is not all we have not yet done for this discovery of heavens blessednesse in that excellent estate to come yet summoneth us ere we passe from thence to consider of Five Particulars more for now having touched the handles of this door my pen must yet drop down myrrh and my fingers pure myrrh for a while First In this life we know understand and see many things we cannot enjoy attain or reach unto neither can we see enjoy or possess any thing but we may have a thought desire wish or reach beyond it to wish for more beyond any thing which may be attained in this life and still multiply our thoughts as may numbers for we cannot think of so high a number but there may be an addition unto it above it A man may see much but still there is somewhat beyond his sight that he cannot see neither can he injoy or possesse all he seeth But in heaven the soul shall have that which shall fill the understanding and all the powers and faculties of the soul to the outmost with that clearnesse and fulnesse of unerstanding that it shall possesse all it seeth and injoy all in that fulnesse that it shall not be able to have a thought wish or desire beyond that it seeth enjoyeth possesseth and apprehendeth without admission of any addition whatsoever even from that one end and coast of heaven to the other as the Lord said to Ioshua of Canaans possession Josh. 1.3 And secondly our actions in this life are all performed with some labour and wearinesse all things are full of labour man cannot utter it Eccles. all the works that are done under the Sun are vanity and vexation of spirit there is care its getting care in enjoying and keeping and sorrow in parting with them But in heaven all our actions shall be performed with freedome and ease without any wearinesse as we see the Sun shineth freely upon us and without wearinesse yea there is labour and some toil in our be stactions meditation and prayer some wrastling and striving therein but in heaven all shall be done freely with ease and without any care or wearinesse Thirdly In this life we injoy many temporal and spiritual blessings are not truly sensible of apprehending the full use of them as of our health life liberty maintenance besides many spiritual mercies we are encompassed with about and so not understanding them we have not a full enjoying of the comfort of them and so fall short of being thankfull for them But in heaven we shall see fully and clearly into round about and through all our mercies having a ful under standing and comfort of all if comfort be not to mean an expression for our estate in heaven where shall be nothing to interrupt lessen or make an addition unto that blessed estate where in we shall be above all cōforts enjoying the God and fountain of all comfort and consolation when also shall be effected that prayer of the Apostle that being rooted and grounded in love we shall understand and be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that we might be filled with all the fulness of God Ephes. 3.18 understanding the mystery of that knowledge which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God and the riches of this glorious inheritance among the Saints Ephes. 1.18 Then we shall see into and know all this and the utmost reach of all our mercies distinctly and have an everlasting insight into them all And more fourthly here we hope or and have great expectation of many things having excellent and strong conceits of them al which when we possesse and injoy they answer not our hopes and prove far under our expectation giving us no suitable contentation but in Heaven we shal find al things far beyond and surmounting al our thoughts wishes hopes expectations and imaginations that like as the Queen of Sheba when she saw how far Solomons royalty and magnificence exceeded the report thereof that half thereof had not been told much more shall we find it so in heaven where al things shal far surmount that which now here we can imagine or think of for if eye hath not seen ear heard neither hath it come into mans heart what things God hath prepared for them that love him in this life 1 Cor. 2.6 A taste whereof if they be known unto us by Revelation of the spirit in this life how much more fully shall all be revealed in the strength of their excellency in the life to come when he who doth for us here abundantly above al that we are able to think or speak shall much more make heavenly things be and appear so in the life to come Fifthly all those mercies and comforts we do injoy here they are but successively and by peecemeal injoyed one after another But in heaven we shall have the full sight clear injoying and possession of all our mercies at once which shall superabundantly fill up the measure of our joys when all shall appear at once unto us never having any thing more present themselves successively by pieces unto us but a full clear understanding of all at once all which put together and thought of may well encourage and hearten us to look joyfully on the other side of death unto This Building given of God not made with hands what excellency may there be in this were not the heavens and earth we enjoy and see also made without hands yes But this expression adds wonderfully unto the excellency of this Building distinguishing it to be far before all the rest as being not made with hands this earth and heavens we enjoy being but as the
condition and therefore must needs have an estate of satisfaction Now if a man in that estate might see the end thereof or beyond it it were not satisfactory for the soul Other creatures have no capacity beyond their present estate and therefore are satisfied therewith But it is not so with man who hath a reach beyond all he possesseth or can see even to eternity it being impossible to satisfie an eternal constitution with finite things Therefore we must have an eternal Estate God having stamped upon the soul an impression to look after that onely which is Eternal and Infinite therefore being now in a finite Creature it must look for an eternal Estate hereafter at its departure hence which is Eternal in the Heavens Again Secondly As it is a new Creature there is a principle in the soul to be contented with nothing but Eternity and therefore according unto this Spirituall eternal principle it thirsteth after and must have an Eternal estate For as its original is not of Corruptible seed but of Incorruptible by the word of God who liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.2 3. so must we needs have an Eternal Estate suitable And Lastly In regard that the Saints hopes are Eternal and so nothing else save Eternity can answer the same seeing they are begotten again to a lively hope out of Gods abundant Mercy by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an Inheritance immortal and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Seeing then in this life it is a grievous thing to be disappointed of our hopes which the Saints pray against but would much more be so in heaven seeing here we have no continuing City but wee looke for one to come Therefore our Expectation being strongly upon that Inheritance to come and the hope deferred as Solomon saith being the fainting of the heart if our desires and hopes should misse of this tree of Life in Eternity Wee should be Sick in Heaven which is impossible and therefore our Estate there must of necessity be an Eternal Estate suitable to our lively hopes Now This Meditation of Eternity where it fastens upon the soul works great Matters into it The Meditation I say of our Change and Eternal Glorious Estate to come for Eternity it works stamps and makes strange impressions of wonderfull matters upon the soul as 1. A willingnesse to put off our Earthly house for that Eternal in the Heavens for Such are supposed to have Eternal life already abiding in them 1 John 5.13 which no Murtherer or such like can have and may Know that they have Eternal life which is in Christ their Head who is true and the true God Eternal life 1 John 5.20 They have a Spring of Eternal life abiding in them a Well of water of life springing up unto Everlasting life not contented with this world but having hearts more in heaven then on earth 2. Then again it makes us do all earthly things with a subordination to this eternal estate so as all things may further and nothing may wrong or hinder it and so to improve our time unto the utmost advantages which may further the same contrary unto wicked men who are the most abusers and prodigall of time not following their rule Ephes. 1.4 To redeem the time But the Saints on the other side as they improve their time so they desire to do all things exactly with subordination unto heavenly things especially heavenly things more immediately ushering eternity Whereunto as all their thoughts and meditations bend so do they tend towards eternity in all things because in all their actions they have a design upon eternity doing all things as though they were to answer all at the last day when yet they know that their sins before that time are done away and covered Jerem. 31.34 Micah 7.18 And this meditation of death and eternity of heaven after the same it maketh us also abundant in the work of the Lord knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord and makes us work through all difficulties unto this eternall estate doing all things unto that end not drawing back or indenting with God For seeing it knoweth that there is no determination-of this estate it makes what it cā a suitable endeavor of Eternity upon earth to work in all things toward the same And yet more it filleth the soul ful of honourable thoughts not to be contented to sit down any more doting upon these earthly things on this side of eternity as we have formerly done setting our eyes upon that which is vanity and vexation of spirit nothing yea lesse then nothing compared with eterninity For here as David speaketh Psal. 119.19 We may see an end of all perfection and earthly glory whatsoever in this life But of this heavenly perfection as there is no so we can see no end thereof And this meditation of death and eternity following after it makes this impression upon the soul also as is usuall in disputations To state the grand businesse of heaven and earth aright to weigh all things in the ballance of the Sanctuary wherein they are found light nothing yea lesse then nothing compared with this eternity of heavenly glory to be revealed and so to look for or expect no great matters where they are not to be found But to use this world and all things therein as though we used them not and ther fore laieth this conclusion for an invincible ground that all the afflictiōs of this life are not worthy of that glory which shall be shewed unto us so great that the whole creatiō is said to groan wait for the revelation theoreof with the manifestation of the sons of God Rom. 8.18 Called therefore the fervent desire of the creature waiting groaning and travelling in pain with them to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God And therefore in all the murmurrings and tossings of the body in this life it quiets the same with holy Bernard his speech unto his body to be contented to suffer and wade through all the exigents of this life patiently because the time of the body is not in this life but in the world to come wherin our frail bodies shall be made like unto Christs glorious body Phillip 3. And it further to comfort us in our weary journey assures us That all this life time is nothing else but a time to sit and prepare us for to be Inhabitants of Heaven for ever to learn the language of Canaan in to be indowed with those supernatural habits of heavenly graces putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in all his holy vertues so by viewing of the exceeding rich and precicious promises to be partakers of the Divine Nature And as it was said of those Virgins that were to be brought unto King Ahashuerosh Est 2.12 They were first to be fitted and persumed a year one half thereof
with the glory of heaven far beyond all earthly cloathings and furnitures And such a cloathing as shall make an everlasting distinction betwixt us and wicked men for ever whatsoever imputations now lie upon us conversing amongst them Malach. 3.18 such a house like Christ himself the glory of that house from wâ—om and every thing in the house we may at all times fetch whatsoever we want to supply all So that Heaven is all things unto us as God is the universall good so hath he the fulnesse of all to supply us with which he can convey when and by what means it pleaseth him All things are ours because Christ is ours who is all things unto us and hath all things his whence at all times we may fetch every thing we want out of this heavenly glorious house for which the soul therefore in its most excellently composed temper sighs and groans as hath been said that our garment of salvation and robe of Righteousnesse we are now cloathed with in this our naturall condition may be heightned up to the full perfection of heavenly beauty with a superadded tincture of Glory in that highest place of eminencie and excellencie far above all Not that it would be uncloathed this is not the cause of the sighing and groaning but cloathed upon The soul in this case hath no peremptory desire to die not any pleasure of complacencie that way Oh Life is precious and long life is a blessing from God To live long in the Land and to have opportunity to do much good and to recover a great deal of the blessed Image of God It knowes Death to be of it self an enemy and the last enemy which shall be destroyed and no man will willingly cast himself in the jaws of his enemy which without a garment of Grace will but lead us unto the King of Terrours into that Eternity of that tormenting Tophet for ever No it is not willing to uncloath it self of this garment of Grace Christs Righteousnesse but to gird and keep it faster faster about us for in that great day Christ must see us thus cloathed or else wee can have no cloathing upon the same with a garment of Glory And therefore in this life it is willing to submit it self unto the Will of God here in all Active and Passive Obedience and though it be forced to live here a sinfull life where it cannot chuse but sin yea and sometimes an unprofitable life laid by as it were good for nothing yet it knowes the sins shall be forgiven and the good actions be all recorded in mind and it to be an high act of our holinesse even to submit to God and live in such an estate as doth sin wherein we must suffer For we can be in no such Estate here in this life but we may bring Glory to God and glorifie him whilest our patience is attaining unto its perfect work in us that we may be entire wanting nothing O but this is the matter and cause of this sighing and groaning That mortality may be swallowed up of Life That is that all this whole body of death with all the effects causes forerunners attendants and followers thereof that all possibility of dying all necessity of dying all fear of dying or sinning any more the whole body of sin and death with all the relations and apurtenances thereof may be swallowed up of life quite abolished and taken away for ever Even as it was in the case of Korah Dathan and Abiram with all the families and goods of all which nothing was to be seen when the earth had swallowed up all and closed up again or as Revel. 12.16 It is said that the earth helped the woman and swallowed up the flood which the Serpent cast out against the woman So it is here the soul in sighing and groaning after a heavenly estate sighs and groans to be freed of all the acts of sin and whatsoever it looketh on as fruits of sin which are pressing down burthens unto it in this body of mortality And then again as this mortality is a remembrance and witnesse of sins contagion and filthinesse it sighs and groans to be freed from it and would have all memorials and witnesses of sin done away And further mortality it self as is a remembrance and witness of sin c. It is sin and is attended with the fruits of sin This with all the relations thereunto it sighs to have done away that all manner of impurity may be so abolished as nothing thereof may remain either in thought or action And then again seeing all the parts of our mortality as hath been said are clogs and burthens and hinderances unto us in Gods service as weights to keep us down as fetters to chain us and keep us under for when our spirits are mounted up and would flie unto heaven and converse there this mortality pulleth us down again and hindereth us from spiritual actions and meditations not to perform them with any life or comfort In this case also the soul sighs and groans to be gone And as the soul desireth further union and communion with God without these interruptions clouds damps and eclipses of the sunshine of its comfortable feelings it now hath It groans and sighs earnestly that its mortality may be swallowed up of life And yet more It sighs to be at home in Heaven because there shal be an explanation and full discovery of the extent of all the word of God and of the utmost fulfilling of all the promises with a sight and apprehension of Gods goodnesse what God Christ have done for us and that we thereafter might never have any thought motion or desire contrary unto the will of God All which in all these cases are warrantable and spiritual grounds for the soul betrothed unto Christ here to desire sigh groan and long for the consumation of the marriage with him in heaven For the more holy spirituall any one is and gratious the more they desire this union and communion with Christ in Heaven As Rev. 22.20 Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Untill the day break and the shadows flie away return my wel-beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bethel Cant. 2.17 And thus the souls of the faithfull here though they would not be uncloathed yet sigh groan earnestly to be cloathed upon that mortality may be swallowed up of life Which ardent desires in them are both wrought continued nourimed in them and perefcted by the spirit 2. Cor 5.5 Which maketh request for them according to the will of God Rom. 8.27 And thus by Gods mercy and assistance of his blessed spirit we have been led along to have a glimpse of this heavenly building not made with hands but eternal in the heavens and of the glory excellency and eternity thereof with both the causes and lets of sighing and groaning after it And now that we are come unto a
full point in discovery of this Heavenly House being discended from this transfiguring mount to wander a while longer into the wildernesse of this world ere we can attain thither to live for ever what 's now finally to be done Can we or shall we now part with a sight thereof without looking back to have a review of the same as men do with a sight of beloved friends at pâ—â—â—ing to have them in eye so long as we can O yes now that the impressions thereof are new and strong let us make some use of all ere we part with the sight and sense of such excellencies First Let us joy in love delight and admire those inhabitants and expectants of heaven whilest they are amongst us upon earth who shal be our companions in glory for whose sakes all the Angels are said to be ministring spirits therewith thinking and studying what to do for them the King of Heaven so honours as to have built a house for them so gorgiously adorned with all matchlesse excellencies in such magnificent height safety and state not made with hands but eternall in the heavens For this eternity is that which as it sours all wicked mens comforts so it is that which sweetneth all the sorrows and miseries of this life unto the Saints having such an eternity in it as they shal taste of eternity every moment And withall let us give glory to God and be much wrapped up in servent love to Jesus Christ who hath purchased for us this eternal inheritaÌ„ce walking suitably â—s those who professe themselves to be heirs of this great salvation in this Heavenly House Secondly Let us infrom and reform our judgements soundly in this grand point which hath been so fully proved now that onely Beleevers are in a very happy condition and that whosoever looseth yet that in all estates they are gainers even by afflictions and death it self For by affliction Heb. 12.10 so by death they come to be partakers ' of his glory John 17.24 for which Christ did so earnestly pray and unto which they attain after the momentary sufferings here And therefore we must assure our selves Thatsoever we lose here which brings us in Grace and sets us nearer unto glory is good for us In all which Sampsons riddle is verified Iud. 14.14 Out of the eater came meat out of the strong came honey So after death which consumeth all at length commeth life glory and immortality and by those strong crosses we wade through at length commeth death which bringeth us thither And therefore in the next place seeing Our greatest sorrows bring us nearest unto our greatest joys our everlasting glorious estate let us never look upon death but whither it carrieth us at somewhat comming after it looking through it at the glory and eternity whither it leadeth us and learn to die before we die that like wicked men we may not die after we are dead And therefore a short and frail life a life full of weaknesse and diseases clogged with afflictions should be Musicke unto a Godly mans ears who then with a fixed heart assures himselfe that now there are great possessions at hand a comming wherewith we shall be invested in Heaven for ever And therefore all these and the like reports should make us contented joyfully to leave this smoaky earthly house for This building given of God not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens as Paul did whose care was for nothing else but How he might finish his course with joy win and know Christ attaining thereby unto a joyfull Resurrection of the dead Phillip 3.10 whereby we may assure our selves that there stands but a little betwixt a Beleever and his eternal estate a little breath a frail short life not two lives but one and that is our own Thirdly If there be so much Glory Excellencie and Eternity in this heavenly building as is shewed then let us never hereafter take on and so mourn for the departure of our Christian friends hence as those who have no hope surely it is a token we felt not Gods love nor received such comforts from his hand as we ought to have done If we should not thankfully give back to God things received as Hannah did Samuel and whilest we plead our love to husband wife children and friends what unkindnesse do we bewray to God as though he were not the onely wise God to know the fittest and best time to come in and go out of this worke Oh what mourn we for because they are escaped the storms and tempests of this life in Abrahams bosome their warfare at an end at rest from their labours freed for ever from sin and Satan set with spirits of just and holy souls come to perfection at the Fountain head drinking fully of the water of Life never to thirst again fraught with all heavenly knowledge and understanding enjoying the fruit of all their labours prayers sighings sufferings and meditations in the full fruition of the Beatifical vision for ever Oh is this love this is usually self-love in us not love to the dead for love in its excellencie aims at the best good of the beloved and as it comes from heaven so it envies no friend of heavenly Glory In which case our Saviour pleads excellently to purpose with his Disciples sad at the news of his departure hence from them Ioh. 14. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce when I said I go unto the Father Still it argues that the heart was too much glued and knit unto that it was so loath to part with for our life is oft too much in the life of our friends as Iudah told Ioseph of Iacob that Iacobs life was bound up in Benjamins which God takes unkindly for how many friends have we in him who rather than we should want friends can make our enemies our friends and this is an everlasting Rule That the heart which is most pitched and rolled upon God is lâ—osest from the Creature or excessive mourning wherein our bustling and tossing hindereth us from inspecting into Gods excellent working agravates the losse unhooketh the soul from its most noble temper quietly to submit to God in all things and shews that we relied or trusted too much upon that removed from us for the Creature too much relied or doted upon beyond the Creator or thought of in whatsoever cases doth so far Deifie it and so justly procure it removal from us for whom certainly nothing is longer good than God will have us to enjoy the same Happy were we if once we could atrain unto this high pitch of faith and confidence in God To beleeve that he as he is onely wise so nothing is done but that it is in the heighth of wisdome effected and in the most seasonable time for our everlasting good in this life and in that to come Now these with the like considerations will wean us from the world and with the Church clotted with the same