of this Wisdom will be clearly laid open to Angels and Men which now they desire to look into yea become Scholars in the Church to learn more of Eph. 3.10 1 Pet. 1.12 3. The Power of God will be illustrious in bringing poor weak Creatures through such a world of Difficulties and Oppositions as Sheep in the midst of Wolves Lions Bears in an howling Wilderness yea themselves shall wonder how they ever got thither and shall reflect with comfort and triumph that they were kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 4. But no Attribute of God will shine so bright in that day of Saints meeting together as that of his Free-grace Love and Mercy this orient Pearl in the Gold-ring of Glory will shine brightest That up-hill City is built all of Free-stone they had none mounted so high had not the arms of love been under them When this Head-stone of Glory is laid it will be with shoutings grace grace unto it Zech. 4.7 The Coelestial Pallace will ring with Acclamations of Grace Grace laid the Foundation and Grace lays the Top-stone in Glory The glorified Soul will stand amazed and say who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7.18 And Saints and Angels will stand gazing at them and at God in them that of such filthy Beasts hath made such holy Saints of such Lepers not fit to be toucht hath advanced them above the ordinary rate of Men equal unto the Angels Fellow-saints shall adore Free-grace Luke 20.36 Devils shall fret Reprobates gnash their Teeth with envy and Angels will gladly admit them into their Society And God will be glorified in all This is the first and chief End God hath in gathering the Saints together 2. There is also a secondary subordinate End of God's bringing his Saints together and that is for their mutual Communion Converse and Society with each other and all with God together Negatively it shall not be 1. To Trade Buy and Sell and have civil Commerce together to make great Purchases or to go to Fairs and Markets or meet upon Exchange for Merchandice There 's no such things there Nor shall they Marry or be given in Marriage nor converse as Husband and Wives Luke 20.35 2. Nor shall they suffer together or be thrown into Prisons Dens Caves of the Earth to endure Hardships seeking Relief or begging their Bread the Devil and his Instruments are there non-suited the accuser of the brethren is cast down Rev. 12.10 And all his Angels Agents 3. Much less shall they Sin together by Acts of Immorality or idle Talk or Chat there shall not be uttered one vain Word to all Eternity nor shall they Quarrel or Contend and thereby grieve and fret or vex the Spirits one of another or sadden the Hearts of each other No no there shall be perfection of Grace and compleat harmony of Minds and Affections 4. Nor shall there be one word of Complaint as now there is Christians when they meet here spend much of their Time in bemoaning themselves or bemoaning one another in mutual Compassion confessing their Faults to each other James 5.16 acquainting Christian Friends with their Grievances begging their Advice and the help of their Prayers O saith one I am Ignorant Hard-hearted Unbelieving have a treacherous Memory am very Unprofitable saith another I am sore assaulted with Satans Suggestions hellish Temptations another saith I am in the dark God hides his Face I know not what to make of my Condition another complains of dark Providences and is afraid of missing his Way in such a Case every one hath his peculiar Ailings and Grievances and one while raise their Hearts to God another while to Christian Friends but there shall be no such thing as a whimper of complaining when they meet together in that Solemn day 2. More positively and affirmatively the Ends and Business for which the Saints shall come together are these Two 1. The former concerns their personal Felicity The Second concerns their mutual Society and Entercourse 1. For their own personal Felicity they shall meet together for these Ends 1. To rest together as their Bodies shall rest in the Grave so shall their Soul rest with God This is the time of refreshing that comes from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 Now they rest from their labours sinful evil Rev. 14.13 and natural never more to be pestered any more with the Hurries of a mad World Temptations of a malicious Devil or Corruptions of a treacherous Heart Rest is sweet this Rest is most sweet when they enter into Peace they rest in their Beds Isa 57.2 2. To be rewarded great is their reward in Heaven Mat. 5.12 This Reward doth greatly animate God's Saints in their Labours and Losses they still have respect to the recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 Pro. 11.18 and they shall not be disappointed for it is a sure Reward and their Confidence hath great recompence of Reward Heb. 10.35 Not by any thing we have done in point of commutative Justice yet by distributive Justice by vertue of God's promise in the New Covenant God will be as good as his Word 3. They meet to rejoyce together at present they rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.2 But Heaven is the true proper Element of Joy If at a distance and unseen Isa 35.10 the Christian can rejoyce with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory upon actings of a Faith of Adherence 1 Pet. 1.8 Oh what Joy will the Christian have above this is an entring into our Masters Joy Mat. 25.21 because our Vessels are too narrow for this joy to enter into us O what transport of joy at the Saints arrival 4. They meet to Reign The Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18. Rev. 22.5 Not only shall godly Ministers receive a crown of glory that fadeth not a way 1 Pet. 5.4 but suffering Saints shall have the Crown of Life which God hath promised to all that love him James 1.12 Earthly Crowns are but rotten Trifles to this Crown that all Saints shall receive This is an high transcendent Preferment 5. They meet together to receive their Inheritance At present they are but as Children in their Minority but at Death they take possession of their rightful Inheritance and it is an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.4 All God's Children are Heirs Gal. 3.29 and heirs according to promise and this Glory they have hereafter is a reward of inheritance Col. 3.24 The Kingdoms of the Earth countervail not this blessed Inheritance above 6. They meet together to triumph upon their blessed Conquest What strange Triumphers shall Saints be hereafter Rom. 8.37 that are more then Conquerours here All the Saints shall
it come not to pass some languish in their Faith others grow presumptuous in their Security If the Devil prevail thus far he will so work ut nihil in Religione certum aut fixam reliqueret that he will leave nothing sure or fixed in Matters of Religion as Calvin saith on this Text yea by this means Men loosen the cords and break the bands that join together the Articles of our Faith yea strike at the foundation Article of the Resurrection Doct. I. Ministers must be Beseechers As they may command in their Masters nam◠so they must beseech as Servants t◠all the Faithful 1 Thes 5.12 1 Thes 4.1 We beseech you and exhort you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ◠we humbly and earnestly desire you as if w◠went down on our knees to you hence 1 The◠2.7 8. We were gentle among you even as a Nurs◠cherisheth her Children Our business is great sinners inexorable we have great need to use the most obliging Terms as though God did beseech Sinners by us to pray them in Christ stead to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.20 Doct. II. All God's Servants are Brethren Be they high or low rich or poor the most eminent Apostle and meanest yea weakest believe they are Brethren they have all one Father God our elder Brother Christ one holy Spirit that animates them all one Covenant of Grace to wrap them up in one heavenly Inheritance that they are Heirs of hence Col. 1.2 To the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ O what an endearing Relation is this Let us live up to it Doct. III. Christ will certainly come to Judgment It is certain this noble Man is gone into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return to reckon with his Servanrs Luke 19. 12-27 Christ's coming to Judge the Jews was Imago Arrabo Adceptus ultimi the Image and earnest of his last coming described in 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. Doct. IV. The coming of Christ is a most endearing Consideration to believers This is to the Christian as the Harvest is to the Husband-man James 5.7 8. Be ye also patient saith he stablish your Heart for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh O what a glorious Morning will that day be when the Sun of Righteousness will shine once again with help and healing in his Wings Then let the heirs of glory lift up their heads for the day of their Redemption draws nigh Luke 21.28 You cannot intreat them by more strong and obliging Obtestations or Arguments Doct. V. Though Christ 's coming be stopt to the Saints and certain in it self yet the Time is uncertain to us Our Lord saith to his inquisitive Disciples Acts. 1.6 7. It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power hence he saith Mat. 24.42 44. Watch therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh This is a Key that the wise God locks under his Girdle he keeps this Secret inter arcana imperij among the Mysteries of this glorious Empire In discoursing upon this pleasant Subject I shall open these Seven things 1. What this gathering alludes to 2. After what manner they are gathered 3. What is imply'd in this gathering 4. For what End they are gathered 5. How they are gathered to Christ 6. Why will God thus gather them 7. What improvement may be made of it CHAP. II. What 's meant by this gathering together 1. What it alludes to 2. How it is managed and when transacted 1. I Shall briefly explain the Emphasis of this Word what it signifies and the Allusions to something in common view 1. It alludes to an Hospitable Persons taking in Wanderers to lodge them and kindly entertain them So the Word is used Mat. 25.35 I was a stranger and he took me in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye gathered me Alass God's Children are Strangers and Pilgrims in the Path Heb. 11.13 as Men oft cast them out and they wander about in Sheep-skins and Goats-skins in Deserts Mountains Dens and Caves of the Earth v. 37 38. but their loving Father takes them in and provides them House and Harbour 2 Cor. 5.1 an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Lazarus at the rich Man's Gates is taken up into Abraham's bosom a better lodging then the rich Man's stateliest Chamber thus God gathers them 2. It alludes to a Man's gathering a rich Treasure together Gold Silver precious Stones Laying up in store Isa 39.6 as David gathered a prodigious Treasure for building the Temple three thousand talents of gold seven thousand talents of refined silver all manner of precious stones 1 Chron. 29.2 4. Solomon gathered silver and gold and the peculiar treasures of King's Eccl. 2.8 Exod. 19.5 But what are all these to God's treasure Which too calls his peculiar treasure more worth then both the Indies These God hath his time and way to gather up Mat. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord in the day when I make up my jewels God's jewels lie loose and scattered but he will string them and lay them up safe with himself in Heaven 3. This word alludes to congregating together as in a Synagogue for Religious Acts caetus conventus sacer an holy Religious meeting Luke 7.5 He hath built us a Synagogue that 's for Religious worship so the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a Religious meeting And we read of a Synagogue of the Libertines Acts 6.9 but this may be called the Synagogue or the Congregation of Licentiates or highest Graduates in Divinity that have in some sense commenced per Saltum and have leapt out of the Church below into the Church triumphant above being highly preferred by their blessed Master 4. The word imports a meeting in an honourable Councel that 's above an ordinary Assembly Mat. 26.3 Then assembled together the chief Priests and Scribes and Elders c. these were the Sanhedrim and sat as Judges upon causes Criminal and Capital 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies not a vulgar or a common meeting but a convention of States to sit upon Life and Death and though that was a wicked meeting to condemn the Son of God yet this glorious Assembly of Saints shall be convened to be Assessors with Christ to judge their Judges 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the World Rev. 1.6 Psalm 45.16 yea Angels All the Saints of God are Kings and Princes in all the Earth Oh what an honourable Jury will there be to applaud the sacred Judicature of our Lord This is the meaning of the Word 2. I must shew the manner means and method how this gathering together is managed or how the Saints come to be gathered together and when 1. Converting Grace gathers Sinners out of the world to God This is initial and preparatory the word in Eph. 1.10 gathering
together in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is very emphatical it signifies to recapitalate or recollect or reduce all to an Head it implies that mankind by Sin is separated from God disjointed one from another the Members scattered just like an old ruinous House that 's fallen All the pieces thereof are gone asunder till the workman come and set them together and rear up a stately Fabrick of the old Materials Man hath not lost the faculties of his Soul by the fall but the rectitude thereof Gen. 6.5 Gen. 3.8 Luke 15. All the imaginations of Man's heart are become evil He hath banish't himself from God into a foreign Country In a natural Sense Acts 17.27 God is not far from every one of us But in a moral Sense God and unconverted Sinners are at a great distance Eph. 2.13 Chap. 4.18 they are far off alienated from the life of God but Grace brings Sinners from their wanderings The Spirit in the word unites them by a blessed cement in an efficacious manner and that he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 And the Blood of Christ unites God and the Soul meritoriously O blessed conjunction Oh Eph. 2.13 22. happy meeting God hath found out a way in the Gospel to gather together the outcasts of Israel Isa 56.8 Alass we are all as Sheep going astray Isa 40.11 John 10.16 but our Lord gathers the lambs into his armes and brings them into fold Jews and Gentiles make one fold For saith the Apostle Paul ye are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.26 Faith makes a mistical Union Love a Moral Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love or teaching it in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ Oh this this is the foundation of all the rest conversion is the first collection 2. God gathers his Saints by Death to himself It s said of Abraham that he should be gathered to his Fathers in peace Gen. 15.15 and he was gathered to his people Gen. 25.8 Interpreters observe that this is usually applyed in Scripture to good Men and it refers to the Soul that they go to their godly progenitors Gen. 25.17 Gen. 49.29 and because this is applied to Ishmael therefore the Jews think he was a Penitent But however Num. 20.24 Chap. 27.13 the Phrase is applied most ordinarily to good Men as Jacob and of Aaron of Moses of Josiah 't is said 2 Kings 22.20 I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace It s true he died in Battle but in peace with God and was translated into the everlasting peace with the Saints this is the way of Divine Providence to carry his Children through a tempestuous Sea into an Haven of Rest they shall not always be tormented with Satan's temptations the Worlds oppositions their own corruptions but when they have done their work here in this wary World they shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Isa 57.2 Oh blessed change God gives them a quietus est from the Troubles of this wary Pilgrimage Rev. 14.13 1 Thes 4.14 they rest from their labours their bodies sleep in Jesus and are laid up safe in a quiet Repository Luke 23.43 and their Souls do enter into Paradice i. e. the third Heaven the immediate presence of God As Earth is the common Mother of all so Heaven is the receptacle of all Believers 3. God gathers them up out of their graves by the resurrection of their Bodies and the re-union of their Souls to those self same Bodies This was a Doctrine believed and well digested in the Old Testament Job 19.25 26 27. Though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God thy dead Men shall live saith Isaiah ch 26.19 together with my dead body shall they arise The New Testament doth abundantly confirm this great Article of our Faith John 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 15. Oh what an Army of Saints will start up out of the Earth Their scattered bones and dust shall be reared up and coagulated and our Lord will bring their glorified Souls along with him to sing out the high Praises of Jehovah Roses die sweetest Flowers perish and the beauteous Complexion of the Earth turns to a bleak and withered hue in Winter yet in Summer there is a kind of Resurrection If you say in them life is remaining in the Root and Seed we say the Soul is the root of the Body and Christ the root of the Soul and both are living Col. 3.34 and though there be no physical Contract yet there is a relative Union betwixt Soul and Body and a deep rooted love and inclination the Soul hath to it the silly Snail by its natural life and power can make for it self an Habitation yea a Silk-worm becomes a winged Fly See Mr. Baxter of Self-denial Page 206. the warmth of the Hen turns the Egg into a Chicken these are Emblems of the Resurrection And what cannot the Power of God effect If a skilful work-man can turn a little earth and ashes into such curious transparent Glasses why should we doubt whether the mighty Power of God can communicate a glorious perfection to the Flesh that 's dissolved into its Elements Luther saith I love the noble Art of Chymistry it is such a brave Emblem of the Resurrection O what a blessed ravishing sight will that be to see the sanctified Soul united to the glorified Body to receive their reward together This is the next 4. By the same power of God some shall be changed others raised from the dead the Souls of the glorified Saints shall descend and be united to their own Bodies and then ascend to meet the Lord in the Air and the wicked are left behind on their dunghil the earth in setters to receive their Sentence and confined to their Prisons this is that Mystery which possibly the blessed Apostle Paul heard from God when he was caught up into the third Heaven and heard unspeakable words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worldles words 2 Cor. 12.4 This is 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep i. e. die but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye This is further confirmed and explained in 1 Thes 4.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep And verse 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air Verse 17. Calvin saith he speaks here of the Faithful only Calvin in 1 Cor. 15.5 the resurrection of the Wicked is a kind of
here botled and a cup of cold Water shall be rewarded there is room enough in Heaven for all the Saints in my fathers house saith he are many mansions John 14.2 Many for number large for extension Rev. 21.10 12 25. That City is four square having twelve Gates filled from all quarters of the World The gates of it continually open never shut O the stupendious vastness of that upper Region Earth is but a point a small Pin-head compared to it though the Text in Revelations speak but of twelve thousand Furlongs which according to some make but fifteen hundred Miles But what is that to Heaven if the City of the great King be meant there by the New Jerusalem as some think But doubtless it is exceeding spacious if indeed it be a place circumscriptively taken but where the King is there is the Court as the Angels do always behold the Face of God and therefore are still in Heaven Mat. 18.10 Heb. 1.14 though imployed about Saints on Earth so it may possibly be with the Saints after the Resurrection Who knows whether the purified Earth may be one Place of their Coelestial Happiness yet some think it will be wicked Men's Hell and place of Torments But be that as it may we are sure there is room enough for all the Saints in Heaven and our Lord will have them all with him not an hoof left behind as slighted for he purchased all at a dear rate prayed for them when he was leaving the World An idea and sum of his present Intercession we have in John 17. particularly verse 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am This will be a blessed Congregation indeed a spacious Temple a large Paradice not in corners houses chappels where they are crowded and often persecuted fined imprisoned here they have liberty yea possibly every Saint shall have his proper Mansion yet in full communion with God and the rest of glorified Spirits But more of this hereafter Thus I have shewed how they are gathered CHAP III. What is implied in this gathering together what is included in it and consequences of it 3. THE next Head to be opened is to give a more particular account of this work of the Saints gathering together and this I shall do in these Seven particulars 1. That all the Saints in the several ages places conditions wherein they have lived shall be gathered into one general Assembly this may seem strange but its true all the Children of God that ever have lived this five thousand Years and upwards since Man was placed on this earthly Globe all that ever have lived do live or shall live till the end of time shall be assembled such as have lived in far distant places many thousand Miles asunder by vast tracts of ground mountains seas in Europe Asia Africa and America such as have died many thousand Years ago and have been long singing praises and enjoying God in the Church triumphant Old Testament Saints and New Testament Saints The Children of God in the Church militant yet fighting under the banner of Christ shall meet with Victors that have been long crowned Persons of all Conditions Ages Sexes Qualities Rich and Poor Old and Young such as never saw each others Faces in this World no nor ever heard of each other yet then they shall meet together Luke 13.29 And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God It s said Acts 2.5 There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout Men out of every Nation under Heaven But what are those to these out of all Countries of the World O what a vast number of Souls shall be congregated Such as never appeared together in this lower Region When there shall be a general Collection of Mortals beyond the Theaters or Amphitheaters of the Ancient Romans or Armies of Mahometans Multitudes Joel 3.14 multitudes in this Mount as Joel speaks in the valley of decision 2. That all this Congregation shall then be perfectly holy So it may be truly said of this Assembly as the murmuring Princes said of Israel Num. 16.3 All the Congregation are Holy every one of them and the Lord is among them there is not one feeble Person among them no infant of day's but they are grown up to be strong turn Gyants in Grace They stand in no need of Ordinances ministerial Gifts and the exercise thereof are only for perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.12 But now they are above them being perfected That City hath no need of the Sun Rev. 21.23 or of the Moon to shine in it As soon as ever the breath departs out of the body of a Child of God it shakes off all Sin and puts on a new Garment of perfect Holiness They take their leave of the Body of Death and Earth together Not one speck of dirt to be seen upon all this great Multitude Souls take their leave of Sin as they are taking their leave of this World O what a glorious sight will that be of milk-white Saints Surely a lovely sight there will be no Pride Passion Impatience nor any thing to vex themselves or others The dregs are left behind and pure quintescence floats upwards Consecrated Souls are now elevated to the highest pitch and defecated from filthy and defiling dregs Oh what a blessed day will that be 3. That all Troubles and Temptations in this lower World shall then cease Neither the Devil nor wicked Men can follow them off this Dung-hill although the Devil be called the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 yet he cannot stop or hurt the Saints as they pass through his Dominions nor shall he shoot a Dart at them or after them All Troubles are at a Period Death it self the King of Terrours is strangled it had no Sting to wound the Saints before 1 Cor. 15.56 Heb. 2.15 now it hath no being The fear of it was gone in some degrees in their lives now the very feeling of it is gone They are delivered not only from the Second but from the First Death They shall never receive a mortal wound no nor any wound The accuser and abuser of the Brethren is cast out Rev. 12.10 Not only cast down but quite cast out and all his Artillery and his Instruments 4. When Saints are thus gathered together they shall know one another It s true some kind of imperfect knowledge shall cease that knowledge which is only acquired in the use of Means shall vanish away 1 Cor. 13.8 Or that which sees through a glass darkly then shall we see face to face verse 12. I must needs confess those two words are beyond my comprehension of knowing even as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 1 John 3.2 and of seeing God as he is And I suspect that no Mortal can understand what they mean But I
things they are that are uttered and we may lawfully guess at what the Saints above confer of by the holy laudible Discourses they have here and they may be such as these 1. Concerning the Work of Creation For though the visible Heavens and Earth shall be burnt up yet nevertheless according to his Promise they shall see new heavens and new earth wherein dwells Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.12 13. Fire purifies Rev. 18.5 so the visible Heavens which were defiled with Men's Sin shall be purged with Fire Rom. 8.21 and the creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption And oh what a brave shew will that present Far beyond Golden Mountains Rocks of Pearl or Diamonds or Christal streams A semblance of it we have in Rev. 21. which is the wonderful Workmanship of the great Creator enough to imploy the Eyes and Tongues of those Coelestial Inhabitants to the Praise of Jehovah Rev. 4.9 10 11. and though the first Creation be past away yet the mighty Fabrick of this vast Universe will possess the Thoughts of the Saints with admiration of God's Power Wisdom Holiness which shines therein and they will reflect upon with Discourses one to another and adoring God To the Honour of his Majesty 2. Concerning Man's Apostacy How excellently God had placed Man in the Primitive state of Perfection in his own Image with perfect Faculties in the Image of of God Psal 8.6 with dominion over the works of God's hands Yet he unreasonably made defection from God and rose up in rebellion against God by violating the Moral Law engraven in his Heart and the Positive Law of not eating the Fruit of one Tree Whereby he utterly ruined all his Posterity made himself and his Off-spring subject to God's wrath and curse here and hereafter to all Eternity This will be greatly aggravated to the advancement of Free-grace in our deliverance out of it 3. Especially the Saints shall discourse of the Means of our Redemption The infinite Wisdom Grace and Love in God's Contrivance of it the transcendent Love Care Faithfulness of Christ in the managing of it the Nature Birth Death Resurrection Ascention of the Son of God his Offices suited to our State and all his Mediatory Undertakings This will be a Voluminous Book for Saints to read fairly written in indelible Characters Eph. 1.20 21. and the glorious Object before their Eyes at the right Hand of God in heavenly Places above Principalities to be a perpetual Monitor of his glorious Transactions This shall be the triumphant Harmony of the Coelestial Inhabitants to all Eternity Rev. 5.8 9 13 14. 4. The priviledge of Believers the blessed Fruits of Christ's purchases Now they shall more fully understand and take the due dimensions of the Benefits of Reconciliation Justification Adoption peace of Conscience joy of the Holy-Ghost these priviledges will be better understood then and discoursed of one to another O what blessed Effects of Divine Grace We enjoyed them but did not duly conceive of them now we see what it is to be the Children of God to be Justified Sanctified these were greater Mercies then we were aware of Let us cast our Eye back and consider what we were once what Bruits Sots but how we were washed sanctified justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Ah what a pleasant Theam is this 5. The Ordinances injoyed Oh how many savory Sermons have we heard How often have we been feasted together at the Lord's Table What sweet Fellowship have we had with the Saints in the lower World Many an Heart-melting Fast many a Soul-refreshing Thanksgiving many an edifying Heart-warning Conference I could then say it was good for me to draw nigh to God Psal 73.28 Those Duties led us to this Glory God help us to improve Ordinances and now we are got quite above Ordinances 6. The difficulties of our Pilgrimage While the Saints stand on the shore of Eternity and look back at the stormy tempestuous Sea they have passed the Pirats Rocks and Sands they escaped by the conduct of the great Pilot it fills them with Admiration and Astonishment How many roaring Devils surious onsets of Men What Temptations Persecutions they have passed through what hard Duties they have performed what Corruptions they have mortified what Burthens they have born all these do accent their Joy to an high pitch 7. Ministers and their Hearers will communicate their former Experiences Oh will the Convert say it was a blessed Day that ever I saw such a Ministers Face or heard his Voice I remember the Text the Doctrine the Particular that first touched my Heart Cant. 2.3 I sat under that shadow with great delight the fruit was sweet to my Soul God healed me by the same Hand that wounded me possibly the Minister never knew till now all the Souls he hath been an Instrument to Convert Now they have a reciprocal Joy when sower and reaper rejoyce together John 4.26 8. Godly Relations will mutually reflect on Days that are past though now not as Husband and Wife yet as quondam in that Relation They were heirs together of the grace of life prayed wept 1 Pet. 3.7 suffered and sweetly converst togegether the Father wept over the miscarrying Child prevail'd with God his Miscarriages cost him dear but his Conversion was as life from the dead that was a costly Child how the more lovely the gracious Child reflects upon recounts the godly Fathers and Mothers Prayers and Tears Counsels Admonitions 9. The distinction Grace hath made betwixt them and others Such a one as well Born Bred Educated as we sometimes under Convictions sat under the same means of Grace of fine Parts made a Profession and were once as likely for Heaven as I but fell into gross Sin or kept in a course of Formality and these are now swallowed up in Eternal Torments why am not I in their Case Who made us to differ 1 Cor. 4.6 It was nothing but Free grace that gave me a Repenting-heart I was as likely to Perish as he and as unable to help my Self as he 10. Christians will discourse of the various Providences of God in this World I was Sick and the Lord raised me up had I dyed then I had been undone for I was in a graceless State God in faithfulness afflicted me Psal 119.75 I had perished if I had not perished I was wandring and God brought me home by weeping Cross I had not been thus Happy if I had not been Miserable all things did work for my Good The Lord supplyed my Wants supported me in Troubles vouchsafed many Mercies in my Pilgrimage wereby he rendred my Condition comfortable Many a particular Dispensation of Providence will be then laid open to others 11. The seasons of special Inlargement they will then declare what God hath done for their Souls Many things that passed betwixt God and their Souls that were not fit to
salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth observe it Sanctification and Salvation have an inseparable Connexion Saints in the Old Testament and in the New have the same spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 This animates all the Members of Christ running through the Veins of his mystical Body 2 Cor. 1.22 and this is the seal and earnest of our future inheritance Eph. 1.13 14. To be sure God will not lose his Earnest or throw it to Hell 4. Saints shall be gathered together to Christ because they are all wrapt in the same Bond of the Everlasting Covenant it s called the bond of the covenant Ezek. 20.37 And by this Covenant all the Saints become one stick in the Lords hand Ezek. 37.17 Suppose abundance of Twigs be bound up together yet they all make up but one Rod many Stones make but one building many Inhabitants make but one City or Kingdom All Saints are fellow citizens Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. God will not part them either in this or in the other World Sincere and persevering Souls shall all meet before the Throne to sing Hallelujahs with harmonious Melody All the Saints through the World are Children of the same Father God yea they that are of faith are children of Abraham Gal. 3.7 In a Spiritual Sense one houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 fellow heirs of the same body Eph. 3.6 fellow servants Col. 1.7 brethren in Christ faithful brethren Col. 1.2 fellow citizens with the Saints Eph. 2.19 and of the houshold of God Such special Relation calls for this Congregating No doubt they must be gathered together at last CHAP. VII Inferences from this Doctrine of Saints being gathered together THE Improvement I shall make of this Point shall be 1st for Doctrine or information of our Minds and Judgments in these Ten Inferences and Consectaries 1. That God is Omniscent and Omnipotent known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts 15.18 He is infinite in Knowledge and Wisdom that takes account of the meanest Creatures and he is of infinite Power to gather them up these are the Lord's People and his Inheritance which he hath brought out by his mighty power and stretched out arm Deut 9.29 As God brought his Israel out of Egypt so he laid out the same Power in bringing them into Canaan so the same Power that converted Sinners will also save them for they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 2. That Jesus Christ is a compleat Saviour He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every way to all intents and purposes Soul and Body in all cases difficulties conditions in all Dispensations Yet it hath a further meaning He is able to save totally finally perfectly and perpetually so as none shall need to come after him to finish what he hath begun yet further He saves so as he shall never cease to be a Saviour to all Eternity For though he finished his suffering Work on Earth and his crowning Work at the great Day of Judgment yet the God-injoying Work shall be by him through the Ages of Eternity as he shall be lookt on as the Authour so he will be the Object of their Happiness and embrace them in the Arms of his Love for evermore 3. That Death is not terrible to a gracious Person It s true to Nature it may well be called the king of terrours Job 18.14 it is a dissolving of this compound Man but it is the shell and cloathing of the Soul that 's laid by an Elementary composition that 's dissolved the Soul is thereby set at liberty and takes its flight into another World a World of Spirits A better State then here Death is but a bridge a portal that opens the Door to Heaven Christ hath unstung Death perfumed the Grave and made it a means of Manumission into the blessed Society of God Angels and Saints thousands better then we are gone who are we to be exempted It s no untrodden Path our best Friends are above let us not be afraid to follow them 4. That Heaven is a capacious place all the Saints in the Old Testament are gone thither and Millions in New-Testament days are mounted to Glory an hundred forty four thousand of all the Tribes of Israel and a great multitude which no man could number Rev. 7.49 Moses and Elias came from Heaven at Christ's Transfiguration Abraham in glory and all his spiritual Off-spring which makes a vast number yet there 's room enough left in those extracted Mansions above How small a point is this habitable World compared with Heaven where there is innumerable company of Angels and spirits of just Men made perfect Heb. 12.22 Yet none refused or kept out that are written in the lambs book of life Heaven is capable of entertaining all the Son 's of God it is a this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 universal Receptacle for all Pilgrims and Strangers here on the Earth Heb. 11.13 5. No unclean thing shall enter Heaven Nothing that defileth no Dogs shall tread on that golden Pavement Rev. 21.27 Chap. 22.15 without are dogs as large as it is wicked graceless Sinners shall not creep or croud into it our Lord keeps the Keys of Paradice in his own Hands he cannot be guilty of an over sight for his Eyes are like a flame of fire Rev. 2.18 none can give him the slip undiscrepâ—bly he knows them that are his and he disowns others For without holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Grace and Glory go hand in hand unconverted Sinners can no sooner enter Heaven continuing so then Devils or damned Souls Persons must be gathered by Conversion or not gathered by Salvation 6. Saints glorified shall retain their Intellection and some kind of Sensation as they shall intuitively see God know as they are known Mat. 5.8 1 Cor. 13 12. discern spiritual Mysteries more clearly then ever So they shall have some kind of sense and feeling from whence come Love Joy Delight for the Soul wants not the exercise of its essential Faculties for want of bodily Organs These opperations of the Soul in Flesh are but imperfect shadows of that Intellection and volition above and so of that excellent Sense and Affections of Love and Joy which we now cannot clearly conceive of here below See this fully in Mr. Baxter's Dying Thoughts page 201. 7. The Saints in Heaven will know one another as the Disciples knew Moses and Elias and those that never saw one anothers Faces in this World shall meet together with great content and this shall be no small part of their Happiness when they shall say there stands holy Enoch righteous Noah grieving Lot believing Abraham upright David patient Job penitent Peter zealous Paul the beloved lovely Disciple John victorious Champions and my glorious Companions for ever And we together are perfected and glorified Oh happy day
blessed meeting 8. The multitudes injoying God in Heaven will be no diminution of their Joy Those thousands of Eyes beholding the Sun do not extenuate its Light For the Acts diminish not the Object no more then the King is less for his Courtiers beholding him The King of Heaven can give content to all the Coelestial Inhabitants Psal 16.11 Chap. 36.9 all the Saints shall bath in this pleasant River and drink abundantly of the fountain of life nor will the different Degrees of Glory beget want or envy in such as have less for every Vessel shall be as full as it can hold The Coelestial Courtiers have all God 1 Cor. 15.28 shall be all in all it is thought that such as had more Grace and had done God more service here shall shine brighter then others from Dan. 12.3 1 Cor. 15.41 But yet there shall be no Emulation nay they shall rather rejoyce in each others Graces and Glory 9. That in Heaven there will be a mutual and reciprocal exchange of Gifts and Graces And this will be no small part of their Comfort O what clasping of Arms What endearedness of Affection What inlettings into each others Hearts As the Sun shineth on the Stars so the Stars shine on each other God doth abundantly irradiate their Souls and they comfort one anothers Not but that there is enough in God to delight them but this is in some respect accumulative The Saints above will look on each others Grace as if it were their own Yea there will be a mutual Aptitude and Disposition to serve each other and contribute to their Felicity 10. The sweet Harmony of Spirits will be inconceivable Melody in Heaven far beyond the Musick of the Sphears they talk of Those blessed Inhabitants shall be filled with the Spirit Love Joy Gal. 5.22 Peace then they shall indeed speak among themselves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord Eph. 5.18 19. Then they shall with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God Rom. 15.6 Not one jarring String in the heavenly Consort Their Hearts will be centred on God and their Lines streight with each other O blessed day when there will be no jars or wranglings but Luther and Calvin will sweetly agree when Melancthon and Zuinglius will sweetly conspire to celebrate the Praises of our common Lord O sweet and blessed day CHAP. VIII Reprehension and Conviction of Graceless and Gracious Souls 2. ANother Use is of Conviction 1. O such as are Graceless 2. Of Godly Persons 1. Of unconverted graceless Persons 1. Must there be a gathering together oâ— Saints and only Saints what then will becomâ— of Wicked men They are not to be gathered with Saints they cared not for their Company here and they shall not have their Society in the other World 1. Wicked men shall be banished from among the Godly this is no small Punishment He shall set the sheep on the right-hand and thâ— goats on the left Mat. 25.32 33. He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats In this Worlâ— they were mingled together in the same Kingdom City House Assembly and none waâ— able to distinguish them they were taken tâ— be as Devout as the best and they took themselves to be as good as any But now the shall be detected and the rottenness of theâ—… Hearts shall be laid open before themselves â—ngels and Men and they shall be an abhorring â—nto all flesh so says the Evangelical Prophet â—sal 66.24 This will be none of the least of Wicked mens Punishment to see those that â—hey had scorned slighted and censured as â—ot worthy Humane Society to mount up and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob â—n the Kingdom of Heaven and the Children of â—he Kingdom these Church-members to be â—ast out into utter darkness Mat. 8.11 12. O â—ad parting never to meet again How will â—he Wicked wish they had lived in Prisons Poverty and woful straits in this World so â—hey might now go along with them into Glory O that we had spent our time in Prayer Reading Meditation Conference and Works of Mortification as these Holy Souls â—id then had we been happy as these are But now we see our loss We thought your Life madness but now we are convinced of â—ur Folly and the wisdom of your Choice 2. These poor graceless Souls must be for â—ver banished from the Eternal God the Founâ—ain of all Happiness They bid God depart Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of â—hy ways Job 21.14 If not in so many words yet interpretatively by their Works And now God will say Depart from me ye â—ursed Mat. 25.41 The dreadfullest Word â—n the Bible the most astonishing Sentence that can come out of the Mouth of God or can be heard by the Ears of Men. The enjoyment of God is the Saints Heaven banishment from God is the Wickeds Hell yea thâ— very Hell of Hells the only Venom Sting and Poison of that Infernal Lake They thâ—… are not gathered to God are separated from God and once banished and for ever banish'd they cannot be parted from his Revenging Justice but from his Comfortinâ— Love Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess 1.9 The paiâ— of loss is greater than the pain of sense Oâ— dreadful Case Now poor Sinners will be banished from the Beatifical Presence and shalâ— never more see God or Christ to their Comfort O wretched State Sinners shall theâ— know what the loss of God meaneth They gathered themselves together under Ordinanceâ— but desired not God's Presence in Ordinances more know what Communion with God meant but they shall know what Separation from God now means Where Love ended Wrath begins Fury comes in the room oâ— Mercy Now consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50.22 3. Wicked Men shall be bound up together in bundles and cast into the Fire of Hell So saith the Text Mat. 13.30 In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers gather ye together first the Tares and bind them in bundles to burn them And why in bundles Will this be any ease to them in Torments They are wont to say Here Neighbours Fare is good Fare But it will be otherwise there the sight of each other will increase their Torment where they shall reflect upon their Guilt together how they tempted others and were tempted by others to sin thou wast one Instrument to bring me into this Place of Torment O that I had never known thee Now merry Companions will be torturing Company their sweet Meat must have sour Sauce This this is the dreadful consequence of our frantick Frolicks It is thought that this was the reason why the Rich Man was loth his five Brethren should come to him in Hell
God's Children have by a well-grounded Assurance of their Salvation it will raise your Hearts in praise of God and transport your Spirits in love to and delight in him This drops sweetness into all worldly Injoyments it chears up the Heart in Sufferings Heb. 10.34 fortifies the Soul against Temptations excites the Christian to all Acts of new Obedience gives Contentment in every Condition This strengthens against fears of Death and is a certain preludium and fore-runner of Heaven O happy Soul that can say God is my Father Saints my elder Brothers and I shall meet them all in Glory and sing praises with them to God and the Lamb for evermore Quest But how shall a Man know that he shall be one of those that shall be gathered together to Christ in that Solemn day Answ I desire you will faithfully Answer these Seven Questions 1. Have you been gathered to Christ by converting Grace To him i. e. to Shiloh shall the gathering of the People be Gen. 49.10 Hath the Spirit of God in the Word convinced you of your distance from God prevailed with you to enter into Solemn covenant with him Alas by nature we are as Sheep going astray Psal 119.176 Prodigals in a far Country have neither skill nor will to return to God but Christ the good Shephard calleth his own Sheep by name and leadeth them out they know his voice and follow him John 10.34 Formerly saith the returning Sinner I heard but the Voice of Man now methinks I hear the Voice of God rending my Heart discovering those Secret-lusts that no mortal can know of the very Secrets of my Heart are made manifest I must fall down on my face and worship God and must report that God is there in such an Ordinance of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. What concussions and shakings of Soul have you found to unsettle you from your carnal Peace and Security Hath the Lord hewed you by his Prophets Hos 6.5 and slain you with the words of his mouth What convictions of your lost Condition Hos 11.10 11. What tremblings after the Lord When he roareth as a Lion Are you of those that tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa 66.5 Yet it doth not afright you from him but to him I can be safe no where but under the shadow of his Wings Come let us join our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50.5 I will tie this slippery Heart to the Lord with the strongest and streightest Bonds I will not only say it with my Mouth but subscribe it with my Hand Isa 44.5 yea and swear my self to be the Lords and his only Some indeed Swear by the Name of the Lord Isa 45.23 ch 48. 1. ch 49. 22. but not in truth nor in righteousness but the sincere Christian is most afraid of Hypocrisy longs after sincerity approves his Heart to God resolves to resort to his Standard fight his Battles and be on his Side for ever Let Flesh and Blood and all the Devils in Hell say what they can to the contrary is this your Peremptory resolution 2. Have you separated from Sinners 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you For ver 14. 15. what communion hath light with darkness As Man cannot carry their vain Companions to Heaven so not into the Church-state No unclean thing or person can enter the Gates of this holy City Rev. 21.27 For without are Dogs ch 22. 15. Saints may not deny civil Converse with the worst of Men in Neighbourhood or near Relation 1 Cor. 5.10 But in two respects the Apostle denies Society with gross Sinners 1st Not too much or needless Familiarity with them not to be mingled with them as Water and Oil will not mix Christians must not will not be Hail-fellow with dissolute Persons 2dly Especially with such as are pretended Christians and bely their Profession by scandalous Actions these of all others we must keep at a distance from 2 Thes 3.14 as a piece of their Punishment to bring them to Shame and so to Repentance If you Act as Christians you will let him see a strangeness in you towards him ut quaeras ubi So possit prae pudore occultare that he may turn into himself by Self-reflection recognize his Disorders or seek where to hide himself But that 's not all for a godly Person hath a kind of antipathy against wilful Sinners and avoids them as afraid of being infected by them as Joseph was shy of his Mistress And as Solomon adviseth Prov. 58.9 By familiar Converse you may incourage them in Sin and prejudice your Selves Hence all Pious Persons have been afraid to associate with Sinners so David Psal 26.4 I have not sat with vain Persons neither will I go in with dissemblers For in their Company I shall get either Guilt or Grief if I Act as they I shall be guilty if not I shall be grieved The best is to meddle as little as I can with them for God's Honour and my own Peace I will resolve with Old Jacob Gen. 49.6 O my Soul come not into their Secret I dare not touch the Rope least I hear the Bell 1 Thes 5.22 Jude 23. I will abstain from the appearance of evil and hate the Garment spotted by the flesh 3. Have you associated your Selves to them that fear God Godly Persons were holy David's intimate Friends Psalm 16.3 the Saints were in his Account the excellent in the Earth in whom is all my delight Companion am I to all them that fear thee Psal 119.63 I have wise Senators valiant Souldiers but what are these to me if they be not truly Religious one Jonathan is better then many Joabs one Hushai better then a thousand Achitophels I love them that fear God with a peculiar Love yea though they should be severe upon me if I offend I will not only patiently bear it but thankfully own them as my Benefactors Let the righteous smite me Psal 141.5 Prov. 27.6 it shall be a kindness Faithful are the wounds of a friend I will love Nathan the better whil'st I live for his Faithfulness Sit anima mea piis let my Soul be united to Saints I will live with them on Earth with whom I would sing Praises in Heaven Communion of Saints is not only an Article in my Creed but a main Point of Practice yet next to Communion with God my highest Priviledge These these will I converse familiarly with I will confer with them about the things of God pray and praise God with them sit down with these at the holy Supper and walk hand in hand with them in my journey Heaven-wards There is an holy Union of all Saints which yet is not natural or corporal political nor yet personal but yet it is Real and this Union is either
Mystical as Members of the same mystical Body Eph. 5.30 or Ecclesiastical These Converts are said to be added to the Church and have mutual external Fellowship Acts 2.41.42 Thus Paul when converted assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples Acts 9.26 Acts 17.4 And others consorted with Paul and Silas and indeed 't is natural for a Child of God to desire yea and delight in the Society of the Saints thence the Apostle mentions the Philippians fellowship in the gospel Phil. 1.5 from the first day until now mark it it was early and permanent A good Man knows not how to go to Heaven alone They must go forth by the foot-steps of the flock Song 1.8 6. and are like a company of horses in Pharaohs chariot So amiable profitable and pleasant is Christian Society 4. Do you lay to Heart the scatterings of Christians Zeph. 3.18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn Assembly who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burthen This scattering is either by Persecution or Dissention 1st If Enemies prevail and break up the Saints solemn meetings God's poor Children lay it deeply to Heart hence such lamentable complaints and expostulations of God's People Psal 143.4 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary Isa 64.9 12. This was one Ingredient of Judah's Lamentation that the ways of Zion mourn and God's People did mourn with her Lam. 1.4 7. Such sympathy speaks kindly bowels and moves God's Heart and possibly in this World they may be gathered however in the other Isa 66.10 Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her Sions Friends shall partake of Sions Comforts 2dly Such as grieve for the Divisions of the Church within her self Judg. 5.15 16. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart great searchings of heart O the sad Contentions and Animosities that have risen up in the Church in all Ages and the pious and peaceable Members thereof have been grievously afflicted therewith Sometimes upon Personal sometimes Doctrinal differencess have rent the Bowels thereof and rent the Hearts of publick-uniting Spirits and they have almost despaired of seeing an End of them in this World till they arrive in the place where Luther and Calvin are made perfect Friends and all the Saints shall be of one Mind Mourners for these Breaches shall be perfectly cured and comforted Isa 51.11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away 5. Do you follow the Army of Martyrs in bearing your Cross and preparedness to suffer for Christ hâc fitur ad astra This way have all the Saints gone to Heaven this is the established enacted Law of Heaven If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Mat. 16.24 Acts 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God Heaven is taken by Storm and the gracious Soul is resolved to go through Storms For Persecution and Evangelii genius the common constant Lot of all the Saints 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Yea but the Christian is not appaled with nor ashamed of the Cross of Christ nay he takes pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ's sake 2 Cor. 12.10 Nay he glories in the Cross and in the marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6.14.17 as much as an Old Soldier in his Wounds received in the Wars As the poor Woman in the Book of Martyrs thought it a piece of Honour and Happiness that her Foot was put in the same Hole of the Stocks wherein Mr. Philpot's had been before So the Christian rejoyceth to follow that blessed Army of Martyrs to Heaven not meerly by an Apish Imitation from a good Conceit they have of them 2 Cor. 4.13 but having the same spirit of Faith they make their Profession and endure Opposition whatever it cost onwards he will though he die in the Conflict he sees a Crown attending him and so gathers strength by every bout yea by every foil as it was said of Rome Roma cladibus animosior that every Battel yea every slaughter of Men made her more couragious So it is with the conflicting Soul none of these things move him Acts 20.24 that startle others but animate him with more Courage in his Christian Warfare and Voyage through this boisterous Sea to the Haven of Rest Is it thus with you 6. Do you daily make Proficiency in Grace Are you marching on in your Christian course adding daily some Cubits to your Spiritual stature There 's no standing still in Heaven's Road non progredi est regredi not to go forward is to go backward Paul saith I press toward the mark for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 Nothing would serve him on this side Perfection Ver. 11. He longs after that pitch of Grace he shall attain to in the Resurrection The sincere Christian grows brighter and better as the shining Light Prov. 4.18 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Where there is Truth there will be Growth Grace is like a Grain of Mustard-Seed the Christian never thinks he hath grown enough he is still perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 getting Ground daily of the Body of Death This is their Duty this is their Property this is what the Apostle earnestly prays for 1 Thess 3.12 13. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men c. I would saith the Saint be holier than the holiest Saint on Earth Eph 3.8 but judge my self lesser than the least of all Saints O that I were perfectly free from Sin O that my Blossoms of Grace were ripe Fruit O that I could increase with the increase of God! Col. 2.19 2 Thess 1.13 Let my Faith grow exceedingly to full assurance let my Love grow to delight in God my Repentance be more Evangelical my Hope more fixed my Fear more filial my Obedience more universal and all my Graces more lively and my whole Man more conformable to Christ the perfect Pattern of Holiness Oh that I could go from strength to strength Psal 84.7 till in Zion I appear before God 7. What blessed Instinct inclines you Heaven-wards Heavy things move downwards light things upwards every thing moves towards its Center The Church is compared to pillars of Smoak Cant. 3.6 still mounting towards its proper Element John 3.3 So the Christian is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 born from above and naturally inclines to things above
more chearfully will you sing in the height of Zion 14. The Saints that have attended Ordinances with many defects and imperfections will leave them all behind them and attend the Lord without the least defect distraction or imperfection The best of God's Children have a weight hanging on them and a sin that too easily besets them Heb. 12.1 and impedes their Motion and obstructs their Ascent upwards But these shackles shall be shak'd off with the Body never a wandring Thought more to all Eternity Here we weaken the hands one of another Heb. 12.12 by our hands falling down and our feeble knees bodily infirmities oft render the best Services wearisom because the holiest Saints have but a Measure of Affection hence it was that Three of Christ's choicest Disciples slept while Jesus was in his Agony for though the spirit was willing yet the flesh was weak Mat. 26.36 41. Alas Aaron and Hur must hold up Moses hands here the best at some seasons may be out of frame for Duty but in Heaven the Saints shall join hearts and hands without weariness or distraction in singing the high Praises of God in that heavenly Quire and none shall fail his Fellow or fall short of Duty 15. Saints of the meanest stature and standing here shall be compleat and commence the highest degree of Grace in Glory I say not that all the Saints shall have equal Degrees of Glory the Text saith that at the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.41 42. one star differeth from another star in glory It s true all these heavenly luminaries shall be perfectly joined in one constellation But good Divines think that as there will be Degrees of Torments in Hell so of Joys in Heaven As the Vessels are larger to contain more or as Men have honoured God more here below yet the meanest Saint will be top full of glory For they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many unto righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 Weak Christians shall no more complain of Defects but he that it feeble in that day shall be as David Zech. 12.8 and the house of David as God as the Angel of the Lord before them There will no more be thence an infant of days Isa 65.20 The meanest Christian will in some respects be equal with the Angels in heaven Mat. 22.30 Children in Grace shall be grown up to be perfect Men Eph. 4.13 to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ 16. Saints at that day shall he raised above the revilings calumnies and slanders of a malicious World and be advanced to the highest Honour In this World every one can throw dirt on God's Children and account them the vilest of Men not worthy to live upon Earth and cry as they against Paul away with such a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that he should live Acts 22.22 But what saith God of such Of whom the world was not worthy Heb. 11.38 No Nicknames shall follow them to Heaven they shall not be there called Puritans Fanaticks Schismaticks Fools nay possibly they shall be honoured among Men when dead and raised to glory Prov. 10.7 14. The memory of the just is blessed The godly above shall honour them though sometimes they thought and spoke slightly of them nay the wicked and damned in Hell shall esteem honourably of them as the Rich Man that thought once Poor Lazarus a fit Embassadour to send to his Rich Brethren on Earth yea it may be wretched Hypocrites on Earth will build the tombs of deceased prophets Luke 16.28 and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous Mat. 23.29 in honour to them whom they or such as they were did once abuse and revile on Earth they will call the dead Saints and canonize them when as they miscal such as they are Hypocrites and no better then Devils God oft turns the Scales and rolls away the Reproach of all his Servants 17. Saints that have exercised Charity and Hospitality and such as received their Bounty shall embrace each other with mutual Alacrity Our Lord affirms it That whosoever gives but a cup of cold water if he hath not a fire to warm it to a little one in the name of a disciple though he may be mistaken verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Mat. 10.42 O will the poor Beggar say there 's my loving Benefactor the Debtor will there own his Creditor that forgave him all when he had nothing to pay Mat. 18.26 27. well saith the Free-hearted disburser I do not repent it since I am so richly rewarded this Recompence is above my expectations and contrary to my deserts Strange that I should receive so much for laying out so little this is above Isaac's reaping an hundred Fold How comfortable will that Language of our Lord be when he shall say as in Mat. 25.34 40. Come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you c. Behold my Deputies in relieving of whom you relieved me I took it as done to my Person what you did to my Members and you shall be glorified together 18. Saints that have wanted many things in this World when they meet above shall want nothing In this World the Body is full of Wants we want necessaries to supply Nature we want food to nourish us cloaths to cover us physick to cure us arrows to defend us sleep to refresh us yet these but supply particular wants and Men ordinarily have dependance one upon another for Supplies But when God's Children get above yet though they shall have sweet Communion with each other yet their Happiness chiefly depends on the Vision and Fruition of God With him is the fountain of life Psal 36.9 Psal 16.11 in in his light they see light in his presence is fulness of joy The Sun doth dart its Beams through the whole Universe God's Presence not Saints makes Heaven The King makes the Court not Courtiers Nothing can satisfy the capacious Soul but God I shall be satisfied saith David when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17.15 That and nothing else gives content Angels and glorified Spirits as Creatures must say it is not in me to satisfy you God alone can Now and never till now the Soul saith I have enough I need no more I have not only tasted but drunk deep of this River of Pleasures yea bathed my Soul in this blessed Ocean of Delights Nor do I surfeit upon these but fresh Springs of joy yield me perpetual contentment 19. All Saints pass through the valley of the shadow of Death to that Glory None exempted but Enock and Elias and those that shall be found alive at the last day It is no strange thing For it is appointed to Men once to die Heb. 9.27 It is the common Lot of Mankind even the best Men The