They shall everlastingly be drinking down and Bathing themselves in those Rivers of Love that have been running down from Everlasting and from the well-spring of Election have issued forth in the whole Dispensation of Christ From the Father they were given to Christ Joh. 17.6 To him they shall then be presented Heb. 2.13 Jude 24. and by Christ brought into the nearest Union and Communion with him that possible can be Joh. 17.21 22 26. The Scripture speaks much of the Fathers Love 2 Cor. 13.13 1 Joh. 16.27 Rom. 8.39 And that often antecedent to the sending of Christ and all benefits by him as the original and fountain thereof Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 4.8 9 10. Ephes 3.3 6. Tit. 3.4 6. This will then be seen and enjoyed in the fullest manner and measure according to the capacity of glorified Saints God the Father will be letting forth and pouring out his love into the souls of the Saints shedding it abroad in greater measures than now Rom. 5.5 and they drinking down the sweetness thereof for evermore beholding and tasting what manner of love that is which here they can see and conceive but a little of 1 Joh. 3.1 2. and as Ephes 3.18 19. They also making returns of love unto him and sweetest ebullitions thereof loving God then actually with all the heart soul strength and mind as is commanded This loving communion with God the Father or communion with him in love shall the Saints enjoy in Heaven in the fullest manner for evermore 2. The Son of God who is incarnate the Lord Jesus Christ who is Man as well as God his face shall be seen and his company enjoyed by the Saints in Heaven in a peculiar and most immediate manner you shall see the man Christ with bodily eyes as Job 19.27 you shall ascend to him then and be with him enjoy his immediate company and communion see him face to face Job 19.25 26 27. Philip. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 1 Thes 4.17 1 Joh. 3.2 You shall hear him speak to you and discourse of the great things of God each word of whose lips will be more sweet than ten thousands of Gold and Silver you shall behold him pouring forth himself and his love yea the love of God to you and the discoveries and communications of his grace and goodness through the lips and expressions of a man you shall then have full communion with the man Christ Jesus that everlasting Mediator between God and Man Why the company of a good man a loving friend a gracious Saint here that breaths much of Christ how sweet is it What then is the company of Christ himself who is full of grace and truth and that with the fulness of an head to derive like Grace and so now like Glory to all his members For as he is the meritorious and dispensing cause so also the exemplary cause as of all Grace here so of Glory hereafter as Joh. 1.16 so you shall have Glory for Glory Glory in your measure like unto his Glory the Glory that he shines with in Heaven you must share in it and have you shall have the same Glory for kind and nature though for measure and degree not equal but he will still have the preheminence Joh. 17.22 Rom. 8.29 1 Joh. 3.2 you shall live in the same Heaven with him Joh. 14.3 partake of the same love of the Father Joh. 17.23 drink of the same pleasures live the same life of holiness and happiness reign with him in the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 Rev. 3.21 Be thrown into the same Ocean of Joy though Vessels of different quantity will take in different measures and so difference in degrees between the Saints themselves much more between the Saints and Christ Yea probably the Saints in Heaven may have Communion with Christ in the Acts of Grace as here in this life they have Communion with him in the habits of Grace i. e. that the same Actings the same Contemplations Tasts Apprehensions Ebullitions of heart the same springing of Love Joy Delight and sweet Affection that the man Christ hath shall run through Heaven and be in their measure communicated to all the Saints there For Glory properly stands in and results from the lively Acting of Grace and therefore Communion in Glory may import Communion in the Acts of Grace c. But however to be sure they shall be like him 1 Joh. 3.2 And bear his Glorious Heavenly Image there 1 Cor. 15.48 49. Like him in Soul Pure Heavenly Holy inlarged in Love to God and to his Glory as he is and like him in body too Phil. 3.21 And enjoy his Blessed Converse and Company What the particular Imployment and manner of Converse of the man Christ with and among the Saints in Heaven will be we cannot now tell you you shall know it when you come there to be sure it will be most Holy excellent and Glorious and full of mutual joy and delight I may suggest this meditation Look what Christ did in Converse with his Disciples after his Resurrection when he was then entred into a Glorified estate he then opened to them the Scriptures so as their hearts burnt within them Luk. 24.27 32 44 45. And spake of things of the Kingdom of God Act. 13. Then indeed but in order to the carrying on of the Kingdom of Grace and in such a measure as suited that end But why may we not think that he will then in Heaven in such a manner and measure as suites the Kingdom of Glory expound the Scriptures lay open the depths of the Book of God and the Mysteries of Divinity those fully and clearly that were here known but in a little part and other points that were not known at all the wonders of Law and Gospel of the Word and Works of God the depths and knowledge of Wisdom But especially the depths of Love and Grace the things that tend to the praise of the Glory of Gods Grace the great end of all his dealings with his people Ephes 1.6 those will he open and lay forth in a glorious manner And oh the burnings and flames and sparkling Impressions of Seraphical Affections that all the Saints about him will then be filled with Never such a Preacher and never such Hearers for Attention and Affection no Sleeping no Dulness no Weariness as there will be In a word Ordinances then shall cease but the quintessence and extract of all Ordinances shall be then enjoyed that power and Glory of God that beauty of the Lord be seen in the Sanctuary of Heaven that here were but glimpses through Glasses Mat. 26.29 Glorious and sweet Communion do the Saints here enjoy with Christ at a Sacrament in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper But in Heaven in the Kingdom of his Father he will as I may say celebrate that Sacrament i. e. give them the quintessence comfort and Communion of it in another manner in new fresh and immediate Communications of his Grace and sweetness There
shall not be now need of any outward Elements Bread or Wine but the Inward part the Spiritual Communion they shall have it new and fresh in a more lively and better fuller manner then here whence they shall be as men full of new Wine filled with the Springs of Heavenly Affection and Consolation Wine is oft used to express Joy Gladness Comfort Psal 104.15 The Communion between Christ and the Saints in the Coelestial Life will compleat perfect and far transcend that that is but in a weak and mean degree begun in Ordinances here Consider also that the Union and Communion between Christ and the faithful being set forth by that of the Conjugal relation in Scripture our present state is but an Espousal the Consummation of the Marriage is at the day of Judgment thence follows the full enjoyment each of other in Heaven when Christ hath carried his Spouse home to his Fathers house Ineffable Mutual Delight Communion Communication of Secrets and Hearts each to other Joy and Contentment will thence ensue Then will those words be most fully verified Isa 62.4 5. and 54.4 5 8. Zeph. 3.17 Then will the Book of Canticles that Book of Loves between Christ and his Church be understood and fully practised But thus in Heaven you shall have Immediate and full Communion with the Lord Jesus You hear of him now but you shall see him then and be ever with him there was flocking to see him when on earth in his Humiliation Luk. 19.3 4. And the Spiritually minded then saw Glory in him Joh. 14. But what will it be then to see him in Heaven in his Glorified estate And not only to see him as a stranger as a Glorious person But to see and enjoy him as thy Friend as thy Brother Saviour Husband Cant. 5.16 One who sometimes powered out his Heart-blood for thee and will now power out his Heart-love to thee for evermore 3. The Saints shall have full Communion with the Holy Ghost they shall have the Everlasting fulness and presence of the Spirit and so have a fulness of Gifts and Graces of Holiness and Comfort for evermore The Saints have somewhat of the Communion of the Holy Ghost now 2 Cor. 13.14 But they shall have it in perfection then We have but the first fruits of the Spirit but an earnest penny now Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 1.22 and 5.5 Therefore there is an Harvest the whole sum a fulness of the Spirit that shall be imparted then And as the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Comfort now by whose Presence and Assistance we are upheld in both so will he be then only in such a way manner and measure as suits a state of Perfection then he will rest upon you as a Spirit of Glory so hath he done in a great degree on some Martyrs here 1 Pet. 4.14 but there in Perfection on all the Saints Hence the Saints in Heaven having the fulness of the Spirit shall be replenished with all those Excellencies and endowments that are the Effects and fruits of the presence and special operation of the Spirit filled with all the fulness of God As 1. With singular Divine Guifts of knowledge wisdom inlargement of understanding as 1 King 4.29 and utterance For there will be use of utterance in Heaven in Glorious Conference and Converse of the Saints Here are Gifts given for the Kingdom of Grace by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 8 11. But there are Guifts suiting the Kingdom of Glory 2. With all Graces of Holiness or Sanctification those now brought to perfection and kept up in act and exercise Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes 2.13 will then be perfect of which further afterward concerning the Glory of the Soul and there will be the constant un-interrupted Presence and Assistance of the Spirit to actuate every Grace to keep it up in its full exercise The heart ever inlarged for God ever fixed and tuned to sing his Praise as Psal 57.7 8. Thy Glory Heart and Tongue shall be ever awake thy Harp ever in Tune then the Spirit of Grace everlastingly filling and quickning thy Heart and holding thee up in Heavenly Spiritual activity and inlargement 3. With abundant Comfort and Consolation The Holy Ghost will then fully do that work of a Comforter and dwell in all the Saints as such Joh. 14.16 in his Choicest and most Glorious Comforting Operations That in Rom. 5.5 will then be fully done Then perfect Assurance and sense of the Love of God without all mixture of doubt or fear or darkness full Assurance shall be wanting to never a Saint in Heaven the meanest shall see the Love of God more clearly than the strongest did here That great question will then be out of question forever The light of Gods Countenance shall be then lifted up and shine upon your souls as a Sun that never sets nor is overcast with clouds The knowledge and sense of that one thing that the Infinite God loves thee with an everlasting love which is more worth than ten thousand thousand worlds shall live in thy heart and be the Life and Joy of thy Soul and fill thee with peace that passeth all understanding The joy of the Holy Ghost that is a manifest and eminent part of our Communion with the Holy Ghost shall then be at its full height which now we have but some tasts and drops of Rom. 14.17 That that Christ hath been so long aiming and driving at will then be attained Joh. 15.11 and 16.24 Their Joy is the Element the Saints in Heaven live in they breath in no other Aire but that the Ocean they swim in It is that they enter and go into Mat. 25.21 23. Joy at once expresses Heaven and Heavenly Glory It is a Mass or Heap of Joy a Region of Joy an Aire and Element of Joy the Joy of the Lord God the Joy of the Holy Ghost into which they are brought and where they breath and live and swim in the fulness thereof for ever Psal 16.11 2. A second thing considerable in the positive Happiness of the Saints in Heaven is their inherent personal subjective the former particular pointeth chiefly to their objâ—ctive Glory though they go together and therâ—fore both there and here somewhat of both Glory or perfection both of Soul and Body This partly makes them capable of that foresaid full enjoyment of God and partly results from it For our present frail weak and distempered faculties are not capable of that Glory and Glorious Communion 1 Cor. 15.50 and 2.9 they must therefore be raised up to an higher state of Perfâ—ction in order thereunto And the enjoyment of that Communion with God continually reflects unspeakable Glory and Happiness inherent Excellencies upon the whole man But hence the person of each Saint is Glorified filled with Glorious Excellency and Perfection both of Soul and Body All that be there are Glorified Persons Rom. 8.17 18 30. Colâ—ss 3.4 Glorious or Glorified they are both in their
promise presently make over to you both Grace here and Glory hereafter Everlasting Life and Blessedness Isa 55.3 Heb. 5.9 Oh hearken to this word of the Lord this voice of the High-calling of God in Christ Jesus you that have hitherto been stooping down to the dust minding nothing but Earth and Vanity yea running down hill in the way of sin toward the lowest Hell Incline your Ear and hearken to a motion and offer of Eternal Glory in Heaven open your eyes and see the Lord Jesus standing withall Grace and Glory in his hands and inviting to him to let out of your hands i. e. out of your hearts the trifles of the World and take Eternal Glory in and with a Saviour Behold Heaven is opened to you the door stands open before you if once at last you will be perswaded to enter in And you that have believed already sit not by as if this Exhortation did not concern you but oh believe again imbrace Christ again come to him afresh with fresh and new sweetness with more clearness and establishment in believing so you should do at every time he calls you and sets his Glory before you Joh. 2.11 and so at this time this day Renew your Conjugal Imbraces of Christ Jesus and so your lively hope of this Glory Christ delights to be often asking for our hearts and setting himself before us as the attractive object of them and we should delight to be often giving our hearts to him and clasping about him as the only Glorious Lovely hope and rest and portion of our Souls Now for the pursuing of this Exhortation or pressing the Call of the Gospel by this Argument of Eternal Glory to be had and which we are Called to by Christ Jesus Let us a little improve the point and Text before us 1. By way of motive or quickning and perswasive considerations to draw our hearts to Christ Jesus 2. By way of direction and help to guide us in our believing on him 3. By way of Answer to some Objections that tend to beat us from Believing For the first though it is God only can draw and perswade yet he does it by his word and therefore we must apply our selves to speak and hear to listen to such quickning drawing Considerations as the word of the Gospel does suggest and in that way the spirit breaths 1. If the Lord Call thee to Eternal Glory or to come and receive Everlasting Blessedness through Christ then what does he Call thee from or out of Why from a state of Eternal wo and misery which is that that we are naturally in and that belongs to us as sinners and as in our selves considered 1 Pet. 2.9 Colos 1.13 Joh. 5 24. The word of Christ therefore calls thee from Death to Life Oh consider what damnation is about thee yea upon thee considered in thy self and in thy Natural Estate whereby thou lyest under all sin and under all Wrath Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Rom. 6.23 That work thou hast done and that wages Death Eternal Death belongs and is due to thee thou art sinking under the burden of the Curse lying under it as without Christ Gal. 3.10 and it is all upon thee Joh. 3.36 ready every moment to drop into Hell lyable to everlasting seperation from God to hear that doom Mat. 25.41 Seperation from God thou hast the beginning on 't already in the result of the guilt and power of sin in that dead dark and Godless heart of thine and thy estrangement from God thereby and this strongly tends to perfect separation from God and that is Hell as è contra c. Why this should make this word of Salvation this offer of Eternal Life and Call to come to Christ for it wonderful sweet and acceptable Bread in Famine Deliverance in Emminent dangers Life to him that is going down to the pit how precious is it Job 33.22 24. It is to one that is going down to the pit that the Lord speaks this Calling word should not that go to thy heart As thou art going down to Hell the Lord calls thee up to Heaven When that doom is pronounced in Mat. 25.41 and those multitudes going away to Hell suppose thy self among them and that one should then come with a message from God to call thâ—e back again and to invite thee to go up with Christ in Heavenly Glory what a ravishing thing would that be Why then there will be no place for recovery or hope But now such a like thing is really done to thee thou art going down to the Pit among the Uncircumcised posting on in the way to the lowest Hell under the Curse c. And yet behold now the Lord Calls to thee to turn about and accept of a Saviour and of Eternal Life and Salvation in him Thou poor perishing Sinner if thou hast any mind to Salvation it 's offered thee freely in Christ Act. 16.31 Is not this worthy of all acceptation 2. Remember what Glory it is that you are called up unto or that is to be had by Christ Jesus Here reflect upon all the promises all that hath been spoken of the Excellency of Heavenly Glory which is indeed above what Tongue can speak or Heart conceive Blessedness perfect and Everlasting Blessedness freedom from all evil from the worst of Evils sin all sin that deadly and bitter evil that kills thee all the day long the vision and fruition of God that Ocean of goodness compared with which the whole World is but a drop Should the Lord offer you heaps of Gold and Silver and bid you take them freely what flocking would there be and what hearkning would there be to such a proposition should he tell you of Crowns and Kingdoms and make Proposals about them Should a match be offered to thee that should bring with it Riches and Honours and Treasures in abundance how would thy heart spring and leap within thee at the thoughts of it and you would not need much perswading We offer you this I mean the good and Comfort that is in these things and more ten thousand times more as Mic. 2.11 If poor Ministers had Gold and Silver to tell you of they should be hearkned to Why but we have that that is better as much better as the Heaven is higher than the Earth and this we lay before you in the name of our God The Earth and the Glory of it is too low a business to send his Son Jesus to purchase for you and to bless you with or the Gospel to tell you of But Heaven Heaven if you have any mind to that Eternal Glory that is to be had by Christ Jesus and that the High-Calling of God in Christ calls you to Come will you leave the Earth and go up to Heaven will you throw the World at your feet as dung and dust and go up thither into the bosom of God to have the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son the
joyful then why should not this be so now And if you do hear his voice and come to him at his call you shall hear that blessed word then Joh. 10.27 28. as è contrà Job 21.14 with Mat. 25.41 2. Now add we some Directions to guide and help us in Believing on Christ unto life Everlasting or in coming to Christ to obtain by him Eternal Glory or Salvation 1. Know that you may and ought to come to Christ for Salvation for Eternal Life For what he gives we may take but Rom. 6.23 what he designes in giving himself to us which here is to bring us to Eternal Glory 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Thes 5.9 2 Thes 2.13 14. we may aim at in receiving him and coming to him Christ calls us to him and we may and ought to come to him for all his Benefits And we see this of Glorification and the Consummation thereof in special is part thereof see also Joh. 5.40 1 Tim. 1.16 Act. 16.31 1 Pet. 1.9 We may come to him for our own Salvation i. e. not as seperate from or in oppsition to Gods Glory which cannot be if we understand Salvation aright And that 's a second 2. Be sure you have a right conception of this Glory or Salvation or happiness of Heaven i. e. Look not at it as consisting in external sensual ease and pleasures or freedom from outward evils though an holy and sanctified outward rest and freedom from outward afflictions is a part of the good that is in Heaven but not the main that is but an adjunct But look at the Communion with God Fruition of God and perfect Conformity to his Image as the main thing in it Psal 73.25 2 Cor. 5.8 Psal 17.15 Let Your Hearts and desires be eminently set upon freedom from that great evil of sin which is a choice part of the Happiness of Heaven Heb. 12.23 and fruitton of that highest good the presence of God the fellowship of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in perfect Holiness let this be the mark and top of thy desires Neither desire the end without the way Heaven without the way to it Be willing and desirous by the Grace of Christ to begin thy Heaven here Communion with God here Holy work and holy enjoyments in all the wayes thereof here Psal 27 4 For Heaven is but the perfection of what is here bâ—gun They that begin not Heaven in this World will never find one in that to câ—me And therefore be instant with Christ not only for Grace and Comfort hereafter or at the point of Death c. but for present Grace some beginnings of it at least not limiting to measures nor expecting the sensible fulness of it till after you have waited and sought and been swimming in tears in this World and therefore not quarelling nor being discouraged because of the weakness of Grace at present so much as may keep you following after God for more For present change of Heart and Nature for Grace to enable you in measure to Glorifie God on Earth that so you may be Glorified with him in Heaven 3. Behold Christ Jesus set forth and offered in the Gospel as the Ladder to Heaven or as the only and Glorious way from out of the depth of your sin and misery unto the height of that Eternal Glory If there be an high place or loft before you you cannot gâ—t to it but if a Ladder be set up you can ascend by that As well can our heavy Earthy Bodies fly up to Heaven as our Souls ever get thither of and by themselves alas we have neither wings nor legs of our own to climb Heaven with But Chrâ—st is a Ladder tâ—iâ—her the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder by him we may ascend thither By Christ Jesus as in the Text we may obtain Glory yea he is not a dead passive Ladder only but a living way He hath living Arms and a mighty power to carry uâ— up thither to lift us up through Grace to Glory Joh. 3 13. Ephes 2.5 6. Christ dying rising ascending for us is fit and able to raise us up from death to life in Heaven Christ is a Ladder whose foot reaches low enough by his Incarnatâ—on and Humiliation even as low as our low and mean Condition yea as the dungeon of our Curse and death Gal. 3.13 and hence near and fit for us to step upon to take hold of and whose top reaches high enough even as high as the height of Heavenly Glory Genes 28.12 by his Glorious Deity and Exaltation by the infinite value of his obedience purchasing that Glory for us and by his Ascension possessing it for us and by his mighty power carrying and conducting us to it If you take hold of him and cast your selves on him by Faith he will not only as I said be as a Ladder to sustain you in going up but in the Arms of his active power and Grace he will carry you up to Eternal Glory carry you on his shoulders thither as Luk. 15.5 Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 Hence 4. Esteem the Lord Jesus Christ as most precious and Glorious as a suitable and all-sufficient Saviour or Author of Eternal Salvation and gladly imbrace an everlasting match with him with relyance on him to carry you through Grace to this Eternal Glory 1. Seeing and beholding him as the way to Heaven and to the Enjoyment of the love favour and presence of God Joh. 14.4 6. as the Glorious Author purchaser and dispenser of Eternal Salvation Prize him highly prize him and esteem him that is one ingredient of true believing 1 Pet. 2.7 and this point is a marvelous help to it For shall not he be precious and Glorious in our eyes by whom we may obtain such Eternal Glory He that opens Heaven to us even to sinners and shall not all this World be vile and dung in our eyes in comparison of him Psal 73. in follows ver 25. 2. Prizing him take him embrace him in a Conjugal way for thy Lord and Saviour Prophet Priest and King consent to have him for thy Head and Husband for ever and to be his his Spouse Subject Servant Dependant evermore Think not to have the Estate this great Riches of Grace and Glory Eternal Glory without marrying the person the Benefits without Christ himself Having the Son himself you have and shall have Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. It is given in and with him Rom. 6.23 And therefore you must take Christ himself if you would have or get a sure Interest in this Glory 3. Taking him rest and relie on him for Salvation or for obtaining this Eternal Glory Relie on his righteousness and obedience to procure and purchase it Heb. 9.12 and to give you a lawful Judicial Title to it Rom. 5.21 that now having in him pleased God and fulfilled the Law you shall live for ever on his Ascension and continual intercession to prepare and maintain a place and room for you in that Glory Joh.
through sufferings Act. 14.12 But it is but suffering a while compared with eternity or suffering a little as the Word may be rendred compared with the weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Doct. Eternal Glory in the World to come is that which the faithful the effectually called shall be brought unto or obtain by Christ Jesus or by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus after that they have suffered a while in this world This Eternal Glory is the prize of the High-calling oâ— God Phil. 3.14 i. e. the Prize the Crown the Glory which they are called to run for and to obtain possession of at the end of the race The perfection of everlasting Glory is that which the Calling of a Christian the work of Vocation aimeth at tendeth to and issueth in Rom. 8.30 and 9.23 24. Vocation is the first open work of Grace upon an Elect person and Glorification is the last so 2 Thess 2.14 1 Thess 5.9 We are upon the last great benefit that Believers have by Christ as we see in the Text it is by Christ Jesus setting forth the Blessed Estate as such viz. Glorification We have spoken of the Incoation of it which is in this life It follows to consider of the Perfection or Consummation of it which shall be hereafter in Heaven And this is the Subject now before us from this Text which plainly speaks of future Glory for it speaks of that shall be actually possessed and enjoyed after we have suffered a while here There is a Glory now upon the faithful in their sufferings 1 Pet. 4.14 But this Text speaks of that perfect fulness of Glory for ever that shall be enjoyed after all their sufferings are ended That it is so or the truth of the Doctrine is evident in the Text and in multitude of other Scriptures Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 18. 5.1 Luk. 18.29 30. 1 Pet. 1.4 It is that God hath promised and appointed Jam. 1.12 2.5 Luk. 12.32 Christ hath purchased Hebr. 9.12 15. prayed for Joh. 17.24 and possessed as our forerunner Joh. 14.2 3. Hebr. 6.20 and that all the Saints have expected and lived and died in the certain hope of Hebr. 11.10 16 26. 13.14 Rom. 5.2 2 Tim. 4.8 18. Philip. 3.20 21. Col. 1.5 2 Thes 1.5 7. Ps 73.24 Nothing more evident and frequent in the Scripture than this As it is a matter of Faith not seen at present but believed and hoped for so God hath given us abundant ground for Faith or testimony concerning it in his Word Q. But the principal question before us is What this Glohy is that the faithful shall enjoy in the world to come A. We cannot fully tell you what it is 1 Cor. 2.9 if not the good and great mysteries of the Gospâ—l then much less the Glory of Heaven which is the up-shot of all those mysteries and whereof the best Saints do see but some glimmerings here But what the Scripture hath plainly recorded we may gather up and thence draw a little map or general view of that Glory that is prepared for us in another world such as may suit and reach useful practical ends to stir us up to seek after it to esteem it above all the world and make us account it the only great matter and necessity to get to Heaven and may help the Saints to rejoyce in their portion and comfort them over all their sorrows in this life c. though not to satisfie or feed a curiosity of roving speculation A sober apprehension of Heavens Glory is sufficient for us while we are in the way to it an exact comprehension of all particulars will be had time enough when we come thither But when Earth is full of trouble and evil round about us it is not unsuitable to hear of Heaven and to be looking into that 2 Cor. 4.16 18. we shall not faint as long as we look upward Act. 7.54 55. We are ready to look on the right hand and on the left but to be looking up stedfastly into Heaven is the best posture in evil times We need bitter things here to drive us off from the Earth but our hearts had need be relishing and tasting the sweetness of Heaven to draw them up thither When Peter wrote to the Saints under great and manifold tryals and afflictions in a time when Judgment must begin at the house of God and many amazements and terrours were ready to seize on poor Christians both men and women 1. Pet. 3.6 14. Now he discourses much of Heaven and of the Glory there He begins with it 1 Pet. 1.4 5 c. and ends with it in the Text. A discourse on such a subject is not unsuitable at such a season Now therefore for a short view of that eternal Glory that is the portion of the faithful in the world to come or of the Glory of the Saints in Heaven it may be set forth and considered 1. In a Positive 2. In a Comparative or Argumentative way from such Comparisons and Considerations as may argue the greatness and goodness of this Glory 1. In a Positive way so we may take this description of it ☞ The Glory of the faithful in the life to come wherein the benefit of Glorification is consummate it is the perfect blessedness of the Saints whereby in their souls after death and in soul and body after Judgment or after the Resurrection being fully freed from all evil both of sin and sorrow they shall be filled with holiness and comfort and all good in the full fruition of God or compleat communion with God Father Son and Holy Ghost all together in the highest Heavens for evermore The summe of it stands in 1. The Matter or Essâ—nce of it which consists 1. In perfect freedom from all evil 2. Perfect enjoyment of all good 2. The continuance or duration of it that it is eternal or for evermore 3 The degrees of it that it is enjoyed 1. In soul after death 2. In soul and body at and after the last Judgment 1. This Glory of the Saints in the world to come contains in it 1. Perfect freedom from all evil They are in part freed here some beginning of deliverance from sin and misery here but there perfectly every rag and remnant every spot of sin and wrinkle of misery shall be there utterly taken away and abolished Ephes 5.27 1. From sin the worst of evils there will bâ— perfect freedom and deliverance from sin not only guilt and reigning power but from thâ— being of it Those prayers then will be fully answered Hos 14.2 Psal 39.8 and that design of Christ fully accomplished 1 Job 3.5 Tit. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Hebr. 12.23 therefore free from the moral imperfection of sin perfectly sanctified You shall then be freed from sin both 1. In the habit the disposition of sin will be â—hen abolished the roots and â—eeds and principles of it plucked up no more inclination or proneness to the least evil or
Souls and Bodies i. e. considering them as they shall be after the Resurrection and last Judgment Consider therefore a little 1. Of the Glory of the Soul 2. Of the Body of a Saint 1. The Glory Felicity and Perfection of the Soul of a Glorified Saint The Soul is lifted up to its full Perfâ—ction Hebr. 12.23 endowed with all those Excellencies and Perfections that are proper to it especially the perfect Restoration of the Image of God and all the good and Excellency that resulteth thence made like unto the Soul of Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3.2 The most proper and principal subjâ—ct of Heavens Glory is the Soul Hence it 's called the Salvation of our Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 that is the great Vessel that holds the Riches of Glory that are powered in there Rom. 9.23 The Soul of man is capable of more Glory and good than is in all this whole lower world put together all the Pleasures and Treasures of it cannot fill one Soul no not as it s now on earth in its narrow capacity for it shall be far larger when in its Glorified inlarged capacity in Heaven But then it shall be filled full as it can hold All the Excellency that a Created Soul is capable of shall then be put upon it and all the good and Glory its capable of holding poured into it Consider it in those two faculties of the Soul Understanding and Will 1. The Understanding shall be 1. Strengthned and enlarged enabled to see much and far raised and heightned to great quickness and deep Comprehensions of Understanding Isa 11.2 3. So when the spirit of Glory shall rest on the Saints in Heaven the Members of Christ it shall make them of quick and large Understandings yea quick to discerne and conceive of Spiritual objects and things which here we are dull and slow in Some men here on earth in this dark lumpish house of Clay have been of accute understandings quick apprehensions and vast Parts and Abilities what then shall Saints in Heaven be Solomon had a large Understanding that held as many Notions and Conceptions as there are Sands on the Sea-shore 1 King 4.29 And yet saith one viz. Dr. Goodwin on Rom. 8.18 page 56. the Soul of the least Child i. e. that was a Child here for vide Aquinas in supplement Q 81. and Bolton of Heaven page 129. in Heaven that went out of the World happily when but newly come forth of his Mothers Womb exceeds all the knowledge that Solomon had on earth Adam before the Fall had a large and ready Understanding as his so soon naming the Creatures according to their natures shewes But Heaven restores the Saints to Adam's Primitive Perfection and unto more then so All those Defects Wounds and Weaknesses in mans nature and so in his Understanding that came in by sin as fruits or punishments thereof or that import a miserable afflictive Imperfection or that unfit for the fruition of the appointed Glory these are all removed from the Glorified Saint 2. Furnished yea filled and satisfied with all useful desirable and Beatifical knowledge The Glorified Saint shall be abundantly stored and furnished with Knowledge of the Works of God and the admirable rayes and beams of Gods wisdom that shine therein in the frame of his Works of Creation and natures of his Creatures which men now gather up somthing of from Arts and Sciences True Learning will then and there come to and be in its Perfection The clear certain knowledge of all useful Truth will abound in that Heavenly Academy for this will be for the Glory and Honour of God that he may have the Glory of his Works and of his Wisdom therein that it may not be lost and buried as it would be most of it if neveâ— further seen into and minded than it is here Psal 104.24.36 And it is a part of the perfection and excellency of the Rational Creature an attaining of his end who was made to behold the wisdom of God in the World Job 36.24 25. And it was an Excellency he gave to Solomon when he would be kind to him therefore he will not deny it to his Saints in Heaven And our present defect and darkness in this knowledge is a fruit of the fall therefore shall then be removed 2. Of the Word of God and of all the deep Mysteries of Religion the meaning of the Holy Scriptures and of the hardest places therein the solution of the most knotty questions in Divinity the Explication of the most Glorious and ravishing Mysteries of God and Christ of Creation Providence Redemption and Application c. shall then be fully known and understood This is evident for knowledge especially in spiritual things matters of God and of Religion shall then come to its full perfection 1 Cor. 13.9 12. And the beatifical vision compriseth this Mat. 5.8 i. e. they shall see with the understanding as well as enjoy with the whole Soul God in all those discoveries and manifestations of himself that Creature is capable of and consequently in all truths concerning himself all those Divine Truths that make up that discovery Yea I add the mind shall be filled and satisfied with the knowledge and contemplation of those Glorious Truths and Objects unto ravishing Joy and Contentment Here the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear with hearing Eccles 1.8 but then it shall though of so vast a concavity as we see here the mind of man is a vast thing it can take in and swallow down Heaps of Knowledge and yet is greedy after more it can grasp that World in its conception c. Much more large will this Vessel be when widened to its Glorified capacity yet it shall be filled and satisfied Psal 17.15 There is that to be seen and known in God that sufficeth Joh. 14.8 there is enough to suffice an infinite therefore more than enough for a finite understanding Iâ—â—sight of what was to be seen in Solomon and Solomon's Court and hearing of his wisdom was so ravishing and satisfying to the Queen of Sheba 1 King 10.3.8 What then will the fight of the Face and Glory of God in Heaven be The eye of a mans body is but a small thing and the apple of it smaller yet by the help of the Sun it is able to take in and behold half the world the whole Hemisphere at once How much more vast and large will the view and vision and prospect of the eye of the understanding be what vast objects delights and Glories will it take in when it hath the light of the Glory of God in Heaven shining about it yea into it Psal 36.8.9 It will take in great and wonderful discoveries of God and even see his face i. e. have a wonderfull Glorious view and vision of him and of all those clear manifestations of himself which he shall then communicate but how large soever it shall be filled unto full satisfaction Psal 17.15 2. The Will Heart and
that and their back upon Earth and Mammon The World comes to scourge and lash when they seek to weary and â—â—flâ—ct them and make them as miserable on earth as may be why they do but drive them the nearer and faster into Heaven Oh then let none none of those things move you but hold on stedfastly in the way to Heaven the way of Faith and Holiness the way of regular walking with God and cleaving to him and to his Truth his Name his Interest and his People In the way of well doing commit your selves to him and be not Biassed from it by any thing in all this World Let nothing on the earth this vile miserable earth hinder or divert you â—â—om an Heavenly choice or from an Heavâ—nly course remembring the Cloud of Wiâ—nesses before you and especially the great Example of Christ Jesus Heb. 12.1 2. SERMON III. THe Glory of the place where Saints shall be together and enjoy the Beatifical presence of God viz. the Highest Heaven the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 The Heaven of Heavens 1 King 8.27 Deut. 10.14 That Glorious stately Region above the Starry Heavens made and fitted to be the Everlasting habitation of the Blessed whether Christ ascended and where now he is in his Humane Nature Ephes 4.10 Mark 16.19 Act. 3.21 where God doth manifest and communicate himself and his Glory in the fullest and highest manner and therefore called the Habitation and the Throne of God 1 King 8.30 39 40. Isa 63.15 and 66.1 Psal 11.4 and 33.13 14. Mat. 5.34 And where all the Saints shall be and dwell with Christ forevermore Joh. 14.2 3. and 17.24 2 Cor. 5 1. Mat. 25.34 Touching this place the third Heaven and the Nature and Glory of it I shall not enter into a particular and distinct Discourse we have sometimes had more opportunity for that in considering thâ— Works of Creation But take two or three familier Considerations that may set for ththe Glory of this place the Highâ—st Heaven 1. It is the Excellency top and Summity the Crown and Glory of the whole World As it is the highest in place so in Nature and Excellency the Chief and Choicest part of the whole Creation As Canaan the Type of it was called the Glory of all the Lands Ezek. 20.6 So is this Heaven the Glory of the whole Creation the Fairest Best and Goodliest piece therein That may be one reason of that Name the Heaven of Heavens As Song of Songs i. e. the best most excellent Song so this is the most Excellent Heaven all other Heavens and so all other parts of the World are far inferiour to it It is the choicest place in the whole Creation the best Room God hath in this stately House that he hath built Now the Lord lets you sit without among the Servants in the outer Rooms in the Kitchin the Smoaking Kitchin of the World this Earth I mean But then when grown to full Age and fully Married to his Son he will entertain you in the best Room he hath the Fairest that ever he built his own dwelling Room and Presence Chamber of Heaven This lower World Earth and Aire and Starry Heaven they are but as the Out-houses and Hovels that are set up more incuriously But this Heaven is the dwelling house and place of the Great King And hence it is the immediate Workmanship of God himself Heb. 11.10 Men build other Cities and we know they are full of Splendor and Beauty but God built this 2 Cor. 5.1 It is a City a place of the confluence of all that Nature and Art could heap together so Cities are among men and a City of Gods building whose Artificer and Builder is God the word is As if God shewed his Art what an Artist what an Artificer a Master-builder he is in making this Heaven Of all his Works this is the most Artificial and Master-piece Now we see this lower World is stately Fabrick a Beautiful frame especially as it would have been if not defiled by sin Psal 104.24 and 8.3 and 19.4 5. What then is that higher story of the third Heaven which excells in Excellency Splendor Glory and Magnificence as much as it doth in Height the the Spaciousness and Local Situation of it speaks and notifies its Transcendant Excellency It 's stately height the highest Heaven As the Earth the lowest so the Heaven the highest Region it is above the highest of all in place far above all these visible Heavens Ephes 4.10 and yet they are of a vast height and as far above all in Excellency of Nature and in Glory Deut. 4.39 Josh 2.11 Earthly things are low things and therefore placed here below down in the Vally But that is above on high Ephes 4.8 Heb. 1.3 Cant. 8.18 It is the highest place of all Luk. 2.14 and 19.38 there is none above it and truly you can aspire no higher than what is there so its spaciousness and vast largeness the Earth though 21600. Miles in compass is but as a point i. e. of no considerable bigness of no sensible quantity compared with this second lower Starry Heaven what is it then to that Heaven of Heavens which is the highest and utmost Rim and Circumference of the whole Universe containing within the Bowels or Concave of it this whole lower World And so of greater compass than the largest of these visible Heavens And we may probably suppose that its own height and wideness I mean from rhe Pavement to the Roof of it holds proportion with its Compass or Circumference so that it is every way of Transcendant vastness and largeness A Beggar lives in a narrow little Cottage but a Prince in a spacious Pallace That place that God erected for his own dwelling place the Habitation of his Glory is suitable to so great a Majesty as 2 Chron 2.5 9. Yet is God not contained in it 2 Chron. 6.18 but containing it by his power and filling it all with his Beatifical presence and Glory And as Joh. 14.2 there in that spacious Region are Mansions and Rooms and Lots and Dwellings for all the thousands of the Glorified ones You shall be no way straitned when you come there no Tribe of Israel complain there of the straitness of their Lot But may say as Psal 118.5 the way to it is strait but the Kingdom it self is great and large 2. It is a place that was never defiled by sin as all this lower World hath been which hath marred it spoiled the Beauty and Gloss and Hangings and Comfort of it and infected the very Walls of the house c. And turned it into a place of Briars and Thorns of Troubles and Sorrows and a Valley of the shaddow of Death But Heaven is a Holy a most Holy place where never stain or spot of sin came It 's Primitive Lustre Beauty Sweetness and Comfort was never marred thereby And hence a place only of Joy and pleasure not of sensual and Carnal but of true genuine
inevitably lose and miss of viz. Alâ— this Heavenly and Eternal Glory that we have been speaking of For we see it is the portion only of the Faithful of the Effectually Called as Text and Doctrine tells us Therefore they that abide in Impenitency and Unbelief that turn a deaf ear to the Call of the Gospel all their dayes neglect or reject the offers and motions thereof or are but half but almost perswaded never Effectually overcome to imbrace Christ Jesus and to be his in earnest They will lose and be deprived of it lay altogether that hath been said or might be concerning the excellency and greatness of this Glory you will lose and be â—eparated from all this this must be none of the portion of any such but they must be driven away from the presence of God and fellowship of this Glory The pain of loss one part of the damneds misery follows from the point in hand To lose this Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus what a fearful loss is that indeed we cannot now tell you what you will lose It is more then Tongue can utter and Heart conceive 1 Cor. 2.9 The damned in Hell will have a quicker and fuller apprehension of it to their own Terrour than here We can reach For they shall see and know in a great measure what it is though never so as to taste of it Oh the anguish that will thence follow Luk. 14.28 Consider a little here 1. Who they are that shall lose or miss of this Glory that shall never see it as to partake of it And let two or three plain Scriptures speak to this 1. Workers of Iniquity i. e. continuing such to the end of their day of Grace they must be thrown out and the door of Heaven Everlastingly shut against them sent away from the presence of God Luk. 13.27 28. They that live impenitently in any sin that follow the Trade of any way of Evil that live and allow themselves in any in sin yea though but secretly And though they take upon them a Profession of the name of Christ Mat. 7.21 22 23. 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 21. Ephes 5.5 6. Yea they that live in the omission of known duties especially the duties of Love cordial Love to the people of God Mat. 25.41 45. and so other duties also Zeph. 1.6 and 3.2 Heb. 2.3 Psal 79.6 2. Unbelievers that never truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ by whom alone we may be saved Joh. 3 36. 2 Thes 1.8 9 10. We are called by the Gospel and by Effectual Calling as in Text brought to partake of this Glory They therefore that turn a deaf ear to the call of the Gospel all their dayes never heartily listen to it and imbrace it never give up themselves to Christ or receive him by faith they will come short of this Glory Though you have never so many natural or moral excellencies though you carry it Commendable and are useful in your places c. Yet if never took off from your own Righteousness and from Carnal rest in the World in Creature Comforts and from love to sin to take hold of and be united to a Saviour to rest upon him and him alone for Salvation and become his forever If never divorced from all things else and Espoused Married to Christ by Faith you perish without remedy and shall never see the face of God in Glory Mark 16.16 We are commanded to tell you of that and you will find it true 3. The unregenerate all unbelievers are so but there is a distinct notion in this which may be useful Joh. 3.3 5 6. They whose hearts are not turned from sin to God and changed from nature to Grace from flesh to Spirit The unconverted and unsanctified it may take in both that are and continue such they that are not born again never have a new Heart and Spirit nor made new Creatures They shall never be saved never attain to or partake of this Eternal Glory Be you civilly Honest or morally Virtuous or pharisaically Righteous and devout or externally well-reputed as Nocodemus was yet if not regenerate never born again never saved None but the new born are Heirs of Heaven 1 Pet 1.3 4. As descended from the first Adam we are only to an Inheritance in Hell We must be new-begotten and new-born to an Inheritance in Heaven In this sense flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God our old Hearts and old Natures are not fit for Heaven they must be new moulded new made before they come there 4. The unholy will miss of Heavens Glory Heb. 12.14 Heaven is an Holy habitation without Holiness no coming there You may get to Heaven without Riches without Worldly Honour or possibly without great parts and Literal attainments Surgunt indocti Caelum rapiunt c. As he Apud Leigh's Body Divinity pag. 230 without Earthly Contentments but without Holiness no man shall see the face of God in Glory Thâ—re must be a sanctified heart and a sanctified life yea and that here in measure though there will be imperfection while here if ever you be Glorified hereafter You must here begin that Holiness that shall be perfected in Heaven There are that hate Holiness scorne and scoffe at it why you will have little heart to mock when you shall see the Holy ones the Saints of God carried into Heaven and you thrust out Others have no delight at all in Holiness in Holy Duties Holy Ordinances Holy Company it is a buâ—den a weariness a trouble to them Why you are not principl'd for Heaven Heaven would not be a Paradice but a Prison to you a torment in that Condition Others are utter strangers to an Holy Conversation rather walking in the Company and wayes of loose lewd and wicked men than in the wayes of the Holy Contrary to 1 Pet. 1.14 18. nothing of Heaven or Holiness is to be seen upon them no Impression or Charecter thereof Why truly if you do not beg in Heaven in this World you must not look to find it in that to come 5. They that are Enemies to the Lords Holy and faithful people that do hate maligne or seek the hurt or overthrow of those that love Holiness or of their Holy Enjoyments 2 Thes 1.5 9. Trouble and Rest shall then shift hands The Godly that now suffer Trouble shall then â—nter into Rest but their Troublers shall have trouble yea everlasting Trouble instead of Rest They that have had no heart to do good Offices for the Lords People the Members of Christ will then hear from Christ a depart you Cursed Mat. 25.41 45. much more they that act against them The Godly by Gracious suffering of Tribulations get to Heaven Act. 14.22 But the wicked by being active in bringing Tribulations on them plunge themselves deep into Hell Oh foolish World they can never effect the destruction of the Godly but they effect their own destruction by endeavouring it Psal 9.13 17. What
plainer evidence of a state of Perdition than to be an Enemy yea if but a secret enemy and hater of those who it may be your Consciences tell you are in a state of Salvation and are such as are like to get to Heaven For I speak not of pretended but real Saints or real as far as appears at least to be an enemy to those is the directest way you can take to everlasting Confusion Psal 129.5 and 34 21. As you love your Souls take heed of being found in the least opposition to the Interest of Christ or of his people 2. Consider how or in what way these impenitent unbelieving sinners do come to lose or miss of this Eternal Glory viz. in General By neglecting or not embracing the Call of the Gospel in this day of Grace and turning aside to vain things He calls us saith the Text to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus Hence look as by Effectual Calling i. e. by obeying and answering hearkning to and imbracing the Call of the Gospel the faithful obtain it and are brought into it so on the contrary others that live under the Gospel miss on 't by not hearkning to this Call by turning a deaf ear thereunto refusing and neglecting when called to come to Christ Jesus Prov. 1 24 27. They that hear not Christ when he sayes come Luk. 14.17 in the Kingdom of Grace shall nâ—ver hear him say come in reference to the Kingdom of Glory as Mat. 25.34 And they that hear not this latter Call come it will be because they would not hearken to the former The Lord Jesus now calls to every one of you come unto me and possess Grace and Glory in and with me If you attend to this Call by the obedience of Faith you shall hear him then say to you Come you Blessed c. Isa 55.3 But alas men lose and put away that Eternal Glory by neglecting resisting and refusing this Call of Grace Here therefore take these two or three Considerations 1. Every time you neglect or refuse the Call and offer of the Gospel you put away this Glory as Act. 13.46 The Lord Calls you on his part to Eternal Glory or to come and receive both Grace and Glory in and with Christ Jesus Rom. 6.23 Heaven is offered you when Christ is offered Hence you slight and refuse and turn your backs upon all the Glory of Heaven when you neglect the Call of the Gospel or dis-accept of Christ offered therein The Salvation of God Eternal Salvation is offered to you Act. 28.28 and you will not hear on 't you despise all the wonderfull Happiness of Heaven that we have been speaking of Oh fearful wickedness monstrous madness and miserable miss of Heaven So when you will not pray nor meditate nor hear nor wait at Christ's gates It is as much as to say that you are not for Eternal Glory which is to be sought and obtained in such wayes and how Justly how unexcusably do such perish The Lord is calling you to Eternal Glory but you turn away from it 2. Consider what it is for the sake whereof you lose or turn away from this Glory and neglect the way to it Why a vile lust a vain World these are chosen and Heaven refused these have your affections when Christ and all his Glory can have none of them And so for the sake of those for this present World a heap of vanities a fashion that passeth away you lose all the good of that to come The voice of the World calling us to Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus cannot be heard for the voice of the World calling us to present Objects and things here And so for Earth men lose Heaven Mark 10.21 22. What a mad and foolish bargain and choice is this And yet thus it is there is never a sinner that misses Heaven but he chuses Earth before it 3. You lose and miss of this Glory when it was brought near to you in the Call and offer of the Gospel when according to the order of means you might have had it When you were called to Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus viz. by the outward Call of the Gospel a real Call though not to you Effectual the reflection upon this will be one day bitter and tormenting From under a Call to Heaven to drop to Hell from under a word and call and offer of Salvation to Perdition what a dreadful thing will that be i. e. in the Eternal dispensation of it you that live in the visible Church you had an Interest in the Kingdom of Heaven it was in your hands as it were left with you and you had the offer of it the dispensation of it Job 4.22 now to lose it to let it go to be dâ—prived of it For the Children of the Kingdom to be cast out that will bring with a witness wailing and weeping and gnashing of teâ—th Mat 8 12. After you have been lifted up to Heaven it will be a fearful thing to fall down to Hell Mat. 11.23 24. 3. Consider the greatness of this loss and the bitterness thereof 1. From the exceeding greatness of the good that is lost viz. Eternal Glory all the Happinss of Heaven the sweet fellowship of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost wherein is fulness of Joy c. Psal 16.11 and all the Concomitants thereof that Heaven affords Oh it is beyond our Expression or Conception All that we have before spoken of about this future happiness presents matter of meditation here aggravating this loss Go over the particulars and say I wretched sinner continuing in that Estate or if I live in sin and unbelief must lose and be thrust out from all this be seperated from the sweet pâ—esence of God from the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son and the Consolation of the Holy Ghost Be stript of Glory both in Soul and Body utterly deprived of the Image of God each spark whereof is more worth than a World Be thrust out of the Company of Saints and Angels among damned Wights and Devils Be shut out of Heaven that place of Bliss and Glory and this perpetually everlastingly for ever and for ever more Others must go in and enjoy all this But I I for my brâ—iâ—ish sinning away my day of Grace if I should go on as I have thus long done be thrust out what wailing would that produce Luk. 13.28 2. Compare herewith Worldly losses the loss of good things in this World and remember what a griefe and torment that sometimes is If you had or were but in a fair probability and expectation to have and then should lose but a great sum of Money lose your house by Fire a Commodious Dwelling a fair Estate or all that ever you have though but a little by this or that occasion much more a Kingdom a Crown what a bitter thing would that be If you do but lose a dear Friend by death a sweet Relation a yoak-Fellow a pleasant Child how
Fellowship of the Spirit to all Eternity Why then Christ is for you this is that the God of all Grace Calls us to by Christ Jesus and this is most worthy of all acceptation The Land we tell you of that Coelestial Land of promise is an exceeding good Land some Clusters and Tasts of the Grapes whereof we have shewed you If you be wise go up at once and possess it and let nothing hinder or detain you as Numb 13.30 and 14.7 8. 3. Consider what a wonderful heart-breaking thing it is that the Lord should speak such a word of Salvation to you or give you such a Call to Eternal Glory Verily next to that Call that the Saints shall have at the last day to the immediate fruition of this Glory Mat. 25.34 is this Call that you now have to the possession of it in and with Christ in the Kingdom of Grace The Lord now sayes to thee come come to Christ Jesus Imbrace and possess him as offered in the Gospel and in with him Eternal Glory not seperating the estate from the person think not to have Christs Glory without having Christ himself nor the end from the way to it Heaven from the way wherein you are to walk thither But take altogether Christ and through him Grace and Glory to be obtained in a way of walking after Christ in the Kingdom of Grace and welcome it as the free gift of God Rom. 6.23 Psal 84.11 12. This the Lord Calls you to come and take possession of he bids you now enter Heaven and take your lot there in the promise and beginning of it And what a wonderful thing is this Remember 1. Whom he speaks and Calls unto a vile Sinner and wretched Malefactor that deserves to be turned into Hell and might have expected to hear a doom and Sentence of Wrath only to hear only news of Woe and Wrath and Fire and Blood to hear such a word as that in Mat. 25.41 And will the Lord unto thee say come come to a Saviour and be forever Blessed in and with him 2 Tim. 7.18 19. The Lord speaks to you of a great while to come even of Eternal Glory in the World to come the offer of it unto you all and the promise of it if you do believe 2. Who is it that Calls viz. God in Christ Jesus the God of all Grace Phil. 3.14 He sends from Heaven to Call you up to Heaven I tell you the Bowels of the Lord Jesus now in Glory are now yearning over some of you yea all of you as he is dispensing this word of Salvation to you 2 Chron. 36.15 We are but poor Instruments Messengers whom he imployes and sends It is from the design of Christ to seek and save poor Creatures to bring them to Heaven therefore he sets this great Salvation before you and Calls on you not to neglect it therefore he lifts up his voice that you might hear it as all his sheep shall and follow him that he might give you Eternal Life Joh. 10.27 28. That the King of Kings the Lord of Lords should call up a worm to the Fellowship of his own Glory Luk. 1.43 much more the Lord himself 3. Of what he speaks viz. Eternal Glory i. e. Grace and Glory the beginning of it here the Consummation of it hereafter the former in order to the latter and to the whole of both at once He offers and calls to it at once The best and greatest thing that God hath to give God himsâ—lf hath no greater gift than that Rom. 6.23 and this he thrusts into thy hands the thing that you have most need of absolute need of for there is but one thing necessary and that is to get Heaven to be saved forever the thing that is able to make you Happy a Beatifical good Everlasting Communion with God which is our Blessedness whole Happiness at once this he layes before you 4. When he thus speaks and Calls to thee when Earth is full of trouble about you and there is no rest upon it then he Calls you up to Heaven and to rest there When this lower World is stormy and unquiet then he leads you to the upper region to the Chambers of Glory where Peace dwells as Isa 26.20 when the Sea rages and is tempestuous about you now he discovers an Harbour to put into the fair Haven of Eternal Glory the Bosom of the Blessed God where your Souls may dwell at ease Psal 25.13 In every other dwelling there is some Inconvenience trouble difficulty pinching want or ail that you do not sit at ease some hard knot in every Worldly Pillow that you do not lie at ease But there your Souls shall dwell at ease lodge in goodness as the word is Goodness universal goodness shall be your lodging place Yea when sin had even thrown you down to Hell seperated you from God provoked his wrath yet now the Lord speaks of Heaven to you Yea now he thus speaks and Calls after all your neglects and mispence of time he is yet calling yet offering Christ and Life and Heaven to you this day this hour Behold now an accepted time a day of Salvation a day of Receiving Possessing and obtaining Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus The offers of Salvation might have long since ceased and ended to you-ward but behold yet they are continued and thou hast this one Call more not only yesterday you might but to day you may hear the voice of Christ Jesus Oh harden not your hearts from so doing It may be thou sayest as Isa 55.5 6. 5. In what way a portion in this Eternal Glory is to be had and obtained in what way the Lord offers it and calls thee to possess it viz. in a way of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ i. e. as I may so express it in a way of leaving and taking Leaving that that is worthy to be left and taking accepting chusing that that is worthy most worthy to be taken Leaving and letting go all evil misery and vanity sin and world as attended and enjoyed in a way of sin Luk. 14.33 And taking all good Christ and all his benefits Grace and Glory all saving good in and with a Saviour This great Estate of Grace and Glory together with so sweet desirable and Glorious a person a match as the Son of God is What a wonderful offer and motion is this and how worthy of all acceptation Hence 4. Consider that they that now in the day of Grace chuse this Eternal Glory in earnest may yea shall have it If you chuse Heaven indeed you shall go thither if willing to have everlasting Felloship with God for your portion you shall have it Why if this be true what more plain than that the offer of of this Glory is free and real what more inexcusable or wilful than the sin and perdition of those that perish What remains but that you be perswaded to chuse and imbrace Heaven and Life
14.2 Heb. 6.20 Ephes 2.6 And relie on his mighty power and grace his strong hand which nothing can pluck you out of Joh. 10.28 to prepare you for it to keep and carry and conduct you through the wilderness of this World unto the Heavenly Canaan Isa 63.9 14. to guide you by his Spirit and preserve you to his Heavenly Kingdom and at last in the work of his second coming Heb. 9.28 finally to accomplish and finish the matter of your â—â—lvaâ—â—â—n and Glory Iâ—s 73.24 Joh. 6.54 5. Improve this Eternal Glory which is offered and gâ—ven in and with Christ as an hâ—lp to sweeten and facilitate and make the heart come â—ff in that which is the hardest thing in the work of closing with Christ viz. parting with the Wâ—rld forsaking and sitting loose from the World and all that you have here Renouncing sin absolutely and Earthly contentments in Comparison of Christ Here it is that men stick Mark 10.22 2 Tim. 4.10 Joh. 5 44. Philip. 3.19 The Impression of Worldly Lusts and Affections are they that choak the word and call of thâ— Gâ—spel Luk. 8.14 Mark 4.19 Bâ—t here is a notable help against this when Christ comes with Heaven and the Glory thereof in his hands it withers away the Glory of this World What shall take us off the Eâ—rth or â—nâ—ble us to contemn that if Hâ—â—ven will not This may make us forsake the pleasuâ—es of this World as a drie chip compar'd with those above Heb. 11. 25 29. and the profits and wealth of it Mat. 6.19 20. Psal 17.14 15. And what is the Honour and Glory of it compared with this Glory of Heaven Heb. 12.2 3. Answ Some Objections that readily fall in here Obj. 1. This may some say is too great a thing that ever the Lord should offer to be received or give upon receiving Eternal Glory so vast a thing as everlasting Life and Blessedness to such a vile thing as I am How is it possible Answ It is the God of all Grace from whom this Offer and Call and Gift is If it were from men or finite goodness it could not possibly be But the great God is able to do it Rom. 6.23 He is rich enough in Grace to give such a gift to do such a work of Grace as this Ephes 2.7 Hence as 2 Sam. 7.19 21 22. And it is by Christ Jesus By the infinite merit of Christ and by his mighty saving power Phil. 3.26 If there were not such mighty causes at work as the Grace of God the righteousnâ—ss and strength of Christ It were incredible that so great a thing as Eternal Glory should ever be offered or given to or bestowed upon such as we are But Mat. 19.16 Obj. 2. But I have blind eyes and a dead Carnal heart I cannot see nor believe on Christ nor take hold of him nor get possession of this great Gift I want an hand and an Heart to take it Answ God in Christ is the God of all Grace in that notion also viz. the Giver and Worker of all Grace and so of the Grace of Faith That also is the Gift of God Ephes 2.8 why therefore in the sense of unbelief and inability to believe especially to believe in Truth we shall make no right work on 't Lord unless thou work all our works in and for us Isa 26.12 Groan and cry to the Lord as Mat. 9.24 Trust not thy own heart to believe or to hammer out a Faith of its own but put it over into his hands Look to him to be Author and Moulder of thy faith Heb. 12.2 Colos 2.12 The King of Glory is come to thy door beg him to open the door and come in Look to him to give all at once whole Eternal Life and so this beginning of it this entrance into it viz. Faith Come to him leaning on him and on the power of his drawing Grace when you cannot come by the strength of your own legs put your buckle under you Cant. 1.4 Psal 143.10 By the land of uprightness may be meant Heaven not one right step thither without the help and leading of Gods Spirit Obj. 3. But my sins shut me out and shut Heaven against me and thrust me rather into Hell How can such an unclean thing ever hope to see the face of God in Heaven Answ Behold the Lamb of God c. Behold the Attonement of Christ doing away sin and his righteousness purchasing life for us By Christ Jesus it is that you are called and may come to this Eternal Glory not by any thing in your selves Our sins indeed had shut Heaven but the blood of Christ opens it Heb 10.19 20. Though we be unclean in our selves we are presented there now as holy before God in the righteousness of Christ and Christ will make us inherently holy before he carry us thither Nothing indeed but our sins is the great hindrance from Heaven But therefore Christ is sent and set apart on purpose to take away sin both by Justifying and Sanctifying Grace 1 Joh. 3.5 And therefore by Christ we may obtain Eternal Glory Obj. 4. But though I look to Christ and come to him for all Spiritual and Eternal Blessings for all the fulness of God I feel my self a poor vile miserable empty Creature having but little either of holiness or Comfort Where is this Glory that Saints have by Christ Jesus Answ Believe the promise that is made to every Comer to or Believer in Christ Take Eternal Life and Glory in the promise possess it in the promise and in the Covenant and so as in Christs hands 1 Joh. 5.11 though thou hast it not yet in thine own hands in fruition and accomplishment Remember that Eternal Glory is first given to thy faith before it be given to thy feeling nay when thou feelst the quite contrary as Canaan was to Abraham when he had yâ—t no foot of it nay when possâ—ssâ—d by enemies 2 Cor. 5.7 1 Pet. 1 8 9. Hâ—b 11.1 The actual fruitition of this Glory must not be till after you have suffâ—red a while Tâ—xt not only under outward â—â—ll â—ctions but also a conflict of spiritual Corruption Some beginnings there are of it here but they are but little and they shâ—w themselves rather in â—â—â—â—â—ing after it than feeling of it Rom. 8.23 24. Not Eâ—rth but Heaven is the place â—â— the consâ—aâ—â— câ—mfortable sensible preseâ—câ— oâ— God 2 Câ—r 5 8. Believe for Heaven fight for it now and you shall enjoy it one day 1 Pet. 1.6 8 9. SERMON VIII TO Believers to the Faithful whom God hath called effectually called unto this Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus The Godly that are Heirs of Heaven or profess themselves to be of that number 1. To get assurance of their portion in this Eternal Glory 2. To make improvement of it even of so rich and great and happy a portion as this is 1. Labour after a settled and well grounded assurance that this is your portion that
liberty this way and is spiritually fixed how sweet are they But this meditation brings in marrow and fatness much Spiritual Joy and Comfort Psal 63.5 6. He that hath attained the excellency of spiritual and Heavenly mindedness he hath clear evidence for Heaven yea Heaven is already bâ—gun with him 5. In special be much in self-examination and tryal of ouâ— estates which ought to be one eminent and frequent subject of our meditation 2 Cor. 13.5 God gives assurance in the way of means and of this means in special Pursue and follow home in frequent self-examination by applying and considering the Scripture-evidences of a state of Salvation and searching whether they be found with thee so shall you come acquainted with your own estate and the spirit breaths in that way to help us to know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 for the spirit bears witness with our spirits or Consciences Rom. 8.16 And our spirits come to bear witness or give verdict for us in a way of reflecting upon searching our selves comparing our selves with the word and Judging our selves accordingly Think it not enough to hear of marks and evidences of a good estate but use them apply them home to your Souls and make a sad enquiry whether it be so and so with thee And this leads us to the second thing mentioned viz. Tryals whether we be those that shall be certainly saved or get to Heaven to this Eternal Glory the Text speaks of And we may conclude Affirmatively Evid 1. If our Souls do chuse God Communion with him for our portion our chiefe good and blessedness If ouâ— minds or judgments esteem our wills imbrace and affections adhere unto desire love delight in God and the enjoyment of him as our happiness If that be the portion the whole happiness that our Souls chuse that we might have the favour fellowship and fruition of God Father Son and Holy Ghost for evermore For Heaven as we have said mainly consists in the fruition of God if that be the portion our Souls fix upon then we are men for Heaven That portion is presented to us and left with us in our first entrance into Christianity being expressed in our Baptism the name of Father Son and Holy Ghost And the fruition of that name the full enjoyment of God Father Son and Holy Ghost in all the manifestations and communications of himself this is the end of our Christian race and makes up the perfection of Glory in Heaven Consider hath the Lord so shewed thee the vanity of all other portions and things the emptiness that is in thy self and the excellency of this portion to have the blessed God for thine according to the whole Covenant of his Grace 2 Sam. 23.5 so as to take up with this and this only that thou canst say as Psal 73.25 and 27.4 that is the voice and spirit of the holy Saints in Scripture and so of every truly gracious heart Psal 16.5 6. It may happily be said still how shall we know this Why this one would think should be a sensible and palpable thing what a man makes his chief good what his heart is set upon and he pursues and seeks as the designe and desire of his heart and life and places his Happiness his All in When the covetous man makes money and wealth his main design his chief good may not he himself easily see that his heart is set there yea even others may see it He subordinates all to that and makes that the business of his life that Interest carries him still at every turn that Byasses him And the same you may say of the Ambitious man for his honour the Voluptuous man for his pleasures c. And truly this may be seen in the Godly man that he is for God and for the service and Glory of God for Communion with him and enjoyment of him in all his wayes that is his one thing Psal 27.4 there his spirit runs Rom. 1.9 He subordinates all to that directs all his endeavours and labours to that 1 Cor. 5.8 9. That is the Interest that carries him there you shall find him in all changes when he is himself at least he may be shaken a little by Temptation and violently hurried this way and that way but the Needle of his Soul returns to that North pole and rests not till it stand fixed there As it is with the Needle of a Compass touched by the Loadstone you may by violence shake it this way and that way but thither it will return and there will fix and stand toward the North. He will be for God still 2 Cor. 5.13 for God and so for his people and wayes and Truth and Ordinances for they go together nothing can buy him off from that Interest Cant. 8.6 7. Oh wonderful is the Efficacy in the turn that God gives to the Soul in the work of Conversion and so in the after impress of Sactification that henceforth the Soul stands bent for God set for God and all the temptations affrightments allurements of Hell and the World shall never utterly turn it away from him And truly Christians should so act and walk as to declare plainly what they are for what the chief good and portion they seek is as Heb. 11.14 The Covetous man declares plainly that he is for money and the Voluptuous man declares plainly he is for pleasures of the flesh for his Cups c. Oh the Godly man should declare plainly that he is for God and for Heaven for the Glorifying and enjoying of God for evermore And verily God will have his time sooner or later to try men to the quick wâ—o and what they are are you for this or that worldly Interest for wealth or for being uppermost in the World envying those that are any higher than you or for liberty to sin c. Why then that will carry you away from God and from his wayes and interest when God and Mammon part then you will follow Mammon But if you be indeed for God and you seek Davids one thing Psal 27.4 If that be the master Interest in your Souls then you will cleave to God whatever come and many waters shall not be able to quench your love to him SERMON IX 2. IF we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he that believes on Christ shall get to Heaven the Scripture is plain for that Act. 16.31 Joh. 3.16 and 6.47 he that shall live an everlasting life must go to Heaven to live that life there for ever there is no living an everlasting life in this World 1 Joh. 5.10 11 13. Christ is the Ladder to Heaven as we said the last time he that sets the foot of Faith on that Ladder shall be carryed up thither though no worthiness of his own to deserve or obtain it no strength of his own to ascend to it 1 Pet. 1.5 Now for the discovery of a true Faith in Christ you often hear of
that But at present take some plain Scripture Characters of a true Faith 1. Does thy Faith grow in an humble lowly self-emptying spirit Mat. 5.3 i. e. humbled in the sense of thine own spiritual poverty and wretchedness so as to have no way but to go a begging to Christ for all Those whom the Lord will raise so high as Heaven he first layes them very low in themselves If ever he make you so rich as to give you to Heaven he will first make you very poor very empty lest vile helpless worâ—â—iless strengthless nothings in your selves lying at the foot of free Grace in Christ quite taken off from your selves to fix upon a nâ—w root and foundation in Christ Jesus Isa 57.15 God dwells with such and therefore they shall dwell with God forever pride shuts out of Heaven nothing more Psal 138.6 there shall never come near him they are the humble whom God will save Job 22.29 2. Is there the nature and true spirit of Faith viz. according to the expression in the Text to go no further an hearty answer of obedience to the Call of the Gospel Hath the Call of Christ in the Gospel pierced the ears of thy Soul yea doth it pierce them continually and captivate thy Soul into obedience It is a saying of Doctor Sibbs that is an excellent way of knowing ones Faith as when I know I believe because in hearing Gods gracious promises opened and offered unto me the spirit of God carrieth my Soul to cleave to them as my portion Does the spirit so breath in the Call of the Gospel as to cause thee to come to run to him Isa 55.5 Doest thou now hear and hearken to Christ when he he sayes come in the â—ord of Grace come unto me then thou shalt one day hear him say come in a word of Glory Mat. 25.34 The Comer to Christ never ceaseth coming 1 Pet. 2.4 till he come to him in Glory But if the Lord have bowed thine ear and drawn thine heart to hear and obey the voice of Christ this is sweet and clear evidence for Heaven Joh. 20.27 28. 3. Consider the Concomitants of thy Faith Is it accompanied 1. With Repentance or breaking off from sin from all sin in heart and affection and any known sin in life ann Conversation so true faith is Mark 1.5 Act. 20.21 The path of sin is the path-way to Hell Rom. 6.21.21 Prov. 7.27 And to live and go on therein to follow the trade of any way of sin is inconsistant with true faith 1 Joh. 3.6 But the way of turning from sin to the service of God in Christ is the path way of Life and Heaven having a sure connexion therewith though not as a meritorious cause yet as an inseperable Antecedent Rom. 6.22 2. With willing taking of Christ's yoak upon you subjection to his will in every thing Mat. 11.29 as your head and husband Ephes 5.23 24. that you can deny your selves and your own wills in submission to his will to him as Lord as well as Saviour and in special to his disposing will to bear the Cross at his appointment Mat. 16.24 patience is a conâ—omitant and a sweet evidence oâ— true Faith Heb. 6.12 Revel 13.10 When difâ—â—culties temptations on right hâ—nd or left sufferings tribulations perils do not drive you off frâ—â— the Love of Christ of his truth or wayes or from the way to Heaven the way of the rule this shews you to be good ground and principled for Heaven indeed 2 Thes 1.4 5 7. 2 Tim. 2.12 3. With Love to Christ Jesus Joh. 16.27 so to believe in Christ as to love him dearly and unfeignedly is an evidence of true believing And if you love him you love his truth his Word Mark 8.38 his Wayes his Ordinances his People as such hence that is an evidence for Heaven 1 Joh. 3.14 and 5.1 and when the people of God are under affliction and suffering as they were in the Apostles time and have no worldly advantage to allure you to love them or cleave to them but the contrary It may be you must run great hazards if you imbarque with them then it proves a searching Tryal Of many Professors there are but few that prove of Moses mind when it comes to Heb. 11.25 And when temptations of Worldly allurements or Worldly threatnings trouble cannot buy you off from the Love of Christ Cant. 8.7 4. With living upon Christ and by him Gal. 2.20 That you cling to him as your life have your spiritual soul-subsistance in him and repair to him for Grace to live to God at all times he is your spiritual livelihood from whom you derive spirit strength and Grace Heb. 12.1 2 2 Cor. 3.4 5. and 12.9 Joh. 15.4 5. That is a clear demonstration of true spiritual which is Eternal Life when a man lives not from nor for himself but from Christ Joh. 6.57 and for or to him 2 Cor. 5.15 5. Is it accompanied with forsaking all for him Luk. 14.33 And that may be a third evidence for Heaven Evid 3. If by the Grace of Christ we are taken off from the World and are strangers sojourners and pilgrims in it Then it is a a plain Case as Heb. 11.13 14 16. Every man hath and takes up his portion either in Heaven or Earth if not in Earth then in Heaven if here a pilgrim then his home is in Heaven Nothing less than a Divine and Heavenly good and a relish thereof by an inlightned Soul can kindly take it off from and lift it above all Earthly good For I speak not of a weariness of the World though frowardness and discontent but of a weanedness from it The heart of every unregenerate man is fixed glewed to the Word under a dominion of it 2 Tim 4.10 Ungodly men are men of this World and have their portion in it Psal 17.14 Now to have such acquaintance with Christ as does wean the heart from the World lift it up above it enable the Soul to contemn it all in Comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 and give victory over it 1 Joh. 5.4 This is a plain evidence of one that is called out of the World to be a man of another World or an Heir of Heaven Evid 4. If we begin our Heaven here on Earth For Heaven is begun here in some measure though indeed but in a very poor little measure compard with the perfection that shall be in Heaven by them that shall get to Heaven hereafter as viz. 1. In loving and maintaining Communion with God according to the measure of this life Do you now seek and enjoy the Communion with God in Ordinances do you behold him in the beauties of holiness through these glasses that is a pledge and beginning and so an evidence of that full Communion you shall have in Heaven and of your seeing him there face to face and on the Sabbath in special Are your Sabbath dayes of bosom Communion with God That is a
revealed in the day of the manifestation of the Sons of God when all they that follow holinss shall see God not only by the light of Faith as now but in the light of glory shall see him apprehensively as he is though not comprehensively or adequately so see him as to be like him to be satisfied in him and blessed with him and in the Communion of the Lord Jesus and his holy Angels and Saints and then also obtain an eternall freedom from the remains of sin and suffering And this consideration may also lead them on the other side to compare the pleasures of sin that are but for a season with the everlasting sad wages of it which is death and that in the loss of God blessed for ever seperation from the Communion with Father Son and Holy Ghost and not only in the loss of God which is unspeakable but also in those just and holy punishments from the hand of God which it is righteous with him to recompence to them that are workers of Iniquity and who by despising the glory of Grace now because of some inconveniencies it is cloathed with though they are so only to depraved minds and such whose hearts are set upon the world and the lusts of it do judge themselves unworthy to find Grace in Glory hereafter which considerations sanctified may promote very far their turning to God and that they may have this saving efficacy on such Souls shall be my prayer to God for them into whose hands they may come But further which shall draw this Epistle to a close I am well satisfied if they find not that acceptance here they may deserve yet the revival of these Sermons in Print to the eye and memory of them that were Ear-witnesses of them from his own mouth will be an acceptable service to them who have known from the beginning his manner of life which was blameless grave and exemplary and in speciall his ministry to the finishing of his course wherein he was a burning and a shining light among whom though being dead he yet speaketh and his name is a precious ointment and his praise amongst all the Churches in that wilderness as being a man of singular learning profound judgement a master in that Israel a Scribe indeed instructed for the Kingdom of God of whom it may be said as once was of another that He was one not only that had a treasure but was himself a treasure to the Church of God while he lived How himself lived in the power of the truth he preched may be seen by the annexed letter to this treatise which was penned upon occasion of a dear friend of his begging his assistance about his Soul concerns which every Reader sensible of spiritual things will judge answered with an excellent spirit the spirit of God and drawn out of his own experiences and this when but newly entring upon his minstry as he lived holy so he dyed in peace and admiring Gods Grace his last dying words almost being these Lord thou callest me away to thee I know not why if I look to my self but at thy bidding I come although hee needs not this recommendation having received his reward and so is above it yet we that survive need it whose business it is to follow the faith and holiness of such especially when we behold the end of their conversation and not only so but it is in order to the publishing of other things of his if this find acceptance which that it may and a good success is the Prayer of Reader Thy Servant in the Gospel JOHN COLLINS June 29 1667. Of the Perfection of Glorification hereafter in Heaven SERMON I. 1 Pet. 5.10 But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you FRom this Verse to the end of the Chapter is the conclusion of this Epistle written by the Apostle to the suffering Saints of those times that were and were yet like to be under great sufferings and tryals Chap. 1.6 and 4.13 17. and 5.9 In this 10 th Verse we have the Apostles farewel wish or prayer for those suffering Saints he writes unto Men especially good men in their farewel words and wishes defire to speak much in a little room But the God or now the God of all Grace c. Dutch Version and so the English in other like conclusive prayers renders the same Greek particle now Heb. 13.20 Rom. 16.25 Jude 24. Here 1. The things he desires and prays for sor they are great and weighty make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 2. He takes hold of and prayes to God under such titles and considerations as are sweet grounds of faith for that he prayes for and most comfortable and suitable for suffering Christians to feed upon viz. 1. From his rich and all-sufficient grace The God of all grace 2. From the great effâ—ct and fruit of that grace viz. his calling the faithful unto glory by Christ Jesus or the glory he hath called them to which is the only thing we shall at present take up to insist upon from these words this Glory is here set forth and described 1. From the peculiar property and duration of it viz. Eternity it is eternal or everlasting Glory No such thing no honour or splendor or welfare that is eternal is to be found in this World 2. From the nature of it His Glory that heavenly Glory which he liveth in and communicateth the similitude and likenâ—ss of it in measure unto his Joh. 17.22 That thâ—t is laid up with him in Heaven and stands in the enjoyment of him so as he is both the singular Author and as I may say the matter of it 3. The Causes of it The Principal God included in that His Glory and also in the first Clause of the Verse The grace of God in and by Christ Jesus Christ the Mediator Subordinate viz. the work or Grace of effectual calling 4. The subject of it viz. those that are called i. e. effectually called Whether us or as some Copies read it you Beza that makes no difference as to the sense He speaks of those that are or are reputed to be effectually called those are they that shall be brought to this Glory Vocation is the way to Glorification that is the strait Gate that leadeth into life eternal 5. The order wherein we are brought unto it or the antecedent of the actual possession of it viz. after we have suffered a while for if we read it us in the first Clause then so the words must properly run Now the God of all Grace who hath called us after we haue suffered a while unto his eternal Glory by Christ Jesus I see no reason why the person should be changed from us to ye nor is after suffered a while to be referred to the following but the foregoing Clause The way to Heaven lies
indisposedness to good you shall never complain of or be troubled with a body of death more Rom. 7.24 Perfect blessedness will take away that wretchedness 2. In the act of it from the greatest to the least no act of sin shall ever be done in Heaven which is a place of perfect holiness when once there you shall never have vain thought more never swerve from the rule of holiness either in thought word or deed not a sinful omission or defect of loving delighting in praising glorifying God of acting your faculties and affections upon God shall then be found with you Oh what an Heaven of happiness is there in this alone one particular to be freed from sin Sin is the heaviest burden of the Saints here and that that makes their lives bitter to them that they cannot live without sinning against God Let all the world smile on them this makes them go up and down with heavy hearts If the Lord should say to any gracious heart here Ask what I shall give thee thou wouldst say Lord that I might be rid of sin thou wouldst rather have this than Crowns and Kingdoms Why this desire shall be fully granted then These corruptions that have dogged thee up and down the world and oft prevail'd shall never trouble thee more The sins thou hast been groaning under all thy life long since any spark of spiritual life was put into thee once on Canaan shore thou shalt see those Egyptians no more for ever No pride no passion no sloathfulness no carnal mindedness no fleshliness no coldness deadness of heart and affections no uneven walking no grieving of the Spirit of God or of the spirits of Fellow-Brethren no unholy action or conversation shall ever be heard of more There in that Canaan above the Lord will give you rest from all your Enemies and from those especially Hebr. 4.9 10. Those Canaanites that have been so long thorns in your sides you shall see an end of them that then will be perfectly fulfilled Zech. 14.21 and triumph over all behold that fully done Micah 7.19 and then sing as Exod. 15.1 4. All the works of the Devil all the train of that Hellish band hath he utterly destroyed v. 5 6. 2. From sorrow or misery all manner of afflictive evils sin and misery go together as the body and the shaddow when the former is abolished the latter also shall altogether cease As viz. 1. Satans temptations tending either to sin or discomfort to defile or disquiet us Once in Heaven you shall never have temptation more That evil one shall never cast in a bad thought or tempting inticement or a troublesome fear and discouragement or vexing disquietment He shall never fling a fiery dart at thee more none of his messengers shall ever buffet thee any more Here he cannot destroy a Saint but there he shall not so much as disquiet For Satan's walk and rend'vouz is on the earth Job 1.7 But he never came in Heaven since he was a Devil nor ever shall come there the highest room where he comes in is the Aire Epes 2.2 this Elemental world but never mounts so high as the third Heaven He is cast down into Hell and shall never come in Heaven 2 Pet. 2.4 Jude 6. While the Saints tread on the earth where that Serpent Crawles he may bite nible at their heel But when once they are with their head in Heaven in their state of Exaltation there they are quite out of his reach though both Christ and Christians in their Humiliation-time here on earth were lyable to be tempted and troubled by the Devil Then the Saints shall fully triumph over this Hellish Pharaoh the Devil him and all his host or train when he shall be cast into the Sea and deep of that full torment that is prepared for the Devil and his Angels into which he shall be actually cast after the last Judgment Now is his Tempting but then shall be his Tormenting time Mat. 8.29 His tempting time and his ranging about for that purpose 1 Pet. 5.8 will be then at an end Satan is said to be shut up and bound during the prosperous and flourishing times of the Church in this world Revel 20.23 But much more fully and absolutely shall he be bound from molesting the Saints of their triumphant state in Heaven then shall he and all his Complices be in torment Revel 20.10 While the Saints reign in Peace for ever Oh the sad Annoyance that even Gods dear children have from that Belzebub here Zech. 3.1 but they shall be fully forced from that hereafter 2. Injuries and molestations from evil and wicked men there will be none of them in Heaven neither as Job 3.17 18. true of the Grave but much more of the state of the Saints happiness of the life to come No wicked man no Injurious Adversary no Papistical or Atheistical hater of God and his people shall ever come within Heaven doors none but Saints shall be there alone together much less be able to trouble or molest there Then shall the promise be fully acomplished 2 Sam. 7.10 Whatsoever Corner of the earth you retire or remove into and plant in you see the children of wickedness can follow you thither and afflict you The Saints shall never be planted in a place that is absolutely their own till they come to Heaven Oh get a Patent for that take up a Lot and build and plant there in Heaven and then you shall have a place of your own what you send thither aforehand your Hope your Treasure c. is safe and when your persons are there once none shall ever molest you more no fear of invasion no enemies to annoy of one nature or other no Pirates by Sea nor Parties by Land no Sword nor weapon of destruction there no going into Captivity no Garments rolled in blood no sound of the Trumpet or Alarm of War It may be when you came into this Wilderness you thought that this would be a place of your own and that none would ever trouble themselves to come into this Corner to trouble you But alas New-England is but Earth and not Heaven No place on Earth is exempted from molestation by the Devil and his Instruments but Heaven is that and that alone and that fully there the Children of wickedness and the Sons of violence shall not afflict you any more as before time then will those prayers be fully and compleatly answered which the poor children of God have oft need to power out before him Psal 140.1 2 3 4 7 8 and 17.4 the Saints may then triumph over all wicked Adversaries as Psal 9.6 7. Also the troubles that arise from the mixtures of the Wicked among the Godly as here there is a mixture of bad with good and much trouble thence ariseth will there be ended there is no Mesech nor Tent of Keder to be complained of as Psal 120.5 6. nor as Psal 57.4 nor yet false Brethren unfaithful unsound Heteredox or
Hypocritical persons that are secret adversaries to Truth and Piety as 2 Cor. 11.26 Psal 55.12 13. You shall have no discouraging company in Heaven that will clog and thwart and hinder you in that that is good none to oppose either Truth or Piety but all to joyn with one accord in the serving and Glorifying of God 3. Divisions differences and dissentions among the Godly which the state of Imperfection on earth is lyably to and lamentably cumbred with and trouble and disquietment multiplied thereby but no such thing in Heaven there is but one mind and one mouth in Heaven as there is but one truth not so much as a dissering apprehension among all the thousands and millions of Saints there There we shall fully attain what is exhorted to 1 Cor. 1.10 and prayed for Rom. 15.5 6 7. There that goodly sight is to be seen in perfection Psal 133.1 The state of perfection there implyes and infers this Hebr. 12.23 The Saints while children may wrangle and contend and differ but when grown up to their adult age and to a perfect man they will have more grace than so Ephes 4.13 14. That ignorance weakness and darkness whereby we are oft here mistaken and miss the truth and cannot see the same truth by the same light our knowing in part whence we may be mistaken in part ignorant in part will then be done away and hence perfect union in the truth which is but one 1 Cor. 13.9 10 11 12. Si non amplius in his terris te visurns sum said old Grineus writing to Chytraeus apud Milch Adam pag. 879. ibi tamen conveniemus ubi Luthero cum Luingleo optimè jam convenit Paul and Barnahas Hooper and Ridley Luther and Zuinglius are there fully reconciled and shall never differ or contend more Heaven is full both of peace and truth even of that peace that is knit in the bonds of truth and holiness The griefs and distractions that result from dissentions among the Godly here are there all swallowed up in perfect peace And so all the difficulties and weary travails and oppositions that Christ's Kingdom now conflicts with and must be carried on through are there ended Mans corruptions Satans temptations weakness on every hand cumbers even Gods work with difficulty and obstruction here but no such thing there the Militant state of Christ's Kingdom is then ended and it passeth into a state of victory and rest 4. Bodily ailes sicknesses pains weakness deformities infirmities of what kind soever you shall be freed from all these in the life to come Philip. 3.21 Do you think the body of Christ now glorified knows any pain or grief or weakness as when on earth no more shall the bodies of the Saints in Heaven but be in perfect health in your beauty strength and Glory for ever 1 Cor. 15.42 43. The Resurrection to that life to come will cure the oldest pain aile ache disease lameness that could not be cured here those ailes that you carry to your Graves with you you shall not bring them out of your Graves again you shall rise again but they shall be buried and lost and laid aside for ever nor shall the body be so troublesome as now need so much ado about it and so many shores and props of meat drink sleep cloathing c. You are groaning now under many bodily ailes and evils but then comes a day of Redemption of the body as well as soul actual perfect Redemption of it from all evil Rom. 8.23 5. All other afflictions from the hand of God all the remnants of the Curse that Christ leaveth upon us in this world for our chastisement and correction Rev. 21 4. if it shall be so comparatively i. e. compar'd with the troubles of former times in the more glorious times of the Church Militant much more will it be so absolutely in the glorified estate of the Church-Triumphant While sin is with us as here there will be sorrow but the abolition of sin will abolish sorrow too perfectly No sin and no sorrow neither in Heaven All tears shall be wiped away i. e. all afflictions or troubles that are the cause of tears shall be quite taken away No more of those tears that arise from the various tryals of this weary life wants straits losses crosses in Name Estate Relations Imployments the briars thorns and thistles that grow in every corner of the field of this world Ezek. 26.24 There will need no rod in Heaven not a frown nor a blow nor a stroke of correcting anger there As there is nothing but wrath in Hell so there will be nothing but love in Heaven Here on earth there is a mixture of both yea even to Gods own people while they have sin in them and are full of faults though Children their Father cannot but be angry with them now and then and they need a rod ever and anon Psal 89.32 33. but in Heaven as no sin so no anger no not for chastening there◠the Lord will never knit his brows nor chide or strike never hide his face there be here Soul-afflictive spiritual Agonies from a sense of Gods anger and doubts of his love those also shall cease but they shall live under the smiles of his face and light of his countenance without interruption But thus in that as to fredom from all evil as 2 Cor. 5.4 so sin is swallowed up of grace and holiness the remainders of sin and sorrow that hang about us in this state of Imperfection are utterly swallowed up and abolished by that perfect holiness and perfect happiness that there is and continues for ever 2. Perfect enjoyment of all good It is not a meer negative happiness that the Saints in Heaven partake of viz. a not being miserable an absence of evil but also the positive presence and enjoyment of all good Psal 16.11 Joy is from the presence of good and full joy from the satisfying fulness of all good Under this Head may be comprised those great and glorious things that make up and compleat the positive happiness of the Saints in Heaven and were pointed to in the description As viz. 1. Full fruition or enjoyment of God perfect glorious and full communion with God the God of Glory God Father Son and Holy Ghost This is the main and the essence of the Happiness of Heaven It is not a carnal or sensual thing standing in bodily carnal pleasures and delights as Pagans and Mahometans teach and sensual Spirits dream but spiritual divine and coelestial standing in the enjoyment of God and communion with him This we have some little tast of here but being there in perfection it makes up perfect blessedness for mans blessedness lies in fruition of God the chief Good whom he was made for and in whom is that infinite fulness of all good that is able to satisfie and make happy the soul of man and to be the endless joy thereof It is not Creatures Crowns Kingdoms not a
that little representation of Heaven Mat. 17.3 There will not want orderly Conference and Discourse and speaking one to another among that Heavenly company There you may hear of all the wonderful things that God hath done for his Church in this World yea and for each particular person The story 's of the Experiences of the Saints many of which are now lost and forgotten the Lords admirable variegate Dispensations the embroidered work of Providence when the whole piece shall be made up and finished the curious needle-work thereof the Coat of many Colours that God hath made for his Church and for all his Beloved ones in the varieties of his dealings with them It will then be spreâ—d abroad declared viewed related discoursed of at large Luther in his Comment on Genes 5. Fol. 76. Considering how shortly Moses passeth over the story of those Honourable Fathers before the Flood why that saith he is reserved for another World the last day there will be talk for Heaven then you shall see those Sages shining in Majesty and Glory and then you shall hear of them and from them what they did and what God did by or for or with them or others in their times the particular stories thereof You shall then hear what Seth did Enosh did what Cainan did Jared Enoch Methuselah did and suffered too the stories of which times shall live and be revived in Heaven to the Glory of God and joyful delight of the Saints having also before that been represented at the great day of Judgement the like you may see of other persons and times For God will not lose any of his works nor the Glory of them Psal 104.31 both of Creation and Providence But consider how sweet is the Communion Company and Converse of Gracious Saints here on earth How do your hearts burn in Godly Conference as Luk. 24.32 when you can get in though much adoe to get into it here for worldly matters and unsavory hearts But those that are Savory and Spiritual and Breath much of Christ and Grace in their Speeches what Life and Sweetness do you find therein it may be you smell of their Company a good while after your hearts are somewhat the more Savory for it But what then will the Converse and Company of the Saints in Heaven be when there shall be no sin no defect either in Spâ—akâ—r or Hâ—arers no impertinencies in their speeches â—o unsavoriness every one full of God full of wisdom and holiness c. You will truly say it is good being here when you have not Mâ—ses and Elias only but Christ withall the thousands of his Saints about you as Mat. 17.4 It is a phrase often used of dying Saints in Scripture that they were gathered to their people Genes 25.8 and 35.29 and 49.33 Numb 20.24 Deutr. 32.50 there in the other world in Heaven is the great Congregation gathering together or Assembling of the peoplâ— of God there they meet and come togethâ—r and shall be together forever We think Death takes and rends and carries men away from their people from their Friends Relations Brethren But the Saints by Death are more properly gathered to ther people so the Scripture speaks respecting not this inconsiderable but the other world As the removal of the Travailer from the Inne sâ—parates him indeed from the people i. e. strangers at the Inne but gathers him to his own people at home So Death carries the Saints from a Forreign Coâ—â—â—ry to their home and from strangers in comparison to their own people to â—â—ose that are wholly and only without mixture their own people Heb. 12.23 You must die and go to Hâ—aven if you will câ—me to the great meeting and Congregation of the people of God there is the Center the Country the City where you shall find them all there they shall all meet and live together forever And hence by the way mind one help to know whether you be like to go to Heaven or no men for Heaven viz. Are you for the Company and Communion and inseperable fellowship of the pâ—ople of God the Saints and faithful in Christ is your delight in them Psal 16.3 your love to them 1 Joh. 3.14 18. would you have your lot among them And if there be any person or people that have more of Gods Image upon them Grace and Presence in and with them than others those you are most endeared to Do your hearts cleave to the people of God and to their Holy Communion and Fellowship and Interest desiring to be one of them to stand and fall to rejoyce and mourn to live and die with them Verily you must be gathered to the people of God now if you will be gathered to them then for all that Communion both with God and his people that is perfected in Heaven is begun on Earth you must be their Companions now Psal 119.63 If you will have their company then You must be of them and for them and take your lot among them now and desire to walk in Holy Fellowship with them in all the Ordinances of God if you will be so then Yea though they be under suffering and affliction and contempt in the World you must not let that pull you away or make you stand off from them Heb. 11.25 26. As with Christ so with his people for they go together you must suffer with them if you will reign with thâ—m you must take your lot among them now whether of peace or trouble if you will have a lot among them in Heavenly Glory In the story of the Arrian Persecutions there is a passage of one who was but a Youth a Boy who when a Company of Holy Martyrs were to be put into a Ship and burned together he hastened after to be among them to whom a Seducer said Why hastest thou my prety Child unto Death let them go they are Mad take my Counsâ—l and thou shalt not only have life but great advancement in the Kings Court. To whom the Lad answered you shall not get me from the Fellowship of thâ—se Holy men who bred me up with whom I lived in the fear of God and with whom I desire to die and with whom I trust I shall obtain the Glory to come And so being all put into the Ship they were burned together Oh be with the people of God and cleave to them one arth yea willing at Gods call in any regular way to suffer with them in a suffering condition Think not nay desire not to stand when the people of God fall if you would be with them in Heaven If you Espouse or prefer another Interest the Interest of Estate that you love your Estates better than you love the people of God or their welfare or of ease or of quiet or worldly Greatness before the Interest of the people of God and you will stand at a distance from them for the sake of such things If something else be more predominant in you then
the love of God and of his people and those two go together 1 Joh. 4.20 and 5.1 Mat. 25.40 45. surely you are not principled for Heaven nor can have any good evidence of your going thither To be for God and for his people should be our All on Earth our whole desire and designe 2 Cor. 5.13 as that shall be our All in Heaven to enjoy Communion with God in the sweet Communion and Feâ—lowship of his Saints that is Heaven and that is the desire and aime of every Gracious Saint on Earth Of our Communion with Angels in Heaven I shall not speak particularly What it is and the manner of it will be known when you come there But as by Christ we are brought into a Fellowship and Coâ—munion with the Holy Elect Angels Hâ—b 12.22 who should else have been forever in Fellowship with Dâ—vils Mat. 25.41 so that Commuâ—â—on will thâ—â— be pâ—â—fâ—ctâ—d and knowâ— fully as it is hâ—râ— initiâ—l imperfâ—ct and but little known As the Saints when Glorified shall in their qualiâ—iâ—s and manner of â—â—â—ing be more like unto the Aâ—gelâ— Mâ—â— 22.30 So will â—hâ—â— then he câ—pâ—ble of moâ—â— Communion with tâ—â—m thâ—n now If there be joy among thâ— Angâ—lâ— wâ—en a sinnâ—r enters into the Kingdom of â—râ—câ— by Repentance Luk. 15.10 what joy wâ—ll then be when all the Saints shall come in the Kingdom of Glory The Angels Mâ—nister to the Saints by the way â—o Heaven Hebr. 1.14 and conduct them thither when thâ—y die Luk. 16.22 with what mutual joy will thâ—y all then be entertain'd there It will thâ—n be known what good Officâ—s the Holy Angels have done for the Saints here both for particular persons and Churches and places in their Ministring â—o and foâ— thâ—m how they have oâ—posed counterminâ—d thâ—â—r 〈◊〉 both Dâ—vils and wicked men what not able services those Courtiers and Curâ—iers of Heaven have been sent from Heaven upon by the Lord Jesus Christ on the behalf of his people into Courts of Princes and other great motions of the wheels of Divine Providence Dan. 10.13.20 Ezek. 1.5 How thâ—y have Guarded Defended Succoured in many dangers being faithfull to their Charge and Trust Psal 91.11 12. and 34.7 They now do us good turns and we know it not But surely all shall be known then as well as tâ—â—se pâ—rfect instances that are set down in Scripture But all to the Glory of God and Christ by whom thâ—y wâ—re imployed And to the further Joy and Comfort of the Faithful in the sense of Love of God who hâ—th so inclined and imployed the Glorious Angâ—ls to do for them And then will Saints and Angels in one Triumphant Society admirably joyn in Praising and Glorifying God for all his wonderful Works and in special for the Mâ—stâ—riâ—s of Christ and Marvels of his Redâ—mption which the Angels are eminently delightâ—d with 1 Pet. 1.12 Ephes 3.10 as â—uk 2.13.14 Oh that ever worms of Dust sinful man should be lift up to the place and state of Angels yea in some respects higher in regard of their nearer Relation to Christ their Head who as 1 Pet. 3.22 fellow Citizens and fellow Courtiers with them in the Heavenly place which was properly their own Habitation Jud. 6. Mat. 22.30 Luk. 2 15. to partake with them in the Beatifical Vision Mat. 18.10 and to bear a part with them in the praises of God Vse A word of Incouragement and Establishment to the people of God and that in the midst of troubles here in this World They need heartning on while here below under Temptations and Tribulations why a sight and thought of Heaven and of the Rest and Recompence there is enough to do it Hebr. 11.25 26. Even when the Interest of Piety and of the truly Pious is laid low in the World and despised among men and they that are for Heaven in earnest are counted a company of Foolish Humoursom Mad Fanatical people why if that be to be foolish to be for Heaven in good earnest and sixed in the way thither i. e. in the way of the Rule not to be turned out of the way by the smiles or frowns of all the World if that be folly be more foolish still as 2 Sam. 6.22 Heaven is the best choice when all is done and it is the truest wisdome to chuse that and not to stick at all the Tribulations that ley in the way The Psalmist begun to think he had made an ill bargain when he was chastened all the day long and the wicked prospered on earth c. But having God for his Portion Psal 17 24.73 And keeping with God in the way of Faith and Obedience that is the way to Heaven fear not all this World nor all the Tribulations thereof Luk. 12.32 Consider 1. All that Satan or the World can do cannot reach to Heaven where your Portion and Treasure lyes Mat. 6.20 They work but upon the earth the troubles about you here are but earthly troubles But your business is in Heaven your hope is laid up in Heaven Colos 1.5 your trade is for Heaven if Christians indeed and that cannot be obstructed by any imbargoes on Earth 2. If God will bring you to Heaven then he will not let you miscarry or be lost in the mid-way If he have called you to Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus then all the Sufferings in the mean while shall not interrupt it Rom. 8.30 nothing can break that Chain v. 31 35 39. nothing in all this World can or shall cut you off from Heaven and Glory or from the Everlasting Love and Fellowship of God to be enjoyed there If that be indeed the choice of your Souls that you refuse all this World and choice Heaven chuse the Fruition of God in Christ for your Portion if you make Moses's chooce Heb. 11.24 26. and Paul's choice 2 Cor. 4.18 and that choice the Lord propounds to every one Mark 10.21 why then Heaven you shall have and God ingages it and hath appointed you to it Heb. 11.16 why then he will not lose you bâ— the way in the Croud of Worldly Temptaâ—â—onâ— or troubles but will keep you and carry you through by his own power 1. Pet. 1.5 â—3 Instead of hindring all things and espeâ—ially the oppositions and troubles of the Truth shall but help you on toward Heaven and further your Glory there 2 Cor. 4.17 Sanctâ—fied Tribulations and Suffering for Christs sake or in obedience to his will they help to greaten your Crown and Reward in Heaven Mat. 5.11 12. they help you with an Evidence for Heaven Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.11 12. 2 Thess 1.4 5. And they help to quicken and drive you on in the way to Heaven to make faster speed thither being Sanctified unto the exercise of Grace and to awake Faith Prayer Weanedness from the World esteem of Heaven more Converse there c. Heb. 11.9 10 13 14 16. Oh what can hurt the people of God whose faces are toward Heaven looking seeking pressing after
Eternal or Everlâ—sting It is Eternal Glory in the Text so 2 Cor 5.1 Heb. â— 15 Mat. 24.46 Psal 16.11 Eternal i. e. It shall be and continue without interruption and without End 1. Without Interruption It shall at no time be discontinued broken off interrupted intermitted but a permanent Glory alwayes fresh and green without fading or declining 1 Pet. 1.4 not suffering any winter or fall of Lease but in a perpetual Spring Here our Communion with God and enjoyment is marvellously interrupted and broken By that time you are well in you are put out again By that time your Harp is well in Tune and begins to sound well you are fain to lay it aside Wordly occasions Bodily necessities take you off and interrupt your talk with God and with his Word and with your own Hearts By that time the heart be well warmed at an Ordinance on a Sabbath and you begin to see its good being here and to tast and take in the sweetness of Communion with God the Ordinance the Sabbath is at an end you can be but a while together in Godly Conference for a turn and away you must part and break off necessarily But when in Heaven no Interruption no breaking off a full spring-tyde without any Ebb. Yea there is there no Interruption of the Act of Grace and comfort of it and feeling thereof not only the state and the habit abides the same so it does here when actual Communion and the sweet lively feeling Heavenly Actings and Ebullitions of Grace are Intermitted yet the habit and spirit thereof abides still But the Glorious Heavenly â—weet pleasant Acts of Grace are perpetual Psal 16.11 Pleasure is from the pleasant actual fruition of good and so Heavenly pleasures from the actual enjoyment of Gâ—d and of his Beatifical presence and gracious actings upon him and those Pleasures there are for evermore What is here tasted in an Ordinance Psal 36.8 and 65.4 is there perpetual and that in fulness so Mat. 18.10 the Beatifical Vision or Communion or Fruition those are but the same thing in divers words is never interrupted Heaven is a day without night a Summer without a Winter a Flood without an Ebb a Morning without Clouds a blissful Communion with God without Interruption Variety of exercise there may be in Heaven and variety of truths and Acts and Contemplations the Saints may be busied about for they cannot take in all at once but all serving to continue and carry on their fruition of God and the Bliss and Glory thereof 2. Without End The Happiness and Glory of the Saints in Heaven shall never never have an end but continue to all eternity as long as Heaven is Heaven as long as God is God This implyes that 1. It shall never be lost by or taken away from any Saint in Heaven nor shall he ever fall from it or be removed from it bereaved of it once in Heaven and ever there once put on that Crown of Glory it shall never fall from thy Head Adam was in a good condition in Paradise once but he lost it fell from it and so he was driven out of Paradise being in that honour he continued not as Ps 49. and hence we may say as Lam. 5.16 But no danger of that there All that are carried to Heaven are there set in an immutable estate by Christ Jesus Some have been for a falling away on Earth But none ever so much as dreamed of a falling away in Heaven Neither Devil nor sin yet came thither to rob them of that Glory Mat. 6.20 Hence this Heavenly Glory will be properly your own never to pass away from you Luk. 16.12 Nor 2. Shall it ever expire or come to an end either by the Cessation of the Saints Being or of their Glory No change or alteration shall ever put an end to it But it shall continue forever and ever World without end This is the Crown of that Crown of Glory that it is Eternal Everlasting never to be lost never come to an end This damps and imbitters all Earthly Joyes and Comforts that they are but Temporary you must leave them or they you they are but a fashion that passeth away But this unspeakably sweetness Heavens Joyes that they shall continue for ever it shall alwayes be thus No danger or possibility of losing or ending this Happiness This Ever is the stinging torment of the damned in Hell and it is the the ravishing Joy of the Glorified in Heaven The length of time that we have or hope to have in any thing adds unspeakably to the sweetness and Comfort of it Luk. 12.19 The Worldling feigns to himself a kind of Eternity in his Possessions and Enjoyments else he could not look at himself so happy as he does Psal 39.11 That was Davids Contentment 2 Sam. 7.18 19. Oh then how Joyful is that Joy how Heavenly that Heaven how Glorious is that Glory that hath this ingredient to be in truth not in fancy or dream Eternal Not for many years only but for ever for more thousands and millions of years than their be Grass-piles on the Earth or Sands on the Sea-shore To make some use of this last particular the Eternity of Heavenly Glory Vse 1. Hence see how infinitely Heaven's Glory weighs down out-bids and outmatches all this present World both the good things and the evil things thereof 1. All the good of the Earth of this World is but Temporal all this world can give us no Eternal good things The Earth hath riches but no Eternal Riches Pleasures but no Eternal Pleasures Heb. 11.25 26 Honour and Greatness but no Eternal Honour Psal 49.12 It is a poor Glory that this world hath not worth the name of Glory it is but a paint a fashion that passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 though called Glory by sensual Worldlings Genes 31.1 These momentary fading things what are they to Eternal Glory Oh foolish and unwise are they that fell Heaven for Earth Eternal Glory for present contentments That will rather leave Treasures in Heaven than leave and forsake those things Mark 10.21 22. the greatest Possessions here are not great no great matter a trifle a nothing a shadow compar'd with Treasure in Heaven Luk. 16.10 11 12. 2. The evil things the Sufferings Troubles Tribulations of the World that lye in the way to Heaven and that the World does or can bring upon the faithful they are small matters compar'd with the Glory that they are passing to Rom. 8.18 for these Sufferings are but for a little while but that Glory that follows is Eternal 1 Pet. 5.10 so 2 Cor. 4.17 who would stick at a few moments trouble and travel to go unto Eternal Rest and Glory If God call you to travel for Heaven through a few paces of troublesome and dirty way through a few dayes of trouble and tryal Revel 2.10 Is it not a shame to boggle at this or to think it an hard bargain or to be diverted and
turned out of the straight way to Heaven by such things as 2 Pet. 1.11 The Scriptures have told us before-hand of Sufferings and Tryals and therefore it should be no strange thing to meet with them But it hath also told us and set before us the Glory that shall follow this should swallow up the other and make us endure them easily Hebr. 12.2 and 11.26 2. Hence it is that that is worth looking and seeking after bending all our desires and endeavours to obtain viz. the Happiness and Glory of Heaven for it is Eternal and 2 Cor. 4.18 Eternal things should be the things we look at and after as our scope as the word is our aime mark and designe To lay out our selves about Temporal things and make them our maine business is a great folly Prov. 23.5 Psal 39.6 Men are busie about this and that about many things but there is but one great business Luk. 10.41 42. to provide for Eternity to get and make sure of that good part that shall last for ever and never be taken away from us And 3. With what study earnestness care and seriousness with what intention of mind what Ardency of affâ—ction should we look after Heaven For Eternal Glory and Salvation is a great matter a great object we had not need be slight or negligent about such a thing about a business of Eternal Concernment It is said of Zerxes that Elegant Painter when asked why he spent so much time and labour about what he did when others turned off their work apace that he answered Ego propter Etermitatem pingo I paint for Eternity that that should stand and continue in after times We in a more proper and full sense may say we act for Eternity and therefore we had need be more intense and exact when as we pray for Eternity ask Eternal life of God hear for Eternity follow God for Eternity come to Christ Jesus for Eternal and Everlasting Life How Serious Hearty Affectionate Fervent Intense should those Prayers Duties Comings be Why that is that we are seeking after if in earnest to lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 19. Oh with what fear and trembling care and diligence should we pursue that business Come not slightly to Christ in a negligent careless manner or with a piece of thy Heart when thou comest for Eternal Life c. The Salvation Christ holds forth and calls to attend unto and come and follow him for is Great Salvation for it is Eternal Salvation Oh be not negligent about that Hebr. 2.3 and 5.9 how humbly obedient unto him Oh with what an humble Heartiness Affection Seriousness Thankfulness whole heart should a poor sinner come and look to Christ imbrace and cling to him hang on him for deliverance from Eternal Death and for the gift of Eternal Life how precious is that Grace Rom. 5.21 for Rom. 6.23 SERMON IV. 3. IT follows to consider of the degrees of this future Glory as it is enjoyed 1. In Soul after Death 2. Both in Soul and Body at and after the Resurrection and last Judgement In the former state the Saints have a more incompleat though sweet and excellent in the latter a more compleat full and perfect enjoyment of this Glory I shall not speak of the different degrees of Glory in Heaven comparing one Saint with another Though that seems to be a truth that as we see there are dissâ—ring degrees of Grace and Holiness here and God distributes more eminent Gifts and Graces to one than to another not withstanding that the Imputation of Righteousness in Justification be equal to all so there will be in Glory hereafter When God shall Crown his own Graces in his Saints Every one shall not have such a Crown as Paul to whom the Fruits of his Ministry will then add to his Crown and rejoycing 1 Thes 2.19 nor be set next to Christ as some shall be Mat. 20.23 there will not want order in the Heavenly Mansions nor variety mixed with Identity wherein the Lord delights viz. Calvin Instit lib. 3. cap. 25. Sect. 10. and in Mat. 13.43 and 20.1 16. Bucan Loc. com pag. 446. Leigh's Body Divinity pag. 872. But only somewhat of the Glory of the Saints in those two â—â—ates the state of the Soul in its separation from the Body after their re-union which all the Saints that die do pass through Here 1. Consider the Glory and Happiness enjoyed by the Soul in its separate state after death from thence to the Resurrection 2. The Accession or increase or more compleat fulness of Glory that followes upon the re-union of the Soul and Body at and after the Resurrecion 1. The Souls of the Faithful do after death immediatly pass into Glory even that Glory that we have before spoken of The substance whereof they do enjoy in as perfect a degree or in as full a measure as the Soul in its separate state is capable of though there is a further degree and fulness of Glory reserved for the whole man upon re-union of the Soul and Body of which afterward the Soul of a Saint is presently Glorified after death though the Body be not It presently enters into peace Isa 57.2 Rest and Consolation Luk. 16.22 25 Into Blessedness and Glory Revel 14.13 from henceforth from this time from the time of their death and so on forward they are in blessedness and rest no fear of passing through paines of Purgatory for a time as Papists had taught before the Light of the Gospel broke forth The Souls of the Saints departed do enjoy that Heavenly Glory that we have spoken of For 1. They are at Death immediatly made perfect in Grace and Holiness Heb. 12.23 perfectly freed from all sin and endued with all heavenly perfection of mind and will of which what it is we spoke before Death puts an end to the death of sin in the Saint he rests from the Labour and Burden thereof and he is clothed with perfect Holiness fit for that place of Heaven and Heavenly presence of God which he is passing into 2. They enjoy the Beatifical vision and Glorious presence and Fellowship of God and Christ Philip. 1.23 No sooner departed and the union of the Soul and Body dissolved by death but he in his Soul is with Christ 2 Cor. 5 6 8. as soon as absent from the body and that is the Soul departed that is absent from the Body and while absent in its seperate estate If Paul be absent from the Body it is in his Soul which is there and oft in Scripture called man he is present with the Lord. When Stephen falls asleep by death the Lord Jesus receiveth his Spirit or Soul Act. 7.59 so Psal 49.15 Eccles 12.7 3. The Soul departed enjoyes in some way and some degree the Company and Communion of other Souls and Spirits of the Blessed Heb. 12.23 The Soul of Lazarus is with Abraham and so with all the Saints the Children of Abraham that
being made a Spiritual Body i. e. perfectly subject and conformable to the Spirit and Noble operations of the Soul It will be an help not an hinderance and so an advantage and incouragement to the Soul and to the whole man in taking in those pleasures that are above As the Souls or the Saints state of subsisting will be more perfect and compleat when re-united so will its operation be The Saint will then with bodily eyes behold the man Christ this is more then he did before with infinite contentation that Job put an Emphasis upon that with those eyes he should see God Job 19.25 26 27. with Bodily Ears hear and Tongue utter forth the Praises of God With and through Bodily senses act upon and take in the Glory of Heavenly objects Christ and the Saints c. this is a great Addition to what was before 4. There shall then be a manifestation of the Glory of the Saints unto the whole World This is an eminent and remarkable accession of Glory that shall be to the Saints at the Resurrection and last Judgment And when the Scriptures extoll the Glory that shall be then it hath special respect unto this The Glory that the Saints have on Earth and also that which they have now in Heaven in their Souls it is a secret and hidden thing from the World they go up and down the World now under a mean outside and look like other men and they do to visible appearance as others do and their Bodies are carried to the Graves as others and turned to the dust And whither their Souls go is not known their Happiness is an unseen thing by any other eye but that of Faith But then it shall be revealed and made manifest to the wonderful Glory of God and to their singular comfort and advancement Rom. 8.18 Now the Saints have only concealed Glory hidden under a cloud of sufferings under the Image of the Earthly Adam which go to the Grave with them but then revealed not only to them in a word and promise but in and upon them in real and visible accomplishment 1 Joh. 3.1 2. Colos 3.3 4. Neither Christ nor Christians do now appear to a blind World as they be but then they shall then their Glory shall be made manifest unto all So 2 Thes 1.10 Vid. Dutch Annot. Consider a little here 1. To whom 2. Of what this manifestation shall then be 1. The Glory of the Saints shall at the last day be manifest to all the World to Men Angels Devils in the most publick open manner as Christs proceedings with them his owning acknowledging acquitting of them shall be publick so as all men shall see and know that these men are Happy men Beloved of God the Brethren of Christ Vessels of Glory and Partakers of the Kingdom In special 1. They shall then be manifested one to another We hope well now of the good state of the dying Saints Friends Relations but then we shall be fully certain when we shall meet them in the Congregation of the Righteous and at the right hand of Christ at the great day and see them finding Mercy of the Lord at that day as 2 Tim. 1.18 when the Parents shall meet the Children and the Friend his Friends Brethren and gracious Acquaintance there among the sheep at Christs Right hand This happily may be known by the Souls departed before in Heaven But most fully and openly then which is the time when every one hath his publick and open Judgment to be seen of all though he had his personal private and particular Judgment before But besides they shall not only know each others state in General but in Particular hear of and behold the Graces and Gracious Actings of the Faithful their Brethren in Christ and all the Gracious dealings of God with them the whole progress of his Love from first to last laid open then in that Revelation-day the day of Judgement 1 Cor. 4.5 this will endear them each to other 2. To all the wicked and Reprobates both Men and Devils To those that have despised opposed Reproached Scorned Persecuted Insulted over them here As it was said of Christ when Judged Abused and Despitefully used Mat. 26.64 So it may be said of Christians hereafter shall the wicked yea those same persons that here abused them see them arrayed in Robes of Glory and sitting on Thrones as their Judges sitting on the Throne with Christ Revel 3.21 For as Christ shall appear so shall the Saints also appear with him in Glory Colos 3.4 The Saints shall Judge wicked Men and Devils and surely they shall see and know and behold them sit as their Judges 1 Cor. 6 2 3. so Luk. 13.18 They that here counted them mad-men Fanatical Frantick Conceited Humoursom Foolish Creatures shall then see that they made the wisest choice c. They did not so much despise them now as they shall admire them then 2 Thes 1.10 2. Of what there will be a manifestation or what in special will then be manifested of and concerning the Saints and their Glory to all the World viz. 1. Their Graces and good Works the service they have done for God both in doing and suffering Eccles 12.14 The good works of the Godly as well as the evil Works of the wicked shall then be laid open 1 Cor. 4.5 i. e. Every good man for what is good so 1 Pet. 1.7 A tryed Faith that hath held out through many tryalls shall then be held up before the World and Commended Praised Honoured by the Lord Jesus which will not be so much the Commendation of themselves as of his own Grace and work in them For all is of him their good works the acts and the fruits of their Graces even such as themselves can hardly tell how to own He will own them and speak of them before all the World Mat. 25.35 40. though they be poor things in themselves and as from them yet as they are the fruit of his Spirit and Grace in them the stamp of his own Image the effects of sincere love to him The poor but childish actings of his children here the things he hath made Gracious Promises to and so he will make much of them and put an honour upon them before the World Mat. 10.32 Luk. 12.8 Revel 3.5 The Lord Jesus will confess acknowledge and own every one of them before all the World and will confess all they have done for him He will say these are they that have continued with me in my Temptations Luk. 22.28 that have preferred a good Conscience before all Riches and Honours that renounced the World to follow me fully that forsook all for me and loved not their Lives to the Death These are my Brethren Sisters Friends Mother that have done the will of my Father Mat. 12.49 50. He will not be ashamed of us then if we be not ashamed of him now 2. Their Crown of Happiness and Glory which the Lord hath laid
when they are all come together When the Body Mystical is entire and full then it hath its fullest Beauty Comfort and Glory For every member addeth something and there is in some sort a defect while any one is wanting For the Joy and Glory of every member of the Body is the Joy and Glory of the whole and every one serves to compleat the Communion and Comfort of the whole And when the Lord hath all his Children about him none are miâ—sing Christ all his Members with him the Mansions of Heaven filled up with all the Vessels of Glory set in order in their places as it shall be after the day of Judgment and so â—o all Eternity with what ineffable delight will the Lord open to them all the Treasures and Riches of his Glory and what wonderful ravishing matter of Praising and Glorfying God and what compleat comfort therein which must needs raise up the Joy and Glory of the Saints unto the greatest height and highest possible perfection Vse Of this plenary compleat Glory that the Saints are to have at the last day and not till then 1. Be not stumbled or troubled and offended at the clouds of darkness the mean outside and seeming ingloriousness and obscurity that is upon the people of God and upon the work of God in the World at the present For the time of the manifestation of the Sons of God and of the discovery of their Glory and of the finishing of Gods work referring to them is not yet come Marvel not to see the Saints go up and down under mean and outward misery to see them poor and low sick and crazy and dying and Bodies turned to dust as well to see them sweating under many afflâ—ctions and sorrows lying among the pots black with the soot of many troubles Why now their Glory must be hid from the World and it must not yet appear what men of quality they are they must pass Incognito and go in some disguise through the World though the Sons of God and Princes of Heaven they must not appear in that state at present But this present hiding will set off their appearance and manifestation with greater Lustre another day to see them on Thrones whom you have sometimes seen in vile raiment whom you would hardly deigne to look upon will be the greater wonder and Glory tâ— him who lifts the poor out of the dust and the needy from off the dunghill It may be they are despised now but you shall one day see them in so much honour as you will wish you had honoured them as the pious do Psal 15.4 how poor soever does he fear the Lord honour him highly if you will not Christ will honour him one day before men and Angels But he 'l be ashamed of you if you be ashamed of him or of his Members and people now Jam. 2.5 6. And stumble not at Gods work because 't is now wrapt in Clouds why it is not yet come to its Issue it is but a doing Children and fools they say must not look on things half done we are so foolish we cannot see into the beauty of Gods work while it is but half done not made up and finished When the Mystery of God shall be finished Rev. 10.7 and all Providences come to their Issues the whole story wrought up then when God shall bring forth his embroidered curious work compleat and finished then it will and shall appear Beautiful and Glorious before all the World the black pieces the darker lines and coulers illustrating the other when set together which look'd upon alone shew unhandsome When all the confusions that are in the World shall Issue in goodly order and every thread every stitch appear to have been drawn by Art which now seem to go in and out this way and that way and we can make nothing of them as if a Child should look upon a Curious Needle-woman at work on some piece he would see little in it how will God be admired as Psal 139.14 15.16 so it is with all that work that is formed in the womb of Providence in the time of this World which in that great Revelation-day the day of Judgment that Birth-day of the manifested Glory of the Sons of God and of the work of God shall appear to have been most curiously wrought as with Needle-work though now it is obscure and secret to us Oh the praises God will have then Vse 2. Hence see that our Eyes and Hearts should be upon that day that last and great day the day of Redemption and Glory of Resurrection and Judgment that is to come That is the great day Jud. 6. this the time of this World is but a little day in comparison this is mans day 1 Cor. 4.3 But that is the day of God the day of the Lord 2 Pet. 3.12 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Thess 5.2 Paul's eye and heart was upon that day 2 Tim. 1.12 18. and 4.8 We are all for this day this present time and present things alas they are not to be mentioned to that day Rom. 8.18 Oh make sure of being well on 't at the last day owned and confessed and saved at that day and you are well enough There is a time to come lay a good foundation for that 1 Tim. 6.19 so carry it in this day as you may be owned in that Now own Christ and own his people and be not ashamed of the Chain of their Sufferings if you would find mercy at the day Remember these Scriptures 2 Tim. 1.16 18. Mat. 25.34 to 40. Mat. 10.32.33 Luk 9.26 Mark 8.38 Is there any word or any truth of Christ any rule of his any part of his mind which you are ashamed on because the times do not favour it because men frown upon it Oh tremble at that lest the Lord Jesus be ashamed to own thee at that day Oh labour to have such thoughts of things and such affections toward them as you will have at that day How will you think of sin then Of duty then Of Cleaving to Christ and to his people then Of Zeal for the Glory of God then Of diligence in seeking God in Prayer and Meditation then Will you not then wish you had made more wrestling and weeping instead of sleeping and wording Prayer That you had hearkned diligently to Christ c. Oh now do as you would wish to have done then SERMON V. 2. IT follows now a little to Consider and set forth the Glory of the Saints in Heaven this Eternal Glory that is reserved for the faithful in the World to come in a Comparative way by the Comparisons and Considerations as may evidence to us the greatness and goodness the transcendant excellency of this Glory This way the Apostle lead us to in Rom. 8.18 by comparing with other things which now seem great to us as great afflictions and so other great things in this World which yet are nothing to it we may see the exceeding
greatness thereof There be sundry obvious Comparisons from the less to the greater and some other Argumentative Considerations I shall put both together which may familiarly shew and Realize to us the greatness and excellency of this Glory Comp. 1. Consider what great things God gives out of his Common bounty even to wicked men in this World What then will he give out of his special and everlasting love to his own Children and Friends in Heaven Worldly and wicked men which are his Slaves yea enemies and appointed to destruction yet in the present time of patience and bounty the Lord cuts out to many of them great things such things as the World accounts very great and as are great in themselves though compared with Heavenly things are very little Riches Wealth Thousands and Ten Thousands of Gold and Silver Sumptuous Buildings Houses full of all Good Things Lands and Livings c. Yea sometimes Crowns and Kingdoms Scepters and Dominions of vast extent the Splendor whereof even of that Glory that sometimes worldly men are arrayed with even dazles the eyes of beholders Sometimes men of the World do glitter and glister with Glory an earthly Glory and Splendor such as strikes an awe and admiration into beholders Psal 49 16. Dan. 2.31 37 38. and 5.18 19. why if such be the Glory of the earth given to the earthly and wicked men What will be the true Glory of Heaven that God will bestow upon the Vessels of Glory there Luther sometimes called the Turkish Empire that vast Empire containing so many swelling Titles and large Dominions a Bone or Crum which God threw to that great Dog the Turk Such vast Empires and Kingdoms God hath sometimes given unto the worst and basest of men Dan. 4.17 How vitious and vile have the Turkish Sultans and many other Heathnish Princes been so Antiochus the illustrious a vile person Dan. 11.21 Why if God have such Crums to throw to the Dogs of the house what is the whole Loaf that he reserves for his Children If this great King of Heaven do keep his Prisoners so well during the few dayes of their Respit and Reprieve from Execution as look upon the brave accommodations and great Possâ—â—sions c. of the men of the World they are but as the fair Room of a Prison where eminent Malefactors are kept and well tended till they be brought forth to Execution Joh. 21.7 12 30. What will he do for his Children and Heirs who shall be with him in his own Palace for ever Psal 17.14 15. Some men of the World which have their Portion in this Life have a great Portion here even their Belly full as much as heart can wish as much of sensitive worldly good as they can possibly take in all manner of abundance of earthly delicates and this out of God his Treasure because it is hid and laid up in the several store-houses of this lower World Earth Air and Sea and brought forth by the workings of his Providence and bestowed upon them So that these things are given out of Gods Treasury by his common bounty to the men of the World And if you speak of what Earth can afford they are great things that are most given to them But David hath a greater perfection than all this Ps 171.5 But thus look upon the consolation that many wicked men have here Luk 16.25 and 6.24 which must needs be a poor thing Luk. 16.10 11. a nothing compared with the portion of the chosen Saints of God in Heaven when God shall set himself to pour out Love and Mercy into those Vessels thereof and yet often it is much it is strange to see what God hath given to some vile men this way as that they are ready to be cryed up for the only happy men This is a ready and useful meditation when we read in story of the Magnificence Riches and Greatness of Worldly men or see and observe any instances thereof to think oh then what is the Glory and Happiness that God hath prepared not of the same kind for worldly sensitive delights scrued up to the height but an Happiness of an higher a Spiritual and Caelestial nature for them that love him and for the subjects of his everlasting love in another World if there be so much given unto Enemies in this Comp. 2. Consider what the Saints enjoy in this World I mean not of outward things so much for they often have but little that way they shall not usually have very much of Earth lest they forget Heaven but of Spiritual and Heavenly Comforts and good things their fore-tasts of future Glory they are often exceeding sweet and precious a thousand times better than all the Earthly outward enjoyments of worldly men Yet all they have here is but a taste but an earnest an handfull of first fruits Epes 1.14 Rom. 8.23 What then is and will be the full draught the whole bargain the whole Harvest in Heaven Their best condition here is but a condition of absence from the Lord compared with that presence they shall have hereafter 2 Cor. 5.6 8. If God send to them such tokens and tasts of his Love in their absence What will he pour out upon them when they shall be present with him Consider it in two or three Particulars 1. The Communion the Saints have with God in his Ordinances here Oh how sweet is it Psal 84.10 What then is a day in Heaven yea Eternity there The World knows not nor can they well express the sweet incomes they have the heart-raising yea ravishing Communion the Quicknings Gracious Breathings the Comforts they meet with in Prayer sometimes in Hearing the Word a Christian said Mr. Dod is half in Heaven sometimes in Singing of a Psalm in Meditation Psal 63.5 6. in Gracious Spiritual Conference Luk. 24.32 In the Sacrament of the Supper where they are refreshed as with new Wine Why if dark glimpses through these glasses of the Ordinances be so sweet and Glorious 2. Cor. 3.18 what then will the sight face to face be 1 Cor. 13.12 The Ordinances of God and Communion with him therein is unspeakably better than the best of Earthly and Worldly Enjoyments Galeacious his Speech Psal 119.72 But all that Communion the Saints have here is but a little compared with that shall be in Heaven there is full Communion there they are present now in Comparison absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 2. The special Joyes and Comforts of the Holy Ghost that the Lords Faithful Gracious ones do at times tast and partake of in this life Their ordinary constant Communion is precious but they have also some extraordinary Consolations and sheddings abroad of the Love of God sometimes when under great Sufferings and Tryals as the Martyrs whose Consolations have been wonderful and singular as their Sufferings were sometimes after long sickness and weakness and in preparation for sore Conflicts sometimes on Sick and Dying Beds Oh the Peace that passeth
understanding the Joy unspeakable and Glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 the ravishing Consolations in the sense of the Love of God which the faithful have at times been feasted with such as in Comparison whereof all the Comforts of the whole World all the Riches Honours Pleasures upon Earth are but a dry Chip such as the surpassing sweetness and Glory whereof cannot be expressed And yet this but a little taste of Heaven as a drop to the Ocean of the same kind indeed with the Glory that is there but as an earnest Penny of a great and Rich Bargain A drop of the Joy of the Holy Ghost excells all the Rivers of Worldly outward sensual Comforts and Joyes which the men of the World swim in Psal 4.6 7. but infinite drops of Worldly Joy together it will not make Heaven but of Spiritual Joy it will but this is but a drop there is an Ocean of such Joy in Heaven which the Saints shall Swim and Bath themselves in to all Eternity 3. The Visible Glory and Peace of the Church that may be enjoyed in this World before the coming of Christ Great things are spoken in Scripture of the Glorious times that are yet to come wherein Jews and Gentiles shall walk together in the Lord and the Church shall enjoy freedom from open enemies and Persecutions Isa 60.18 plenty and purity of Ordinances Ezek. 37.26 Isa 66.21 23. plentiful Effusion of the Spirit and of the Graces thereof Ezek. 39.29 Prevalency and Eminency of Truth Holiness and Peace Joel 3.17 Zephan 3.9 Godly and Gracious Civil Rulers who shall make their business to promote Truth and Holiness the honour of Christ and the welfare of his people Isa 49.23 Rev. 11.15 The special presence of God in all the wayes and means thereof among them Isa 60.19 20. Revel 21.23 And hence Honour and esteem in the sight of all men Isa 62.7 and 25.8 Revel 21.24 Why this condition of the Church will be a little Heaven upon Earth hence conceived to be described by sundry terms taken from the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven Rev. 21. and 22. and there will be much Glory in it Isa 60.1 2 7. But yet it will be far short of Heaven indeed no state of the Church on Earth shall equal the state of the Church in Heaven There will still in the best time on Earth be sin and Imperfection and Temptation and Flesh and Allurements of the World to conflict withall and many particular afflictions too from the hand of God We in this remote Corner of the World have for a long time as may be well conceived enjoyed not a little tast and specimen of this peaceable and flourishing Condition of the Church but yet we find it is not Heaven we find Corruption enough in our own hearts and in one another to keep us in a continual conflict c. In the best estate of the Church on Earth there will be still cause to sigh and groan for the coming of Christ in the day of full Redemption Rev. 22.20 The greatest Glory that ever the Church shall enjoy on Earth before the Coming of Christ to Judgment will in comparison of Heaven be inglorious for that will alwayes be a truth in this world 1 Joh. 3.3 2. But if so much Glory and such great things be to be enjoyed on Earth what then will Heaven be The thought or expectation of Glorious and Happy times on Earth instead of Carnal drawing down our minds it should raise and lift them up thither For all is but an Hansell a Taste a beginning and Inchoation of what will there be Consummate All the pledges and tasts which God does or ever will give his people on Earth they are but to quicken them to press after the prize a full draught and rest that is reserved for them Comp. 3. Consider the great sufferings troubles sorrows and afflictions that the faithful some of them especially have endured in this life those are a little matter as nothing to the future Glory in Heaven there is no Comparison between them which shews that Glory to be exceeding great Rom. 8.18 Paul's Sufferings were very great few have ever gone through more then he did had you seen much more had you felft them you would have thought them exceeding heavy 2 Cor. 11.23 27. and 6.4 5. 1 Cor. 4 9 11 12 13. 2 Tim. 3.11 yet there was no Comparison between the evil and trouble of all these and the Comfort of that Glory this did infinitely over-ballance them they hold no weight against it as the word imports 2 Cor. 4.17 Nâ—t that the affliction in these was light but because the other end of the ballance was exceeding heavy As you know though there be a considerable weight in one Scale yet if you put a far greater in the other as several hundreds against ten or twenty pound weight why the far greater fetches up the other as if it were a light thing a Feather a very nothing Why thus put into one Scale all the Afflictions that ever you felt or have seen others feel about you all Sicknesses Pains Diseases Wearisome nights and dayes thereby such Griefs as those in Job 6.2 3. All the Sufferings of the Martyrs Racks Strappadoes Burnings and exquisite new-devised Torments all the Deaths Stripes Pains Bonds Wants Reproches Afflictions that Paul went through from first to last heap them on altogether in one Scale yet Eternal Glory in Heaven being put into the other Scale it is a weight exceedingly exceeding all this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this speak the exceeding greatness of this Glory that so far so exceeding Hyperbolically weighs down all the Heaviest Afflictions that they are but as a Feather as nothing to it And yet some one of these Afflictions will weigh down all the good and Comfort of this World Let a man have a dangerous Sickness a sore Tormenting pain upon him it imbitters all yea he would willingly part with all he hath though great Riches c. to be freed from it Job 2.4 Mark 5.26 But put them altogether and they will be over-ballanced and weighed down by the Glory of Heaven even as a few Sands by a Mountain Comp. 4. Consider the Excellency and Glory of this lower World and the Cost Riches and stately workmanship that God hath expended and laid out thereupon and upon the entertainment he gives to all his Creatures there in What then is the Glory of the third Heaven and of those upper and Coelestial Mansions Gods own dwelling place And what is the Entertainment that he will give there to the Inhabitants thereof This lower World is but as a stage that is set up for a while to be taken down again It is but as the hovels and out-houses where all sorts of Creatures are kept but Heaven is the Palace the dwelling house of the Great King and appointed to be the everlasting habitation of the Blessed Joh. 14.2 1 King 8.39 43. If you should come to any Great or Wealthy
Heirs of a Kingdom is transporting glistering Happiness what a strange thing would such news be to you Why if a Believer thou art so Heirs of a Kingdom better then all the Kingdoms upon Earth an Heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 The Kingdom of God Act. 14 22. how poor and mean soever thy outward condition be Jam. 2.5 Vse 1. It serves for the Incouragement and Comfort of the people of God in reference to all the Afflictions and Tribulations that they meet with in this World We spake somewhat of this in the close of a former Exercise a word further of it now This is the Improvement the Apostle makes of this point both here in the close 1 Pet. 5.9 10. and in the beginning of the Epistle 1 Pet. 1.4.5 6. this the Scripture is oft directing us unto out of the midst of the mire and water of Afflictions and Troubles out of the dark valley of the shaddow of death to lift up our head and peep into another World look over into that wealthy place that lyes at the Journey 's end through many Tribulations c. Act 14.22 The thought and remembrance of the Kingdom that lyes at the end is the great Comfort against all the Tribulations that are in the way When Death is walking up and down and taking away here and there though it be Afflâ—ction and matter of bitter sorrow to the Living Yet to those that hopefully die in the Lord it is an happy change for they go into Eternal Glory Joh. 14.28 They go to possess to bâ—gin and enter upon the possession of this great Glory we have been speaking of We do but speak and hear on 't but they possess it they have an end of their warfare and are entred into peace and rest forever though this hinders not but that it should be laid to heart by the Living when Righteous and Pious ones Elder or younger are taken away Isa 57.1 2. when we our selves are upon the edge of the Grave and Death a drawing near when the windows of the Senses begin to be shut toward this World the sight and hearing we should open them toward another World and let the Glory of that shine into our minds and hearts Labour to make our portion therein sure by a sound a lively an often renewed and a working Faith on Christ Jesus and be much in the Contemplation of it take in the Comfort of it by sucking and chawing and taking in the promises and the fore-thoughts of it Startle not at Death nor hang back from it when as it is a passage to this Life and Glory when the Dissolving the old Tabernacle is but a drawing toward the house Eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 8. we should not be unwilling unto that So â—n other Afflictions when poor and low in the World under wants and straits if in Christ you have Riches enough in Heaven Jam. 2.5 Treasure there that none can take from you Mat. 6.20 Ephes 6.18 When under reproach unjustly you have names written in Heaven Luk. 10.20 Honour and Glory there Rom. 2.7 When fears dangers and appearances of sad Changes and troubles are before you here you have an unchangeable portion and rest in Heaven and that it is safe and secure neither Hell nor World can take that away from you Heb. 6.19 When Sufferings threaten here there is a Glory to follow that will make amends for all 1 Pet. 1.11 Mark 10.29 30. Oh lift up your eyes to Heaven and there see and possess that Glory that infinitely weighs down all the evil and discomfort that is here below Rom. 8.18 And Consider 1. Afflictions Sufferings here are but for a while a little while But that Glory is Eternal Text 2 Cor. 4.17 2. This Glory shall over a while put an everlasting end to all Suffering and Sorrow After you have suffered a while then suffering comes to a final end never to return or trouble more and everlasting Glory follows Revel 21.4 This Glory shall put a period an end to Suffering and then continue without end Job 1â— 16 17 18. 3. The Happiness and Comfort of this Glory that lyes at the Journeys end will abundantly make amends for all the trouble of the way yea the remembrance of fore-passed Troubles and Tryals that you have passed through and born with Subjection to the will of God will then be sweet Haec olim meminisse Juvabit Labour and toil here will make rest the sweeter Eccles 5.12 fore-passed and escaped dangers and difficulties and conflicts its pleasant to look back upon All these the Lord hath supported in and carryed through and I am here saved by the Lord and set down in peace What a Song of Praise to God and Comfort to himself does David sing when delivered out of the hands of all his Enemies Psal 18. and 116.3 6 7.4 You may make an advantage of all Afflictions to drive you to Heaven and to this Glory to wean you from the World and make you look and long and sigh for rest in Heaven to take you off from resting and building on the Earth where there is no rest and fire you to Heaven 2 Cor. 4.16.17 18. Vse 2. Hence that there is a greater and better a more Excellent portion to be sought after and obtained than all this World and all the Riches Honours Pleasures and Treasures of it There is Eternal Glory in the World to come that we are called up to mind and seek that is to be obtained by Christ Jesus and that is ten thousand thousand times a greater and a better matter a more desirable more excellent more noble thing than all the Glory and good of this World Should Satan shew you as he did to Christ Mat. 4.8 all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glories of them and put all the varnish and glittering splendor upon them that could be and offer to give you all this could he make good his word if you will be his walk in the wayes of sin and sensuality and give up your selves to be men of this World and to take up your portion here you may boldly refuse the bargain and say he offers you to your loss Christ far outbids him and makes you an offer that is infinitely better while he sets Heaven before you and the Glory of it and sayes renounce Sin and the World and come and possess Eternal Life and Glory in and with a Saviour This is as much better than the other â—s the Heavens are higher than the Earth Were it so that you haâ— Crowns and Kingdoms in choice yet there were reason that you should lay them aside in Compaâ—ison of this neglect them rather then neglect this despise slight contemn them to imbrace pursue possess this Crown and Glory that is above How much more reason to prefer it before those little sâ—raps of the World that are within â—our reach and compass those shreads of pleasure or wealth or honour or outward Contentments that you are
capable to obtaâ—n Those little things of the World that lye before you when as the greatest nay all the things of the World are as nothing compared with the Heavenly Portion that is offered you in Christ Jesus And yet this is the Bane of men this is the stumbling stone at which their Souls fall and perish viz. Preferring Earth before Heaven the present God of this World bâ—fore that to come and so taking up their rest here laying out themselves their Spirits and Affections upon present outwaâ—d worldly things with neglect of and so as to have their hearts dryed up toward Heaven and Heavenly things Oh foolish and unwise Oh unspeakable sottishness and unreasonable absurdity to prefer Earth before Heaven or to take up with the Earth when Heaven is set before you To have Affections Spirits for Earth and none for Heaven when Heaven does so infinitely excel What is it most men are running after cleaving to setting up their hearts upon laying out their Spirits and best Affections and utmost endeavours about Is it not somewhat in this World Pleasure or Profit or Honour lust of the Flesh or Eye or Pride of Life Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 i. e. an high and pompous manner of living affectation of height state and costliness in all the things of this life both Apparel Housing-Furniture c. above Place Rank Ability or Sobriety either in unlawful wayes and excesses or at least contentment in the lawful good things and comforts of this Life that is the highest the chiefest good that many seek after rest in and are wholly taken up about And so taken up here as to have no heart for God or Christ or Heaven no mind no affection to those things they are slightly passed over and the other pursued as the maine this present World ingrosses all But behold the Word of God shews us a more excellent Object and Prize to run for a better designe to pursue the Glory and Happiness of another World that is infinitely more excellent more necessary worthy our pains and affections more proper for immortal Souls to be busied about Should you judge by the minds and wayes of most of the Sons of men You would think there were no higher or better thing to be minded than the good of this World But the point shews us that that is better and more excellent What is all the Glory and good of this World to that of the Glory to come It is no more nor so much as a pebble stone to a Pearl or Husks to Bread or Dirt to Gold or Rags to Robes Who would take up with the former when he may have the latter Yea when called as we are continually by the voice of the Gospel to attend and imbrace the latter Remember all the outward good of this World is but Earthly the other is Heavenly But Bodily pleasing and pampering and Painting the outward man the other is Spiritual adorning perfecting and making happy the Soul But Temporal the other is Eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 The one Corruptible the other Incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 The one stands in the enjoyment of Creatures and but the lower sort of Creatures neither the other in the enjoyment and frution of the Infinite Creatour God Blessed for evermore How far must the latter needs excell the former Ah this Doctrine should take us off from and lift us above the Earth wean us from the World which is hard to effect the hearts of men are so Carnal There is good there to draw us but the Lord is fain to add many evils troubles here to drive us out and well if both would do Oh weep over our Earthly mind and heart Paul did so and get to Heaven in your Conversation Phil. 3.18.20 Are you of the Redeemed or no Gal. 1.4 Colos 3.12 Good is the Object of the Will and Affections and where choice is of the best good if there be one thing better than another the Will of man would have that it aspires after the best Why here be the things and therefore set your affections upon them and not on these meaner worse and inferior things that are beneath Oh get that sweet evidence of Effectual Calling that you are called out of the World taken off from this World and are men of another World men for Heaven bent upward dâ—claring plainly that you seek another and better Country then this and then you may be sure that God is your God Heb. 11.14 16. and will be your guide to the death that he will guide you by his Counsel and afterward receive you unto Glory SERMON VI. HAving passed through the Explanation of this Doctrine we may briefly add somewhat by way of Reason Why the Lord will give unto his people such great Glory in the World to come only out of the Text and we may rather take notice of some Reasons here because they are pointed to in the Text. Reas 1. From the Grace the rich Grace of God and for the Glory thereof Thâ— God of all Grace will give us this Eternal Glory It is his his Glory in his hands and dispose and he out of the Riches of his Grace will bestow and communicate it though he is the God of all Grace also as he is the Author of all the fruits and works of Grace in us yet the expression leads us to the fountain viz. The Infinite Grace nnd kindness that is in God so Rom. 5.21 It is from Grace as the Efficieâ—t That Grace the exceeding Rich Infinite Grace and kindnâ—ss of God may be forever acknowledged magnified and exalted Ephâ—s 1.3 6. When it shall be shewed and God will set himself to shew what a gift Infinite free Grace goodness kindness bounty can give then this will be the Gift such a thing as would Beggar all men and Angels and all the Riches of ten thousand Worlds they could not all should they Joyn together reach such a Gift as this Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus Rom. 6.23 God only the God of all Grace could give this He only was so rich as to be able to fill and store Heaven with all the Treasures and Riches of Glory that is there prepared and when he hath done to give it freely to his chosen There are Riches of goodness in the Gifts God gives and scatters among men here in this World But those are but little matters and by the By. But in the Gift of Heaven and Heavenly things he will set himself to shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace Ephes 2.6 7. We say how can it be that such wonderful Glory should be bestowed on such worthless worms Why it could not be indeed were it not from exceeding Rich and Infinite Grace Grace i. e. that whereby God freely and plentifully gives to the undeserving Creature and in designe to magnifie that To set all Saints and Angels a wondring at the Riches of God and at the bottomless and boundless depth and breadth of his Grace and Love
you are of that number for whom an Inheritance is reserved in Heaven who shall obtain this Eternal Glory That so you may be able to rejoyce in the lively hope and certain Expectation of it as Rom. 5.2 and know as Paul did 2 Cor. 5.1 and 1 Joh. 5.13 This may be known though the fruition of this Glory is reserved for Heaven yet a certain interest in it title to iâ— and the knowledge thereof also is given on Earth Labour after this It is that we are exhorted to by the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.10 If we make sure of Effectual Calling we make sure of this Glory for there is an inseperable Connexion between them To quicken thereunto Consider 1. Great matters cannot be made too sure and in all other matters of great moment common reason and nature teaches men to be diligent to make all sure If Estate or Life be in hazard how sollicitous are men to be upon sure grounds In settling of Earthly Inheritances how careful punctual and exact that no flaw no matter of doubt or danger be left What matter is of so great a weight as the matter of Eternity everlasting Life and Glory Hezekiah when like to die was desirous of a sure evidence that he should live and recover out of his sickness and have his fifteen years time more here 2 King 20.8 How much more sollicitous should we be to be sure of Eternal Life Life through all the dayes and years of Eternity when we were so like to die the second death and therefore to have it confirmed not by miracles but by Scripture signes and evidences in great matters and matters wherein the affection goes out much men will delight to have the assurance and ratification over and over as 1 Sam. 20.16 17. Oh when we are making a Covenant with Christ and he with us about matters of everlasting Life that that is for ever after this life as v. 14 15. we cannot but desire him to speak again yea swear again as he condescends to both Heb. 6.17 18. and Establish his promise to us over and over our love to him and intence desire to be sure of his love should induce to this When Jacobs heart was upon being buried in the Cave of Machpolah in the Land of Canaan which was a type of Heaven and being buried therein of that possession that the faithful take of Heaven when they die when they go to a place of their own properly the Sojourners and strangers while they live in this World He will have Joseph both promise and swear to bury him there and gave charge to all his other sons about it too Gen. 47.29 30 31. and 49.29 32. So Abraham how careful is he to make sure his possession of the Cave of Machpelah Genes 23.17 18 20. He can be content to have never a foot of Land of his own while he lives but he will make sure of a good burying place when he dies i. e. of an happy Estate after death of a portion of the Heavenly Canaan and of being buried in the certain hope as of all the promises of God to be made good to him and his so in special of an happy Resurrection to Eternal Glory that was the meaning of it Oh though you have never so little in this Earth while you live though strangers and pilgrims here yet make sure of Heaven when you die make that one bargain sure and you are happy that you shall have a possession of your own in that better Country even an Heavenly Kingdom 2. We have nothing else sure we had need make sure of this we have no portion certain nothing to trust to if we have not this portion of Eternal Life and Glory There is no certainty of any thing in this World Riches have wings the top of honour is a slippery place life it self is but a vapour All things here lye within the reach of many devourers and destroyers Moth and Rust and Thieves Pirates at Sea and other Sons of violence at Land And what is saved from other Destroyers is but reserved for the fire that must be the end of alâ— the possessions upon Earth 2 Pet. 3.10 All Earthly possessions must turn into a blaze and end in smoak as Genes 19.28 At the great day of Judgment there shall be an universal burning all the Earth on a light fire in particular previous dayes of Judgment here which are tasts and hansells of that the Lord often contends by fire Why if men will not see by the light of the word one would think they should see by the flames of devouring fire though indeed seldom do men see by the latter or by any destroying Judgments that have obstinately refused the light and voice of the former But in it self it is a wonderful help to see and it will be so to them that regard the word the vanity uncertainty and perishing nature of all things here But to be sure our enjoyment of all things in this World at best hangs but upon the twine-thread of our life which there are so many sharp edged tooles Sicknesses Diseases sad Accidents continually ready to cut asunder we are not sure to have it continued one hour longer Had we not need be sure of something when all these things shall fail as Luk. 16.9 Paul knows what he hath to trust to when this World turns him out of doors he hath then an house to hide his head in 2 Cor. 5.1 Oh it is a Comfortable thing when temporal habitations fail to be sure of Eternal ones Imagine you were now to die this moment leaving the World how glad would you be to be sure of Heaven and of a better life Why that must be e're long and you cannot think to be sure of it then in a dying hour if you do not labour to make it sure now in a time of health and peace Wnen David looks over the World and sees the vanity fading uncertainty of all portions of Riches Glory Honour fair Dwellings c. here what a thing is it to him to be sure of a God to receive him into Arms of Love and Mercy when he dies and of an happy waking in the morning of the Resurrection to Eternal Glory Psal 49.6 15. and 73.17 24. when you see men stand in slippery places and one tumbling down after another the Rich tumbling into poverty the Great into Contempt then look to your feet and to your standing what foot hold have you what sure bottom and foundation have you to stand steady upon as Psal 26.11 12 13. The wicked stand in slippery places but the godly that walk with God in integrity stand in an even place The Covenant is sure 2 Sam. 23.5 the state of Grace is a sure standing Rom. 5.2 Psal 20.7 8. indeed in regard of themselves they would fall as soon as any but they have a sure hand to hold them Psal 73.23 24. 3. Should not we make this use of the times we live
in to quicken us to make sure of Heaven May we not get this meat out of the eater this good out of all the evils and troubles that are in the World Is it now a time to walk at peradventures with God to live at uncertainties to hang between Heaven and Earth to be to seek of a resting place when trouble fills the whole Earth When the Lords anger is burning up and down the World and his fury poured out like fire every where and the Rocks thrown down by him Had we not need make sure of his love and be able to say the Lord is good and my strong hold c. Nah. 1.14 15 16. When Hypocrites cannot stand as they cannot before God appearing in his dreadful and devouring wrath hâ—d we not need make sure of sincerity of Gâ—ace Isa 33.14 15 16. You may bear up your head for a time and go up and down carelesâ— but sooner or later one way or other there will come such a devouring fire such an appearence of wrath such dreadful Judgments as no false heart now slight chaffy professor shall be able to stand before Mat. 3.12 He had need have Gold tryed in the fâ—ee Grace that is of Golden solidity and purity Dross and chaffe will not biâ—e the fire that unkindled in the day of Gods Judgments when he takes his Fan into his hand to sever purge out and burn up the Chaffe the hypocrites and sinners in Sion that is mixed with the wheat and found on the floor of the visible Church When Jerusalem's sins are ripe for Judgment and God hath waited his time upon obstinate sinners and despisers of the Gospel as he did on the Jews in and after Christ's time then a threshing and winnowing fanning and to the chaffe a burning time comes Then indeed the Lord will lose never a grain of sound wheat it had need be sound and solid wheat that can bear the tossings of the Fan and the blasts of the wind and not be heaved and driven quite away But chaffy hypocrites and sinners will not be able to stand or abide such a time Amos 9.9 or I will fanne the house of Israel as Corn is fanned tossed in a fanne 10. Oh we had need be sure to be good and sound wheat at such a time be setled strengthned stablished in Grace well built and founded as Peter prayes for them here in Text. To a time of great afflictions Sufferings and Troubles 1 Pet. 5 9 10. in a time when Judgment was begun at the house of God 1 Pet. 4.17 and of fiery tryals v. 12. Oh at such a time it is a suitable and a precious thing to have a lively Inheritance as he begins the Epistle 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 6. When the Earth looks uncomfortably when the face of things in this lower world hath terrour trouble and blackness in it and was it ever blacker than at this day It is then seasonable to be looking up stedfastly into Heaven and to get a clear sight of the Glory there and of our Interest in it Act. 7.54 55 56. Oh we might make a gaine of all the troubles of the times did we turn them this way to lift up our eyes to Heaven and to awaken our Souls to make sure of a portion there 4. It is a shrewd sign of one that is not like to get to Heaven to be careless of making sure of it For whence is this carelesseness but from taking up with and resting in other portions things of this World and see Jam. 4.4 1 Joh. 2.15 they that take up their portion in the Earth are not like to see Heaven to be sure in that way they never shall from slighting despising and dis-esteeming Heaven for what a man highly prizes and makes his portion his chief good he will be solicitous and studious to make sure of To be careless herein is as much as to say that we make no great matter whether we have or lose it get or miss it It shews one to be a negligent seeker of Heaven and Eternal life for if he were in good earnest he would pursue the matter till he made sure work on 't till the matter were brought to some issue he would seek till he find But it is only the diligent seeker that shall obtain and no other Heb. 11.6 Prov. 8.17 and 13.4 Qui frigide rogat docet nâ—gare The Lord will not pin Heaven upon our sleeves He will make us seek after it in good earnest if ever we have it Rom. 2.7 Luk. 13.24 there may be fits and pangs of carelesseness but God will recover and awaken if he intend mercy They that seek and run to purpose cannot endure to be at uncertainties 1 Cor. 8.26 27 28. uncertainly vid. Dutch Anotat Paul cannot end enduâ—e to run at such a rate that he may be as like to lose as win v. 24. 5. It is sure we were once in the way to Hell we had need to look to it to make sure that we are got into the way to Heaven We lie by nature children of wrath were set down into the World in Hell-path and it may be did for a long time palpably and evidently go on therein even in the broad way that leads to destruction and had we not need be sure and clear that we are got out of that way and state into the way and state of Eternal Life He whose life was never in danger will not be so solicitous But take a Malefactor that was condemned to die if there be any hopes overtures of pardon how careful will he be to have it sure and under all the confirmation that may be We are by nature under a real title to Hell guilty of sin whose wagâ—s is death and by the Curse and Sentence condemned to die and under the power and dominion of sin that was â—â—â—rying us to Hell and would inevitably do it if left to our selves Had we not need look that we have got a real title to Heaven that theâ—e be a reallity in our claime to that An empty broken hope a shaddow an â—hâ—â—oâ—â—â—ncy is not enough to set against a â—â—â—liâ—ys The Câ—rsâ— is real and sin real and our being heirs of Hell real Oh is our pardon real our fellowship with Christ real our title to Heaven real our Regeneration real and certain Joh. 3.3.5 6. It is certain we were flesh are we become spirit new Creatures made spiritual and holy we were born naturally to an Inheritance in Hell are we indeed born again supernaturally to see the kingdom of Heaven 6. Consider that great danger of being deceived here it 's a matter of highest moment to be deceived about everlasting life is a dreadful thing and yet we are wondrous prone and apt to be deceived Mat. 7.13 14. Christ tells the Pharisees that they could not not escape the damnation of Hell Mat. 23.33 and yet they themselves thought that they could not but be heirs of Heaven and that whoever
sweet evidence that you shall keep an Everlasting Sabbath in Heaven and that you are preparing for that Sabatism that remains for the people of God Heb. 4.9 If strangers to God and prophane hearted on the Sabbath you are not for Heaven 2. In studying and loving and labouring after holiness or in begun Sanctification The perfection of Holiness is the Glory of Heaven but what shall there be perfected is here begun Do you love Holiness and delight in the wayes of it Rom. 7.22 weary of sin v. 24. following after holiness Heb. 12.24 then you shall go to Gods holy dwelling place into Heaven and there be perfectly for ever 3. In Heavenly-mindedness Having the heart there and finding the things thereof thoughts affections Conversations above That wherever it is is a sure mark of an heir of Heaven there is sincerity yea some eminency of Grace where that indeed is Phil. 3.15 17 20 21. as Mat. 6.21 Exhort 2. To Believers especially when comfortably assured of Heaven To improve Heaven and the hope of it while on Earth Make improvement of this happy portion of Eternal Glory which God hath prepar'd and reserved for you in Heaven and now given you in the promise Though we be not yet come to the fruition of it yet that Revelation and hope and certain promise of it that is given to the faithtful now in this life is of great use and may be improved by them unto good purpose sundry wayes As viz. 1. To raise and ennoble their Spirits make them of a truly noble and excellent temper and free them from that baseness that sin hath brought upon the Spirits of men To be born to great things or otherwise in way of promotion thereto as to a great Estate high Honours and a Kingdom especially It does naturally raise and greaten the spirit for great designs delights employments than others are This point should make the Godly of a Princely spirit seeing they are heirs of a Kingdom they should be indeed Israel every one as a Prince of God of a Princely spirit both 1. In regard of Imployment It ill becomes a Prince to be scraping Kennells or dwelling among Scullions in a Kitchen or driving a petty pedling Trade to get a penny c. So the heirs of Heaven should holily disdain to do the Devils drudgery to be Slaves to the World or to a base Lust to cringe and crouch to a Temptation for a little outward advantage to go a beging to the Creatures for a little Comfort or Refreshment as having nothing else to live upon such should be ashamed to be seen in the imployment of sin in the service of Satan or so to follow the World as to be under it or slaves to it 1 Cor. 6.12 Tit. 2.3 They should reign over the World and have dominion over it not be slaves to it 2. In regard of Affection and Delight or what you give your minds unto David when King yea when set apart for that Kingdom did not mind the Ewes great with young as he did when a Shepheard The Country Peasant minds his Cattel and Farm c. But the Prince hath greater and higher marters to mind the Affairs of a Kingdom The heirs of Heaven should not mind Earthly things or to set their hearts upon things below so as to be taken up with them and look no higher than them you may use them as Servants Philip. 1.19 20. Colâ—s 3.1 2. nor give themselves to the base pleasures of the flesh For such to delight in the pleasures of sin fleshly lusts is as if Princes should go among the Swine to eat Swill and Husks or they that have been brought up in Scarlet embrace Dunghills They that have God and Heaven to delight in for them to delight in a lust in the pleasures of the flesh is a shameful baseness and unworthiness Rom. 13.11 14. The nearer we are to Heaven the further we should be from minding the things of the flesh 1 Pet. 2.11 Yea not only vile things as are the things of sin but small things little things such as all the things of this World are too low and mean for the great Heirs of Salvation to set their minds and hearts upon He that is an Heir to thousands or to a Kingdom will he covet a pin or a point or a poor thatched Cottage or stand upon such small matters c. He that is an Heir of Heaven should be of a greater spirit than to thirst after Gold and Silver Honours and Riches in this World these are too low things for him who hath infinitely greater matters to satisfie himself with All that he needs is like a Prince absent in the Country but so much as will carry him home to the Court to his Fathers house there he shall have enough Should such a one care for Luggage for worthless Lumber or for a Load of thick clay 3. In regard of Magnanimity and Courage Great and Noble Spirits do excel in Valour and Courage fit for high Actions and Designes not daunted with danger nor discouraged with difficulties that lye in the way of Great Atchievments and in special Valiant in War So should the high-born heirs of Heaven be more generous and noble-minded than to be daunted with the difficulties and tribulations that lye in the way to the Kingdom Act. 14.22 Not so pusillanimous as to faint in the day of Adversity Prov 24.10 as to give in when the Sons of Anak and the walled Towns are talked of now the Courage of Caleb and Joshua becomes them that are bound for Heaven for that Glory of all Lands and not the faint-heartedness of the rest And to be Valiant in the Wars of the Lord undaunted in the Spiritual warfare to hold on and hold out to the last gasp in conflict with temptations corruptions oppositions and assaults of Earth and Hell become those that are fighting for Heaven and for Eternal Glory there for that Crown that is incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 26 27. 2 Tim. 4.7 8. 1 Tim 6.12 Paul is of too great a spirit to be moved with all the sufferings that the whole World can bring upon him Act. 20.23 24. Hee 'l not stir an inch out of his way the way of the Rule for them all those are light things with him 2 Cor. 4.17 18. while his eye and heart is upon Heaven Contemptus à me est romanus favor furor said Luther He can contemn both the favour and fury of all the World Yea this is a holy greatness of spirit becoming those that are in choice of a Kingdom even the Kingdom of Eternal Glory Thus Heaven should raise and ennoble our Spirits Conversing with great objects makes great Spirits We see it dayly that according as the things and objects are great or mean that men converse withall so they are high or low spiriâ—ed Genes 49.9 10 14 15. Judah is for a Kingdom and therefore he hath a Lion-like magnanimity of spirit Isachar is among
toward Hâ—aven we shall be in danger to fall back to Hell Neglâ—ct of growth is the High way to Apostâ—â—y Heb. 6.1.4 q. d. unlâ—ss we go toward perfection we shall go backwards and be in danger of utter Apostacy Hence the sincere and truly gracious the Effâ—ctually Called cannot shâ—ll not content themselves with a little or the measure they have attained or stop in the mid-way but go on They that are indeed appointed for Heaven i. e. for full and perfect Communion with God in Christ shall keep travelling on till they come there Oh therefore labour after growth Be as hungry after milk to grow by labour as much for to take in the good of every Ordinance for growth as ever you were at first Conversion to get Life and the beeing of Grace when felt by a total want Yea the tast of Gods Grace should make us more intense than we could be before we tasted 'T is a dangerous thing when persons because they have got something and go for Saints and have some hope of Heaven then sit still and grow full and careless and all their prayers and seekings grow flat and slight and they feel no need of Ordinances but despise them And so spiritual fulness and security and pride and sloth seize upon them and when they stand at a stay may quickly grow worse and decline and are in the high-way to utter Apostacy But if God love you he will fire you out of this frame Oh you keep open doors of a formall lifeless Profession but what growth is there what progress or intense and earnest strivings prayers mournings labours after growth Think it not a small matter to be in a stupified withered condition rather of the losing than winning hand There may be a winter upon Grace for a time but if your spring-time return not it will be plain that you are dead treeâ— Oh be growing and if you be acting you will be growing exercise and growth of Grace go together be active stirring and lively in every duty in every good work in the season of it that is both an evidence and a preparation for Heaven 2. Be loosen'd from this World for while staked down and fixed here while you shoot forth your roots into the Earth and grow here as in your place of settlement and rest you are unfit and unready to remove to Heaven yea or to be travelling toward it It is he that is a stranger and pilgrim in the Earth and that dwells in tents here ready on a short warning to pluck up stakes and be gone that is a faithful seeker of that better Countrey and Traveller toward it Heb. 11.9 10 13 14 19. You cannot have two homes nor two rests nor two portions If you take up your home and rest in this World you are not prepared nor principled for Heaven nor fit to go thither as your home Etern I dwelling Be loosning and drawing off your hearts from the World expect not either a perpetual nor yet a long abode here let not that be your inward thought whiâ—e your outward and common word is that we must all die and be gone over a while Psal 49.11 Be sensible of the vanity and emptiness here Do not so much as desire your portion in this World but make choice of another portion Psal 17.14 15. Be often thinking of and expecting and waiting for your removal from hence into another World Job 14.14 Heb. 13.14 when under the sanctified sense of our non-continuance in this City we are in a fit posture of seâ—king one to come 3. Get inlarged lively and dear affections to Christ so as to love and long to be with him Heaven is the place of fullest and nearest Communion with God in Christ and therefore of strongest sweetest and most ardent affections to him the more strong and lively our affections are the â—â—tter we are for Heaven and the fitter to leave all to go thither And indeed the nearer we come to God and to our home with him in Heaven the stronger our affections will be to him As Holy Bradford said a little before his end As 't is with men in sailing saith he when they come near to the shore or Haven where they would be so the nearer I am to God the nearer I would be And saith he I have given over all care and study and only do I covet to be talking with him whom I have alwayes studied to be withall Fox vol 3. pag. 305. Heaven is the place of love the letting out and acting of love between Christ and his Saints and the same is begun here The more affectionate love we have to Jesus Christ the fitter we are for Heaven Hence those that are fit for Heaven are described by that Character that they love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 They love his company and because but a little of it here therefore they would go home to have it fully they love and long for the presence of Christ and to enjoy it in the fulness thereof Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 Let Christ alone have your hearts your whole hearts let them not be divided and scattered to other things And if you have lost your affâ—ctions your first love recover them out of the hands of the Creatures that stoâ—e them away from Christ and be content with him and his love alone now you are comforâ—ably fit for Heaven and for living tâ—â—re alone with him seperated from all the World Oh when we have large and overflowing affections to the World can pour out bucâ—â—ts full there but scarse a drop for Christ hearts straitned and shut up toward him thâ—t we can live and rest in Creatures wiâ—â—out God or without Communion with him â—rom day to day but God and all his love and promises cannot content us if Creature Comforts fail or we be parted from them Alas we are far unfit for Heaven this is not a spirit for Heaven these earthly low carnal hearts are unfit for Heaven Get them raised to more Holy and Heavenly affections and more bosom delight in Christ then you are fit to go into his bosom and to live at rest there for ever 4. Be finishing of your work and to that end continually doing your present work with all yoâ—r mâ—ght that is a part of our preparation While our work is not done we are not ready but Joh. 17.4 5. when we have finished our work on Earth then we are ready for Glory in Heaven Now we cannot finish the whole work of our whole lives end But God hath appointed each dayes work and hours work the present duty of each season by doing that finisht the work of the day in its day the work of every duty in the season thereof now you are ready whenever the Lord shall please to come and call you that he shall find you not idle not behind-hand but doing the work appointed you in his name and for his Glory then blessed are you Luk. 12.40 42 43 44.
Do what God hath appointed called you to and that lyes upon you in the season of it Be continually so doing then are you ready for your Lords coming Is there any work that lyes upon thy hand that Conscience tells thee should be done without delay as to get thy soul settled in assurance of Gods love to clear up thy evidences make thy Calling sure to get down such rebellious strong Corruptions c. or in thy place in thy Family Church Common wealth is their service to be done which God calls loud for Oh fore-slow it not be not slack or slothful in it but finish dispatch pursue thy work be doing with all thy might 5. Be upon your watch in a wakeful sensible attentive vigilant frame and posture That is the posture of those that are ready to meet the Lord and to go to him whenever he calls Mat. 24.42 43 44. Watching is the way to be â—â—adâ— or a part of readiness so Luk. 12. 36 37 40. The Lord hath told us he will come and take us out of this World into another but we know not when and he hath promised great and Glorious things to those that humbly wait on him and for him great is the danger of missing the good of the promise and miscarryâ—ng at last Heb. 4.1 unspeakable is the happiness of those that obtain it Hence are we to watch watch against all the enemies of our Eternal Salvation within and without watch to escape all the snares and dangers that lye in the way the snare of thy own Iniquity the snares of an evil intoxing and and deceitful World c. Luk. 21.34 35 36. watch unto duty to be attentive therein Ephes 6.18 And watch and wait for God and for his coming to call us hence observing also his goings towards you in all his dispensations that we may be ready to attend him and meet him therein as Luk. 12 36. Be wakefully sensible of every thing of all that concerns your souls or the Glory of God watching speaks the unbinding of the senses A sleepy sottish senseless posture is a very unready posture to be found in The secure senseless sleepy person is unfit and unready either to live profitably or to die comfortably But he that is found watching awake and vigilant and sensible though poor and weak yet in a sensible manner c. need not be dismayed whatever come The watching Christian is a blessed Christian Luk. 12.37 And if after Conversion as oft it comes to pass after first affection and prosession you have fallen into slumbering fits and secure frames while so you are not ready but be awakned again and recover your light life sense diligence and be in a frâ—sh posture of watching for the Lord So the wise Virgins are after their slumbering time Mat. 25.5 6 7 10. Oh in prove all the lights v. 6. God lifts up in word and works to that ends to get awake that we may be ready for Everlasting Communion with the Lord. 4. Improve this point unto Heavenly mindedness If God have called us to Eternal Glory in Heaven given us Heaven the promise and the hope of it how should our minds and hearts be upon it as the heart of the Heir is upon the Estate he shall have at full Age of a Prince upon the Kingdom he is to come unto so Phil. 3.20 our hope is laid up in Heaven and therefore our hearts should be there Colos 1.5 Mat. 6.19 21. It is the duty of all even of yet strangers to set their hearts upon Heavenly things by way of sâ—â—king after them and after a portion in him Job 6 27 But they that have a proâ—ise thereof and an Interest therein already given to them they have more reason and more advantage to lift up their minds and hearts thereunto The Hâ—irs of Glory should surely be mindful thereof To this purpose 1. Let your thoughts be much upon Heaven and Heavenly things Hath God given you Heaven in the promise then look upon it see the breadth and compass of this gift take many views of it as you are able even as Abraham was to do of the Land of Canaan the type of it when yet he had no foot of it in hand but only it was given him in the promise of God Genes 13 14 15 17. And when you can view it and go over it as yours your own â—all this is mâ—ne that will make the view of it wonderful sweet and diâ—ightful While Heaven is to us as a strange Countrey which we have no Interest in we are strangers to it in our thoughts But when it is our own this makes the thoughts of it familiar and pleasant Think much of Heaven or of the things of Heaven if you think of the things of God then you think of the things of Heaven it is not necessary to confine our meditations to Heaven strickly so called All the things of God and of his word are Heavenly things the enjoyment of God is the main thing in Heaven Yâ—t the fore-thoughts of the full enjoyment of God in Glory with freedom from all sin and imperfection is a gloriou object of our meditations and should still be the Journey 's end and Rest of all our thoughts and desires which we should be travelling after our thoughts are capable of ascending into Heaven now and unto Jesus Christ at the right hand of God c. Though our bodies our persons be not and should we keep them imprisoned here below thrust them into dungeons and bury them in the dust of the Earth when as they might mount upward and walk at liberty in the Galleries of Glory in the sweet presence of God by the help of his word for do not rove into empty vain soaring speculations but take up the word along with you let Scriptures be the guide and matter of your mâ—ditation take a turn there now and then that you may not be strangers there that you may say as Dr. Preston when dying I shall but change my place not my Company your Company may be now with God and Christ and so it shall be there 2. Set your affections upon Heaven and Heavenly things Affect Heavenly things as the best things Love esteem desire delight in the things of God and Heaven and chuse them before all the things of the World Col. 3.1 2. that your hearts may be there having taken up your treasure and portion there before your persons be then it will be no strange or uncouth thing for your persons to go thither you do but go thither where your hearts have been long before The soul as they say is rather where it loves then where it lives You converse in Heaven you may be said as it were to be in Heaven if your hearts and affections be there as Act. 7.39 Though their bodies never returned in Aâ—gypt yet in their hearts they went back thither and so many whose faces by proâ—eâ—ion are toward Canaan Heaven yet their
hearts are in the World and upon their Lusts Ezek. 33.31 So the lively Christian goes up to Hâ—aven in his heart though his body be here on Earth But hence despise and dis-affect â—lâ— Earthly in Comparison of Hâ—avenly things that we are said to mind most which we have most affection and spirit for which we lost most If we have any true taste of Heavenly things we cannot but prefer them before all Earthly things whatsoever 2 Cor. 4.18 3. Drive a trade for Heaven Be trading to the Country now By Faith and Prayer coâ—â—rsiâ—â— with God in Christ and receiving dâ—â—â—â—â—g from all Hâ—avenly Grace and Good You have Conversation in Heaven when you trade thither you act as Citizens of Heaven as the word in Philip 3.20 when you have free trade there free Commerce and Intercourse at all times Christ teaches us to be dayly trading Heaven when he teaches us to pray dayly unto God as our Father which is in Heaven to God in Christ as an Heavenly Father an Heavenly Majesty and a fountain of Hâ—avenly good things that hath Heavenly has Spirit Grace Fellowship with himself to give to them that ask him to them that trade with him by Prayer for such things Luk. 11.13 Let the Commodities of Heaven be above all precious to you Buy them at any rate be willing to be at any cost pains labour and hazard for them willing to part with any thing you have in hand in this World for them willing to adventure much as they that trade to Rich Countryes they venture much thither to adventure Estate and Strength and Life and all you have in this World so you may take it up in Heaven and have it repayed you there as every spiritual adventure most surely shall Mark 10.22 30. Mat. 5.11 12. Heb. 11.25 26. and be sensible of Every stoppage between Heaven and your Souls of any interruption of Intercourse between Christ and you when Prayer speeds not when Christ comes not in with his Influences when they hear no good news from Heaven God hides his face and suspends and withdraws his Communications of Grace and Comfort The Saints that are Traders to Heaven are very sensible of such things But this is a part of having our Conversation in Heaven acting as tree men there to have constant trade and Commerce there And this the word in Phil. 3.20 may in a special manner lead unto And Hâ—nce 4. Judge of our condition and of the weal or woe the comfort or discomfort thereof by Heavenly concernments and Considerations As we have more or less of Heavenly benefits and Heavenly incomes so Judge we our Condition to be better or worse That is an act and fruit of Heavenly mindedness so to do It is a meditation of that Holy Martyr Bradford on that Clause the Lords Prayer Our Father which art in Heaven that the Lord would teach us to Judge of his Fatherly love by Heavenly Benefits and not by Earthly and Corporal As it minds us as he also saith that Heaven is our home for it is our Fathers house whither all his Children must at last be gathered so in the mean time to Judge of his Fatherly love rather by Heavenly benefits and blessings than by Earthly and outward for oftentimes the wicked prosper more in the World and have more Worldly benâ—fits than the Children of God so that by this direction in our dayly Prayers the Lord would pull up our minds from Earth and Earthly to Heaven and Heavenly things Bradfords Meditations pag. 21.22 If we shâ—â—lâ— look upon Earthlâ— outward visible and present things how often might the pâ—â—â—â— of God the truly pious be judged to be of all men mâ—st miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 But look upon Heâ—venly and Spiritual Riches and Comforts and upon the fulness thereof that is laid up for them in Heaven and given them in the promise and then you may see them unspeakably happy Jam. 2.5 2 Cor. 4.16 18. If you are the Children of God you are men for Heaven and your Interest lyes there Hence look upon things to go well or ill with you as that Interest is furthered or not This would be of marvelous use were it attended Esteem of your Condition and of Gods dealings with you by your forwardness for Heaven If it be Affliction Tribulation yea manifold sorrows and Exercises if they set you nearer Heaven nearer God and more in his besom those are happy afflictions and you may rejoyce therein Rom. 5.3.4.5 Jam. 1.2.12 2 Cor 4.17 I outward prosperity attend you and the World smile but you are thereby drawn down from Heaven to the Earth further from God and your hearts lost in the World truly you have little cause to rejoyce in that prosperity but to mourn over your selves Heb. 9.1 That is to us the best wind that lyes â—air for Heaven from what quarter soever it comes Those are our best dayes wherein we have most Heavenly Communion with God and are most fitted for Heaven 5. Improve Heaven or Eternal Glory in the World to come and the promise and hopes of it unto diligence faithfulness and fruitfulness in Gods work the work that God sets you to do here upon the Earth so 1 Cor. 15.58 Improve your Talents i. e. all opportunities and abilities gifts graces and means to do good to do service to God for the promoting of the Glory of God and the good of men your selves and others The Consideration of our Masters Joy and of the Glorious reward that will be therein given to all that so do not of debt but of Grace should put us upon it Mat. 25.15 20 21 23. be â—iligent faithful and fruitful in the work of the Lord. Be it 1. Doing work duty and service to God to be done by us whether the work of our General Calling serving God in the whole course of Christianity the whole work of the warefare of Faith and obedience they thoughts of Heaven should quicken us unto that though it be hard work to flesh and blood as hard as fighting 1 Tim. 6.12 2 Tim. 4.7 8. as running in a race 1 Cor 9.24 25. as wrestling Ephes 6.12 or for Heavenly things or the work of our particular Calling place and station wherein God hath set us in Family Church or Common-wealth be Diligent Industrious Faithful and Constant also not byassed by Temptations on the right hand or the left not made unserviceable by discouragement or discontent that is a woful thing when a man suffers the temptations he meets with on every hand here in the World so to disquiet distemper or discourage him as to make him unserviceable and take him off from doing good work not cast into a sleep by sloth and sluggishness be faithful serving God in thy particular course and way so Act. 20.23 24. 2 Tim. 4.78 Or 2. Bearing and suffering work if the Lord call to that as less or more he ever does We must suffer as well as do in this World else we
shall do but a little and but a while Why Heaven should make us cheerfully to suffer for God to go through suffering work whether losses or positive sorrows that the Lord tryes us with here Heb. 11.26 Mat. 5.11 13. Heb. 12.1 2. The Saints have been wont to improve Heaven unto strength and constancy into suffering work 2 Cor. 4.26 17. Rom. 8.18 Heb. 10.34 But to quicken us to our work of what kind soever from the point in hand Consider 1. It is a great shame for those to be idle or negligent and heartless in their work that have such a way to work in as the way to Heaven is and such a reward as lyes at the end of it We serve a good Master who serve the God of all Grace who calls us to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus sure we should do any thing for him How hard soever thy work be and how long soever kept tugging at it Heaven will make amends for all There is no proportion between our poor work and that reward And therefore it is not a reward of Justice but of Rich and Princely Grace rewarding that with thousands that is scarce worth a penny You will serve men and work hard it may be at your dayes labour and it is equal you should so do for your penny and shall we stick at serving the Blessed God who sets before us such a recompense of reward as Eternal Glory is Were ever any losers by him either doing or suffering for him No Mark 10.29 33. 2. At the day of Christs appearing none will be more sharply rebuked and ashamed than the Idle slothful Servant Mat. 25.26 27 30. He might say what hurt did I do I did no body any hurt with my talent I did not do mischief with my wit and time and strength Yea but what good did you do what good work did you imploy your self in for the Glory of God and the good of men Sins of omission whereby men can let alone their work this and that should be done but let alone let lye these will be sadly aggravated at that day 3. You have but a little time to do work on Earth compared with the time of your rest in Heaven Our resting time is hereafter Rev. 14.13 but our working time now there will be work in Heaven indeed but work done without toile or sweat or pain as it was with Adam in Innocency as bodily labour the sweet and pleasant work of Glorifying God Now we can do no good work but in the sweat of our browes with much conflict pain and difficulty But though it be so this our painful labour is but for a while for an Hirelings day Job 7.1 2 though you be kept sweating at it you may bide it in the dust and Sun and heat for the short day of this life when after that follows rest Eternal rest and that will be sweet as the rest of the Labouring-man is Psal 104.23 Methinks we should keep close at our work and hold out in it till the evening of this life It is no long summers-day it is but a short a moment any time compar'd with what follows and then you shall go to bed in rest and peace Isa 57.2 It is but a little time you have to work on Earth and you have much work to do for your own Souls for the Name of God for the good of others and therefore you had need be diligent that you may finish in time and not have your work to do when your time is out that you may with Comfort in measure say as Joh. 17.4 4. We shall lose the reward of our work if we do not follow our work to purpose 2 Joh. 8. working by halves is the way to lose all our work i. e. working idly negligently slothfully or working unconstantly and unfaithfully unstedfastly going in and giving over not holding out but falling off from the truth or the wayes and service of God which the Apostle in that place 2 Joh. 8. speaks of and gives warning against this brings a Curse instead of a Blessing or reward Jerem. 48.10 Malach. 1.14 Heb. 10.38 6. Improve Heaven unto fitness for and Comfort in Death Death unto the Saints is their passage from Earth to Heaven from this place of sin and tears into that state of Joy and Bliss and Glory we have been speaking of in their Souls presently Luk. 23.43 and in certain hope of their Bodies Resurrection to the same Glory Hence a real sight and lively hope and taste of Heaven is able to sweeten death how bitter soever unto Nature This chief of Joyes is able to master the King of Terrours and to cause the Believer to Triumph over it 1 Cor. 15.54 57. 2 Cor. 5.1.4 Death is a departing out of if we speak of this life this poor sorry sinfull weary life such a one we say departed this life But it is an entrance into life if we speak of the life to come in Heaven that sweet glorious sinless happiless so it is to a Saint A going out of a smoaky Cottage but an entrance into a Kingdom the Kingdom of our Lord 2 Pet. 1.11 Isa 57.2 It is a going from hence But it is a going to Christ Philip. 1.23 a going from your people and friends here but it is a going and being gathered to their people and Blessed Congregation that is above Genes 49.33 Hence the fore-thoughts and hopes of Heaven should 1. Make the Saints willing to die of readiness and fitness for it in other respects we speak somewhat under the third head not willing to break away from their work before they have done it out of frowardness weariness and discontent or before Gods time be come But willing to go home and to leave all the World and pass through the dark entry of Death that they may go to God go home to Christ in Heaven when ever his time shall be come As a dying Saint said I have but one dark entry to pass through and then I am at my Fathers house Be it that death is a dark entry yet it leads to thy Fathers house Stick not at passing to it through such an entry 2 Cor. 5 8. Be not willing and desirous alwayes to tarry here among sins and temptations and where you are Comparatively absent from the Lord But be willing to be absent from the Body to be Gloriously present with the Lord. Though the Body be a near friend Christ is nearer And your parting with that for a time is in order to an happy meeting Phil. 1.23 while Gods work service and Glory and the good of his people detains him here he is willing to tarry but otherwise desirous to be gone when he looks forward to that that will be the Issue and Consequent of his departure or dissolution viz. The full enjoyment of Christs Company which is better than all the World 2. It should give them Comfort in Death to be looking up stedfastly into Heaven unto
For it all comes from that fountain of Gods Grace Ephes 2.8 though purchased by Christ yet to us Christ himself and all is the Gift of Grace Eternal Glory and all that belongs to it is from the God of all Grace Text. If God do in Heaven reward any little service we do him here it is a reward of Grace and not of Debt Reason 2. From Christ It is by the means of Christ Jesus that we are brought to this Eternal Glory Text. So Thes 5.9 As the Grace of God is the fountain original and wel-spring of it Luk. 12.32 so Christ Jesus the Mediator is the great way and means whereby it is accomplished for us and conveyed communicated to us Christ brings us to Eternal Glory 1. By his purchase of it by his Death or passive Obedience he purchased our deliverance from Eternal Death and Wrath And Righteousness or active obedience he purchased and procured for us everlasting Life and Happiness Hence Rom. 5 21. It is through and by means of the Righteousness of Christ his obedience whereby being imputed to us we are made righteous in Justification v. 19 18. that Grace powerfully accomplisheth our Eternal Life For Grace will so contrive and carry on the matter as that Justice may be answered and attended that it may be a Just and Righteous thing with God to give us life and so it is by means of the Righteousness of Christ Had it not been for which the sentence of death must everlastingly have reigned over us Sinners 2. By his possession of it for us as our Head and Agent Heb. 6.20 Joh. 14.2 By the Ascension of Christ way is made for us into Heaven The first Adam could have brought us but into an Earthly Paradice but the second Adam being Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 48. and ascending thither after he had wrought the work of our Redemption on Earth Heb. 1.3 Hence the Head draws up the Body after it and to it Joâ— 17.14 Hence Believers also shall ascend thither and have an Inheritance there in the third Heaven and in all the Glory of it 3. By preparing and ripning us for it by the work of his Spirit that whole work of Grace that is begun and carried on in this World to fit us for Glory conducting us through this World as he did Israel of old through the Wilderness to bring them to Canaan Isa 63.9 14. so 2 Cor. 5.5 Ephes 4.30 Rom. 9.23 4. By coming again to receive us to Joh. 14.3 the great end of his second coming is the actual full and final accomplishment of the Salvation of his people or putting them into full possession and fruition of it so to remain forever which is the end and upshot of all his work Heb. 9.28 2 Tim. 4.8 He will come again into this lower World even here to put Glory upon his people in the sight of all Colos 3.4 Rom. 8.18 19. and then to carry them up to Heaven where he now is Joh. 14.3 and 17.24 Reason 3. From the work of Vocation the tendency and scope whereof is to bring us to this Eternal Glory Text. In Vocation the Lord calleth us out of a state of nature of sin and death into a state of â—ternal Salvation and layes that foundation of Grace the superstructure whereof issues in Heavenly Glory The Lord in the word of the Gospel calleth us to possess and receive Eternal Life or Glory in and with Christ 2 Thes 2.14 and makes it over to them that obey that call or that effectually believe 1 Joh. 5.11 And he calls us to look at Eternal Glory in pâ—rfect Communion with God as the end of our Race or Journey and to travel towards it toward that mark of Heavenly Glory which is the prize that we are called to run for Philip. 3.14 1 Cor. 9.24 25. The Lord calleth us out of this World to be men of another World to take up our Lot and Portion in Heaven and to seek and wait for it being as strangers here as Abraham was called to leave his Country and Kindred to wait upon a promise of the Heavenly Canaan a figure of the Earthly Heb. 11.8 9 10 13 16. It is a Christians Calling the business he is called to attend upon to get to Heaven to seek for Glory Honour and Immortality to come The Grace begun in Vocation hath an inseperable connexion which tendeth to and issueth in groweth up to the perfection of Eternal Glory Glory is but the Harvest of that seed that is sown in Effectual Calling It is the perfect man which is an Infant in Vocation If the seed be sown the Child born as it is in Vocation or Conversion Regeneration then the harvest must needs follow Calling is the first patent link of the Chain for Predestination is latent in the Counsel of God the first openwork of Grace upon an Elect person and Glorification is the last but the connexion between them is inseperable Rom. 8.30 And also Vocation is the strait gate that leads to Life Eternal through which all must pass that get to Glory and by which they are prepared for it Rom. 9.23 24. Hence none but such and all such all the Effectually Called shall infallibly be brought to Eternal Glory If God have begun the work of Grace in Calling he will finish it in Heavenly Glory Phil. 1.6 Reas 4. From the Sufferings and Troubles of the Saints here 1 Pet. 5.10 The Saints having suffered with Christ here they must reign with him hereafter Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.12 Having been troubled in this World they must go to rest in that to come 1 Thes 5.7 The best services and sufferings of the Saints do not deserve or merit any such thing as Heavens Glory But the Lord is pleased according to his free promise and abundant Grace Richly to reward such poor things above their worth The Lord rewards his poor Subjects not in any way of exact Justice as poor men that will give the Labourer but his hire But like Generous and Bounteous Princes that will give a Pound for that that scarce deserves a Penny Yea far more largely then so our Services and Sufferings bear no proportion with Heaven But God will Bounteously give it and call it the Recompense of Reward Heb. 11.26 i. e. a Reward of Grace not of Debt or Merit But such is the Lords promise and Grace that he hath laid up a rich Reward for his suffering Saints and they shall not lose it nor miss it They that have their Suffering Labouring Fighting time here they shall have their Rejoycing Resting Triumphing time hereafter 2 Cor. 4.17 The Lord will not be behind hand with any of his people nor yet deal scantly with them for a moments suffering and service on Earth they shall have Eternal Glory in Heaven Vse 3. Of awakning and Terrour to all Impenitent and Unbelieving sinners from the consideration of their loss or of what they continuing in that estate must and will
undervaluing of Heaven not to be willing to fight and strive and travail for it or not to think it worth so doing What shall we stick at a little hardship or danger or difficulty and trouble at the trouble and pains of Praying Meditating or Renouncing our Beloved sweet Lusts and Giant-like Corruptions c. when Eternal Glory is set before us when we are in choice of Heaven the Glory of all Lands that Land flowing not with Milk and Honey only but with fulness of Joy and pleasures forevermore 2. At parting with the World and the good things of it which the Lord calls us to to forsake all we have here if we will have Christ and Heaven Luk. 14.33 26. Though he does not presently call us actually to part withall but only in affection and readiness of mind and in Comparison of Christ But if he should call us actually to part withall we have as by a particular command he did the Rich man Mark 10.21 It were a shame to stick at it You that have good Estates great Possessions If Christ should bâ—d you now presently part with it give it all â—o â—hâ— poor or to the publick so to 〈◊〉 â—â—e Lord does often by his Rules call yâ—â—â—â— do a good deal that way lay it all â—â—â—n at the foot of Christ take your fareâ—ell onâ—â— truly you must do so actually e're long bâ— â—iz when a dying hour comes and it may â—â— sooner Yea indeed a man can do no duty for Christ to purpose nor follow Christ in earnest without the spirit of this and you shall have Treasure in Heaven would you stick at it and say it is an hard saying and go away sorrowful Oh the practice of many proclaims how like they would be to do as the Rich man there did and so to part with Heaven rather then part with Earth Alas if Christ Call not for all but for a little from them he cannot get it though he offer to repay it in Heavenly Teasure more than an hundred or a thousand fold Mark 10.29 30. And so it is a parting with the World for Christ and Heaven to make it subordinate and subservient to our Communion with Christ to Religious duties in their season to daily walking with God and not to be so predominant as hinder and croud out the same but how ordinarily does the world prove mens Master in this respect that when Christ's service attendance upon God and upon Religion and the Worlds service comes in Competition the former is made to give place and crouded out by the latter and the mind and affections so engaged in the World that it cannot tend upon Christ or Heaven But oh the madness here of to set Earth above Heaven Vanity above Eternal Glory or to refuse to part with or deny neglect Earth for Heaven that is a Pebble for Pearl Husks for Bread Dirt for Gold c. 3. At the Cross at Sufferings for Christs sake or from his will at those Tribulations which the Lord hath appointed to meet us and exercise us in our way to the Kingdom of Heaven Act. 14.22 Why the greatest and heaviest Afflâ—ctions that you can meet with in this World are but light think of the worst you can even such as Paul such as the Martyrs endeavoured and the longest are but for a moment compared with Heavens Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Rom. 8.18 Is it not a shame then to stick at them or shrink from the way to Heaven the way of Faith and a good Conscience or be discouraged in it because of them to be offended with the stony ground at Religion when Tribulation attends it Mat. 23.21 or to baulk any part of the way to Heaven for fear of Tribulation Oh if we be men for Heaven we should be above those things or being moved by them Act. 20.23 24. Who sticks at a Crossing through a Brook or swamp or Miry-place when travailing toward some place of desire or for some desirable end Oh keep Heaven in your eye and then even Moses his choice will not seem an hard choice Heb. 11.24 26. May afflictions help and further thee towards Heaven so all afflictions sactified and patiently endured does and eminently those for Christ then you may rejoyce as Mat. 5.12 SERMON VII Vse 5. OF Exhortation 1. To all to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ It serves to invite perswade and draw us to Christ Jesus to close with him embrace him or believe on him according to the Call and offer of the Gospel seeing by him and by believing on him you shall obtain Eternal Glory This further great benefit is to be had with and by Christ This is part of the Estate and Riches that this great Suitor that makes love to your Souls is possessed of and will impart to all that imbrace him Your believing on him if you believe in truth shall be to Life Everlasting 1 Tim. 1.16 All the Doctrine of Christ his Person Offices Benefits is attractive unto Faith and to improve it that way is a principlal part of our scope in these Discourses and so is this part of it also that we are now upon Every one of his Benefits are full of Argument to perswade us to believâ— on him and so this of Glorification and this part of it viz. the Consummation thereof in future Eternal Glory As we improved other particulars before so let us make a little improvement of this to that which is the great end of the whole Gospel viz. to make Christ sweet to us Glorious in our eyes and to draw us to close with him And this the Text leads us to viz. Hence to lift up the voice of the Call of the Gospel in your Ears and to press you to attend and obey it For God therein Calls us to Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus Look as by Effectual Calling i. e. by obeying and answering the Call of the Gospel we are entred into a state of Eternal Glory so as to be infallibly brought unto it by Christ Jesus So the word the General Call of the Gospel Calls us to come and take to enter upon the possession of this Glory in and with Christ Jesus When the Gospel Calls us to Christ and fellowship with him by believing it Calls us to Eternal Glory Oh then hearken to this Call and obey it That is the Exhortation that we are now to press upon you here before the Lord Luk. 14.17 All things are ready provided in Christ and so this thing Eternal Glory Come in and come home to Christ Jesus Imbrace him withall your hearts receive and possess him and in and with him you shall possess Eternal Glory 1 Joh. 5.11 It is now given you in the promise upon the first day and hour of your true believing And it shall Infallibly be given to you in the accomplishment Attend and obey the Call of the Gospel a Glorious Call it is which Calls unto such Glory and the Lord will by a firm deed a sure