THE MYSTERY OF CONTENTATION In and Through CHRIST LONDON Printed by A. M. for Joseph Cranford at the Signe of the Phoenix in St Pauls Church-yard 1655. TO THE Right Honourable and truly Religious Lady JANE Countesse Dowager of Marr Encrease of Grace and Peace Madam THE certain knowledge I have had for a long time of your devout affection toward the saving Truths of Jesus Christ the recent sense of manifold favours received at your hands both since and in the time I had the honour of employment for many years in that Noble Family and the experience of your gracious acceptance of my hearty endeavours unto your service makes me bold to offer to your Ladiship this part of my weak Labour as a small Testimony of my humble acknowledgement of much duty I do here present you with some refreshing drops from that Mystery of Contentment found in the Fulnesse of Jesus Christ In him is enough to supply all defects in the inward man and more then enough to supply all wants in the outward man which can befall us from the disappointing and discontenting changes in persons or things of this world yea it is of the Lords wisedome and mercy that our waies are hedged up with thorns that we may return to our first love Hos 2.6 7. That we may delight our selves in him and enjoy that solid satisfactory and unchangeable Contentment which in experience we perceive cannot be found in the empty insufficient uncertain and perishing comforts of the poor creatures Many times the Children of God enjoy most of himself when they enjoy least of the Creature As the Sufferings of Christ abounded in Paul so Consolation also abounded by Christ 2 Cor. 1.5 He had most of Gods presence when he had least of mans countenance 2 Tim. 4.16 17 Stephens face shined like an Angels when men looked on him like Devils Act. 6.15 Such enjoyments at such a time are no other as Jacob said from his experience of light arising out of darknesse then the gate of heaven a prelude on earth of that immediate Contentment we shall have in heaven in God alone without either opposition or interposition of the Creature Hence it is that the Children of God from the comfortable sense of this love have most vigour of grace sometimes under greatest outward pressures they can glory in tribulations Rom. 5.3 And sing praises to God in a prison Act. 16.26 Then have they enlarged spirits when their bodies are under restraint As the Sunne re-enforceth his light in the time of an Eclipse so the graces of the Spirit in the inward man are the more united and strengthened in an hour of darknesse from outward troubles The heat of our love as the Sunne-beam from the hard rock is the more reflexed toward the Sunne of righteousnesse from the cold and hard re-encounters of the Creatures In a day of prosperity our affections lagge and straggle here and there seeking Contentment in things farre below our happinesse and no waies proportionable to the vast desires of the spirit of man Therefore our God in great wisedome and mercy so orders the removall of worldly objects that our affections may be retired amazed and with greater vigour set upon himself that according to our measure of enlargement of heart our measure of delight and contentment in Christ may be the greater he dryeth up the brinks to the end we may seek and be filled with purer and sweeter contentment in the Fountain This earnest and first-fruits of absolute and full satisfaction abiding them in heaven makes the Children of God humble in their greatest prosperity and patient with much contentment in their greatest adversity Faith looks to things not seen It reckons all worldly advantages but losse and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and also reckons that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with that glory which shall be revealed in us A look to things not seen preserves the soul from fainting at what we see or feel And though the Children of God be subject to some qualms of fear in time of storms and trials yet all these will be gone as a sea-sicknesse when our Lord shall bring us within the port of eternal salvation Madam You know both whom and what ye have beleeved As it 's his will ye should look to the glory set before you and endure the Crosse So that ye should also rejoyce in the hope of that Kingdom which cannot be shaken that eternal mansion above all possibility of decay and that Inheritance incorruptible which cannot be defiled and fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you by his Intercession who purchased it by his merit That your Ladiship may be comforted guided and guarded by his Spirit in this life and brought into the possession of that full happinesse in the other life is and shall be the humble prayer of him who in all duty is obliged to shew himself Madam Your Ladiships most faithfull and devoted Servant WILLIAM COLVILL THE MYSTERY OF CONTENTATION In and Through CHRIST PHIL. 4.11 12 13. For I have learned in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me AMongst the many sweet and excellent fruits of the Crosse of Christ Contentation most necessary for a beleever Contentation of minde to a Beleever in all conditions of life is one exceeding necessary Hereby a beleever becomes Master both of the little and great world Of unruly desires within himself and of temptations in the world without It makes him acceptable to all with whom he converseth and to be admired and envied by his enemies His contentation is their bane and discontent It is their torment they cannot spoil him of this little heaven when possibly they have robbed him of his earthly emoluments It is a treasure hid in his soul that he carrieth with him to the third heaven where an exceeding weight of glory and contentation with full satisfaction to our desires will be added to the little stock of our contentment here which as Jacob said of that gracious manifestation Gen. 28. is no other but the house of God and the gate of heaven For God al-sufficient dwels in the heart of a beleever and giveth contentation to the soul where he dwels though the out-let of his allowance here to a beleever be not comparably such as it will be in heaven where we shall see him face to face and be filled with God yet it is the gate of heaven it is the porch wherein we wait for an entrance to the Temple not made with hands wherein the measure of our contentation according to the full measure of our knowledge and enjoyment of God will be full and
familiar and gracious revelation of his presence and of his holy will by some glorious visible and created representation which in comparison of Gods not revealing himself so fully unto others is called face to face Exod. 33.11 Num. 12.7 8. The Lord spoke unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend 4. The irresistible power of God throwing down every impediment in the way of his eternal purpose and counsel Isa 64.3 The mountains flowed down at thy presence or face 5. The sense of Gods favour when he comes unto a soul with healing under his wings like the Sun with his beams reviving a withered herb Psal 13.1 How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee God is said to hide his face when he restrains the sense and comfort of his love in time of great trouble and sheweth not in the face of providence any sign of his love Because pitty in the heart is oft-times seen in the face and countenance 6. The face of God signifieth that essential infinite increated and invisible glory of God Exod. 33.20 Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live 1 Cor. 13.12 Then shall we see face to face and in this sense it is taken in this place As to the second what is understood by beholding his face What it is to behold the face of God I answer there is a beholding of God in his works when in the creatures we behold footsteps of the power and wisdom of God as the skill of an excellent Artificer is seen in the works of his hands Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of God from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen 2. There is a beholding of God in a created and visible representation Thus Moses is said to have seen God Exod. 33. and Isai 6. it was not properly a beholding of God but something created by God from the which visible representation the beholders did perceive with their understanding something of the greatness and Majestie of God 3. There is a beholding of God by the eye of faith when we know and perceive him to be our God reconciled to us in Iesus Christ in whom as the only Mediator we behold Gods face and good will towards lost man 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ 4. There is an immediate beholding and knowing the essentiall glory of God Mat. 18.10 Their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven So in this place to behold the face of God is to know immediately and to enjoy him fully as a man beholding a face immediately and perfectly when it is set before his eyes at noon-day The compleat and full happiness of the Saints in heaven Doct. standeth in the seeing and fruition of God Compleat happiness stands in the seeing of God Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the poor in heart for they shall see God 1 Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is Our natural life consists in a union of soul and body our spiritual life in a union of our souls with Christ by faith and eternal life in an immediate union with God and communion of glory Our growth in the spiritual life of Grace here must go before our coming to the stature of the fulness of Christ in that eternal life of glory Eph. 4.12 13. For clearing the doctrine we would know wherein stands the matter and object of our happiness 2. What is the manner of our participation and fruition of that object As to the object and matter of our eternal happiness What is the matter or object of our happiness the spirit of God in holy Scriptures expresseth it in terms borrowed from things of highest esteem in this world that by such expressions he may condescend to our capacity that we may learn things invisible by things visible and that our desires may be stirred up by things earthly toward things heavenly 1. It is called â— Light It is called Light Psal 36.9 With thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light It will not be a dazelling and confounding light as was the brightness of Moses his face at his coming down from the Mount the people could not behold him it will not be an astonishing light as that in the Mount at our Lords transfiguration the Disciples fell to the ground their weak eyes could not behold those glimpses of glory that shined through the vail of flesh but the light in our heaven of happiness will be a strengthning and comforting light it will strengthen and confirm the eyes of our understanding to behold it Then shall we be enabled as the young Eagles to behold the Sun of Righteousness in his brightness and glory it was said by the Lord to Moses none can see my face and live Exod. 33.20 that glorious sight which Daniel saw took strength from him Dan. 10.8 The object being without him drew out all his spirits to behold and admire it and so weakned him but in heaven our God whom we shall see and know will be within us to strengthen us then shall we live because we see his face It will be also a comforting light like the light of the morning to the wearied watchman who longed after it in the night time 2 It is called a Kingdom Luc. 12.32 2. A Kingdom Fear not little flock for it is your fathers will to give unto you a Kingdom It is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken or moved Heb. 12.28 there will be no commotions or divisions as in these inferiour sublunary Kingdomes in that Kingdom will be everlasting peace Rev. 22.11 without are dogs to wit contentious and seditious men who like dogs barking at the superiour lights do despise dignities and dominions which God hath appointed to be as the greater lights for ruling this inferiour world such men living and dying in their seditious disposition and courses will not come within the border of that Kingdom It is a Kingdom of incorruptible glory Suppose a man were Monarch of all the world in great splendor and prosperity yet all his glory and contentment is but a flying shadow in comparison of that solid substantial and eternal glory of the least of Saints in the Kingdom of heaven as the creature is infinitely inferiour to the Creator so is created glory to the increated which the child of God beholdeth in that Kingdom of glory Isa 40 15. Behold the Nations are as the drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust in the ballance how doth the glory of earthly Kings and their Kingdoms pass away like the glory of a King in a stage-play but the glory of the Kingdom of heaven is fixed and permanent as the Kingdom is immortal so
there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem 2 Chron. 32.35 The Prodigal Son Luk 15. abused his Fathers indulgence and his own plenty The Lord corrected him with a rod of his own planting he sent a famine procured by his own waste and mis-government 3. 3. By changes sinne is prevented The Lord sendeth such changes to prevent sinne in his own Children Paul was ravished to the third heaven but soon after there is a great change the messenger of Satan was permitted of God to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure The Lord in his wisedom seeth that continued prosperity would be a stumbling-block to his own children Therefore in great mercy to prevent their stumbling and fall he removes it out of their way Whereas on the contrary he suffers wicked and worldly-minded men to enjoy prosperity outward and to fall and be broken in peeces upon their own Idols of prosperity Riches was a snare to the young man in the Gospel those golden fetters intangled and restrained him from following Christ Luk. 18.23 Worldly honour was a snare and a tonguetye to the Rulers of the Synagogue they confessed not Christ because they loved the praise of men Joh. 12.42 43. Therefore Agur praieth God to remove such stumbling-blocks out of the way Prov. 30.9 Give me not riches lest I be full and deny thee 4. 4. Changes discover the insufficiency of the creature The Lord doth it to discover to his own children the insufficiency of creature-help and comfort and to give them a proof of the al-sufficiency of God In our adversity we perceive that ofttimes the creatures either cannot or will not help us they prove a broken tooth or a disjointed legge they will feed but not grinde with us sit at ease but not walk and toyl with us they will have a large share in our prosperity but none at all in our adversity The dear children of God as David have their own Achitophels very familiar and insinuating men into their secret counsels in the day of prosperity but the winde of adversity drives them away like smoak Pro. 19.6 7. Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts but all the brethren of the poor do hate him How much more do his friends go far from him he pursueth them with words yet they are wanting to him yea many times we perceive not only insufficiency in them to do us good but base and malicious ingratitude in rendring evil for good This David found in the day of his distresse Psal 35.13 15. When they were sick I humbled my soul with fasting but in my adversity they rejoyced On the contrary in the dark day of adversity we see the alsufficiency of our God we see him in the mount when and where inferior helps and comforts cannot be seen when worldly comforts like winter-brooks in Summer disappoint us of refreshment in a time of drought and necessity then finde we in our God a fountain of living water to revive us Psa 27.10 When my Father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up when Moses his Parents out of fear and desire of self-preservation cast him into the river then his al-sufficient God sent Pharaohs daughter in a special providence to take him out of the waters when men fail and forsake then it is that God helpeth Jacob saw most of the light of Gods countenance even then when he saw nothing but clouds of wrath in the countenances of his fierce brother Esau and of his ingrate Uncle Laban Gen. 20.12 13. Gen. 31.5 when false witnesses did calumniate Steven before the Council then found he most of Gods special presence and a testimony from heaven His face did shine as the face of an Angel Act. 6.15 When the Councill gnashed upon him with their teeth in that hour of darknesse he saw most of the glory of his God he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.54 55. According to that in the Psa 112.4 Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse In their saddest hours they see the light of their Fathers countenance 5. 5. Changes try and manifest grace The Lord sendeth such changes for the trial and manifestation of his own graces in them 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Of their faith in a time of adversity hereby Jobs faith was tried and manifested Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him His patience and submission to the good will of God Job 1.21 22. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Hereby Aarons submission to Gods Judgement on his Sons was manifested Lev. 10.3 when Moses said to him This is it that the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified And Aaron held his peace Hereby Davids patience and submission was manifested Psa 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it hereby their love to God is manifested Many hypocrites in a day of prosperity with their mouth will shew much love Ezek. 33.31 and seem to rejoyce in the word of God with the temporary beleever but when a change comes by persecution then they question hate and in end persecute the same truth sometime they professed but the children of God at such a time do make the sincerity of their love toward God and his truth more manifest Demas out of love to this present world forsook the truth but Luke abode in it 2 Tim. 4.10 Hereby the meeknesse of the children of God is made manifest in a day of their reproach Proud and malicious hypocrites will seem very quiet and Saint-like men so long as men esteem highly of them but if any thing be spoken or done to their reproach then become they like the foaming waves of the Sea casting up mire and dirt they answer calumny with calumny and render wrong for wrong The supercilious Pharisees when they imagined they were wronged in their reputation by that young man Joh. 9.34 they answered with much sawcinesse and bitternesse Thou wast altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us And they cast him out By their power they break all that will not bow to them It was not so with David when malicious men changed his Name and belched out reproaches against him 2 Sam. 16.11 Let him alone said he to Abishai of railing Shimei in the day of Moses his reproach when the people murmured and spoke against him yet the meek servant of God spoke for them to God hereby the meeknesse of Stephen was made manifest when his Persecutors cast stones at him he sent up praiers to God for them when they cried with a loud voice against him he cried with a loud voice to heaven for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7.60 hereby Pauls meeknesse was made manifest 1 Cor. 4.12 13. Lastly 6. By Changes
him a little before the time of publick execution of the sentence whereas a man reconciled and absolved is well content with any morsell So a wicked impenitent person at his death hath no contentment with all his worldly advantages But if thou be reconciled to God thy contentment in thy prosperity is multiplied for then thou lookest upon the good things of this world as pledges of better things and this super-addition to them of a new relation multiplies thy contentment and at death thy contentment is encreased as that of a Pilgrim at the border of his own Countrey and Seafaring man at the entrance of the harbour 2. Receive Christ to dwell in thy heart by faith and then nothing can come amisse that comes with Christ we make strangers welcome to our house who come along with a dear Friend No affliction is so strange but it will be made welcome with Christ Not only are beleevers content with it but glory in it As couragious Souldiers to be employed in hard service So did the Apostles when they were ignominiously beaten Act. 6.41 Paul and Silas did sing in the dungeon Act. 16.14 it was Pauls gloriation Gal. 6.17 that he bare in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus he esteemed them marks of favour and honour put upon him by his Lord he gloried in them as a valiant Souldier in the cicatrice of his wounds Our Lord brings with him peace to the soul where he dwels Peace with God Rom. 5.1 and peace to the conscience which is the Eccho and resound of our peace made in heaven with God This peace is the health of the soul and as a man in bodily health can well comport with course diet for a time whereas a sickly man frets and cankers at better entertainment So a man that hath peace with God and with his own conscience can comport with the bread of adversity and water of affliction But the man that hath not this peace hath a fretting of spirit in the midst of his plenty while there is laughter in his mouth there is much sorrow in his heart 3. Labour to be holy in all manner of conversation for holinesse hath the promises of this life and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 The precious promises of God are the common places out of which faith draweth several arguments of contentment for all our several wants bodily or spiritual Out of the bounty of providence the godly man gets supply for his outward condition and out of the Fulnesse of Christ he receives for his inward man grace for grace Lastly Moderate thy desires after things worldly Impatient desires to have breed much discontentment for disappointment and immoderate desires still to enjoy what we once have breeds us much discontentment at our losses Rachels impotent desires of posterity bred her so much discontent with the want of children Therefore the Apostle exhorts Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have Covetousnesse is like Hagar there is no peace in the house to Sarah till she be cast out so there is no quietnesse nor contentment to our spirits until covetousnesse be mortified Moderate therefore your desires after the things of this world and the greater shall be your contentment both in your abundance and in your wants Covet the best things even the Kingdom of God and his righteousnesse and things worldly shall be added to you Ye cannot exceed here in your desires after things heavenly but your enjoyment in heaven will exceed all your desires for it cannot enter into the heart to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him To this God Father Sonne and holy Ghost be all praise honour and glory now and for ever Amen Now followeth the fourth and last particular to be considered in the words to wit The fourth particular the sole and only author of all his ability and strength for doing and suffering the good will of God I can do all things saith he through Christ which strengtheneth me Before I raise the Doctrine the words would be cleared 1. What is meant by this strength 2. Next Wherefore it is called the strength of Christ And 3. How it is said he can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth him First By strength is not meant that infinite power 1. What is meant by strength wherein Christ is equal with the Father that mighty power by which in a soveraign and authoritative way he wrought miracles Luk. 9.73 They were all amazed at the mighty power of God by which he subdued all things and will raise the dead Phi. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things This strength is essential to the Sonne of God and incommunicable to the creatures the mighty one of Israel puts forth this strength toward the defence and protection of his own children in time of danger but puts it not in them as a strong man will use his strength for the defence of them that are weak but puts not his strength within them But by strength is here meant an ability created and infused into the heart of a beleever whereby he is enabled in such perfection as is accepted of God in Christ for doing and suffering the will of God It is a strength from Christ in them as the Original imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a strength in the innerman but from his Spirit Eph. 3.16 strengthened with might by his Spirit Secondly 2. Why it is called the strength of Christ It is called the strength of Christ 1. Because Christ hath procured this strength to us by his merit and intercession Joh. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever Our Lords departing out of the world by the death of the Crosse was the cause procuring to us the comfort and strength of of the Spirit Joh. 16.17 If I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you 2. Because Christ is the efficient cause and worker of this strength in us 1 Tim. 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me it is the same word which is used here 2 Tim. 2.1 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus or by Christ Jesus as the Preposition is frequently used as Mat. 5.34 it is rendred by the Heaven Matth. 23.20 21 22. where it is five times so used Rom. 12.21 Overcome evil by good so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Christ who by the efficiency of his Spirit applieth to us the strength of grace procured by the merit of his death Thirdly 3. How a man by the strength of Christ is able to do all things As to the third thing to
the body ye cannot read one syllable in all the heathen writers Such Doctrine was mocked at by the Philosophers of heathens Act. 17. they could not give an assent to it And therefore Paul saith Act. 26.8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead They measured Divine Mysteries by the short plummet of humane reason Likewise from this ground that of nothing there can be nothing produced they could not believe that Mysterie of the infinite power of God in the work of Creation in like manner having their understandings prejudiced with this received maxim that from a privation there cannot be any regress unto the habit they could not assent to the Doctrine of the resurrection of the body Humane reason cannot reach Divine Mysteries they are above its capacity 1 Cor. 2.14 the only ground whereon rests our assent to such a Divine Mysterie Augustine is the infallible testimony of God in holy Scripture Augustin saith well that a natural man requires a reason of evidence in the matter it self before he believe it intelligam saith such a man ut credam let me understand it that I may believe but the Disciple of Iesus Christ who hath captivated his thoughts unto the word of God saith credam ut intelligam let me once believe that God hath spoken it then shall I understand it to be true and evident from the testimony of God when we consider the goodness of our God in revealing to us this great Mysterie hid from many of the wise in the world let every one of us say with our blessed Lord Math. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight It serveth also for comfort to three sorts of persons Vse 2 1. To such of the children of God as are under any trouble and pain in the body Comfort to Saints under bodily pain though it were a painful languishing disease yet here is a sure ground of hope and comfort It is most certain thy bodie will be raised and in the bodie thou shalt have a comfortable rest from all labour and pain This was Iobs comfort in the day of his sore trouble that in the same body he should rise and see God Iob. 19.25 26. It was the Apostles comfort 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable because they suffered more in the body then other men did yet the hope and comfort of the resurrection upheld them It is some ease and comfort to one that is Sea-sick to look a far to the Land but their comfort and joy of heart is much greater when they come safely to it so in all our troubles in the body which are as a Sea-sickness in our passage towards our Country above let us look by Faith to the certainty of the resurrection of the body and if there be some comfort and joy as undoubtedly there is from Faith into the Promise and from hope of the promised resurrection What then will be the measure of thy comfort and joy when in a glorified body thou shalt see the Son of God manifesting his glory and transcendent beauty in his body It serveth for a ground of comfort to them that are on their death-bed Vse 3 Comfort to Saints against the apprehensions of death and have received in themselves the sentence of death be of good comfort the day is coming when thy body shall be raised out of the dust Consider for thy comfort 1. The mystical union of the bodies of Believers with Jesus Christ their head and thou mayst be confident our Lord and glorious head will not want any part of his Mystical body 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ is the first fruits of them that sleep as the first fruits were a sure evidence that the harvest was coming on a pace so the resurrection of Christ is a sure ground of hope and comfort for assuring us of the resurrection of our bodies 1 Cor. 15.16 If the dead be not raised then is not Christ raised 2. Consider the end of Christs death and of his second coming 2 Thes 1.7 It is a righteous thing with God to render to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels It is true in the grave thy body will have a kind of a negative rest then no pain in the body but in the day of resurrection thou shalt have a positive and refreshing rest in God himself like a man awakened and resting on a bed of Roses 3. Consider the endurance of the Kingdom of the Mediator in respect of the manner of the administration of it in this world 1 Cor. 15.25 He must reign until he have put all his enemies under his feet One of those enemies is the grave which our Lord before subdued and will also put under our feet when our bodies shall be raised out of the grave and we shall be above the power of corruption Therefore thou that believest in Christ mayest dye with great comfort and exult with Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Commend thy Spirit into his hands and thy dying body to his Fatherly care to be kept in the grave by him he is a Faithful Creator and Conservator of both at the day of resurrection he will render both Thou mayst be assured the Lord who requires men to be faithful in rendering again the pledge intrusted to them Deut. 24.13 he will in the day of restoring all things render again to thee thy soul and body with increase of glory beauty and strength Thirdly Comfort to Saints mourning for the death of their friends It serveth for comfort to those who mourn for the death of their dear friends I grant it is not only lawful to mourn but it were unnatural not to do so Our Lord wept over Lazarus Joseph mourned many days for his old Father The death of dear friends is one of Gods visitations and it becomes us well to take notice of Gods visiting us we must neither slight and despise the chastisement of the Lord nor be faint-hearted when we are rebuked of the Lord Heb. 12.5 The first is a brutish stupidity and Heathenish Apathie the other is a sillyness and pusillanimity proceeding from unbelief and repining of Spirit but let thy mourning be qualified and moderated with the comfort and hope of the resurrection 1 Thes 4.13 Sorrow not even as others which have no hope That Heathen Moralist could say We have not lost our friends but sent them before us what then should Christians say who believe not only the immortality of the soul but also the resurrection of the body
troubles and molestations outward Rev. 14.13 they rest from all their labours 2 Thes 17. it is a righteous thing to recompence to you who are troubled rest with us when the 〈…〉 Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels Then shall we have full rest from all our spiritual enemies 1 Cor. 15.26 the last enemy death shall be destroyed when our bodies shall be raised and cloathed with immortality then shall we rest from all our afflictions These are Gods medicines to purge our humorous souls and to prevent the out-breaking of corruption but in heaven our souls and bodies will be confirmed in an heavenly temper of health and happiness and there will not be need of such a medicine afflictions are the bitter fruits growing from inbred and rooted corruption then will corruption be pulled up by the root and our nature will be perfectly healed 2. 2. Inward temptations We shall have rest from inward temptations and suggestions then the sparkles of inordinate concupiscence smoaking even in the regenerated will be fully quenched with that pure river of the water of life clear as cristal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 then shall we get rest from indwelling corruption that like the troubled Sea casts up the dirt and myre of impure suggestions Then all our raging and unruly affections will be fixed on God and quieted with admiring adorning and delighting in God 3. 3. The molestations of wicked men Then shall we get rest from the daily molestations of wicked men who vex the godly as the soul of righteous Lot was vexed with the iniquities of Sodom as David was vexed with the malicious calumnies of his evil neighbours Psa 118.12 they compassed me about like Bees but this was his and will be our comfort in that day they will be all quenched as the fire of thornes The fire they raised against the godly will be quenched but the fire of Gods wrath kindled here against themselves and poured forth in that day upon the seditious and contentious will never be quenched here the wicked are like the Sons of Zerviah a daily vexation and are too strong for us like the Iebusites pricks in our eyes and thorns in our sides Here the strong do push at the weak and foul the waters with their feet they spoyl us of our worldly comforts Eze. 34.21 here we are in greatest danger from feigned friends that betray with a kiss as there is more danger to ships from rocks unseen then from those that are seen But in that day of resurrection which is the inaugurall of our consummate glory there will be a separation of the goats from the sheep for ever Esay 11.9 in the mount Zion that is above there will be none to hurt Rev. 21.15 without shall be dogs and whosoever loveth or maketh lyes here in this world simple and well meaning people are deceived and destroyed by state lyars who under a pretext of grievance for misgovernment and zeal for reformation draw away the people from duty to lawful Superiours as Absolom by false aspersions stole away the hearts of the people 2 Sam. 15.3 6. here also flatterers by their lyes spread a net before the seet of the Rulers and under pretext of zeal for the sacred Authority do alienate the hearts and provoke the hands of Rulers to be stretched out against the faithful such a lyar was Amaziach against Amos Amos 7. and Doeg against the Priests but in heaven there will be no such scandals to grieve the godly Math. 13.41 The Son of man shall send his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend 4. 4. From the differences that here fall out amongst themselves Not only will there be peace and rest from the iniquities and malice of the wicked but also from all differences that through ignorance in Iudgement or weakness in affection do fall out here amongst the Godly and interrupt the comfort of mutual communion Paul and Barnabas had their own Paroxism Act. 15.39 Chrysostom and Epiphanius in a fit of bitter passion at their parting one from another had their mutual imprecations but in heaven there will be no debates no contention no difference in judgement then will we know mind love and speak all one thing all doubts will be resolved by seeing the face of God then will our harmony with God be perfect and one with another both in Judgement and affection Our rest in heaven as it will be full and absolute from every thing that can disquiet us In heaven there will be perpetual rest so it will be perpetual and rest for ever The soul in this present world though it may at a time be free from trouble yet if it be under fear of new troubles this very fear doth interrupt the rest and quiet of the mind in the time of our calm the fear of a new storm doth much disquiet us the man sick of a feavour tertian is troubled even in his good day with the sad apprehension of his evil day ensuing But here is our comfort that establisheth our hearts amidst all the winds and waves of temptations here we shall have a calm in heaven and good dayes for ever Our peace and rest there will be without all fear of a change Revel 21.4 There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor pain Not only will the Saints in heaven have that privative blessing of peace and rest from all trouble for ever In heaven there will be joy and delight for ever but also they will have the positive blessing of joy and delight for ever though eternal peace and rest be a great blessing passing all understanding yet it is the far least part of our happiness But our greatest satisfsction is in that joy and delight which will proceed from the beholding of Gods face not only shall we have a privative rest from trouble but a positive rest and delight in God which will satisfie and quiet all our affections This joy will be full in the measure Psal 16.17 This joy wiâ—â— be 1. Full. In thy presence is fullness of joy in this life our joy is mixt with sorrow like the prick under the rose Iacob had joy when his sons returned home from Egypt with the sacks full of corn but much sorrow when he perceived the silver in the sacks mouth David had much joy in bringing up the Ark of God but at the same time great sorrow for the breach made upon Vzzah This is the Lords great wisdom to temper and moderate our joy As men of a weak constitution must have their wine qualified with water for fear of distemper so must we in this life such is our weakness have our joy mixed with sorrow least we turn giddy and insolent here our joy is mixed with fear Psal 2. Rejoyce in trembling the woman departed from the Sepulcher of our Lord with fear and great joy Math.
he careth not though all men beside him were miserable But where envying is there can be no contentment or rest to that soul for Envy is the fretting of the heart and rottennesse of the bones Pro. 14.30 But the renewed man is content in his prosperity lesse or more The godly content in 1. Prosperity he looketh on his worldly advantages in one relation to God both as they are tokens of his fatherly love and as they are pledges of a better and more enduring substance It is not those common gifts but their relation to God that gives him contentment It is like the great contentment a faithfull wife hath in a gift but of common and ordinary substance sent from her loving Husband 2. The renewed man his prosperity doth not encrease his desires after more of the creature but after more of God himself in whom alone is eminently to be found all the comfort that is scattered and sprinkled like salt here and there on diverse creatures He is content with his present condition praieth God to continue it if it so seem good in his eyes But above all he desires the encrease of favour with God 3. The renewed man in his prosperity communicates to the necessities of others and this breeds him much contentment He is more content with that which is useful to others then of what himself possesseth their good contents him more then his own goods 4. He is free from envy that is a worm in the gourd the more plentiful condition of others doth augment but no waies diminish his contentment for he rejoyceth and delights in the riches of Gods bounty to others 2. Adversity The sound beleever is content in his estate of adversity and low condition Old Eli when he heard the threatning of a fearfull change in his outward estate 1 Sam. 3.18 said It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good he looked to the Soveraign Lord who rendreth not an account of any of his matters Job 33.13 Not only is he content and submits to what is revealed but is prepared to submit to more when God reveals more of his will to afflict him Let him do this said Eli and whatsoever seemeth him good So did Ezechias rest content with a sad dispensation 2 King 20.19 Good is the Word of the Lord said he to the Prophet which thou hast spoken So did David 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him The reasons and ground of his contentment in his greatest adversity are Reasons of contentment in adversity 1. Because the childe of God makes Gods favour his portion Psa 16.5 Psa 73.26 Psa 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord The loving-kindenesse of the Lord is better then life And life is better then means of life The childe of God can and will rejoyce in this everlasting portion Though all things worldly should fail him he wants not matter of contentment that hath the all-sufficient God for his everlasting portion Hab. 3.16 17 18. in a time of great trouble Although saith he the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall no herd be in the stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation As a Merchant adventuring a little portion at Sea though it miscarry yet he rejoyceth in the stock he hath at home So the childe of God though his outward commodities perish yet he rejoyceth in his God who is the strength of his heart and portion for ever Psa 73.26 2. Faith in a renewed man looks up to God as his Father in Christ Joh. 16.27 The Father himself loveth you Joh. 20.27 I ascend to my Father and your Father The beleever rests on his Fathers wisedom who knoweth what is best and on his love who will give to his children what is best for them Mat. 7.11 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him 3. Faith in a renewed man is copulative It beleeves all the promises of greater and lesser of spiritual and bodily of eternal and temporal benefits because God is faithfull in all and he that doubts of one cals in question the authority of all being one and the same to wit the Word of God Now God hath promised Psa 34.9 There is no want to them that fear him Psa 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed Faith from an interest in Christ that great Original gift convinceth the judgement and perswades the heart quietly to depend on God for lesser benefits by a demonstrative argument from Gods love Rom. 8 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Faith makes the happinesse of heaven to be present in the heart of the beleever He sees heaven in a map he gets a view of the promised eternal rest in an elevation of faith as Moses did of the Promised Land from the top of Pisgah Deut. 34.1 This sight doth so affect the heart with quietnesse and contentment that it neither faints nor frets under present troubles 2 Cor. 4.16 18. For which cause we faint not while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen Let us learn in every estate to be content Vse not only in prosperity but also in adversity Learn contentment in every estate Shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord and shall we not receive evil Job 2.10 Neither must we limit the holy One of Israel in his dispensation by saying We could be content to suffer so much but no more It is both folly and presumption for the Patient to prescribe to his Physician Let us rather resolve with the Apostle Paul Act. 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus And with the Martyr Ignatius be content to suffer one extremity after another so that we may gain Jesus Christ Remember what would have become of us if our Lord and Surety Jesus Christ hath said so that he was content to pay a part only of our debt and to drink a part of that bitter cup of Gods wrath One of ten thousand was enough to keep us for ever in that bottomelesse prison One drop of wrath would be enough to make us for ever miserable Obj. Object But may not a man lawfully desire to be delivered out of present trouble and if it be so how can he be said to be content with
the glory of it is incorruptible 3. Our happiness is called a Crown Jam. 1.12 A Crown He that endureth trials shall receive the Crown of life The four and twenty Elders had on their heads Crowns of Gold Rev. 4.4 The Romane Senate of old after some great victory did send to their Generals and great Captains a triumphal Crown and they did also send to the Souldiers chains bracelets and garlands Our Lord and great Captain of our salvatâ—on Iesus Christ after he had overcome all our enemies was Crowned with glory Heb. 2.9 He became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.8 9 10. This glory of the subjection of all things is peculiar to the Son of God exalted to the right hand of the Father in our Nature in which he was promoted to glory and Crowned as the Kings Purple Robe is advanced with him when he ascends into the Throne so the humane nature wherewith our Lord was invested was glorified with him in his Ascension and exalted to the right hand of God in glory like as the Captain of our salvation after his victory obtained his Crown super-eminent a name above every name so every one that fighteth the good fight under his command and in his strength shall receive their Crown of glory also which he by the merit of his valour in spoyling principalities and powers on the Cross hath purchased for them and to them 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness Then our righteousness begun here will be crowned with perfection and glory God will crown not our merits but his own gifts it is a crown that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 5.4 a crown incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 then both head and Crown will be immortal the person and the glory will endure for ever 4. An inheritance It is called an inheritance incorruptible that cannot be defiled that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.5 It is an inheritance infinitely large which will satisfie all the children and heirs without any occasion of envy or contention it is not like that land that could not contain both Abraham and Lot with their substance which was the occasion of quarrelling to the heards-men 5. It is called an house not made with hands An house not made with hands c. eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 here we are as men remaining for a time in Tabernacles our life is subject to changes and decays our bodies must be dayly repaired our spark of life would soon languish and dye without entertainment our bodies like a house of clay do daily fall down in one place or other with every new shower of a defluxion or distillation from our heads that are the roof of this house but in heaven our condition will be fixed and permanent as in a large house there is much ease and room for the Inhabitants so Ioh. 14. In my fathers house saith our Lord are many Mansions there is abundance of happiness and glory for every child of God it is a house full of light Rev. 21.23 there is no need of Sun nor Moon the Lamb will be the light thereof it is a house full of all provision for eternity in our fathers house saith the Prodigal is bread enough bread of life and water of life yea God himself will be all in all to us we shall live in him and with him and shall be continually refreshed and entertained by the seeing and enjoying of God 6. A plentiful common Table Our happiness in heaven is set forth by a plentiful common Table where all the glorified Saints will be entertained with a communion of one essential glory in the perpetual beholding of the face of God Luke 22.29 30. I appoint unto you a Kingdom saith our Lord that ye may eat and drink at my Table Our Lord in such expressions condescends to our weak and childish capacity thereby to signifie that satiety of pleasure and joy that shall redound unto the affections and sensitive part of our souls from the blessed Vision of God and also to set forth that Communion of glory with Angels and glorified Saints all the heavenly guests will be refreshed with the cleer vision of an infinite glorious God the entertainment will be great eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 there will be good and solacious company Angels and just men there will be sweet and pleasant melody no jarrings there but perfect harmony singing that Trisagium Rev. 4.8 holy holy holy Lord God almighty which was and is and is to come This heavenly feast will not have an end as Ahasuerosh his feast had though it lasted many dayes But Psal 16. At thy right hand are pleasures for ever As to the manner how we participate this happiness and vision of God The manner how we participate of the vision of God there is something of it in the general revealed in holy Scripture but the particular and distinct knowledge of it is reserved to our experience and feeling in heaven that which is revealed to us is 1. 1. Intellectual That this vision of God in heaven is intellectual and mental for whereas it is said 1 Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is and 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall see him face to face it is expounded by the Apostle in the same place of knowledge then shall I know even as also I am known It is true we shall see our Lord Iesus Christ in his glorified humane nature but God being a Spirit cannot be seen with the eye of the body for nothing can be seen but that which hath colour And God is of a most simple essence without all composition whatsoever 2. 2. Immediate This vision and fountain of God will be immediate 1 Cor. 13.12 H re we see as through a Glass we receive some representations of God in the two glasses of his word and works as in a glass we see here only the representation and some reflex of the face of God but in heaven we shall see him face to face without the interposition of any midds here we see him through the Lattess Cant. 2.9 But in heaven we shall see him within that eternal house of glory here we know God by his word but in heaven Prophecying and Teaching shall cease 1 Cor. 13. As when the building is perfected the scaffolding and other means necessary in the time of building are removed Though in heaven there will be no midds intervening betwixt the soul God in that blessed vision yet mans finite understanding will be corroborated and supported by the mean and midds of a glorious created strength that it may
here The song begun here shall be continued there Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us in his own blood from our sins and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen This doctrine serveth for a ground of terror and weakening to wicked men who live and dye in their unrighteousness Vse 1 It is not possible for any in his unrighteousness to behold the face of God It is not possible for them in their unrighteousness to behold the face of God It is true they shall be forced to look on him as a dreadful Iudge and avenger of all unrighteousness They shall behold him as a Malefactor doth the Iudge with great terror and anguish of spirit Rev. 1.7 They shall look upon him and wail before him Thou that mournedst not on earth for thy sins shalt mourn for ever under that insupportable burden of wrath and Judgement therefore remember in time that this righteousness wherein the Saints will behold the face of God must have a beginning in this life Our sanctification is compared to a race Heb. 12.1 and no man comes to the end of the course but he that sometime began to run it is compared to a building 1 Pet. 2.5 there must be a foundation laid a believing and resting on Christ the corner stone and therefore a superstructure of holiness and righteousness before the top-stone and crown of perfect righteousness be put on It is compared to a growing in stature 2 Pet. 3.18 and without growing up in sanctification it is impossible to come into the measure of stature of the fulness of Christ we must be infants of glory in the state of grace before we can be men of glory in heaven Eph. 2.21 in Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord there must be first a growing and building up in sanctification before we can be Temples filled with glory in heaven It serveth for a ground of comfort unto all those who have set themselves in the way of righteousness Vse 2 Righteousness begun in this life will be perfect in heaven and do endeavour a conformity of their wills and wayes to the holy will and righteous ways of God here is their comfort that their righteousness begun in this life will be perfected and in a perfect personal righteousness in heaven they shall behold the face of God in glory begun holiness here is the infancy of perfect holiness and is no other thing then the gate of heaven and happiness Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the poor in heart for they shall see God Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart The seed of that full joy in heaven is sown in the renewed heart and the full fruits will be seen and enjoyed in the day of restoring all things when the godly by vertue of the second Adam will be restored to the possession of all the happiness they lost in the first Adam in that day thou shalt eat of the fruit of thy labours Thy labour of love here will not be forgot there a cup of cold water given to a disciple in the name of a disciple shall be richly rewarded the Lord thy God hath a book of remembrance Mal. 3.17 he hath a particular and distinct knowledge of every good work thou doest as men have particulars written up in their Diaries for their better remembrance In the day of resurrection whatsoever good work thou hast done in secret though there was little notice or noise of it in the world yet shall it be published in the audience of angels and men then thy bread cast on the waters upon the poor distressed and despised members of Jesus Christ which the rich Nabals in this present world thought to be as water spilt on the ground as lost and cast into the bottom of the Sea Then I say after many dayes thou shalt find it Luk. 14.14 Thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the Iust It is true I confess it is not for our righteousness we are brought to behold Gods face in glory yet it must be in righteousness though not for our righteousness Christs righteousness onely makes way for us to the beholding of Gods face but personal inherent righteousness is a concomitant necessary for every person that would behold his glory Heb. 12.14 This thy perfect righteousness in heaven will make thy heart exceeding glad consider what joy of heart the godly have even from this testimony of their conscience onely that they are willing to live honestly though in many performances they come far short of their duty and desire Then what joy of heart will they have when they find in themselves the graces of holiness and righteousness perfected in an exact conformity unto the will of God if there be such joy in the seed time that Peter calleth it unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 what then will be the joy and exaltation in that day of the full harvest and in gathering if there be such joy at the laying of the foundation and in the time of building what will be our Ioy in that day when all will be covered and crowned with glory when the Comforter will dwell in us for ever Then will there be in our hearts an ever and overflowing fountain of Joy we shall be perfectly righteous and never grieve the Spirit and the Comforter will never desert us nor suspend the influence of his comfort Therefore be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for Ioy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 32.11 The fourth point considerable is the measure of our happiness 4. Point The measure of our eternal happiness set down in these words I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Our happiness in heaven will be full and satisfactory to the desires of our souls Doct. Our happiness heaven will be full and satisfactory This satisfaction standeth in these two 1. In a full peace and rest for ever from all troubles 2. In a full Ioy and delight for ever these two blessings of Peace and Ioy for ever will flow from that Ocean of blessedness the facial vision of God and run as a refreshing river through the soul beholding the face of God the eternal misery of the damned wil be perpetuated both in a punishment of loss which is called outer darkness the want of Gods gracious and comfortable presence for ever and also in a pain of sense which is called Isa 66. a worm that dyeth not and a fire that cannot be quenched but the happiness of the godly will be continued for ever in a Rest from all pain and in a fruition of all good in God al-sufficient in himself and all in all to them The godly will have a full Rest 1. The Saints in heaven have a full rest from 1. All troubles From all
will have an accessory joy reflecting from the soul as light within a glass is transparent so the inward glory of the soul will be legible in the large Characters of an ever cheerful countenance in the body As the joy of the glorified Saints will be in full measure and extent 2. Permanent so it will be permanent and perpetual Ps 16.11 At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Joh. 16.22 Your joy said our Lord to his Disciples no man taketh from you Though a sound believer hath matter of joy in his God even amidst his greatest troubles yet many times there are here sad interruptions of his joy in respect of the exercise of it in this vail of tears our condition is mixed at one time a shour of tears and prayers at another time a Sun-shine of joy and praises at one time we are ravished as it were to the third heavens with the sense of Gods love at another time we are cast down into the depth of sorrows when the Messenger of Sathan even some violent tentation doth buffet us at one time we are full both of matter and affection to praise our God that we may say with Elihu Iob. 32.18 The Spirit within constraineth me I am full of matter at another time our heart and spirit is like a bottle in the smoak all our former joy is spent and dryed up Psa 102. Our joy here is like the husband-mans joy in harvest he must be put again to the troubles and the pains of seed time so after our joy here we are put again to sow in tears Iacob had much joy at the return of his sons with corn from Egypt but it endured not for soon after he had great sorrow the corn was spent and he must part with his beloved Benjamin but in heaven our joy will be everlasting a full joy without mixture of sorrow a continual harvest a joy ever in perfection as the fruits are in time of harvest we shall never sow again in tears a perpetual joy but without wearying or loathing because there will be infinite and recent variety of sweetness in God to delight and rejoyce our hearts for ever Object But will there not be degrees of glory in heaven It is probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven 1. and if there be degrees how will all be satisfied can he that hath less be as well satisfied as he that gets a greater measure of glory Answ 1. It is most probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven Dan. 12.3 some shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and others as the stars for ever and ever 1 Cor. 15.41 there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars so also is the resurrection of the dead There are also divers degrees of torments in hell according to the divers degrees of sin and guiltiness in this life so according to the divers degrees of grace in this life it is probable there will be divers degrees of glory in heaven The servant who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not will be beaten with more stripes then he that is ignorant of it though he do it not Luke 12.47 It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgement then for those Cities which did contemn and reject the offer of the Gospel Mat. 10.15 2. Though there will be degrees of glory in heaven Yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied with that one essential and substantial glory communicate to all in the vision and fruition of the one infinite and al-sufficient God As vessels of divers measures are all filled in the same Ocean though all of them be not of equal capacity The greater degree of glory communicate to some will not be for the excellency and differences of their graces here but according to the divers degrees of grace freely bestowed on them in this life by the spirit of Jesus As they were merited onely by him who is the sole procurer of our grace and glory so in heaven the degrees of glory are a crowning not of our merits but of his own gifts for the giving of a former gift doth oblige the receiver to thankfulness but not the giver to bestow another gift so grace given freely of God obligeth us to thankfulness but doth not oblige God to give unto us glory more or less Because grace and glory in all their degrees are of his free love Rom. 5.17 for if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Iesus Christ This doctrine affords a ground of sharp reproof against all profane and earthly-minded men Vse 1 They are fools who for perishing pleasures part with everlasting joyes who with profane Esau do sell their part of this full refreshment and satisfaction for the deceitful and perishing pleasures of sin To such in our time I say as Isaiah did to those in his time Isa 55.2 wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not Therefore to the end thy heart may be rectified I offer these considerations 1. Consider that worldly pleasures are 1. unsatisfactory Consider in time the pleasures of this present world cannot satisfie thy vast appetite Riches do not satisfie the covetous man he desireth more what he yet wanteth then he delighteth in what he hath already The Heathen Moralist spake truth to this purpose when he said the covetous man wanteth as much what he hath as what he hath not as he possesseth not what he wanteth so he hath no heart to make use of what he possesseth honour doth not satisfie the ambitious man what he hath of it already is but a step to raise up his vain spirit to the desire of more and where are vehement desires of more preferment there cannot be satisfaction Neither do sensual pleasures satisfie the incontinent or intemperate man his sinful desires are not satiated thereby the more he sinneth his corruption is the more set on fire of Hell more sin is but more fewel to the fire of concupiscence Therefore as Isaiah exhorts in the same place hearken diligently unto the word of the Lord and eat that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness obey that exhortation of the Apostle Col. 3.2 set your affections on things above and not on things on earth covet the best things be thou truly generous and heavenly-minded set thy heart on these durable riches on that immortal crown of glory and on these pleasures that fade not away those pleasures in the vision and fruition of God will satisfie thy soul for ever they will fill up the measure of all thy desires thou wilt have more set before thee in an infinite God then thy finite