times detests that which is highly valued and cried up in the World So Prov. 16.2 All the ways of Man are clean in his own eyes but the Lord weighs the Spirits We look to the Bulk and Matter of the Action but God looks to the Mind and Spirit with which it is performed We look to the Action slightly so as to overlook the Evil that is in it through partiality and indulgence to our selves but God exactly weighs things and puts them into the Ballance of the Sanctuary Therefore we see a necessity that when we come into the presence of the Righteous and Impartial Judg of Heaven and Earth we should make Mercy our Plea though we be conscious of no Defect and Disobedience saw nothing or knew nothing amiss by our selves yet God knows Failings sees Errors Job 9.22 If I were perfect yet do I not know my own Soul That is I would not go by the inward sense and feeling of my Conscience but give up the Cause to God that he might justly condemn me for no Man sees exactly the depth of his own Heart therefore I would not argue my Right but crave Mercy So that you see it is Mercy that must stand us in most stead 2. From the Condition and Disposition of the Saints 1. Their Condition they were once Sinners and still are imperfect Once Sinners liable to the Wrath of God And as they were once Sinners they are still to own the Merit of Sin though not to determine the Event for they are to judg themselves 1 Cor. 11.31 Though they are as Brands pluckt out of the Burning yet they deserv'd the Burning I do not tell you what God will do but what you have deserved not to weaken your confidence rejoycing in Christ but to humble your Hearts You had once the Sentence past upon you and had the Rope about your Necks you were at the Gates of Hell and might have entred in but for the Grace of your Redeemer A sense of it is still necessary to quicken your Thankfulness and Prayers for Mercy and Pardon and to promote your Humility You turn Grace into Wantonness and abuse it if it lessen any of these Acts for though God forgive we must not forget We were once as bad as the worst and Children of Wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Therefore when God justifies us we must still condemn our selves We are still imperfect and the best feel and find in themselves great Infirmities and make but too much work for pardoning Mercy There are great mixtures of Sin that we are conscious unto notwithstanding the little good which we perform Job 9.2 3. How should Man be just with God If he should contend with him he cannot answer one of a thousand Our Righteousness is so imperfect and full of Defects that we do not make it our Plea but God's Mercy is our best and surest confidence There are many sins that we are conscious unto Psal 40.11 Innumerable Evils have compassed me about therefore what should we do but cry for mercy and forgiveness of them Lord be merciful to me a Sinner Luke 18.13 2. The Disposition of the Saints They have a greater apprehension of the Evil of Sin because of the increase of Light and Love As their Light and Love increases so doth their Trouble about Sin Rom. 7.9 24. Paul maketh more complaint about remaining Sins that cleave to the Best than the Wicked do about reigning Lusts They are ashamed of the folly and filthiness that is in Sin troubled and griev'd for their unkindness to God and therefore are more apprehensive of the need of Mercy than possibly others can be None see so many Sins none see so much hainousness in Sin In a clear Glass of Water the least Mote is espied and the most delicate and tender Complexions are most sensible of annoyance Therefore if God will shew mercy to them notwithstanding all their unkind dealings with him they apprehend it as a great and wonderful favour 2. They have a greater dread of God's Justice and Holiness and a more sincere respect to the Threatnings of his Word It is true they do not fear as before with a Tormenting Fear yet have a great reverence for the Sentence of his Law and a more firm belief of his eternal Recompenses than the blind and stupid World hath Therefore they more earnestly deprecate his Anger have a greater care to please him a more piercing grief because they have offended him and therefore if God will shew them mercy in the free and full forgiveness of all their Offences they are more apprehensive of the Benefit They know God's Word is true and observe his Providences as a Comment on it Rom. 1.18 None of them can or dare appear in the Judgment till they have sought his Favour and obtain'd his Pardon 3. They are more sollicitous in the Case than others who make a light business of Salvation and do the Work of an Age in a Breath We are all Sinners but God is merciful They know that a business of this weight must be carried on with all diligence imagiable Phil. 2.12 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling They see so many deceive themselves make a full account they shall be saved Rev. 3.17 Matth. 25. do well in the Judgment when there is no ground for it They know the sleightness that is incident to humane Nature the deceit and hypocrisie of their own Hearts therefore use diligent Cares constant Prayers continual Watchings and when they have done all dare not rest upon that but the Mercy of Jesus Christ as their best Refuge and Comfort 3dly With respect to the Purity and Strictness of his Law which is the Rule of Commerce between us and God The Law may be considered as it relateth to the Covenant of Works or as it relateth to the Covenant of Grace 1. With respect to the Covenant of Works where the least Failing lays us open to the Curse surely no Plea can be allowed but Mercy For that Covenant shuts up from all Hope of Escape unless Mercy opens the Door for us Rom. 11.32 He hath concluded all under Vnbelief that he may have Mercy upon all Gal. 3.11 The Scripture concluded all under Sin All are guilty of Disobedience unto God that all might be saved by Merey and Grace 'T is a Similitude taken from Malefactors who are shut up in Prison to be kept unto Punishment For who among us can perfectly keep the Law 2. With respect to the Covenant of Grace where God requireth Perfection but will accept of Sincerity The Law of God is still in force for it is adopted into the Frame of the Covenant as the Rule of our Duty The Rule is as strict as ever but the Covenant is not so strict The Rule is as strict for it still requireth Perfection but the Covenant is not so strict it is not so indispensibly required because Sincerity or Perfection of Parts is accepted instead of
were enough to bring them to Damnation yea they would not be an hour out of Hell assoon as God should enter his Action against them 6. Though they are not perfect yet they are not wicked there is enough to difference the Godly from the Ungodly Job 10.7 Thou knowest I am not wicked Though all Men be Sinners yet some have escaped the Reign of Sin We must distinguish our selves 1 John 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifested and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God Many Arguments will shew the Necessity of this First From the Nature of God who is a God of exact Purity glorious Majesty impartial Justice and infinite Knowledge All which shew the need of Mercy 1. The Holy Nature of God When he is upon his Judicial Process here in the World who is able to endure it The Men of Bethshemesh said 1 Sam. 6. Who is able to stand before this Holy Lord God That is because he shews himself so Zealous of his Institutions And Josh 24.19 Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is a Holy God He speaks not this to discourage them but that they might not have slight thoughts of God and his Service as if he did make little reckoning of Sin or that it were not so hateful to him and so great a Matter as usually it is made to be Slight Spirits wonder why Men make such ado about Sin What harm is it say they to take a little forbidden Pleasure or to indulge a wanton Thought or drop a vain Word These Men are ignorant of the Purity and Holiness of God therefore their Humiliation and Repentance is thought needless their Sense of the Necessity and Benefit of Pardon lessen'd their Awe and Watchfulness abated What thoughts they have of Sin the same they think God hath Psal 50.21 Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self They make light work of Sin either in repenting or watching and striving against it Certainly they that have slight thoughts of Sin never have great thoughts of God If we think seriously of the Purity and Holiness of God it would be another Matter and it would not so lightly go off the Conscience 2. There is the glorious Majesty of God He is a Sovereign and all his Recompences are Acts of Grace and not of Debt Job saith Job 19.15 Though I were righteous I would not answer but I would make Supplication to my Judge Whatever Sense we have of our own Integrity and the Good wrought in us yet Supplications for Mercy do become the Creature For God is our Sovereign and represented there as our Supreme Judge whose Tribunal none can decline whose Examination and Trial is most strict and accurate whose Doom and Sentence is decisive and absolute without power of appealing or repealing and the Execution and Punishment most dreadful Therefore nothing becomes us so much as a broken-hearted Imploring of Grace and Mercy God is so great and glorious that we can merit nothing at his hands all that is done to us must be meer Grace This is the Difference between Sin and Obedience the Heinousness of Sin is always aggravated by the greatness of the Object against whom it is committed but the Value of Obedience is still thereby lessened The Offence is aggravated To strike an Officer is more than to strike a private Man a King more than an ordinary Officer so the Infinite Majesty of God greatens the Offence But on the other side the greater God is and the more glorious the more it lessens the Value of that Good we perform We can never oblige him When we have done all that ever we can we are but unprofitable Servants Luk. 17.10 Mercy is the Fountain of all that we are and hope for That Grace which first accepted us with all our Faults doth at last crown us 3. The Impartial Justice of God That belongs to him as Governour of the World There is a threefold Justice in God 1. His general Justice That requires Vt bonis benè sit malis malè That it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do ill This is spoken of 2 Thess 1.6 7. It is a righteous thing with God to render Tribulation unto them that trouble you and unto you that are troubled Rest. 2. His strict Justice according to the Covenant of Works If God should deal with us according to our undeservings and ill-deservings not in a way of gracious Compassion what would become of the best of Men in the World Not one of us could appear in Court. For there is not a Man found that hath not some Fault and Failing which would render him uncapable of God's Favour If he should proceed in just Severity against us who could stand not only who among the wicked but who among the People of God Psal 130.14 Therefore that Judgment must be deprecated as David doth Psal 143.2 Enter â—â—t into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified It is impossible for such a frail sinful Creature as Man is to appear before God's exact Tribunal with any Comfort and Hope Now because this strict Justice of God leaves us in such a desperate and hopeless Condition there is another Court set up to which we may appeal even the Covenant of Grace which alloweth Pardon to penitent and sincere Believers 3. There is his merciful Justice according to Promise in the new Covenant Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget the Work and Labour of Love 1 John 1.9 He is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness Not that the Work deserveth his Grace but God having made himself a Debtor by his own Promise it is just that he should make it good Now this is the same we speak of in the Text The Lord grant that he may find Mercy in that Day 〈◊〉 It is his Grace to enable us to perform the Condition and it is his merciful Justice to accept of it when it is performed 4. His Infinite Knowledge by which he takes notice of all that we do We may be blinded with Partiality and Self-love but the Holy and All-seeing God knows many Faults which Men either cannot or will not see 1 Cor. 4.9 I know nothing of my self yet am I not hereby justified Some of God's People have attain'd to new Covenant-Righteousness yet they dare not venture their Eternal Estate upon that alone Suppose our Hearts condemn us in part we know somewhat by our selves yet God knoweth more 1 John 3.20 For if our Hearts condemn us God is greater than our Hearts and knows all thins Things appear otherwise to the Holy God than they do to us Luk. 16.15 And he said unto them Ye are they who justify your selves before Men but God knoweth their Hearts for that which is highly esteemed among Men is an Abomination in the sight of God God many
Perfection of Degrees Perfection is still required otherwise our Defects were nothing and we might allow our selves in our Failings and no great Harm would come of it And then to strive after Perfection or to press towards the Mark would not be a necessary Duty but only a Work of Super-errogation No it doth invite us to the highest Degree of Godliness and makes the Endeavour after Perfection a necessary Condition of our Happiness as Perfection it self to be our proper Happiness And so our Duty and Felicity do agree that we may not have any liberty to be bad and miserable But yet it accepteth of Sincerity if our Hearts be upright with God and our whole Mind and Desire be set to obey please and glorify him and we make it our main Work so to do God will not enter into Judgment with his Servants nor be strict and severe to his Children nor condemn those that love and fear him for lesser Failings and Infirmities nor take that Occasion to ruine and destroy them Indeed as the new Covenant commandeth Perfection it noteth our Infirmities to humble us in order to our Cure Christ as a Physician looks to our Infirmities to rid us of them and free us from them but not as a Judge to condemn us for them But yet because of the multitude of our Errors the holiest and humblest and most penitent believing Soul is scarce able to abide the Trial. Therefore when we have done our utmost Mercy in that Day is our greatest and surest Support 4thly With respect to the Day of Judgment 1. The Preparation that is necessary Since Christ is ready to judg and we know not the Day and Hour of his Coming we should be ready to be judged A sad Meeting and Greeting there will be between Christ and an unprepared Soul Therefore it concerns us deeply to see whether we be ready to give up our Account to God Now there is a twofold Readiness when you are in a safe Condition and when you are in a comfortable Case with respect to that Day All that are in a safe Case know not that they are in a comfortable Case know not that it shall go well with them in the Judgment Our Safety is known by the Law of Grace for Christ will judge according the Gospel Rom. 2.16 Whom the Gospel doth justify they shall be justified and whom the Gospel doth condemn they shall be condemned The Rules of judging are in the Word but every one cannot apply them Now the Gospel justifieth all that repent and believe By Repentance meaning a Turning in Heart and Life to God and by Faith a believing what Christ hath done for the Restauration and Salvation of Sinners and an accepting and making use of him to this End But these things are not wrought in us as easily as they are spoken of And when they are wrought in us they are not so soon evidenc'd that we have Repentance unto Life and Faith unfeigned Now then is it not a necessary Prayer whilst we are in the midst of our Doubts and Conflicts that we may find Mercy in that day 2. The strict Trial that we must undergo The Day of Judgment is the greatest and most dreadful Day that ever was when it is Matter of Sense as now it is Matter of Faith If a Man had it he would give all the World for Mercy in that Day For then the Judg will come from Heaven with a shout and the Books shall be opened Rev. 10.12 the Book of Conscience and the Book of God's Remembrance and every thing must be produced in the Judgment whether it be Good or Evil Eccles 12.14 Now the thought of this should make us humbly to sue out our Pardon Then intreaty is of no use but now it may steed us and no request becomes us so much As Mercy Lord in that Day If we miscarry then we are undone for ever but if accepted then we are blessed indeed to all eternity 3. The greatness of the Blessings we expect which beyond all proportion excel our best Endeavours Eternal Mercy is at the bottom of all God's proceedings with us Now the least comfort that he bestows upon us comes from his Mercy and Grace and should work a deep sense of it in our Hearts Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all thy Mercies and of all thy Truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant But then there will be the fullest and largest manifestation of God's Love and Favour to us 1 Pet. 1.13 Hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought to us at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ There is Grace brought to us now by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel in some measure but hereafter by that Revelation we shall see his Grace and Mercy more fully and perfectly We see his Grace in the pardon of Sins and that measure of Sanctification and Renovation which we attain unto that he is pleased to pass by our Offences and to take us into his Family and give us a taste of his Love and a right to the Heavenly Kingdom and will any way imploy us in his Service But then it is another manner of Grace and Favour Indeed when our Pardon and Approbation shall be pronounced and ratified by our Judg's own Mouth Acts 3.17 Then times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. When he shall not only take us into his Family but into his Presence and Palace that we may dwell with him for ever John 12.26 Not only give us a Right but Possession Matth. 25.34 Not see Christ by Faith but by Sight 1 John 3.2 See our Persons admitted into the nearest fruition of God that may be and we are capable of Not only have some remote Service and Ministration but everlastingly imployed in loving and delighting in God and praising of God with all those Heavenly Creatures who are our Eternal Companions in this Work This is Grace and Mercy indeed The Grace of God or his Favour to Sinners is never seen in all its graciousness till then Then the praise of his glorious Grace doth shine forth Ephes 1.6 We cry Grace Grace now when we taste his Love but then we have the full and uninterrupted communion of it We have much of his Mercy now For we are justified freely by his Grace Rom. 3.24 Of his abundant Mercy he hath begotten us to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 Grace is as free now as then but then it is more full No more trouble with Infirmities or Necessities The consideration of these things should press us to three things To be Serious Humble and Thankful 1. Serious in our preparation for our great Account The Judgment is so exact and impartial that the choicest of God's Servants are fain to refer their whole claim to Mercy The Business is weighty we are to be judged to Life or Death and both are Everlasting we have need to be serious in it The
Qualifications are not easily to be interpreted till they evidence and manifest themselves by their powerful Influence and multiplied Acts therefore we must give diligence that we may be found in him of peace without spot and blameless 1 Pet. 3.4 Surely you should do all your Works order all your Actions as Men that shall be judged for them Jam. 2.12 Matth. 12.36 Consider what will be comfortable in the last Reckoning and how things will appear in that Day I know God's Mercy and Faith in the Blood of Christ will be the chiefest ground of your Comfort But you must make your Qualification more explicit A free Pardon through the Mercy of God and the Merit and Intercession of him that redeemed you is your great Encouragement but yet you must hold on in the way of Holiness that it may stead you in your greatest need All do not rise to the Judgment of Absolution but some to the Judgment of Condemnation therefore you must make it evident that you are of the former number Rom. 8.1 2. To be Humble by the knowledg and consideration of God and your selves 1. Humility becometh us with respect to God The Throne of Grace is a Throne still and though we have great liberty and boldness by Christ yet we must come humbly There is an everlasting distinction between the Creature and the Creator and you must accordingly address your selves Not as the Pharisee that came to challenge a Debt but as the Publican that came to emplore Mercy Luke 18.10 11. He that had a lowly Opinion of himself was most acceptable to God 2. With respect to your selves God's Children need to be spared in their best Actions Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a Man spares his own Son that serves him Nehem. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the greatness of thy Mercy He speaks this when he had procured God's Ordinances to be duly observed He pleadeth no Merit before God but desires rather to be spared for he was conscious of his own many Failings 3. The strictness of your Rule Psal 19.12 Who can understand his Errors Cleanse thou me from secret Faults The Multitude of Errors that we know and the multitude of them we know not should keep us humble 3. It presseth you to Thankfulness From first to last Mercy supplies all our Needs The Throne of Grace was erected for this purpose that we might have Mercy when we need it most Heb. 4.10 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in a time of need All our Qualifications come from Grace 1 Chron. 29.14 For all things come of thee Luke 19.16 Not my Industry but thy Pound not his own Industry but his Masters Talent Gal. 2.20 Not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God 1 Cor. 15.10 Not I but the Grace of God which was with me Cast your Crowns of Excellency at the Lambs Feet Rev. 4.10 Let him have all the honour for you have all from him and all should be to him All the Benefits we expect from God come not for our Righteousness Dan. 9.18 but for this great Mercy Deut. 9.4 5. Say not in thy Heart for thy Righteousness the Lord hath brought thee in to possess the Land It is the Mercy of God that sets the Crown upon your Heads at last FINIS Page 17 line 14 and 15 for they read we Page 34 line 4 after mixt read with Some Books printed for and sold by Brab Aylmer at the 3 Pigeons over against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil THe Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the Accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ Or Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom Mercy Justice Holiness Power and Truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed Work By William Bates D. D. In Quarto Considerations of the Existence of God and of the Immortality of the Soul with the Recompences of the Future State To which is now added the Divinity of the Christian Religion proved by the Evidence of Reason and Divine Revelation For the Cure of Infidelity the Hectick Evil of the Times By William Bates D. D. In Octavo Sermons preached upon several Occasions by Isaac Barrow D. D. late Master of Trinity-Colledg in Cambridg and one of his Majesties Chaplains in Ordinary In Octavo The Reconcileableness of God's Prescience of the Sins of Men with the Wisdom and Sincerity of his Counsels Exhortations and whatsoever means he uses to prevent them In a Letter to the Honourable Rob. Boyl Esq To which is added a Postscript in Defence of the said Letter By John How M. A. sometime Fellow of Magdalen-Colledg Oxon. In Octavo
cease The Tempter was cast out of Heaven and none of his poison'd Arrows can reach that Purified Company Glorious Liberty here ardently desir'd but fully enjoy'd by the Sons of God above And as Sin so all the penal consequences of it are quite taken away The present Life is an incurable Disease and sometimes attended with that sharp sense that Death is desir'd as a Remedy and accepted as a Benefit And though the Saints have reviving Cordials yet their joys are mixt with sorrows nay caused by sorrows The tears of Repentance are their sweetest refreshment Here the living stones are cut and wounded and made fit by Sufferings for a Temple unto God in the New Jerusalem But as in the building of Solomon's Temple the noise of a hammer was not heard for all the parts were fram'd before with that exact design and correspondence that they firmly combin'd together They were hew'n in another place and nothing remain'd but the putting them one upon another in the Temple and then as sacred they were inviolable So God the wise Architect having prepar'd the Saints here by many cutting Afflictions places them in the Eternal Building where no voice of Sorrow is heard Of the innumerable Company above is there any Eye that weeps any Breast that sighs any Tongue that complains or appearance of Grief The Heavenly State is called Life as only worthy of that title There is no Infirmity of Body no Poverty no Disgrace no Treachery of Friends no Persecution of Enemies There is no more Death nor Sorrow nor Crying nor shall there be any more Pain for former things are past away Rev. 21.4 God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of his People Their Salvation is compleat in all degrees Pure Joy is the Priviledg of Heaven unmixed Sorrows the Punishment of Hell A concurrence of all positive Excellencies is requisite to Blessedness And these are to be considered with respect to the entire Man 1. The Body shall be awak'd out of its dead sleep and quickned into a glorious immortal Life The Soul and Body are the essential parts of Man and though the inequality be great in their operations that respect Holiness yet their concourse is necessary Good Actions are design'd by the Counsel and Resolution of the Spirit but perform'd by the Ministry of the Flesh Every Grace expresses it self in visible Actions by the Body In the sorrows of Repentance it supplies Tears in Fastings its Appetites are restrain'd in Thanksgivings the Tongue breaks forth into the joyful praises of God All the victories over sensible pleasure and pain are obtain'd by the Soul in conjunction with the Body Now 't is most becoming the Divine Goodness not to deal so differently that the Soul should be everlastingly happy and the Body lost in forgetfulness the one glorified in Heaven the other remain in the Dust From their first setting out in the World to the Grave they ran the same Race and shall enjoy the same Reward Here the Body is the Consort of the Soul in Obedience and Sufferings hereafter in Fruition When the Crown of Purity or Palm of Martyrdom shall be given by the great Judg in the view of all they shall both partake in the honour Of this we have an earnest in the Resurrection of Christ in his true Body who is the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15. He shall change our vile Bodies that they may be fashioned like to his glorious Body according to the working of his Power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.1 A substantial unfading Glory will shine in them infinitely above the perishing Pride of this World that is but in appearance like the salse Colours painted on the Feathers of a Dove by the reflection of the Light which presently vanish when it changeth its posture or the Light is withdrawn Indeed what can be more glorious than to be conform'd to the Humanity of Christ the Seat of all Beauty and Perfection This Conformity shall be the Work of his own Hands And when Omnipotence interposes nothing is difficult The raising the Body to an unchangeable state of Glory is as easie to the Divine Power as the forming it at the first in the Womb. As the Sun labours no more in the Mines in the forming Gold and Silver the most precious and durable Metals than in the production of a poor short-liv'd Flower II. The Soul shall be made perfect in all its Faculties 1. The Understanding shall clearly see the most excellent Objects Now we know but in part 1 Cor. 13. The naked beauty of Divine Things is vail'd and of impossible discovery And the weakness of the Mind is not proportionable to their dazling brightness But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away In that enlightned state the glorious manifestation of the Objects shall as much exceed the clearest revealing of them here as the Sun in its full lustre one beam of light strain'd through a crevice in the Wall And the Understanding shall be prepar'd to take a full view of them Therefore the Apostle compares the several Periods of the Church in respect of the degrees of Knowledg to the several Ages of this Life When I was a Child I spake as a Child I understood as a Child I thought as a Child but when I became a Man I put away childish things In Children the Organs either from an excess of moisture or their smalness are indisposed for the vigorous exercise of the Mind some strictures of Reason appear a presaging sign what will be but mixt with much obscurity But when the Organs are come to their just proportion and temperament the Soul displays its strength and activity All things of a supernatural order shall then be clearly discovered The contrivance of our Salvation the ways of conducting us to Blessedness which are Objects of a sublime nature will afford an exquisite pleasure to the Understanding All the secrets of our Redemption shall be unsealed The great Mystery of Godliness the Incarnation of the Eternal Son and his according Justice with Mercy shall then be apparent The Divine Counsels in governing the World are now only visible in their wonderful effects either of Mercy or Justice and those most dreadful but the Reasons of them are past finding out But what our Saviour said to Peter What I do thou knowest not now but shalt know hereafter is applicable to these impenetrable dispensations All the original Fountains of Wisdom as clear as deep shall then be opened We shall then see the beauty of Providence in disposing temporal things in order to our eternal felicity We now see as it were the rought part and Knots of that curious Embroidery but then the whole Work shall be unfolded the sweetness of the Colours and proportion of the Figures appear There we shall be able to expound the perplexing Riddle How out of the Eater came Meat and out of
Friendship is in perfection and whatever is distastful by Mens folly and weakness is abolish'd The Psalmist breaks out in a Rapture Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity Love is the Beauty and Strength of Societies the Pleasure of Life How excellent is the Joy of the Blessed when the Prayer of Christ shall be accomplish'd that they all may be one As thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us God is absolutely One in his glorious Nature and Will and therefore unalterably happy And their inviolable Union in Love is a Ray of the Essential Unity between the sacred Persons There are no Divisions of Heart and Tongues as in this Babel but the most perfect and sweetest Concord an Eternal Agreement in Tempers and Inclinations There are no envious Comparisons for Love that affectively transforms one into another causes the Glory of every Saint to redound to the Joy of all Every one takes his share in the Felicity of all and adds to it Such is the power of that Celestial Fire wherein they all burn that it melts and mixes Souls in such an entire Union that by Complacence and an intimate Joy the Blessedness of all is as it were proper to every one as if every one were plac'd in the Hearts of all and all in the Heart of every one If in the Church of the first-born Christians in the earthly Jerusalem the Band of Charity was so strict that 't is said the Multitude of Believers were of one Heart and one Soul How much more intimate and inseparable is the Union of the Saints in Jerusalem above where every one loves another as himself 'T is recorded of Alexander that entring with Haephestion his Favourite into the Pavilion of Darius's Mother then his Prisoner she bowed to the Favourite as having a greater appearance of Majesty thinking him to be Alexander but advised of her Error she humbly begg'd his Pardon to whom the generous King repli'd Non errâsti Mater nam hic Alexander est Curt. l. 3. You did not err Mother for this is also Alexander Such was their Affection that whoever was taken of them the other was taken in him the less ascending in the greater without degrading the greater in the less This is a Copy of the holy Love of the Blessed but with the same difference as between the Description of a Star with a Coal and its Beauty in its proper Aspect And where all is Love all is Delight O how do they enjoy and triumph in the Happiness of one another With what an unimaginable tenderness do they embrace What Reciprocations of Endearments are between them O their ravishing Conversation and sweet Entercourse for their Presence together in Heaven is not a silent Show In the Transfiguration Moses and Elias talkt with Christ With what excellent Discourses do they entertain one another If David felt such inward pleasure from the sence of God's favours that he could not restrain the expression of it but invites the Saints Come and hear all ye that fear the Lord and I will tell you what he has done for my Soul Certainly in Heaven the Blessed with over-flowing Affections recount the Divine Benefits the admirable Methods whereby the Life of Grace was begun preserv'd and carried on in the midst of Temptations the continual Succession of Mercies in the time of their Hopes and the Consummation of all in the time of their Enjoyment How joyfully do they concur in their Thanksgivings to God for the goodness of Creation in making them reasonable Creatures capable to know love and enjoy Him when they might have been of the lowest Order in the whole Sphere of Beings for his compassionate Care and Providence over them in this World But especially for his Sovereign Mercy in electing them to be Vessels of honour for his powerful Grace in rescuing them from the cruel and ignominious bondage of Sin for his most free Love that justified them from all their Guilt by the Death of his only Son and glorified them with himself They are never weary in this delightful Exercise but continually bless him for his Mercy that endures for ever We may judge by the Saints here when they are in a fit disposition to praise God what Fervours they feel in their united Praises of him in Heaven The Psalmist in an Extasy calls to all the parts of the World to joyn with him The Lord reigns let the Heavens rejoyce and the Earth be glad let the Sea roar let the Fields be joyful and all that dwell therein He desires that Nature should be elevated above it self that the dead parts be inspir'd with life the insensible feel motions of joy and those that want a voice break forth in praises to adorn the Divine Triumph With what Life and Alacrity will the Saints in their blessed Communion celebrate the Object of their Love and Praises The Seraphims about the Throne cry'd to one another to express their Zeal and Joy in celebrating his Eternal Purity and Power and the Glory of his Goodness Oh the unspeakable Pleasure of this Concert when every Soul is harmonious and contributes his Part to the Musick of Heaven O could we hear but some Eccho of those Songs wherewith the Heaven of Heavens resounds some remains of those Voices wherewith the Saints above triumph in the Praises in the solemn Adoration of the King of Spirits how would it inflame our desires to be joyn'd with them Blessed are those that are in thy House they always praise Thee 2. The fulness of Joy in Heaven is undecaying for the causes of it are always equal And those are the Beatifick Object reveal'd and the uninterrupted Contemplation of it Whilst we are here below the Sun of Righteousness as to our perception and sence has ascensions and declinations accesses and recesses And our Earth is not so purified but some Vapours arise that intercept his chearfull refreshing Light From hence there are alternate successions of Spiritual Comforts and Sorrows of Doubts and filial Confidence in the Saints 'T is a rare favour of Heaven when an humble Believer in his whole course is so circumspect as not to provoke God to appear displeased against him When a Christian as those tutelar Angels spoken of in the Gospel always beholds the face of his Heavenly Father and converses with him with an holy Liberty And what a torment the hiding of God's face is to a deserted Soul only they know who feel it External troubles are many times attended with more Consolations to the Spirit than Afflictions to Sense but to love God with a transeendent Affection and to fear he is our Enemy no punishment exceeds or is equal to it As his Loving-kindness in their esteem is better than Life so his Displeasure is worse than Death How do they wrestle with God by Prayers and Tears and offer as it were a holy Violence to the King of Heaven to