in Contriving Man's Redemption. ~~~nv;at~~:n i~fu~~;!ahf~ c:d'r a~ 1l~~a~~;~;ai~·.~ni~~~i(.r~~t~~~defi~~;: ~~~~~s;~~ with all the Prerogati•ei that the Creatures have not. Celejiial Blelfednefs as ,much ex- ~ ceeds our moll:. raifed thoughts, as God is more glorious in himfelf than in any reprefentations made of him by the .!hadbws of our earth! y Imaginations. There is a greater difproportion between the condition of a Saint on Earth and in Heave'), than between the Life of an Infant in the Womb, and of the fame Perfon when advanc'd tO the Throne, and attended with the Nobility of a Nation. St. Joh~t declares, 1 Joh. 3· 2. Now we are the So11s of God, but it doth not appear what >ve fhaU be. Who knows the full fignifi· cation of being HeirJ of God, and joint-heirs roith Chrijl, of ,p1.rtaking in that glorious Reward which is given to him for his g'reat Services to the Crown of Htaven? Who can tell the weight, the nurtJ.ber and meafure of that Bleffednefs? To him that overcome.t, faith our Redeemer, Rev. 3· 21. wiU I grant to fit witb me in my T~rone, even a.r 1 alfo overcame, and amfet dow11 1vith my Father in hi.t Throne. We have rea(on to break forth ;~J.'~l~::r~:ra~~,~-~ ~h;/~~;fr·th~0deff~{;~/'o~7u~~:~fr~d~:t~v i;;~o= r~ty ~~~;:f,{rl: on, that is the only rneafure of thofe things that are above our meafure. BeGdes, the Reward as in excellency 'tis Di\·ine, fo in duration 'tis perpetual. Heaven is an Inheritance as fafe as great. Here we are fubject to :rime, that carries us ·and a.! I our goods down its fwift Stream; but there Eternity, that is fix'd and unchangeable, embraces us in its .Bofom. We !hall be fecure and at Refl:, for no Perfon fhaU taf<! away our Crown; we Jba/1 reigll for ever and ever, Rev. 22. 5· At God•f right Hand are PJeaji1rei for cverntorc, ( Pfal. 16. I I.) that cm never abate or end . As. hi~ Liberal Hand bef\ows, fo his Powerful prefer\'es our Happinefs. The Bleffed !hall ling .Ever~ Jaf\in~ Hymns of Glory, and Songs of ThankCgiving to the Great Creator, ,Redeemer, and SanCtifier, who hath prep•rcd and purchafed that Felicity for them, and bath brought them to the fecure poffeilion of it. . . Now can there be a more powerful Motive to Obedience, than Jn!Jnite and Eternal ~J:!e~~~; ~r~;i~~t ~~~ er~::~~r:~~eu~:~·.mi~n~tj~il~~mR~:~~obu~i:~eiJ~y?a~~ak!~:~ are Spiritual and Sublime, and proportioned to our noblefl: and mofl: capacious Faculties. Earth! y Delights cannot fatisfy our Senfes, but the Peace of God pa.ffes rmderjlanding. One Hours enjoyment of it is better than an Eternity fpent in the Pleafures of .Sin. What inexcufable madnefs is it to prefer painted Trifles before that ineflimable Treafure? Who can truly believe there is fuch an excellent Glory, but he mufl: love it and vigorouny endeavour to obtain it? Who would not go to the Celefl:ial Canaan, though the way lies through a Wilqernefs where no flower or Fruit grows? All temporal Evils are not only to be endured, but chearfully embraced in order to the polfeffing of it. The Apof\le tells us, Rom. 8. I reck,,on that the S11fferings of the prefent time, are trot comparable with the Glory, that fbaU be revealed in 111. And he was the mofr fit Per• fan to make the comparifon, having made trial of both States. For he was a Man of Sorrows, that had paf\ through Affiil.l:ions of all kinds, and he was ravi!h'd up to Paradife, \Vhereheheard thofe things th:it exceed all ex preilionsofHumaneWorde. Now after a ferious ef\imate, he declares ( 2 Cor. 4· 17.) that the Eternal "!eight of Glory, infinitely out-ballanceJ the Hght and momentary tr~11bles of this Lift. Thus from what bath beerl faid concerning the greatnefs of the Recompences hereafter, we may under· fl:and how powerful they are to deter Men from Sin, and to allure them to Holi· nefS. >. That thefe Objel.l:s may be effel.l:ual, our Saviour both clearly revealed them, and given us convincing evidence and alfurance of their reality. The Heathens had only fame glimmerings, and fufpicions of a future State : They were under Doubts concern• in~ the Nature of the Soul, whether Mortal or Incorruptible, wavering between the A!fent and Denial; and inclining to this or that pm, as Senfe perfwaded them to believe themfelve: only as Brutes, or Reafon to acknowledge themfelves Men. So1,) J'id. Ap,r. cr~t", ( r) before _lllS Judges, fpeaks as one that defired Immortality; and in his laf\&Piud.PI•· ~~~o~~~bt~~ ~1~rF~ff~r~\i:(:l~de~~~u~i!0 Jifc~~~~e~ ~~~mi,n b~~nj~fr1~re~0!n~0:~~:~t~~ ~::c~j~;~~ Guelfes. Befides, the Hell which they fa ncied, was made up of fuch ridiculous and fenfelefs ;, ,.,,;, ,;. Terrors, that could only alfeQ: Children who were not arrived to the per felt ufe of Rea4 !'d~;~~if,,~~.:: fon. And their apprchenfions of Happinefs in the nex t Life were fo extravagant, that d~m ~ot milliA whatt~le Philofopher faid in general of Hope, rhat 'tis the Ore:1m of waking Men, is't~r~;,:;::,t more juf\ly 'lpphcable to the hope of the Heathens, in refpe{r of the future Reward. ,;p q'i ..,;. For as the illufions of a Dream have many times a real Subjel.l:, but i~~:~ -::::,:;~ '•·
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