Of HEAVEN. Chap. VI. ~~~;u~~~~~i~~~~~!dt!~·~~fi~~~~~t~~~::an~ctc~~:ai~~~de after an unchangeable Good, yet . But.tocorrcB:thisgrofserrorof Fa_n~ y, 1etUsallttlecn~uire into the caufesof DilfatlsfaEbon, that make the conilant fruition of the fame thmg here to he ted ious. (i.) Senflb!ethings are offuch a limited Goodnefs; that not any of them can fupply all our prefcm wants, {Q that 'tis neccffary to leave one for another; And the mofl: of them are Remedies of our difeafed Appetites, and if not tempera tely ufed, are deltructive Evils.. Eating and Drinking are to extinguiil1 Hunger and Thidl, but continued be. yond JUlt meafure, become naufeous. Befides the infufficiency of their Objects the Senfes themfelves cannot be fatisfied all at once. The Ear ca n~ot attend to delightful Sounds, and the Eye be mtent on beautiful Colours at the fame time. The Satisfaction of one Senfe defeats another of enJoying its proper good ; therefore the fame ObjeB: is not conltantly pleafant, but the Heart is dille~per'd from as many Caufes, as there are de. fi res unaccomphfhed. Add farther, all thmgs under the Sun afford only a fuperficial de. light, and miferably deceive the Expectations m fed of them: and many times there is a mixture of feme evil in them, that is more offi:nfive than the good is delightful. The Honey is attended with a Sting, fo that often thofe very things we figh after through ve. hement defire, when they are obtain'd , we figh for grief. Now all thefe caufes of dif. ~~~~~:o-~ ~:~\~a~~0r~bJ:,a~ ei~i~~~rye~~jo;~~{i~h~~~~s ~~~fii~it~i~a~::le~~~a~f:h:~~=;r~t~~e~h~ mortis, na~t Soul are drawn_ ?ut in tl~eir moll pleafam exerc~fe, and always enjoy their_ entire happi- ~r::~eC:ir:::!~~ nefs.. ':!"'he frumon. of lum exceeds our moll ratf~d hopes, as ~uch as he ~s more glorif~,~~~:;t ~~:.;en,!~~~;f,!~a~Inora~ln~orroTI~ed c~~~:fsen;;r~~~s;ho~g~tt:J,~~~~~~ ~f~~fd~tZ ~~~u:~~n are imperfeCt meafur7s of h}s P~rfeB:ions. And as he is a. pureGood in Himfelf, fo he j5 pmenimus.d prevalent over all .evii. 'TIS evident therefore, that notlung can allay the Joys of Saints, i~~e~f~~m& when they are in_God's pre~encc. . . . . ;nroper..bile, (2.). Noveity IS not reqmfite to mgratiate every Good,and mak~ It perfeCtly delightful. ublnecdfec~, ·l· God IS mfin1tely happy, to whom no Good was ever new. 'T1s mdecd the Sauce that ~~r~~~~ ~~~~s gives a 9elicious ta_fteto inferior things. For Men relilh only :what is eminent ; and the ru~~~~~~ u!r~~ ~~~t~~fs~~~~~h~:~~~~!~~[~:~~gill:~'p~~:d~~i a~u~e~~n i~fin~~:r~~o~ ~:'uc~: ~~.~~P~;/'- always the fame pure equal cornpleat Joy, becaufe it arifes from its intrinfick PerfeB:ion, t F:i; .,;., that wants no Foil to commend it. The Pfalmift breaks forth, Whom have I in Heavm t:f~t~J~ ~~t::e ;:O~ti~I ~a;;~~;n~f ~~pt~:i~ts~i: :h~~~~~:.f~a'l~u~o~:l~~~d0~e~g~~~f;~ G e~~'" «it'l them. ~~':' '!),~~!"' (J .) The glorified Saints in every Period of their happy State, !Javeaslively a percepfri~ •E:;:~· tion of it as in the beginning. To make this evident, we muft confider that the pleafure J, , . '· '"'· of Novelty fprings from a quick fenfe of the oppofite terms, between our condition in ~;e~r:n~n°;h~0~~~~~~~ ~~~,;,~;.dll~~~~~~~ire~!di~:nffr~~· ~~\~e~~y rr~~lf:~:~~: torments of a fharp Difeafe, feels a greater pleafure than from a conllant tenour of health. Thofe who are rais'd fi·om a low llate to eminent dignity, are tranfported with their firll change, but in traB: of time the remembrance of their mean condition is fo weakned and fpenc, that 'tis like the fhadow of a Dream, and proportionab ly their Joy is lelfened. Honours, like Perfumes, by cullom, are lefs fenfible to thofe that carry them. But the Saints above always confider and feel the excellent diffi:rence between their fulfermg and triumphant llate. They never lofe that ravifhmg part of fehc1ty, the viVId fenfe of !'a ll: Evils. Their reAeB:ions are always as llrong on the mifery from whence they were raJS'd to the pitch of Happinefs, as in their firll glorious Tranflation. In what an extafy of wonder a_nd pleafure will they be, from the frefh men1ory of what they were, and the joyful fenfeof what they are? I rvM (fays the admmng Soul) poor, blmd, and naked; but 0 miraculous and happy alteration! lam full of Light, enrich'd with the Treafures of Heaven, adorn'd with Divine Glory . I was under the tyr~nnous power of Satan, but he u bruifed under"') Feet. I was fentenc'd to an everlallmg feparatlon from the prefence of God, my only Life and Joy; but now am poffeft of my fupreme Good. 0 how tran fporting is the comparifon of thefe wide and contrary extreams? How beautl· ful and pleafant is the DayofEternity, after fuch a dark tempeltuous Night! Howdoes the remembrance of fuch Evils produce a more lively and feelmg frUitiOn of fuch happi· nefs ! how llrangely and mightily does Salvation rvitl> EternalGlory ajfefl the Soul!_ Th15 gives a ~ritely acceot to their everl:lling Hallelt~;•hs : ThiS preferves an alfeB•H:~~
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