18 NATURE OF [Chap. I. ever endure ; a wouul inheritance, which, both by birth and actual merit, was due to us as well as to them ! In heaven there is nothing that defileth or is unclean. All that remains without. And doubtless there is not such a thing as grief and sorrow known there : nor is there such a thing as a pale face, a languid body, feeble joints, una- ble infa..cy, decrepit age, peccant humors, painful or pin- ing sickness, griping fears, consuming cares, nor whatso- ever deserves the name of evil. We did weep and lament when the world did rejoice ; but our sorrow is turned to joy, and our joy shall no man take from us. 3. Another ingredient of this rest is, the highest degree of the saints' personal perfection, both ofbody and soul. Were the glory ever so great, and themselves not made capable of it, by a personal perfection suitable thereto, it would be little to them. " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." For, the eye of flesh is not capable of seeing them, nor this ear of hearing them, nor this heart of understanding them: but, there the eye, and ear, and heart, are made capable; else, how do they enjoy them? The more perfect the sight is, the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the ap- petite, the sweeter the food. The more musical the ear, the more pleasant the melody. The more perfect the soul, the more joyous those joys, and the more glorious, to us, is that glory. 4. The principal part of this rest is our nearest enjoyment of God, the chief good. And here, reader, wonder not if I be at a loss, and if my apprehensions receive but little of that which is in my expressions. If it did not appear to the beloved disciple what we shall be, but only, in ge- neral, " that when Christ shall appear we shall be like him," no wonder if I know little. When I know so little of God, I cannot much know what it is to enjoy him. If I know so little of spirits, how little of the Father of spirits, or the state of my own soul, when advanced to the enjoy- ment of him ! I stand and look upon a heap of ants, and see them all with one view; they know not me, my being, nature, or thoughts, though I am their fellow-creature ; how little, then, must we know of the great Creator, though he, with one view, clearly beholds us all ! Aglimpse, the
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