Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

Of thejoyetofheareea. 919 patileda'itli allthere ioyes,comforts anddelights,is thecon_ fummation andperfehion ofall our happines :: for as in this lifeGod hath endued man with fuch anature, that his will, heart andaffethons, embracing their loucd and liked ob- iefts, he is(weedy affehed with them, and hath his heart o- pened with ioy,that(as much as maybe)it may receiue them into ir, andfo reioyce in their fruition; withwhich ioyand gladnes the heart is cheated, the health preferued, and the life prolonged ; fo he retaining (lilt his nature, and naturali facul ties, though infarre greater excellencie and perfeftion, cloth, when he leech his /ummum bowery; and chiefe happines, God inñnic inall perfeélion,with hiswill and foule embrace thismollbelovedobieel,and having hisheart with-this hea- ucnlyvifion, filledwith all ioy and gladneffe, it dochmore and more dilate and enlarge it, to make an open entrance andpaffage, for this chicle good which it moll dearelylo- ueth, that bya morefull fruitionofit,there may beBill grea- ter cau(e ofgloryingand reioycing., And this is that peace andinflnitioy which isbegun in all the faithful', euen in this life ; when as knowing God in Chrifl, and being affuredby faithof thepardon ofourfins, ofourreconciliation, andre- coueryof his loue and fauour, by our Sauiours perfeft and al-liifficient fatisfahion,and ofchofe future ioyes which in our heauenly countric areprepared and referued for vs; we duioy andreioyce in thisknowledgeand affurance, not on- lywhenwe enjoy worldly profperitie, but all() in our grea- tefl afffi&ions and perfecutions.Neitheris the ioy and peace Rom.,.rg. ofthefaithful' in earth, ofadiners kind, and different na- tureto that which the Saints (hall haue in heauen; for the wholekingdomeofGod, comprifing both the kingdome ofgrace,and thekingdome ofglorie, is rishteoufneffe, peace, Rom,t4a7. and ioy in the holy Ghoi, as the Apoflle fpeaketh :but thedif- ferencebetweene them,is, in their degree and quantitie ; for astheknowledge, fruition, and loue of God is weake and impeded in this life; fo allo is our peace and ioy; betides that it is continually molefled and ditlurbed, with many cares, fearer, andgriefes, arifingboth from the things with- out vs,andwithinvs;from allwhich imperfeftions and trou -- Nnn 4 hies

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