Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of theieyee of hemen. 833 doe not beleetie that wee (hall haue our partand inrereft in them; therefore as I haue already (hewed the bate worthlef- neffe,and vaine vnprofitablenefl'e ofworldly things, that we might be freed from that deluding opinion which sloth be- witch vs with their loue: fo now forconclufion ofthisbook, I will ail() intreate of the diuine excellencie of our hea- uenly ioyes, thathauing fome knowledge and tart of then, we may be rauithed with their lone, and in comparifonof them, and the meanes of attaining veto them, lightly e- fieeme and contemne thefe worldly toyes, and trifling vanities. Wherein my purpofeis to auoid curious and friuölous §,eò74. queflions, which as they haue no vfe or profit, fo no true That it iri . ground our of Gods word and to content my felte with Po/libtero de- that which may be laid of thefe heauenly ioyes,either direct` (`rube the ioyes lyout of the Scriptures, or may by neceffarie consequence nppetfeaion,a- be gathered from thefe infallible tefiimonies. The which becaufe they fpeakefparinggly in this argument, in refpe& of the glory and greatneffeofthefe'ferpaffing ioyes; therefore I would admonilh the reader, that bee doe not expect any full orperfe& defcription ofthem, fecing this is altogether impofïible, either to me,or any other liuing, whtleli wee re- maine here in this place of our pilgrimage, as being a leeret which is notto be reuealedby difcourfe, but by experience andfruition. For fo the Apofile John plainely affirmeth, that r.ioh 3.2. we are now the fens of God, but yet it Both not appeare what wefballbe,; and the Apofile Pail faith, thatGod dwelleth in r.Ti214ó.z6. the light which none can attain unto, whom newer man fa v,nei- ther can fee. Of whichour infulflciency ineomprehending thefe heauenly myfteries,diuers reafons may heerendred îrfi,becaufe the Lord would haue the foil and perfetknow- edge of thefe diuine excellencies concealed, to exercife hereby ourfaith,loue,obedience and patience; for he would haue vs whilefi we continue here toliueby faith, and not by fight,to1eekeafter thefeioyyes upon his word, though wee haue no diftin& and fenfible knowledge of them in our felues; to doeour workeand.-performe our dude as wellfor loue totimfelfe, as for thereward which we arc to receiueb Hhh and