Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

87$ Of the ioyes of hearten. more inioyeth hisfummum bonum.Euen as diners veffels be- ing filled in the fame fea, there is no difference in the water, wherewith they are filled, which is fufficient to fill them, though they were neuer fo great ; but yet one of them may hold more then another, according as they exceed in bignes and largenes of capacitie. And this (as I take it) is ckere enough in the Scriptures. In the twelfth of Daniel it is Paid, Daniel [x. ;, that they that be wife 17.7,111 (nine as the brightnes of the frma- ment,and they that turne many to righteoufnetThall fhine as the lyarres for ester and euer. Both which though they be vnder- flood of the fame Preachers of righteoufneffe which than conuert men to the faith, and therefore there is no compari- fon madebetweene the wife,and fuch as conuert others, nor betweene the brightnes of the firmament,andthe brightnes ofthe flarres; yet I doubt not, that in both thcfe they are preferred before other men, who haue not that excellencie ofwifedome, and fruites of their miniflerie; and that it is the meaning of the holy Ghofi there to fhew, that as they excel( others in thefe gifts and fruitful( labours, fo alfo they (hall excel( them in glorie and happines. The Apoflle alfo feemeth to fignifie this,where hec faith, that as there isane- t.Cor.r 5.41.45 therglorie of the Spume, and another glom of the Meant, and anotherglorie ofthe Starres, one Starre differing from another Starre inglorie : fe alfois the refurreEtion ofthe dead. A gaine, onr Sattiour Chrill appropriateth this to his Apofiles as a fpeciall priuiledge andprerogative in regard of the dignitie of the ir office,dreir paines, and faithfulnes, that they fhall Muth.tq.ag. fit upon twelve thrones, and irsdge the twelrte tribes of Iliad. c Thcff:z.t9. Andthe Apoflle feemeth to fpeake ofa peculiar crowne laid vp for him in regard of his extraordinarie fufferings and la- bour. Finally, whereas the Scriptures promife not onely eternall life in generali to all the faithful(, but alfo fpeciall wages and rewards according to their workes, and that faithfull feruice which they haue done vnto God , there- by it appeareth that according to the meafiire of our graces and obedience in this life, wee (halt haue a proportionable degree ofglorie in the life to come. Vnto 411