Featly et. Al. - BV4275 T47 1672

afterimmortalCJlory. 2,5 That the Saints defresa true and proper houle ; In thiowegroan tamely, &c. What ismeant by this houle, whether the joyesofheaven, or a lorified body is hard to determine by the context ; I incline toCalvin opinion, that both are meant, as making up that compleathonfa which the Saintsdelire, the one asthe introition, the other as the confummation oftheir blifs ; and iutoboth thefe houles, I shall la- bour to introduce your1pirits and affeetions. The firft houfe is the /oyes ofbeapen, a kingdom elfe-where ; for the amplitude, for the abundant fufficiency, for the honour, royalty of theirs ; yet becattle many in kingdoms fee not the face of theKing, and ofthole that fee his face, feware of his houle and family; and ofthofe that are ofhis Court, few arefamiliar with him, or converfe with him ; and of thofe that convene with him, few are his Ions, his. heirs. Therefore this kingdom is an houle wherein all fee the face of God ; all are of his houle, all convene with him, all Rand in his pretence, all are his tons; all arc his heirs ; a hook fo fcituated, as never any ; upon the brow of that hill, which is the beauty ofperfellion, the delight, not ofthe whole earth, but of heaven it felf, in the pureft air that ever was, even purity it fell, free from 'all malig- nant vapour ; a place irriguous with the chryftal ftreams ofparadifc it Pelf, a place inriched with all the precious things the heartofman candefrre; an houlenot built by man, but by God himfelf ; not of terreftial feculent matter, not of gold or fii- ver, but that which excels, all valuation whatfoever ; the hanging or ornaments of which boule, are not of Arras, or fiffue, or clothofGold, or whatfoever is more precious with men, but far above there, filch and fo excellent, that Neither eye hash Peen, nor ear bath heard ; neither bath the like entered into the hearts of men. The delights ofthis houle arefuch, that ifall thecontentmentsand delights that ever ravilhedthe hearts of men in their private houleswere put together, yet were they but as a candle to the Sun, as a drop to the Ocean : Oh the ftatclinefs andmagnificence ofthe Hall of this houle, wherein are Prophets, Apoftles, Mar- tyrs, Confeffors, Saints, Angels, the bleffed Virgin efpecially, all of them prai -. fang and laudingGod ! Bleffod are they that dwell in this howfe, they will be1411 rai- fing thee. Here in this life are variety of imployments according to the diverfity of mensCallings, and (heir neceffties; but there fhall be no neceffity, there (hall be but one work, the work ofPraife, a duty which in this life is performed with fa- tigation and wearinefs ; but there it (half bedone with all fweetnefs anddelight, increafing with the continuance of the fame. No vain thoughts, to interrupt this duty, no wearinefs of the Beth to weaken this duty, no nece(lïty or indigene! to rend us from thisduty ; but as it will be our happinefs to love, and feeGod, fo it will be the exercife of our happinefs toadmire, and to laud God : while we are here, Inch is the weaknefs of our apprelaenfion, that we cannot with the fame ads conceive the work, and the workman ; we cannot think of the benefit, and the author of the fame, then we Ihall be enabled to joyn both there together, fo to ad- mire the work, as at the fame time topraife the author ; fo, to contemplate the benefit,asat thefame time to fall down before the benefaftor. Oh the ftatelinefs of this pretence, where the face of God, the beauty of God, the Majcfty ofGod is Peen ih fo glorious a manner, that even Angels, and Archangels cover their faces, not beingabletobehold ftedfaftly the great luftreof the fame ! Olt the lovelinefs of thechambers ofthe Kong, made for the foul to repofe her (elfin all fpiritual delight, after her labour and travel in this miferable world ! oh the beauty of the Manfrons of this boufeprepared by Chrift himfelffor the foul,to refre(h her felf with all fpiri- tual food! and oh the variety and excellency of the food of this bou[ee, the under- ftanding {hall havehis food, morning and eveningknowledge ; a clear viewof all things, not in themfelves, or in their caufes, but in their exalt Ideas, fubffting in the effenceof God, but efpecially the radiant vifionof the face ofGod, the Ei fence ofGod, the Sunof righteoufnefs. Thewill (hall have her food, aoodnefs, joy, deledtation, not by meafure, but drowned in the full ocean of there, with that (lability andconfirmation that (he cannot will that which isevil ; The affe&i- ons (hall have their food,being fully fatisfied beyond their defines. TheBody (hall have his food, beingmade an impaffible, clarified; Agil, fpiritual body, defecated, and

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