The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…

I conclude.

Every Saint shall enjoy this full measure of glory: there shall be no scanting, no limitation. None shall complain of lack: there is the fountain, drink thy fill; there is the heap, take as much as thou wilt. There shall be in all an equality, though not of quantity, yet of proportion: which ariseth not from the object, wherein is plenitude; but from the subject, which is not alike capable. A vessel thrown into the sea can be but full; another is but full, though it contain a greater measure. Every one shall possess this fullness; and being full there is no want, therefore no envy. But let us take no thought, who shall sit highest in this kingdom, with the sons of Zebedee: it is enough that we shall be crowned kings. Trouble not thy self for order, only strive for admission. We cannot desire to be more then blessed. Let us get into the City of glory, and let God appoint us a room.

Euery Saint shall enioy this full measure of glorie: there shall be no scanting, no limitation. None shall complaine of lacke: there is the fountaine, drinke thy fill; there is the heape, take as much as thou wilt. There shall be in all an equalitie, though not of quantitie, yet of proportion: which ariseth not from the obiect, wherein is plenitude; but from the subiect, which is not alike capable. A vessell throwne into the sea can be but full; another is but full, though it containe a greater measure. Euery one shall possesse this fulnesse; and being full there is no want, therefore no enuie. But let vs take no thought, who shall sit highest in this kingdome, with the sonnes of Zebedee: it is enough that we shall be crowned kings. Trouble not thy selfe for order, onely striue for admission. We cannot desire to be more then blessed. Let vs get into the Citie of glory, and let God appoint vs a roome.

Here we see the great difference betwixt this life and the next. In this life we grow up to our full Stature; and then we decrease till we decease; we decline and die. In the other, we come at first to a perfect stature, and so continue for ever. We are here subject to sorrows and sins; the first grievous to us as we are men, the other as we are good men: lo we shall one day be freed, be perfect. It is a sweet meditation that fell from a reverend Divine; that many vegetable & brute creatures do exceed men in length of days, and in happiness in their kind; as not wanting the thing they desire. The Oak, the Raven, the Stork, the Stag fill up many years, in regard of whom man dies in the minority of child-hood. This made the Philosophers call Nature a Stepdame to man, to the rest a true mother. For she gives him least time, that could make best use of his time; and least pleasure, that could best apprehend it, and take comfort in it. But here divinity teacheth & reacheth a large recompense from our God. Other creatures live long, and then perish to nothing; man dies soon here, that hereafter he may live for ever. This shortness is recompensed with eternity. Dost thou blame Nature, O Philosopher, for cutting thee so short that thou canst not get knowledge! Open thine eyes: perfect knowledge is not to be had here, though thy days were double to Methuselah's. Above it is. Bless God then rather for thy lives shortness: for the sooner thou diest, the sooner thou shalt come to thy desired knowledge. The best here is short of the least there. Let no man blame God for making him too soon happy. Say rather with the Psalmist; My soul is a thirst for the living God: O when shall I come to appear in the glorious presence of the Lord? who would not forsake a prison for a palace, a tabernacle for a City, a sea of dangers for a firm land of bliss; the life of men for the life of Angels? In the bed of this joy let me repose