There we shall have the blessed and glorious society of all the holy Saints and blessed Angels, and perfectly loving them as our selves, we shall rejoice in their happiness, as much as in our own, whereby our joys shall be, according to their innumerable number, multiplied and increased. There we shall enjoy the company of our Saviour Christ himself in his perfect glory; and that which shall be the top and perfection of all our happiness, we shall have the vision and fruition of God himself, the Father, Son and holy Spirit, who being infinite in goodness, glory, beauty, excellency, wisdom, power & all perfection, will be the full consummation of all our joy and happiness; which blessed estate we shall enjoy, not for a thousand, or many thousand millions of years, but these pleasures shall last for evermore, 1and of this Kingdom there shall be no end. All which points I do here 2but briefly touch, having entreated of them at large in another place. Only let us here take notice, that this rich privilege and incomparable 3happiness belongeth not to all or the greatest part of men, but is peculiar to the faithful, who desire and endeavour to serve and please God in the duties of a godly life: For though eternal life be the free gift of God, and he may bestow it where he will, yet he giveth it not unto any, whom he doth not first fit for it, induing them with grace, before he advanceth them to glory, and working holiness in them whom 4he purposeth to bring unto happiness; without which no man shall see God, as the Apostle speaketh. Though we are not saved and glorified for a godly life, but for the merits and righteousness of Christ applied by faith, yet we are not saved without it, seeing it is the way which leadeth us unto this place of heavenly happiness, in which if we travail not, we can never come to the end of our journey. It is a free inheritance, but yet given to none who have not approved themselves the children of God, by resembling their Father in holiness, 5and righteousness. It is not Wolves or Goats that must feed in this heavenly pasture, but only the Sheep of Christ, who stand at his right 6hand: and none are in this number, but those which hear his voice and follow him.
There we shall haue the blessed and glorious societie of all the holy Saints and blessed Angels, and perfectly louing them as our selues, we shall reioyce in their happinesse, as much as in our owne, whereby our ioyes shall be, according to their innumerable number, multiplied and increased. There wee shall enioy the company of our Sauiour Christ himselfe in his perfect glory; and that which shall be the top and perfection of all our happinesse, we shall haue the vision and fruition of God himselfe, the Father, Sonne and holy Spirit, who being infinite in goodnesse, glory, beautie, excellencie, wisdome, power & all perfection, will be the full consummation of all our ioy and happinesse; which blessed estate we shall enioy, not for a thousand, or many thousand millions of yeeres, but these pleasures shall last for euermore, 1and of this Kingdome there shall be no end. All which points I doe here 2but briefely touch, hauing intreated of them at large in another place. Onely let vs here take notice, that this rich priuiledge and incomparable 3happinesse belongeth not to all or the greatest part of men, but is peculiar to the faithfull, who desire and indeuour to serue and please God in the duties of a godly life: For though eternall life be the free gift of God, and he may bestow it where he will, yet he giueth it not vnto any, whom he doth not first fit for it, induing them with grace, before he aduanceth them to glory, and working holinesse in them whom 4he purposeth to bring vnto happinesse; without which no man shall see God, as the Apostle speaketh. Though we are not saued and glorified for a godly life, but for the merits and righteousnesse of Christ applied by faith, yet we are not saued without it, seeing it is the way which leadeth vs vnto this place of heauenly happinesse, in which if we trauaile not, wee can neuer come to the end of our iourney. It is a free inheritance, but yet giuen to none who haue not approued themselues the children of God, by resembling their Father in holinesse, 5and righteousnesse. It is not Wolues or Goates that must feed in this heauenly pasture, but onely the Sheepe of Christ, who stand at his right 6hand: and none are in this number, but those which heare his voyce and follow him.
- 1Psal. 16. 11.
- 2Joh. 6. 51. 1. Pet. 1. 4.Ioh. 6. 51. 1. Pet. 1. 4.
- 3Christian Warfare. The 2. part. lib. 3. cap. 3. 4, &c. Rom. 6. 23.
- 4Heb. 12. 14.
- 5Matth. 25. 34.
- 6Joh. 10. 27.Ioh. 10. 27.
