With me] and therefore with my Saints; blessed man that from a crew of thieves (by one hours repentance) became a companion of Saints: and now he is a Saint amongst them, what joy is that he enjoys with them? O my soul, couldst thou so steal Heaven by remorse for sin, then mightst thou see— what? all those millions of Saints that ever lived on earth, and are in Heaven;1 there are those holy Patriarchs, Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the rest, not now in their pilgrimage tossed to and fro on earth, but abiding for ever on Mount Zion, the City of the living God: there are those goodly Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the rest, not now subject to the torments of their cruel adversaries, but wearing Palms, and Crowns and all ⟨p. 211⟩other glorious Ensigns of their victorious triumphs: there live those glorious Apostles, Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the rest, not now in danger of persecution or death, but arrayed in long robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb: 2there live those women-Saints, Mary, Martha, and that Virgin-mother, not now weeping at our Saviours death, but singing unto him those heavenly songs of praise & glory world without end: there are those tender infants (an hundred forty four thousand, Revel. 14.1.3) not now under Herod's knife bleeding unto death, but harping on their harps, and following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: there lives that noble army of Martyrs, (they that were slain upon the earth, Revel. 18.24.4) not now under the merciless hands of cruel tyrants, but singing and saying their Hallelujahs, salvation, and glory, and honour, 5and power be unto the Lord our God: t•ere dwell all the Saints and servants of God (both small and great, Revel. 19.5.6) not now sighing in this vale of tears but singing sweet songs that echo through the Heavens, as the voice of many waters, as the voice of mighty thunderings, so is their voice saying, Hallelujah, 7for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. And is not here a goodly troop, a sweet company, a blessed society and fellowship of Saints? O my soul; how happy wert thou to be with them! yea, how happy will that day be to thee, when thou shalt meet all the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Disciples, Innocents, Martyrs, the Saints, and servants of the King of Heaven? why thus happy and blessed, is this penitent Thief:
With me] and therefore with my Saints; blessed man that from a crew of thieves (by one houres repentance) became a companion of Saints: and now he is a Saint amongst them, what joy is that he enjoys with them? O my soul, couldst thou so steal Heaven by remorse for sinne, then mightst thou see— what? all those millions of Saints that ever lived on earth, and are in Heaven;1 there are those holy Patriarchs, Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the rest, not now in their pilgrimage tossed to and fro on earth, but abiding for ever on Mount Sion, the City of the living God: there are those goodly Prophets, Esay, Jeremy, Ezekiel, and the rest, not now subject to the torments of their cruell adversaries, but wearing Palms, and Crowns and all ⟨p. 211⟩other glorious Ensigne• of their victorious triumphs: there live those glorious Apostles, Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the rest, not now in danger of persecution or death, but arrayed in long robes washed and made white in the bloud of the Lamb: 2there live those women-Saints, Mary, Martha, and that Virgin-mother, not now weeping at our Saviours death, but singing unto him those heavenly songs of praise & glory world without end: there are those tender infants (an hundred forty four thousand, Revel. 14.1.3) not now under Herods knife bleeding unto death, but harping on their harps, and following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: there lives that noble armie of Martyrs, (they that were slain upon the earth, Revel. 18.24.4) not now under the mercilesse hands of cruell tyrants, but singing and saying their Hallelujahs, salvation, and glory, and honour, 5and power be unto the Lord our God: t•ere dwell all the Saints and servants of God (both small and great, Revel. 19.5.6) not now sighing in this vale of tears but singing sweet songs that eccho through the Heavens, as the voice of many waters, as the voice of mighty thunderings, so is their voice saying, Hellelujah,
- 1Heb. 12.22.
- 2Revel. 7.14.
- 3Revel. 14.1, 3, 4.
- 4Revel. 18.24.
- 5Revel. 19.1.
- 6Revel. 19.5.
- 7Revel. 19.6.
