A25250:561
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things: or certain meditations on life, death, judgement, hell, right purgatory, and heaven: delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes in Lancashire.
London: printed for J.A., 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Nor was this all, thou shalt be with me,] not only with my soul, but with my God-head: this indeed was the height of bliss, the very soul of heavens joy it self; set aside this, and crown a man with the Empire of all the earth, the splendour of heaven, the royal endowments of a glorified soul, the sweetest company of Saints and Angels, yet still would his soul be full of emptiness, ⟨image 114⟩and utterly to seek for the surest Sanctuary whereon to rest: only once admit him to the face of God, and then presently, and never before, his infinite desire expires in the bosom of his Maker: I deny not but the other joys in heaven are transcendent and ravishing, but they are all no better then accessories to this principal, drops to this Ocean, glimpses to this Sun. If you ask how can our souls enjoy this God-head? I answer, two ways; first, by the understanding; secondly, by the will. The understanding is filled by a clear glorious sight of God,1 called Beatifical vision; we shall see him face to face, saith Paul, 1 Cor. 13.12. We shall see him as he is, saith John, 1 John 3.2.2 For as the Sun by his beams and brightness enlightens the eye, and the air, that we may see not only all other things, but also his own glorious face: so God, blessed for ever (in whose presence ten thousand of our suns would vanish away as a darksome mote) doth by the light of his Majesty, so irradiate the minds of all the blessed, that they behold in him, not only the beauty of all his Creatures, but of himself; and thus shall we see and know that glorious mystery of the Trinity, the goodness of the Father, the wisdom of the Son, the love and comfortable fellowship of the holy Spirit; nothing that can be known, but in him we shall know it, in most ample manner.
Nor was this all, thou shalt be with me,] not onely with my soul, but with my God-head: this indeed was the height of blisse, the very soul of heavens joy it self; set aside this, and crown a man with the Empire of all the earth, the splendour of heaven, the royall endowments of a glorified soul, the sweetest company of Saints and Angels, yet still would his soul be full of emptinesse,