The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

2. The pure Love of the Saints to God is fully satisfied in the possession and enjoyment of him, and consequently the greatest delight and complacency is shed abroad in their Hearts. Love considered as an Affection of Friendship, is always attended with two Desires; to be assured of Reciprocal Love, and to enjoy the Conversation of the ⟨p. 313⟩Person beloved, the testimony of his Esteem and Good-will. This kind of ^*Affection seems to be inconsistent with that infinite distance that is between God and the Creature. But tho 'tis disproportionable to the Divine Majesty, 'tis proportionable to his Goodness. Accordingly our Saviour promises, He that loves me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest my self unto him. And to confirm our belief of this astonishing Condescension, repeats it, If a Man love me, my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. In the present state, the signs of God's special Favour are exhibited to his Friends. Now he bestows on them the honour of being his Sons, the Graces and Comforts of his Spirit, the precious Earnests of his Love, and Seal of their Redemption. But in eminency of degrees, the Emanations of his Love, and the Effects of his Beneficence, are incomparably more glorious in Heaven. Here the Saints are adopted, there crowned. There he opens all the bright Treasures of his Wisdom, the Riches of his Goodness, the Beauties of his Holiness, the Glories ⟨p. 314⟩of his Power, and by the intimate application of his Presence makes his Love most sensible to them. Infinite Goodness excites and draws forth all the Powers of the Soul, and fills the utmost Capacity and Expansion of the Spirit. From hence perpetual Pleasure and Satisfaction springs. O the pure Delights between God and glorified Souls! God looks on them with an engaged Eye, as his own by many dear Titles, and is ravished with the Reflex of his own Excellencies shining in them. As the Bridegroom rejoices over the Bride, ('tis the Language of Divine Love) so their God rejoices over them. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will rest in his love; he will rejoice over thee with singing. He is infinitely delighted in the communication of his Goodness to them. And what a blessed Rest do they find in the complete fruition of his Goodness?