2. The Blessedness of the Saints, as 'tis without diminution, so 'tis without end: 'tis complete and continual for ever. This makes Heaven to be Heaven; the Security is as valuable as the Felicity. There is no satiety of the present, no solicitude for the future. Were there a possibility, or the least suspicion of losing that happy State, it would cast an aspersion of bitterness upon all their Delights; it would disturb their peaceful Fruition, and joyful Tranquillity: as Hope in Misery allays Sorrow, so Fear in Happiness dashes Joy: and the more excellent the Happiness is, the more stinging would be the fear of losing it. But the Inheritance reserved in Heaven, is immortal, undefiled, and fades not away. And the Tenure of their Possession is ⟨p. 340⟩infinitely firm, by the Promise of God, who is truly immutable, and immutably true, and by the Divine Power, the support of their everlasting Duration. Our Saviour assures his Disciples, Because I live, ye shall live also: and he lives for evermore. This blessed Privilege the Saints have by Jesus Christ, (who obtained eternal Redemption for them) above the Grace given to Angels and Men in the first Creation. The Angels were upon trial of their Obedience, not in a determined State of Felicity. The first declination of Love and Subjection, was fatal to them. Woeful Change! how unlike to themselves in their Original Purity and Glory! an unparalleled Example of the Frailty of the Creature, and the Divine Severity. Man did stand in Paradise for a little while, and had a ruinous Fall with all his Progeny. But the glorified Saints sit with Christ in Heavenly Places, and enjoy an unchangeable Happiness, as permanent as the everlasting Author of it, and the everlasting Soul the Subject of it. With God is the Fountain of Life. Who can pluck them out of the Hands and Bosom of a Gracious God? He will never ⟨p. 341⟩withdraw his Love, and they shall never forfeit it: for Sin is from the perverseness of the Will and the disorder of the Affections, joined with some Error of the Mind. But in the Light of Glory, and full enjoyment of God, the Understanding is so perfectly illuminated, the Will and Affections so exceedingly satisfied, that 'tis impossible they should apprehend erroneously, or desire irregularly. God is Love, and will kindle in the Saints a pure Affection that Eternity shall not lessen. In the present state, our Love is imperfect;
2. The Blessedness of the Saints, as 'tis without diminution, so 'tis without end: 'tis compleat and continual for ever. This makes Heaven to be Heaven; the Security is as valuable as the Felicity. There is no satiety of the present, no solicitude for the future. Were there a possibility, or the least suspicion of losing that happy State, it would cast an aspersion of bitterness upon all their Delights; it would disturb their peaceful Fruition, and joyful Tranquillity: as Hope in Misery allays Sorrow, so Fear in Happiness dashes Joy: and the more excellent the Happiness is, the more stinging would be the fear of losing it. But the Inheritance reserved in Heaven, is immortal, undefiled, and fades not away. And the Tenure of their Possession is ⟨p. 340⟩infinitely firm, by the Promise of God, who is truly immutable, and immutably true, and by the Divine Power, the support of their everlasting Duration. Our Saviour assures his Disciples, Because I live, ye shall live also: and he lives for evermore. This blessed Priviledg the Saints have by Jesus Christ, (who obtain'd eternal Redemption for them) above the Grace given to Angels and Men in the first Creation. The Angels were upon trial of their Obedience, not in a determin'd State of Felicity. The first declination of Love and Subjection, was fatal to them. Woful Change! how unlike to themselves in their Original Purity and Glory! an unparallel'd Example of the Frailty of the Creature, and the Divine Severity. Man did stand in Paradise for a little while, and had a ruinous Fall with all his Progeny. But the glorified Saints sit with Christ in Heavenly Places, and enjoy an unchangeable Happiness, as permanent as the everlasting Author of it, and the everlasting Soul the Subject of it. With God is the Fountain of Life. Who can pluck them out of the Hands and Bosom of a Gracious God? He will never ⟨p. 341⟩withdraw his Love, and they shall never forfeit it: for Sin is from the perversness of the Will and the disorder of the Affections, join'd with some Error of the Mind. But in the Light of Glory, and full enjoyment of God, the Understanding is so perfectly illuminated, the Will and Affections so exceedingly satisfi'd, that 'tis impossible they should apprehend erroneously, or desire irregularly. God is Love, and will kindle in the Saints a pure Affection that Eternity shall not lessen. In the present state, our Love is imperfect;
