A26807:27
A short description of the blessed place and state of the saints above in…
A short description of the blessed place and state of the saints above in a discourse upon the words of Our Blessed Saviour, John XIV, 2, in my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you / by William Bates.
London: printed by J.D. for J. Robinson, 1687
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.
This glorious Advantage the redeemed Saints have (by Jesus Christ who obtained eternal Redemption for them) above the Grace given to Angels and Man in the first Creation.1 The Angels were upon trial of their Obedience, not in a determined state of Felicity. Their first declination of Love and Subjection, was a downfall from their blessed Habitation. Woeful change! how unlike themselves in their original Purity, ⟨p. 15⟩and Glory? An unparalleled Example of the frailty of the Creature that forsakes God, and of the Divine Severity. Man did but stand in Paradise for a little while, and had a ruinous fall with all his Progeny. But the glorified Saints actually sit with Christ in Heavenly Places, and enjoy an unchangeable happy State. The felicity Above is permanent, as the everlasting Object that produces and preserves it, and the everlasting Soul wherein it dwells. Blessed Security! how triumphantly do the glorified in Heaven sing, This God is our God for ever and ever. Earthly Relations, how near soever, determine in Death; and the sorrow of losing them, is in proportion to the delightful enjoying them. But the Heavenly Relation between God and the Saints, is as everlasting, as the Object on which 'tis sixth: This God in whom are all amiable Excellencies, all Sweetness and Beauty to feed Desires and Delights, is our ⟨p. 16⟩God in strict propriety, in the dearest and most reviving fruition for ever. Their Happiness is crowned with Eternity. This is so real an accession to their Felicity, that without the entire assurance of it, the state of Blessedness were incomplete; the least jealousy of losing it, would disturb their peaceful fruition, and joyful tranquillity in Heaven: For as Hope in Misery allays Sorrow, so fear in Happiness lessens Joy. The apprehension of losing such a Kingdom, would cause torment. But, as in the contrary state, reprobate Sinners that are in Hell, under an utter impossibility of deliverance, are racked and tortured by absolute despair: So the Blessed Above, that enjoy the Beatific Vision, by the infallible assurance of its perpetuity, are filled with a Joy unspeakable and glorious.
This glorious Advantage the redeemed Saints have (by Jesus Christ who obtain'd eternal Redemption for them) above the Grace given to Angels and Man in the first Creation.