A26807:39
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.
But Heaven is a Place and State of Felicity becoming his Infinite Majesty, his special Love, and eternal Duration. 'Tis an Observation of Tertullian, 1That God who made other Things by command, by the omnipotent Umpire of his Will, applied himself with Counsel to form the Body of Adam, which was the original Model of all Perfections that ⟨p. 43⟩a humane Body is capable of, for the beauty of Aspect without, and the artificial order of the Parts within; and the reason was, Love drew the Lineaments. Thus Love, the Queen of the Divine Attributes, employed infinite Wisdom, and almighty Power, to build this Celestial City for the reception of his chosen Favourites. The King of Glory dwells there in a special manner. The Heaven, even the Heavens are the Lord's; but the Earth hath he given to the Children of Men. By Right and Dominion, the Earth is the Lord's, and the Fullness thereof, and the possession of it is from his Bounty to Men; but Heaven is reserved for himself, the Place of his glorious Residence. As a Prince that hath many Houses, gives some for to be inhabited by his Servants, but the Imperial Palace is kept for his own Dwelling; God manifests himself ⟨p. 44⟩there in the most refulgent manner. All the Perfections of the Glorious Deity are revealed to the Saints in their purity and radiancy. The Divine Presence is the Supreme Glory of Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ is there crowned with the Majesty of the Divine Empire. This Glory is the Reward of his meritorious Obedience and Sufferings. He was made a Subject and a Servant, and endured the most ignominious cruel Death to satisfy God's injured Justice. What hath not the Son done for the Glory of his Father? He lost his Life rather than his Obedience: And what will not the Father do for the Honour of his Son? What Recompense is correspondent to such astonishing Humiliation? Our Saviour in his last solemn Prayer with his Disciples, addresses himself to God: I have glorified thee on Earth;2 I have finished ⟨p. 45⟩the Work thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with thy Self, with the Glory I had with thee before the World was. The Father was so highly honoured by Christ, that to satisfy his infinite Love towards him, he hath dignified him with a Name and State, that transcends all created Glory. He is the Lord of Angels, the Head of the Church, and sits at the right Hand of Majesty on high.