A short description of the blessed place and state of the saints above in…

Seneca the Philosopher, when an Exile, and confined to the Mountains of Corsica, entertained ⟨p. 91⟩himself with the contemplation of the Heavens,¹ and the bright Luminaries, in their various but regular Motions: Thus when banished from the Court and City, he dwelt amongst the Stars, and casting his Eyes down upon the Earth, despised all Humane Greatness and Possessions, (that are so vainly magnified by figurative Flatteries) as we do a grain of Sand. Did Philosophy inspire him with such Principles of Patience and Fortitude? yet it ascended no higher than the visible Heavens. How much more should Faith that raises a Christian, by high and steady Thoughts, to the Supreme Heaven where the Divine Glory shines, comfort him in all the ⟨p. 92⟩Troubles of this World. Add further, That 'tis an excellent Preservative from Envy and Fretfulness at the Prosperity of the Wicked, to consider that their Felicity is as transient and vanishing as the Trouble of the Saints:² I have seen the Wicked in great Power, and spreading himself like a green Bay Tree: yet he passed away, and lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, and he could not be found. All the Riches, and Greatness, and Pleasures of the World are weighed, numbered, and measured by the Psalmist, and found to be as light and fading as Vanity. Naked they came into the World, and naked they must go out; and how much more tormenting will it be to be stripped of all their Enjoyments; how much more sorrowful will they be to go from their great Possessions, than for one that leaves the World, and never ⟨p. 93⟩had them? Their Hopes are like the giving up of the Ghost, and expire with their Breath for ever. I went into the Sanctuary, ³saith the troubled Saint, then understood I their End: The End of their Felicity, and the Miseries of the Righteous. Besides the Evils suffered for Righteousness-sake, there are innumerable Sorrows that befall the Saints here. How many afflicting Diseases, sad Occurrences, vexing Passions harass them? Some Afflictions are so wounding to their Spirits, that no Balm that grows on Earth can heal. But the lively Hope of Heaven is an Universal Cure for all their Troubles. Let the mourning Christian consider the wise Providence of God, that orders all Events, and believe his Love in sending, and his End in all their Afflictions.