The divine life in three treatises

They are past our dangers, and out of the reach of all our enemies, and delivered from our pains and cares, and have the full possession of all those mercies which we ⟨image 5⟩pray and labour for. Can you think your Children and Friends that are with Christ, are not safer and better than those that yet remain with you? Do you think that earth is better than heaven for you your self? I take it for granted you cannot think so, and will not say so; And if it be worse for you, its worse for them. The providence which by hastening their Glorification, doth promote your Sanctification; which helpeth them to the End, and helpeth you in the Way, must needs be good to them and you, however it appear to flesh and unbelief. O Madam, when our Lord hath showed us (as he will shortly do) what a state it is to which he bringeth the spirits of the just, and how he doth there entertain and use them, we shall then be more competent judges of all those acts of Providence, to which we are now so hardly reconciled! Then we shall censure our censurings of these works of God, and be offended with our offences at them, and call our selves blind unthankful sinners, for calling them so bad as we did in our misjudging unbelief and passion. We shall not wish our selves or friends again on earth, among temptations ⟨image 5⟩and pains, and among uncharitable men, malicious enemies, deceitful flatterers, and untrusty friends! When we see that face which we now long to see, and know the things which we long to know, and feel the Love which we long to feel, and are full of the joys which now we can scarce attain a taste of, and have reached the End which now we seek, and for which we suffer, we shall no more take it for a judgement to be taken from ungodly men, and from a world of sin, and fear, and sorrow; nor shall we envy the wicked, nor ever desire to be partakers of their pleasures. Till then, let us congratulate our departed friends the felicity which they have attained, and which we desire; and let us rejoice with them that rejoice with Christ, and let us prefer the least believing thought of the everlasting joys, before all the defiled transitory pleasures of the deluded, dreaming, miserable world. And let us prefer such converse as we can here attain, with God in Christ, and with the Heavenly Society, before all the pomp and friendship of the world.

They are past our dangers, and out of the reach of all our enemies, and delivered from our pains and cares, and have the full possession of all those mercies which we