But if I did believingly hear of such a Country in the World, where men did never die, nor were sick, or weak or sad, where the Prince were perfectly just and pious, wise and peaceable, devoted to God and the public good; and the Teachers were all wise judicious men, of Universal certain knowledge, perfectly acquainted with the Matter and Method of Natural and Theological Truths, and all their duty, and all of one Mind, and of one Heart, and Tongue and Practice; loving each other, and the People as themselves, and leading the Flocks heavenward through all temptations, with triumphant hopes and joy; where all the People perfectly obeyed God, their Commanders and their Teachers, and lived in perfect Love, Unity, and Peace, and were daily employed in the joyful praises of God and hopes of Glory, and in doing all possible good to one another, contending with none through ignorance, uncharitableness or pride, nor ever reproaching injuring or hurting one another, &c. I say, if I knew or heard of such a Country, should I not ⟨p. 239⟩love it before I ever see it, and earnestly desire to be there? Nay, do I not over-love this distracted World, where Tyranny sheddeth streams of Blood, and layeth desolate Cities and Countries, and exposeth the miserable Inhabitants to lamentable Distress and Famine; where the same Tyranny sets up the Wicked, reproacheth and oppresseth the Just and Innocent, keepeth out the Gospel, and keepeth up Idolatry, Infidelity, and Wickedness in the far greatest part of all the Earth; where Satan chooseth Pastors too often for the Churches of Christ, even such as by Ignorance, Pride, Sensuality, Worldliness, and Malignity, become Thorns and Thistles, yea, devouring Wolves, to those whom they should feed and comfort; where no two Persons are in all things of a Mind; where Evil is commended, and Truth, and Goodness accused and oppressed, because mens Minds are unacquainted with them or unsuitable to them: And those that are the greatest pretenders to Truth, do most eagerly contend against it and oppose it; and almost all the World are scolding or scuffling in the Dark: And where there appeareth but little hopes of a remedy: I say, can I love such a World as this? And shall I not think more delightfully of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, and the uniting Love and joyful praises of the Church triumphant and the heavenly Chore?
But if I did believingly hear of such a Countrey in the World, where men did never die, nor were sick, or weak or sad, where the Prince were perfectly just and pious, wise and peaceable, devoted to God and the publick good; and the Teachers were all wise judicious men, of Universal certain knowledge, perfectly acquainted with the Matter and Method of Natural and Theological Truths, and all their duty, and all of one Mind, and of one Heart, and Tongue and Practice; loving each other, and the People as themselves, and leading the Flocks heavenward through all temptations, with triumphant hopes and joy; where all the People perfectly obeyed God, their Commanders and their Teachers, and lived in perfect Love, Unity, and Peace, and were daily employed in the joyful praises of God and hopes of Glory, and in doing all possible good to one another, contending with none through ignorance, uncharitableness or pride, nor ever reproaching injuring or hurting one another, &c. I say, if I knew or heard of such a Countrey, should I not ⟨p. 239⟩love it before I ever see it, and earnestly desire to be there? Nay, do I not over-love this distracted World, where Tyranny sheddeth streams of Blood, and layeth desolate Cities and Countries, and exposeth the miserable Inhabitants to lamentable Distress and Famine; where the same Tyranny sets up the Wicked, reproacheth and oppresseth the Just and Innocent, keepeth out the Gospel, and keepeth up Idolatry, Infidelity, and Wickedness in the far greatest part of all the Earth; where Satan chooseth Pastors too often for the Churches of Christ, even such as by Ignorance, Pride, Sensuality, Worldliness, and Malignity, become Thorns and Thistles, yea, devouring Wolves, to those whom they should feed and comfort; where no two Persons are in all things of a Mind; where Evil is commended, and Truth, and Goodness accused and oppressed, because mens Minds are unacquainted with them or unsuitable to them: And those that are the greatest pretenders to Truth, do most eagerly contend against it and oppose it; and almost all the World are scolding or scuffling in the Dark: And where there appeareth but little hopes of a remedy: I say, can I love such a World as this? And shall I not think more delightfully of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, and the uniting Love and joyful praises of the Church triumphant and the heavenly Chore?
