The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

7. Rejoice as Believers. Can Faith set open the windows of the soul, and no light of heavenly pleasures enter? Can it peruse the Map of the Land of Promise, or see and taste the bunch of Grapes, without any sweetness to the soul? That is the truest Belief of Heaven, which maketh men likest those that are in Heaven: And what is their character, work and portion, but the Joys of Heavenly Light and Love! Can we believe that we shall live in Heaven for ever? Can we believe that very shortly we shall be there? and not rejoice in such believing? I know we commonly say, that the uncertainty of our proper title, is the cause of all our want of joy: But if that were all, if that were the first and greatest cause, and our belief of the promise it self were lively; we should at least set our hearts on Heaven as the most delightful and desirable state: and Love would work by more eager desires, and diligent seekings, till it had reached assurance, and cast out the hinderances of our joy. How much would a mere Philosopher rejoice, if ⟨p. 77⟩he could find out natural evidence, of so much as we know by Faith? You may perceive what their content in finding it, would be, by their exceeding pains in seeking. The unwearied studies by day and night, which many of them used, with the contempt of the riches and greatness of the world, do tell us how glad they would have been, to have seen but half so far as we may. If they could but discover more clearly and certainly, the principles, and elements, and forms of Beings; the nature of spirits; the causes of motion; the nature and cause of light and heat; the order, course and harmony of the universal system of the world; what joyful acclamations would this produce, in the literal studious sort of men! what joy then should it be to us, to know by Faith the God that made us; the Creation of the world, the Laws and Promises of our Creator, the Mysteries of Redemption and Regeneration; the frame of the new Creature, the entertainment of the spirits of the just with Christ, the Judgement which all the world must undergo, the work and company which we shall have hereafter, and the endless joys which all the sanctified shall possess in the sight and Love of God for ever? How blessed an invention would it be, if all the world could be brought again to the use of one universal language?

7. Rejoyce as Believers. Can Faith set open the windows of the soul, and no light of heavenly pleasures enter? Can it peruse the Map of the Land of Promise, or see and taste the bunch of Grapes, without any sweetness to the soul? That is the truest Belief of Heaven, which maketh men likest those that are in Heaven: And what is their character, work and portion, but the Joyes of Heavenly Light and Love! Can we believe that we shall live in Heaven for ever? Can we believe that very shortly we shall be there? and not rejoyce in such believing? I know we commonly say, that the uncertainty of our proper title, is the cause of all our want of joy: But if that were all, if that were the first and greatest cause, and our belief of the promise it self were lively; we should at least set our hearts on Heaven as the most delightful and desirable state: and Love would work by more eager desires, and diligent seekings, till it had reacht assurance, and cast out the hinderances of our joy. How much would a meer Philosopher rejoyce, if