Once again, think with thy self, what a soul raising employment is the praising of God? especially in consort with his affectionate Saints? What if I had been in the place of those Shepherds, and seen the Angels, and heard the multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men? Luke 2.13, 14. what a glorious sight and hearing would this have been? but I shall see and hear more glorious things then this. If I had stood by Christ when he was thanking his Father, Joh, 17. I should have thought mine ears even blessed with his voice, how much more when I shall hear him pronounce me blessed? If there were such great joy at the bringing back of the Ark, 2 Sam. 6.15. and such great joy at the reedifying the material Temple, Nehe. 12.43. what joy will there be in the New Jerusalem? why, If I could but see the Church here in Unity and Prosperity, and the undoubted Order and Discipline of aChrist established, and his Ordinances purely and powerfully administered, what an unspeakable joy to my soul it would be? If I ⟨p. 173⟩could see the Congregations provided with able Teachers, and the people receiving and obeying the Gospel, and longing for Reformation, and for the Government of Christ, O what a blessed place were England? If I could see our Ignorance turned into Knowledge and Error turned into soundness of Understanding, and shallow Professors into solid Believers, and Brethren living in Amity, and in the life of the Spirit, O what a fortunate Island were this? Alas, alas, whats all this to the Reformation in Heaven? and to the blessed condition which we must live in there? There's another kind of change and glory then this? What great joy had the people and David himself, to see them so willingly offer to the Service of the Lord? And what an excellent Psalm of Praise doth David thereupon compose? 1 Chro. 29.9, 10, &c. When Solomon was anointed King in Jerusalem, the people rejoiced with so great joy, that the earth rent at the sound of them, 1 Kings 1.40. what a joyful shout will there be then at the appearing of the King of the Church? If when the foundations of the earth were fastened, and the corner stone thereof was laid, the morning stars did sing together, and all the sons of God did shout for joy, Job 38 6, 7.
Once again, think with thy self, what a soul raising imployment is the praising of God? especially in consort with his affectionate Saints? What if I had been in the place of those Shepherds, and seen the Angels, and heard the multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men? Luke 2.13, 14. what a glorious sight and hearing would this have been? but I shall see and hear more glorious things then this. If I had stood by Christ when he was thanking his Father, Joh, 17. I should have thought mine ears even blessed with his voyce, how much more when I shall hear him pronounce me blessed? If there were such great joy at the bringing back of the Ark, 2 Sam. 6.15. and such great joy at the reedifying the material Temple, Nehe. 12.43. what joy will there be in the New Jerusalem? why, If I could but see the Church here in Unity and Prosperity, and the undoubted Order and Discipline of aChrist established, and his Ordinances purely and powerfully administred, what an unspeakable joy to my soul it would be? If I ⟨p. 173⟩could see the Congregations provided with able Teachers, and the people receiving and obeying the Gospel, and longing for Reformation, and for the Government of Christ, O what a blessed place were England? If I could see our Ignorance turned into Knowledg and Error turned into soundness of Understanding, and shallow Professors into solid Believers, and Brethren living in Amity, and in the life of the Spirit, O what a fortunate Iland were this? Alas, alas, whats all this to the Reformation in Heaven? and to the blessed condition which we must live in there? There's another kinde of change and glory then this? What great joy had the people and David himself, to see them so willingly offer to the Service of the Lord? And what an excellent Psalme of Praise doth David thereupon compose? 1 Chro. 29.9, 10, &c. When Solomon was anointed King in Jerusalem, the people rejoyced with so great joy, that the earth rent at the sound of them, 1 Kings 1.40. what a joyful shout will there be then at the appearing of the King of the Church? If when the foundations of the earth were fastned, and the corner stone thereof was laid, the morning stars did sing together, and all the sons of God did shout for joy,
- aIpse per se placet, & per se sufficit ad meritum, sufficit ad praemium, nec extra illum quicquam quaerit, quia totum in illo invenitur quicquid desideratur. Semper libet eum adsp••ere, semper habere, semper in illo delectari, & illo perfrui; In illo clarificatur intellectus, & parificatur affectus, ad cognoscendam & diligendam veritatem. Et hoc est totum bonum hominis, nose scilicet & amare Creatorem suum, Bernard. de praemio caelesti.Ipse per se placet, & per se sufficit ad meritum, sufficit ad praemium, nec extra illum quicquam quaerit, quia totum in illo invenitur quicquid desideratur. Semper libet eum adsp••ere, semper habere, semper in illo delectari, & illo perfrui; In illo clarificatur intellectus, & parificatur affectus, ad cognoscendam & diligendam veritatem. Et hoc est totum bonum hominis, nosse scilicet & amare Creatorem suum, Bernard. de praemio caelesti.
