Oh, the everlasting admiration that must needs surprise the Saints, to think of this Freeness! What did the Lord see in me, that he should judge me meet for such a State? That I who was but a poor, diseased, despised wretch should be clad in the brightness of this Glory? That I a silly creeping breathing worm, should be advanced to this high dignity. That I, who was but lately groaning, weeping▪ dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold! Yea, should be taken from the grave, where I was rotting and stinking, and from the dust and darkness where I seemed forgotten, and here set before his Throne? that I should be taken with Mordecai from captivity, to be set next unto the King! and with Daniel from the Den, to be made ruler of Princes and Provinces! and with Saul from seeking Asses, to be advanced to a Kingdom! Oh, who can fathom unmeasurable Love? Indeed if the proud hearted, self-ignorant, self-admiring sinners should be thus advanced, who think none so fit for preferment as themselves; perhaps instead of admiring free Love, they would with those unhappy Angels be discontented yet with their estate. But when the self-denying, self-accusing, humble soul, who thought himself unworthy the ground he trod on, and the air he breathed in, unworthy to eat, drink, or live, when he shall be taken up into this Glory! He, who durst scarce come among, or speak to, the imperfect Saints on earth, because he was unworthy; he who durst scarce hear, or scarce read the Scripture, or scarce pray and call God, Father; o• scarce receive the Sacraments of his Covenant, and all because he was unworthy! For this soul to find it self rapt up into heaven and closed in the arms of Christ, even in a moment! Do but think with your selves what the transporting, astonishing admiration of such a soul will be. He that durst not lift up his eyes to heaven, but stood a far off, smiting on his breast, and crying, Lord be merciful to me a sinner; now to be lift up to heaven himself! He who was wont to write his name in Bradfords stile, The unthankful, the hard-hearted, the unworthy sinner! And was wont to admire that patience could bear so long and justice suffer him to live: Sure he will admire at this alteration, when he shall find by experience that unworthiness could not hinder his salvation which he thought would have bereaved him of every mercy.
Oh, the everlasting admiration that must needs surprize the Saints, to think of this Freenesse! What did the Lord see in me, that he should judge me meet for such a State? That I who was but a poor, disea•ed, despised wretch should be clad in the brightnesse of this Glory? That I a silly creeping breathing worm, should be advanced to this high dignity. That I, who was but lately groaning, weeping▪ dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold! Yea, should be taken from the grave, where I was rotting and stinking, and from the dust and darkness where I seemed forgotten, and here set before his Throne? that I should be taken with Mordecai from captivity, to be set next unto the King! and with Daniel from the Den, to be made ruler of Princes and Provinces! and with Saul from seeking Asses, to be advanced to a Kingdom! Oh, who can fathom unmeasurable Love? Indeed if the proud hearted, selfe-ignorant, selfe-admiring sinners should be thus advanced, who think none so fit for preferment as themselves; perhaps instead of admiring free Love, they would with those unhappy Angels be discontented yet with their estate. But when the selfe-denying, selfe-accusing, humble soule, who thought himselfe unworthy the ground he trod on, and the aire he breathed in, unworthy to eat, drink, or live, when he shall be taken vp into this Glory! He, who durst •carce come among, or speak to, the imperfect Saints on earth, because he was unworthy; he who durst scarce hear, or scarce read the Scripture, or scarce pray and call God, Father; o• scarce receive the Sacraments of his Covenant, and all because he was unworthy! For this soul to finde it self rapt up into heaven and closed in the armes of Christ, even in a moment! Do but think with your selves what the transporting, astonishing admiration of such a soule will be. He that durst not lift up his eyes to heaven, but stood a farre off, smiting on his brest, and crying, Lord be mercifull to me a sinner; now to be lift up to heaven himself! He who was wont to write his name in Bradfords stile, The unthank•full, the hard-hearted, the unworthy sinner! And was wont to admire that patience could bear so long and justice suffer him to live: Sure he will admire at this alteration, when he shall finde by experience that unworthinesse could not hind•r his salvation which he thought would have bereaved him of every mercy.
