Oh, what joy will it be to thy Soul! which was wont to see nothing but misery and sinners, now to behold the face of the God of glory; yea, to see Christ welcoming thee, as soon as thou art presented before him by the holy Angels, with an Euge, bone serve! well done, and welcome, good and faithful servant, &c. enter into thy Master's joy. 1And what joy will this be,2 to behold thousand thousands of Cherubims, Seraphims, Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers? All the holy Patriarchs, Priests, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and all the Souls of thy Friends, Parents, Husbands, Wives, Children, and the rest of God's Saints, who departed before thee in the true Faith of Christ, standing before God's Throne in bliss and glory? If the Queen of Sheba beholding the glory and attendance given to Solomon, as it were ravished therewith, brake out and said;3 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants which stand ever before thee and hear thy wisdom! How shall thy soul be ravished to see her self by grace admitted to stand with this glorious Company! to behold the Blessed face of Christ, and to hear all the Treasures of his Divine Wisdom! How shalt thou rejoice to see so many thousand thousands welcoming thee into their Heavenly Society! for as they all rejoiced at thy Conversion, 4so ⟨p. 71⟩will they now be much more joyful to behold thy Coronation: and to see thee receive thy Crown, 5which was laid up for thee against thy coming. For there the Crown of martyrdom shall be put on the head of a Martyr, who for Christ's Gospel-sake endured Torments; the Crown of Virginity on the head of a Virgin, who subdued concupiscence; the Crown of Piety and Chastity on the head of them, who sincerely professed Christ, and kept their wedlock-bed undefiled; the Crown of good works on the good Alms-giver's head, who liberally relieved the Poor; the Crown of incorruptible glory on the head of those Pastors, who by their preaching and good example, have converted Souls from the corruption of sin, to glorify God in holiness of life. Who can sufficiently express the rejoicing of this heavenly company, 6to see thee thus crowned with glory, arrayed with the shining robe of righteousness, and to behold the Palm of Victory put into thy hand?
Oh, what joy will it be to thy Soul! which was wont to see nothing but misery and sinners, now to behold the face of the God of glory; yea, to see Christ welcoming thee, as soon as thou art presented before him by the holy Angels, with an Euge, bone serve! well done, and welcome, good and faithful servant, &c. enter into thy Master's joy. 1And what joy will this be,2 to behold thousand thousands of Cherubims, Seraphims, Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers? All the holy Patriarchs, Priests, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and all the Souls of thy Friends, Parents, Husbands, Wives, Children, and the rest of God's Saints, who departed before thee in the true Faith of Christ, standing before God's Throne in bliss and glory? If the Queen of Sheba beholding the glory and attendance given to Solomon, as it were ravished therewith, brake out and said;3 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants which stand ever before thee and hear thy wisdom! How shall thy soul be ravished to see her self by grace admitted to stand with this glorious Company! to behold the Blessed face of Christ, and to hear all the Treasures of his Divine Wisdom! How shalt thou rejoyce to see so many thousand thousands welcoming thee into their Heavenly Society! for as they all rejoyced at thy Conversion, 4so ⟨p. 71⟩will they now be much more joyful to behold thy Coronation: and to see thee receive thy Crown, 5which was laid up for thee against thy coming. For there the Crown of martyrdom shall be put on the head of a Martyr, who for Christ's Gospel-sake endured Torments; the Crown of Virginity on the head of a Virgin, who subdued concupiscence; the Crown of Piety and Chastity on the head of them, who sincerely professed Christ, and kept their wedlock-bed undefiled; the Crown of good works on the good Alms-giver's head, who liberally relieved the Poor; the Crown of incorruptible glory on the head of those Pastors, who by their preaching and good example, have converted Souls from the corruption of sin, to glorifie God in holiness of life. Who can sufficiently express the rejoycing of this heavenly company, 6to see thee thus crowned with glory, arraied with the shining robe of righteousness, and to behold the Palm of Victory put into thy hand?
- 1Col. 1. 6.
- 2Ephes. 1. 22.
- 31 King. 10. 8.
- 4Luke 15.
- 51 Tim. 4. 8.
- 6Rev. 7. 9.
