A27107:245
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
A27107:245
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. After the Sentence which lasts eternally.
As soon as ever the regenerate Man hath yielded up his Soul unto Christ, the holy Angels take her into their Custody, and immediately gcarry her into Heaven, and there present herh before Christ, where she is crowned with ai Crown of Righteousness and Glory; not which she hath deserved by her good works, but which God ⟨p. 70⟩hath promised of his free goodness to all those who of love have in this life unfeignedly served him, and sought his glory.
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?
Oh, what gratulation will there be, that thou hast escaped all the miseries of the World, the snares of the Devil, the pains of Hell, and obtained with them thy eternal rest and happiness? For there every one joyeth as much in another's happiness, as in his own, because he shall see him as much loved of God as himself. Yea, they have as many distinct joys, as they have co-partners of their joy. And in this joyful and blessed state, the Soul resteth with ⟨p. 72⟩Christ in Heaven,1 till the Resurrection; when as the number of her fellow servants and brethren be fulfilled, which the Lord termeth but a little season.
The second degree of Man's Blessedness after Death, is from the Resurrection to the pronouncing of the final Sentence. For at the last day,
1. The Elementary Heavens, Earth, and all things therein, shall bea dissolved, and purified with Fire.
2. At theb sound of the last Trumpet, or voice of Christ, 2the Archangel, the very same Bodies,3 which the Elect had before (though turned to Dust and Earth) shall arise again. And in the same instant, 4every Man's Soul shall re-enter into his own Body by virtue of thec resurrection of Christ their Head, and bed made alive, and rise out of their Graves, as if they did but awake out of their beds; and howsoever Tyrant's be mangled their Bodies in pieces, or consumed them to ashes, yet shall the Elect find it true at that day, that not an hair of their head is perished.
2. At theb sound of the last Trumpet, or voice of Christ, 2the Archangel, the very same Bodies,3 which the Elect had before (though turned to Dust and Earth) shall arise again. And in the same instant, 4every Man's Soul shall re-enter into his own Body by virtue of thec resurrection of Christ their Head, and bed made alive, and rise out of their Graves, as if they did but awake out of their beds; and howsoever Tyran's be mangled their Bodies in pieces, or consumed them to ashes, yet shall the Elect find it true at that day, that not an hair of their head is perished.
3. They shall come forth out of their Graves, 1like so many Josephs out of Prison, or Daniels out of the Lion's Den, or Jonahs out of the Whale's Belly.
4. All the Bodies of the Elect being thus made alive, shall arise in that eperfection of Nature, whereunto they should have attained by their natural temperament, if no impediment had hindered; and in that vigour of age, that a perfect Man is at about ⟨p. 73⟩33 years old, each in theira proper sex. Whereunto Divines think the Apostle alludeth, when he saith,b Till we all come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age (or stature) of the fullness of Christ. Whatsoever imperfection was before in the Body, (as blindness, lameness, crookedness) shall then be done away. Jacob shall not halt, nor Isaac be blind, nor Leah blear-eyed, nor Mephibosheth be lame; for if David would not have the blind and lame to come into his House, much less will Christ have blindness and lameness to dwell in his heavenly Habitation. Christ made all the blind to see, the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, &c. that came to him to seek his grace on Earth: much more will he heal all their imperfections, whom he will admit to his glory in Heaven. 4Among those Tribes, there is not one feeble, 5but the lame man shall leap as an Hart, and the dumb man's tongue shall sing: And it is very probable, that seeing God Created our first Parents, not Infants, or old Men, but of a perfect age or stature: the [Greek or Hebrew], or new Creation from Death, shall every where be more perfect than the [Greek or Hebrew], or first frame of Man, from which he fell into the state of the dead. Neither is it like that infancy, being imperfection, and old age corruption, can well stand with the state of a perfect glorified Body.
4. All the Bodies of the Elect being thus made alive, shall arise in that eperfection of Nature, whereunto they should have attained by their natural temperament, if no impediment had hindred; and in that vigour of age, that a perfect Man is at about
5. The Bodies of the Elect being thus raised, shall have four most excellent and supernatural qualities: For, ⟨p. 74⟩1. They shall be raised in Power, 1whereby they shall for ever be freed from all wants and weaknesses, and enabled to continue without the use of Meat, Drink, Sleep, and other former helps. 2. In Incorruption, 2whereby they shall never be subject to any manner of Imperfections, Blemish, Sickness, or Death. 3. In* Glory, 4whereby their Bodies shall shine as bright as the Sun in the Firmament, and which being made transparent, their Souls shall shine through, far more glorious than their Bodies.5 Three glimpses of which Glory were seen: First, In† Moses's Face: Secondly, In the *Transfiguration: Thirdly, In Stephen's †Countenance. Three Instances and Assurances of the glorification of our Bodies at that glorious Day. Then shall David lay aside his Shepherd's Weed,9 and put on the Robe of the King's Son Jesus, not Jonathan's. Then every true Mordecai, (who mourned under the Sackcloth of this corrupt Flesh) shall be arrayed with the King's Royal Apparel, 10and have the Crown Royal set upon his Head, that all the World may see how it shall be done to him whom the King of Kings delighteth to honour. If now the rising of one Sun ⟨p. 75⟩
And howsoever sin and corruption make a Man in this state of Mortality lower than Angels; yet surely when God shall thus crown him with glory and honour, I cannot see how Man shall be any thing inferior to Angels: For, are they Spirits? so is Man also in respect of his Soul; ⟨p. 76⟩yea more than this; they shall have also a spiritual body,1 fashioned like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom Man's Nature is exalted by a personal Union, into the Glory of the Godhead, 2and individual Society of the Blessed Trinity; an Honour which he never vouchsafed Angels. And in this respect Man hath a Prerogative above them▪ Nay,3 they are but Spirits appointed to be Ministers unto the Elect:4 and as many of them, who at the first disdained this Office, and would not keep their* first standing, were for their pride† hurried into Hell. This lesseneth not the Dignity of Angels, but extols the greatness of God's love to Mankind.
And howsoever sin and corruption make a Man in this state of Mortality lower than Angels; yet surely when God shall thus crown him with glory and honour, I cannot see how Man shall be any thing inferiour to Angels: For, are they Spirits? so is Man also in respect of his Soul; ⟨p. 76⟩yea more than this; they shall have also a spiritual body,1 fashioned like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom Man's Nature is exalted by a personal Vnion, into the Glory of the Godhead,
But as for all the Elect, who at that second and sudden coming of Christ, shall be found quick and living, thea fire that shall burn up the corruption of the world, and the works therein, shall in ab moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, overtake them, as itc finds them, either grinding, in the Mill of Provision, or walking in the Fields of pleasure, or lying in the bed of ease; and so (burning up their dross and corruption) of Mortal make them Immortal Bodies: and this change shall be unto them instead of Death.
Then shall the Soul with joyfulness greet her Body,1 saying, O well met again my dear Sister. How sweet is thy Voice! How comely is thy countenance having lain hid so long in the Clefts of the Rocks, and in ⟨p. 77⟩the secret places of the grave! thou art indeed an habitation fit, not only for me to dwell in, but such as the H. Ghost thinks meet to reside in, as his Temple for ever. The Winter of our affliction is now past; the storm of our misery is blown over and gone. The Bodies of our Elect Brethren appear more glorious than the Lily-flowers on the Earth: the time of singing Hallelujahs is come, and the voice of the Trumpet is heard in the Land. Thou hast been my Yoke-fellow in the Lord's labours, and companion in persecutions and wrongs for Christ and his Gospel sake; now shall we enter together into our Master's Joy. As thou hast born with me the Cross, so shalt thou now wear with me the Crown. As thou hast with me sowed plenteously in tears, so shalt thou reap with me abundantly in joy. O blessed, ay blessed be that God! who (when yonder Reprobates spent their whole time in Pride, fleshly Lusts, eating, drinking, and profane Vanities) gave us grace to join together in watching, fasting, praying, reading the Scriptures, keeping his Sabbaths, hearing Sermons, receiving the holy Communion, relieving the Poor, exercising (in all humility) the works of Piety to God, and walking conscionably in the Duties of our calling towards Men. Thou shalt anon hear no mention of thy sins, for they are remitted and covered, but every good work, 2which thou hast done for the Lord's sake, shall be rehearsed, and rewarded.
Then shall the Soul with joyfulness greet her Body,1 saying, O well met again my dear Sister. How sweet is thy Voice! How comely is thy countenance having lain hid so long in the Clefts of the Rocks, and in ⟨p. 77⟩the secret places of the grave! thou art indeed an habitation fit, not only for me to dwell in, but such as the H. Ghost thinks meet to reside in, as his Temple for ever. The Winter of our affliction is now past; the storm of our misery is blown over and gone. The Bodies of our Elect Brethren appear more glorious than the Lily-flowers on the Earth: the time of singing Hallelujahs is come, and the voice of the Trumpet is heard in the Land. Thou hast been my Yoke-fellow in the Lord's labours, and companion in persecutions and wrongs for Christ and his Gospel sake; now shall we enter together into our Master's Joy. As thou hast born with me the Cross, so shalt thou now wear with me the Crown. As thou hast with me sowed plenteously in tears, so shalt thou reap with me abundantly in joy. O blessed, ay blessed be that God! who (when yonder Reprobates spent their whole time in Pride, fleshly Lusts, eating, drinking, and prophane Vanities) gave us grace to join together in watching, fasting, praying, reading the Scriptures, keeping his Sabbaths, hearing Sermons, receiving the holy Communion, relieving the Poor, exercising (in all humility) the works of Piety to God, and walking conscionably in the Duties of our calling towards Men. Thou shalt anon hear no mention of thy sins, for they are remitted and covered, but every good work,
Cheer up thy heart, for thy Judge is flesh of thy flesh,1 and bone of thy bone. Lift up thy head, behold these glorious Angels, like so many Gabriels flying towards us,2 to tell us, That the day of our Redemption is come, and to convey us in the Clouds, to meet our Redeemer in the Air. Lo,3 they are at hand: Arise therefore, my Dove, my Love, my fair One, and come away. And so like Roes or young Harts, they run with Angels towards Christ over the trembling Mountains of Bether.
Chear up thy heart, for thy Judge is flesh of thy flesh,1 and bone of thy bone. Lift up thy head, behold these glorious Angels, like so many Gabriels flying towards us,2 to tell us, That the day of our Redemption is come, and to convey us in the Clouds, to meet our Redeemer in the Air. Lo,3 they are at hand: Arise therefore, my Dove, my Love, my fair One, and come away. And so like Roes or young Harts, they run with Angels towards Christ over the trembling Mountains of Bether.
6. Both quick and dead being thus revived and glorified, shall forthwith (by the ministry of God's holy Angels) be gathered from all the quarters and parts of the world, 1and caught up together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall come with him, as a part of his glorious Train, to judge the Reprobates and evil Angels. 2The twelve Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones (next Christ) to judge the twelve Tribes, 3(who refused to hear the Gospel preached by their Ministry) and all the Saints (in• honour and order) shall stand next unto them, as Judges also, to judge the evil Angels and earthly-minded Men. And as every of them received grace in this life, to be more zealous of his glory, and more faithful in his service than others:4 so shall their glory and reward be greater than others in that Day.
6. Both quick and dead being thus revived and glo••fied, shall forthwith (by the ministry of God's holy Angels) be gathered from all the quarters and parts of the world, 1and caught up together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall come with him, as a part of his glorious Train, to judge the Reprobates and evil Angels. 2The twelve Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones (next Christ) to judge the twelve Tribes, 3(who refused to hear the Gospel preached by their Ministry) and all the Saints (in• honour and order) shall stand next unto them, as Judges also, to judge the evil Angels and earthly-minded Men. And as every of them received grace in this life, to be more zealous of his glory, and more faithful in his service than others:4
The place whither they shall be gathered unto Christ, and where Christ shall sit in judgment, shall be in the* Air over the ⟨p. 79⟩Valley of Jehoshaphat, by Mount Olivet, near unto Jerusalem, Eastward from the Temple as it is probable for four reasons.
5. The Bodies of the Elect being thus raised, shall have four most excellent and supernatural qualities: For, ⟨p. 74⟩1. They shall be raised in Power, 1whereby they shall for ever be freed from all wants and weaknesses, and enabled to continue without the use of Meat, Drink, Sleep, and other former helps. 2. In Incorruption, 2whereby they shall never be subject to any manner of Imperfections, Blemish, Sickness, or Death. 3. In* Glory, 4whereby their Bodies shall shine as bright as the Sun in the Firmament, and which being made transparent, their Souls shall shine through, far more glorious than their Bodies.5 Three glimpses of which Glory were seen: First, In† Moses's Face: Secondly, In the *Transfiguration: Thirdly, In Stephen's †Countenance. Three Instances and Assurances of the glorification of our Bodies at that glorious Day. Then shall David lay aside his Shepherd's Weed,9 and put on the Robe of the King's Son Jesus, not Jonathan's. Then every true Mordecai, (who mourned under the Sackeloth of this corrupt Flesh) shall be arrayed with the King's Royal Apparel, 10and have the Crown Royal set upon his Head, that all the World may see how it shall be done to him whom the King of Kings delighteth to honour. If now the rising of one Sun ⟨p. 75⟩makes the morning so glorious; how glorious shall that Day be when innumerable Millions of Millions of Bodies of Saints and Angels shall appear more glorious than the brightness of the Sun! the Body of Christ in glory surpassing all. 4. In* Agility, whereby our bodies shall be able to ascend and meet the Lord at his glorious coming in the Air, as Eagles flying unto their Blessed Carcass. 12To this Agility of the Saints glorious Bodies, the Prophet alludes, saying,† They shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings as Eagles: They shall run and not be weary: They shall walk and not faint. And to this state may that saying of Wisdom be referred;14 In the time of their Vision, they shall shine, and run to and fro, as sparks amongst the stubble. And in respect of these four Qualities, *Paul calleth the raised bodies of the Elect, Spiritual; for they shall be spiritual in qualities, but the same still in substance.