CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And 2. If there were no opposite calamity, as there was not to Adam, yet there is a natural intermission of it by sleep, so that if we were never so happy, yet as often as we sleep our Sun would be eclipsed, but this happy life we speak of admits of neither of these Interruptions; There cannot be any misery or grief there, for God will wash away all tears from their eyes, and it must needs be so, because all the cause of misery which is sin, is there taken away, so that as there cannot be any thunder or lightning in the upper Region, because the vapours which are the materials of it cannot ascend so high, can have no entrance there, so because no unclean thing, no sinful thing can enter heaven, therefore no evil, no misery, or affliction can come there; This should make us all despise this valley of tears for that Mount of Vision or transfiguration, What is this Wilderness to that Canaan? What are these husks to that Manna? Why are we so hardly plucked out of this world that hath so many thorns and troubles with it, to enter into heaven? where there is no grief, no complaining or discontent at all.

And 2. If there were no opposite calamity, as there was not to Adam, yet there is a naturall intermission of it by sleep, so that if we were never so happy, yet as often as we sleep our Sun would be ecclipsed, but this happy life we speak of admits of neither of these Interruptions; There cannot be any misery or grief there, for God will wash away all tears from their eyes, and it must needs be so, because all the cause of misery which is sinne, is there taken away, so that as there cannot be any thunder or lightning in the upper Region, because the vapours which are the materials of it cannot ascend so high, can have no entrance there, so because no unclean thing, no sinful thing can enter heaven, therefore no evil, no misery, or affliction can come there; This should make us all despise this valley of tears for that Mount of Vision or transfiguration, What is this Wildernesse to that Canaan? What are these husks to that Manna? Why are we so hardly plucked out of this world that hath so many thorns and troubles with it, to enter into heaven? where there is no grief, no complaining or discontent at all.

Again, There is not the second intermission of this happiness; for there is no night, no sleep nor drowsiness, but it is a waking, joyful life to all Eternity: Alas, if here we should have the most desirable comforts that can be, yet we would call for a time to sleep, they could not keep us alive without this bodily Rest; but there the body is made so glorious a body that it's no more capable of sleep, then it is of hunger or thirst; Oh then happy and thrice happy is that life where thou shalt not for a moment be taken off from God. It's impossible for the godly in this life to have an actual love and complacency in God, never to be distracted or diverted by other thoughts, something or other comes and steals the heart away, and layeth the dead child in the room of the living one, but then we shall have a constant intuitive beholding of God, and nothing shall withdraw us from him, Thus it is not to be interrupted.