A30592:1166
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of a self-denying heart, delivered in a treatise upon Hebrews II, 25, 26 / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed by John Field, 1650
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.
CHAP. XLV. The Saints enjoyment of God to be their portion, their happiness in having his presence.
God himself will be the portion of the Saints. Augustine says of the happiness of the Saints, If God gives such good things to wicked men, does he keep nothing for the Saints? Yes, he keeps heaven it self; but says he, Surely I speak of too low a thing, when I speak of heaven, he will give himself to them. Heaven is beautiful, but more beautiful is God himself, the God of heaven: Therefore God must give himself to them, or else their souls are not satisfied. It is a sweet and excellent expression that Bernard hath, Lord, as whatsoever we give unto thee, ⟨p. 530⟩unless we give our selves, cannot satisfy thee; so Lord, Whatsoever thou givest to us, unless thou givest thy self, we cannot be satisfied. The Lord said to Abraham, Fear not, I am thy exceeding great reward; but says Abraham, What wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless. Surely he had respect to Christ, or 1else it could not but be a fault, that Abraham should not be fully satisfied in what God said; for as God does make the Saints to be his portion, so God is the portion, and the inheritance of the Saints. The enjoyment of God is Heaven it self, and therefore in Scripture God is called heaven: I have sinned against heaven. In this there are these seven things: First, the presence of God. Secondly, the blessed vision of God. Thirdly, the happy union with God. Fourthly, the glorious communion with God. Fifthly, the fruition of God. Sixthly, the rest that their souls shall have in God. Seventhly, the enjoyment of themselves in God.
GOd himself will be the portion of the Saints. Augustine says of the happiness of the Saints, If God gives such good things to wicked men, does he keep nothing for the Saints? Yes, he keeps heaven it self; but says he, Surely I speak of too low a thing, when I speak of heaven, he will give himself to them. Heaven is beautiful, but more beautiful is God himself, the God of heaven: Therefore God must give himself to them, or else their souls are not satisfied. It is a sweet and excellent expression that Bernard hath, Lord, as whatsoever we give unto thee,