when every grace shall be in its perfect state, and have its perfect works; when every grace shall act to the highest degree, yea, when there will be •o use of those inferior graces which are but for the way, as patience, repentance, sympathy, pity, fear, hope, yea, none of the highest of all the graces hath faith it self; now abideth faith, hope,—now is in this imperfect state, faith it self belongeth unto the imperfect state, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect shall be done away, when sight is come, then faith shall cease, and the Saints shall converse one with another only in their superior graces; their marriage-graces, their glorious graces, that are proper to their adult state, love, joy, delight in God, mutual complacency, zeal, obedience, praising God, thankfulness, when they shall love God as much as they ⟨p. 7⟩would love him, yea, as much as God would be beloved, and obey God as much as God would be obeyed, and praise God as much as God would be praised, &c. Oh, when the Saints are cast into such an heavenly mould, yea, and we our selves are capable of such pure converse, (for here in this imperfect state, the Saints of God are not always in the same frame one with another, or with themselves, wh•n one Saint is up, the other is down, like an Instrument out of tune, jarring and disharmonious, when one is alive, the other dead, when this is hot, the other is cold, when one is ready to give, the other is not fit to receive the communications of grace.) But oh, when now I say all the Instruments of Glory are alike strung, and equally tuned (in their several capacities) what sweet ravishing harmony, what heavenly music will they make? Oh might we but see such a Saint on earth as one of these are, how would every one be ready to kiss his lips, yea, to kiss his very feet, and hardly forbear even to worship him, 1as Cornelius would have worshipped Peter? or as John, the Angel? Oh then, when the whole Assembly of Saints shall be all such, how will they fill one another with unspeakable joy? How might this vision (as it were) be an heaven alone! If Paul expressed so much satisfaction, to be filled with his precious Converts company at Rome, what satisfaction will it be when the Romans shall be filled with Paul's company, and all other the Saints of God, they and he, now, made perfect in glory?
when every grace shall be in its perfect state, and have its perfect works; when every grace shall act to the highest degree, yea, when there will be •o use of those inferiour graces which are but for the way, as patience, repentance, simpathy, pity, fear, hope, yea, none of the highest of all the graces hath faith it self; now abideth faith, hope,—now is in this imperfect state, faith it self belongeth unto the imperfect state, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect shall be done away, when sight is come, then faith shall cease, and the Saints shall converse one with another only in their superiour graces; their marriage-graces, their glorious graces, that are proper to their adult state, love, joy, delight in God, mutual complacency, zeal, obedience, praising God, thankfulness, when they shall love God as much as they ⟨p. 7⟩would love him, yea, as much as God would be beloved, and obey God as much as God would be obeyed, and praise God as much as God would be praised, &c. Oh, when the Saints are cast into such an heavenly mold, yea, and we our selves are capable of such pure converse, (for here in this imperfect state, the Saints of God are not alwayes in the same frame one with another, or with themselves, wh•n one Saint is up, the other is down, like an Instrument out of tune, jarring and disharmonious, when one is alive, the other dead, when this is hot, the other is cold, when one is ready to give, the other is not fit to receive the communications of grace.) But oh, when now I say all the Instruments of Glory are alike strung, and equally tuned (in their several capacities) what sweet ravishing harmony, what heavenly musick will they make? Oh might we but see such a Saint on earth as one of these are, how would every one be ready to kiss his lips, yea, to kiss his very feet, and hardly forbear even to worship him, 1as Cornelius would have worshipped Peter? or as John, the Angel? Oh then, when the whole Assembly of Saints shall be all such, how will they fill one another with unspeakable joy? How might this vision (as it were) be an heaven alone! If Paul exprest so much satisfaction, to be filled with his precious Converts company at Rome, what satisfaction will it be when the Romans shall be filled with Paul's company, and all other the Saints of God, they and he, now, made perfect in glory?
- 1Acts 10.25. Rev. 22.9
