Secondly, The Saints reward is described by its Transcendency; your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In the explication of which Phrase, I showed, that there is more implied, than is expressed. That the Christians labour shall be highly, unspeakably rewarded, the place where the reward is laid up, proves the transcendency of it, and that is Heaven, Heb. 10.34. Ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring substance; ⟨p. 68⟩and Heaven is a place so excellent, as renders it uncapable of an hyperbole; not so far above our heads, as it is above our thoughts: It hath not entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. One may as easily draw in all the Air of the world at a breath, as express, or conceive, how great and glorious the Saints reward in Heaven is. As it is, praemium reconditum pro nobis; so it is, absconditum à nobis, as it is laid up for Believers, so it is hid from them. We are now the Sons of God, but we know not what we shall be. The Apostle compares our apprehensions of Heaven here, to the low apprehensions, which little children have of mens affairs, 1 Cor. 13.11. which you know is very low. That Saint which knew least of Heaven, while on Earth, did the first moment he entered into that Glorious place, understand more of it, than all the Doctors of the Church ever did, or could, whilst on Earth: The Scripture therefore presents it to us, as an object ⟨p. 69⟩of our admiration, not comprehension. O how great things hath God laid up for them that fear him? Psalm 31. When Saint Paul had set forth the Saints Happiness, in that Golden chain of Salvation, whom he predestinated, them he called, whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified; breaks forth like a man in an Ecstasy, What shall we say to these things? expressing thereby his inability, to express the greatness and glory of them. Yet so much the Saints know of this blessed state that waits for them, as will not suffer them to admire any thing they see here below, any more, than he would the light of a Glowworm, who hath seen the Sun. I shall content my self at this time, in setting forth the Transcendency of that Happiness the Saints shall receive as their reward in Heaven, after their labour is finished on Earth. To consider, First, The Properties of that Blessed state, to which they shall be advanced in Heaven.
Secondly, The Saints reward is described by its Transcendency; your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In the explication of which Phrase, I shewed, that there is more implyed, than is exprest. That the Christians labour shall be highly, unspeakably rewarded, the place where the reward is laid up, proves the transcendency of it, and that is Heaven, Heb. 10.34. Ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring substance; ⟨p. 68⟩and Heaven is a place so excellent, as renders it uncapable of an hyperbole; not so far above our heads, as it is above our thoughts: It hath not entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. One may as easily draw in all the Air of the world at a breath, as express, or conceive, how great and glorious the Saints reward in Heaven is. As it is, praemium reconditum pro nobis; so it is, absconditum à nobis, as it is laid up for Believers, so it is hid from them. We are now the Sons of God, but we know not what we shall be. The Apostle compares our apprehensions of Heaven here, to the low apprehensions, which little children have of mens affairs, 1 Cor. 13.11. which you know is very low. That Saint which knew least of Heaven, while on Earth, did the first moment he entred into that Glorious place, understand more of it, than all the Doctors of the Church ever did, or could, whilst on Earth: The Scripture therefore presents it to us, as an object ⟨p. 69⟩of our admiration, not comprehension. O how great things hath God laid up for them that fear him? Psalm 31. When Saint Paul had set forth the Saints Happiness, in that Golden chain of Salvation, whom he predestinated, them he called, whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified; breaks forth like a man in an Extasie, What shall we say to these things? expressing thereby his inability, to express the greatness and glory of them. Yet so much the Saints know of this blessed state that waits for them, as will not suffer them to admire any thing they see here below, any more, than he would the light of a Glowworm, who hath seen the Sun. I shall content my self at this time, in setting forth the Transcendency of that Happiness the Saints shall receive as their reward in Heaven, after their labour is finished on Earth. To consider, First, The Properties of that Blessed state, to which they shall be advanced in Heaven.
