Secondly, 1They are blessed in primitiis, in the First Fruits. They have already received some part of their Eternal Felicity, in the Graces and Consolations of the Holy Ghost; which are therefore called the First Fruits of the Spirit, 2by the Apostle, Rom. 8.23. and the Earnest of the Spirit, 32 Cor. 1.22. ⟨p. 48⟩and the Earnest of our Inheritance, 4Ephes. 1.14. Now, as the Earnest is always part of the Bargain, and the First Fruits are always of the same kind with the whole Harvest, so is it here; the Graces and Comforts of the Holy Ghost, are the very same now, that they shall be in Heaven it self: And therefore the Apostle blesseth God, 5who hath blessed us with spiritual Blessings in heavenly Things in Christ. Better indeed they shall be in Heaven, but not other: Here our Graces often languish under the Load and Pressure of Corruption, but in Heaven they shall be for ever vigorous and triumphant: Here our Waters of Comfort often fail us, our Cistern is often dried up, and our Bottle spent; but in Heaven we shall for ever lie at the Fountain of Living Waters, and take ⟨p. 49⟩in Divine Communications, as they immediately flow from the Divine Essence, without having them deadened or flatted in the Conveyance. But yet, both by these imperfect Graces and Comforts, we do truly and properly enjoy God; the Enjoyment of whom in any measure is Happiness, but in the highest measure is Heaven it self. If therefore the Mass and Lump be Blessedness, the First Fruits must be blessed also.
Secondly, 1They are blessed in primitiis, in the First Fruits. They have already received some part of their Eternal Felicity, in the Graces and Consolations of the Holy Ghost; which are therefore called the First Fruits of the Spirit, 2by the Apostle, Rom. 8.23. and the Earnest of the Spirit, 32 Cor. 1.22. ⟨p. 48⟩and the Earnest of our Inheritance, 4Ephes. 1.14. Now, as the Earnest is always part of the Bargain, and the First Fruits are always of the same kind with the whole Harvest, so is it here; the Graces and Comforts of the Holy Ghost, are the very same now, that they shall be in Heaven it self: And therefore the Apostle blesseth God, 5who hath blessed us with spiritual Blessings in heavenly Things in Christ. Better indeed they shall be in Heaven, but not other: Here our Graces often languish under the Load and Pressure of Corruption, but in Heaven they shall be for ever vigorous and triumphant: Here our Waters of Comfort often fail us, our Cistern is often dried up, and our Bottle spent; but in Heaven we shall for ever lie at the Fountain of Living Waters, and take ⟨p. 49⟩in Divine Communications, as they immediately flow from the Divine Essence, without having them deadned or flatted in the Conveyance. But yet, both by these imperfect Graces and Comforts, we do truly and properly enjoy God; the Enjoyment of whom in any measure is Happiness, but in the highest measure is Heaven it self. If therefore the Mass and Lump be Blessedness, the First Fruits must be blessed also.
- 1In the First Fruits.
- 2Rom. 8.23.
- 32 Cor. 1.22.
- 4Ephes. 1.14.
- 5Ephes. 1.3.
