Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

Secondly, Here is the Proof of this Proposition, in these Words, that They have a Right to the Tree of Life, and shall enter through the Gates into the City.

It is the Connection of both these together, that I intend chiefly to speak unto. Only give me leave, as a Preliminary to the ensuing Discourse, to show you what is contained in the first and great Word in my Text; and that is the Word Blessed.

It is the Connection of both these together, that I intend chiefly to speak unto. Only give me leave, as a Preliminary to the ensuing Discourse, to shew you what is contained in the first and great Word in my Text; and that is the Word Blessed.

There is therefore a twofold Beatitude, or Blessedness: The one is perfect and consummate; the other initial and incomplete. The former is the Complexion of all Good perfective of our Natures, and our entire and satisfying Enjoyment of it. This Blessedness ⟨p. 45⟩now is only attainable in Heaven; for God alone is the Centre of all Good, and all the Good that is desirable in this World, are but so many Lines drawn from the Centre, to the utmost Circumference of the Creation. There is nothing that can supply the Wants, perform the Hopes, fulfil the Desires, without Confinement circumscribe, without Cloying satisfy the most enlarged Capacities of a Rational Soul, but only that God who is infinitely, universally, and indefectively good; and therefore he alone is our objective Happiness: and our formal Happiness is our Relation to, and Union with this All comprehensive and Incomprehensible Good. Our Assimilation to him, and Participation from him, of all those Perfections which our Natures ⟨p. 46⟩