The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

The Devils believe, and tremble; so impressive are the pre-apprehensions of Judgment to come, and the consequents thereof with them; yet their present torment, thence, is no torment, in comparison (art thou come to torment us before the time?) of what they expect. Let wicked men consider this (they will have ⟨p. 97⟩their intuitions in hell too) were your belief, and terror thereupon, with reference to the eternal Judgment, and the impendent wrath of God, equal to what the Devils themselves have, upon the same account; actual sensation will make you more exceed your selves in point of misery, than the Devils do now exceed you. There is, no doubt, a proportionable difference between the impressions of present faith, and future vision, with holy souls. Now, not seeing, yet believing, they rejoice with joy unspeakable: their present joy cannot be spoken; their future then cannot be thought! Experience daily tells us, how greatly, sensible, present objects have the advantage upon us, beyond those that are spiritual and distant, though infinitely more excellent and important. When the tables are turned, the now sensible things disappear, a new scene of things invisible and eternal, is immediately presented to our view; the excellency of the objects, the disposedness of the subjects, the nature of the act, shall all multiply the advantages on this part, How affective will this vision be; beyond what we have ever found the faint apprehensions of our so much disadvantaged faith to amount to? A kind message from an indulgent Father to his far-distant Son, informing of his welfare, and yet continuing love will much affect, but the sight of his Fathers face will even transport and overcome him with joy.

The Devils believe, and tremble; so impressive are the pre-apprehensions of Judgment to come, and the consequents thereof with them; yet their present torment, thence, is no torment, in comparison (art thou come to torment us before the time?) of what they expect. Let wicked men consider this (they will have ⟨p. 97⟩their intuitions in hell too) were your belief, and terror thereupon, with reference to the eternal Judgment, and the impendent wrath of God, equal to what the Devils themselves have, upon the same account; actual sensation will make you more exceed your selves in point of misery, than the Devils do now exceed you. There is, no doubt, a proportionable difference between the impressions of present faith, and future vision, with holy souls. Now, not seeing, yet believing, they rejoyce with joy unspeakable: their present joy cannot be spoken; their future then cannot be thought! Experience daily tells us, how greatly, sensible, present objects have the advantage upon us, beyond those that are spiritual and distant, though infinitely more excellent and important. When the tables are turned, the now sensible things disappear, a new scene of things invisible and eternal, is immediately presented to our view; the excellency of the objects, the disposedness of the subjects, the nature of the act, shall all multiply the advantages on this part, How affective will this vision be; beyond what we have ever found the faint apprehensions of our so much disadvantaged faith to amount to? A kind message from an indulgent Father to his far-distant Son, informing of his welfare, and yet continuing love will much affect, but the sight of his Fathers face will even transport and overcome him with joy.