8. Reckon much upon an eternal abode in that presence where is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore. Enjoy by a serious believing foresight the delights of heaven, labour to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Look beyond this your present state. Confine not your eye and delight to what is now to be enjoyed, but think of what shall be. Set before your eyes the glorious prospect of the blessed God communicating himself to that vast Assembly of Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, in clearest discoveries of his glory, and richest effusions of his goodness. The best appearance of things in this world, makes but a dull scene in comparison of this. If you look towards God ⟨p. 353⟩according to what now appears of his glory in the frame of the universe, and the course of his administrations and government over his Creatures, He hath not, 'tis true, left himself without witness. And you may behold much that would be to you the matter of delightful admiration; If your eye be clear, and can pierce through clouds and darkness and a manifold veil. He hath made this world and is every-where in it, but it knows him not. His light shines in darkness, that doth not comprehend it. Beams of his glory do every-where break forth, through every Creature, Providence, Law, and Ordinance of his. But much of his glory that shines in the Creation is hid by a train of second causes, through which few look to the first. His Laws men judg of according to their interests and inclinations, while the holy glorious Majesty that enacted them is out of sight. His work in the world is carried on in a mystery; His interest lives, but is depressed; They who are most devoted to him are supported indeed by his invisible hand, but are, in the mean time, low, for the most part, and afflicted. If you now limit and confine your apprehensions of him to his present appearances, the matter of your delight is real, but much diminished: But conceive of him (as your Faith can behold him at a distance) in that posture wherein having settled the eternal State of things he will finally show himself. Conceive him as having now gathered home all that that have been recovered to him out of the ⟨p. 354⟩apostasy, and joined them to those numberless legions of innocent and pure spirits about his throne that never offended:
8. Reckon much upon an eternal abode in that presence where is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. Enjoy by a serious believing foresight the delights of heaven, labour to rejoyce in hope of the glory of God. Look beyond this your present state. Confine not your eye and delight to what is now to be enjoyed, but think of what shall be. Set before your eyes the glorious prospect of the blessed God communicating himself to that vast Assembly of Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, in clearest discoveries of his glory, and richest effusions of his goodness. The best appearance of things in this world, makes but a dull scene in comparison of this. If you look towards God ⟨p. 353⟩according to what now appears of his glory in the frame of the universe, and the course of his administrations and government over his Creatures, He hath not, 'tis true, left himself without witness. And you may behold much that would be to you the matter of delightful admiration; If your eye be clear, and can pierce through clouds and darkness and a manifold veil. He hath made this world and is every-where in it, but it knows him not. His light shines in darkness, that doth not comprehend it. Beams of his glory do every-where break forth, through every Creature, Providence, Law, and Ordinance of his. But much of his glory that shines in the Creation is hid by a train of second causes, through which few look to the first. His Laws men judg of according to their interests and inclinations, while the holy glorious Majesty that enacted them is out of sight. His work in the world is carried on in a mystery; His interest lives, but is deprest; They who are most devoted to him are supported indeed by his invisible hand, but are, in the mean time, low, for the most part, and afflicted. If you now limit and confine your apprehensions of him to his present appearances, the matter of your delight is real, but much diminish't: But conceive of him (as your Faith can behold him at a distance) in that posture wherein having setled the eternal State of things he will finally shew himself. Conceive him as having now gathered home all that that have been recovered to him out of the ⟨p. 354⟩apostacy, and joined them to those numberless legions of innocent and pure spirits about his throne that never offended:
