There is nothing to discompose those blessed spirits; the company of wicked men is a burden▪ Lots righteous soul was vexed with it, 2 Pet. 2.7. but there they are bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness; as when men will not be ruled, they are sent to prison: here the children of God are subject to a number of infirmities hunger, thirst, nakedness, cold, want ▪ but there we have a rich inheritance as well as a glorious, Eph. 18. the distinctions of poor and rich, as understood in the world, do not outlive time, we have enough of true riches, which is eternal glory, and the full fruition of God: Labour ceaseth, though there be a continual exercise of grace; all things rest when they come to their proper place; so do those which dye in the Lord; we still serve God, but without weariness: yea, we are freed from the necessities of nature, eating, drinking, and sleeping, to which the greatest Potentates are subject; though they are exempted from hard bodily labour, they are not exempted from the necessities of nature; ⟨p. 15⟩meat is for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them, 1 Cor. 6.12. The use of meats▪ and of the stomach, and of the belly is abolished; it is a piece of our misery, that our life is patched up of so many creatures, as a torn Garment is pieced and patched up with supplies from abroad; here the sheep or the silk-worm afford us clothing; the beasts of the earth and fish of the Sea serve for food, and all to support a ruinous fabric, ever ready to drop about our ears; but then we are above meat and drink and apparel; nakedness will be no shame, for glory will serve instead of a robe; and it will be meat and drink enough to do our fathers will; the body will not be a clog to the soul, but a help; that mass of flesh we carry about us is but the prison of the soul, where it looks out by the windows of the senses; but then it is no longer the prison of the soul, but the Temple. In short, all that I have said upon this branch is comprised in Rev. 21.4. and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there is no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for former things are passed away, there is quite another change, new dispensations; no distraction of business; our whole employment will be to think of God, and study God, but without weariness, satiety or distraction.
There is nothing to discompose those blessed spirits; the company of wicked men is a burthen▪ Lots righteous soul was vexed with it, 2 Pet. 2.7. but there they are bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness; as when men will not be ruled, they are sent to prison: here the children of God are subject to a number of infirmities hunger, thirst, nakedness, cold, want ▪ but there we have a rich inheritance as well as a glorious, Eph. 18. the distinctions of poor and rich, as understood in the world, do not outlive time, we have enough of true riches, which is eternal glory, and the full fruition of God: Labour ceaseth, though there be a continual exercise of grace; all things rest when they come to their proper place; so do those which dye in the Lord; we still serve God, but without weariness: yea, we are freed from the necessities of nature, eating, drinking, and sleeping, to which the greatest Potentates are subject; though they are exempted from hard bodily labour, they are not exempted from the necessities of nature; ⟨p. 15⟩meat is for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them, 1 Cor. 6.12. The use of meats▪ and of the stomach, and of the belly is abolished; it is a piece of our misery, that our life is patcht up of so many creatures, as a torn Garment is pieced and patcht up with supplies from abroad; here the sheep or the silk-worm afford us cloathing; the beasts of the earth and fish of the Sea serve for food, and all to support a ruinous fabrick, ever ready to drop about our eares; but then we are above meat and drink and apparel; nakedness will be no shame, for glory will serve instead of a robe; and it will be meat and drink enough to do our fathers will; the body will not be a clog to the soul, but a help; that mass of flesh we carry about us is but the prison of the soul, where it looks out by the windows of the senses; but then it is no longer the prison of the soul, but the Temple. In short, all that I have said upon this branch is comprised in Rev. 21.4. and God will wipe away all tears from their eys; and there is no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for former things are passed away, there is quite another change, new dispensations; no distraction of business; our whole imployment will be to think of God, and study God, but without weariness, satietie or distraction.
