A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

2dly. For the Blessedness of the Soul, which is the Heaven of Heaven. Our Happiness is called the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: Col. 1.12. Giving Thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. It is not for a Man, that knows no other Heaven, but to eat, drink, sleep and wallow in filthy and gross Pleasures; it is an Inheritance in Light, and for Saints that know how to value Intellectual and Spiritual Delights. But wherein doth the Happiness of the Soul consist, in Knowledge, or in Love? Divines are divided, but certainly it is in both; our Happiness consists in the Love and Knowledge of God, from whence resulteth Union with God, and Fruition of God. But now which is to be preferred, to know God, or to love God? that is a Question. In one place it is said, John 17.3. This is Life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent: so that it seemeth to be the Heaven of Heaven, to have the Understanding satisfied with the Knowledge of God. And Psal. 17.15. As for me, I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness. That is our Happiness, we go to Heaven to know more of God, and the Acts of the Understanding are most noble. On the other side, 1 John 4.16. God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. It is not Sight merely that makes us happy, the Embrace of the Soul is by Love, the Possession of the Soul is by Acts of Love. One saith, tho not modestly enough, Libentius sine aspectu te diligerem, quam te videndo non amarem Stella de amore Dei; I had rather not see thee than not love thee. Here in the World the Hatred of God is worse than the Ignorance of him, and therefore it should seem Love should have the Preeminence. But we need not make a Fraction between these Graces; by knowing, we come to love; and by loving, we come to know God: as Light is, so is Love, and so is Enjoyment. Here we love little, because we know little, John 4.10. If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked, and he would have given thee living Water. And the more we love, the more we know, this is a Fire that casts Light. But to speak more distinctly.