Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

And as I began with sowing in tears, so I would end with reaping in joy; that is the next thing in the Text, for which I pass over the other part of it; I begin with humiliation, but end with joy; and not only that joy which we shall have in the Kingdom of heaven, but on earth while we have these things but in hope and expectation. A man that would reckon up his estate, doth not only value what he hath for the present, but he reckons his reversions also; what he shall have after such a time, what will come to him or his heirs: Gods children, they have a brave reversion, glory and honour, and a Kingdom: It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom; we are all the children of God, but it doth not appear what we shall be: when he appears, we shall be like him, and appear as he is. He shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body; we are here sons, but yet, but in a strange Country, no body knoweth what he is, and therefore he ⟨p. 459⟩meets with many affronts. The King when he was in France, went for an attendant on the Duke, and is he troubled at it? No, he knew that the world knew it not; they knew not what he was, and therefore he is not troubled at it. So is it with the children of God, but when they shall appear, they shall be advanced, and their enemies ashamed. By the way, let not the people of God be discouraged, by the taunts, jeers and reproaches of wicked men; they know not what you are, and therefore make light of you, as they did of Christ himself. Well, besides what we have in reversion, the very hope we have of it works wonderful joy in the heart of a Christian: David did not live to see the glory of Solomons Temple, but he made provision for it, and cast the model of it, and he took much delight in the contemplation of what it would be. The consideration of these hopes makes my flesh rest in hope, and my heart rejoice, Psal. 16. The consideration of the resurrection made Davids heart rejoice: The consideration of that which is to come, should bring abundance of joy unto a Christian, these are strange things, not like the joy of a natural man; for his heart is sad in the midst of laughter; but these rejoice with a joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Here are some sparks, some beginnings of the glory of heaven, and of that great joy which we shall have hereafter; but I cannot speak of these things in an hour.

And as I began with sowing in tears, so I would end with reaping in joy; that is the next thing in the Text, for which I passe over the other part of it; I begin with humiliation, but end with joy; and not onely that joy which we shall have in the Kingdome of heaven, but on earth while we have these things but in hope and expectation. A man that would reckon up his estate, doth not only value what he hath for the present, but he reckons his reversions also; what he shall have after such a time, what will come to him or his heirs: Gods children, they have a brave reversion, glory and honour, and a Kingdome: It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdome; we are all the children of God, but it doth not appear what we shall be: when he appears, we shall be like him, and appear as he is. He shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body; we are here sonnes, but yet, but in a strange Country, no body knoweth what he is, and therefore he