6. Permanency, It is an inheritance ⟨p. 132⟩incorruptible*. It runs parallel with eternity: Eternity is a circle, that hath neither beginning nor end; a Sea that hath neither bottom nor b•nks. This is the glory of the celestial Paradise; it abides for ever. The world passeth away*, 1 Joh. 2.17. Every thing is passing: 'Tis good to look upon the world, as the Heathens did upon pleasure; they looked upon the back-parts of pleasure, and saw it going away from them, and leaving a sting. The world is passing away, but Heaven never passeth; therefore surpasseth evil things (as pain and misery) length of time makes them worse, but good things (as joy and pleasure) length of time makes them better. Heavens Eminency is its Permanency. Things are prized and valued by the time we have in them, lands, or houses in fee-simple which are to a man, and his heirs for ever, are esteemed far better then leases which soon expire: ⟨p. 133⟩The Saints do not lease heaven, it is not their Landlords house, but their Fathers house: And this house never falls to decay, it is a mansion-house, John 14.2. There is nothing excellent, (saith one of the Fathers) that is not perpetual;3 The comforts of the world are fluid and uncertain like a fading garland; therefore they are shadowed out by the Tabernacle, which was transient, but Heaven is set out by the Temple, which was fixed and permanent: It was made of strong materials, built with stone, covered with Cedar, over-laid with gold. This is the Heaven of Heaven, We shall be ever with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4. ver. 17. Eternity is the highest link of the Saints happiness; the soul of the believer shall be ever bathing it self in the pure and pleasant fountain of glory. As there is no intermission in the joys of heaven, so no expiration. When once God hath set his Plants in the ⟨p. 134⟩celestial Paradise, he will never pluck them up any more; he will never transplant them: never will Christ lose any member of his body: you may sooner separate light from the Sun, then a glorified Saint from Jesus Christ. O eternity, eternity! what a Spring will that be, that shall have no Autumn? what a day that shall have no Night? Me thinks, I see the morning-Star appear, it is break of day already.
6. Permanency, It is an inheritance ⟨p. 132⟩incorruptible*. It runs parallel with eternity: Eternity is a circle, that hath neither beginning nor end; a Sea that hath neither bottome nor b•nks. This is the glory of the celestial Paradise; it abides for ever. The world passeth away*, 1 Joh. 2.17. Every thing is passing: 'Tis good to look upon the world, as the Heathens did upon pleasure; they looked upon the back-parts of pleasure, and saw it going away from them, and leaving a sting. The world is passing away, but Heaven never passeth; therefore surpasseth evil things (as paine and misery) length of time makes them worse, but good things (as joy and pleasure) length of time makes them better. Heavens Eminency is its Permanency. Things are prized and valued by the time we have in them, lands, or houses in fee-simple which are to a man, and his heirs for ever, are esteemed far better then leases which soon expire: ⟨p. 133⟩The Saints do not lease heaven, it is not their Landlords house, but their Fathers house: And this house never falls to decay, it is a mansion-house, Iohn 14.2. There is nothing excellent, (saith one of the Fathers) that is not perpetual;3 The comforts of the world are fluid and uncertain like a fading garland; therefore they are shadowed out by the Tabernacle, which was transient, but Heaven is set out by the Temple, which was fixed and permanent: It was made of strong materials, built with stone, covered with Cedar, over-laid with gold. This is the Heaven of Heaven, We shall be ever with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4. ver. 17. Eternity is the highest link of the Saints happinesse; the soul of the believer shall be ever bathing it selfe in the pure and pleasant fountaine of glory. As there is no intermission in the joyes of heaven, so no expiration. When once God hath set his Plants in the ⟨p. 134⟩celestial Paradise, he will never pluck them up any more; he will never transplant them: never will Christ lose any member of his body: you may sooner separate light from the Sunne, then a glorified Saint from Jesus Christ. O eternity, eternity! what a Spring will that be, that shall have no Autumne? what a day that shall have no Night? Me thinks, I see the morning-Star appear, it is break of day already.
- *1 Pet. 1.4
- *1 Joh. 2.17.
- 3Greg. Nazian.
