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The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer
The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believer by Thomas Watson.The Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer by Thomas Watson.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1654
THE CHRISTIANS Charter. › Chapter 9: The fourth Prerogative Royal.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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