There's a great deal of reason why a believer should be content to wait for Heaven. 1. God is faithful §1who promiseth*: Gods Word is security enough to venture upon, his Bond is as good as ready money: all the world hangs upon the word of his power▪ and cannot our faith hang upon the word of his promise? we have his hand and seal, nay, his Oath. 2. While we §2are waiting, God is tuning and fitting us for glory; Giving thanks to the Father▪ who hath made us meet for ⟨p. 308⟩the inheritance, Col. 1.12. we must be made meet. Perhaps our hearts are not humble enough, not patient enough; our faith is but in its swaddling bands, we should be content to wait a while, till we have gotten such a vigorous faith as will carry us full-sail to Heaven. As there is a fitting of vessels for hell, Rom. 9.22. so there is a ripening and a preparing of the vessels of mercy, ver. 23. A Christian should be willing to wait for glory till he be fit to take his §3degree. 3. While we are waiting, our glory is increasing; while we are laying out for God, he is laying up for us, 2 Tim. 4.8, If we suffer for God, the heavier our Cross, the heavier shall be our Crown. Would a Christian be in the Meridian of glory, would he have his robes shine bright, let him stay here and do service; God will reward us, though not for our works, yet according to our works*: the longer ⟨p. 309⟩We stay for the principal, the greater will the interest be. 4.§4 Wait for these things to come out of ingenuity: The longer a Christian lives, the more glory he may bring to God. Faith is an ingenuous grace, as it hath one eye at the reward, so it hath another eye at duty▪ The time of life is the only time we have to work for God. Heaven is a place of receiving, this of doing. Hence the Apostle being inflamed with divine love, though he could with all his heart be with Christ, yet he was content to live a while longer, that he might build up souls, and make the Crown flourish upon the head of Christ*: 'Tis self-love saith, Who will show us any good? divine love saith, How may I do good? The prodigal son could say, Father, give me my portion; he thought more of his portion, then his duty. ⟨p. 310⟩A gracious spirit is content to stay out of Heaven a while, that he may be a means to bring others thither.
There's a great deale of reason why a beleever should be content to wait for Heaven. 1. God is faithfull §1who promiseth*: Gods Word is security enough to venture upon, his Bond is as good as ready money: all the world hangs upon the word of his power▪ and cannot our faith hang upon the word of his promise? we have his hand and seal, nay, his Oath. 2. While we §2are waiting, God is tuning and fitting us for glory; Giving thanks to the Father▪ who hath made us meet for ⟨p. 308⟩the inheritance, Col. 1.12. we must be made meet. Perhaps our hearts are not humble enough, not patient enough; our faith is but in its swadling bands, we should be content to wait a while, till we have gotten such a vigorous faith as will carry us full-sail to Heaven. As there is a fitting of vessels for hell, Rom. 9.22. so there is a ripening and a preparing of the vessels of mercy, ver. 23. A Christian should be willing to wait for glory till he be fit to take his §3degree. 3. While we are waiting, our glory is encreasing; while wee are laying out for God, he is laying up for us, 2 Tim. 4.8, If we suffer for God, the heavier our Crosse, the heavier shall bee our Crown. Would a Christian be in the Meridian of glory, would he have his robes shine bright, let him stay here and do service; God will reward us, though not for our works, yet according to our works*: the longer ⟨p. 309⟩We stay for the principall, the greater will the interest be. 4.§4 Wait for these things to come out of ingenuity: The longer a Christian lives, the more glory he may bring to God. Faith is an ingenuous grace, as it hath one eye at the reward, so it hath another eye at duty▪ The time of life is the only time we have to work for God. Heaven is a place of receiving, this of doing. Hence the Apostle being enflamed with divine love, though he could with all his heart bee with Christ, yet hee was content to live a while longer, that he might build up souls, and make the Crown flourish upon the head of Christ
- *Heb. 10.23.
- *Mar. 16.27.
- *Phil. 1.24.
