In Ephes. 1. 13, 14. After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. That little light and knowledge thou hast, is an earnest to thy soul, that thou shalt at last know even as thou art known. 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as I am known. Christians know but little of that they should know, they know but little of that they might know, they know but little of that others know, they know but little of that they desire to know, they know but little of that they shall know, when they shall come to know, even as they are known. And yet these weak and imperfect glimpses that they have of God and Heaven here, are infallible pledges of that perfect knowledge, and full prospect, that they shall have of God and heaven hereafter. So that that little spark of joy thou hast, is an earnest ⟨p. 113⟩of those everlasting joys that shall rest upon thy head, when 1all sorrow and mourning shall fly away, Isa. 35. 10. &c. And those sips of comfort thou hast now, are an earnest of thy swimming in those everlasting pleasures that be at gods right hand, Psal. 16. ult. The least measures of grace, are an earnest of greater measures: God will not loose his earnest, though men often loose theirs. God will not despise the day of small things; he will make those that bring forth but thirty fold, to bring forth sixty fold; and those that bring forth sixty fold, to bring forth a hundred fold, &c. He, his Son, and Spirit, are all eminently and fully engaged to carry on the work of grace in his Children's souls. Therefore do not sit down and say, my light is but dim, and my love but weak, and my joy but a spark, that will quickly go out, &c. But always remember, That those weak measures of grace thou hast, are a sure evidence of greater measures that God will confer upon thee in his own time, and in his own ways, Isa. 64. 4, 5.
In Ephes. 1. 13, 14. After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. That little light and knowledge thou hast, is an earnest to thy soule, that thou shalt at last know even as thou art knowne. 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now wee see through a glasse darkely, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as I am knowne. Christians know but little of that they should know, they know but little of that they might know, they know but little of that others know, they know but little of that they desire to know, they know but little of that they shall know, when they shall come to know, even as they are knowne. And yet these weak and imperfect glimpses that they have of God and Heaven here, are infallible pledges of that perfect knowledge, and full prospect, that they shall have of God and heaven hereafter. So that that little spark of joy thou hast, is an earnest ⟨p. 113⟩of those everlasting joyes that shall rest upon thy head, when 1all sorrow and mourning shall flye away, Isa. 35. 10. &c. And those sips of comfort thou hast now, are an earnest of thy swimming in those everlasting pleasures that be at gods right hand, Psal. 16. ult. The least measures of grace, are an earnest of greater measures: God will not loose his earnest, though men often loose theirs. God will not despise the day of small things; he will make those that bring forth but thirty fold, to bring forth sixty fold; and those that bring forth sixty fold, to bring forth a hundred fold, &c. He, his Son, and Spirit, are all eminently and fully ingaged to carry on the work of grace in his Childrens soules. Therefore doe not sit downe and say, my light is but dim, and my love but weak, and my joy but a spark, that will quickly goe out, &c. But alwayes remember, That those weak measures of grace thou hast, are a sure evidence of greater measures that God will confer upon thee in his owne time, and in his owne wayes, Isa. 64. 4, 5.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] in a Riddle. Aenigma is properly Obscura allegoria, an obscure Allegory, 'tis an Allegory with a mask on; 'tis a cloudy, knotty, intricate speech, sealed and locked up from vulgar apprehensions. That's a Riddle.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in a Riddle. Aenigma is properly Obscura allegoria, an obscure Allegory, 'tis an Allegory with a mask on; 'tis a cloudy, knotty, intricate speech, sealed and lockt up from vulgar apprehensions. That's a Riddle.
