A85953:525
Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of…
Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of Christ. And, 3 The Excellency of mans immortal soul. By Jeremiah Burroughs, late preacher of the gospel at Stepney, and Giles-Cripple-gate, London. Published by William Greenhill. William Bridge. Philip Nigh. John Yates. Matthew Mead. William Adderly.Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of Christ. And, 3 The Excellency of mans immortal soul. By Jeremiah Burroughs, late preacher of the gospel at Stepney, and Giles-Cripple-gate, London. Published by William Greenhill. William Bridge. Philip Nye. John Yates. Matthew Mead. William Adderly.
London: printed for Nath. Brook, 1660
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Treatise 3 › Sermon 3: The Third SERMON ON The Excellency of the Soul.
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.
And further, Fruition hath this in it, it hath a reflect act; A man, though he hath a great deal of riches given him, yet if he doth not know this, or if so be that he doth know it, and yet have not the comfort of it, he doth not enjoy it; such a man, though he be born to a great deal, yet if he have not the reflect act to know that he hath it, he doth not enjoy it: So we enjoy but little of God now, because God, though he be the portion of a gracious heart, yet the heart doth not know this fully: But knowledge, when it shall be perfect, then the soul shall perfectly know what good there is in God, and how far my soul may and is happy in the enjoyment of this God; I shall know how to make use of God to the full, and shall have continually the comfort of all that good there is in God.
And further, Fruition hath this in it, it hath a reflect act; A man, though hee hath a great deal of riches given him, yet if hee doth not know this, or if so bee that hee doth know it, and yet have not the comfort of it, hee doth not enjoy it; such a man, though hee bee born to a great deal, yet if hee have not the reflect act to know that hee hath it, hee doth not enjoy it: So wee enjoy but little of God now, because God, though hee bee the portion of a gracious heart, yet the heart doth not know this fully: But knowledge, when it shall bee perfect, then the soul shall perfectly know what good there is in God, and how far my soul may and is happy in the enjoyment of this God; I shall know how to make use of God to the full, and shall have continually the comfort of all that good there is in God.
And yet further, the presence and communion with Jesus Christ that the soul shall have, besides that of God the Father, it shall be with him, where he is: It is a blessed thing here to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes, but to be always with him, to have always fruition of him, and to have communion likewise with all the Saints and Angels, and all the blessed spirits, that is a blessed thing indeed. I remember I have read of Cato, when he was about to dye, Oh blessed day, saith he, for now I shall go to the souls of wise men, and Philosophers; and so upon that ground he did account the day of his death a blessed day, because he should go to have communion with the souls of Philosophers and wise men: But how blessed is it then for our souls to have communion eternally with Angels and blessed spirits? You are come to an innumerable company of Angels,