A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Thus negatively I have showed you what 'tis not, but now positively, tis an earnest well grounded expectation of blessedness to come, it bewrayeth it self, 1. by frequent and ⟨p. 528⟩serious thoughts, thoughts are the spies and messengers of hope, it sendeth them into the promised land to bring the soul tidings from thence; 'tis impossible a man can hope for a thing, but he will be thinking of it, by this means we prae-occupy and forestall the contentment of what we expect, and feast the soul with images and suppositions of what is to come, as if it were already present; if a beggar were adopted into the succession of a Crown, he would please himself in imagining the happiness and honour, and pleasure of the Kingly State, so certainly if we did look upon our selves as Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, and coheirs with Christ, we would think of that happy state more then we do, and by a serious contemplation, our hearts would carry us above the clouds, and set us in the midst of the glory of the world to come, as if we did see Christ upon his Throne, and Paul with his Crown of righteousness upon his head, and all the blessed leaning in Abraham's bosom: a carnal expectation filleth men with carnal, musings and projects, as Luk 12. 18. [Greek or Hebrew], he was dialoguing and discoursing with himself of pulling down Barns, and building greater, of bestowing his fruits and goods, see the like. James 4. 13. 'tis usual with men to forestall the pleasure of their hopes, as young riotous heirs spend upon their estates before they come in hand; now so 'tis also in Heavenly things, men that expect them will be entertaining their spirits with the thoughts of them.

Thus negatively I have shewed you what 'tis not, but now positively, tis an earnest well grounded expectation of blessedness to come, it bewrayeth it self, 1. by frequent and ⟨p. 528⟩serious thoughts, thoughts are the spyes and messengers of hope, it sendeth them into the promised land to bring the soul tydings from thence; 'tis impossible a man can hope for a thing, but he will be thinking of it, by this means we prae-occupy and forestall the contentment of what we expect, and feast the soul with images and suppositions of what is to come, as if it were already present; if a beggar were adopted into the succession of a Crown, he would please himself in imagining the happiness and honour, and pleasure of the Kingly State, so certainly if we did look upon our selves as Hoirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, and coheirs with Christ, we would think of that happy state more then we do, and by a serious contemplation, our hearts would carry us above the clouds, and set us in the midst of the glory of the world to come, as if we did see Christ upon his Throne, and Paul with his Crown of righteousness upon his head, and all the blessed leaning in Abrahams bosome: a carnal expectation filleth men with carnal, musings and projects, as Luk 12. 18. , he was dialoguing and discoursing with himself of pulling down Barns, and building greater, of bestowing his fruits and goods, see the like.