The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applied: or, A discourse concerning the general…The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applyed: or, A discourse concerning the general…

Consider •. That a gracious soul may have much spiritual delight and comfort in diving into these mysterious truths. John had experience of this, Rev. 10.10. when I ate the book, it was in my mouth sweet as honey. It is true, that when the book was in his belly, it was bitter, the meaning of which may be, that bitter afflictions should befall the Church during the reign of Antichrist, and in respect of those calamitous events, the book is said to be bitter in his belly. But in his mouth it was sweet as honey, to signify to us that the understanding of prophesies is a most sweet and comfortable thing. And thus also the Prophet Jeremiah, Chap. 31.26. upon this I awaked, and beheld, and my sleep was sweet unto me, h. e. he had newly had a Vision concerning the salvation of all the Tribes of Israel, and upon this, his sleep was sweet unto him. As sleep is a marvellous comfortable and ^(h)refreshing thing unto a man that is weary, so was the contemplation of Israels salvation a marvellous refreshing to the blessed soul of the holy Prophet. The truth is, that whilst a man is dwelling upon these meditations, he is as it were in heaven upon earth, he hath fellowship with the Angels in heaven; ⟨p. 154⟩whence the Angel said unto John, I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the Prophets. When men of God in former times have had their minds taken up with divine Visions, Angels of God have been with them; […] so it is with the servants of God at this day, though the Ministry of the holy Angels be more secret, spiritual and invisible, than sometimes formerly. When the servants of the Lord are reading, or writing, or meditating, or praying concerning these Mysteries to the great God of Heaven and Earth, the blessed Angels are standing by them all the time; and no doubt but that the seven spirits which stand before the Throne of God, are instruments of much grace and peace towards his servants, especially when they are engaged in such a work as this is: But there is that which is better than fellowship with Angels, even communion with the blessed holy God is to be enjoyed in these Meditations. Yea, much of God is to be seen and felt in these studies. It is said that the Lord hath made darkness pavilions round about him,