N01272:119
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the…
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the soul of believers, at the instant of their separation from their bodies. II. On the glory of the bodies of God's children, in the resurrection world, when they shall be as the angels of heaven. III. On the glory of both soul and body in the heaven of heavens, after the day of judgment, to all eternity. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston in N.E. printed: : Sold by Benjamin Eliot, at his shop in King Street., 1711
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
3. The Spirits of Just men when in a state of separation from their Bodies, attain unto a great Perfection in Knowledge. There is a world of Ignorance and Error which the minds of Good men (as well as Others) are subject unto, as long as they are in the Body: but when absent from ⟨p. 77⟩the Body, that Ignorance & Darkness Vanisheth away. They will then see clearly those things, which now they have but a very dark and imperfect Knowledge of: 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now we see through a Glass Darkly, but then Face to Face: now I know in part, but then I shall know, even as also I am known. Sin has miserably Darkened the Eye of the Understanding: In Heaven that Darkness is perfectly removed. Adam before his Fall, had a very quick and clear Understanding: He could see into the Nature of the several Creatures which were brought before him, & at the first fight could give them suitable Names. Whatever Wounds are given to the Understanding by the Fall, are perfectly Cured in Heaven. The Soul is capable of Containing a Vast measure of Knowledge. It is said of Solomon, that GOD gave him Understanding exceeding much, & largeness of Heart, even as the sand that is on the Sea-shore. What an infinite Number of Sands are there on the Sea-shore? So there was an infinite Number of Notions comprehended in Solomons mind. But there ⟨p. 78⟩is not a Soul among the Spirits of Just men made Perfect, which has not a far more enlarged Understanding than ever Solomon had. That Eminent Divine but now mentioned, says, that an Elect Infant dying as soon as it comes into the world, suppose but an hour old, when once it is in Heaven, has a greater measure of knowledge than Solomon had. Doubtless it is so: For Heaven is full of Glorious Light, Col. 1. 12. The Blessed Souls there know more of the Nature and Attributes of GOD, than in this World they could attain unto. Agur says, I neither Learned Wisdom, nor have the Knowledge of the Holy, Prov 30. 4. David speaking of the Attributes of GOD, says, Such Knowledge is too Wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it, Psal. 139. 6. But in Heaven they have blessed Attainments. A great part of the Happiness of the Glorified, is in this Knowledge. It is Life Eternal to know GOD. And they have a far greater and clearer Knowledge of the Works of Creation, and of the Divine Wisdom shining therein, than whilst in this World they could discern.