The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

SECT. VI. Sixthly, Glorification.

THIS is the sixth and last Privilege and Benefit, and you all know is the last Thing in the Execution of God's eternal Purpose toward all his beloved and chosen Ones; whom he hath predestinated, called, justified, them he hath also glorified, Rom. 8.30. hereby we are made perfect in Holiness, no more Sin shall stir in us; perfect also in Happiness; no more Tears, nor Sorrows, nor Temptations, nor Fears shall ever molest us, Heb. 12.23. Rev. 14.13. And all this shall be in our immediate Communion with God in Christ, Col. 1.28. John 17.23, 24. we shall be then, saith Paul, forever with the Lord: If the Lord would but open our Eyes, ⟨p. 235⟩and give us one Glimpse of this, what Manner of Persons should we be? How should we then live? How willingly then should we embrace Faggots & Flames, Prisons and Penury? The light Afflictions here, would not they work for us Glory? Nay, the Apostle useth such a Phrase which I believe may pose the most curious Orator in the World to express to the Life of it, an exceeding Weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. What is our Life now but a continual dying, carrying daily about us that which is more bitter than a thousand Deaths; what saith the Apostle to us, Col. 3.3. You are d••d, yet when Christ shall appear, you shall appear with him also in Glory: The general Security of these Times foretold by Christ (especially when Churches become Virgins, and People are seeking after Purity of Ordinances) it shall not be in a Want of Watchfulness against the present Corruptions of the Times, so much as in a careless Want of Expectation of the Coming of Christ in Glory, not having our Loins girt, and Lamps burning, nor Readiness to meet the Lord in Glory,