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

1. Consider the Glory of the Place: The Jews did and do Dream still of earthly Kingdom, at the Coming of their Messiah; the Lord dasheth those Dreams, and tells them his Kingdom is not of this World, and that he went away to prepare a Place for them, that where he is, they might be, John 14.2, 3, and be with him to see his Glory, John 17.23, 24. The Place shall be the third Heaven, called our Father's House; built by his own Hand with most exquisite Wisdom, fit for so great a God to appear in his Glory (John 14.2, 3.) to all his dear Children; called also a Kingdom, Mat. 25.31. Come, ye Blessed, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, which is the Top of all the worldly Excellency, ⟨p. 236⟩called also an Inheritance, 1 Pet. 1.3. which the holy Apostle infinitely blesseth God for, as being our own and freely given to us, being our Father's Inheritance divided among his Sons, which is a greater Privilege than to be born an Heir to all the richest Inheritances on this Earth, or be Lord of all this visible World: For this Inheritance he tells us, is, 1. Incorruptible, whereas all this World waxeth old as a Garment. 2. 'Tis undefiled, never yet polluted with any Sin, no not by the Angels that fell, for they fell in Paradise, when Guardians to Man, whereas this whole Creation groaneth under the Burden and Bondage of Corruption, Rom. 8.3. This never fadeth away; 'tis not like Flowers, whose Glory and Beauty soon withers, but this shall be most pleasant, sweet, and ever delightsome; after we have been ten thousand Years in it, as it was the first Day we entered into it, (for this is the meaning of the Word, and so it differs from incorruptible) whereas in this World (suppose a Man should ever enjoy it, yet) there grows a secret Satiety and Fullness upon our Hearts, as it grows common, and Blessings of greatest Price are not so sweet, as the first Time we enjoy them; they clog the Stomach, and glut the Soul; but here our Eyes, Ears, Minds, Hearts, shall be ever ravished with that admirable Glory which shines brighter than ten thousand Suns, the very Fabric of it being God's Needle-work, (if I may so say) quilted with Variety of all Flowers in divers Colours, by the exactest Art of God himself, as the Apostle intimates,