N29704:104
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 Timothy Green in Middle 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.) Just men while their Spirits abide in Flesh, meet with many Afflictions from the holy Providence of God. In Love & Faithfulness He Orders Afflictions for them: Prov. 3.12. For whom the Lord Loveth, he Correcteth, ev•• as a Father the Son, in whom he Delighteth. They many times meet with sad Disappointments, which prove a sore Affliction to them. But when once their souls are in Heaven, they will meet with no Disappointments there; unless it be, that they will find Heaven to be a far happier place than Ever they could imagine. Here they meet with Losses which afflicts them: It may be with Losses in their Estates; as Job a just man, lost all: A Vastly Rich man, and suddenly as Poor as Job. But when once they are in Heaven, they shall have a better and greater Estate, than ever any man in this world had; and never loose any part of it: Heb▪ ⟨p. 70⟩10.34 You took joyfully the spoiling of your Goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in Heaven a better & an enduring Substance. In this world, they are Afflicted with the Loss of Friends, of near and dear Relations; it may be of Children, which sometimes proves a very bitter heart-piercing Affliction. In Rama was there a Voice heard, Lamentation, and Weeping, & great Mourning; Rachel Weeping for her Children, and would not be Comforted, because they are not, Mat. 2.18. In Heaven there are none of these Losses. There Friends never part. In this world, they are sometimes Afflicted with Bodily Infirmities and Pains: But in the Heavenly World there shall be no more Death, nor Crying, neither shall there be any more Pain, Rev. 21.4. In this world the Lord's Servants may be subject unto Divine Desertions: GOD hides his Face from them, and that proves a Soul-wounding Affliction. Heman complains, that his soul was full of trouble; that the Lord had cast off his soul, and hid his Face from him; and that he suffered the Terrors of God almost to Distraction. The Church ⟨p. 71⟩complains, that the Comforter which should relieve her Soul, was far from her. There are none of these Complaints in Heaven. The blessed Souls there, have the Face of GOD always shining upon them. Then and there the truth of that Scripture will be seen;