N29704:211
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.
The Believers Hope of Blessedness, is a Well-grounded Hope. They have sufficient Reason for their Hope: 1 Pet. 3.15. Be ready always to give an Answer to every man that asks you, a Reason of the Hope tha• is in you. Pagans thought that Christians were no better than Mad-men, fo• that they willingly Exposed themselves to great Sufferings in this world; only because they hoped for Happiness in another World. But they had good Reason for what they did. They shall not b• ⟨p. 191⟩disappointed of the Blessedness which they Hope for. Therefore tis called a Good Hope, 2 Thes. 2.16. GOD even our Father has given us Everlasting Consolation, and Good Hope through Grace. It is a Good Hope, not only because the Object of it is the greatest Good; but it shall be made Good. Believers shall certainly Enjoy the Good which they have Hoped for. Hence tis said to be an Hope which makes not ashamed, Rom. 5.5. This was David's Consolation: Psal. 119.6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Commandments. Let the faithful Servants of God hope for Happiness in another World as much as they will, they shall not be ashamed on the account of a disappointed Hope. Herein is the difference between the Hope of true Believers and of Other men. Some that have not true Faith, yet hope for Happiness in another World; but tis not Well-grounded: Their Hope is a Vain Presumption, and not the Grace of Hope. An Hypocrite who has only an External Religion, may have a Confident Hope, but tis a False ⟨p. 192⟩Hope. The House of his Hope is built on a False Bottom, which will shake under him, and end in a ruinous Fall. Death will put an End to all his hopes for ever. Job 27.8. What is the hope of the Hypocrite, when God shall take away his Soul▪ But the True Believer has Hope in hi Death,