N29704:283
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.
Believers HAVE A Well-grounded HOPE, OF Perfect Blessedness in Heaven. › ANSWER.
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.
1. Grow in Grace. The Wheat must be •ipe before it is gathered into the barn. So must Believers afore they are gathered •nto the heavenly barn. Now growth in Grace ripens for Heaven. If we see […] man grow in weanedness from the World, and in heavenly dispositions, we •ay Conclude, that he will not be •ong out of Heaven: He is Ripening apace for a better World, and there •hall he be quickly. God has appointed what measure of Grace his Servants •hall attain unto. They cant get to Heaven until they have attained unto the full measure allotted for them, and then they shall soon be there. Christians should not be like Stakes in an hedge which grow not▪ but rather like Lilies in ⟨p. 270⟩a field which grow until they dye. We should therefore be diligent in improving Means of Grace in order unto growth▪ The Word of God is appointed as the Instrument, not only to begin a work of Grace but to increase it. 1 Pet. 2.2. Desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. And the Lord does often proportion measures of Grace, according to Mens diligence in attending to his Word. Tis said, Take heed how you hear; for to him that has, shall be given. Luk. 8.18. They that have the Grace to make a due improvement of their hearing the Word, shall have more Grace given to them. The Lords Supper is instituted, not to begin but to strengthen the work of Grace where it is begun. And when Believers draw nigh unto God in that holy Ordinance, with due Preparation for it, they will surely grow in Grace thereby. For in that Ordinance in a special manner, they Behold as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory, i. e. from one degree of Grace unto another, 2 Cor. 3.18. So ⟨p. 271⟩