N29704:39
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 Happiness of Saints in the Heavenly World, will be wonderfully Great.
For,
1. The Holy Scriptures do abundantly declare it to be so: 2 Cor. 4.17. A far more Exceeding Glory. There is a difficulty in translating the Apostle's words, so as to give them a due Emphasis: One translates them, Mire supra modum, A Glory which is wonderfully above measure. Another renders them, Excellently Excelling Glory: Kath, hyperbolen eis hyperbolen. An Hyperbolical Glory, & more than so. No Hyperbole of Expression can be beyond what this Glory really is. Add one Hyperbole to another, and all will come short of what the Happiness really is. It was Luther's saying, that Christ & Heaven admit of no Hyperbole. We can not over speak in setting forth the Excellency of Christ, or the Glory of Heaven: It is Ineffable. When the Apostle was Miraculously caught up to Paradise, he saw a Glory that is Unutterable. ⟨p. 14⟩The happiness of Saints in heaven is beyond all Conception; therefore beyond all Expression. Eye has not seen, nor Ear heard; neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that Love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. The Eye can see glorious things: Men may hear of more glorious things than they can see: The heart may think of more than the ear can hear. But the Happiness of Heaven is beyond all Imagination. David when inspired by the Spirit of God, could not but admire this happiness: Psal. 31.19 O! How great is thy Goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that Fear thee? O how great! Tis wonderfully great. There is a mighty Treasure of Goodness, & so of Glory Laid up for them. And where is it Laid up? It is in Heaven. Saints themselves will wonder and be amazed at their own happiness in the Future state; especially at the glory and happiness which after the Resurrection they shall be the Subjects of, (as hereafter w shall show:) Notwithstanding their Soul had been in heaven for some time, & ther