How should Saints on Earth Long to be in Heaven? When Monica (the very Pious Mother of Austin) had heard Ambrose Preaching a Sermon about the Glory of heaven; She said upon it, with a Longing to be gone, What do I here! Why do I stay below still? But especially Aged Saints of God should be very willing to exchange Earth for Heaven: It becomes them to say with good Old Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace, Luk. 2.29. The last Miles are wont to seem the longest to the weary Traveller. As we draw near to heaven, we should think the time long until we come there. This ⟨p. 43⟩weary […] be•ome […] us. We shall never be happy as long as we are our of heaven: But there we shall have happiness enough […] Pleasures for evermore. Although' the happiness of the Believer is not completed afore the Resurrection of the Dead, nevertheless, at the hour of his Death, his Soul goes into ineffable Joy. He is immediately in heaven, as from another Scripture shall be Declared and Evinced. It was well spoken by a Dying Saint, I have but one dark Entry to go through, and I shall be in my Fathers house, Viz. the dark Entry of Death: I must pass through the Valley of the shadow of death, and then •n heaven: In a world in which there is no sin. And who would not be willing to die •o be in such a world? And then and there •he Soul is with Christ. And what can •here be more desirable? A Martyr re•lied to some that Tempted him to save •is Life by a sinful Recantation; saying, Are you not willing to abide with your Wife and Children? Have you no Love •or them? Yes, (said he) I would rather ⟨p. 44⟩choose to Live with them, though in a poor Condition; than to Live without them in the Richest Prosperity: Nevertheless, I must needs say, I had rather be with Christ than with any of them. To be with Christ is Infinitely more desirable than to be in this world. Therefore did the Apostle say, I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
How should Saints on Earth Long to be in Heaven? When Monica (the very Pious Mother of Austin) had heard Ambrose Preaching a Sermon about the Glory of heaven; She said upon it, with a Longing to be gone, What do I here! Why do I stay below still? But especially Aged Saints of God should be very willing to exchange Earth for Heaven: It becomes them to say with good Old Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace, Luk. 2.29. The last Miles are wont to seem the longest to the weary Traveller. As we draw near to heaven, we should think the time long until we come there. This ⟨p. 43⟩weary 〈…〉 be•ome 〈…〉 us. We shall never be happy as long as we are our of heaven: But there we shall have happiness enough 〈…〉 Pleasures for evermore. Altho' the happiness of the Believer is not compleated afore the Resurrection of the Dead, nevertheless, at the hour of his Death, his Soul goes into ineffable Joy. He is immediately in heaven, as from another Scripture shall be Declared and Evinced. It was well spoken by a Dying Saint, I have but one dark Entry to go through, and I shall be in my Fathers house, Viz. the dark Entry of Death: I must pass through the Valley of the shadow of death, and then •n heaven: In a world in which there is no sin. And who would not be willing to dy •o be in such a world? And then and there •he Soul is with Christ. And what can •here be more desirable? A Martyr re•lied to some that Tempted him to save •is Life by a sinful Recantation; saying, Are you not willing to abide with your Wife and Children? Have you no Love •or them? Yes, (said he) I would rather ⟨p. 44⟩chuse to Live with them, though in a poor Condition; than to Live without them in the Richest Prosperity: Neverthess, I must needs say, I had rather be with Christ than with any of them. To be with Christ is Infinitely more desirable than to be in this world. Therefore did the Apostle say, I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
