A guide to goe to God: or, An explanation of the perfect patterne of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friers London
Gouge, William, 1578-1653.

§. 66. Of the matter of Patience which the inhabi∣tants of heauen haue.

Q. HOw can there be a sufficient patterne where there is no triall of Patience, as in heauen there is none? For the Angels and Saints in heauen are not subiect to any crosses that should trie their patience.

A. This patterne is especially for actiue obedience.

2. Those heauenly Spirits do many things which they would not but for the will of God. When it is the will of God, the An∣gels do willingly descend from heauen to earth,* sometimes to bring glad tidings to the Church,* and sometimes to execute vengeance on sinners. Yea the soules of the Saints which haue bene taken out of their bodies & carried into Abrahams bosome, that place of ioy and blisse, haue bene contented at the will of God to leaue their glorie,m and to returne againe into their bodies, euen asnChrist came downe from heauen, not to do his owne will, but the will of him that sent him: and as his souleo after it had bene in Paradisep returned into his body in earth. Now heauen, Para∣dise, and Abrahams bosome is a place of such glorie, and so conspicuously doth the brightnesse of Gods glorie there shine forth, as the coelestiall spirits would neuer be willing to depart out of it, but to do the will of their Lord.

3. There is a compassion in them for the afflictions of the Church in earth. For the Saints in earth and in heauen are fel∣low members of one and the same bodie: in which respect there cannot but be some sympathie and fellow-feeling of their fel∣low-members afflictions: euen asq there is in the head of that bodie Iesus Christ. The maine reason why ther soules of the Martyrs, departed, desire vengeance on the enemies of the Church, is for those Saints sake who were liuing, and so sub∣iect to their tyrannie and crueltie. It is said that there is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God,*ouer one sinner that repenteth.Page  76〈1 page duplicate〉Page  77〈1 page duplicate〉Page  78〈1 page duplicate〉Page  79〈1 page duplicate〉Page  80 Why not then compassion also ouer the Church that is af∣flicted?

4. The Saints in heauen through patience inherit the promises.* (For through many afflictions men enter into the kingdome of God) and therein we are exhorted to be followers of them.*

5. With patience they expect the resurrection of their bo∣dies, and perfect consummation of that glorie which is ordai∣ned for the whole bodie of Christ, and all the members thereof. When it was tould the soules of the forenamed Martyrs de∣ceased, that they should rest vntill their brethren should be fulfilled, they were silent, and patient: they replied not againe.

Thus then wee see that in heauen there is a patterne of patience.*