First, to praise God for his abundant mercy, [ 89] who through the fall of the Iewes, hath brought salvation unto us Gentiles: that together with them, we might partake of the roote, and fatnesse of their Olive tree.
Whether is it more to the praise of Gods mercy and bountifulnesse, that the godly shall come againe from the heavens to abide so long on the earth; or to abide in that glory of heaven for ever and ever? certain∣ly the gift of the greater and uninterrupted glory deserveth the greater praise: and while they were on earth, they professed themselves to be strangers from home, and pilgrimes on their journey towards their home, Heb. 11.13. and shall they come as pilgrimes againe?
Doubtlesse God is not to be taught by us, [what reward is most to the praise of his mercy and bountifulnesse towards the godly.] But we are to account that reward most to the praise of his bounti∣fulnesse and mercy towards them, which we find in his word to be appointed unto them. And we doe conceive, that the glory of the Saints after their reunion to their bodies, will be greater (because more perfect) though they live on earth: then the glo∣ry of their soules is now without the fellowship of their glorifi∣ed bodies. And we know not what should interrupt their glory on earth, when as Christ himselfe, (on whom the Angels shall visibly attend,) shall be on earth with them: and God himselfe also may here manifest his glory unto them, in what measure hee pleaseth. And though Abraham and some other of the Patriarches, (to whom God had promised the possession of the Land of Canaan,) did in their corruptible estate here live as strangers and pilgrimes in that land; yet they shall not after their resurrection possesse it as strangers and pilgrimes, but as