II.

Of which we shall be the more con∣fident, if we adde now the other Witness of the SPIRIT to him, which was in raising him from the dead, and giving him Glory at God's right hand. This was a greater Wonder then all that preceded; sufficient to satisfie those who still remai∣ned doubtfull. For

And if this man was raised from the dead, (nay more then that, ascended into heaven,) as abundance of credible witnesses testi∣fie; what doubt is there left, that by him God will give us a blessed Resurrec∣tion unto immortall Life, if we be obedi∣ent to him? They that saw the one (viz. his Resurrection and Ascension) could not but stedfastly believe the other: and have told us that he was raised and glo∣rified on purpose that our faith and hope might be in God. 1 Pet. 1.21. This was the great design and end of first opening his grave, and then opening the heavens to him; that our confidence in God might revive again, and we might hope by his favour to have the honour of be∣ing Page  409made the sons of God, by being the children of the Resurrection.

That our Blessed Saviour was really dead, as the History testifies, his greatest Enemies always confessed, and still ac∣knowledge. He hung a long time upon the Cross; there he bled; and at last his side was wounded with a spear in the vi∣tall parts. All the spectatours were satis∣fied that he had given up the ghost: and the Souldiers, when they came to break his legs, as the manner was, found the work already so effectually done, that there was no need of it. He was wrapt in Cerecloaths, laid in a grave, and given up by all his Friends for a lost man. But that after all this he was as really alive a∣gain as he had been before, is testified by divers sufficient Witnesses; and among the rest by one of his principall Enemies, who was throughly convinced of it. The Apostles saw him very often; they spake with him; they felt and handled him; one of them put his finger into the very print of the nails, and thrust his hand into his wounded side. They eat and drank with him; they received Commissions from him: and after he had shewn him∣self alive to them by many infallible Page  410proofs, being seen of them forty days, he ascended up to heaven in their sight; and from thence, according to his pro∣mise, they received the Holy Ghost; i. e. in his Name did all sorts of Miracles, raising even dead men to life again. And after all he appeared from heaven to St. Paul, (a man that set himself vehemently against him, and breathed nothing but threatnings and slaughters against his Disciples,) whom he turned quite to be on his side; perswading him so fully that he was indeed risen from the dead, that he became, as you have heard, a most zealous preacher of it with the continuall hazzard of his life. This is a more cre∣dible History then any other: (as it were easie to shew, if it were my present business:) and we may better doubt of all Records, then of those wherein the memory of these things is preserved. They were holy, devout and self-denying per∣sons, who report these things upon their own knowledge. And they are reported not by one or two, but by many of them; who met with nothing in the world to tempt them to tell a lie, but with a great many things to deterr them from publi∣shing so odious a Truth. And therefore if we will not doubt of every thing we Page  411do not see, we cannot refuse to believe that Jesus did indeed rise again after he was dead and buried, and ascended into heaven. Which being supposed, (for I shall say no more of it here,) there is no man can have the face to deny the Resur∣rection of the body, and Life everlasting, which Christ our Lord hath promised us. There can be no truer reasoning then that of St. Paul, 1 Thess. iv. 14. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

I. For thus much is evident at first sight, and is included in the thing it self, that this work of the SPIRIT proves a possibility of the Resurrection of the dead, and shews that we mortal creatures, who live on the earth, may live in the heavens. So the same Apostle argues else∣where against those who denied this Truth. 1 Cor. xv. 12. If Christ be preached (upon such credible testimonies as he mentions in the foregoing verses) that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? It is the grossest absurdity, that is, to say there can be no such thing as the resto∣ring of a dead body to life; when it is Page  412so evidently verified in Christ's resurrecti∣on. Which shews it is so far from being impossible or incredible, that it is a thing which hath been done already; as is ve∣ry well attested by Witnesses that cannot with any equity be rejected. And by the same reason he proves we ought not to despair of seeing our bodies made glo∣rious and incorruptible. For if He be not in his grave, (as none could shew him there after the third day,) but is made glorious; why may not we partake of the same favour, by that power which raised Christ from the dead, and set him at God's right hand? There is no reason to doubt of it; but the greatest reason to hope and be confident, that He who raised up the Lord Jesus (as St. Paul speaks in the next Epistle, 2 Cor. iv. 14.) will raise up us also by Jesus, and set us in his presence in the heavens.

II. For by his Resurrection the SPI∣RIT proved the truth of all that the o∣ther Witnesses, the Water, the Bloud, and his Miraculous Works too, testified. Par∣ticularly it demonstrated the truth of his Doctrine, by which, as you have seen, life and immortality was brought to light. If this had not been true, that we shall Page  413live for ever by him, Jesus would have perished, and never have come to life again, to deceive the World the second time. But seeing God did not leave his Soul in hell, nor suffer his Holy (i. e. his anointed) one to see corruption; it is an uncontroulable argument that those who believe on him shall not perish neither, but be made alive as he is. Because He that said he would rise again the third day, said likewise with the same assu∣rance, that at the last day he will raise up us also, and bestow upon us everla∣sting Life. When God (who alone could doe it) verified the one, and according to his word raised up Jesus the third day; He bid us be assured of the other, that this Jesus hath Life in himself, and will by his power raise up us, according to his promise, unto a never-dying life.

This is the Character He had given of himself, I am the Resurrection and the Life; that is, the Authour, the Cause of both: He that believeth on me shall have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day; nothing of him shall perish, neither his Soul nor his body; for even they that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall rise again to lise. This Page  414he often preached, and proved many ways: but after all he sealed it with his bloud, and bad them expect a little, and they should see it sealed by his resurrecti∣on from the dead. Which insuing at the time appointed, was a perfect demon∣stration that he said true, when he affir∣med that He is the Resurrection and the Life; by whom we shall receive this in∣estimable benefit of rising again after death, to live for ever with him. Of this as well as the former Consideration I may possibly say so much elsewhere, that I shall spare any farther pains about them now.

III. Let us rather remember how se∣verall persons rose from the dead at that very time when he left his grave: (xxvii. Matt. 52, 53.) which were notable in∣stances of his power to give life; and put us in hope that we shall all rise again as they did. There is no cause but his Re∣surrection to be assigned of this Miracle, which fell out the same time that he was missing in his grave; as the opening of their tombs, at that very moment when he died. Never was any such thing heard of before or since; and therefore it was intended to demonstrate the mighty pow∣er Page  415of his Resurrection: when many bodies of Saints which slept arose, and came out of their graves, and went into Jerusalem, and appeared unto many. Whose testimony none have had the confidence to con∣tradict by endeavouring to disprove it; but the Jews rather by some concessi∣ons of theirs confirm us in the belief of it. For it is a common opinion now among their Doctours, that the Kingdom of the Messiah shall begin with the Re∣surrection of the dead. Bury me, said R. Jeremiah, with shoes on my feet, and my staff in my hand, and lay me on one side; that when Christ comes, I may be ready. But of this conceit we can find no foot∣steps in the Old Scriptures; which makes it probable that they have borrowed this, as they have done many other things, from the Holy Gospell, in which it is recorded, that he began his entrance upon his King∣dome with the Resurrection of some pi∣ous persons, as an earnest of the resto∣ring all the rest to Eternall Life. And thus it is likely they have learnt to dis∣course of the bodies of the just after they are raised; concerning which some of them speak so sublimely, above the dull and gross conceptions of the rest of their Nation, that one can scarce look upon Page  416it otherwise then as Christian language. When the Soul is in the state of glory, * (saith the Book Zohar,) it sustains it self with the light above, wherewith it is also cloathed: and when it shall return to the body, it shall come with the same light, and with the body shall shine as with the bright∣ness of heaven. More there is in other Authours to the same purpose, which say, God can give us bodies strong and vigo∣rous like the Angels; and that the bodies of the just after the resurrection shall be subtil like the globe of the Moon, * and so give no impediment to the Soul, in its enjoyment of the Splendour of the Di∣vine Majesty.

But supposing this to be their own lan∣guage, without any tincture they had re∣ceived from the Christian Doctrine, it will be still more remarkable, that our Lord Jesus (according to their expecta∣tions from the Messiah) should begin to raise the dead, when he went to take pos∣session of his throne. A plain sign that he is the Resurrection and the Life; from whom we may confidently look for bodies, not onely bright as the Moon, but that shall shine, according to his faith∣full promise, like the Sun, in the Kingdom Page  417of the Father. Concerning which things if the Apostles had written false, and there had not been many able to bear re∣cord of the rising of these holy persons, and coming into Jerusalem, as well as of the rising of Lazarus; there would have been pens enough in those days imployed to confute them, and proclaim the forge∣ry. And these Jews would have been as carefull preservers of such confutations, as of any their most beloved Traditi∣ons; which can never doe them so much service, as those volumes would have done.

VI. Nor is there the least shadow of reason to question the Testimony of those who saw him ascend into heaven, and, as a token of his being inthroned there, received from him, ten days after, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Which complea∣ted the demonstration of his power and purpose to give Eternall Life to all his followers. For,

1. His very Ascension into heaven (as it breeds in us a belief of a glorious state in the other World, so it) evidently shews that it is possible such as we may be translated thither: And though our Page  418Bodies now be but lumps of living clay, yet they may one day be snatched, as he was, from this dull globe, to shine among the Stars. And the Angels also appearing both at his resurrection and ascension, and waiting upon him unto heaven, shew that its gates are no longer barred against us, but set open again to give us a free admission into it. For they who were set to watch the way to Paradise, and guard it so that none should enter, vo∣luntarily lent their assistence to trans∣port Him thither, after they had brought the joyfull news of his being risen from the dead.

2. But this is the least comfort we re∣ceive from thence; for his glorification at God's right hand, when he came thither, advances our hope to a greater height; and shews that it is not onely possible, but certain, we shall be taken up above to be with him. His Kingdom, it is ap∣parent now, (by his sending the Holy Ghost,) is supereminent over all; and nothing can be out of the reach of his power. For it is a power over all Crea∣tures in heaven and earth and under the earth, who doe obeisance to him, and cannot resist him. ii. Phil. 10. 1 Pet. iii. Page  419ult. And a power to doe all things: for God hath put all things under his feet. 1 Cor. xv. 27. A power of conferring all digni∣ties and honours; iii. Phil. 21. and of removing all impediments to our prefer∣ment, He having the keys of hell and death. i. Rev. 18. In short, a perfect pow∣er to doe all things to make us glorious. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him, as the Apostle argues ii. Heb. 8. And though he hath not yet exercised his whole unlimited power, as it there follows, yet we are sure he hath it; be∣cause we see (by manifest arguments) Jesus crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of death. By which the all∣wise God thought fit to consecrate this Captain of Salvation; who he designed should bring many Sons unto glory together with himself.

3. Which He will not fail to doe, we may be sure, being thus perfected and com∣pleatly furnished for the very purpose: because this Royall power wherewith he is invested is a kind of Trust; and he hath received it (as St. Paul plainly supposes 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25, &c. where he speaks of his Kingdom) not onely for himself, but Page  420for the good of all those whom he rules and governs. For the Apostle concludes that he, having a Kingdom which must at last be resigned into the hands of God the Father, will first put down all rule, all authority and power, and leave no enemy unconquered; no not Death, which will onely be the last that shall be subdued, but subdued and destroyed it must be: ver. 26, 27. Nay, our Lord himself acknowledges his Kingdome to be a trust, when he says, xvii. Joh. 2. Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternall life to as many as thou hast given him. Whence it is that he often protests, it is his Father's will, that of all he hath given him he should lose no∣thing, but should raise it up again at the last day, &c. vi. Joh. 39, 40. For as the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me: ver. 57. And in express terms he saith, as I have shewn before, that he went away to prepare a place for us. And therefore is bound by his office, we may conclude, to promote us to that glory and honour in the heavens, which it is his Father's will, he knows, should be bestowed on us.

Page  4214. And who can doubt at all of his fi∣delity in this, who was so faithfull in all other things; most punctually, for in∣stance, making good his promise of sen∣ding the Holy Ghost, as an earnest, I have often said, of this immortall inheri∣tance? None can imagine he will now prove negligent in that, which by his place he stands ingaged to perform; when upon Earth he did the will of him that sent him with such exactness, that he rewarded him for it with that high dignity which he now enjoys in the hea∣vens. Therefore his greatest care was to assert and prove his power to give Eter∣nall Life. Of his will he thought there need not much be said; for none could doubt of it, after they saw him die for them, and then express such love, after his resurrection, as to send the Holy Ghost upon them.

5. This is abundantly sufficient to se∣cure all considering persons of so desira∣ble a Good. Which the Apostles began confidently to expect, as soon as ever they were satisfied of the resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Before he a∣scended to heaven their thoughts ran Page  422thither, and they began to see that he was the Lord of life and glory. For as soon as St. Thomas was convinced by a palpable demonstration that he was risen, he cried out, My Lord, and my God. xx. Joh. 28. This is the first time that any of his Apostles gave him the title of their GOD; when they were fully satisfied, as Grotius observes, by his Resurrection, that he would give Eternall Life to them. And then it was also, you may note, that he first gave them the title of his Brethren, who should share with him in the glory to which he was going. xx. Joh. 17. xxviii. Matth. 10. Go tell my Brethren that they go into Galilee, &c. In which words he alludes, as Eusebius ob∣serves, to those xxii. Psal. 22. I will de∣clare thy name unto my brethren. He never called them so before, till he was after a new manner declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead: And now to own them for his Brethren, was as much as to say, that they should be made the Sons of God by their resurrection, and be coheirs with him. To prove which new Brotherhood the Apostle to the Hebrews brings that place of the Psalmist now mentioned, ii. Heb. 11, 12. He is not ashamed to call Page  423them Brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. Whence he is called the first-born among many brethren, viii. Rom. 29. Whom he bids them that first saw him alive again inform, that he ascended to his God and to their God, and to his Father and their Father: to shew them, that they might safely repose such a confidence in God as he had done; and hope to be raised by him from the dead, as he was, and receive a portion with him in the heavenly inheritance.

6. This Relation which he owns to us gives us the greatest confidence to look upon him as our HOPE, (as St. Paul speaks 1 Tim. i. 1.) the HOPE of Glo∣ry, 1 Col. 27. For it is certain that when any person is advanced to a throne, his bloud is thereby inriched: all his family, I mean, are raised and dignified; his chil∣dren especially put into the quality of royall persons, though never so mean be∣fore; nay, made capable of succeeding him in his state and greatness. Now our Lord hath a family as well as other per∣sons; all those who believe on him being acknowledged by him, not onely to be his brethren, but his children: who, li∣ving by his faith, are really descended Page  424from him; and therefore by his resurrec∣tion are also begotten again unto a lively hope of an incorruptible inheritance. 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. Whence the same Divine Writer, who observes how he calls them Brethren, immediately shews how he owns a nearer relation to them, saying, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me: ii. Heb. 13. who in him are all advanced to the highest honour. His glory makes them illustrious: for if children, saith St. Paul, then heirs; heirs of God, and joynt∣heirs with Christ. viii. Rom. 17.

Who is not to be considered merely as a single person, but as the Lord and Head of a Body or Corporation of men; who are so one with him, that the raising him to so great a glory as he inherits, is the raising and ennobling them. A sure pledge, that is, that the same shall be done for the Members, which was for the Head; who will not be without them, but make them partakers of the same be∣nefit which is bestowed on him. He is like the first-fruits, as St. Paul discour∣ses, (in his Chapter of the Resurrec∣tion, 1 Cor. xv. 20, &c.) a second Adam, the head and beginning of a new Crea∣tion; by whom all shall as surely be Page  425made alive, as in the first Adam all died.

7. Why should we doubt of it, since he was carried to heaven, as they that re∣ceived the Holy Ghost testified, to appear before God with his bloud for us? ix. Heb. 23, 24. This is a very great argument that we have Eternall Life, and that it is in him; for this Sacrifice of himself being ac∣cepted by God, (the Eternall SPIRIT, which offered him to God, presenting him before him without spot or blemish,) must needs take away sin, and remove all hindrances to our admission into the very same place where he is, as that Epistle proves at large. By this offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified; and we have 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, liberty and freedom (without any lett or impediment) to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus. x. Heb. 14, 19. Who is such an High∣priest over the family of God as is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens; (viii. 1.) and being conse∣crated for evermore, is become the Authour of eternall Salvation unto all them that obey him. v. 9. vii. 28.

Page  4268. To whom therefore we ought to draw near with a true heart, in full as∣surance of faith, that he will not fail to imploy his power to make us happy with himself. Which, you may consider once more, he most earnestly prayed for when he was on earth: it being one of his last requests to his Father, that those whom he had given him, might be with him where he is; that they might behold the glory which he hath given him. xvii. Joh. 24. And therefore having obtained such a power over all as hath been described, by his precious bloud which he was then going to offer; we may rest assured he will not let us be without that of which he was so desirous before he left the World, now that he is in heaven with full power to fulfill his own desires. For it is un∣reasonable to suppose that a Friend, who carnestly beseeches another to grant us a favour, will not most readily doe it himself, when he becomes as able to bestow it as he of whom before he askt it.

But the fear of swelling this Treatise into over-great a bulk makes me pass o∣ver these things with the bare mention Page  427of them, and omit many other. I shall put an end therefore to this last Testi∣mony of the SPIRIT with those re∣markable words of St. Peter, in his second Epistle, ver. 3, 4. of the first Chapter: Where he saith, as we translate him, that the Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and pre∣cious promises, &c. The meaning of which in a larger form of words is plainly this.

How we come to render it to glory and vertue, I know not, for it makes the sense ob∣scure; whereas otherwise it is perspicu∣ous and clear: and as if the Apostle had said, For by the Glory wherewith he called us, i. e. preached the Gospell and perswaded us to believe, we are to understand his Transfiguration on the holy Mount; where they saw his glory: ix. Luk. 32. and to which the Apostle afterward ap∣peals ver. 16, 17. of this Chapter, as a justification of the truth of their Ministry. The coming down also of the Holy Ghost at his Baptism, the voices from heaven, (in one of which God said he would glo∣rifie Page  429him again as he had done already,) and the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, are here also to be under∣stood by Glory: for by these we are called and moved to receive the knowledge of him. And then by Vertue is undoubtedly meant that very thing which I last trea∣ted of, his mighty power in miraculous works, and the mighty power of the SPIRIT in raising him from the dead. For it is well observed by Drusius and others, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Vertue in these holy Writings never signifies, as it doth in heathen Authours, Piety and morall goodness in opposition to Vice; but pow∣er and might in opposition to weakness. And therefore by this word the Greek Interpreters of the Old Testament ren∣der the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which de∣notes the Greatness, Majesty and height of God's excellency; and sometimes the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies strength and stoutness. According to which in the New Testament it denotes either the mighty power of God, (as here in this place;) or else our courage and valour, as in the fifth verse of this Chap∣ter. But it is no-where found in the sa∣cred style used for piety: and therefore we must not render the particle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to, Page  430but by, vertue; that is, the power and mightiness of God's arm or strength, (as the Scripture speaks) by which our Saviour convinced the World that God the Father had sent him to give Life unto it.

Thus the Apostle St. Paul saith, (which will very much explain this,) that He was raised up from the dead 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the glory of the Father. vi. Rom. 4. That is, by his glorious power, as Ca∣mero well renders it: for his power ap∣peared most gloriously in that won∣derfull Work, whereby, as St. Peter here speaks, he called us to believe on him. So we are to understand him, it appears by another Argument. For if we should say we are called to glory, (understanding thereby heaven,) we could not be said to have precious promises (as it follows) hereby given to us: For this would be to say, that by calling us to heaven he hath called us to heaven. But if we take these words the other way, then the sense runs currently, and delivers to us this excellent Truth;

And then the next words (ver. 4.) are still more pertinent to my purpose, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or by which, (GLORY and VERTUE) are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.

None, I suppose, question but by these great, these precious, yea exceeding great and precious Page  432promises, he means those of raising us from the dead, and carrying us to heaven, to live with God, and that eternally. These are the chiefest things of which our Lord hath given us such assurance, when he called us to believe on his Name. Things which as much exceed all that was promi∣sed Israel, as the heavens are wider then the smallest spot of this earth. More pre∣cious are they then all lands, if they flow∣ed with milk and honey: more to be de∣sired then gold, yea then much fine gold, then all the gold of Ophir: more to be valued then the Crowns of Kings, which are not so much as an Emmet's Egge in comparison with this Happiness. Now as there is nothing that can be compared with these promises; so we have no te∣stimony on Earth comparable to this of the SPIRIT, that exceeding great∣ness of his power, whereby these pro∣mises were brought to us, and assured to be infallible. For by this we know that He hath all power in heaven and earth, and is able to doe whatsoever the Father Almighty doeth; that is, give life to the dead, which is the property of the Al∣mighty alone. So the Enemies of our Religion are forced to confess, who say there are three keys which God keeps to Page  433himself, and commits to none of his Em∣bassadours, the keys of the womb, the keys of heaven, and the keys of the grave. Thy power, saith Joseph Albo speaking of God, is not the power of flesh and bloud; for the power of flesh and bloud is to put those to death who are alive, but thy power is to raise those to life who are dead. The very same we may justly say of our Lord Jesus Christ, who challenges this power to himself, as I have noted before out of the first of the Revelation, where he tells St. John, I have the keys of hell and of death, ver. 18. He was no or∣dinary Embassadour, but can doe more then any whom God sent into the world ever did or could. He can raise even the dead bodies of his subjects to life again. And when he hath lifted them out of the dust, (if I may apply the Psal∣mist's words to this purpose,) can set them with Princes; even with the Prin∣ces of his heavenly Court, to praise and bless his love among those great Mini∣sters, the Angelicall powers, for ever and ever. Which is a power he doth not assume to himself vainly, but was conferred on him by God the Father; who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory: wherein St. John beheld him Page  434when he said, I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I live for ever∣more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Great is thy Majesty, O thou most mighty Jesus! whose power is not the power of flesh and bloud, but the pow∣er of God, who raises those to life who are dead. Great was the joy which fil∣led thy Disciples hearts when they first saw thee alive from the dead, and cal∣led thee their God. * None can under∣stand the beauty of that sight. O the brightness of that appearing! What a light diffused it self then through the whole Creation? What a fragrant smell did the very earthquake breath forth, when like a publick crier it proclaimed the Re∣surrection? What was the savour of the ointment which was then poured out? How was the whole world then transfor∣med and made new? The Angels them∣selves leaped for joy to see it. How sweet was the sound then of their doxologies? With what divine splendours were they then adorned? How beautifull did those preachers of thy resurrection appear? and how great was the glory and the happiness which they came then to proclaim? O Page  435those Words of theirs, which brought us the news of victory over the Enemy! which proclaimed the destruction of Death; and published thee to the World, the Re∣surrection and the Life!

O that sweet and above all things de∣sirable voice of thine, which, by the women that were carrying spices to thy grave, sounded joy to the World! The Heavens then opened their gates, and received the glad tidings which were brought to us, as if they had been their own. The In∣tellectuall powers rejoyced, and took a plea∣sure in our happiness. The Spirituall as well as Sensible World was inlightned. The clouds of sadness were dispelled, from one end of the world to the other; and the rays of joy possessed all. Guilty Na∣ture put off the robes of heaviness, and was cloathed with garments of light. The hand-writing of the Curse was torn in pieces, and promises of Blessing were sea∣led in the room thereof. By that new Sa∣lutation, when thou saidst ALL HAIL, the world was filled with the sweetest and everlasting joy.

For thou art the Preacher, and the Cause, and the very Exultation of all joy; Page  436the Authour of good things; the giver of pleasure; the joy which can never be ta∣ken away; the sweet light; the spectacle a∣bove all others desirable; the intellectuall tranquillity and peace; Wisedom it self, and Power; Incorruption and Eternity; Security and Delight; the onely unchan∣geable and inconceivable Beauty; Sanctity it self, and Honour and Righteousness, and Glory above measure glorious. O how many Names would my Mind bring forth to express thine unutterable excellency! It is onely my weakness that hinders, and want of words. But thou who art the in∣finite, not to be named Good, far above all the titles that Mind can invent; who regardest not words, but rather an infla∣med heart; who thy self broughtest the joy∣full news of thy Resurrection; shine now into our Minds by the bright beams of thy appearing. Let us see intellectually the su∣perexcellent beauty of the intellectuall Sun. Let us inwardly injoy the incomparable sight of our Lord and Master. Let us hear his divine voice speaking some sweet and joyfull word to us. O thou gracious Lord, come; and draw us from these pre∣sent thi•••, 〈…〉 deeps: and 〈…〉 never-decay∣〈…〉 the quires of Page  437those that keep perpetuall festivals above. For thou art both light and life, and re∣surrection, and the joy of those that tri∣umph in the heavens. To thee it becomes us to give, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, glory, honour and adora∣tion, now and ever, world without end. Amen.