Practical meditations upon the four last things viz. I. Death, II. Judgment, III. Hell, IV. Heaven / by R. Sherlock ...

THE Fourth general Meditation OF HEAVEN. (Book heaven)

1. THE Land of Canaan was pro∣mised to Abraham the Father of the Faithful in these words of command: * 1.1 Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, Northward and Southward, Eastward and Westward— For all the Land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, [unspec 15] and to thy seed for ever.

The Celestial Canaan is herein promised unto thee, if a true Son of the Faithful Abraham: Lift up then thine eyes, O my Soul, and Contemplate the ravishing Feli∣cities of this Land of Promise. This is thy Native Country, where thou wast at first Framed by the hands of the Almighty, after His own Image; Why then dost thou not pant, and breath, and sigh, and long to be at Home? Why art thou so well pleased with

a strange Land, and delightest rather to be a Pilgrim in the Valley of Tears, than a Free Denizon in the Land of Peace? a Foreigner in the city of Babylon than a Citizen in the heavenly Jerusalem? Away, away from Le∣banon, O my Soul, thy beloved calleth thee away from the Dens of Lions, * 1.2 and the moun∣tains of the Leopards. O that I had wings like a Dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest.

3. We read that the Lord brought Moses to the top of mount Pisgah, and shewed him the promised land, where having the wilderness behind him, and the happiest of all lands before him, he represents the devout and heavenly minded Soul, who considering the manifold troubles in the wilderness of this world, and the joys and felicities of the world to come, is highly ra∣vished in the contemplation and desire of the one, to the extream contempt of the other.

Did I but seriously consider the ways of my present peace and contentment, I could not but observe, that the Commandments of God have so much intrinsick sweetness and felicity in them, as to excite the most simple and stubborn Soul to obey them: and yet so excessive are the ardors of di∣vine Goodness and Love, as to engage our obedience by the promises of Celestial Joys. Unto this immarcescible Crown of Glory we are Created by God the Father, Re∣deemed by God the Son, and Sanctified by

God the Holy Ghost in the sacred Waters of Baptism, wherein we are adopted, not only sons, but heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.

What blindness then doth so much pos∣sess the minds of the greatest part of the sons of men, that all their desires and en∣deavours should be so wholly taken up with the vain, frail, empty and dying things of the Earth, to the slight and neglect of those never fading joys of Heaven?

The first and largest step we take to∣wards Heaven, is from the state of Sin into the state of Grace; the other, viz. from Grace to Glory is a more easie and ready passage; there being nothing betwixt the one and the other, but a frail mortal life, which taking end, the Soul that is enriched with the ornaments of divine Grace is imme∣diately cloathed with the Robes of Glory: and therefore both the one and the other is stiled by our Lord Life Eternal, John 17.3. This is Life Eternal, that we might know thee—

3. The happiness of Heaven is the end of all Holiness upon Earth; and that must needs be the greatest good, which is the end of all that is good, for the end is more noble than the means. 'Tis the last good we hope for, and so the most perfect, as being the perfection and accomplishment of all the good we can imagine or desire; nay, 'tis a blessedness beyond our frail imaginations to comprehend: as it is written, eye hath not

seen, nor Ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him * 1.3.

4. Raise up thy affections (O my Soul) as to be ravish'd with the love of Heaven, so to lament with tears of sorrow and shame thy sloth and negligence, thy coldness and indevotion, thy sinful security and earthly mindedness, and what obstructs thy way, and slackens thy pace towards this place of joy unspeakable and glorious.

O how slight and trivial, how inconside∣rable are all the most strict and rigid labours of Repentance and Mortification, of the most profound Piety, and ample Charity, in respect of those Celestial joys whereunto they lead thee!

And if it shall once please God through the merits of Christ to receive thee into Heaven, thou wilt then think all thy pray∣ers and tears, * 1.4 sighs and groans, fastings and watchings, all thy labours of love both to God and Man, very well spent, that they have wafted thee over the troublesome waves of this worlds vast Sea, into the Ha∣ven of Eternal peace and felicity.

Vouchsafe me, O Lord, a good end of my life, a happy passport out of this world, and lead me in the streight and even path that leads to thy Kingdom; where that I may at last arrive, it shall neither be my care nor fear, what, and how great things I suffer and undergo in my passage thi∣ther.

MEDITAT. II. Of the place we call Heaven, and first, its Greatness.

THat Empyreal Heaven, * 1.5 which is the seat of God and of all his holy Angels and Saints for ever, is called also the Third Heaven, and the Highest Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens; and 'tis of all the pla∣ces of the Universe the most spacious, large and ample: for it contains all the Heavens and the Earth also, even the whole Creati∣on within its verge and compass.

Do but consider the vastness of the Sun, and of the Moon, with the multitude and magnitude of all the Lights of Heaven, most of which are greater, and some of them far bigger than the whole body of the Earth: Consider also that besides the vast number of Stars, there are empty spaces in the fir∣mament for as many, nay for many more than as many yet: and then admire with astonishment the vast extent and amplitude

of the Heaven of Heavens, which containeth all these, and all that is above, and all that is below all these, within its circuit and cir∣cumference.

Secondly, Its brightness and Beauty.

The brightness of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars do but imperfectly represent the Beauty and Brightness of Heaven, as 'tis described, * 1.6 Rev. 21.23. And the City had no need of the Sun, nor of the Moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; which exceeds as much the light of the Sun, as the Suns light transcends that of a glimmering Taper.

The Air of this Country of Heaven is continually pure and clear, bright and splen∣did; 'tis not capable of any Clouds, Mists, or Vapours, not liable to any Rains, Storms and Tempests, not hick infectious Air offends the Inhabitants of this happy Land; whilst the wretched Miscreants of the nether Hell are involved in blackness of darkness, stifled with the suffocating fumes of sulphureous fire, without the least hope of any purer Air wherein to breath for ever.

Thirdly, Its Tranquillity.

All in this City of God is peaceable and quiet, tranquil and secure, and free even from the fear of the least disturbance; * 1.7 no evil comes nigh this dwelling.

'Tis promised by our Lord, John 16.22. Your joy no man taketh from you: 'Tis alone the joy of Heaven, which cannot be taken away: not by the world which is overcome, and trampled under foot: not by the flesh, for that is so spiritualized, and refined, as no more to rebel against the dictates of the spirit: not by sin, for here enters nothing that is unclean: not by death, for immor∣tality reigneth here: not by any pain or sickness, for these are but the Messengers and Forerunners of Death: not by chance or fortune, for Heaven knows no such hea∣then Deity: not by Envy, Hatred Malice, Strife, — for all the Inhabitants of Heaven are combined in the sacred Bonds of ever∣lasting Charity. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away, Rev. 21.4.

What the Lord promiseth to his Church Militant is fulfilled in his Church Trium∣phant, * 1.8 The Lord hath made fast the bars of thy gates: they are inexpugnable by any, by the utmost force and fury of all the Spirits and Powers of Darkness.

The Lord maketh peace in thy borders: [unspec 14] Blessed peace dwells here without the least fear or danger of interruption: For the grand Enemy of Peace is hence cast down, fallen like lightning from Heaven, * 1.9 there's no room here for that Author of all division, nor yet for any of his instruments, * 1.10 The people that delight in war: 'Tis the inheri∣tance

of Peace-makers, * 1.11 and of the peace∣able minded, and of such only as live in Peace upon Earth.

And O that it might please the God of Peace to allay that rancour, to depress that tumour, to asswage that itch of contenti∣on which now so much disturbs the peace of his Church upon Earth, and obstructs the way to this heavenly Hierusalem, the City of Peace: * 1.12 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

O God the Athour of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our Eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us thy humble servants in all the assaults of our Enemies, that would disturb our peace: that we surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ—

MEDITAT. III. Of the good things of Heaven.

1. HONOUR.

HOnour in Heaven is not that which swells with vain-glory, and is puft up with the infectious breath of Flattery, and the praise of men, * 1.13 but the honour that cometh from God only.

Honour is the reward of vertue, and he who is the donor of vertue and obedience has promised to honour the obedient and vertuous, saying, If any man serve me, * 1.14 him will my Father honour: What, and how great this honour is we read, Rev. 3.31. * 1.15 To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my Throne: even as I have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his Throne: There cannot be surely an higher Honour than this, to be exalted by the right hand of the most High, and placed in the same Throne with the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: O what Hymns of divine Praise, what applau∣ses and exultations, what shouts of joy shall sound through the whole Court of Heaven, when thus it shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. * 1.16

2. POWER.

2. Honour without Power is but a titular, empty, airy happiness: And the Saints shall have all power of what they will, as God hath of what he wills: For as God can do what he will by himself, so can they do what they will by him: For as they will nothing but what the Lord wills; so the Lord wills nothing but what they will have; 'tis not possible, but that they have Power to do whatever they will; so Aug. Manual. c. 35. The Power of the Saints in Heaven is promi∣sed by the Lord of all power, saying of the faithful and wise servant, * 1.17 he will make him ruler of all his goods: implying a power given

to his Saints, not only over all that is called good upon earth, but also over all the joys of Heaven, which are an aggregation of all that is good. 'Tis promised to him that overcometh, that he shall inherit all things; for being the Sons of God, they are also heirs of God, and joynt heirs with Christ, partakers of all power with him both in Heaven and Earth. * 1.18 He that overcometh shall inherit all things: wherein are implicitely promised,

3. RICHES.

3. The Riches of Heaven, are not such corruptible things as Silver and Gold, gor∣geous Attire, delicious Fare, large De∣mesnes, fair Habitations — but without any such frail deceitful pelf there shall be abundance of peace, * 1.19 a fulness of perfection and felicity, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory: and in a word; in Heaven God shall be all in all: He who is the Fountain and Well-spring of all good gifts and graces up∣on Earth, will be himself the Reward and Crown thereof in Heaven; than the which there can be nothing more high and honou∣rable, nothing more great and powerful, nothing more rich, full, eminent, perfect, joyous, and all that can be desired condu∣cing to true happiness.

Happy then, and thrice happy are they who now in this life covet chiefly, covet on∣ly to have the Lord for their portion, saying, not from the teeth only, but from the bot∣tom

of their hearts, * 1.20 The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintain my lot. [unspec 7] The lot is fallen to me in a fair ground, I have a goodly heritage. And surely he must needs be most exorbi∣tantly covetous, that will not be content with such a heritage: and to possess the Lord himself, who possesseth all things, is the Riches of Heaven.

4. PLEASURE.

Pleasure consists in the union of the Soul with an object of Delight: and in Heaven the Soul shall be united with the most beau∣tiful, and blissful object, viz. The Lord of glory, The light of the World, The God of all Consolation. We read 1 Cor. 6.17. He that is joyned to the Lord, is one spirit, which is the height of pleasure, and perfection of Delight to be so intimately joyned to the Lord as to become one spirit with him: such do deliciously taste and fully see how gracious the Lord is. * 1.21

There is no earthly pleasure like the taste and sense of the Lord's grace and favour to us: 'Tis yet a greater pleasure to enjoy the Lord as the only object of Love and De∣light: 'Tis yet more sweet and pleasurable to acquiesce and be fully satisfied in the en∣joyment of the divine Majesty. But the ful∣ness of joy is not only to enjoy, but to know that we shall ever enjoy the beatifical vision, and have the fruition of the supream beauty, and divine goodness for ever and ever.

Now then, * 1.22 O my Soul, Delight thou in the Lord, and he shall give thee thy hearts desire: In the satisfaction and peace of thy desires does thy happiness consist, and this is alone in the Lord obtainable: * 1.23 Blessed are the people, O Lord, that can rejoyce in thee; they shall walk in the light of thy coun∣tenance: [unspec 17,] — Their delight shall be daily in thy name, and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast: [unspec 18] For thou art the glory of their strength —

But the soul that will rejoyce in God must be stampt after his Image, and be like unto him, pure as he is pure, holy as he is holy, merciful as he is merciful.

* 1.24 Be ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love: and so thou may'st hope to enjoy the Lord as the supream object of love and delight in Heaven.

How infinite is the goodness, and how ex∣ceeding the bounty of the Lord to his good and faithful servants, to admit them into the same joy, which himself enjoys! for so shall it be said to each of them, Well done good and faithful servant — enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, Matt. 25.25.

The joy and felicity of God does consist in the contemplation, and fruition of his own perfections, and felicities: and such is the happiness of the Saints in Heaven to contemplate, and enjoy the divine Majesty, in the fulness of his joy and pleasure for evermore.

Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we

know when he shall appear we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is, 1 John 3.2. To see God as he is in himself clearly, fully, and with fulness of satisfaction, is the hap∣piness both of God himself, and of all his Saints in him.

O Lord, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's un∣derstanding; Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we loving thee in and above all things, may obtain thy promises which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ.

MEDITAT. III. Of the Company of Heaven.

1. Of God's presence there.

1. GOD who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is the chief and principal In∣habitant of the Heaven of Heavens: God indeed is every where in respect of his Es∣sence, Presence, Power, but in Heaven in respect of his Glory, and the supereminent brightness of his Majesty, which is in Hea∣ven most conspicuous, full, and ravishing: nor could Heaven be called so, it were not Heaven, if not enlightned, and enhappied by God's superlative presence there: * 1.25 And where ever, O Lord, thou art present, either in grace or glory, there is Heaven: and Death and Hell is every where, where thou art absent.

2. But what doth it avail the company of Heaven that God is there especially present, since God dwelleth with the light which no man can approach unto, * 1.26 whom no man hath seen or can see? The very Angels of Heaven cover their faces with their wings in the presence of God, that the excessive brightness of his Majesty and great Glory overwhelm them not. * 1.27 'Tis true, but however so much of this eminent glory shall appear, and so fully the splendid Rays thereof be display'd in Heaven, as shall ravish all the blessed behold∣ers thereof with a joy unspeakable and glo∣rious.

They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, * 1.28 (viz. of Celestial glory) and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of a river: so full and overflowing shall be their satisfaction and contentment.

For with thee is the Well of Life, [unspec 9] and of all the joys and consolations of Life: and in thy light shall we see light, even the ravishing Light of Glory in the Light of God's coun∣tenance: in whose presence is fulness of joy.

2. The Angels of Heaven.

Next to the blissful presence of God, the society in Heaven is Angels and Archangels, Cherubims and Seraphims, Thrones and Do∣minions, Principalities and Powers, and all the several Orders of celestial Spirits. * 1.29

The very sight of one blessed Angel upon Earth, would be more joyous and ravishing than to behold the greatest beauty, and most

splendid excellency that is liable to the eyes of flesh: yea all the pomp and glory of the World is not comparable to such a sight: how much more joyful and glori∣ous will it be, not only to behold, but to enjoy the society of those innumerable mi∣nistring spirits of whom we read, * 1.30 Thousand thousands ministred unto him, and ten thou∣sand times ten thousand stood before him? * 1.31

These rest not day and night, crying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabbath: Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory: To make one in this Hymnidical Quire, and to be received into one of these Mansi∣ons of Glory from whence the Apostate Angels fell, is such an astonishing joy as cannot by the tongue of men and Angels be expressed.

3. The Saints in Heaven.

To these Angelical spirits are joyned in society as Members of the same Church Tri∣umphant in Heaven, The glorious company of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship of the Prophets, the noble army of Martyrs, the in∣numerable train of holy Confessors, Priests, and people of each Sex, and of every con∣dition, of whose numberless number we read, Rev. 7.9. * 1.32 And I beheld and lo a great mul∣titude which no man can number of all nati∣ons, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, cloathed with white robes, and palms in their hands—and cryed with a loud voice, Sal∣vation to our God—

These are they, which come out of great tri∣bulation, [unspec 14,] and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore are they before the Throne of God, [unspec 15,] and serve him day and night in his Temple, and he that sitteth upon the Throne shall dwell amongst them.

They shall hunger no more, [unspec 16,] nor thirst any more.

The Lamb in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, [unspec 17,] and lead them to the living foun∣tains of water: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Blessed Souls in whom the King of Glo∣ry placeth his Throne, and reigneth in them for ever: Blessed are those mouths which shall taste and be satisfied with the Waters of life everlasting, and blessed are those tears which shall be wiped away with the right hand of God himself, and ever∣lasting joy succeed in the stead thereof.

Into this glorious Communion of Saints in Heaven, there daily are, and daily shall be for ever received all such true servants of God, and stout Soldiers of Jesus Christ, who under his banner have overcome the Devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, all the sinful lusts of the flesh: who have warred a good warfare o∣ver these their ghostly enemies, and kept the Faith whereinto they were baptized, with∣out any tincture of Heresie, or Schism, ob∣serving God's holy Will and Command∣ments, and walked in the same all the days of their life.

All of these returning from their weari∣some Pilgrimage through the wilderness of

this world, to their native home of Heaven, shall be received into, and rejoyce in their proper and peculiar mansions of peace: each differing indeed in the degrees of glory, ac∣cording to their difference in the degrees of grace, but all shall enjoy their full propor∣tion of happiness, and with common joy shall sing together perpetual Hallelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne, * 1.33 and to the Lamb for ever.

And 'tis wonderful amongst the joys of Heaven, and adds exceedingly to the greatness thereof. That as the number of Saints is great, and their joys many: so are the joys of each particular Saint, even as many, and blissful, as the joys of all: And this because each one shall rejoyce as much in the felicity of others, as if 'twere his own peculiar happiness.

Happy and for ever happy were I, if with a floud of Tears and incessant Pray∣ers, if with the devour surrender of all that I am, and all that I have to the love and service of God, I might be admitted into this celestial Society: To come unto Sion, * 1.34 and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Hierusalem, and to an innumera∣ble company of Angels, To the general assem∣bly and Church of the first-born, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made per∣fect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant—

All this I believe as a Christian, but my Hope to be admitted into this blessed Society

is too weakly grounded: whilst my Charity both towards God and his Saints is too cold and benumb'd.

I do profess to love God, and do desire that my heart may be every day more and more inflamed with the sacred fire of divine charity: but doubtless I must have withal a due regard and veneration for his Saints; for as God is praised in his Saints, so is he dishonoured in their dis-respect, He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye.

Qui derogat alicui sanctorum—Who de∣tracts from any of the Saints of God, * 1.35 de∣tracts from Christ himself, who is the Saint of all Saints, and detracts also from all the Saints in Heaven; for all are united in the sa∣cred bonds of Charity, all think the same thing, all do will alike, and all do love both themselves and all in one. T.K. 2, 3. c. 58.

If the zeal of some persons towards the Saints in Heaven exceed its due bounds and limits, I must not therefore throw off that devout respect which is due unto them; remembring that 'tis the end of my Faith, the summ of my Hope to be by holy Charity joyned with them in the same mystical bo∣dy of Christ our common Lord, and Re∣deemer, and with them to love, and to praise the Lord: yea to praise and love him for ever, * 1.36 which is the happiness of the Saints in Heaven: for, blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will always be praising thee.

And further, the greatness of the joys of Heaven may be in some degree esteemed by the greatness of their purchace: It is not

doubted but the bloud of the Son of God is of so great value, that the least drop thereof was of sufficient dignity to redeem ten thousand worlds; and yet our blessed Redeemer, who only knows how to value all things according to their worth, gave every drop of his precious bloud, accom∣panied with unspeakable torments, pangs and sufferings, to purchase this Celestial in∣heritance: hence all truly Religious have Heaven their desire, and the Earth their pa∣tience, being of the same mind with S. Paul, Cupio dissolvi—I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ—

But I am unworthy, too much unwor∣thy, sinful dust and ashes, to be admitted into the blissful presence of my dear Re∣deemer: But I will not despair since he hath, 1. purchased this happiness for me * 1.37; since 2. he hath promised to receive me thereinto ‖ 1.38; and 3. he hath prayed also for my actual possession thereof, saying, Father, I will, that they whom thou hast given me, * 1.39 may be with me, where I am, that they may behold the glory which thou hast given me.

O Sweetest Saviour, who to save and re∣deem man vouchsafedst to be made man, and to appear in the likeness of sinful flesh; O when? when will that happy hour come, wherein I shall be admitted to behold thy blessed Face, * 1.40 which the Angels in Heaven behold with joy and wonder? When I shall awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it, * 1.41 satisfied to the greatest height and fulness of content, when I shall behold that

glory thou hadst with the Father before the world was: even so come Lord, Jesus, come quickly.

MEDITAT. IV. Of the perpetuity of Heavenly Joys.

THE most full enjoyment of all the good things this world affords, is not to be called, or accounted Happiness, because they are not only vain and empty of true sa∣tisfaction, but also not permanent and la∣sting: To every purpose under the Sun tend∣ing towards satisfaction and happiness, * 1.42 there is a time and Judgment, a Time li∣mited for its prosecution and enjoyment, and Judgment also shall pass upon the acti∣ons relating thereunto: it must needs follow, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

But the good things of Heaven are du∣rable, permanent and lasting, hereunto shall no Time succeed, no Judgment fol∣low.

'Tis a maxim in Divinity, That there is no succession in the joys of Heaven, because what is Eternal admits not of what is first, and what is last, but is both, and all in the same moment, which renders those joys transcendently full and ravishing, since in each moment is enjoyed the joys of perpe∣tuity;

not increasing by degrees, or protra∣cted by delays, nor yet augmented by se∣veral spaces of Time, but wholly and alto∣gether, and in the same moment is enjoyed and received the same glory in its height and fulness, and this never to be diminished, or decayed, forfeited or lost.

* 1.43

The Glory of them that die in Grace, is Immortal, their Happiness Immutable; their Crown immarcescible; their Life everlasting; and their Reign with God, and the Lamb for ever and ever. No day does pass with these blessed Souls, without its fulness of joy and content: This joy shall be ever new, and yet ever the same: This glory shall never wither or decay, but flourish for perpetual eternities.

And this must needs be so; because cele∣stial joy consists as in the blissful vision of God, so in an assimilation to him: for just men made perfect, are immutable in their perfection and felicity by beholding him who is unchangeable: so the Apostle, We all as in a Glass, * 1.44 beholding the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Moon and the Stars receive their light from the Sun, and become like unto him, by being opposite, and in a sort be∣holding the Sun's bright face: So the pure Souls in Heaven by seeing God who is the Light of lights, are from him enlightened and made like unto him. So saith the be∣loved Apostle: Beloved, * 1.45 now are we the Sons

of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know when He shall appear, we shall be made like him, for we shall see him as he is: * 1.46 And that is not as now, in a glass darkly, but face to face i. e. as fully as our measure will contain, our proportion bear, and our degree in Grace require.

* 1.47

"The joys of Heaven (saith Gran.)shall continue as many millions of Years as there are Stars in the Firmament, and many more: They shall last as many hundred millions of years as there have been drops of Rain fallen from Heaven since the beginning of the world, and more, much more. In a word, they shall endure as long as there is a God in Hea∣ven, and this God the same which was, which is, and which is to come, from everlasting to everlasting.

Shall not then my heart be fixed where such lasting joys are to be found? And thi∣ther my heart must first be sent by way of Harbinger, before my person can atrive there: I must now have my Conversation in Heaven, before I can have my Consum∣mation there: I must now be Heavenly minded, or else never hope to be admitted into the joys of Heaven.

But O the heavy burden of my sins! These do depress and weigh down the mind, and make her affections grovel in the dust: and yet even these shall not hinder thy as∣cent into Heaven, if thou tread them under thy feet: For every sin, and vanity trod∣den down, subdued and mortified is one

step, * 1.48 one Scale or Round of that Celestial Ladder, which being set upon the Earth reacheth up unto Heaven: which the Angels of Heaven rejoyce to behold.

And may the right hand of God assist me, to lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset me, and to run with patience the race that is set before me.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

Blessed Lord, who hast made me after thine own Image to attain the perfection and felicity of my Being in the beatifical vision and fruition of thy Majesty in Heaven, vouchsafe here to guide me with thy Counsel, and after that to receive me with glory, through the Merits and Mediation of thy blessed Son and my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ —

Our Father which art in Hea∣ven, &c.

The XXIV. Psalm. PARAPHRASED.

Verse 1.

THe Earth is the Lords and all that there∣in is, the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein: The Heavens are the Lord's chief Dwelling-place, the Earth and all the Nations thereof he hath given to his Son Jesus as he is Redeemer of the World: so Psal. 2.8. Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheri∣tance, and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy possession.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, [unspec 2] and prepared it upon the flouds: As God hath so wisely ordered the Earth, and the Water, that the one may refresh, not over∣flow the other: so he hath founded his Church upon a Rock above the Flouds of secular Cares and Turmoils, and all the ri∣sing waves of this World's vast Sea, which is signified by the Situation of his Temple on a Hill: And,

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, [unspec 3] or who shall rise up (or stand) in his holy place? Who is he that shall be qualified to appear and stand in the presence of God, and to joyn with his people in that solemn

worship which in his holy Temple is exhi∣bited unto him? Such a one is also quali∣fied to ascend and raise up his Soul to those mountains of joy in the celestial Sion. And such a one is

He that hath clean hands: [unspec 4] The works of whose hands are clean from all injustice and impurity, and washed with the tears of true penitence from the filth of all former pollu∣tions: And a pure heart, to all outward, an inward holiness is required, which consists in the purity of the heart, viz. to be pure from all sordid and vile affections, to be sincere and without hypocrisie in all Reli∣gious performances: that hath not lift up his mind to vanity: who follows not those pomps and vanities of this wicked world which he once so solemnly renounced: nor sworn to deceive his neighbour, that will not say, much less swear an untruth, nor yet break his word, especially when confirmed with an oath. Such is the holiness, and in∣nocence that entitles a people to the pre∣sence of God in his Temple upon Earth, and in his House in Heaven, 1. the holiness of the heart, 2. of the hands, 3. of the tongue; or Holiness in thought, word, and deed.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord: [unspec 5] The blessings of the Lord shall descend upon him, when he ascends into the hill of the Lord: and righteousness or mercy in the par∣don of his sins, or the reward of righteous∣ness, i.e. Salvation not of or from himself, or from any but from the God of his Salva∣tion.

This is the generation of them that seek him: [unspec 6] these are those holy and happy people, who so faithfully seek the Lord that they find him, viz. in grace here, in glory hereafter, which is the double blessing of them that seek thy face, O Jacob: All that be true Israelites indeed, thus make their holy and humble addresses to the God of Jacob for his grace and favour.

Lift up your heads, [unspec 7] O ye gates, or, lift up your gates, O ye Heads or Princes of the Heavenly Hierusalem: and be ye lift up ye overlasting doors which open the passages to life everlasting: and the King of glory shall come in: he who hath vanquished and glo∣riously triumphed over the gates of everlast∣ing death, over all the spirits and powers of darkness, is ascended to open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven to all Be∣lievers.

Who is the King of glory? [unspec 8] in whose glori∣ous conquests we may glory, and in whose righteousness we may make our boast? it is the Lord strong and mighty: who although he submitted himself to be betray'd, appre∣hended, arraigned and condemned to death; yet is he even the Lord mighty in battle, who naked and unarmed, hath vanquished by his sufferings: and by his death overcome death, and him who hath the power of death the Devil: for which victory he rides in Tri∣umph upon the clouds of Heaven: and therefore, [unspec 9]

Lift up your Heads, O ye gates of the cele∣stial Paradise, which have been shut against

the sons of Men from the fall of the first A∣dam: and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors: Raise up your selves ye immortal souls, open and be enlarged in your desires and affecti∣ons unto him who hath opened unto you the everlasting doors of glory: and the King of glory shall come in: He who is ascended, will also descend into you, if pure and Hea∣venly minded, and thither enwrap and raise you whither himself is gone before: if yet for your further satisfaction you desire to know [unspec 10]

Who is the King of glory: by whose Tri∣umphant ascent into Heaven we believe and hope thither to ascend also? It is even the Lord of Hosts, he who hath the com∣mand of all the powers of Heaven, Earth, and Hell, who hath the command especially of all the powers and operations, vertues and graces of the Holy Spirit of God, and dis∣penseth them accordingly unto all that love and fear his name: He is the King of glory: he is glorious indeed above all, and God over all blessed for ever: and therefore to him, as is most meet, be all glory ascribed.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The LXXXIV. Psalm PARAPHRASED.

1. O How amiable are thy dwellings, especially in the high and holy place, thou Lord of Hosts, even of the numerous troops of Angels and Archangels, and of all the powers of Heaven!

My soul hath a desire, which is more than ordinary, [unspec 2] 'tis a longing even to a separation from it self, to enter into the Courts of the Lord, to view those several Mansions of glo∣ry, and the blissful condition wherein all the Courtiers of the King of Heaven do praise him for ever: my heart and my flesh when subdued to the spirit rejoyce in the living God; there's no joy like the joy of his presence who giveth life, and a heart to pant and breath after the joys of life eter∣nal.

The sparrow hath found her a house, [unspec 3] and the swallow a nest where to lay her young, even thy Altars: And O that my Soul could mount as doth the Sparrow upon her wings with inflamed affections after the pleasures of thy house, and that my flesh might be instrumental to my Soul in bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, to be sacrific'd upon the Altar of Praise and Thanksgiving unto thee, O Lord of hosts my King and my God,

whom alone I desire to adore, worship and obey.

Blessed are they here in hope, [unspec 4] hereafter in fruition, who dwell in thy house of Prayer upon Earth, of Praise in Heaven, in both they will always be praising thee: 'Tis our princi∣pal errand to the house of God upon earth, and shall be our only employment in his house of Heaven always to praise the Lord.

But we of thy house and family here be∣low, like the young birds near thine Altar are unfledged, and empent in the nest of this corruptible body which weigheth down the Soul, so that amount to Heaven-ward we can∣not without the Divine assistance; therefore,

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, [unspec 5] who derives strength of Grace from thee to praise and glorifie thee, and this not only with their mouths, but in whose heart are thy ways, cordially resolving and uprightly walking in the ways of thy service, and of their own salvation.

Who going through the vale of misery, [unspec 6] in their pilgrimage through the miseries of this sinful life below, use it for a Well, even the deep fountain of a broken heart, from whence the Pools are filled with water, the eyes flow with tears of that Godly sorrow which worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to be repented.

They will go from strength to strength, [unspec 7] from one degree of grace to another, adding to Faith Vertue, to Vertue Knowledge, to Knowledge Temperance, to Temperance

Patience, to Patience Godliness, to Godli∣ness Brotherly-kindness, and to Brotherly-kindness Charity, 2 Pet. 1.5. unto the God of Gods appeareth every one of them in Sion, each person thus qualified shall appear in the presence of the supreme Majesty of Heaven: which being the felicity whereunto I am cre∣ated, and earnestly long for, I therefore humbly beg,

O Lord God of hosts, [unspec 8] hear my prayer, thou art the Donor of all those powerfull Graces which mount up our Souls to Heaven; and the Lord of all those hosts of Heaven a∣mongst whom my Soul longeth to be en∣roll'd: Hearken, O God of Jacob: assist me in all my wrestlings with my ghostly ene∣mies, that I may prevail and obtain thy blessing, which is to be call'd Israel: Seeing God the felicity of Heaven.

Behold, [unspec 9] O God, our Defender against all the crafts, and assaults of the Devil, the World and the Flesh: Look upon the face of thine anointed our blessed Redeemer sitting on thy right hand, and interceding for us: and may the sacred beams of his celestial light shine in our hearts, and appear in the holi∣ness and righteousness of our lives: that going from strength to strength we may ap∣pear before the Lord in Sion.

For one day in thy Courts amongst the Quires of Heaven, [unspec 10] where the day is but one, as knowing no morrow day, is better than a thousand of the flitting transitory days of this mortal life.

I had rather be a door-keeper, [unspec 11] lie at the Threshhold, submit to the lowest Condi∣tion in the house of my God, the place where his Honour dwelleth who is the God of my Worship and Joy, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness, be con∣versant amongst the Ungodly of this World, in the most splendid Condition with all the Delights of the Sons of Men: for 'tis not all the Pomp and Glory, all the Pleasures and Treasures of this Life can give any solid Satisfaction to the vast De∣sires of my immortal Soul.

For the Lord is a light and defence, [unspec 12] a light for direction in the way of peace, and a defence for protection, against all whom∣soever or whatsoever might disturb the in∣nocence and peace of my Soul. He will give grace and worship, Grace to serve him truly here, and Worship or Glory to crown our services hereafter: and no good thing will he withhold from them that lead a godly life: who truly love and fear God, and wait for his promises in the obedience of his precepts, shall enjoy all that is truly good, or con∣ducible to their Eternal happiness in Hea∣ven: And therefore,

O Lord God of Hosts, [unspec 13] blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee: not roving in his hopes and desires after the exterior, empty, transitory Consolations of the Crea∣ture, but among the sundry and manifold Changes of the World hath his heart surely fixed there, where true joys are to be found, which is alone in the Presence of the God

of Heaven: where all do rejoyce together and sing for ever.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

AS an Earnest of this Everlasting Joy and Felicity, * 1.49 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require: even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his Temple. Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 13.14.
• * 1.2

  Can. 4.8. Psal. 55.6.
• * 1.3

  Quod De∣us praepa∣ravit dili∣gentibus se, fide non capitur, spe non attingitur, charitate non comprehenditur, desideria & vota transgreditur: acquiri potest, aestimari non potest. Aug. in 1 Cor. 2.9.
• * 1.4

  Age quod vgis, fide∣riter labo∣ra in vinea tua: ego (inquit Dominus) ero merces iva: scribe, lege, canta, geme, tace, ora, sustine viriliter contraria: digna est his omnibus vita aeterna, & majoribus praeliis. T.K.
• * 1.5

  2 Cor. 12.2. Deut. 10.14. 2 Chr. 6.18.
• * 1.6

  Rev. 21.23.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 90.10.
• * 1.8

  Ps. 147.13,
• * 1.9

  Luk. 10.18.
• * 1.10

  Ps. 68.30.
• * 1.11

  Mat. 5.9.
• * 1.12

  Heb. 12.14.
• * 1.13

  Joh. 5.44.
• * 1.14

  Joh. 12.26.
• * 1.15

  Rev. 3.31.
• * 1.16

  Esth. 6.11.
• * 1.17

  Matt. 24.45, 46.
• * 1.18

  Closs. ord. in loc. Rev. 21.7.
• * 1.19

  Ps 72.7. 2 Cor. 4.17. 2 Cor. 15.28.
• * 1.20

  Psal. 16.6,
• * 1.21

  Psal. 34.8.
• * 1.22

  Psal. 37.4.
• * 1.23

  Ps. 89.16,
• * 1.24

  Eph. 5.1, 2.
• * 1.25

  Tho. a Kemp.
• * 1.26

  1 Tim. 6.17.
• * 1.27

  Isa. 6.2.
• * 1.28

  1 Pet. 1.7. Ps. 36.8,
• * 1.29

  Col. 1.16.
• * 1.30

  Dan. 7.10.
• * 1.31

  Isa. 6.3, &c. Rev. 21.10.
• * 1.32

  Rev. 7.9, 10.
• * 1.33

  Rev. 5.13.
• * 1.34

  Heb. 12.22, 23, 24.
• * 1.35

  Ps. 150.1. Zech. 2.8.
• * 1.36

  Ps. 84.4.
• * 1.37

  Heb. 9.12, 15, 24.
• ‖ 1.38

  Joh. 14.3.
• * 1.39

  Joh. 17.24.
• * 1.40

  Ps. 17.16.
• * 1.41

  Joh. 17.5.
• * 1.42

  Eccl. 8.6.
• * 1.43

  Eus.
• * 1.44

  2 Cor. 3.18.
• * 1.45

  1 Joh. 3.2.
• * 1.46

  1 Cor. 13.12.
• * 1.47

  Gran. me∣dit.
• * 1.48

  Gen. 28.12. De vitiis nostris sen∣lam faci∣mus, dum vitia cal∣camus. Luk. 15.7. Heb. 12.1, 2.
• * 1.49

  Psal. 27.4.