To pneuma ksopyrén, or Sparkes of the spirit, being, motives to sacred theorems, and divine meditations. / By a reverend father of the Church of England.

Sect. VII. Of the Kingdome of Heaven.

* 1.1THe place of Joy, and the eternall rest of the Saints of God is described unto us in the Word of God by four speciall names above the rest, whereby we may guess at the happiness therein contained, namely by the name of(a 1.2) Paradise, of a(b 1.3) House, a(c 1.4) City, and a(d 1.5) Kingdome. It is called a Paradise, to shew that it is as a Garden or Orchard of all sweet plea∣sure and delight: But least we might imagine by the name of Paradise, that the

place of joy is but as a Gar∣den adjoyning to a back∣side, or a place by some cor∣ner of a house; It is called a Princely House, or Palace, where many mansions and chambers be, where besides a Garden, there are also Halls, Parlers, Chambers, Galleries, Banquetting-houses, and all other Lod∣ges of pleasure; but because a house, though never so great, cannot contain any great company or extraor∣dinary multitude, whereby we might be induced to be∣lieve that there can be but very few that can be saved for want of roome in hea∣ven, therefore the place prepared for us is also cal∣led a City, which containes many Houses, many Palaces,

many Temples, many Or∣chards and such like pla∣ces fit to contain and en∣tertain many millions of Saints and Angels, but least we should imagine that a City may be little, and not spacious enough for the Sonnes of God, and such as follow the Lamb, therefore it is not called onely a Pa∣radise, a House, or a City, but a Kingdome, yea, the Kingdome of Heaven, in comparison of which the whole earth is but as a point: So that the Saints of God shall not onely be •••• a Garden or Paradise of all delight, but also in a Pa∣lace of all pleasures, In a City of all good Govern∣ment, acquaintance and fa∣miliarity, yea, in a King∣dome

of all Glory and Ma∣jesty, where every Servant of God shall be his Sonne, and every Sonne a Citizen, and every Citizen a crown∣ed King to raigne with the King of Kings for ever.

Sparke 7.

O God, seeing there is with thee such a Paradise of pleasure,(q 1.6) grant that I may not love this earth nor the vain delights therein, and seeing thy House and Palace hath so many room•• and mansions,(f 1.7) let me not delight too much in building houses here upon earth, as if I meant to stay here for ever,(r 1.8) but with the Patriarchs,m 1.9 Prophets and Apostles be content

with such tents and mansi∣ons, as may best put me in mind of thy dwelling. And seeing that holy and hea∣venly Jerusalem is so great and glorious,(d 1.10) let not me look here(g 1.11) for any a∣biding City, nor greedily gape for the Kingdome and preferments of the world; seeing such a Kingdome is prepared for me that is like a well governed City, a strong Palace, or a Paradice of pleasure: But when I walk in my garden, let me desire thy Paradise, when I sit in my house, let me think of thy Palace, when I tread in the town, let me remem∣ber thy holy City; and when I see the glory of the world, and this earthly Kingdome, let me seek thy

Kingdome and the righte∣ousness thereof,* 1.12 through Jesus Christ our Lord, A¦men.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Kings Palace.
• a 1.2

  2 Cor. 12.
• b 1.3

  John 14.
• c 1.4

  Heb. 12.
• d 1.5

  Mat. 5.
• q 1.6

  Psal. 84.1.
• f 1.7

  John 14▪••
• r 1.8

  Psal. 49:11.
• m 1.9

  Heb. 11:10.
• d 1.10

  Psal. 84.1.
• g 1.11

  Heb. 11.9.
• * 1.12

  Mat. 5.