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every Conflict? If but the Face of Mofes fhine fo gloriously, what Glory is there in the Face of God? If the Feet of them that publish Peace, that' bring good Tidings of Salvation, be beautiful; how beautiful is the Face of the Prince of Peace? If this Treafure be fo precious in earthen Veffels; what is that Treasure laid up in Heaven? Bleffed are "the Eyes that fee what is feen there, and the Ears "that hear the Things that are heard there. There "fhall I hear Elijah, Ifaiah, Jeremiah, John, Peter, "Paul; not preaching to Gainfayers, in Imprison"ment, Perfecution, and Reproach; but triumph“ing in the Praises of Him that hath raised them to "Honour and Glory."-Think alfo," What

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Joy is it to have Accefs and Acceptance in Prayer; "that I may always go to God, and open my Cafe, "and unbofom my Soul to Him, as to my most "faithful Friend? But it will be a more unfpeaka"ble Joy, when I fhall receive all Bleffings without afking, and all my Neceffities and Miferies will "be removed, and when God Himfelf will be the "Portion and Inheritance of my Soul."As for the Lord's Supper, "What a Privilege is it to be "admitted to fit at His Table, to have His Covenant "fealed to me there? But all the Life and Comfort "there, is to affure me of the Comforts hereafter. "O the Difference between the laft Supper of Christ on Earth, and the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb at the great Day! Then His Room will be the "glorious Heavens; His Attendants, all the Hofts of Angels and Saints; no Judas, no unfurnished "Gueft, comes there; but the humble Believers "muft fit down by Him, and their Feaft will be their "mutual loving and rejoicing."Concerning the Communion of Saints, think with thyfelf, "What a "Pleasure is it to live with intelligent and heavenly "Chriftians?

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"Chriftians? David fays of fuch, they were all his Delight. O what a delightful Society then fhall I have above? Had I but feen Job on the Dunghill, "what a Mirror of Patience? and what will it be "to fee him in Glory? How delightful to have heard "Paul and Silas finging in the Stocks? How much "more to hear them fing Praises in Heaven? What "Melody did David make on his Harp? But how

much more melodious to hear that fweet Singer in "the heavenly Choir? What would I have given "for an Hour's free Converse with Paul, when he was just come down from the third Heaven? But "I must fhortly fee thofe Things myfelf, and poffefs "what I fee."Once more, think of praifing God in Concert with His Saints. "What if I had been

in the Place of thofe Shepherds, who faw, and heard, the heavenly Hoft finging, Glory to God in "the higheft, and on Earth Peace, good Vill towards "Men? But I fhall fee and hear more glorious "Things. How bleffed fhould I have thought myfelf, had I heard Chrift in His Thanksgivings to "His Father? How much more, when I fhall hear "Him pronounce me Bleffed? If there was such

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Joy at bringing back the Ark, or at rebuilding the "Temple; what will there be in the new Jerufalem? "If the Earth rent, when the People rejoiced at Solo"mon's Coronation; what a joyful Shout will there

be at the appearing of the King of the Church? "If, when the Foundations of the Earth were laid, the "Morning Stars fang together, and all the Sons of God "Shouted for Joy; what a joyful Song will there be, "when the World of Glory is both founded and finished, when the Top Stone is laid, and when the holy City is adorned as the Bride, the Lamb's Wife?"

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$8. Compare the Joy thou shalt have in Fleaven with what the Saints have found in the Way to it, and in the Foretaftes of it. When did God ever reveal the leaft of Himself to any of His Saints, but the Joy of their Hearts was anfwerable to the Revelation? Ins what an Extacy was Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration? Mafter, fays he, it is good for us to be here; let us make three Tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Mofes, and one for Elias. As if he had faid, "Ŏ let us not go down again to yonder perfecuting "Rabble; let us not return to our mean and fuffer"ing State. Is it not better to ftay here now we are "here? Is not here better Company, and fweeter "Pleasure?" How was Paul lifted up with what he faw? How did the Face of Mofes fhine, when he had been talking with God? Thefe were all extraordinary Foretaftes; but little to the full beatifical Vifion. How often have we read and heard of dying Saints, who have been as full of Joy as their Hearts could hold; and when their Bodies have felt the Extremity of Sicknefs and Pain, have had fo much. of Heaven in their Spirits, that their Joy hath far exceeded their Sorrows? If a Spark of this Fire be fo glorious, even amidst the Sea of Adverfity; what then is Glory itself? O the Joy that the Martyrs have felt in the Flames! They were Flefh and Blood, as well as we; it must therefore be fome excellent Thing that filled their Spirits with Joy, while their Bodies were burning. Think, Reader, in thy Meditations, "Sure it must be fome wonder"ful Foretafte of Glory that made the Flames of "Fire eafy, and the King of Terrors welcome. "What then is Glory itfelf? What a bleffed Reft, "when the Thoughts of it made Paul defire to depart, "and be with Chrift; and makes the Saints never "think themselves well, till they are dead? Shall “Saunder s

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"Saunders embrace the Stake, and cry, Welcome "Cross? And fhall not I more delightfully embrace "my Bleffednefs, and cry, Welcome Crown? Shall "Bradford kifs the Faggot? And fhall not I kifs the "Saviour? Shall another poor Martyr rejoice to "have her Foot in the fame Hole of the Stocks, in "which Mr. Philpot's had been before her? And "fhall not I rejoice, that my Soul fhall live in the "fame Place of Glory, where Chrift and His Apoftles

are gone before me? Shall Fire and Faggot, Pri"fons and Banifhment, cruel Mockings and Scourgings, be more welcome to others, than Chrift and ་་ Glory to me? God forbid."

$9.Compare the Glory of the heavenly Kingdom, with the Glory of the Church on Earth, and of. Chrift in His State of Humiliation. If Chrift fuffering in the Room of Sinners had fuch Excellency, what is Chrift at His Father's right Hand? If the Church under her Sins and Enemies, have fo much Beauty, what will the have at the Marriage of the Lamb? How wonderful was the Son of God in the Form of a Servant? When He is born, a new Star must apFear, and conduct Strangers to worship Him in a Manger; heavenly Hofts with their Songs must celebrate His Nativity; while a Child, He muft difpute with Doctors; when He enters upon His Office, He turns Water into Wine; feeds thousands with a few Loaves and Fishes; cleanfes the Lepers, heals the Sick, reftores the Lame, gives Sight to the Blind, and raises the Dead. How wonderful then is his celeftial Glory? If there be fuch cutting down of Boughs, and fpreading of Garments, and crying Hofanna, for one that comes into Jerufalem riding on an Afs; what will there be when He comes with His Angels in His Glory? If they that heard Him preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, confefs, Never Man Spake like this

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Man; they then that behold His Majefty in His Kingdom, will fay, There was never Glory like this Glory. If, when His Enemies came to apprehend Him, they fell to the Ground; if, when He is dying, he Earth quakes, the Vail of the Temple is rent, the Sun clipfed, the dead Bodies of the Saints arife, and the Standers-by acknowledge, verily this was the Son of God: O what a Day will it be, when the Dead must all arife, and ftand before Him; when He will once more hake, not the Earth only, but the Heavens alfo; when this Sun fhall be taken out of the Firmament, and he everlastingly darkened with His Glory; and when every Tongue fhall confefs Him to be Lord and King! If, when He rofe again, Death and the Grave loft their Power; if Angels must roll away the Stone, terrify the Keepers till they are as dead Men, and fend the Tidings to His Difciples; if He afcend to Heaven in their Sight; what Power, Dominion, and Glory, is He now poffeffed of, and which we muft for ever poffefs with Him! When He is gone, can a few poor Fishermen and Tentmakers cure the Lame, Blind, and Sick, open Prifons, deftroy the Difobedient, raife the Dead, and aftonish their Adverfaries? What a World will that be, where every one can do greater Works than thefe! If the preaching of the Gofpel be accompanied with fuch Power as to difcover the Secrets of the Heart, humble the proud Sinner, and make the moft obdurate tremble; if it can make Men burn their Books, fell their Lands, bring in the Price, and lay it down at the Preacher's Feet; if it can convert thousands, and turn the World upfidė down; if its Doctrine, from the Prisoner at the Bar, can make the Judge on the Bench tremble; if Chrift and His Saints have this Power and Honour in the Day of their Abafement, and in the Time appointed for their Suffering and Difgrace; what then will they

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