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der, nor Lot's Deliverance fo much talked of. When one is enlightened, and another left in Darkness; one reformed, and another by his Luft enflaved; it makes the Saints cry out, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifeft thyself unto us, and not unto the World (n)? When the Prophet is fent to one Widow only of all that were in Ifracl, and to cleanfe one Naaman of all the Lepers (o), the Mercy is more obfervable. That will fure be a Day of paffionate Senfe on both Sides, when there fhall be two in one Bed, and two in the Field, the ere taken, and the other left (p). The Saints fhall look down upon the burning Lake, and in the Sense of their own Happiness, and in the Approbation of God's juft Proceedings, they fhall rejoice and fing, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which wast, art, and fhalt be, because thou ha? judged thus (q).

$6. (4) BUT though this Reft be proper to the Saints, yet it is common to all the Saints; for it is an Affociation of bleffed Spirits, both Saints and Angels; Corporation of perfected Saints, whereof Chrift is the Head; the Communion of Saints compleated. As we have been together in the Labour, Duty, Danger, and Diftrefs; fo fhall we be in the great Recompence and Deliverance. As we have been fcorned and defpifed; fo fhall we be owned and honoured together. We, who have gone through the Day of Sadness, fhall enjoy together that Day of Gladness. Thofe, who have been with us in Perfecution and Prifon, fhall be with us alfo in that Palace of Confolation. How oft have our Groans made, as it were, one Sound? our Tears one Stream? and our Defires one Prayer? But now all our Praifes fhall make up one Melody; all our Churches, one Church; and all ourselves, one Body; for we shall be all one in

f) John xiv. 22. (9) Kev. xvi. 5.

(0) Luke iv. 25--27. (p) Luke xvii.

Christ,

34, 36.

Christ, even as he and the Father are one (r). 'Tis true, we must be careful, not to look for that in the Saints, which is alone in Chrift. But if the ForeThought of fitting down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven (s), may be our lawful Joy; how much more the real Sight and actual Poffeffion? It cannot chufe but be comfortable to think of that Day, when we fhall join with Mofes in his Song, with David in his Pfalms of Praife, and with all the Redeemed in the Song of the Lamb for ever(t); when we fhall fee Enoch walking with God (u); Noah enjoying the End of his Singularity; fofeph of his Integrity; fob of his Patience; Hezekiah of his Uprightnels; and all the Saints the End of their Faith (w). Not only our old Acquaintance, but all the Saints, of all Ages, whofe Faces in the Flefh we never faw, we fhall there both know, and comfortably enjoy. Yea Angels, as well as Saints, will be our bleffed Acquaintance. Thofe, who now are willingly our miniftring Spirits (x), will willingly then be our Companions in Joy. They, who had fuch Joy in Heaven for our Converfion (y), will gladly rejoice with us in our Glorification. Then we fhall truly fay, as David, I am a Companion of all them that fear thee (z); when we are come unto Mount Sion, and unts the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, and to an innumerable Company of Angels; to the general Affembly, and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of juft Men made perfect, and to Jefus the Mediator of the new Covenant (a). 'Tis a fingular Excellence of heavenly Reft, that we are Fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God (b).

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$7.

(t) Rev.xv. 3. (x) Heb. i. 14. (a) Heb. xii, 22--24;

$ 7. (5) As another Property of our Rest, we Thall derive its Joys immediately from God. Now we have nothing at all immediately, but at the second, or third Hand, or how many, who knows? From the Earth, from Man, from Sun and Moon, from the Ministration of Angels, and from the Spirit, and Chrift. Tho', in the Hand of Angels, the Stream favours not of the Imperfection of Sinners, yet it does of the Imperfection of Creatures; and as it comes from Man, it favours of both. How quick and pier cing is the Word in itself(c)? Yet many Times it never enters, being managed by a feeble Arm. What Weight and Worth is there in every Paffage of the bleffed Gofpel? Enough, one would think, to enter and force the dulleft Soul, and wholly poffefs its Thoughts and Affections; and yet how oft does it fall as Water upon a Stone? The Things of God, which we handle, are divine; but our Manner of handling is human. There is little we touch, but we leave the Print of our Fingers behind. If God fpeaks the Word himself, it will be a piercing, melting Word indeed. The Chriftian now knows by Experience, that his moft immediate Joys are his fweetest Joys; which have leaft of Man, and are most directly from the Spirit. Chriftians, who are much in fecret Prayer and Contemplation, are Men of greatest Life and Joy; becaufe they have all more immediately from God himself. Not that we fhould caft off Hearing, Reading, and Conference, or neglet any Ordinance of God: But to live above them, while we use them, is the Way of a Chriftian. There is Joy in thefe remote Receivings; but the Fulness of Foy is in God's immediate Prefence (d). We hall then have Light without a Candle, and perpetual Day without the Sun; for the City has no Need of the Sun,

(c). Heb, iv. 12.

(d) Pfalm xvi. II..

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Sun, neither of the Moon to shine in it, for the Glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof; There fhall be no Night there, and they need no Candle, neither Lights for the Lord God giveth them Light, and they shall reign for ever and ever (e}. We fhall then have enlightened Understandings without Scriptures and be governed without a written Law; for the Lord will perfect his Law in our Hearts, and we shall be all perfectly taught of God. We shall have Joy, which we drew not from the Promifes, nor fetch'd home by Faith or Hope.. We fhall have Commu❤ nion without Sacraments, without this Fruit of the Vine, when Chrift shall drink it new with us in his Father's Kingdom (F), and refresh us with the comforting Wine of immediate Enjoyment. To have Neceffities, but no Supply, is the Cafe of them in Hell. To have Neceffity- fupplied by Means of the Crea tures, is the Cafe of us on Earth. To have Necef. fity supplied immediately from God, is the Cafe of the Saints in Heaven. To have no Neceffity at all, is the Prerogative of God himfelf.

$8. (6) A FARTHER Excellence of this Reft is, that it will be feafonable. He that expects the Fruit of his Vineyard at the Season (g), and makes his People like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water, that bringeth forth his Fruit in his Seafon (h), will alfo give them the Crown in Seafon. He that will have a Word of Hoy spoken in Scafon to him that is weary(i), will furely cause the Time of Joy to appear in the fittest Season. They who are not weary in well-doing, fall, if they faint not, reap in due Seafon (k). If God giveth Rain, even to his Enemies, both the former and the latter in his Season, and referveth the appointed Weeks of Harveft and covenants that there fhall be Day and Night in their

(e) Rev. xxi. 23. xxii. 5. (b) Plaim i. 3.

Seafon

(f) Matt. xxvi, 29. (g) Mark xii. 2.
(i) Ifai. 1. 4.
(k) Gal. vi. 9.

Seafon (1); then furely the glorious Harvest of the Saints fhall not miss its Season. Doubtless he that would not stay a Day longer than his Promife, but brought Ifrael out of Egypt on the felf fame Day when the four hundred and thirty Years were expired (m); neither will he fail of one Day or Hour of the fittest Seafon for his People's Glory. When we have had in this World a long Night of Darkness, will not the Day-breaking, and the Rifing of the Sun of Righte ousness, be then feasonable? When we have passed a long and tedious Journey, thro' no fmall Dangers, is not Home then feasonable? When we have had a long and perilous War, and received many a Wound, would not a Peace with Victory be feafonable? Men live in a continual Wearinefs; efpecially the Saints, who are most weary of that which the World cannot feel. Some weary of a blind Mind; fome, of a hard Heart; fome, of their daily Doubts and Fears; fome, of the Want of fpiritual Joys; and fome, of the Sense of God's Wrath. And when a poor Chriftian hath defired, and prayed, and waited for Deliverance many Years, is it not then feafonable? We grudge, that we do not find a Canaan in the Wilderness; or the Songs of Sion in a strange Land; that we have not a Harbour in the main Ocean, nor our Reft in the Heat of the Day, nor Heaven before we leave the Earth; and would not all this be very unfeafonable?

$9. (7) As this Reft will be feasonable, fo it will be fuitable. The new Nature of the Saints doth fuit their Spirits to this Reft. Indeed their Holiness is nothing else but a Spark taken from this Element, and by the Spirit of Chrift kindled in their Hearts, the Flame whereof, mindful of its own divine Original, ever tends to the Place from whence it comes. Tem

(1) Jer. v. 24. xull, 20.

(m) Exod. xii. 4o, 45,

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