aftonish'd to confider the whole ev'n boundlefs Kingdom of Heaven, deck't and Adorn'd, as one moft Lovely and precious Houfe of God? Well might the Prophet cry, Pfal. 84. 2. My Soul Longeth, Yea even Fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. For who would not Covet with all his Soul, to See and Poffefs such a Royal House, as (in dimenfions, Equals a whole Kingdom? And to fee and Inherit the wideft of all Kingdoms, that (in Magnificence, Ornaments, and Beauty,) may Vye with any King's moft glorious Palace? Our Soul would not only Long, but ev'n be Rapt out of it felf, for fuch a Houfe, and fuch a Kingdom; did we but indeed Believe, and well Confider it. For look ' upon all the moft celebrated Palaces of 'Nobles, and Courts of Kings upon Earth, with the whole of their richest Goods, and fineft Adornments, Yet O what very courfe Stuff would they appear, compar'd with any the leaft Manfion in the Houfe of God!

But we, alas, Grovelling here on the Ground, and all addicted to things Below, Admire what we fee on Earth; and fcarce Think of what's Invisible; Tho' the Greatest and the Best of all. As Children, that were never out of their Fathers poor Hutts, have no Notion or Apprehension of Kings Courts: And as Rufticks, that never

faw

faw a gallant City, are intent upon Cultivating their narrow bits of Ground, and patching up the Mud-walls and Thatch'd Roofs of their little Cotts; And trouble not their heads, about the Palaces, Towers, Courts, Theatres, Treafures, Dignities and Entertainments of Princes. And (it may be) thofe little Children, and thofe poor Rufticks are happier than fome of the high Grandees and mighty Princes of this World: Because the things that appear fo Big and Inviting here upon Earth, may indeed bring more Trouble and Peril, than folid Worth and Advantage, along with 'em. But the Goods in the Heavenly Houfe of God our Father, are really the Greatest and bring neither any Cumber nor Danger; but do perfectly free from both; .and not only for fome little while, but for ever. Therefore S. Paul, that was neither Child, nor Ruftick, but Scholar enough, to know all this World's Good; And had not only been Converfant with Wife men, but Taken up into the House of God, Speaks even of all the beft things in this World to be feen, as not worth a Caft of his eyes. 2 Cor. 4. laft Ver. While we Look not at the things which are Seen; but at the things which are not Seen &c. And Phil. 3. 20. Our Converfation is in Heaven. Whither he directs us all. Col. 3. 1, 2. Seek those things F 2

which

which are Above, where Chrift fitteth at the Right hand of God. Set your Affection on things Above, not on things upon the Earth.

.

[CHA P. III.

Of the Dining-Room of the House of

YET
Yty

,

God.

Ta further Reafon, why the Ciand Kingdom of God are call'd his House is taken from the Words of our Lord, Job. 14. 2. In my Father's Houfe are many Manfions. For as in great Houfes, there are the Dining-Rooms, for Entertainments, the Bed-chambers for Lodging, and the Halls for many Occafions, not fo fit to be Transacted out of doors; So in the House of God there is

I. The Dining-Room; where all the Saints are Entertain'd at the King of Heaven's Table. And that which is moft ftrange, and would not have been Credible, If himself had not told it, Luk. 12. 37. The Lord, that fhall Gird himself, and make the Servants, whom he finds Watching at his Coming, fit down to Meat, (He himself) will come forth and

Serve them. Who ever heard the Like? The Lord, to Stand, and the Servants Sit down! They to Eat, and he to Wait! O did we but Comprehend and ponder this, How much below us fhould we count all manner of Earthly defires? Peter was under a Confufion; Job. 13. 6. Lord, doft thou ftoop fo to Attend upon me? He could not bear the Thought of any 'fuch thing: When he faw fuch Humbling, of Majefty; To give his Servants that most Amazing Demonftration and Pattern of Humility.

But in the Heavenly City, This Miniftration will not be any fuch Low Abafement: For there, the Servants of God will need no Example of Humility, where none fhall be Proud: None fhall be Defctive in any Grace or Virtue. Therefore the Lord's Girding and Serving does only fignify to us moft fweetly, How Expedite and Ready he will be, to heap all his Goods and Joys upon his Brethren and Servants: And fo Lend and Give himfelf to Pleasure and Refresh 'em ; as if he had nothing else to do, but to Communi cate and Impart his Infinite Goodness and Sweetness to Every one, even wholly; As if it were to that particular Saint only.

O Chriftian Soul! what is this that thou heareft? Wilt thou be fo Wife, as to Understand and Admire, what Honour, what Pleasure the Lord of all will Accumulate on his Servants for ever? Did this but go down to the bottom of thy Heart, Be fure thou wouldst be Fervent in Spirit, and Gird thy Loyns, to give Thy felf wholly and moft Gladly to the Service of fo fweet a Lord: And never Look awry upon a Poor Brother neither; Nor difdain even the Loweft Office, to Relieve his Mifery, and Refresh his Bowels, with thy kind Charity. Efpecially, when thy Lord has faid, That he will take it, as done to Himself. Mat. 25. 40.

Yet further; His making the Servants Sit down, Teaches us, That fuch as are Admitted into the House of their Father, are Safe, and quite above the reach of any Danger. Where they may take their Eafe, free from all manner of Fear; and Refresh themselves with all the Goods, whereof that Houfe is fo full, as ever to Abound: And none (by Surprize or Force) ever to come there, and spoil or Interrupt 'em.

In fine; What means the Lord's Miniftring to 'em, but that all their sweet Entertainments are Treafur'd up in Himself? And he is the Bread of Life, and the Fountain of Wisdom and Pleasure. He is

the