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regant, to reckon that I had Deferved it, by fuch my Service. When the truth is, It comes to me, not for my unworthy Labour, but of his gracious Promife; whofe Kingdom is no Debt to me, as my Obedience is for certain Owing to Him. Tea, by it be makes me Meet for the Inheritance of his Saints in Light. When otherwife, I am in no Tendency thither my felf, nor ever like to Edify, but rather Scandalize others; Sadd'ning the bearts of fome, and helping to Harden the rest; whence Wo would be to me, for fuch Offence coming by me.

But my pious Affection, my Heaven'y Difpofition, and exemplary Converfation, are the good Omens, and most comfortable Prognofticks ef my future Exaltation, my certain Glorification, and everlasting Salvation. For what is the Spiritual Life, but the First- Fruits and very Initials of Eternal Life? What's Grace, but Glory in the Bud? And what Heaven, but God's Crowning of his own Good work? How does it therefore concern me, my Soul, with the highest Care, to Attend the Kingdom of God within me, as ever I expect that Kingdom of Heaven which is before me? To cherish the Seed of his Grace, and daily to be Cultivating and improving the New Life, Till it grow up to, and End in that most bliffful Life, which will never End?

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For, to Lay hold on Eternal Life is not rudely to Snatch it, without any previous Qua lification

do they prove but the Tempter's Baits, to catch our Souls? Alas, Here are only the empty Shells: Above are all the Kernels of Satisfying and Everlasting Delights.

But let us fee, what holy Scripture intimates of this Paradife, to notify its Joys; Then try to Open 'em; And after, Demonstrate, That they are far above all we can ever Comprehend or Imagine. Ezek. 28. 13. 'Tis call'd the Garden of God. Luk. 22. 43. The Place whither the Soul of our Bleffed Lord went from the Crofs; and where he promis'd the penitent Thief to be with him. 2 Cor. 12. 3. The Place whither S. Paul was caught up, To See and Hear what was Inexpreffible. And, Rev. 2. 17. The Lord promifes to give him that Overcomes , to eat of the Hidden Manna. Luk. 14. 16. 'Tis fet forth by a great Supper. Rev. 19. By the Supper of the Lamb, Luk. 22. 13. By Eating and Drinking with cur Lord, at bis Table, in his Kingdom. Mat. 25. By the Wedding, to which the Virgins went in. And Mat. 22. 2. By the Marriage of the King of Heaven's Son. And what Pleasures use to be wanting at fuch Feftivals and Nuptials? There are all Entertainments, for delight of the Guests: Every thing to make 'em Merry and Joyful. But what's above all, 'Tis the King of Heaven's own Joy. To which all the H

Joy

Joy upon Earth is very pitiful and Mean : Our Lord calls it His Joy. Mat. 25. 21. Enter into the Joy of thy Lord. And that, for certain, will be a Joy worthy of God..

CHAP. II.

Of the Joy of the Understanding.

'HE Kingdom of Heaven being the Seat of true Joys, Let us enquire in fome Particulars, What they are. And First, Take notice of the Joys of the Understanding, Will, and Memory; as pertaining to the Scul: And then, of the Joys of the feveral Senfes, as belonging to the Body. Not that the Understanding, Memory, and Bodily Senfes are the proper Subjects of Joy: For Joy and Defire do indeed belong to the Will, in the Superior Part; and to the Appetite, in the Inferior. But fpeaking according to Vulgar apprehenfion, We fay, The Eye is delighted with the beauty of Colours; or the Ear, with the sweetness of Sounds. Whereas the Eye and Ear are truly no more than Organs and Veffels, by which that Delight is convey'd to the Heart. By

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the Joy of the Understanding, Memory, and External Senfes, then, we mean that Delight, which a man perceives by the things which he Underftands, Remem. bers, or takes in at at the Gates of Senfe.

Now, (as far as we can conceive,) The chief and Principal Joy of the Bleffed will be, with Mental Eyes, to See Gol Face to Face. I Cor. 13. 12. To See him as he is. 1 Job. 3. 2. And how great will be this Joy, we may make fome Conjecture from the holy Scripture-reprefentation of it, As exceeding all the Joys which any one has. ever Seen, Heard, Defir'd or Thought. Ifa. 64. 4. and I Cor. 2. 9. For here is meant the prime Effential Blifs, confifting in the Vifion of God himself. According to Mat. 5.8. Bleffed are the Pure in heart; For they hell See God. And Job. 17. 3. This is Life Eternal, To Know thee, the only true God. And how great is that Amplification of the Good found in this Vifion? To be fuch, as no man ever Saw, or Heard, or knew how to Defire, or fo much as Imagine? Nor is this any Flourish; But the greatest Verity. For the Eyes, Ears, and Heart of man are us'd only to fuch Joys as are Bounded, Meafur'd, and Finite. Whereas the Vifion of God, is the Vifion of Light Inacceffible, and altogether Infinite; H2

which

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comprises in it all manner of Good. Andtherefore when Mofes begg'd of God, To fhew him his Glory, Exod. 23. 18. The Lord answer'd him, I will make all my Goodnefs pafs before thee.

Yea, Reafon tells us, That the Delight which is perceived by the Understanding requires thefe Three things; An Intelligent Power, a meet Object, and the Union of that Object with the Power. Now, by how much Abler is the Power, and Nobler the Object, and clofer the Union, So much greater muft be the Delectation. But that the Understanding or Mind is much Higher, Nobler, Brighter, and Livelier; and fo abundantly apter for Knowing, than any outward Senfe, cannot be made a Queftion. That God alfo is the Supreme and moft Glorious Object, not only above all the Objects of Senfe, but above all elfe that the Mind can ever perceive; Becaufe he's an Infinite Good, and all manner of Good, Yea Goodness it felf; This can be no more doubted. And then, that the Union of the Undei standing with God by open Vifion, is the mott intims te Union, Whereby the very Effence of God penetrates the whole Mind, and all the Mind it felf is Immers'd and tranfform'd into God, as the mighty Ocean of all Delectation, is. no less certain.

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