This Life Eternal is called, 1. Reft. Heb. iv. 9. We fhall there reft from all our Labours, Revel. xiv. 13. 1. Of the Mind or Soul. 1. From all Grief and Sorrow, Revel. yii. 17 c. xxi. 4. 2. From all Fears and Jealoufies of future Events, Matt. X. 28. 3.- From all Care and Solicitude, Matt. vi. 34. 4. From all Temptations, 1. Of the Devil, i Pet. v. 8. Rom. xvi. 20. Rev, xii. 9. 10. 2. The World, 1 John ii. 15. Matt. iv, 8,9. 3. The Flefh, Rom. vii. 24. 2. From all the Labours of the Body. From Pains and Aches. From Sickness and Diftempers. From Wearinefs, and whatsoever else is troublefome to the Body, as Hunger, Thirft, &c. 2 Thess. i. 7. 2. It is called the Joy of our Lord, Matt. xxv 21. yea, the Fulnefs of Joy, Pfal. xvi. 11. 3. It is called Paradife, Luke xxiii. 43. 13, Gen. ii, 8, 15. 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4. 4. It is called a Kingdom, Matt. xxv. 34. A City, Heb. xiii. 14. cap. xi. 10. Gal. iv. 26. A Crown, 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. An Inheritance incorruptible, 1 Pet. i 4. 5. The greatest and most unspeakable Happinefs of Mankind, Pfal. xxxi. 19. Ifa. Ixiv. 4. Cor, ii. 9. 2 Cor. iy. 17. This great Happiness confifteth, I. In our Conformity to Chrift, 1 John iii. 2. I Cor. XV. 49: 1. In our Bodies, Phil. iii. 21. 1. His was glorious and fplendid,Matt.xvii. 3. Phil. iii. 21. So fhall ours be at that Time, Dan. xii. 3: Matt. xiii. 43. 2. Quick and agile, Acts i. 9, 10. 1 Theff. iv. 17. Hence it is faid to be a Spiritual Body, I Cor. xv. 44. that is, of a Spiritual Quality, not Subftance. There fhall ftill remain the fame Substance as before; 1. Chrift's Body after his Refurrection had Flesh and Bones, Luke xxiv. 39, 40. Job. XX. 25, 27. 2. Otherwise it could not be a proper Refurrection, Job xix. 26. 1 Cor. xv. 54. 2. It will therefore be the fame Body, but fo refined and fpiritualized, as to be always at the Command of the Soul and Will. 3. As Chrift's Body was incorruptible, Pfal. xvi. 12. Acts ii. 31. So will ours be incorruptible too, 1 Cor. xv $2,53. Our Bodies there will ftand in no Need of Meat or Drink, Rev. vii. 15, 16. 1 Cor. vi. 13. So that we fhall there be in all Refpects, Iodλos, equal to the Angels themselves, Matt. xxii. 30. 2. In our Souls we fhall be made like to Christ. z. In General, Our Souls will be made perfectly Holy and 12: 2. In Particular. 1. Our Understandings perfect in Knowledge, 1 Cor. xiii. 9, 10, 12. 1 Job. iii. z. 2. Our Wills perfect; fo that they cannot Sin. 3. Our Affections. All placed aright upon their right Objects. Fear, Grief, Hatred, Anger, all cease; yea, and Hope too. Love and Joy in their Perfection, 1 Cor. xiii. 8. 13. II. It confifteth in the Company we shall there have; 1. Of glorified Saints of all that ever were, or fhall be upon Earth, Heb. xii. 23. Matt. viii. II. Queft. Whether shall we then know one another? Anfu. Yes, Queftionless: For, 1. Lazarus knew Abraham, Luke xvi. 23. Peters James and John, knew Mofes and Elias in the Mount, Matt. xvii. 3, 4. They knew Chrift when rifen. 2. Adam in the State of Innocency knew his Wife fo foon as he faw her, tho' he had ne ver seen her before, Gen. ii. 23. 3. The Angels know all the Saints and Elect, Mark xiii. 27. And we fhall then be lo γελοία 4. This Knowledge of one another will conduce much to our Joy and Thankfulness to God, and therefore be fure we shall there have it. III. It confifts in our Enjoyments. i 1. Of all the Perfections of God, by feeing and perfectly knowing of them, Matt. v. 8. Heb. xii. 14. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 2. His Love and Favour, Pfal. iv. 6, 7. Pfal. lxvii. 1. Zeph. iii. 17. IV. In our Employment; which will be to admire and adore, and praife God, for his Creation and Prefervation of the World, Rev.iv. 1, II. C. xi. 16. For his Redemption of Mankind, Rev. v. 9, II, 12. And for his own infinite Perfections, Rev. iv. 8. c. vii. 9, 10, 11, 12. V. In the full Content and Satisfaction that will arife from every Thing we there have, or are or do, Pfal. xvi. 11. Pfal. xvii. 15. Though our Defires be infinite, they will be there fully, fatisfied in the infinite Good. Queft. Whether will there be Degrees of Glory in Heaven, fo as that fome fhall have greater Glory than others? Anfw. Yes. For, 1. The Scripture fpeaks of Degrees of Glory, 1 Cor. xv. 41, 42. Dan. xii. 3. 2. There are Degrees of Torment in Hell, Matt. xi. 22, 23, 24. Luke xii. 47, 48. But ftill every One fhall have and enjoy as much as he is capable of. 2. Life Eternal. 1. It is Eternal; fo as never to have an End, 2 Cor. v. 1. 1 Pet. i. 4. Rev. xxi. 4. 2. We shall also be as perfectly affured of it, so as never to fear Death or Mifery more. US E. |