Our FATHER. (16) to Our FATHER. (18)

Our FATHER. (16)

6. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from the immodesty of temptation. Satan is not yet fully east into Prison, but is like a Prisoner that goes under bail, he walks about tempting, he labours to trappan us into sin, he is either laying of snares or shooting of darts. Stat in procinctu Diabolus. He laid a train of temptation to blow up the castle of Iobs Faith. This is a great grief to a Believer to be followed with temptations to sin, as it is for a Virgin to have her Chastity assaulted; but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Saints shall be freed from the Red Dragon; he is cast out of Paradise, and shall be for ever lock'd up in Chains; Iude 6:

7. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from all vexing cares. The Greek word for care [gap], comes from a Primitive that signifies to cut the heart in pieces. Care discruciates the Mind, it wasts the Spirits, it eats out the comfort of Life. Care is an evil spirit that haunts us. Care to prevent future dangers and preserve present co[gap] ▪ all care is full of fear, and fear is full of torment; 1 Iohn 4.18. God threatens it as a Judgment, Ezek. 12.19. They shall eat their bread with carefulness. Every Comfort hath its Care, as every Rose its Prickle; but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall shake off this viper of Care. What needs a Saint glorified to take any Care, who hath all things provided to his hand? There is the Tree of Life, bearing all sorts of Fruit. When the Heart shall be freed from Sin, the Head shall be freed from Care.

8. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all Doubts and Scruples. In this Life the best Saint hath his doubtings, as the brightest Star its twinkling. If there were no doubtings there would be no unbelief: Assurance it self doth not exclude all doubting, Psal. 26.3. Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes; but at another time, Psal. 89.49. Lord, where are thy former loving kindnesses? A Christian is like a Ship at Anchor, which though it be safe, yet it may sometimes be tossed upon the Water. Sometimes a Christian questions his interest in Christ, and his title to the Promise; and these doubtings, as they eclipse a Christians Comfort, so they are a bearing false witness against the Spirit: But when the Saints shall come into the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no more doubtings; then a Christian shall say as Peter, Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and delivered me, Acts 12.11. So, now I know that I am passed from Death to Life, now I am got beyond all Rocks, I have shot the gulph, now I am in my Saviours embraces for ever.

9. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all society with the Wicked. Here we are forced sometime to be in their company; Psal. 120.5. Wo is me that I dwell in Mesech, and sojourn in the tents of Kedar. Kedar was Ishmaels Son, whose Children dwelt in Arabia, a profane, barbarous People. Here the Wicked are still raising Persecutions against the Godly, and crucifying their eares with their Oaths and Curses. Christs Lilly is among Thorns, but in the Heavenly Kingdom there shall be no more any pricking bryar; Matth. 13.41. The Son of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend. As Moses said, Exod. 14.13. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever: So will God say, Stand still and see the Salvation of God; these your enemies that vex and molest you, you shall see

them again no more for ever: At that day God will separate the precious from the vile; then Christ will throughly purge his Floor, he will gather the Wheat into the Garner, and the Wicked, which are the Chaff, shall be blown into Hell.

10. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all signs of Gods displeasure. Here God may be angry with his People. Though he hath the heart of a Father, he may have the look of an enemy; this is sad. As when the Sun is gone the Dew falls; when the Light of Gods Face is gone, Tears drop from the Saints Eyes; but in the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no spiritual eclipses, there shall never appear any tokens of Gods displeasure; the Saints shall have a constant aspect of Love from God, they shall never complain any more, as Cant. 5.6. My beloved hath withdrawn himself.

11. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from all Divisions. That which is the saddest thing in the World is to see divisions among them that are good. 'Tis sad that such as have one Faith, yet should not be of one Heart; Ephraim envies Iudah, and Iudah vexeth Ephraim: 'Tis matter of tears to see those who are united to Christ to be divided one from another. The Soldiers spear pierced Christs side, but the divisions of Saints wound his heart; but in the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be no vilifying one another, or censuring: Those who before could hardly pray together, shall praise God together, there shall not be one jarring string in the Saints Musick

12. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from Vanity and Dissatisfaction. What Solomon saith of Wisdom, Iob 28.14. The depth saith, it is not in me: and the sea saith, it is not with me: The same may I say concerning satisfaction, every Creature faith, It is not in me. Take things most pleasing, and which we promise our selves most content from, still out the Spirits and purest Quintessence of them, and we shall say as he did, Eccles. 2.11. And behold all was vanity. God never did or will put a satisfying vertue into any Creature. In the sweetest musick the World makes, either there is some string wanting, or out of tune. Who would have thought that Haman, who was so great in the Kings favour, He set his seat above all the princes of the provinces, Esther 3.1. yet for want of the bowing of a knee, he was dissatisfied; but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from these dissatisfactions. The World is like a Landskip, you may see Gardens and Fruit-trees curiously drawn in the Landskip but you cannot enter into them, but you may enter into the Joyes of Heaven, Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; the Soul shall be satisfied while it bathes in those rivers of pleasure at Gods Right-hand; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness: Psal. 17.15. Thus you see what the Kingdom of Glory implyes; Namely, A Blessed Freedom from all Evil.

13. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from the Torments of Hell, 1 Thess. 1.10. Iesus which delivered us from the wrath to come.

(1.) The multiplicity of these Torments. In this Life the Body is usually exercised but with one pain, the Stone or Head-ache, but in Hell there is a diversity of Torments, there is Darkness to affright, Fire to burn, a Lake of Sulphur to choke, Chains to bind, the Worm to gnaw.

(2.) The Torments of Hell will sieze upon every part both of Body and Soul; the Eyes shall be tortured with the sight of Devils, the Tongue that hath swore so many Oaths shall be tortured, Luke 16.24. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue. The Memory shall be tormented to remember what Mercies have been abused, what seasons of Grace neglected; the Conscience shall be tormented with self-accusations.

(3.) In the pains of Hell there is no mitigation, no mixture of Mercy. In this Life, God in Anger remembers Mercy, Hab. 3.2. but in Hell there is no alleviation or lessening of the pains: As in the Sacrifice of Jealousie, Numb. 5.15. God would have no Oyl or Frankincense put to it, so in Hell there is no Oyl of Mercy to lenifie the sufferings of the Damned; no Incense of Prayer to appease Gods Wrath.

(4.) In the pains of Hell there is no intermission. The Poets feign of Endymion that he got leave of Iupiter alwayes to sleep. What would the damned in Hell give for one hours sleep? Rev. 14.11. They rest not day nor night; they are perpetually upon the rack.

(5.) In the pains of Hell there is no expiration; they must alwayes lye scorching in flames of Wrath; Rev. 14.11. The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever: but in the Heavenly Kingdom the Elect shall be freed from all infernal torments; Jesus hath delivered us from the Wrath to come. A Prison is not made for the Kings Children. Christ drank that bitter cup of Gods Wrath, that the Saints might never drink it.

2. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is a Glorious Fruition of all Good. Had I as many Tongues as Hairs on my Head, I could not fully describe this; I may say as Iudg. 18.9, 10. Heaven is called, The excellent Glory, 2 Pet. 1.17. I may as well span the Firmament, or drain the Ocean, as set forth the Glory of this Kingdom. Caelum non habet Hyperbolem, The Kingdom of Heaven is beyond all Hyperbole Were the Sun ten thousand times brighter than it is, it could not parallel the lustre of this Kingdom; Apelles Pensil would blot, Angels Tongues would lessen it: I can but give you the [gap], or dark shadow of it, expect not to see it in all its orient colours till you are mounted above the Stars. But let us not stand afar off, as Moses, to behold this Canaan, but enter into it and taste the honey. Concerning the Fruitions and Priviledges of the Heavenly Kingdom.

1. We shall have an immediate Communion with God himself, who is the inexhausted Sea of all Happiness: This Divines call, The Beatifical Vision. The Psalmist did triumph in that enjoyment he had of God in this Life, Psal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? If God enjoyed by Faith doth give so much Comfort to the Soul, how much more when he is enjoyed by immediate Vision. Here we see God but darkly through the glass of Ordinances, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, we shall see him face to face; 1 Cor. 13.12. we shall have an intellectual sight of God, i. e. we shall see him with the eyes of our mind; we shall know God as much as the Angels in Heaven do, Matth. 18.10 1 Cor. 13.12. We shall know as we are known. We shall have a full knowledge of God, though not know him fully; as a Vessel in the Sea is full of the Sea, though it holds not all the Sea. To see and enjoy God will be most delicious; in God are beams of Majesty and bowels of Mercy; God hath all Excellencies concentred in him, bonum in quo omnia bona. If one Flower should have the sweetness of all Flowers, how sweet would that Flower be? All the beauty and sweetness which lyes scattered in the Creature is infinitely to be found in God; therefore to see and enjoy him will ravish the Soul with delight. We shall so see. God as to love him, and be made sensible of his Love; and when we shall have this sweet Communion with God, then God shall be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.28. Light to the eye, Manna to the taste, Musick to the ear.

2. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven, with these eyes, see the Glorified Body of Jesus Christ. This our Saviour makes a great part of the Glory of Heaven, to view the Glory of his Humane Nature, Iohn 17.24. [gap], That they may behold my glory. When Christ was transfigured upon Earth, it is said, That his face did shine as the sun, and his rayment was white as the light; Matth. 17.2. If the Glory of his Transfiguration was so great, what will the Glory of his Exaltation be? Much of the Glory of God shines in Christ by vertue of the Hypostatical Union, Col. 2.9. In whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Through Christs Humanity, as through a bright mirrour, we may see some beams of the Divine Majesty shine forth; put a back of Steel to a Glass, and you may see a Face in it. Christs Humane Nature is as a back of Steel put to the Divine Nature; through this we may see God, and then our Capacities shall be enlarged to a wonderful degree to receive this glorious object; and we shall not only see Gods Glory, but some of his Glory shall be put upon us; non tantum aderit Gloria sed inerit, Bern. A Beggar may behold the Glory of a King and not be the happier, but Christs Glory shall be ours; We shall be like him, 1 Iohn 3.2. we shall shine by his beams.

3. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven, enjoy the society of innumerable company of Angels, Heb. 12.22.

Quest. But is there not enough in God to fill the Soul with delight? Can the sight of Angels add to the Souls happiness? What need is there of the light of Torches when the Sun shines?

Answ. Besides the Divine Essence, the sight of Angels is desirable; much of Gods curious workmanship shines in the Angels; the Angels are beautiful, glorious Creatures; and as the several strings in a Lute make the harmony sweeter, and the several Stars make the Firmament brighter, so the society with Angels will make the delight of Heaven the greater, and we shall not only see the Angels with the glorified eye of our understanding, but converse with them.

4. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have sweet society with Glorified Saints; then the Communion of Saints will be illustrious. O what a blessed time will it be, when those who have prayed, wept, suffered together, shall rejoyce together; we shall see the Saints in their white Linnen of Purity, and see them as so many Crowned Kings; in beholding the Saints Glorified we shall behold an Heaven full of Suns. Some move the Question whether we shall know one another in Heaven: Surely our knowledge shall not be diminished but increased. It is the Judgment of Luther and Anselm,

and many other Divines, that we shall know one another, yea, the Saints of all Ages whose Faces we never saw; and when we shall see the Saints in Glory without their spots, viz. their infirmities, Pride and Passion, this will be a glorious sight. We see how Peter was transported when he saw but two Prophets in the Transfiguration, Matth. 17.3. but what a blessed sight will it be when we shall see such a Glorious Company of Prophets, and Martyrs, and Holy Men of God: How sweet will the Musick be when they shall all sing together in consort in the Heavenly Quire: And tho' in this great Assembly of Saints and Angels, one Star may differ from another in Glory, yet no such weed as Envy shall ever grow in the Paradise of God; then there shall be perfect Love, which as it casts out Fear, so also Envy; though one Vessel of Glory may hold more than another, yet every Vessel shall be full.

5. In the Kingdom of Heaven there shall be incomprehensible Joy. Aristotle saith, Ioy proceeds from Vnion. When the Saints Union with Christ is perfected in Heaven, then their Joy shall be full; all the birds of the Heavenly Paradise sing for Joy. What Joy when the Saints shall see the great gulph shut, and know that they are passed from Death to Life; what Joy when they are as holy as they would be, and as God would have them to be; what Joy to hear the Musick of Angels, to see the golden banner of Christs Love displayed over the Soul, to be drinking that Water of Life which is quintessential, and is sweeter than all Nectar and Ambrosia; what Joy when the Saints shall see Christ clothed in their Flesh, sitting in Glory above the Angels, then they shall enter into the joy of their Lord, Matth. 25.21. Here Joy enters into the Saints in Heaven▪ they enter into joy. O thou Saint of God who now hangest thy harp upon the Willows, and minglest thy drink with weeping, in the Kingdom of Heaven thy Water shall be turned into Wine, you shall have so much felicity that your Souls cannot wish for more. The Sea is not so full of Water, as the Heart of a Glorified Saint is of Joy; there can be no more Sorrow in Heaven than there is Joy in Hell.

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6. In Heaven there is honour and dignity put upon the Saints: A Kingdom imports honour. All that come into Heaven are Kings; they have 1. a Crown, Rev. 2.10. dabo tibi, the Crown of Life; Corona est insigne regiae potestatis. This Crown is not lined with Thorns, but hung with Jewels; it is a never-fading Crown, 1 Pet. 5.4. 2. The Saints in Heaven have their Robes; they exchange their Sackcloth for white Robes, Rev. 7.9. I beheld a great multitude which no man could number, clothed in white robes. Robes signifie their Glory, White their Sanctity. And 3. They sit with Christ upon the Throne: Rev. 3.21. We read 1 Kings 6.33. the doors of the Holy of Holies were made of Palm-trees, and open Flowers covered with Gold; an emblem of that victory and that garland of Glory which the Saints shall wear in the Kingdom of Heaven. When all the Titles and Ensigns of Worldly honour shall lye in the dust, the Mace, the Silver Star, the Garter, then shall the Saints honour remain.

7. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have a blessed Rest. Rest is the end of motion; Heaven is Centrum quietativum animae, the blessed Centre where the Soul doth acquiesce and rest. In this Life we are subject to unquiet motions and fluctuations, 2 Cor. 7.5. [gap], We are troubled on every side; like a Ship on the Sea, having the waves beating on both sides; but in the Kingdom of Heaven there is Rest, Heb. 4.9. How welcome is Rest to a weary Traveller? When Death cuts asunder the string of the Body, the Soul as a Dove flyes away and is at Rest. This Rest is when the Saints shall lye on Christs bosom, that hive of sweetness, that bed of perfume.

8. The Saints shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have their Bodies richly bespangled with Glory; they shall be full of Clarity and Brightness, as Moses Face shined, that Israel were not able to behold the Glory; Exod. 34 30. The Bodies of the Saints shall shine seven times brighter than the Sun, saith Chrysostome; they shall have such a resplendency of Beauty on them, that the Angels shall fall in love with them; and no wonder, for they shall be made like Christs glorious body; Phil. 3.21. The Bodies of Saints glorified need no Jewels, when they shall shine like Christs Body.

9. In the Heavenly Kingdom is Eternity; 'tis an eternal fruition, they shall never be put out of the Throne; Rev. 22.5. They shall reign for ever and ever. It is called the everlasting kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. and an eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. The Flowers of Paradise, of which the Saints Garland is made, never wither. If there could be a cessation of Heavens Glory, or the Saints had but the least fear or suspicion of losing their Felicity, it would infinitely abate and cool their Joy; but their Kingdom is for ever, the Rivers of Paradise cannot be dryed up, Psal. 16.11. At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. The Kingdom of Heaven was typified by the Temple which was built with Stone, covered with Cedar, over-laid with Gold, to show the fixed permanent state of Glory, that Kingdom abides for ever. Well may we pray, Thy Kingdom come:

Having spoken of the Kingdom of Grace, and how we may know that Kingdom is set up in our Hearts: I am next speaking of the Kingdom of Glory, or Heaven.

• 1. What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven.

• 2. What are the Properties of this Kingdom.

• 3. Wherein this Heavenly Kingdom excels all the Kingdoms upon Earth.

• 4. When this Kingdom shall be bestowed.

• 5. Wherein appears the Certainty and Infallibility of it.

• 6. VVhy we should pray for the coming of this Kingdom.

1. Quest. What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven?

Resp. 1. It imports a blessed freedom from all evil. 2. It implies a glorious fruition of all good. (1.) Immediate communion with God, who is the inexhausted Sea of all Happiness. (2.) A visible beholding the glorified Body of Jesus Christ. (3.) A glorious Vision of Saints and Angels. (4.) Dignity and Honour, the Crown and white Robes. (5.) A blessed Rest.

Quest. 2. What are the Properties or Qualifications of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Resp. 1. The Glory of this Kingdom is solid and substantial; the Hebrew word for Glory, [gap], signifies a VVeight, to show how solid and weighty the Glory of the Caelestial Kingdom is: The Glory of the worldly Kingdom is Aery and imaginary; like a blazing Comet, or Fancy: Act. 25.23. Agrippa and Bernice came with a great Pomp, [gap] with a great Fancy. Iob. 26.7. The Earth hangs like a Ball in the Air without any thing to uphold it: The Glory of the Heavenly Kingdom is substantial, it hath twelve Foundations, Rev. 21.14. That which God and Angels count Glory, is true Glory.

2. The Glory of this Kingdom is satisfying, Psal. 36.9. With thee is the Fountain of Life. How can they choose but be full, who are at the Fountain head? Psal. 17.15. When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness. i. e. VVhen I awake in the Morning of the Resurrection, having some of the Beams of thy Glory shining in me, I shall be satisfied. Iob 28.14. The Creature saith concerning Satisfaction, It is not in me: If we go for Happiness to the Creature, we go to the wrong Box; only Heavens Glory is commensurate to the vast Desires of an Immortal Soul: A Christian bathing himself in these Rivers of Pleasure, cries out in a Divine Extasy, I have enough: The Soul is never satisfied till it hath God for its Portion, and Heaven for its Haven; Dissatisfaction ariseth from some defect, but God is an Infinite Good, and there can be no defect in that which is Infinite.

3. The Glory of Heavens Kingdom is pure and unmix'd; the Streams of Paradise are not muddied, omnia clara, omnia jucunda; there that Gold hath no alloy; no bitter ingredient in that Glory, but pure as the Honey drops from the Comb; there is a Rose grows without Prickles, the Rose of Sharon; there is Ease without Pain; Honour without Disgrace; Life without Death.

4. The Glory of this Kingdom is constantly exhilarating and refreshing; there's fulness but no surfeit. Worldly Comforts though sweet, yet in time grow stale: A Downbed pleaseth a while, but within a while we are weary and would rise. Too much Pleasure is a pain: But the Glory of Heaven doth never surfeit or nauseate; the reason is, because as there are all Rarities imaginable, so every Moment fresh Delights spring from God into the glorified Soul.

5. The Glory of this Kingdom is distributed to every individual Saint: In an Earthly Kingdom the Crown goes but to one, a Crown will fit but one Head; but in that Kingdom above, the Crown goes to all; Rev. 1.6. All Elect are Kings. The Land is settled chiefly upon the Heir, and the rest are ill provided for: But in the Kingdom of Heaven all the Saints are Heirs; Rom. 8.17. Heirs of God, and [gap] Co-heirs with Christ. God hath Land enough to give to all his Heirs.

6. Lucid and Transparent. This Kingdom of Heaven is adorned and bespangled with Light: 1 Tim. 6.16. Light is [gap] the Glory of the Creation, Eccl. 11.7. The Light is sweet: Hell is a dark Dungeon, Mat. 22.13. Fire but no Light. The Kingdom of Heaven is a Diaphanum, all imbroidered with Light, clear as Christal. How can there want light where Christ the Sun of Righteousness displaies his Golden Beams; Rev. 21.23. The Glory of the Lord did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof.

7. The Glory of this Kingdom is adequate and proportionable to the desire of the Soul; In Creature-Fruitions, that which doth commend them and set them off to us is Suitableness: The Content of Marriage doth not lye either in Beauty or Portion, but the suitableness of Disposition. The Excellency of a Feast is when the Meat is suited to the Pallat: This is one ingredient in the Glory of Heaven, it exactly suits the desires

of the glorified Saints; we shall not say in Heaven, Here is a Dish I do not love! There shall be Musick suits the Ear, the Anthems of Angels; and Food that suits with the glorified Pallat, the hidden Manna of Gods Love.

8. The Glory of this Kingdom will be seasonable; the seasonableness of a Mercy adds to the Beauty and sweetness; it is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. After an hard Winter in this cold Climate, will it not be seasonable to have the Spring Flowers of Glory appear, and the singing of the Birds of Paradise come? When we have been wearied and even tired out in battle with sin and Satan, will not a Crown be seasonable?

3. Quest. Wherein the Kingdom of Heaven infinitely excels all the Kingdoms of the Earth?

Resp. 1. It excels in the Architect: Other Kingdoms have Men to raise their Structures, but God himself laid the first Stone in this Kingdom, Heb. 11.10. This Kingdom is of the greatest Antiquity; God was the first King, and Founder of it; no Angel was worthy to lay a Stone in this Building.

2. This Heavenly Kingdom excels in Altitude; 'tis higher scituated than any Kingdom; the higher any thing is, the more excellent: The Fire being the most sublime Element is most Noble. The Kingdom of Heaven is seated above all the visible Orbs: There is first the Aery Heaven, which is the space from the Earth to the Sphere of the Moon 2. The Starry Heaven, the place where are the Planets of an higher Elevation, Saturn, Iupiter, Mars. 3. The Caelum Empyraeum the Empyraean Heaven, which Paul calls the third Heaven: Vbi Christ is, there is the Kingdom of Glory scituated. This Kingdom is so high, that no Scaling Ladders of Enemies can reach it; so high that the old Serpent can't shoot up his fiery Darts to it. If wicked Men could build their Nests among the Stars, yet the least Believer would shortly be above them.

3. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other in Splendor and Riches; it is described by precious Stones, Rev. 21.19. What are all the Rarities of the Earth to this Kingdom? Coasts of Pearl? Rocks of Diamonds? Islands of Spices? What are the Wonders of the World to it? The Egyptian Pyramides? The Temple of Diana? The Pillar of the Sun offered to Iupiter? What a rich Kingdom is that where God will lay out all his cost? Those who are poor in the World, yet as soon as they come into this Kingdom, grow rich, as rich as the Angels: Other Kingdoms are inriched with Gold, this is inriched with the Deity.

4. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other Kingdoms in Holiness: Kingdoms on Earth are for the most part unholy; there's a Common Shore of Luxury and Uncleanness running in them: Kingdoms are Stages for sin to be acted on; Isa. 28.8. All Tables are full of Vomit: But the Kingdom of Heaven is so holy that it will not mix with any Corruption, Rev. 21.27. There shall enter into it nothing that defileth. 'Tis so pure a Soyl, that no Serpent of Sin will breed there: There is Beauty which is not stained with Lust; and Honour which is not swelled with Pride: Holiness is the brightest Jewel of the Crown of Heaven.

5. The kingdom of Heaven excels all other kingdoms in its pacifick Nature; 'tis Regnum Paci[gap], a kingdom of Peace. Peace is the Glory of a Kingdom; Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior. A Kings Crown is more adorned with the white Lilly of Peace, then when it is beset with the red Roses of a bloody War; but where shall we find an un-interrupted Peace upon Earth? Either home-bred Divisions, or Forreign Invasions; 2 Chron. 15.5. There was no Peace to him that went out, or to him that came in. But the kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of Peace; there are no Enemiest o conflict with; all Christs Enemies shall be under his Feet, Psal. 110.1. The Gates of that kingdom alwaies stand open; Rev. 21.25. The Gates shall not be shut at all; to show, that there's no fear of an assault of an Enemy; the Saints when they dye are said to enter into Peace, Isa. 57.2. There's no beating of Drums, or roaring of Canons, but the Voice of Harpers harping in token of Peace: Rev. 14.2. In Heaven Righteousness and Peace kiss each other.

6. The Kingdom of Heaven excels in Magnitude; 'tis of vast Dimensions; though the Gate of the kingdom be strait, we must pass into it through the strait Gate of Mortification; yet when once we are in it is very large; though there be an innumerable Company of Saints and Angels, yet there is room enough for them: The kingdom of Heaven may be called by the Name of that Well, Gen. 26.22. Iacob called the Name of it Rehoboth, for he said, now the Lord hath made room for us. Thou who art now confin'd to a small Cottage, when thou comest into the Caelestial kingdom thou shalt not be straitened for room: As every Star hath a large Orb to move in; so it shall be with the Saints when they shall shine as Stars in the kingdom of Heaven.

7. The Kingdom of Heaven excels in Unity; all the Inhabitants agree together in Love: Love will be the Perfume and Musick of Heaven; as Love to God will be intense, so to the Saints: Perfect Love as it casts out Fear, so it casts out Envy and Discord. Those Christians who could not live quietly together on Earth, (which was the Blemish of their Profession) yet in the kingdom of Heaven the fire of Strife shall cease; there shall be no vilifying, or censuring one another, or raking into one anothers sores; but all shall be tied together with the Heart-strings of Love; there Luther and Suinglius are agreed; Satan cannot put in his Cloven Foot there to make Divisions; there shall be perfect Harmony and Concord, and not one jarring String in the Saints Musick: It were worth dying to be in that kingdom.

8. This kingdom exceeds all Earthly in Joy and Pleasure; therefore it is called Paradise, 2 Cor. 12:4. for delight: There are all things to cause Pleasure; there is the Water of Life pure as Christal; there's the Honey-comb of Gods Love dropping: 'Tis called, entring into the Ioy of our Lord, Mat. 25.23. There are two things cause Joy;

(1.) Separation from Sin: Sin creates Sorrow; but when this Viper of Sin shall be shaken off, then Joy follows; there can be no more sorrow in Heaven, then there is Joy in Hell.

(2.) Perfect Union with Christ: Joy, as Aristotle saith, flows from Union with the Object. When our Union with Christ shall be perfect, then our Joy shall be full; If the Joy of Faith be so great, 1 Pet 1.8. then what will the Joy of Sight be: Ioseph gave his Brethren Provision for the way, but the full Sacks of Corn were kept till they came at their Fathers House: God gives the Saints a Tast of Joy here, but the full Sacks are kept till they come to Heaven; not only the Organical Parts, the outward Sences, the Eye, Ear, Tast shall be filled with Joy: But the Heart of a Glorified Saint shall be filled with Joy, the Understanding, Will, and Affections are such a Triangle as none can fill but the Trinity: There must needs be infinite Joy where nothing is seen but Beauty; nothing is tasted but Love.

9. This kingdom of Heaven excels all Earthly in self-perfection: Other kingdoms are defective, they have not all Provision within themselves, but are fain to trafick abroad to supply their wants at home; King Solomon did send to Ophir for Gold, 2 Chron. 8.18. But there is no defect in the kingdom of Heaven; it hath all Commodities of its own growth, Rev 21.7. there is the Pearl of Price, the Morning Star, the Mountains of Spices, the Bed of Love; there are those sacred Rarities wherewith God and Angels are delighted.

10. This kingdom of Heaven excels all other in Honour and Nobility; it doth not only equal them in the Ensigns of Royalty, the Throne and white Robes; but it doth far transcend them: Other Kings are of the Blood-Royal; but they in this Heavenly kingdom are born of God: Other Kings converse with Nobles; the Saints Glorified are Fellow Commoners with Angels; they have a more Noble Crown, 'tis made of the Flowers of Paradise, and is a Crown that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.4. they sit on a better Throne: King Solomon ▪ 1 Kings 10.18. sat on a Throne of Ivory overlaid with Gold; but the Saints are in Heaven higher advanced; they sit with Christ upon his Throne, Rev. 3.21. they shall judge the Princes and great Ones of the Earth, 1 Cor. 6.2. This honour have all the Saints Glorified.

Our FATHER. (18)

11. This kingdom of Heaven excels all others in healthfulness: Death is a Worm that is ever feeding at the Root of our Gourd; kingdoms are oft Hospitals of sick persons: But the kingdom of Heaven is a most healthful Climate; Phisicians there are out of date; no Distemper there; no passing Bell, or Bill of Mortality; Luke 20.36. neither can they dye any more; in the Heavenly Climate are no ill Vapours to breed Diseases; but a sweet aromatical Smell coming from Christ; all his Garments smell of Myrrh, Aloes, and Cassia.

12. This kingdom of Heaven excels in Duration, it abides for ever: Suppose Earthly kingdoms to be more glorious then they are, their Foundations of Gold, their Walls of Pearl, their Windows of Saphyre; yet they are corruptible and fading; Hos. 1.4. I will cause the Kingdom to cease: Troy and Athens now lie buried in their Ruines, jam Seges est ubi Troja fuit. Mortality is the Disgrace of all Earthly kingdoms; but the kingdom of Heaven hath Eternity written upon it; it is an everlasting kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.1[gap]. 'tis founded upon a strong Basis, Go[gap]s Omnipotency; this kingdom the Saints shall never be turned out of, or be deposed from their Throne, as some Kings have been, viz. Hen. VI. &c. But shall reign, [gap], for ever and ever, Rev. 22.5.

How should all this affect our Hearts? What should we mind but this kingdom of Heaven, which doth more out-shine all the kingdoms of the Earth, then the Sun out-shines the Light of a Taper?

4. Quest. When this Kingdom shall be bestowed?

Resp. This Glory in the kingdom of Heaven shall be begun at death, but not perfected till the Resurrection.

1. The Saints shall enter upon the kingdom of Glory immediately after death, before their Bodies are buried their Souls shall be Crowned, Phil. 1.23. having a desire [gap], to depart and be with Christ; from this Connexion departing and being with Christ, we see clearly that there is a subitus transitus, speedy passage from death to Glory: No sooner is the Soul of a Believer divorced from the Body, but it presently goes to Christ, 2 Cor. 5.8. absent from the Body, present with the Lord; it were better for Believers to stay here, if immediately after death they were not with Christ in Glory; for here the Saints are daily encreasing their Grace; here they have many praelibamina, sweet tasts of Gods love, so that it were better to stay here if their Soul should sleep in their body, and they should not have a speedy sight of God in Glory: But this is the Consolation of Believers, they shall not stay long for their kingdom; 'tis but winking and they shall see God; it will be a blessed change to a Believer; from a Desert to a Paradise, from a bloody battle to a victorious Crown, and a sudden Change; no sooner did Lazarus dye but he had a Convoy of Angels to conduct his Soul to the kingdom of Glory. You who now are full of bodily Diseases, scarce a well day, Psal. 31.10. My Life is spent with Grief; be of good Comfort, you may be happy before you are aware, before another Week or Month be over you may be in the kingdom of Glory, and then all tears shall be wiped away.

2. The Glory in the kingdom of Heaven will be fully perfected at the Resurrection and general day of Judgment; then the Bodies and Souls of Believers will be re-united; what Joy will there be at the Re-union and meeting together of the Soul and Body of a Saint! O what a welcome will the Soul give to the Body! O my dear Body thou didst oft joyn with me in Prayer, and now thou shalt joyn with me in Praise, thou wert willing to suffer with me, and now thou shalt reign with me, thou wert sown a vile Body, but now thou art made like Christs Glorious Body, we were once for a time divorc'd, but now we are married and Crowned together in a kingdom and shall mutually congratulate each others Felicity.

5. Quest. Wherein appears the Certainty and infallibility of this Kingdom of Glory?

Resp. That this blessed kingdom shall be bestowed on the Saints, is beyond all Dispute.

1. God hath promised it, Luke 12.32. It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom, Luke 22.29. I appoint unto you a Kingdom, Gr. [gap], I bequeath it as my last Will and Testament: Hath God promised a kingdom, and will he not make it good? Gods promise is better then any Bond, Tit. 1.2. In hope of eternal Life, which God, that cannot lye, hath promised. The whole Earth hangs upon the Word of Gods Power; and cannot our Faith hang upon the Word of his Promise?

2. There is a Price laid down for this kingdom; Heaven is not only a kingdom which God hath promised, but which Christ hath purchased: 'Tis called a purchased Possession, Eph. 1.14. Though this kingdom is given us freely, yet Christ bought it with the Price of his blood; Christs blood is an Heaven-procuring blood; Heb. 10.19. Having boldness to enter into the Holiest (i. e. into Heaven) by the blood of Iesus. Crux Christi Clavis Paradisi, Christs blood is the key that opens the Gates of Heaven to us; should not the Saints have this kingdom, then Christ would lose his Purchase: Christ on the Cross was in hard Travail, Isa. 13.11. he travailed to bring forth Salvation to the Elect; should not they possess the kingdom when they dye, Christ should lose his Travail, all his Pangs and Agonies of Soul upon the Cross should be in vain.

3. Christ prays that the Saints may have this kingdom settled upon them, Iohn 17.24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, i. e. in Heaven. This is Christs Prayer that the Saints may be with him in his kingdom, and be bespangled with some of the Beams of his Glory; now if they should not go into this heavenly kingdom, then Christs Prayer would be frustrated; but that cannot be, for he is Gods Favourite, Iohn 11.42. I know thou hearest me alwaies; and besides what Christ prays for, he hath power to give: Observe the manner of Christs Prayer, Father, I will; Father; there he prays as Man, I will, there he gives as God.

4. The Saints must have this blessed kingdom by vertue of Christs Ascension, Iohn 20.17. I ascend to my Father, and your Father, to my God, and to your God. Where lies the comfort of this? here it lies, Jesus Christ ascended to take Possession of heaven for all Believers as an Husband, takes up Land in another Country in the behalf of his Wife, so Christ went to take possession of heaven in the behalf of all Believers, Iohn 14.2. I go to prepare a place for you: My Ascension is to make all things ready against

your coming: I go to prepare the heavenly Mansions for you: The Flesh that Christ hath taken into heaven is a sure Pledge that all our Flesh and Bodies shall be where he is ere long. Christ did not ascend to heaven as a private Person, but as a publick Person for the good of all Believers: his Ascension was a certain Fore-runner of the Saints ascending into heaven.

5. The Elect must have this blessed kingdom, in regard of the previous Works of the Spirit in their hearts; they have the beginning of the kingdom of heaven in them here; Grace is heaven begun in the Soul, besides God gives them primitias spiritus, the first Fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8.23. These First-fruits are the Comforts of the Spirit; the First-fruits under the Law were a certain sign to the Jews of the full Crop or Vintage which they should after receive: The First-fruits of the Spirit consisting in Joy and Peace, do assure the Saints of the full Vintage of Glory they shall be ever reaping in the kingdom of God; and the Saints in this Life are said to have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts, 2 Cor. 5.5. as an earnest is part of Payment, and an assurance of Payment in full to be made in due Time, So Gods Spirit in the hearts of Believers giving them his Comforts, bestows on them an earnest or tast of Glory, which doth further assure them of that full Reward which they shall have in the kingdom of heaven, 1 Pet. 1.8. believing ye rejoyce, there is the earnest of heaven; Verse 9. receiving the end of your Faith, Salvation, there is the full Payment.

6. The Elect must have this blessed Kingdom by virtue of their Coalition and Vnion with Jesus Christ. They are Members of Christ, therefore they must be where their Head is. Indeed, the Arminians hold that a justified person may fall from Grace, and so his Union with Christ may be dissolved, and the Kingdom lost; but I would demand of them, can Christ lose a Member of his body? then he is not perfect; and if Christ may lose one Member of his Body, why not as well all by the same reason? and so he shall be an head without a Body, but be assured a Believers Union with Christ cannot be broken, and so long he cannot be hindred of the kingdom, Iohn 17.12. what was said of Christs natural Body is as true of his Mistical, Iohn 10.39. A bone of him shall not be broken: Look how every Bone and Limb of Christs natural Body was raised up out of the Grave, and carried into Heaven, So shall every Member of his Mistical Body be carried up into Glory.

7. We read of some who have been translated into this Kingdom, Paul had a sight of it, for he was caught up into the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12. and the converted Thief on the Cross was translated into Glory, Luke 23.43. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. By all that hath been said it is most evident, That Believers have a glorious Kingdom laid up for them in reversion, and that they shall go to this Kingdom when they dye: There are none doubt of the certainty of the Heavenly Kingdom, but such as doubt of the Verity of Scripture.

6. Quest. Why we should so earnestly pray for this Heavenly Kingdom, Thy Kingdom come.

Resp. 1. Because, it is a kingdom worth praying for, it exceeds the glory of all earthly kingdoms; it hath Gates of Pearl, Rev. 21.21. We have heard of a Cabinet of Pearl, but when did we hear of Gates of Pearl? In that Kingdom is the Bed of Love, the Mountains of Spices, there are the [gap]herubims not to keep us out, but to welcome us into the Kingdom: Heaven is a Kingdom worth praying for; there's nothing wanting in that Kingdom which may compleat the Saints happiness; for, wherein doth Happiness consist? Is it in knowledge? We shall know as we are known: Is it in Dainty Fare? We shall be at the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb: Is it in rich Apparel? We shall be clothed in long White Robes: Is it in delicious Musick? We shall hear the Quire of Angels singing: Is it in Dominion? We shall reign as Kings, and judge Angels: Is it in Pleasure? We shall enter into the Ioy of our Lord. Sure then this Kingdom is worth praying for, Thy Kingdom come. Would God give us a Vision of Heaven a while, as he did Stephen, who saw Heaven opened, Act. 7.56. We should fall into a Trance, and being a little recovered out of it, how importunately would we put up this Petition, Thy Kingdom come.

2. We must pray for this kingdom of Glory, because God will not bestow this kingdom on any without Prayer; Rom. 2.7. They who seek for Glory and Immortality; and how do we seek but by Prayer? God hath promised a kingdom, and we must by Prayer put the Bond in suit; God is not so lavish as to throw away a Kingdom on them who do not ask it; and certainly if Christ himself who had merited Glory, did yet pray for it, Iohn 17.5. Now O Father Glorify me with thy own self; How much more ought we to pray for the Excellent Glory, who have this Kingdom granted as a Charter of Gods meer Grace and Favour.

3. We must pray that the kingdom of Glory may come, that by going into it we may make an end of sinning. I think sometimes what a blessed time it will be never to have a sinful thought more; though we must not pray, Thy Kingdom come, out of discontent, because we would be rid of the troubles and crosses of this Life. This was Ionahs fault, he would dye in a pet, because God took away his gourd, Lord, saith he; take away my life too; Ionah 4.8. But we must pray, Thy Kingdom come, out of an holy design that the fetters of corruption may be pulled off, and we may be as the Angels, those Virgin Spirits who never sin: This made the Church pray, Rev. 22.20. Veni Domine Iesu.

4. Because that all Christs enemies shall be put under his feet; the Devil shall have no more power to tempt, nor wicked Men to persecute; the Antichristian-Hierarchy shall be pulled down, and Sions Glory shall shine as a lamp; and the Turkish strength shall be broken.

5. We must pray earnestly that the kingdom of Glory may come, that we may see God face to face, and have an interrupted and eternal communion with him in the Empyrean Heaven. Moses desired but a glimpse of Gods Glory, Exod. 33.18. how then should we pray to see him in all his embroidered Robes of Glory, when he shall shine ten thousand times brighter than the Sun in its Meridian splendour. Here in this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him; how earnestly therefore should we pray, Thy Kingdom of Glory come. The beholding and enjoying God will be the Diamond in the Ring the very Quintessence of Glory. And must we pray, Thy Kingdom come; how then are they ever like to come to Heaven who never pray for it? Though God gives some prophane persons Daily Bread who never pray for it, yet he will not give them a kingdom who never pray for it. God may feed them, but he will never crown them.