The subjective glory and happiness is the attemperation and suiting of the soul and body to God. This is begun in sanctifica- tion, and perfected in glorification. It consists in removing from both all that is indecent, and inconsistent with a state of such com- plete glory and happiness, and in superinducting and clothing it with all heavenly qualities.
The immunities of the body are its freedom from all natural infirmities ; which as they come in, so they go out with sin. Thenceforth there shall be no diseases, deformities, pains, flaws,
194 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE". SEItJf. XV.
monstrosities ; their good physician death hath cured all this, and their vile bodies shall be made like unto Christ's glorious body, Phil. iii. 21. and be made a spiritual body, 1 Cor. xv. 44. For affiUfv, like the chariots of Aminadab ; for beaut?/, as the top of Lebanon ; for incorruptibility, as if they were pure spirits.
The soul also is discharged and freed from all darkness and ig- norance of mind, being now able to discern all truths in God, that chrystal ocean of truth. The leaks of the memory stopt for ever ; the roving of the fancy perfectly cured ; the stubbornness and reluctancy of the will for ever subdued, and retained in due and full subjection to God. So that the saints in glory shall be free from all that now troubles them ; they shall never sin more, nor be once tempted so to do, for no serpent hisses in that paradise ; they shall never grieve nor groan more, for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. They shall never be troubled more, for God will then recompense tribulation to their troublers, and to them that are troubled, rest; they shall never doubt more, for fruition excludes doubting.
The formal happiness is the fulness of satisfaction resulting from the blessed sight and enjoyment of God, by a soul so attempered to him, Psal. xvii. 15. " When I awake I shall be satisfied with " tliy likeness." This sight of God, in glory, called the beatifical vision, must needs yield ineffable satisfaction to the beholding soul, inasmuch as it will be an intuitive vision. The intellectual or men- tal eye shall see God, 1 John iii. 2. The corporeal glorified eye shall see Christ, Job xix. 26, 27. What a ravishing vision will this be ! and how much will it exceed all reports and apprehen- sions we had here of it ! Surely one half was not told us. It will be a transformative vision, it will change the beholder into its own image and likeness. " We shall be like him, for we shall see him " as he is," 1 John iii. 2. As iron put into the fire, becomes all fiery ; so the soul, by conversing with God, is changed into his very similitude. It will be an appropriative vision ; " Whom I shall " see for myself," Job xix. 26, 27. In heaven interest is clear and undoubted ; fear is cast out : no need of marks and signs there ; for what a man sees and enjoys, how can he doubt of? It will be a ravishing vision ; these we have by faith are so, how much more those in glory? How was Paul transported, when he was in a visional way wrapt up into the third heaven, and heard the un- utterable things, though he was not admitted into the blessed so- ciety, but was with them, as the angels are in our assemblies, a stander-by, a looker-on. If a spark do so inflame, what is it to lie down like a Phoenix in her bed of spices ! Like a Salamander to live and move in the fire of love ! It will also be an eternal vi- sion ; vacabimus et videbimus, (as Augustus said) we shall then be
SERM. XV. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 195
at leisure for this employment, and have no diversions from it for ever. No evening is mentioned to the seventh day's sabbath ; no night in the new Jerusalem. And therefore,
Lastly, It will be a fully satisfying vision : God will then be all in all, Etiam ipsa curiositas satietur, " Curiosity itself will be satis- " fied." The blessed soul will feel itself blessed, filled, satisfied in every part. Ah, what a happiness is here ! to look and love, to drink and sing, and drink again at the fountain head of the highest glory ! And if at any time its eye be turned from a direct to a reflex sight Upon what it once was, how it was wrought on, how fitted for his glory, how wonderfully distinguished by special grace from them that are howling in flames, whilst himself is shouting aloud upon his bed of everlasting rest ; and this will enhance the glory.
And so also will the accessories of this blessedness be ; The place where God is enjoyed, the empyrean heaven, the city of God, whi- ther Christ ascended, where the great assembly are met. Paradise and Canaan were but the types of it ; more excelling and trans- cending the royal palaces of earthly princes, than they do a pigeon- hole. The company also with whom he is enjoyed, adds to the glory. A blissful society indeed ! store of good neighbours in that city. There we shall have familiar converse with angels, whose appear- ances now are insupportable by poor mortals : There will be sweet and full closings also betwixt the saints ; Luther and Zuinglius are there agreed. Here they could not fully close with one another, and no wonder, for they could not fully close with themselves. But there is perfect harmony and unity ; all meeting and closing in God, as lines in the centre. This is a blessed glimpse of your in- heritance.
Thirdly, All this is purchased for believers : hence it is called, u the inheritance of the saints in light," Col. i. 12. " All is yours, " for ye are Christ's," that is the tenure, 1 Cor. iii. 23. So Rom. viii. 30. " Whom he did predestinate, them he also called ; " and whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justi- " fied, them he also glorified." Only those that are sons, are heirs, Rom. viii. 17. The unrighteous shall not inherit, 1 Cor. vi. 9. " It is the Father's good pleasure, to give the kingdom to the " little flock," Luke xii. 32.
Inf. 1. Hath Christ not only redeemed you from wrath, but purchased such an eternal inheritance also by the overplus of his merit for you ? O how well content should believers then be with their Jot of providence in this life, be it what it will f Content did I say ? I speak too low ; overcome, ravished, filled with praises and thanks- givings ; how low, how poor, how afflicted soever for the present they are. O let not such things as grumbling, repining, fretting at providence, be found, or once named among the expectants of this
196 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XIV.
inheritance ! Suppose you had taken a beggar from your door, and adopted him to be your son, and made him heir of a large inheri- tance, and after this he should contest and quarrel with you for a trifle ; could you bear it ? How to work the spirit of a saint into contentment with a low condition here, I have laid down several rules in another discourse *, to which, for the present I refer the reader.