3. The last fort of Hindrances I shall mention, are, the Interruptions and Disturbances the Soul receives from the Senses; it can fcarce be determined, whether our Eyes and Ears give us more Affiftance towards taking in of Knowledge, than Hindrances many times in digesting thofe imperfect Notices they take in, and in purfuing our Notions and Contemplations: How frequently comes it to pafs, that having fet our felves, I will not fay to ftudy, but even to pray, or to meditate on Heavenly and Divine Things, fome untoward, unfeasonable Object is caft in by Senfe, which turns off Thought, and diverts the Soul clearly from its purpofe; stops and checks it in its Motion, and quite puts it out of its Road; and either fcatters or strikes dead all happy Cogitation and Devotion.

Now of all these and the like Numberless Infelicities, Intanglements and Incumbrances, is the Spirit divested in its feparate Estate. And being thus fet free,

II. It foon arrives at a Perfection of its rational Faculty, which immediately becomes furnifh'd with the most agreeable and felicitating Habits.

I. As to the Understanding. It cannot be by us, in our prefent State conceived, what fpeedy and vaft Progrefs the Soul will make in Knowledge, when it fhall be thus enfranchifed and fet at liberty. Nothing in that ftate can hinder its difcurfive Powers, that it fhould not from one Truth known, immediately infer many others; or rather (uno in

1

tuitu) behold an endless Train of Confequents.

But it is to be confidered, the Spirits of Fuft Men, cannot go out of the World poffefs'd, of the Notice only, of One or Two fingle Truths. They have long been endowed with what the wife Agar ftiles the Knowledge of the Holy. (The infight into that Body, and Variety of Truths, which made them wife unto Salvation.) And from fuch plenteous Stock of Principles, how infinite will foon be the Inferences! At least how vaftly various the Improvements, which fuch Minds, advanced now into the Sphere of Intelligences, will make, draw, and accumulate? And befides the Stock of Knowledge, they carry hence with them, what Numbers of new Objects will entertain them in that World of Spirits? The innumerable Company of Angels, the general Affembly, and Church of the First born: (Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, and Confeffors) But above thefe, God the Judge of all, and Jefus the Mediator of the New Covenant: Dear Jefus! Who loved us, and Redeemed us with his Blood; (that long'd for Spectacle) his glorious Person, shall then the Eyes of our Soul behold. We fhall also then know what that Spirit is, which has dwelt in our Hearts, and fanctified us: And we fhall have an intellectual Vision of the Ancient of Days, the Eternal and Almighty Father. We shall then fee clearly through all the Riddles and Myfteries of our Faith. Nay, Faith shall be

Prov. 30.3.

no more, because Sight fhall be in its room. Truly, when I deeply think on these thingsj it seems to me worth ones labour to Die, meerly to be able to frame, but one direct and proper Conception what God is; of whofe Effence here we can, for the main, only frame fome negative Notions, that is, rather say what he is not, than what he is: But one Minute of Eternity, (pardon the Expreffion) will then inform us more, than all Ages of Time have here done. The Lumen Gloria, which inquifitive Wits have talked of, but the deepest Heads feem not to know what here to make of, will indeed foon fhew us a new Univerfe of Wonders. Thus briefly as to the Perfection of the Understanding.

II. As to the, Will: That fhall then perfectly follow the Conduct of this Raised and Heavenly enlightned Judgment: That hall no longer difpute its DiEtates, or in the leaft hang back. Indeed it will be wholly transform'd into Love; into the Love of God, and Chrift, and Angels, and Saints; and amongst the last, even of the Saints too that are on Earth. There will be no defire of any other things, but what are enjoy'd, unless it be of a Re union to the old Friend, its fallen Body, and the gathering together, or compleating the number of the Faithful. The feparate Spirit may perhaps, nay must in courfe of Nature, earneftly delire to be cloathed upon with

its Houfe which is from Heaven: To have its late Corruption, put on Ircorruption; and the whole Man entirely to be with the Lord. But even this defire, fhall be without Pain or Impatience; with the highest Submiffion. to, and Complacency in, the Will of God, till the happy Day of Accomplishment come. There will be no defire, which will not refolve it felf into Delight: And in every act of defire, will meet with infinite Satisfaction in the fight of God. And that fight, ftill inflame new defires; and thus a constant circulation of Delight, and Defire, and Satisfaction be maintained till all be confummated at the Resurrection, and thence to Eternity. O the depth of the Riches of the Goodness and Grace, and Glory of God! Thus briefly as to the Perfection of the Will

Laftly, we may yet conceive of a Third Faculty, even in the feparate Soul, and, that is Memory and Confcience; as Confcience will then fignife a lafting fenfe of what we have done in the Body. Now I fay, that in the future blessed Estate, even this fhall be perfected. That is, all evil Confcience, (all Confdience of Guilt) all Sin fhall be washed a

ay, with the Blood of the Lamb. The penal Senfe or Memory of Sin, fhall be entirely taken off and extinct. Only we may conceive fo much Remembrance of our own Vileness to remain, as may ferve, amicft all our Glories, to raife in us a higher Admiration of the moft glorious Goodness of God, and more Paffionate Love of Chrift. Thus

in the Revelation, while the Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, the Four and Twenty Elders fall down before him that fits on the Throne, and Worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and caft their Cormons before the Throne faying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power: For Thous haft Created 'all Things, and for thy Pleasure they are and were created. Rev. iv. 10, II. They remember themselves naturally Vile; however, now Crown'd and Glorious. They Adore, Love, and Praise the God that has made them otherwife than they were by Nature; and lay all their Glories at the Feet of him who gave them. But I fay, all uneafy memory of Sin, and even of their Infirmities, while they were here below, will be banished. The comfort of their good Works will stick. These follow them, even in Death, (Rev. xiv. 13. ) and the folace of good Confcience, advances into Joy unfpeakable, and full of Glory. Thus as to the Perfection of the Faculties of the feparate Spirits of Juft Men made perfect.

Before we proceed further: Something fhould be faid, that befides the old Faculties which we now have, we do not know but we may have fome new ones added, fuitable to that New World, into which we enter: It seems to me very probable, we shall. But of these things, we can yet only make Conjectures: However, a word in brief, as to the Perfection of their Graces.

Some