lefs before the prefence of his Glory. 3dly. And will be exceeding Joy unto the Prefented, for they have Joy now in prefent Taftes of Love Communion with GOD and Chrift, in Word, in his Promifes, in his Ordinan in his People, in or with his Minifters, and in Works, as they now and then have in the f Glimpfes of his Glory, that are foon gone. how will their Joy exceed then when th are prefented before the prefence of his Glo That they have Joy now, all that have any perience of Gods love know, and those * Sa tures in the Margin prove. N Bur furely it will then exceed all prefent Me fure, both for Measure and Duration, for th fee these Scriptures. He fball fee his Face wi Joy. Who this is Elihu tells us, it is a Man in very low, languifhing, dying Condition; b fays if there be a Meffenger with him, that if Christ the Meffenger of the Covenant be w him, an Interpreter, one among a Thoufan that is, if the Spirit opens the Meffage Ch comes with into the poor dying Man's Soul, Meffage Chrift is fent with, is to fhew unto Ma his Uprightness, that is to acquaint the Soul wit hisown Uprightnefs as that by which he muft no appear before the Prefence of his Glory, for Chri Uprightness, is his doing every thing fo exac according to Law and Juftice in the room an stead of the poor Soul. (*) Neb. 8. 10. PS. 30.5. 32. 11. 15. 16. Hab. 3. 18. John 15. 11. 15. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Feb. 23. 26. §1. §, 12. Ifa. 12. 3. J 16. 24. Acts 1.3. 5. 2. Rome Mal. 3. 1. Now Now the Spirit interpreting Chrifts Uprighthefs, or his perfect Obedience, or his Righteouf nefs, unto the Soul as its by imputation, now the Soul fees him gracious and that he will deliver him from Hell, and that he fhall fee his Face with Joy, or be prefented before the prefence of his Glory with exceeding joy. Thou wilt fhew me the path of Life, in thy prefence is fullness of joy and at thy right Hand are pleafures for evermore. Pf. 16. 11. No, doubt but thefe Words are Chrift's Acknowledg ment of the Fathers Favour to him, as Man, at his Death and Refurrection, and fo of the Joy that was fet before him. Heb. 12. 2. BUT yet it is the Language of Faith in the Pfalmift, and of others, both before and fometimes even in their laft Conflict with Death, as E have heard of and feen of late two Inftances, of thofe that were near and dear unto me, the one was my Daughter, who I believe was born again, even born from above, or of the Sprit before he was Twelve Years old; for it feemed to me that the Work of Grace was begun in her when fhe was about feven Years old, or before. And the last Words that fhe fpake (which I am fure was not ten Minutes before her Soul departed out of her Body) as I fat by her Bed Side, were these. "Father, I am now a going unto God the high"eft Holiness, the everlafting Rock, a bleeding Jefus, who fhed his Blood for the Remiffion of "our Sins." And in that Inftant shut her Eyes, and fell asleep. My Wife alfo, in the Evening H and and Night fhe died, faid, This Night fhall I be with my Lord; and fpake the words of Simeon when he had Chrift in his Arms; Lord, now let teft thou thy Servant depart in Peace, according to thy Word: For mine Eyes have feen thy Sal vation. And a little after, utter'd these words, He is great in Counsel, mighty in Working; and in her laft Conflicts with Death, cry'd out, It is hard work to die, but Death is unftung, the fting is taken away. MANY fuch Inftances have been in my Day, fo that GOD doth fhew his People the Path of Life at the Hour of Death often times, or a little be fore, as he did with our Brother, he being com fortably carry'd forth in his Soul in beholding the abounding Grace of God and Christ in this Text, with others, and had fweet Peace, and an entire Refignation unto the Will of God. So that we may fay of him as it is faid of fome of the Saints of old, Heb. 11. 13. Thefe all died in the Faith, and fo did he in the Faith of thefe Things and of the Text, and fo no doubt but faw the Path of Life, and is now in the Prefence of his Glory, where is fuilnefs of Joy. So that the Path of Life is Chrift, as view'd in fome Word or Promife of Grace that fills them with Joy and Peace in Believing. But alas, what is this Joy to that which is in the Prefence of his Glory, where is Fullness of Joy without End, or without the leaft Decay; for at his Right Hand are Pleafures for evermore! So that I may conclude now with a little Ufe of the whole. Firf. HENCE learn, That Father, Son, and Spirit, have an equal Hand in the bringing a certain Number of the fallen Race of Mankind fafe through all the Difficultics of Time unto endless Glory. Secondly. HENCE learn, That Jefus Chrift being GoD and Man, is able and meet to be the Saviour and Safety of all that are in Him, He having all the real Properties of both Natures. Thirdly, HENCE learn, To take heed of a vain Converfation of the turning the Doctrines of GoDs free, and full, and fpecial Grace into Laciviouf nefs, and of denying the Lord Jefus Chrift, to be real Gon, one equal with the Father. Fourthly, HENCE learn, The Vanity of trufting in our felves or in any of our Performances, or in any other Creature, Jer. 3. 23. Trucly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the multitude of Mountains, That is, from the greatest Men either in Church or State, yea tho' never fo many of them. Fifthly, Bur hence learn, To give all the Glory to Father, Son, and Spirit for what you are, and for what you have, and for what you hope in another World. Sixthly, and laftly, HENCE learn, the Happinefs of the People of GoD when they depart hence; for it is out of a World of Sins, Sorrows, Fears, Snares and Temptations, into a World of perfect Freedom from them all, and into a fullncts of Joy and Glory. I |