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only with the presence, but the highest favours of the best and greatest of kings; and yet have been most miserable. Yea, which of those monarchs, that have the command and dispensation of all greatness, can secure himself from the saddest infelicities? But these spiritual prerogatives are above the reach of all possible miseries, and can and do put thee, in some degree, into an unfailing possession, both real and personal, of eternal blessedness.

I cannot wonder that Peter, when, with the other two disciples upon mount Tabor, he saw the glorious Transfiguration of my Saviour, was out of himself for the time, and knew not what he said; yet, as not thinking himself and his partners, any other ways concerned, than in the sight of so heavenly a vision, he mentions only three tabernacles, for Christ, Moses, Elias, none for themselves; Mark ix. 6. Luke ix. 33. It was enough for him, if, without doors, he might be still blessed with such a prospect: but how had he been rapt from himself, if he had found himself taken into the society of this wondrous transformation, and interested in the communion of this glory! Thy renovation, tnd the power of thy faith, O my soul, puts thee into that happy condition: thou art spiritually transfigured into the similitude of thy Blessed Saviour, shining with his righteousness and holiness; Rom. xii. 2. Eph. iv. 24: so as he is glorified in thee, and thou in him; John xvii. 10. 2 Thes. i. 12: glorified, not in the fulness of that perfection, which will be; but in the pledge and earnest, of what shall and must be, hereafter.

Oh, then, with what unspeakable joy and jubilation, dost thou entertain thy happiness! How canst thou contain thyself any longer within these bounds of my flesh, when thou feelest thyself thus initiated into glory? Art thou in heaven, and knowest it not? knowest thou not, that he, who is within the entry or behind the screen, is as truly within the house; as he, that walks in the hall, or sits in the parlour? and canst thou pretend to be within the verge of heaven, and not rejoice? What is it, that makes heaven, but joy and felicity? thy very thought cannot separate these two, no more than it can sever the sun and light: for both these are equally the originals and fountains of light and joy; from whence they both flow, and in which both are complete. There is no light, which is not derived from the sun; no true joy, but from heaven: as, therefore, the nearer to the body of the sun, the more light and heat; so, the nearer to heaven, the more excess of joy. And certainly, O my soul, there is nothing, but infidelity, can keep thee from an exuberance of joy and delight, in the apprehension of heaven.

Can the weary traveller, after he hath measured many tedious miles, and passed many dangers both by sea and land,

and felt the harsh entertainments of a stranger, chuse but rejoice to draw near, in his return, to a rich and pleasant home? Can the ward, after a hard pupillage, chuse but rejoice that the day is coming, wherein he shall freely enjoy all his lordly revenues and royalties? Can a Joseph chuse but find himself inwardly joyed, when, out of the dungeon, he shall be called up, not to liberty only, but to honour; and shall be arrayed with a vesture of fine linen, and graced with Pharaoh's ring and chain, and set in his second chariot, and in the next chair to the throne of Egypt? And canst thou apprehend thyself now approaching to the glory of the heaven of heavens, a place and state of so infinite contentment and happiness, and not be ecstasied with joy?

There, there shalt thou, O my soul, enjoy a perfect rest from all thy toils, cares, fears: there shalt thou find a true vital life, free from all the incumbrances of thy miserable pilgrimage; free from the dangers of either sins or temptations: free from all anxiety and distraction; free from all sorrow, pain, perturbation; free from all the possibility of change or death: a life, wherein there is nothing, but pure and perfect pleasure; nothing, but perpetual melody of angels and saints, singing sweet Hallelujahs to their God: a life, which the most glorious Deity both gives, and is: a life, wherein thou hast the full fruition of the ever-blessed Godhead, the continual society of the celestial spirits, the blissful presence of the glorified Humanity of thy Dear Saviour: a life, wherein thou hast ever consort with the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the patriarchs and prophets, the noble army of martyrs and confessors, the celestial synod of all the holy fathers and illuminated doctors of the Church; shortly, the blessed assembly of all the faithful professors of the Name of the Lord Jesus, that, having finished their course, sit now shining in their promised glory. See there that yet-unapproachable light, that divine magnificence of the Heavenly King: see that resplendent crown of righteousness, which decks the heads of every of those saints; and is ready to be set on thine, when thou hast happily overcome those spiritual powers, wherewith thou art still conflicting: see the joyful triumphs of these exulting victors: see the measures of their glory different, yet all full, and the least unmeasurable: lastly, see all this happiness not limited to thousands, nor yet millions of years, but commeasured by no less than eternity.

And now, my soul, if thou have received the infallible engagement of thy God, in that, having believed, thou art sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of thine inheritance, until the full redemption of thy purchased possession; Eph. i. 13, 14: if, through his infinite mercy, thou be now upon the entering into that blessed place and state of im

mortality: forbear, if thou canst, to be raised above thyself with the joy of the Holy Ghost: 1 Thes. i. 6: to be enlarged towards thy God, with a joy unspeakable and glorious. See, if thou canst now breathe forth any thing, but praises to thy God, and songs of rejoicing: bearing evermore a part in that heavenly ditty of the angels; Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God, for ever and ever; Rev. vii. 12.

SECT. XIII.

AND now what remains, O my soul, but that thou do humbly and faithfully wait at the gate of heaven, for a happy entrance, at the good pleasure of thy God, into those everlasting mansions?

I confess, should thy merits be weighed in the balance of a rigorous justice, another place, which I cannot mention without horror, were more fit for thee, more due to thee: for, alas, thou hast been, above measure, sinful; and thou knowest the wages of sin, death. But the God of my mercy hath prevented thee, with infinite compassion; Psalm lix. 10: and, in the multitudes of his tender mercies, hath not only delivered thee from the nethermost hell; Psalm lxxxvi. 13: but hath also vouchsafed to translate thee to the kingdom of his Dear Son; Col. i. 13. In him, thou hast boldness of access to the Throne of Grace: thou, who, in thyself, art worthy to be a child of wrath, art, in him, adopted to be a co-heir of glory; and hast the livery and seizin given thee, beforehand, of a blessed possession; the full estating wherein, I do, in all humble awfulness, attend.

All the few days, therefore, of my appointed time, will I wait at the threshold of grace, until my changing come; with a trembling joy, with a longing patience, with a comfortable hope.

Only, Lord, I know there is something to be done, ere I can enter: I must die, ere I can be capable to enjoy that blessed life with thee: one stroke of thine angel must be endured, in my passage into thy paradise. And, lo, here I am before thee, ready to embrace the condition: even, when thou pleasest, let me bleed once to be ever happy. Thou hast, after a weary walk through this roaring wilderness, vouchsafed to call up thy servant to mount Nebo; and, from thence, aloof off, to shew me the Land of Promise, a land that flows with milk and honey. Do thou but say, "Die thou on this hill," with this prospect in mine eye; and do thou mercifully take my soul from me, who gavest it to me; and dispose of it where thou wilt, in that region of immortality. Amen, Amen. Come, Lord Jesu, come quickly.

Behold, Lord, I have, by thy providence, dwelt in this house

VOL. VIII.

Y

of clay more than double the time, wherein thou wert pleased to sojourn upon earth: yet, I may well say, with thy holy Patriarch, Few and evil have been the days of the years of my pilgrimage; Gen. xlvii. 9: few, in number; evil, in condition.

Few, in themselves; but none at all to thee, with whom a thousand years are but as one day. But, had they been double to the age of Methuselah, could they have been so much as one minute to eternity? Yea, what were they to me, now that they are past, but as a tale that is told and forgotten?

Neither yet have they been so few, as evil. Lord, what troubles and sorrows hast thou let me see, both my own and others! what vicissitudes of sickness and health! what ebbs and flows of condition! how many successions and changes of princes, both at home and abroad! what turnings of times! what alteration of governments! what shiftings and downfals of favourites! what ruins and desolations of kingdoms! what sacking of cities! what havocks of war! what frenzies of rebellions! what underminings of treachery! what cruelties and barbarisms in revenges! what anguish in the oppressed and tormented! what agonies in temptations! what pangs in dying! These I have seen; and, in these, I have suffered. And now, Lord, how willing I am to change time, for eternity; the evils of earth, for the joys of heaven; misery, for happiness; a dying life, for immortality!

Even so, Lord Jesu: take what thou hast bought receive my soul to thy mercy; and crown it with thy glory: Amen, Amen, Amen.

THE

GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS,

LAID FORTH

BY WAY OF AFFECTUOUS AND FEELING

MEDITATION.

BY JOSEPH, BISHOP OF NORWICH.

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