THE HAPPINESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS. VII. The happiness of the righteous in heaven, is inconceivably great. 1 Cor. ii. 9. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Isa. lxiv 4. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Rom. viii. 29. Phil. iii. 21. VIII. Christians are heirs. Rom. viii. 17. If children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ. Chap. iv. 7. Gal. iii. 27 Heirs according to the promise. Eph. iii. 6. Tit. iii. 17. Heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Heb. i. 17. Heirs of salvation. vi. 17. Heirs of promise. Chap. xi. 7, 10. Heirs of righteousness by faith. James ii. 5. Heirs of a kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Heirs of the grace of life. Christians have an inheritance, a kingdom, &c. Matt. xix. 21. Thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Ver. 29. Shall inherit everlasting life. xxv. 34. Christ will say, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world. Luke Luke xxii. 29. I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father hath appointed unto me. Ver. 30. That ye may eat at my table, and drink in my kingdom. Acts xiv. 20. We must through manifold tribulations enter into the kingdom of God. xx. 32. To an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith, in Jesus Christ. Chap. xxvi. 18. Rom. v. 17. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him. Matt. xix. 28. Gal.iii. 18. An inheritance not of law, but of promise. Rom.iv.14. Eph. i. 11. In Christ we have obtained an inheritance. Ver. 14. The spirit of promise is the earnest of our inheritance. Ver. 18. The glory of God's inheritance in the saints. : Col. i. 12. The Father hath made us meet to be partakers of the in heritance of the saints in light. Col. iii. 24. Of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. 1 Thess. ii. 12. God hath called us to his kingdom and glory. 2 Thess. i. 5. That ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdom for which ye suffer. 3 2 Tim. iv. 18. The Lord shall preserve me to his heavenly kingdom. Heb. ix. 15. Christ the mediator, &c. that they might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.... : Heb. x. 34. An enduring substance. Chap. xii. 28. A kingdom that cannot be moved. 2.Pet. i. 3. God hath begotten us to a lively hope. Ver. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven. 2 Pet. i. 11. An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Rev. i. 6. Jesus Christ hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. Chap. v. 10. xx. 4, 6. See Luke vi. 20. xiii. 28, 29. xiv. 15. xxi. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. 1 Cor. vi. 9. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ver. 10. Gal. v. 21. Eph. v. 5. IX. The righteous have rest. Job. iii. 17. There (in heaven) the weary are at rest. Ps. cxvi. 7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul. Jer. vi. 16. Walk in the good way and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Isa. lvii. 2. Matt. xi. 28. Come unto me (said Jesus,) and I will give you rest. Ver. 29. Ye shall find rest unto your souls. 2 Thess. i. 7. God will give you rest, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. Heb. iv. 9. There remaineth a rest for the people of God. Rev. xiv. 13. The dead which die in the Lord, rest from their labour, and their works do follow them. X. Others enjay mansions, a new heaven, an heavenly temple, light, c. John xiv. 2. In my Father's house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you. Ver. 3. I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. 2 Pet. iii. 13. We look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Rev. iii. 4. They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. Rev. xxi. 22. The Lord God Almighty, and the lamb are the tem ple of it. Ver. 23. The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. : xxii. 4. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. Ver. 5. The Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. XI. They are present with Christ. John xvii. 24. I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. Chap. xii. 26. Col. iii. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1 John iii. 2. 1 Thess. iv. 17. We shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Rev. iii. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy. Rev. iii. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Ver. 5. Rev. vii. 15. They are before the throne of God, and serve hím day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. xiv. 4. These are they which follow the lamb, withersoever he goeth, these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Ver. 5. XII. Are in a state of joy. Ps. xvi. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life, in thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Ps. xxxvi. 8, 9. Isa. xxxv. 10. Matt. xxv. 21. Enter into the joy of thy Lord. Jude 24. He is able to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. XIII. Free from pain and sorrow. Isa. xxxiii. 24. The inhabitant shall not say I am sick, the prople that dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity. xxxv. 10. Sorrow and sighing shall fly away. lx. 19. The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither shall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Ver. 20. Matt. vi. 20. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt nor thieves break through and steal. Rev. vii. 15. They are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall lead them. Ver. 16. And they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. Ver. 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. N. B. The above texts from Isaiah though prophetical of the happy state of the church on earth, are more strictly true and expressive of the happiness of glorified saints in heaven. Rev. xxi. 4. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. xxii. 3. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him. XIV. Eternal life is from God. Ps. xi. 6. Thou wilt shew me the path of life. Acts ii. 28. xxxvi. 9. With thee is the fountain of life. Ixiii. 3. Thy loving kindness is better than life. Rev. xxii. 1. I beheld a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Ver. 2. In the midst of the street and of either side of the river was the Tree of Life. See life through Christ. XV. Life promised to sundry graces and duties. See promises to faith in Christ, to obedience. Lev. xviii. 5. Keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them. Neh. ix. 29. Ezek. xx. 11, 13, 21. Rom. x 5. Gal. iii. 5. Ezek. xviii. 9. He that hath walked in my statutes and kept my judgments, he shall surely live. Ver. 17, 19. Chap. xxxiii. 13. Matt. xix. 16. One came and said unto Jesus, good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life ! Ver. 17. Jesus said unto him if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Ver. 18, 19, 21. Mark x. 17, 19. Luke x. 25, &c. John iv. 36. He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. xii. 50. The Father's commandment is life everlasting. Rom. ii. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honour and immortality, God will give eternal life. vi. 22. Being made free from sin, and become the servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. Rev. ii. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. xxii. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. See promises to obedience, to good works, well-doing, &c. XVI. To the righteous. Prov. xi. 19. Righteousness tendeth to life. Ver. 30. Chap. xxi. 21. xii. 28. In the way of righteousness is life, and in the path way thereof is no death. Matt. xxv. 46. The righteous shall go into life eternal. See promises to the righteous. XVII. To the spiritually minded. Rom. viii. 6. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Ver. 10, 13. Gal. vi. 8. He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. XVIII. To seeking God. Ps. xxii. 26. Your hearts shall live that. seek him. Amos v. 4. Seek ye me, and your soul shall live. See seeking God's promises. XIX. To godliness. See promises to godliness. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. XX. To the fear of God. See promises to fearing God. Prov. xiv. 27. The fear of the lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. Chap. xix. 23. xxii. 4. XXI. To loving God. See promises to loving God. James i. 12. A crown of life he hath promised to them that love him. XXII. To mortification, dying unto sin. Matt. xviii. 8. If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from you, it is better for thee to enter into life, halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. Ver. 9. If thine eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee, it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Rom. vi. 8. If we be dead with Christ we shall also live with him. Ver. 11. Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Gal ii. 20. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Rom. viii. 2. 2 Tim. ii. 11. If we be dead with Christ we shall also live with him. XXIII. To suffering for Christ's sake. Matt. x. 39. He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. John xii. 25. xix. 29. Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. XXIV. To perseverance. Rev. ii. 10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Matt. x. 22. XXV, To those that overcome. Rev. ii. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. See ver 11, 17, 26. Ch. iii. 5, 12, 21. Ch. xxi. 7. XXVI. To repentance. See promises to repentance, conversion, turning, &c. Acts xi 18. Then hath God unto the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. XXVII. To the wise. See promises to the love and study of wisdom. Prov. iv. 4. Wisdom saith, keep my commandments and live. viii. 35. Whoso findeth wisdom findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Ch. xvi. 22. Eccl. vii. 12. Wisdom giveth life. See chap. xiii. 14. xv. 24. FUTURE PUNISHMENTS. Sinners that shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt. v. 20. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ch. vii. 21, 22, 23. Jesus said, not every one, that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 22. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works ? Ver. 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Luke xiii. 26. xviii. 3. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ya shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Mark x. 15. Mark x. 23, 24, 25, 27. Jesus said, how hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God? how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God ?-It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible. Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter into at the strait gate, for many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Matt. vii. 13. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. : |