"When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
that saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
So when this comes to pass, then we shall be saved, then will
salvation in all the parts of it meet together in our glory, then we
shall be every way saved: saved in God's decree, saved in Christ's
undertakings, saved by faith, saved in perseverance, saved in soul,
and in body and soul together, in the heavens; saved perfectly,
everlastingly, gloriously.
I would discourse a little of the state of our body and soul in
heaven, when we shall enjoy this blessed state of salvation.
1. Of the soul. It will then be filled in all the faculties of it
with as much his and glory as ever it can hold.
The understanding will then be perfect in knowledge. "Now we know in
part"--we know God, Chrit, heaven, and glory, but in part; "butswhen
that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away." Then shall we have perfect and everlasting visions of
God, and that blessed One his Son Jesus Christ; a good thought of
whom doth sometimes so fill us, while in this world, that it causeth
joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Then shall our will and affections be ever in a burning flame of
love to God and his Son Jesus Christ. Our love here hath ups and
downs; but there it shall be always perfect with that perfection
which is not possible in this world to be enjoyed.
Then will, our conscience have that peace and joy, that neither
tongue or pen of men or angels can express.
Then will our memory be so enlarged as to retain all things that
happened to us in this world; so that with unspeakable aptness we
shall call to mind all God's providences, all Satan's malice, all
our weaknesses, all the rage of men, and how God made all work
together for his glory and our good, to the everlasting ravishing of
our hearts.
2. For our body, it shall be raised in power, in incorruption, a
spiritual body and glorious.
It is compared to the brightness of the firmament, and to the
shining of the stars for ever and ever. It is compared to the
shining of the sun. It is said that then our vile body shall be like
the glorious body of Jesus Christ. Their state is then to be equally
glorious with angels.
And now when body and soul are thus united, who can imagine what
glory they both possess? They will now be both in capacity without
jarring to serve the Lord; with shouting, thanksgivings, and with a
crown of everlasting joy upon their head.
In this world there cannot he the harmony and oneness of body and
soul that there will he in heaven. Here the body sometimes sins
against the soul, and the soul again vexes and perplexes the body
with dreadful apprehensions of the wrath and judgment of God. While
we are in this world, the body oft hangs this way, and the soul
quite the contrary; but there in heaven they shall have such perfect
union as never to jar more. The glory of the body shall so suit with
the glory of the soul, and both so perfectly suit with the heavenly
state, that it passeth words and thoughts.
Oh sinner, what sayest thou? How dost thou like being saved? Doth
not thy mouth water? Doth not thy heart twitter at being saved? Why,
come then. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come; and let him that
heareth say, Come; and let him that is athirst come; and whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely."