1.49-52 A Glorious Church in Heaven

Section 1.49. Of the Fruition of Christ's Presence in Heaven.

Eph 5:27.—That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy, and without blemish.

Having noted the inference of this verse upon the former: I will now handle it distinctly by itself. In it is contained a description of the glorious estate of the church in heaven. Of that estate must this description be here meant, for on earth it is not simply without spot or wrinkle: though it be prepared so to be.

This estate is—

1. Generally propounded.

2. Particularly exemplified.

In the general proposition is noted,

1. Her condition, she is presented to Christ.

2. Her quality, glorious.

The particular exemplification thereof is—

1. Privative, by removing all deformity: noted in two words,

Spot.

Wrinkle.

2. Positive, by adorning her with beauty: noted also in two words,

Holy.

Blameless.

The word present is taken from the custom of solemnizing a marriage: first the spouse was wooed, and then set before her husband that he might take her to wife, to be with him. Thus Eve was presented by God to Adam that he might take her for his wife: [Gen 2:22] and Esther among other virgins was presented to Ahasuerus. [Esther 2:13] This shows that—

Doctrine. The church in heaven shall enjoy the presence of Christ: Christ himself says expressly to his disciples, I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also. [John 14:2-3] On this ground did the apostle desire to depart, namely to be with Christ, [Phil 1:23] and to be present with the Lord. [2 Cor 5:8]

In heaven is the marriage between Christ and the church solemnized, which here on earth has been in preparing. God the Father has given his son unto the church, [John 3:16] and the church unto his son: [John 17:6] yea Christ himself has purchased the church unto himself by his blood, [Acts 20:28] and promised marriage unto her, and the more to assure the church of his love he has bestowed many gifts upon her: [Eph 4:8] he has further sent his ministers in his name to woe [John 3:29] and beseech the church to give her consent, [2 Cor 5:20] and to prepare her as a pure virgin for himself: [2 Cor 11:2] Hereupon the church has given her consent, for as a spouse she is subject unto Christ as unto an head. [Eph 5:24] These things being so, how can it be thought that Christ will forsake her, and not receive her to be with him forever?

Encouragement Against Death

Use. Can the thought of death be terrible to such as know and believe the truth hereof? Will not rather the consideration thereof make them with the apostle to sigh, and desire to depart, that they may be with the Lord? The highest degree of the church's happiness consists in this fruition of the presence of her spouse: for so he becomes all in all unto her: not by means, as in this world, but immediately by himself: so as there shall need no minister, no sacrament, no ordinance to set forth Christ unto us: no Governor in family, church, or commonwealth, to represent his person, or to keep us in subjection: no light to direct us, no food to sustain us; we shall be so assisted with Christ as we shall need nothing. If those servants were happy that stood continually before Solomon, what are they that always stand not as servants but as a wife in his presence that is infinitely greater than Solomon? [Exod 33:23] If it were a great grace and favor, that Moses saw the back-parts of God, [1 Cor 13:12] what a grace and favor is it, to behold Christ face to face? For when he doth appear, we shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2] Though now we be absent from the Lord, yet let us uphold ourselves with the expectation and assurance of this, that we shall be presented before Christ.

Section 1.50. Of the Glory of the Church in Heaven.

Doctrine. The quality of the church in heaven is as excellent as may be, and therefore here said to be glorious: all beauty, all comeliness, all grace, whatsoever may make the church amiable, lovely, or any way to be desired, or admired, is comprised under this word glorious. In this respect the saints are said to shine, and that as precious stones, [Rev 21:11] yea as the firmament, [Dan 12:3] as the stars, and as the sun: [Matt 13:43] and to be like Christ himself: [1 John 3:2] and to appear with him in glory. [Col 3:4]

This glory of the saints extends both to soul and body, and whole person.

In regard of their souls they shall be all glorious within: [Ps 45:13] for they are Spirits of just men, made perfect: [Heb 12:23] perfect knowledge, wisdom, and all manner of purity shall be in them. [1 Cor 13:12]

In regard of their bodies, they shall be fashioned like to Christ's glorious body: [Phil 3:21] and that in incorruption, immortality, beauty, brightness, grace, favor, agility, strength, and the like. It is therefore truly said, that the church in the end of the world expects that which is before demonstrated in Christ's body.

In regard of their person, as a wife is advanced to the honor and dignity of her husband, so shall they to the honor and dignity of Christ, so far as they are capable of it: for they shall be next unto Christ, [Luke 22:30] yea one with him, [John 17:21] and so above the most glorious angels. [Heb 1:14]

Much more might be spoken of the glory of the church: but never can enough be spoken thereof, no not by the tongue of men or angels: for eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them which love him. [1 Cor 2:9] When Paul was rapped up into the third heaven, and saw but a glimpse of this glory, he heard unspeakable words, which are not possible for man to utter. [2 Cor 12:4] Wherefore when he speaks of it, he uses such a transcendent kind of phrase, as cannot in any tongue be fully expressed: [2 Cor 4:17] we thus as well as we can by one degree of comparison upon another translate it, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Use. Is not this sufficient to uphold us against all the reproach and disgrace which the world lays upon us, because we are of the church of Christ? The world has of old counted her, to whom Christ says, Hephzibah (that is, my delight in her) and Beulah (that is, married) forsaken and desolate, [Isa 62:4] yea as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things. [1 Cor 4:13] Among heathen, none so vilely esteemed of as Christians; and amongst Papists, none so as Protestants; and amongst carnal gospellers, none so as they who endeavor to purify themselves as Christ is pure, [1 John 3:3] and to avoid the common sins of the world. When for Christ's sake we are basely accounted of, let us think of this.

Section 1.51. Of the Church's Freedom from All Deformity in Heaven.

Eph 5:27—Not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.

The first point noted by the apostle in his exemplification of the forenamed glory, is a removing of all deformity. The word translated spot, is taken for a stain on a garment, and a foul speck on a man's face, or other part of the body: or a scar, or other blemish in his flesh by a sore, wound, blow, or the like. The other word wrinkle is taken for a crease in the face through old age, for it signifies a gathering together of the skin by old age: by it is meant any manner of breaking (as we speak) by age, sickness, trouble, pain, or the like. Because there may be also deformities other ways, the apostle adds this clause or any such thing. These things applied to the church, show that— 

Doctrine. No manner of deformity shall cleave to the church in heaven. There shall be in her no stain or contagion of sin received from others, no scar of any evil humor arising from itself, no wrinkle, no defect of spiritual moisture, no sign of the old man, nor any thing that may any way make it seem deformed, or uncomely in the sight of Christ. Not only great, heinous, capital sins, (which are as botches and boils, and as open, wide sores, gashes and wounds) but all spots and specks, all wrinkles and defects, all manner of blemishes whatsoever within, or without, shall be clean taken away. Sin shall not only be subdued in us, but utterly rooted out of us: no relic, no sign thereof shall be left remaining. In this respect it is said, that God shall wipe away all tears, [Rev 7:17; Rev 21:4] that is, shall take away all matter of mourning, sorrow, and grief. Now there is nothing that ministers matter of more sorrow to the saints than sin. That remnant of sin which was in the apostle even after his regeneration, made him thus cry out, O wretched man that I am. [Rom 7:24]

Though this be but a privative good, yet it adds much to the heavenly happiness of the saints. If it were possible that we should enjoy the rest and glory prepared for the saints in heaven, and withal there should remain on us the spots and wrinkles of sin, these spots and wrinkles would be as the handwriting which appeared to Belshazzar in the midst of his jollity: [Dan 5:5] they would be as gall mixed with wine: they would turn all our joy into heaviness, and take away the sweet relish of all our happiness. The consideration therefore of this privative benefit cannot but breed in the hearts of all such as are members of this church a longing desire after this perfect purging of them from all deformity.

Section 1.52. Of the Perfect Purity of the Church in Heaven.

Eph 5:27—But that it should be holy and without blemish.

The last branch whereby the celestial glory of the church is set forth, is the perfect purity thereof: the adversative particle but shows that the holiness here spoken of is no imperfect holiness, such as the sanctification of the saints is in this world, but an absolute perfect holiness in all the parts and degrees thereof: such as is without spot or wrinkle: without relic, or sign of sin: and therefore by way of explanation is added, without blemish, or blameless: such as man, angel, nor God himself can find fault withal. This attribute is often applied to the person and blood of Jesus Christ, [Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:19] and therefore it must needs set forth perfect purity. Whence we may observe that—

 The sanctification of the saints shall be perfect in heaven. They shall not only be justified by having their sins covered to them, nor only have their sanctification truly begun in them, but also in every part, point, and degree thereof absolutely perfected: in which respect they are said to be just men make perfect. [Heb 12:23] Adam in his innocency was not more pure than the saints shall be in heaven: yea they shall far surpass Adam as in the measure, so in the stability and perpetuity thereof.

Use. In our endeavor after holiness let us have an eye to this perfection: and not faint, if we attain not to that measure which we desire. Perfection is reserved for the world to come. Yet know we, that the more holy and blameless we are, the nearer we come to that heavenly estate: the more spots and blemishes of sin we have, the more unlike we are unto it, and the less hope we have of enjoying that heavenly happiness.

General Uses of the Glorious Estate of the Church in Heaven

All the forenamed several points of the glorious estate of the church in heaven should ravish our spirits, and even break our hearts with an holy admiration of Christ's goodness, and fill our mouths with praises for the same, and make us sigh, and long after the same, and with all good conscience and diligence use all the means we can to attain thereunto: no labor will be lost herein. Surely, this is either not known, or not believed, or not remembered, or not duly and seriously considered by such as make light account thereof. Let that which has been but briefly touched be further meditated upon, and let us pray that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened, that we may know what is the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints. [Eph 1:18] Were it not for this hope, the saints were of all the most miserable; [1 Cor 15:19] whereas now they are the most happy.