It remains that we say something concerning the Happiness of the Future Estate after this Life is ended.
The Happiness of this Estate is called Eternal Life and consists in the Knowledge and Love of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and the joy and delectation that necessarily results there-from, John 22.3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. That is, know thee to be their God, know thee so as to love thee. Knowledge alone is not sufficient to make us happy; the lapsed Angels know the Excellencies and Perfections of the Divine Nature, but yet they are never the more happy for that Knowledge, because they have no interest in God, nor are like to reap any benefit or advantage by what they know of him. So in Men here in this World, Vertue and Knowledge may be separated: A knowing Man may be a vicious Man, and consequently unhappy. Again, Knowledge of the Mysteries of Nature, and the Works of God, though there be in Man an eager thirst after it, and some pleasure in obtaining it, yet if it terminates only in Knowledge, and be directed to no further end, it doth not contribute much to our Happiness. It is a known saying, Scire tuum vihil est nisi te scire hee sciat alter; and truly I am apt to think there may be something of truth in it. Those Men that exercise their Wits in curious Mathematical Speculations, could they be assured that their Inventions and Discoveries should never come to the knowledge of any Creature but themselves, I doubt whether the pleasure of the Invention, would in their own esteem compensate the labor and toil of the Inquisition. But yet even in this State thus much may be said in commendation of Knowledge; that it doth advance and enlarge the Understanding, and render the Soul capable of a greater degree of Happiness, as I have said before.
But in the World to come the Vision of God cannot be separated from his Love. Such a knowledge of God will transform the blessed Souls to whom it shall be communicated into his holy Image; We shall b[…] like him (saith the Apostle) for we shall see him as he is. None shall be admitted to this sight, but those that are pure in heart; Without holiness no man shall see God. And to these the clear understanding of all the Works of God, both of Creation and Providence, will stir upt he most exalted Affections of Admiration, Love and Joy.
But I shall not proceed further in my own Words to describe the Happiness of a future estate, or Eternal Life, because I find it so fully and clearly done by the Right Reverend Dr. Patrick, now Lord Bishop of Ely, in his Treatise of The Witnesses to Christianity, Part 2d. that I have nothing material to add to it. Therefore I shall transcribe thence what he hath concerning the Love of God; for the rest referring the Reader to the Book it self.
And if (saith he) the Nature of this Life be further examined, you will find the Mind [of which he had spoken before] is not the only Faculty that shall be […], but the Will shall conceive a […] a[…] great as the Knowledge of which I have […]. For as God is the highest object of the Understanding, being the prime Truth, so he is the chiefest Object of the Will, being the first and best Good. And therefore as the Understanding then shall most clearly know him, so the Will in like manner shall most ardently love him, and find perfect satisfaction in that Love. There is a necessary connexion between these thing, and it cannot be otherwise, but that from the best Good clearly known, there will flow the greatest Love, drawing along with it the greatest delight, and the most perfect repose. And therefore to see God contains in its Notion both Love and Delectation, with Rest and Satisfaction. Love naturally flows from thence, as from its Fountain; and the other naturally flow from Love, which is the highest Act of that Faculty which we call the Will, as knowing and contemplating is of the Vnderstanding Desire indeed is the first motion of it, when any thing is apprehended to be good for us: but that will there be quenched in possession and enjoyment, and no more of it can be conceived to remain than a longing for the continuance and increase of this Happiness, which yet will be so certain, that we shall be rather confident than desirous.
The Will therefore having such a glorious Object always before it, will be wholly employed in Love, and spend it self without any decay in flames of affection towards this universal Good, which shines so fairly and brightly in its Eyes. It will apply it self to the enjoyment of it, with as great a vehemency as it can; and laying its Mouth· as St. Augustin teaches me to speak) to the Spring of all Happiness, do more than taste the sweetness of it: We may expect to have it fill’d with those delicious Pleasures which we know attend on Love, and which in that State will be proportionable to the greatness of the good that is embraced, and to the strength and ardency of the embracement.