John Trapp on Hebrews 12:23

Verſe 23. To the generall Aſſembly] Or publike meeting of a whole Countrey, as at a great Aſſize, or ſome ſolemn celebrity. The Roman Emperours raiſed up ample Amphitheatres in a circular form, that the people ſitting round about might have a commodious ſight of ſuch pleaſant ſpectacles as were ſet before them. That which Pompey erected was of ſuch extent, that it was able to receive 40000 men, as Pliny witneſſeth. But O what a glorious Amphitheatre is that of heaven? What a ſtately Congregation-houſe? O praeclarum diem cum ad illud animorum concilium caetum que proficiſcar & cum ex hac turba & colluvione diſcedam! Cic deſenect[illegible: 1 letter]te. Surely, if Cicero or ſome other Heathen could ſay ſo, how much more may we exult and ſay, O that dear day when we ſhall go out of this wretched world, and wicked company; to that generall Aſſembly of holy and happy ſouls! And how ſhould we in the mean while turn every ſolemnity into a ſchool of Divinity: as when Fulgentius ſaw the Nobility of Rome ſit mounted in their bravery, it mounted his meditation to the heavenly Jeruſalem. And another when he ſat and heard a ſweet conſort of muſick,M. Eſ[illegible: 1 letter]y. Art of Meditat. by D. Hall. ſeemed upon this occaſion carried up for the time before-hand to the place of his reſt, ſaying very paſſionately, What muſick may we think there is in heaven!

Which are written in heaven] In Jeruſalem records were kept of the names of all the Citizens, Pſal. 48.3. ſo in heaven. And as the Citizens of Rome might not accept of freedom in any other City: ſo neither ſhould we ſeek things on earth, as thoſe whoſe names are written in the earth, Ier. 17.