When GOD sends death as his messenger, for the regenerated man, he meets him half the way to heaven: for his aconversation, and baffection is there ⟨p. 140⟩before him. Death is neither strange nor fearful unto him: not strange, because he cdyed daily: not fearful, because whilst he lived, he was dead, and his life was dhid with Christ in God. To dye, unto him therefore, is nothing else in effect, but to erest from his labour in this world, to go fhome to his gfathers house, unto the hcity of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general assembly and Church of the first borne, to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Testament. Whilst his Body is sick, his Mind is sound: for, God imaketh all ⟨p. 141⟩his bed in his sickness, and strengtheneth him with faith and patience, upon his bed of sorrow; and when he begins to enter into the way of all the world, he giveth (like kJacob, Moses, and Joshua) to his Children and friends, godly exhortations and counsels, to serve the true GOD, to worship him truly all the days of their life. His blessed soul breatheth nothing but blessings, and such speeches as savours a sanctified spirit. As his outward man decayeth, so his inward man increaseth, and waxeth stronger. When the speech of his tongue faltereth, the sighs of his heart speaketh louder unto GOD: when the sight of the Eyes faileth, the Holy Ghost illuminates ⟨p. 142⟩him inwardly with abundance of spiritual light. His soul feareth not nbut is bold to go out of the body, and to dwell with her Lord. He sigheth out with Paul ocupio dissolui, I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. And with pDavid, As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God. My Soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God. He prayeth with the Saints, qHow long O Lord, which art holy and true! rCome Lord Jesus, come quickly. And when the sappointed time of his dissolution is come, knowing that he goeth to his tFather and Redeemer in the peace of a good ⟨p. 143⟩Conscience, and the assured persuasion of the forgiveness of all his sins, in the blood of the Lamb: he sings with blessed old Simeon his uNunc dimittis: Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace, &c.
WHen GOD sends death as his messenger, for the regenerated man, hee meetes him halfe the way to heauen: for his aconuersation, and baffection is there ⟨p. 140⟩before him. Death is neyther strange nor fearefull vnto him: not strange, because he cdyed daily: not fearefull, because vvhilest hee liued, hee vvas dead, and his life vvas dhid with Christ in God. To dye, vnto him therefore, is nothing else in effect, but to erest from his labour in this world, to goe fhome to his gfathers house, vnto the hcitie of the liuing God, the heauenly Ierusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne, to God the Iudge of all, and to the Spirits of iust men made perfect, and to Iesus the Mediator of the new Testament. Whilest his Body is sicke, his Minde is sound: for, God imaketh all ⟨p. 141⟩his bed in his sicknesse, and strengtheneth him with faith and patience, vpon his bed of sorrow; and when hee begins to enter into the way of all the world, hee giueth (like kIacob, Moses, and Ioshua) to his Children and friends, godly exhortations and counsailes, to serue the true GOD, to worship him truely all the dayes of their life. His blessed soule breatheth nothing but blessings, and such speeches as sauours a sanctified spirit. As his outward man decayeth, so his inward man increaseth, and vvaxeth stronger. When the speech of his tongue faultreth, the sighes of his heart speaketh louder vnto GOD: when the sight of the Eyes faileth, the Holy Ghost illuminates ⟨p. 142⟩
- aPhil. 3.20.
- bCol. 3.2.
- c1 Cor. 15.31
- dCol. 3.3.
- eApoc. 14.
- f2 Cor. 5.6.
- gJoh. 14.1.Ioh. 14.1.
- hHeb. 12.22 &c.
- iPsal. 41.3.
- kGen. 49.
- n2 Cor. 5 8.
- oPhil. 1.23.
- pPsal. 42.2.
- qApoc. 6.10
- rApo. 22.20
- s
