A Golden Chain

Thus much of freedom from misery, which is the first benefit that comes by death, and the first steppe to life: now follows the second, which is, that death gives an entrance to the soul, that it may come into the presence of the everliving God, of Christ, and of all the Angels and Saints in heaven. The worthiness of this benefit makes the death of the righteous to be no death, but rather a blessing to be wished of all men. The consideration of this made Paul to say,¹ I desire to be dissolved: but what is the cause of this desire? that follows in the next words, namely, that by this dissolution he might come to be with Christ. When the Queen of Sheba saw all Solomons wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the order of his ministers, and their apparel, &c. she said,² Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants which stand ever before thee and hear thy wisdom: much more then may we say, that they are ten thousand fold happy which stand not in the presence of an earthly King, but before the King of kings, the Lord of heaven and earth; and at his right hand enjoy pleasures for evermore. Moses hath been renowned in all ages for this, that God vouchsafed him but so much favour as to see his hinder parts at his request: O then, what happiness is this, to see the glory and majesty of God face to face, and to have eternal fellowship with God our father, Christ our Redeemer, and the holy Ghost our comforter, and to live with the blessed Saints and Angels in heaven for ever.

Thus much of freedome from miserie, which is the first benefit that comes by death, and the first steppe to life: now followes the second, which is, that death giues an entrance to the soule, that it may come into the presence of the euerliuing God, of Christ, and of all the Angels and Saints in heauen. The worthines of this benefit makes the death of the righteous to be no death, but rather a blessing to be wished of all men. The consideration of this made Paul to say,¹ I desire to be dissolued: but what is the cause of this desire? that followes in the next wordes, namely, that by this dissolution he might come to be with Christ. When the Queene of Sheba saw all Salomons wisdome, and the house that he had built, and the meate of his table, and the sitting of his seruants, and the order of his ministers, and their apparrell, &c. shee saide,