The very judgement of 1the wicked and the eternal sentence of them, it is the Churches, why? It adds a lustre to Gods mercy in advancing his own, as it is Rom. 9. 23. God magnifies 2his mercy to the Vessels of mercy by this, by punishing ⟨p. 26⟩a company of Reprobates in whom he hath no delight, by reason of their sins; his mercy much appears by that, even by the eternal sentence and punishment of wicked men. So all serves to set out the glory and excellency of Gods people. St. Paul in Rom. 8. (that Heavenly discourse of his) towards the 3later end of the Chapter saith triumphantly, Nothing shall separate us from Christ, neither Life, nor Death, nor things present, nor things to come, Its a great comfort that nothing to come can do us hurt, but this is a degree of comfort higher, that all things to come are ours, so then this Text affords ⟨p. 27⟩an exuberance of comfort above that, it is excellent comfort that nothing shall separate, no not Death it self: but this is more, death is ours, and in being so, it shall not only not separate us from Christ, though it separate soul and body, but join us to him, I beseech you take it as a Notion that may heple against the terror of that separation that is a means of conjunction, the doleful separation of soul and body. Two old friends join better friends together, the soul and Christ, so things to come are ours, even all things taken in the largest sense, the bitterest ⟨p. 28⟩of all things, even death it self, is ours. There are several Uses but the grand Use which the Apostle manly intends, is.4
The very judgement of 1the wicked and the eternall sentence of them, it is the Churches, why? It adds a luster to Gods mercy in advancing his owne, as it is Rom. 9. 23. God magnifies 2his mercy to the Vessells of mercy by this, by punishing ⟨p. 26⟩a company of Reprobates in whom he hath noe delight, by reason of their sins; his mercy much appeares by that, even by the eternall sentence and punishment of wicked men. So all serves to set out the glory and excellency of Gods people. St. Paul in Rom. 8. (that Heavenly discourse of his) towards the 3later end of the Chapter saith triumphantly, Nothing shall separate us from Christ, neyther Life, nor Death, nor things present, nor things to come, Its a great comfort that nothing to come can doe us hurt, but this is a degree of comfort higher, that all things to come are ours, so then this Text affords ⟨p. 27⟩an exuberancy of comfort above that, it is excellent comfort that nothing shall separate, noe not Death it selfe: but this is more, death is ours, and in being so, it shall not onely not separate us from Christ, though it separate soule and body, but joyne us to him, I beseech you take it as a Notion that may heple against the terror of that separation that is a meanes of conjunction, the dolefull separation of soule and body. Two old friends joyne better friends together, the soule and Christ, so things to come are ours, even all things taken in the largest sense, the bitterest ⟨p. 28⟩of all things, even death it selfe, is ours. There are severall Vses but the grand Vse which the Apostle manely intends, is.4
- 12 All evil2 All evill
- 2Rom. 9. 23.
- 3Rom. 8. 38. 38.
- 4A Christian sure of the future.
