Here is Pauls desire to be dissolved, and the cause, that he might be with Christ: wherein first you shall see the difference between the faithful and the wicked, how one loatheth this life, and the other longeth after it. Secondly, because the Apostle seems to desire death, you shall see whether any man may wish to die. Thirdly, because after his dissolution he hopes to be with Christ; you shall see the diversity of judgements between Paul and the Papists, which think when they are dead, that they shall go on to Purgatory. Lastly, because the souls which are with Christ cannot walk as they did when they lived upon the earth, you shall hear a little of walking spirits, which have ⟨p. 522⟩been so much talked of in the time of popery, and were taken for the souls of them which were dead: after we will speak a little of the Sacrament which ye come to receive, and so commit you to God. I desire to be dissolved. 1Before Christs coming, when the Kings or Patriarchs died, it is said, that they went to their fathers,2 as we read of David and Solomon,3 &c. but after Christs coming, when the faithful die, they are said to go to Christ,4 as we read of the penitent thief, Luke 23. 43. Not because the Patriarchs went not to Christ as well as they, but because yet Christ was not ascended to heaven: therefore they are not to go to Christ, although if they went to heaven they must needs go to Christ, because Christ touching his Godhead, was always in heaven. I desire to be dissolved: As the worldly long for Christ to come to them, so the faithful long to go to Christ, for unless we ascend to him as he descended to us, his descending is in vain, because he came down that we might go up, he descended to take our flesh, we ascend to take his kingdom, he descended to be crucified, we ascend to be glorified, he descended to hell, we ascend to heaven, that is, to joy, to glory, to bliss, to our father, to our Saviour, to our comforter, to Angels, to Saints, to eternal life: therefore good cause had Paul ⟨p. 423⟩to desire to be with Christ, that he might be at rest: for no doubt it was the sweetest voice that ever the thief heard in this life, when Christ said unto him, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Luke 23. chapt. vers. 45. Besides, as Paul persecuted before, so he was after persecuted himself, as he tells the Corinthians, 2. Cor. 11. 24.
HEere is Pauls desire to be dissolued, and the cause, that he might be with Christ: wherein first you shal see the difference betweene the faithfull and the wicked, how one loatheth this life, and the other longeth after it. Secondly, because the Apostle seemes to desire death, you shall see whether any man may wish to die. Thirdly, because after his dissolution hee hopes to bee with Christ; you shall see the diuersitie of iudgements betweene Paul and the Papists, which think when they are dead, that they shall goe on to Purgatorie. Lastlie, because the soules which are with Christ cannot walke as they did when they liued vpon the earth, you shall heare a little of walking spirits, which haue ⟨p. 522⟩beene so much talked of in the time of poperie, and were taken for the soules of them which were dead: after wee will speake a little of the Sacrament which yee come to receiue, and so commit you to God. I desire to be dissolued. 1Before Christes comming, when the Kings or Patriarches died, it is said, that they went to their fathers,2 as we read of Dauid and Salomon,3 &c. but after Christs comming, when the faithfull die, they are said to go to Christ,4 as we read of the penitent thief, Luke 23. 43. Not because the Patriarches went not to Christ as well as they, but because yet Christ was not ascended to heauen: therefore they are not to go to Christ, although if they went to heauen they must needes go to Christ, because Christ touching his Godhead, was alwaies in heauen. I desire to be dissolued: As the wordly long for Christ to come to them, so the faithful long to go to Christ, for vnlesse we ascend to him as he descended to vs, his descending is in vaine, because he came downe that we might go vp, he descended to take our flesh, we ascende to take his kingdom, he descended to be crucified, we ascende to be glorified, he descended to hell, we ascend to heauen, that is, to ioy, to glory, to blisse, to our father, to our Sauiour, to our comforter, to Angels, to Saints, to eternall life: therefore good cause had Paul ⟨p. 423⟩to desire to be with Christ, that he might be at rest: for no doubt it was the sweetest voice that euer the theefe heard in this life, when Christ said vnto him, This day shalt thou bee with me in Paradise.
- 11. King. 2. 10.
- 22. Chr. 9. 37
- 32. Chr. 21. 1.
- 4Acts 7.Actes 7.
