Now there is an other sort of men, unto whom death is never terrible, but most heartily welcome: And these are those spiritual minded men, the number whereof is but small: Math. 7.14. which have the seal of the living God in their foreheads. Reve. 7.3. Whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. Which have made their long robes white in the blood of the Lamb. These have the spirit of the living God, by which they are sealed unto the day of redemption: and are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the spirit of God dwelleth in them. Which spirit beareth witness unto our spirits,1 that we are the children of God, and heirs annexed with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him, or else not. For after death, there is a separation of the soul from God into hell only, Math. 7.23. Which ⟨p. 145⟩the learned do call the death of the soul: and the Evangelist John, 2The second death. Quam omnes patiuntur, qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant, & mundo sese conforms reddunt: 3Which all souls do suffer, that for fear of dangers do deny the faith, and fashion themselves like unto the world. But the Saints of God are free, being justified by faith, and are at peace with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And they do show forth their faith by their works, being borne anew, not of mortal seed, but of immortal: by the word of God, who liveth and endureth for ever. And these being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, do cast away the works of darkness, and put upon them the armour of light; even the whole armour of God, by which they are able to resist in the evil day; and having finished all things they stand fast. For their heart (as the Prophet saith) believeth in the Lord, and they are not afraid to meet with their enemy in the gate. Therefore if death come, or the devil, or whatsoever, they fear not. For who shall lay any thing ⟨p. 146⟩to the charge of Gods elect?4 It is God that justifieth, who shall condemn? And so these are as willing to welcome death,5 as Simeon was joyful to embrace Christ, because death is to them advantage. Therefore the Princely Prophet David said: Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech, and to abide among the tents of Kedar. And again, Bring my soul out of prison. 6And a little before his death, quietly he said: I go the way of all the earth:
NOw there is an other sort of men, vnto whom death is neuer terrible, but most heartily welcome: And these are those spirituall minded men, the number whereof is but small: Math. 7.14. which haue the seale of the liuing God in their foreheads. Reue. 7.3. Whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life. Which haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe. These haue the spirit of the liuing God, by which they are sealed vnto the day of redemption: and are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the spirit of God dwelleth in them. Which spirit beareth witnesse vnto our spirits,1 that wee are the children of God, and heires annexed with Christ: if so bee that wee suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him, or else not. For after death, there is a seperation of the soule from God into hell onely, Math. 7.23. Which ⟨p. 145⟩the learned doo call the death of the soule: and the Euangelist Iohn, 2The second death. Quam omnes patiuntur, qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant, & mundo sese conformes reddunt: 3Which all soules do fuffer, that for feare of daungers doo denie the faith, and fashion themselues like vnto the worlde. But the Saints of God are free, being iustified by faith, and are at peace with God, through Iesus Christ our Lorde. And they do shewe forth their faith by their workes, being borne anew, not of mortall seed, but of immortall: by the word of God, who liueth and endureth for euer. And these beeing strong in the Lorde, and in the power of his might, doo cast away the workes of darknesse, and put vpon them the armor of light; euen the whole armour of God, by which they are able to resist in the euill day; and hauing finished all things they stand fast. For their heart (as the Prophet saith) beleeueth in the Lord, and they are not afraid to meete with their enemie in the gate. Therefore if death come, or the diuel, or whatsoeuer, they feare not. For who shall laie any thing ⟨p. 146⟩to the charge of Gods elect?4 It is God that iustifieth, who shall condemne? And so these are as willing to welcome death,
- 1Rom. 8.9.16.
- 2Luk. 16.26.
- 3Gualt. in Hos. 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Joh. 2.15Gualt. in Hos. 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Ioh. 2.15
- 4Rom. 8.33.
- 5Luk. 2.25.28. Colloss. 1.21. Psal. 120.5
- 6Ps. 142.7. 1. Reg. 2.2.
