A26786:101
The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…
The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in several discourses / by William Bates.
London: printed for Brabazon Aylmer, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Death is continued to the Saints, for the more eminent Exercise and Illustration of their Graces, for the Glory ⟨p. 54⟩of God, and in order to their future Reward. ‖Faith, and Love, and Patience, are declared in their most powerful Operations in our Encounter with Death. If every Saint were visibly and entirely translated to Heaven, after a short course of Holy Obedience; if the Wicked did visibly drop down quick into Hell, Faith would be resigned to Sight here. This would confound the Militant State of the Church with the Triumphant. Therefore now Death happens to the Good as well as to the Wicked. In the next State they shall be separated by a vast Gulf, and an amazing Difference. Now Faith, whatever the kind of Death be that a Christian suffers, sees through the thickest Clouds of Disgrace and Misery, the glorious Issue. As the illustrious Confessor who was crucified with our Saviour, proclaimed his Eternal Kingdom in the midst of insulting Infidels. And our Love to God then appears in its Radiancy and Vigour, when we are ready for the Testimony of his Truth, and advancing his Glory, ⟨p. 55⟩to suffer a violent Death: or when it comes in a gentler manner, for 'tis even then terrible to Nature, we are willingly subject to Dissolution, that we may be united to God in Heaven. And our Patience has never its perfect Work, and is truly victorious, till this last Enemy be subdued. Death is the Seal of our Constancy and Perseverance. Now the righteous Rewarder will crown none but those that strive lawfully, and are complete Conquerors.2 And how wise and sweet is the Economy of the Divine Providence in this, that the Frailty of our Nature should afford us a means of glorifying God, and of entitling our selves by his most gracious Promises to a blessed Reward?
2. Death is continued to the Saints, for the more eminent Exercise and Illustration of their Graces, for the Glory ⟨p. 54⟩of God, and in order to their future Reward.