A26786:329
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.
Now of all the chosen Saints that foretold the coming of Christ, the new Law of Grace, and the new Kingdom of Glory, that he should reveal and establish: Of all that represented him in various Particularities, concerning his Person and Offices, there was not a more illustrious Type than ⟨p. 270⟩David, 1that by prophetical Words, and by prophetical Actions did so clearly describe him.
- 1Illorum hominum non tantum lingua sed & vita prophetica fuit. Aug.
In this Psalm composed by him, there is a mixture of History and Prophecy: Some things in the literal and immediate sense referring to David: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Our being at God's right Hand, implies the highest Honour; his being at our right Hand, implies present and sure protection and defence. And of this David had the infallible Promise of God to secure his Hope, notwithstanding all his unrighteous and implacable Enemies. But the following Verses are applicable to David but in a lower sense, and by a remote Metaphor, and have their literal and principal Accomplishment in our Saviour. Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell, that is, in the State of the Dead; nor suffer thy holy One to see Corruption: that is, the Body of our Saviour should be exempted from the corrupting Power of the Grave, and restored the third Day to Life. In this propriety and perfection of sense, the Prophecy is applied by St. Peter to our Saviour's alone: for ⟨p. 271⟩David died and saw Corruption;1 and his Body still remains under the Dominion of Death. And this last Verse, Thou wilt show me the Path of Life: in thy Present is fullness of Joy, at thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermore; is applied by the Apostle to Christ, his Resurrection, Ascension to Heaven, and sitting at the right Hand of the Majesty on high. Thou wilt show me the Path of Life; that is, introduce him into the Kingdom of Glory, and by experimental Fruition make him partaker of it: In thy Presence is fullness of Joy, at thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermore.