THE Words are a Consolation, brought by the Apostle from the third Heaven, where he was by extraordinary Privilege raised, and saw and understood how great an Happiness it is to be with Christ. And they are adderest to Believers, to moderate and allay their sorrows for the death of those Saints, who by their conjunction in Blood or Friendship were most dear to them. Thus he speaks in the 13th Verse, I would not have you be ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not as others which have no hope. The Heathens, that were strangers to a future state, and thought that after a short course through the World, Mankind would be lost for ever in the Dead-Sea, ⟨p. 2⟩might with some pretence abandon themselves to the extremity of their Passions. But Christians, to whom Life and Immortality are revealed by the Gospel; who believe, that as Jesus died and rose again; so all that sleep in Jesus, that persevere in Faith and Holiness to the end, God will bring with him, are forbid upon the most weighty Reasons, to indulge their Grief in excess. The Union between Christ and Believers is inviolable; and from thence it follows, they shall be partakers with him in his Glory. The Soul immediately after Death shall be with Christ. Whiles the Body reposes in the Grave, 'tis in his Presence who is Life and Light, and has a vital joyful Rest in Communion with him. And in the appointed Time the Bodies of the Saints, those happy Spoils, shall be rescued from the dark Prison of the Grave, and be sharers with their Souls in immortal Glory.
THE Words are a Consolation, brought by the Apostle from the third Heaven, where he was by extraordinary Priviledge rais'd, and saw and understood how great an Happiness it is to be with Christ. And they are addrest to Believers, to moderate and allay their sorrows for the death of those Saints, who by their conjunction in Blood or Friendship were most dear to them. Thus he speaks in the 13th Verse, I would not have you be ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that yè sorrow not as others which have no hopè. The Heathens, that were strangers to a future state, and thought that after a short course through the World, Mankind would be lost for ever in the Dead-Sea, ⟨p. 2⟩might with some pretence abandon themselves to the extremity of their Passions. But Christians, to whom Life and Immortality are reveal'd by the Gospel; who believe, that as Jesus died and rose again; so all that sleep in Jesus, that persevere in Faith and Holiness to the end, God will bring with him, are forbid upon the most weighty Reasons, to indulge their Grief in excess. The Union between Christ and Believers is inviolable; and from thence it follows, they shall be partakers with him in his Glory. The Soul immediately after Death shall be with Christ. Whiles the Body reposes in the Grave, 'tis in his Presence who is Life and Light, and has a vital joyful Rest in Communion with him. And in the appointed Time the Bodies of the Saints, those happy Spoils, shall be rescued from the dark Prison of the Grave, and be sharers with their Souls in immortal Glory.
