A27048:175
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity…A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity…
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.
London: printed by R.W. for Nev. Simmons, 1660
Sermon › Section 9 › Application 8: Use 8.Sermon › Section 9 › Application 8: Ʋse 8.
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.
And now when Conscience it self beareth witness, that thus it is with thy soul, and that thou wouldst fain be what God would have thee be, and desirest nothing more then to be more like him, ⟨p. 185⟩and nearer to him, and desirest no kind of life so much, as that in which thou mayest be most serviceable to him: Consider what a wrong it is then to Christ, and to the honour of his Covenant and grace, & to thy poor dejected soul, that thou shouldst lie questioning his love and thy part in him, and looking about for matter of accusation or causeless suspicion against his spirit working in thee? and that thou shouldst cast away the joy of the Lord which is thy strength, and gratify the enemy of thy peace? When sickness is upon thee, and death draws nigh, thou shouldst then with joy lift up thy head, because thy warfare is almost accomplished, and thy Saviour ready to deliver thee the Crown. Is this a time to fear and mourn, when thou art entering into endless joy? Is it a time of lamentation, when thou art almost ⟨p. 186⟩most at thy journeys end, and ready to see thy Saviours face, and to take thy place in the Heavenly Jerusalem, amongst those millions of holy souls that are gone before thee? Is it seemly for thee to lament thus at the door, when they are feasted with such unconceivable joys within? Dost thou know what thy Brethren are now enjoying, & what the Heavenly Host are doing? how full they are of God, and how they are ravished with his Light and Love? and canst thou think it seemly to be so unlike them, that art passing to them? I know there is such difference between imperfection and perfection, and between earth and heaven, that it justifieth our moderate sorrows, and commandeth us to take up infinitely short of their delights, till we are with them. But yet let there not be too great a disproportion between the members ⟨p. 187⟩of Jesus Christ. We have the same Lord: and the same spirit; and all that is theirs in possession is in right and title ours. They are our elder brethren, and being at age, have possession of the inheritance: but we that are yet in the lap of the Church on earth, our mother, and in the arms of our Fathers grace, are of the same family, and have the same nature in our low degree. They were once on earth as low as we: and we shall be shortly in heaven, as high as they: Am I now in flesh, in fears, in griefs?