A27061:166
Two treatises the first of death, on I Cor. 15:26, the second of judgment…
Two treatises the first of death, on I Cor. 15:26, the second of judgment on 2 Cor. 5:10, 11 / by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1672
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Use 8.
IF Death shall be conquered as the last enemy, from hence Christians may receive exceeding consolation, as knowing that they have no enemy to their happiness, but such as shall be conquered by Christ; sooner or later he will overcome them all. Let ⟨p. 107⟩faith therefore foresee the conquest in the conflict; and let us not with too much despondency hang down our heads before any enemy that we know shall be trodden down at last. We have burdensome corruptions, that exercise our graces, and grieve the spirit, and wrong our Lord; but all these shall be overcome. Though we have heard, and read, and prayed, and meditated, and yet our sins remain alive, they shall be conquered at last. Our Love, and Joy, and praise shall be everlasting; but our ignorance, and unbelief, and pride, and passion shall not be everlasting: Our Holiness shall be perfected and have no end: but our sin shall be abolished, and have an end. Our friends shall abide with us for ever, and the holy love and communion of Saints shall be perfected in heaven; But our enemies shall not abide with •s for ever, nor malice follow us to our Re•t. The wicked have no comforts but what will have an end; and the fore-thought of that is sufficient to embitter even the present sweetness. And the godly have no sorrows but such as are of short continuance: And nethinks the fore-sight of their end, should sweeten the present bitter Cup, and make our sorrows next to none: We sit wee•ing now in the midst of manifold afflictions: ⟨p. 108⟩But we fore-see the day when we shall weep no more, but all tears shall be wiped from our eyes, by the tender hand of our merciful Redeemer. We are now afraid of love it self, even of our dear and blessed Father, lest he should hate us; or be angry with us for ever. But heaven will banish all these fears, when the perfect fruition of the eternal Love hath perfected our love. Our doubtings and perplexities of mind are many and grievous, but they will be but short. When we have full possession, we shall be past our doubts. Our work is now to pour out our grieved souls into the bosom of some faithful friend; or ease our troubled minds by complaining of our miseries to our faithful Pastors, that from them we may have some words of direction and consolation: But O how different a work is it that we shall have in heaven?