When GOD sends Death as his Messenger, for the Regenerate Man, he meets him half the way to Heaven, ⟨p. 67⟩for hisa conversation, andb affection is there before him, Death is neither strange nor fearful unto him. Not strange, because hec died daily; not fearful because whilst he lived, he was dead; and his life wasd hid with God in Christ. To die, unto him therefore, is nothing else in effect, bute to rest from his labour in this world, to go fhome to his gFather's house, unto the hCity of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just Men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. Whilst his body is sick, his mind is sound; for God imaketh all his bed in his sickness, and strengtheneth him with Faith and Patience upon his bed of sorrow: And when he begins to enter into the way of all the World, he giveth (likek Jacob, Moses, and Joshua) to his Children and Friends godly Exhortations and Counsels to serve the true God, to worship him truly all the days of their life. His blessed Soul breatheth nothing but blessings, and such speeches as savour a sanctified spirit. As his outward man decayeth, so his inward man increaseth and waxeth stronger. When the speech of his Tongue faltereth, the sighs of his heart speak louder unto God; when the sight of the eyes faileth, the Holy Ghost illuminates him inwardly with abundance of spiritual light. His Soul feareth not,l but is bold to go out of the Body, ⟨p. 68⟩and to dwell with her Lord. He sigheth out with Paul, aCupio dissolvi, I desire to to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. And with David, bAs the heart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my Soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God? when shall I come and appear before God. He prayeth with the Saints, cHow long, O Lord, which art holy and true? dCome Lord JESUS, come quickly. And when thee appointed time of his dissolution is come, knowing that he goeth to hisf Father and redeemer in the peace of a good Conscience, and the assured persuasion of the forgiveness of all his sins, in the blood of the Lamb, he sings with blessed old Simeon his gNunc dimittis; Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, &c.
WHen GOD sends Death as his Messenger, for the Regenerate Man, he meets him half the way to Heaven, ⟨p. 67⟩for hisa conversation, andb affection is there before him, Death is neither strange nor fearful unto him. Not strange, because hec died daily; not fearful because whilst he lived, he was dead; and his life wasd hid with God in Christ. To die, unto him therefore, is nothing else in effect, bute to rest from his labour in this world, to go fhome to his gFather's house, unto the hCity of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just Men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. Whilst his body is sick, his mind is sound; for God imaketh all his bed in his sickness, and strengtheneth him with Faith and Patience upon his bed of sorrow: And when he begins to enter into the way of all the World, he giveth (likek Jacob, Moses, and Joshua) to his Children and Friends godly Exhortations and Counsels to serve the true God, to worship him truly all the days of their life. His blessed Soul breatheth nothing but blessings, and such speeches as savour a sanctified spirit. As his outward man decayeth, so his inward man increaseth and waxeth stronger. When the speech of his Tongue faltereth, the sighs of his heart speak louder unto God; when the sight of the eyes faileth, the Holy Ghost illuminates him inwardly with abundance of spiritual light. His Soul feareth not,l but is bold to go out of the Body,
- aPhil. 3. 20.
- bCol. 3. 2.
- c1 Cor. 1. 31.
- dCol. 3. 3.
- eRev. 14. 13
- f2 Cor. 5. 6.
- gJoh. 14. 2.
- hHeb. 12. 22, &c.
- iPsal. 41. 3.
- kGen. 49.
- l2 Cor. 5. 8.
- aPhil. 1. 23.
- bPsal. 42. 2.
- cRev. 6. 10.
- dRev. 22. 10.
- e
