A27107:257
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
A27107:257
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
Then shall the Soul with joyfulness greet her Body,1 saying, O well met again my dear Sister. How sweet is thy Voice! How comely is thy countenance having lain hid so long in the Clefts of the Rocks, and in ⟨p. 77⟩the secret places of the grave! thou art indeed an habitation fit, not only for me to dwell in, but such as the H. Ghost thinks meet to reside in, as his Temple for ever. The Winter of our affliction is now past; the storm of our misery is blown over and gone. The Bodies of our Elect Brethren appear more glorious than the Lily-flowers on the Earth: the time of singing Hallelujahs is come, and the voice of the Trumpet is heard in the Land. Thou hast been my Yoke-fellow in the Lord's labours, and companion in persecutions and wrongs for Christ and his Gospel sake; now shall we enter together into our Master's Joy. As thou hast born with me the Cross, so shalt thou now wear with me the Crown. As thou hast with me sowed plenteously in tears, so shalt thou reap with me abundantly in joy. O blessed, ay blessed be that God! who (when yonder Reprobates spent their whole time in Pride, fleshly Lusts, eating, drinking, and profane Vanities) gave us grace to join together in watching, fasting, praying, reading the Scriptures, keeping his Sabbaths, hearing Sermons, receiving the holy Communion, relieving the Poor, exercising (in all humility) the works of Piety to God, and walking conscionably in the Duties of our calling towards Men. Thou shalt anon hear no mention of thy sins, for they are remitted and covered, but every good work, 2which thou hast done for the Lord's sake, shall be rehearsed, and rewarded.
Then shall the Soul with joyfulness greet her Body,1 saying, O well met again my dear Sister. How sweet is thy Voice! How comely is thy countenance having lain hid so long in the Clefts of the Rocks, and in ⟨p. 77⟩the secret places of the grave! thou art indeed an habitation fit, not only for me to dwell in, but such as the H. Ghost thinks meet to reside in, as his Temple for ever. The Winter of our affliction is now past; the storm of our misery is blown over and gone. The Bodies of our Elect Brethren appear more glorious than the Lily-flowers on the Earth: the time of singing Hallelujahs is come, and the voice of the Trumpet is heard in the Land. Thou hast been my Yoke-fellow in the Lord's labours, and companion in persecutions and wrongs for Christ and his Gospel sake; now shall we enter together into our Master's Joy. As thou hast born with me the Cross, so shalt thou now wear with me the Crown. As thou hast with me sowed plenteously in tears, so shalt thou reap with me abundantly in joy. O blessed, ay blessed be that God! who (when yonder Reprobates spent their whole time in Pride, fleshly Lusts, eating, drinking, and prophane Vanities) gave us grace to join together in watching, fasting, praying, reading the Scriptures, keeping his Sabbaths, hearing Sermons, receiving the holy Communion, relieving the Poor, exercising (in all humility) the works of Piety to God, and walking conscionably in the Duties of our calling towards Men. Thou shalt anon hear no mention of thy sins, for they are remitted and covered, but every good work, 2which thou hast done for the Lord's sake, shall be rehearsed, and rewarded.
Cheer up thy heart, for thy Judge is flesh of thy flesh,1 and bone of thy bone. Lift up thy head, behold these glorious Angels, like so many Gabriels flying towards us,2 to tell us, That the day of our Redemption is come, and to convey us in the Clouds, to meet our Redeemer in the Air. Lo,3 they are at hand: Arise therefore, my Dove, my Love, my fair One, and come away. And so like Roes or young Harts, they run with Angels towards Christ over the trembling Mountains of Bether.
Chear up thy heart, for thy Judge is flesh of thy flesh,1 and bone of thy bone. Lift up thy head, behold these glorious Angels, like so many Gabriels flying towards us,2 to tell us, That the day of our Redemption is come, and to convey us in the Clouds, to meet our Redeemer in the Air. Lo,3 they are at hand: Arise therefore, my Dove, my Love, my fair One, and come away. And so like Roes or young Harts, they run with Angels towards Christ over the trembling Mountains of Bether.
6. Both quick and dead being thus revived and glorified, shall forthwith (by the ministry of God's holy Angels) be gathered from all the quarters and parts of the world, 1and caught up together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall come with him, as a part of his glorious Train, to judge the Reprobates and evil Angels. 2The twelve Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones (next Christ) to judge the twelve Tribes, 3(who refused to hear the Gospel preached by their Ministry) and all the Saints (in• honour and order) shall stand next unto them, as Judges also, to judge the evil Angels and earthly-minded Men. And as every of them received grace in this life, to be more zealous of his glory, and more faithful in his service than others:4 so shall their glory and reward be greater than others in that Day.
6. Both quick and dead being thus revived and glo••fied, shall forthwith (by the ministry of God's holy Angels) be gathered from all the quarters and parts of the world, 1and caught up together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall come with him, as a part of his glorious Train, to judge the Reprobates and evil Angels. 2The twelve Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones (next Christ) to judge the twelve Tribes, 3(who refused to hear the Gospel preached by their Ministry) and all the Saints (in• honour and order) shall stand next unto them, as Judges also, to judge the evil Angels and earthly-minded Men. And as every of them received grace in this life, to be more zealous of his glory, and more faithful in his service than others:4
The place whither they shall be gathered unto Christ, and where Christ shall sit in judgment, shall be in the* Air over the ⟨p. 79⟩Valley of Jehoshaphat, by Mount Olivet, near unto Jerusalem, Eastward from the Temple as it is probable for four reasons.
1. Because the holy Scripture see•s to intimate so much in plain words, aI wi• gather all Nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and plead with them there.b Cause thy mighty one to come down, O Lord, let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge a• the heathen round about. Jehoshaphat signifieth, the Lord will judge. And this Valley was so called, from the great cvictory which the Lord gave dJehoshaphat, and his people over the Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir. Which victory was a type of the final victory, which Christ, •he supreme Judge shall give his Elect over •ll their enemies in that place, at the last •ay, as all the Jews interpret it. See Zech. •. 4, 5. Psalm 51. 1, 2, &c. all agreeing ••at the place shall be thereabouts.
1. Because the holy Scripture see•s to intimate so much in plain words, aI wi• gather all Nations into the valley of Jehosha•phat, and plead with them there.b Cause thy mighty one to come down, O Lord, let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge a• the heathen round about. Jehoshaphat signifieth, the Lord will judge. And this Valley was so called, from the great
2. Because that as Christ was thereabouts crucified, and put to open shame; •• over that place his glorious Throne •hould be erected in the Air, when he ••all appear in Judgment, to manifest his Majesty and Glory. For it is meet that ••st should in that place judge the world with righteous Judgment, where • himself was unjustly judged and con•mned.
2. Because that as Christ was therea••uts crucified, and put to open shame; •• over that place his glorious Throne •hould be erected in the Air, when he ••all appear in Judgment, to manifest his Majesty and Glory. For it is meet that ••st should in that place judge the •orld with righteous Judgment, where • himself was unjustly judged and con•mned.
3. Because that seeing the Angels shall • sent to gather together the elect from the •••r winds, from one end of heaven to the ⟨p. 80⟩other; it is most probable, that the place whither they shall be gathered to, shall be near Jerusalem, and the Valley of Jehoshaphat; whicha Cosmographers describe to be in the midst of the superficies of the Earth; if the termini à quibus be the four parts of the world, the terminus ad quem must be about the Centre.
3. Because that seeing the Angels shall • sent to gather together the elect from the •••r winds, from one end of heaven to the ⟨p. 80⟩other; it is most probable, that the place whither they shall be gathered to, shall be near Jerusalem, and the Vally of Jehoshaphat; whicha Cosmographers describe to be in the midst of the supersicies of the Earth; if the termini à quibus be the four parts of the world, the terminus ad quem must be about the Center.
4. Because the Angels told the Disciples, that as they sawb Christ ascend from Mount Olivet, which is over the Valley of Jehoshaphat, so he shall in like manner come down from Heaven. This is the opinion ofc Aquinas and all the Schoolmen, except Lombard and Alexander Hales.
4. Because the Angels told the Disciples, that as they sawb Christ ascend from Mount Olivet, which is over the Vally of Jehoshaphat, so he shall in like manner come down from Heaven. This is the opinion ofc Aquinas and all the Schoolmen, except Lombard and Alexander Hales.
5. Lastly, When Christ is set in his gloriousd Throne, and all thee many Thousands of his Saints, and Angels, shining more bright than so many Suns in glory, sitting about him; and the Body of Christ in glory and brightness surpassing them all: the Reprobates being separate and remaining beneath upon the earth (for the right-hand signifies a blessed, the left-hand a cursed estate) Christ will first pronounce the sentence of absolution, and bliss upon the Elect: First, because he will thereby increase the grief of the Reprobate that shall hear it. Secondly, to show himself more pro•e tof mercy than to Judgment. And thus from his Throne of Majesty in the Air, he shall (in the sight and hearing of all the World) pronounce unto his Elect, Come ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the ⟨p. 81⟩Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world, &c.4
5. Lastly, When Christ is set in his gloriousd Throne, and all thee many Thousands of his Saints, and Angels, shining more bright than so many Suns in glory, sitting about him; and the Body of Christ in glory and brightness surpassing them all: the Reprobates bei•g separate and remaining beneath upon the earth (for the right-hand signifies a blessed, the left-hand a cursed estate) Christ will first pronounce the sentence of absolution, and bliss upon the Elect: First, because he will thereby increase the grief of the Reprobate that shall hear it. Secondly, to shew himself more pro•e tof mercy than to Judgment. And thus from his Throne of Majesty in the Air, he shall (in the sight and hearing of all the World) ponounce unto his Elect, Come ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the
Come ye] Here is our blessed Union with Christ, and by him with the whole Trinity
Come ye] Here is our blessed Vnion with Christ, and by him with the whole Trinity
Blessed] Here is our absolution from all sins, and our plenary Endowments with all Grace and Happiness.
Of my Father] Here is the Author, from whom by Christ proceeds our Felicity.
Inherit] Here is our Adoption▪
The Kingdom] Behold our Birth-right and Possession.
The Kingdom] Behold our Birth-right and Poss•ssion.
Prepared] See God's Fatherly Care for his chosen.
From the foundation of the World] O the free, Eternal, unchangeable Election of God!