Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

Thirdly, Hence we see the great Difference that there is between the death of a Believer, and the death of a Wicked Man. I showed you, I remember in the death of an Ungodly Man, when the fiery Serpent comes with his Sting, and takes him in his Natural Estate, Death is not Gain to such a one: O, no; death takes away all his Gain: But now, death is the greatest Gain to the Saints. That's an excellent Scripture you have in 1 Cor. 3. the latter end, Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or Things present, or Things to come, all is yours. In Christ, Death comes to be made yours: Death is part of the Possession of the Saints: O the difference between the death of the Saints, and the death of Wicked and Ungodly Men! Do but put two Men, a Wicked Man, and a Godly Man, lying both together upon their Death-Beds, (you must take a wicked Man that hath an enlightened Conscience) he lies beholding the Wrath of the Infinite God, ready to swallow him up, and his Conscience tearing and rending of him, and so the black dismal bottomless Gulf, ready to swallow him; see the fiery Serpent sent from an Angry God, twisting himself about his Middle, with a Sting at his Heart, ready to take away his Life, that he might not Live any longer to Dishonour his God; he lies cursing himself for his Wickedness and Folly, and the Company that he hath Lived in, and wishing that he had never ⟨p. 126⟩been Born. Now the Godly Man, he lies blessing of the Name of God for His Goodness; and in that, God did show to him in the time of his Life, the things that concern his Eternal Peace: He blesses God that ever he knew Him, that ever he knew His Ways: He blesses God, that the time of his departure is so near, and he sees Jesus Christ ready to receive him, and the Angels attending about him: O the blessed day when I shall go to Enjoy an Immediate, Full, and Eternal Communion with Jesus Christ, that is best of all. And there he lies Encouraging all that comes to see him, to know Christ and God betimes. O here's the difference between the death of the Godly, and the death of the Wicked: One is the greatest Terror, and the other is the greatest Gain.

Thirdly, Hence we see the great Difference that there is between the death of a Believer, and the death of a Wicked Man. I shewed you, I remember in the death of an Ungodly Man, when the siery Serpent comes with his Sting, and takes him in his Natural Estate, Death is not Gain to such a one: O, no; death takes away all his Gain: But now, death is the greatest Gain to the Saints. That's an excellent Scripture you have in