The blessedness of the death of these that die in the Lord and more…The blessednesse of the death of these that die in the Lord and more…

these that are rightly willing to die will be much in desire and longing after fellowship with Christ, and much in the delightful contemplation of Heaven ere it come and ⟨p. 85⟩in their practice tending thitherward, and very loath to do any thing that may obstruct that so much desired fellowship; This we may see in David, in the old Testament, and in Paul in the New, O! how do they pray and pant after, and O! what pains are they at to keep communion with God? and how do they labour along all their conversation so to behave, that no obstruction from them may be laid in the way of their so much longed▪for fellowship with him; let none then think that it can be a right willingness to die, that putts not men to be tender in the study of holiness, and of conformity to Christ in their life; Therefore it is said of Simeon, who was so willing to die, that he was a just and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and by him and other such godly persons in his time, was the Temple frequented night and day. 4ly, That is right willingness to die that is not by fits, but continuing and distinct and goes upon solid grounds, I speak not of sensible comfort but of the grounds of faith, of some clearness of interest, and of sweet submission to Gods blessed will; for though none needs to wonder much of Simeons willingness to die when he hath gotten Christ in his arms, yet it hath this sweet submission to God in it.

these that are rightly willing to die will be much in desyre and longing after fellowship with Christ, and much in the delightful contemplation of Heaven ere it come and ⟨p. 85⟩in their practice tending thitherward, and very loath to doe any thing that may obstruct that so much desyred fellowship; This we may see in David, in the old Testament, and in Paul in the New, O! how doe they pray and pant after, and O! what paines are they at to keep communion with God? and how doe they labour alonge all their conversation so to behave, that no obstruction from them may be laid in the way of their so much longed▪for fellowship with him; let none then think that it can be a right willingnesse to die, that putts not men to be tender in the studie of holinesse, and of conformitie to Christ in their life; Therefore it is said of Simeon, who was so willing to die, that he was a just and devot man, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and by him and other such godlie persons in his time, was the Temple frequented night and day. 4ly, That is right willingnesse to die that is not by fitts, but continueing and distinct and goes upon solid grounds, I speak not of sensible comfort but of the grounds of faith, of some clearnesse of interest, and of sweet submission to Gods blessed will; for though none needs to wonder much of Simeons willingnesse to die when he hath gotten Christ in his armes, yet it hath this sweet submission to God in it.