First then it is implied here that there is a necessity of dying lying on all, for while it is said, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, it says plainly that there is a sort of dying that is in the Lord, and a sort of dying that is out of the Lord, and all sorts of men and women die one of these ways, as if he had said, would ye know who are indeed happy? Its not all who die, but such only as die in the Lord; ye know what death is, we need not describe it to you, and ye are disposed to think that this needs not to be proved that all must die, and we wish it needed no proof, however see 1. Heb. 9: 27. Its appointed to men once to die and Rom. 5. where it is said, that death hath passed upon all men and that death reigns over all men, vers. 12. and 14. And 2. it is certain from the cause of death, which is sin and Gods curse for sin, death is the wages of sin, and where sin is as the cause death must be as the effect, yea 3. it may be confirmed from near 6000 years experience, wherein none that have been borne throughout all generations but they have died; we speak not of these extraordinary examples of Enoch & Elijah who were particularly and singularly ⟨p. 6⟩by the sovereign dominion of God exempted from death, neither will we speak of what the Lord did to them in the place of death or for putting them in capacity to sustain immortality; Gods ordinary way of dealing with men is that which we are called to look to, its enough that they▪ have putt off mortality and putt on immortality though we know not the manner and way; but look on the race of mankind and ye will find that these who lived longest died at last as Adam, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Gen. 5. and Methuselah who though he lived nine Hundred Sixty and nine years yet died, and its said Eccles. 8: 8. There is no man that hath power over the Spirit to retain it, neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war, neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it; there is no man that hath power to keep his soul in his body, there is no dimission or forloffe in that war, no way to escape death, the profanest man that putts death furthest off from him shall not shift it; and seeing he takes it for granted & all generations have proved the truth of it, we shall insist no further on the proof of it but come to the use.
First then it is implyed here that there is a necessitie of dying lying on all, for whill it is said, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, it sayes plainly that there is a sort of dieing that is in the Lord, and a sort of dying that is out of the Lord, and all sorts of men and women die one of these wayes, as if he had said, would ye know who are indeed happie? Its not all who dy, but such onlie as die in the Lord; ye know what death is, we need not describe it to you, and ye are disposed to think that this needs not to be proved that all must dy, and we wish it needed no proof, however see 1. Heb. 9: 27. Its appointed to men once to die and Rom. 5. where it is said, that death hath passed upon all men and that death reignes over all men, vers. 12. and 14. And 2. it is certaine from the cause of death, which is sin and Gods curse for sin, death is the wages of sin, and where sin is as the cause death must be as the effect, yea 3. it may be confirmed from neir 6000 years experience, wherein none that have been borne thrughout all generations but they have died; we speak not of these extraordinar examples of Enoch & Elias who wer particularly and singularly ⟨p. 6⟩by the soverainge dominion of God exempted from death, neither will we speak of what the Lord did to them in the place of death or for putting them in capacitie to sustaine immortalitie; Gods ordinary way of dealing with menis that which we are called to look to, its eneugh that they▪ have putt off mortality and putt on immortalitie though we know not the manner and way; but look on the race of mankynd and ye will find that these who lived longest died at last as Adam, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Iared, Gen. 5. and Methuselah who though he lived nyne Hundreth Sixty and nyne years yet died, and its said Eccles. 8: 8. There is no man that hath power over the Spirit to retaine it, neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war, neither shall wickednesse deliver those that are given to it; there is no man that hath power to keep his soul in his body, there is no dimission or forloffe in that war, no way to escape death, the profanest man that putts death furthest off from him shall not shift it; and seeing he takes it forgranted & all generations have proved the truth of it, we shall insist no further on the proof of it but come to the use.
