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…

There are 4 things considerable in this verse, 1. A preface, I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me writ, importing the weightiness of the matter and commission, for it is sent from heaven to John and he is bidden writ it, its a heavenly message sent by Christ to his Church and even to his Church in these times and days wherein we live. 2. A plain maxim, conclusion, or general doctrine laid down as a most certain truth, writ sayeth he, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, registrat and record this sayeth Christ, it hes been and shall be a most infallibly certain truth to the end of the world, let never so many confusions come and let Kingdoms be turned upside down, they are blessed that die in me. 3. There is a qualification of this truth not denying the universality of it, but seeming to apply it as especially verified in such a time, from henceforth, yea saith the Spirit. We cannot so expone these words as if the ⟨p. 3⟩meaning of them were, that from the time of their death they are blessed who die in the Lord though that be a truth, 1. Because it agrees not with the scope, these words being a diversion relating to this time, and intended for a peculiar comfort to the Godly against the evils of Judgment coming in this time. 2. Because it will not agree with the particle here used, from hence-forth or now, (as it is in the original) to expone it so, for then it would have been said, from thenceforth, that is from their death forward; but it is from henceforth, that is now in this sad time that is coming; and if any should ask what shall be the singular happiness that these shall have who after this time shall die in the Lord? The answer may be drawn from the reason that is subjoined, which is the 4 thing in the text, that they may rest from their Labours and their works do follow them; this implieth a special tossing and troublesome time coming, and says this much, that its very good to be in heaven ere that time come; and out of this reason we may see a threefold respect wherein their happiness that die in the Lord is applicable to this time, and they do all agree to the scope. 1. They are freed from much tossing toil and trouble that the surviving godly would be involved in who should have a hard & toilsome life of it under the coming judgments (for the scope is to set out the greatness of the approaching judgments);

There are 4 things considerable in this verse, 1. A preface, I heard avoice from heaven, saying unto me writte, importing the weightinesse of the matter and commission, for it is sent from heaven to Iohn and he is bidden writte it, its a heavenly message sent by Christ to his Church and even to his Church in these tymes and dayes wherein we live. 2. A plaine maxime, conclusion, or generall doctrine laid downe as a most certaine truth, writte sayeth he, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, registrat and record this sayeth Christ, it hes beene and shall be a most infalliblie certaine truth to the end of the world, let never so many confusions come and let Kingdomes be turned upside down, they are blessed that die in me. 3. There is a qualification of this truth not denying the universalitie of it, but seeming to apply it as especiallie verified in such a tyme, from henceforth, yea saith the Spirit. We cannot so expone these words as if the