The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, The Person to whom Christ makes this excellent and §2glorious promise. It was to one that had lived lewdly, and profanely; a very vile and wretched man in all the former part of his time, and for his wickedness now justly under condemnation. Yea, to one that had reviled Christ, after that sentence was executed on him. However, now at last the Lord gave him a penitent believing heart. Now, almost at last gasp, he is soundly in an extraordinary way converted, and being converted, he owns and professes Christ amidst all the shame and reproach of his death. Vindicates his innocency, and humbly supplicates for mercy; Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy Kingdom.

Thirdly, The set time for the performance of this gracious Promise §3to him. To day: this very day shalt thou be with me in glory. Not after the resurrection, but immediately from the time of thy dissolution thou shalt enjoy blessedness And here I cannot but detect the cheat of those that deny an immediate state of glory to believers after death. Who to the end this Scripture (might not stand in full opposition to their as uncomfortable, as unsound opinion) loose the whole frame of it, by drawing one pin; yea, by transposing but a comma, putting it at the word day, which should be at the word thee, and so reading it thus, verily I say unto thee to day, referring the word day to the time that Christ made the promise, and not to the time of its performance. But if such a liberty as this be yielded, what may not men make the Scriptures ⟨p. 432⟩speak? There can be no doubt, but Christ in this expression, fixes the time for his happiness: To day shalt thou be with me.

Thirdly, The set time for the performance of this gratious Promise §3to him. To day: this very day shalt thou be with me in glory. Not after the resurrection, but immediately from the time of thy dissolution thou shalt enjoy blessedness And here I cannot but detect the cheat of those that deny an immediate state of glory to believers after death. Who to the end this Scripture (might not stand in full opposition to their as uncomfortable, as unsound opinion) loose the whole frame of it, by drawing one pin; yea, by transposing but a comma, putting it at the word day, which should be at the word thee, and so reading it thus, verily I say unto thee to day, referring the word day to the time that Christ made the promise, and not to the time of its performance. But if such a liberty as this be yielded, what may not men make the Scriptures