A39682:371
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Whether thou art willing to dye or no I assure thee, there is no other way to obtain the full satisfaction of thy Soul; and complete its happiness: till the hand of death do thee the kind office to draw aside the curtain of flesh, thy Soul cannot see God: this animal life stands betwixt him and thee, 2 Cor. 5. 6. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Thy body must be refined and cast into a new mould, else that new wine of heavenly glory would break it. Paul in his highest rapture, 2 Cor. 12. 4. when he heard things unutterable, was then but as a stander by, a looker on; not admitted into the company, as one of them; but as the Angels are in our assemblies, so was Paul in that glorious assembly above and no otherwise; and yet even for this he must as it were be taken out of the body, unclothed for a ⟨p. 175⟩little time; to have a glimpse of that glory, and then put on his clothes again. O then! Who would not be willing to dye for a full sight and enjoyment of God? Methinks, thy soul should look and sigh like a Prisoner through the Grates of this Mortality; O that I had wings like a Dove, then would I fly away, and be at rest: Most men need patience to dye, but a Saint that understands what death admits him to, should rather need patience to live; methinks, he should often look out, and listen on a death-bed for his Lords coming; and when he receives the news of his approaching change, should say; The voice of my Beloved, behold he cometh leaping over the Mountains, skipping over the Hills, Cant. 2. 8.
Whe•her thou art willing to dye or no I assure thee, there is no other way to obtain the full satisfaction of thy Soul; and compleat its happiness: till the hand of death do thee the kind offi•e to draw aside the curtain of flesh, thy Soul cannot see God: this animal life stan•s betwixt him and thee, 2 Cor. 5. 6. Whilest we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Thy body must be refined and cast into a new mould, else that new wine of heavenly glory would break it. Paul in his highest rapture,