A39696:294
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part of the 14 : the second, The righteous man's refuge in the evil day, from Isaiah 26, verse 20 / by John Flavell.
London: printed by H.H. for Robert Boulter, 1682
A PRACTICAL TREATISE OF Fear, &c. › Chapter 6 › Section 1 › Subsection 7: 7. Rule.
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.
4. A Believers living time is his waiting and longing time, but his time of dying is the time of enjoying what he hath long wished and waited for, Phil. 1. 23. Here we groan and sigh for Christ, there we behold and enjoy Christ, and so much as vision and fruition is better and sweeter than hoping and waiting for it; so much is a believers death better than his life.
2. As the advantage a Believer makes of death is great to him by dying only in Christ; so it is much greater, and the richest improvement that can be made of death to die for Christ as well as in Christ: For compare them in a few particulars and you shall find,
1. That though a natural death hath less horror, yet a violent death for Christ hath more honour in it. To him that dies united with Christ the grave is a bed of rest; but to him that dies as a Martyr for Christ, the grave is a bed of honour. To you (saith the Apostle) it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake, 1 Phil. 29. ⟨p. 100⟩To you it is granted as a great honour and favour to suffer for Christ; all that live in Christ have not the honour to lay down their lives for Christ. It was the great trouble of Ludovic•s Marsacus a Knight of France, 1to be exempted because of his dignity, from wearing his chain for Christ, as the other Prisoners did; and he resented it, as a great injury, Give m• (saith he to his Keeper) my chain as well as they, and create me a Knight of that noble Order.