Secondly, there is this further falls out, in this Case and Condition, of such a Soul, as doth indeed call for this out of a kind of necessity, and not of congruity only. For whereas by God's Ordination there are two ways of Communion with him, and but two, unto all Eternity; either that of Faith, which we have at present; and of Sight, which is for hereafter. Into these two, the Apostle resolves all God's Dispensations to us, ver. 7. of this Chapter, We walk by faith, (namely, in this life) not by sight. And again, 1 Cor. 13. 12. [Now] we see in a glass, [Then] face to face. These two [Now] and [Then] do divide the Dispensations for Eternity of time to come. The like in Peter, 1 Epist. 1. 8. In whom though [Now] you see him not, (as you one day shall) yet believing. If therefore when the Soul goes out of the Body, that way of communion with God by Faith utterly ceaseth(a), that door and passage will be quite shut up; God having (b)fulfilled all the work of faith (The work of God) with power, that ever he intendeth: Then surely Sight must succeed according to God's Ordination, or otherwise this would inevitably ⟨p. 288⟩follow, That the Soul would be for that interim, until the Resurrection, cut off from all communion with God, whatever; having yet all its acquired holiness of Sanctification abiding in it, and Righteousness accompanying of it all that while. Look therefore as a Child hath two, and but two ways of living, and when the one ceaseth, the other succeeds, or Death would follow: In the Womb it lives by nourishment from the Navel, without so much as breathing at the mouth: but it no sooner comes into the world, but that former means is cut off, and it liveth by breath, and taking in nourishment by the mouth, or it must instantly die. So stands the case with the Soul here between Faith and Sight: So that we must either affirm, That the Souls dies to all spiritual actings and communions with God until the Resurrection, which those Scriptures so much do contradict, He that believeth hath eternal life, &c. and shall never (no not for 3a moment) die; (and in those Promises it is not simply a sluggish Immortality, but to live, and act, and enjoy God (which is our life) must needs be meant:)
Secondly, there is this further falls out, in this Case and Condition, of such a Soul, as doth indeed call for this out of a kinde of necessity, and not of congruity only. For whereas by God's Ordination there are two ways of Communion with him, and but two, unto all Eternity; either that of Faith, which we have at present; and of Sight, which is for hereafter. Into these two, the Apostle resolves all God's Dispensations to us, ver. 7. of this Chapter, We walk by faith, (namely, in this life) not by sight. And again, 1 Cor. 13. 12. [Now] we see in a glass, [Then] face to face. These two [Now] and [Then] do divide the Dispensations for Eternity of time to come. The like in Peter, 1 Epist. 1. 8. In whom though [Now] you see him not, (as you one day shall) yet believing. If therefore when the Soul goes out of the Body, that way of communion with God by Faith utterly ceaseth(a), that door and passage will be quite shut up; God having (b)fulfilled all the work of faith (The work of God) with power, that ever he intendeth: Then surely Sight must succeed according to God's Ordination, or otherwise this would inevitably ⟨p. 288⟩follow, That the Soul would be for that interim, until the Resurrection, cut off from all communion with God, whatever; having yet all its acquired holiness of Sanctification abiding in it, and Righteousness accompanying of it all that while. Look therefore as a Childe hath two, and but two wayes of living, and when the one ceaseth, the other succeeds, or Death would follow: In the Womb it lives by nourishment from the Navel, without so much as breathing at the mouth: but it no sooner comes into the world, but that former means is cut off, and it liveth by breath, and taking in nourishment by the mouth, or it must instantly die. So stands the case with the Soul here between Faith and Sight: So that we must either affirm, That the Souls dies to all spiritual actings and communions with God until the Resurrection, which those Scriptures so much do contradict, He that believeth hath eternal life, &c. and shall never (no not for 3a moment) die; (and in those Promises it is not simply a sluggish Immortality, but to live, and act, and enjoy God (which is our life) must needs be meant:)
- (a)2 Cor. 13. 8, 13.
- (b)1 Thes. 1. 11. John 6. 28.
- 3Joh. 9. 51. & 11. 26.
