This was an happy accord, the ⟨p. 180⟩willingness of this departing Soul, proceeding not from stupidity, but trust, in him who kept these Keys; and such preparedness for removal, as the Gospel required. O happy Souls! that finding the Key is turning, and opening the door for them, are willing to go forth upon such terms, as knowing whom they have believed, &c. And that neither principalities or powers —life or death— &c. can ever separate them from the Love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. Life, they find, hath not separated—whereof was the greater danger; and Death is so far from making this separation, that it shall complete their Union with the blessed God in Christ, and lay them infolded in the everlasting Embraces of Divine Love! Happy they! that can hereupon welcome Death! and say, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy ⟨p. 181⟩Servant depart in peace! that, before, only desired leave to die, and have, now, obtained it; that are, with certainty of the Issue, at the point of becoming complete Victors, over the last Enemy; and are ready to enter upon their Triumph, and take up their [Greek or Hebrew], Death is swallowed up in Victory. O Death, where is thy sting! O Grave, where is thy Victory! — Thanks be to God, who giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Happy Soul! here will be a speedy end of all thy griefs, and sorrows, they will be presently swallowed up, in an absolute plenitude and fullness of Joy. There is already an end put to thy tormenting cares and fears; for what Object can remain to thee, of a rational fear, when once, upon grounds (such as shake not under thee) thou art reconciled to Death? ⟨p. 182⟩This is the most glorious sort of Victory, viz. by reconciliation. For so, thou hast conquered, not the Enemy only, but the Enmity it self, by which he was so. Death is become thy Friend, and so no longer to be feared; nor is there any thing else, from whence thou art to fear hurt; For Death was thy last Enemy, even this bodily Death! The whole Region beyond it, is to one in thy case, clear, and serene, when to others, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. There are no terrible [Greek or Hebrew], no formidable consequences, no reserves of misery, no treasures of wrath to be feared by thee. To one, in thy condition, may that, without hesitation,1 be apply'd, nihil metuit, qui optat mori; He fears nothing, who desires to die.
This was an happy accord, the ⟨p. 180⟩willingness of this departing Soul, proceeding not from stupidity, but trust, in him who kept these Keys; and such preparedness for removal, as the Gospel requir'd. O happy Souls! that finding the Key is turning, and opening the door for them, are willing to go forth upon such terms, as knowing whom they have believed, &c. And that neither principalities or powers —life or death— &c. can ever separate them from the Love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord. Life, they find, hath not separated—whereof was the greater danger; and Death is so far from making this separation, that it shall compleat their Vnion with the blessed God in Christ, and lay them infolded in the everlasting Embraces of Divine Love! Happy they! that can hereupon welcome Death! and say, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy ⟨p. 181⟩Servant depart in peace! that, before, only desired leave to die, and have, now, obtained it; that are, with certainty of the Issue, at the point of becoming compleat Victors, over the last Enemy; and are ready to enter upon their Triumph, and take up their 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Death is swallowed up in Victory. O Death, where is thy sting! O Grave, where is thy Victory! — Thanks be to God, who giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Happy Soul! here will be a speedy end of all thy griefs, and sorrows, they will be presently swallow'd up, in an absolute plenitude and fulness of Joy. There is already an end put to thy tormenting cares and fears; for what Object can remain to thee, of a rational fear, when once, upon grounds (such as shake not under thee) thou art reconcil'd to Death? ⟨p. 182⟩This is the most glorious sort of Victory, viz. by reconciliation. For so, thou hast conquered, not the Enemy only, but the Enmity it self, by which he was so. Death is become thy Friend, and so no longer to be feared; nor is there any thing else, from whence thou art to fear hurt; For Death was thy last Enemy, even this bodily Death! The whole Region beyond it, is to one in thy case, clear, and serene, when to others, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. There are no terrible 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, no formidable consequences, no reserves of misery, no treasures of wrath to be feared by thee. To one, in thy condition, may that, without hesitation,1 be apply'd, nihil metuit, qui optat mori; He fears nothing, who desires to die.
- 1Sen. •r.
