But then once again, Consider what a blessed state thy soul will be in at death. If thou art a true Believer, thou shalt not only have hereby a negative good, it will not simply a freedom from all those sorrows and troubles thou hast heard, but thy soul shall immediately receive transcendent joy with Jesus Christ. For me to live, saith Paul, is Christ, and to die is gain. The advantage the soul receives upon this account, made Paul so much desire to depart and be with Christ; which he says is far better, Phil. 1. 21. Pray observe his words, he doth not say it will be gain to him when he rises again, no, but to die ⟨p. 66⟩is gain*. I shall receive more joy, more consolation, more of the fullness of God and Christ (as if he should say) when I die, then I can whilst I am in this body.
But then once again, Consider what a blessed state thy soul will be in at death. If thou art a true Beliver, thou shalt not onely have hereby a negative good, it will not simply a freedom from all those sorrows and troubles thou hast heard, but thy soul shall immediately receive transcendent joy with Jesus Christ. For me to live, saith Paul, is Christ, and to die is gain. The advantage the soul receives upon this account, made Paul so much desire to depart and be with Christ; which he says is far better, Phil. 1. 21. Pray observe his words, he doth not say it will be gain to him when he rises again, no, but to die ⟨p. 66⟩is gain*. I shall receive more joy, more consolation, more of the fulness of God and Christ (as if he should say) when I die, then I can whilest I am in this body.
- *Some probably may object the dead are not sensible of time, 'tis but as a sleep to them; they die and their resurrection to them immediately follows; no distance of time between Death and Judgement the dead, and so Paul's gain he speaks of […] might not be till the resurrection? Aasw. Though it be granted death to the body is but as a sleep, yet 'tis not so to the soul. But that this is not the intent or meaning of the Apostle, is plain; which I make out thus: Paul Plainly shows that if he did presently depart or die, it would be gain to him; now if that which you say were true, he would have lost by death, 'tis easy to see how, Suppose he might live twenty or thirty years longer on earth, would not thirty years sweet enjoyment of Jesus Christ be worth nothing? Is not one▪ day with God, beholding his lovely face, better than a thousand? All know, that if he died presently, he should never the sooner obtain the resurrection, of this body, than if he had lived a hundred years longer; this being well weighed, to die presently would have been his great loss, were not the soul in a present enjoyment of Christ at death.Some probably may object the dead are not sensible of time, 'tis but as a sleep to them; they die and their resurrection to them immediately follows; no distance of time between Death and Judgement the dead, and so Paul's gain he speaks of 〈…〉 might not be till the resurrection? Aasw. Though it be granted death to the body is but as a sleep, yet 'tis not so to the soul. But that this is not the intent or meaning of the Apostle, is plain; which I make out thus: Paul Plainly shews that if he did presently depart or die, it would be gain to him; now if that which you say were true, he would have lost by death, 'tis easie to see how, Suppose he might live twenty or thirty years longer on earth, would not thirty years sweet enjoyment of Jesus Christ be worth nothing? Is not one▪ day with God, beholding his lovely face, better than a thousand? All know, that if he died presently, he should never the sooner obtain the resurrection, of this body, than if he had lived a hundred years longer; this being well weighed, to die presently would have been his great loss, were not the soul in a present enjoyment of Christ at death.
