Sixthly, The Justified man knows how to die, and go to judgment. He knows how to die, which is a lesson too hard for any other but such as himself. The Stoic may seem to vapour over death, as a thing of nothing; but whilst he doth so, it is but a piece of blind rashness, never considering the vast gulf of Eternity which is then to be shot, in the Christian World, where that Gulf is better known. Many great Rabbis and Sophies are nonplussed at the approach of death. The great Cardinal Richelieu, a little before his end would have a play, called Europe triumphant to be acted, though he was not able to be a spectator; it seems his Soul, hanging about the mud walls, as loth to go off that stage where he had acted so many wise parts, knew not how to apply it self to that grand affair of death approaching. Only the justified man knows how to resign, and bespeak his parting ⟨p. 239⟩Soul as Monica did, Volemus in coelum: Let us fly to heaven; or with Hilarion, Egredere anima mea, egredere, quid times? quid dubitas? Go out my Soul, go out; what doest thou sear or doubt? And all this upon sure grounds. His sin is pardoned; his death unstung; heaven-gates stand open for him; a convoy of Angels are ready to conduct his Soul into Abraham's bosom. So little tremendous is death to such an one, that Zuinglius being mortally wounded cried out, Ecquid hoc infortunii? Is this any misfortune? the Body only was slain, the Soul was untouched, and but a little the sooner let out into glory. Again, The justified man knows how to go to Judgment. When the Earl Montgomery was brought before the great Court at Paris, he ingeniously confessed, That, as many great Armies as he had seen without fear, yet he could not but tremble at the presence of those grave Judges. At the Great day, when the last Trump shall sound, and the dead rise out of the dust, and Jesus Christ shall come with all his glorious Angels to judge the World, there will be generally nothing but pale faces, and trembling hearts, and lamentable out-cries to the Rocks and Mountains, to fall upon them, and cover them from the presence of the Judge: Only the Justified man may lift up his head with joy, because his redemption draws nigh. Jesus Christ the Judge is his Head and Advocate, and will not, cannot condemn the Believer, being a piece of himself, ⟨p. 240⟩standing in his image and righteousness.
Sixthly, The Justified man knows how to die, and go to judgment. He knows how to die, which is a lesson too hard for any other but such as himself. The Stoick may seem to vapour over death, as a thing of nothing; but whilest he doth so, it is but a piece of blind rashness, never considering the vast gulph of Eternity which is then to be shot, in the Christian World, where that Gulph is better known. Many great Rabbies and Sophies are nonplust at the approach of death. The great Cardinal Richelieu, a little before his end would have a play, called Europe triumphante to be acted, though he was not able to be a spectator; it seems his Soul, hanging about the mud walls, as loth to go off that stage where he had acted so many wise parts, knew not how to apply it self to that grand affair of death approaching. Only the justified man knows how to resign, and bespeak his parting ⟨p. 239⟩Soul as Monica did, Volemus in coelum: Let us flie to heaven; or with Hilarion, Egredere anima mea, egredere, quid times? quid dubitas? Go out my Soul, go out; what doest thou sear or doubt? And all this upon sure grounds. His sin is pardoned; his death unstung; heaven-gates stand open for him; a convoy of Angels are ready to conduct his Soul into Abrahams bosom. So little tremendous is death to such an one, that Zuinglius being mortally wounded cried out, Ecquid hoc infortunii? Is this any misfortune? the Body only was slain, the Soul was untouched, and but a little the sooner let out into glory. Again, The justified man knows how to go to Judgment. When the Earl Montgomery was brought before the great Court at Paris, he ingeniously confessed, That, as many great Armies as he had seen without fear, yet he could not but tremble at the presence of those grave Judges. At the Great day, when the last Trump shall sound, and the dead rise out of the dust, and Jesus Christ shall come with all his glorious Angels to judge the World, there will be generally nothing but pale faces, and trembling hearts, and lamentable out-cries to the Rocks and Mountains, to fall upon them, and cover them from the presence of the Judge: Only the Justified man may lift up his head with joy, because his redemption draws nigh. Jesus Christ the Judge is his Head and Advocate, and will not, cannot condemn the Believer, being a piece of himself, ⟨p. 240⟩standing in his image and righteousness.
