The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

First, It is a comfort against the death of our friends. God is a godly mans portion, therefore they are blessed who die in the Lord without us; and we are happy who live in the Lord without them.

Its a comfort that they are happy without creatures; what wise man will grieve at his friends gain? In the ceremonial law there was a year of Jubilee, in which every man who had lost or sold his land, upon the blowing of a trumpet had possession again. The deaths-day of thy believing relation is his day of Jubilee, in which he is restored to the possession of his eternal and inestimable portion. Who ever pined that married an Heir in his minority, at his coming to age, and going to receive his portion? Their death is not penal, but medicinal; not destructive; but perfective to their Souls. It doth that for them which none of ⟨p. 181⟩the ordinances of God, nor providences of God, nor graces of the Spirit ever yet did for them. It sends the weary to their sweet and eternal rest. This Serpent is turned into a rod with which God works wonders for their good. The Thracians wept at the births of men, and feasted at their funerals; if they counted mortality a mercy, who could see death only to be the end of outward sufferings, shall not we who besides that see it to be the beginning of matchless and endless solace? A wife may well wring her hands, and pierce her heart with sorrow, when her Husband is taken away from her, and dragged to execution, to hell; but surely she may rejoice when he is called from her by his Prince, to live at Court in the greatest honours & pleasures; especially when she is promised within a few days to be sent for to him; and to share with him in those joys and delights for ever.

Its a comfort that they are happy without creatures; what wise man will grieve at his friends gain? In the ceremonial law there was a year of Jubile, in which every man who had lost or sold his land, upon the blowing of a trumpet had possession again. The deaths-day of thy believing relation is his day of Jubile, in which he is restored to the possession of his eternal and inestimable portion. Who ever pined that married an Heir in his minority, at his coming to age, and going to receive his portion? Their death is not paenall, but medicinal; not destructive; but perfective to their Souls. It doth that for them which none of