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

Christians surely have more cause to be valiant in their last conflict; and its no credit to their Father that they are so loth to go home. The Turks tell us, that surely Christians do not believe Heaven to be so glorious a place as they talk of; for if they did, they would not be so unwilling to go thither. It may make the world think the child hath but could welcome at his Fathers house, that he lingers so much a broad; certainly such bring an ill report upon the good land.

Christians surely have more cause to be valiant in their last conflict; and its no credit to their Father that they are so loth to goe home. The Turks tell us, that surely Christians do not believe Heaven to be so glorious a place as they talk of; for if they did, they would not be so unwilling to goe thither. It may make the world think the child hath but could welcome at his Fathers house, that he lingers so much a broad; certainly such bring an ill report upon the good land.

Christian, what is it in death that thou art afraid of? Is it not a departure, the Goal delivery of a long prisoner, the sleep of thy body, and a wakening of thy Soul, the way to bliss, the gate of life, the portal to Paradise? Art thou not sure to triumph before thou fightest, by dying to overcome death, and when thou leavest thy body, to be joined to thy head? The Roman general in the encounter between Scipio and Hannibal, thought he could not use a more effectual persuasion to encourage his soldiers then to tell them that they were to fight with those whom they had formerly overcome, and who were as much their slaves as their enemies. Thou art to enter the list against that adversary whom thou hast long ago conquered in Jesus Christ, and who is more thy slave then thine ⟨p. 184⟩enemy. Death is thine, 1 Cor. 3.30. thy servant and slave, to help off thy clothes, and to put thee to thine everlasting happy rest.

Christian, what is it in death that thou art afraid of? Is it not a departure, the Goal delivery of a long prisoner, the sleep of thy body, and a wakening of thy Soul, the way to bliss, the gate of life, the portall to Paradise? Art thou not sure to triumph before thou fightest, by dying to overcome death, and when thou leavest thy body, to be joyned to thy head? The Roman general in the encounter between Scipio and Hannibal, thought he could not use a more effectual perswasion to encourage his souldiers then to tell them that they were to fight with those whom they had formerly overcome, and who were as much their slaves as their enemies. Thou art to enter the list against that adversary whom thou hast long agoe conquered in Jesus Christ, and who is more thy slave then thine