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

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 ⟨p. 184⟩enemy. Death is thine, 1 Cor. 3.30. thy servant and slave, to help off thy cloaths, and to put thee to thine everlasting happy rest.

Is it the taking down of thine earthly tabernacle which troubles thee? Why, Dost thou not know that death is the workman sent by the Father to pull down this earthly house of mortality and clay, that it may be set up a new, infinitely more lasting, beautiful and glorious? Didst thou believe how rich and splendid he intends to make it (which cannot be unless taken down) thou wouldst contentedly endure the present toil and trouble, and be thankful to him for his care and cost. He takes down thy vile body, that he may fashion it like to the glorious body of his own Son, which for brightness and beauty excels the Sun in its best attire, far more then that doth the meanest Star.