A65295:89
The fight of faith crowned, or, A sermon preached at the funeral of that…
The fight of faith crowned, or, A sermon preached at the funeral of that eminently holy man Mr. Henry Stubs by Tho. Watson ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by Joseph Collier ..., 1678
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The weakness of their love. Love (as Aristotle saith) desires Union. Did men love Christ as they should, they would desire to be united to him in glory. St. Paul desired to be dissolved and be with Christ, Phil. 1. 23. It was the speech of an holy man on his death-bed, My heart is in heaven, Lord lead me to that glory which I have seen already as through a glass*. We are encompassed with a body of sin; should not we long to shake off this viper? We are combating with Satan; should not we be willing to be called out of the bloody field, where the bullets of temptation fly so fast, that we may receive a victorious Garland? We now live far from Court, we do rather desire God than enjoy him; should not we long to be crowned with the blissful sight of Gods face? Though we should be content to stay here to do God service, yet we should ambitiously desire to be always sunning our selves in the light of God's countenance; think what it will be to be led into Christs wine-cellar, to have the kisses of his mouth, to smell the Savour of his ointments, to lye in his bosom, that bed of love; think what it will be to have unstained honour, unparalleled beauty, unmixed joy; what it will be to tread upon stars, to dwell among Cherubims, and to feast on those dulcia fercula, heavenly delicacies ⟨p. 24⟩and rarities wherewith God himself is delighted. Methinks our souls should be big with longing for these things, and we should be put into such a blessed Pathos of desire, as Monica, who hearing of the joys of Heaven, cryed out, Quid hic facio? What should I do here? why is my soul held any longer with this earthen fetter of the flesh? would but God give us some Idea, or imperfect glimpse of Heavens Glory; how should we be ready to fall into a Trance with Peter? And being a little recovered out of it, what earnest suitors 2would we be to be caught up for ever into the Heavenly Paradise.
2. The weakness of their love. Love (as Aristotle saith) desires Union. Did men love Christ as they should, they would desire to be united to him in glory. St. Paul desired to be dissolved and be with Christ,