Conceive we it by some comparisons.1 It were a great grace,2 and such as would minister much comfort to a Courtier lying sick at home of the gout,3 to have the Prince not only to send to him,4 but in person also to visit him:5 but much more comfort and joy would it be to him, to be able, being recovered, to repair to the Court, and there enjoy his Princes presence, with such favours and pleasures, as that place may afford. How much more then, in this case, is it a great grace and a comfort, that God vouchsafeth to visit us here by his spiriti, sometime more familiarly and feelingly, but ever so effectually,7 as thereby to support us even in our heaviest afflictions? but yet how much more exceedingly shall our joy and comfort be increased, when being freed from all infirmities, we shall be taken home to him, that we may live in joy and bliss for ever with him? As that Courtier having assurance given him of recovery by such a time, would exceedingly rejoice to think of the joy of that day, and count every day a week, if not a year, to it, wherein he should being recovered return again to the Court, and be welcomed thither in solemn manner by all his friends there, the Prince himself principally: ⟨p. 13⟩so well may the faithful soul not a little joy to forethinke with it self, what a joyful hour that shall be unto it, wherein by death parted from the body, it shall be solemnly presented before the face of Christ, and entering into the heavenly palace, shall be welcomed thither by the whole court of heaven, by all the blessed spirits that there abidei.
Conceiue we it by some comparisons.1 It were a great grace,2 and such as would minister much comfort to a Courtier lying sicke at home of the gowt,3 to haue the Prince not onely to send to him,4 but in person also to visit him:5 but much more comfort and joy would it be to him, to be able, being recouered, to repaire to the Court, and there enjoy his Princes presence, with such fauors and pleasures, as that place may afford. How much more then, in this case, is it a great grace and a comfort, that God vouchsafeth to visit vs here by his spiriti, sometime more familiarly and feelingly, but euer so effectually,7 as thereby to support vs euen in our heauiest afflictions? but yet how much more exceedingly shall our ioy and comfort be increased, when being freed from all infirmities, we shall be taken home to him, that we may liue in ioy and blisse for euer with him? As that Courtier hauing assurance giuen him of recouery by such a time, would exceedingly reioyce to thinke of the ioy of that day, and count euery day a weeke, if not a yeere, to it, wherein he should being recoured returne againe to the Court, and be welcommed thither in solemne manner by all his frends there, the Prince himselfe principally: ⟨p. 13⟩so well may the faithfull soule not a litle ioy to forethinke with it selfe, what a ioyfull howre that shall be vnto it, wherein by death parted from the body, it shall be solemnly presented before the face of Christ, and entring into the heauenly palace, shall be welcomed thither by the whole court of heauen, by all the blessed spirits that there abidei.
- 1Psal. 23. 4.
- 2Philip. 4 4.
- 31. Thess. 5. 16.
- 42. Cor 1. 3, 4, 5.
- 5Esse Christum cum Paulomagna securitas: Esse Paulum cum Christo summa felicitas. Bern. in Psal. Qui hab.
- iJoh. 14. 23.Ioh. 14. 23.
- 7Apoc. 3. 20
- iHebr. 12. 22, 23, 24.
