Can the thought of death be terrible to such as know and 1believe the truth hereof? Will not rather the consideration 2thereof make them with the Apostle to sigh, and desire to depart, that they may be with the Lord? The highest degree of the Churches happiness consisteth in this fruition of the 3presence of her spouse: for so he becometh all in all unto her: not by means, as in this world, but immediately by himself: so as there shall need no Minister, no Sacrament, no ordinance to set forth Christ unto us: no Governor in family, Church, or common-wealth, to represent his person, or to keep us in subjection: no light to direct us, no food to sustain us; we shall be so assisted with Christ as we shall need nothing. If those servants were happy that stood continually before Solomon, what are they that always stand not as servants ⟨p. 72⟩4but as a wife in his presence that is infinitely greater then Solomon? If it were a great grace & favour, that Moses saw the backparts 5of God, what a grace and favour is it, to behold Christ 6face to face? For when he doth appear, we shall see him as he is. 7Though now we be absent from the Lord, yet let us uphold our selves with the expectation and assurance of this, that we shall be presented before Christ.
Can the thought of death be terrible to such as know and 1beleeue the truth hereof? Will not rather the consideration 2thereof make them with the Apostle to sigh, and desire to depart, that they may be with the Lord? The highest degree of the Churches happinesse consisteth in this fruition of the 3presence of her spouse: for so he becommeth all in all vnto her: not by meanes, as in this world, but immediatly by himselfe: so as there shall need no Minister, no Sacrament, no ordinance to set forth Christ vnto vs: no Gouernour in family, Church, or common-wealth, to represent his person, or to keepe vs in subiection: no light to direct vs, no food to sustaine vs; we shall be so assisted with Christ as we shall need nothing. If those seruants were happy that stood continually before Salomon, what are they that alwaies stand not as seruants ⟨p. 72⟩4but as a wife in his presence that is infinitly greater then Salomon? If it were a great grace & fauour, that Moses saw the backparts 5of God, what a grace and fauour is it, to behold Christ 6face to face? For when he doth appeare, we shall see him as he is. 7Though now we be absent from the Lord, yet let vs vphold our selues with the expectation and assurance of this, that we shall be presented before Christ.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2Encouragement against death.Incoragement against death.
- 3Totum tibi sit Deus: quia horum quae diligis, totum tibi est. Aug. in Joh. 3. tract. 13. Reu. 21. 22, 23. Joh 17. 20, 21.Totum tibi sit Deus: quia horum quae diligis, totum tibi est. Aug. in Ioh. 3. tract. 13. Reu. 21. 22, 23. Ioh 17. 20, 21.
- 41 King. 10. 8.
- 5Exo. 33. 23.
- 61 Cor. 13. 12.
- 71 Joh. 3 2.