A state of glory for spirits of just men upon dissolution, demonstrated. A sermon…

I am aware how these words, Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls, are interpreted of that joy unspeakable, and full of glory, which the Verse afore had spoken of, In whom though, Now, ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, so as, in those joys vouchsafed the Saints are said to receive the salvation of their souls, as being the earnest of it in the same kind, and so a part of the Reward of Faith received in hand (as we say) and vouchsafed over and above the ordinary way of living by Faith. This Interpretation I no way gainsay, nor will go about to exclude: for I know it doth consist with ⟨p. 24⟩that other I am about to give, and is subordinate to it: But if this Sense should obtain, that it were, Directly, Alone intended, yet by consequence, and at the rebound, it doth strongly argue the point in Hand. For if whilst Faith continues, God is pleased to vouchsafe such joys, much more when faith ceaseth, He will vouchsafe a fuller Enjoyment: for why else are these present joys termed Salvation? That is, in a sort part of the taking possession of Salvation aforehand, and that as distinct from the Right to Salvation, which Faith in ordinary gives without such joys at all times to all believers: they have the name given them, as being an earnest of the same kind, of that greater sum. And again, why are these present joys termed the Salvation of their SOULS? But because they are intended by God, (being also, now wrought immediately in the Soul, without the body's influence) to be an earnest that it is their Souls, when without their bodies, shall have that fuller possession given them; and so this earnest assigneth this payment to be made to this Legatee, the SOUL specified as the first receiver of it. [2.] Every payment having a day, or set time appointed for it, which the earnest obligeth the trustee unto, as well as to make payment it self, and useth to be at the end of the performance on his part to whom the contract is made, this therefore is as elegantly designed to be the end of their faith; there's the day of payment. And [3.] it would be hard to think that God should give forth joys whilst faith continues; and then for so long a time as till the Resurrection withdraw all communication of himself, both of faith and joy (through sight) also.