Fourthly, there is the very same reason why Believers should go to heaven before Christs Ascension, as there is why they should go to heaven after Christs Ascension, because Believers under the old Testament, they had the same Gospel preached to them as now we have, and they had the same Spirit, the same Faith, the same Christ, and under the same Covenant, and therefore why must they not go to the same place? I shall clearly prove this unto you. First, they had the same Spirit and the same Faith that we had, and this is laid down by the Apostle, in 2 Cor. 4.13. We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is ⟨p. 45⟩written, I believed and therefore have I spoken, we also believe and therefore speak; and they with us had the same justifying Faith. Then for circumcision, it was a sign of righteousness by Faith. And then again, they had the same Gospel that we have, Heb. 4.2. For unto us was the same Gospel Preached, as well as unto them: but the word Preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. The same Gospel, only theirs was dark, for the ceremonial Law was Gospel; merely Types and Shadows to come, Shadows of Salvation by Christs Blood, to them was the Gospel Preached as well as unto us; Nay they had the same Christ as we have, 1 Cor. 10.4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. And in the Wilderness it is said, Let us not tempt Christ as they also tempted him, they sinned against Christ in the Wilderness, and they enjoyed Christ in the Wilderness: so that they had the same Christ as we have; Again they are under the same Covenant that we are, Jeremiah 31. It is the same Covenant with ours in Hebrews 8. So that is there not the same reason why Believers under the old Testament should go to the same place as Believers under the new, for they had the same spirit, the same Faith, the same Gospel, ⟨p. 46⟩the same Christ, and under the same Covenant, therefore they must needs go to the same place, though heaven be prepared by Christs Ascension, yet heaven was opened before, yet not so manifested before as since Christ Dyed, Rose and went up to Heaven.
Fourthly, there is the very same reason why Believers should goe to heaven before Christs Ascension, as there is why they should go to heaven after Christs Ascension, because Believers under the old Testament, they had the same Gospell preached to them as now wee have, and they had the same Spirit, the same Faith, the same Christ, and under the same Covenant, and therefore why must they not goe to the same place? I shall clearly prove this unto you. First, they had the same Spirit and the same Faith that wee had, and this is laid downe by the Apostle, in 2 Cor. 4.13. Wee having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is ⟨p. 45⟩written, I believed and therefore have I spoken, wee also believe and therefore speak; and they with us had the same justifying Faith. Then for circumcision, it was a signe of righteousnesse by Faith. And then againe, they had the same Gospell that wee have, Heb. 4.2. For unto us was the same Gospell Preached, as well as unto them: but the word Preached did not profit them, not being mixt with Faith in them that heard it. The same Gospell, onely theirs was darke, for the ceremoniall Law was Gospell; meerely Types and Shadowes to come, Shadowes of Salvation by Christs Bloud, to them was the Gospell Preached as well as unto us; Nay they had the same Christ as wee have, 1 Cor. 10.4. And did all drinke the same spirituall drinke, for they dranke of that Sipirituall Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. And in the Wildernesse it is said, Let us not tempt Christ as they also tempted him, they sinned against Christ in the Wildernesse, and they enjoyed Christ in the Wildernesse: so that they had the same Christ as wee have; Againe they are under the same Covenant that wee are, Jeremiah 31. It is the same Covenant with ours in Hebrewes 8. So that is there not the same reason why Believers under the old Testament should goe to the same place as Believers under the new, for they had the same spirit, the same Faith, the same Gospell, ⟨p. 46⟩the same Christ, and under the same Covenant, therefore they must needs go to the same place, though heaven be prepared by Christs Ascension, yet heaven was opened before, yet not so manifested before as since Christ Dyed, Rose and went up to Heaven.
