A89737:1510
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
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.
Their activity, and aptness to action, exceeds what we can well conceive; all the Saints in Heaven are such as Pharaoh enquired after, Gen. 47.6. persons of activity. Much is the activeness which at times God hath been, and is pleased to give to Mortal bodies, Elijah (the hand of God being upon him) runneth, and out-runneth Ahab's Chariot, making haste (as is likely) that the rain stopped him not, 1 King. 18.46. Asael was as light of foot as a wild Roe, 2 Sam. 2.18. They in their immortal estate shall be like the Sun, in respect of its brightness, why not in respect of its motion? which the Learned allow to move a Million, and one hundred sixty thousand miles in an hour; if so swift may be the motion of Natural Bodies, how swift the motion of Glorious Bodies shall be, we shall know when we come to make use of it;1 out of the Scripture it appears, that Angels in their assumed Bodies have moved very swiftly; Elijah when departing out of the Disciples sight toward Heaven, not by assumption, that is, by extrinsical help, as ⟨p. 352⟩in fiery Chariot; but by the ascension (according to the inherent Principle, and virtue of his glorified Body,) Luke 9. goeth up to the cloud easily and quickly, and Christ is quickly out of their sight, Act. 1.9. As is their condition, so also is their strength; Sampson yet in a Mortal body, makes no more of Cords about his arms than of Flax burnt with fire; takes the doors of the Gate of the City, and the two Posts, Bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the hill, Judg. 16.3. breaks the Withs as a thread of Tow is broken when it toucheth the fire, ver. 9. goeth away with the pin of the Beam, and with the Web, &c. May we not well conclude, that the weakest in glory shall be stronger than Sampson in his great strength; the Bodies subjection to the Soul is its exquisite aptness, and readiness, as an instrument for the Soul to operate by, with all dexterity and promptness, without all retarding and hinderance.