A96103:75
The holy longing
The holy longing: or, The saints desire to be with Christ: delivered in a sermon at Al-hallows Lombard-street, Aug. 24. 1658. At the funeral of Mr. Jacob Stock. / By Thomas Watson minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.The holy longing: or, The saints desire to be with Christ: delivered in a sermon at Al-hallows Lumbard-street, Aug. 24. 1658. At the funeral of Mr. Jacob Stock. / By Thomas Watson minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.
London: printed by E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1659
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.
So much for the first branch of the doctrine, that it is the desire of a true Saint to be gone from hence; [having a desire to depart.]
2. I proceed now to the second branch of the doctrine, that it is a Saints desire to be with Christ. Saint Paul longed to lie on that soft pillow where John the beloved Disciple did, viz. the bosom of Jesus*; There had been little comfort in departing, if the Apostle had not put in this word, to be with Christ. Death will make a glorious change to a believer; 'tis but crossing the mare mortuum, the dead Sea, and he shall be with Christ. Death to a child of God is like the Whirl-wind to the Prophet Elijah, it blew off his mantle, but carried the Prophet up to heaven. So death is a boisterous wind ⟨p. 31⟩which blows off the mantle fo the flesh, (for the body is but the mantle the soul is wrapped in) but it carries the soul up to Christ; the day of a believers dissolution, is the day of his coronation. Though death be a bitter cup, here is sugar at the bottom, it translates the soul of a believer to Christ; though the flesh calls death the last enemy, *yet faith calls it the best friend, it brings a man to Christ, which is far better.
2. I proceed now to the second branch of the doctrine, that it is a Saints desire to be with Christ. Saint Paul long'd to lie on that soft pillow where John the beloved Disciple did, viz. the bosome of Jesus*; There had been little comfort in departing, if the Apostle had not put in this word, to be with Christ. Death will make a glorious change to a believer; 'tis but crossing the mare mortuum, the dead Sea, and he shall be with Christ. Death to a childe of God is like the Whirl-wind to the Prophet Eliah, it blew off his mantle, but carried the Prophet up to heaven. So death is a boisterous wind