Their Bodies were slain, but their ⟨p. 87⟩Souls were under the Altar; they were with Christ, and expected that their Murderers, who were still dwelling on the Earth should have Justice Executed on them, for shedding innocent Blood. Now tis said of those holy Souls, those Spirits of Just men, that white Robes were given to every one of them, Ver. 11. White Robes are an Ensign of Glory. The glorious Angels of Heaven, would sometimes appear in white Robes; and the Spirits of Just men made perfect are like Angels; and therefore they must be represented as having white Robes on them. Moreover, the words allude to the Priests their being admitted into the Temple, who when they were first brought into the inner Court, had white Robes put upon them. Thus the Souls of Just men when they first enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary, have white Robes given to them; they are immediately Clothed with Glory. We have also in the Revelation, a Prophesy relating to such as should suffer Martyrdom under the power of Antichrist. Of these we understand that Scripture, Rev. 14. 13. Blessed ⟨p. 88⟩are the Dead which, Die in the Lord, from hence forth: Tea, saith the Spirit. Antichrist has caused the Professors of the true Gospel, to be put to Cruel Deaths: Burning is such a Death. There is a Law in Antichrists Kingdom, that Heretics (which is the Name they give to the Professors of the true Religion) shall be Burnt to Death. Now to encourage the Martyrs, the Spirit says, Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord. You may suffer a painful Death, yet be of good Comfort, as soon as ever you are Dead you shall be Blessed. Says the Spirit, when a Righteous man Dies, his Soul is among the Spirits of Just men made perfect in Heaven, before his Body is laid in the Grave. Isa. 57. 1, 2. The Righteous is taken away from the Evil to came; he shall enter into Peace, they shall rest in their Beds, i. e. in their Graves. It is in respect of their Souls that they enter into Peace; which imports their being in blessed Tranquility, and this as soon as ever they are taken away out of this world, before their Bodies are laid to rest & sleep in the Grave. Let us consider a little a ⟨p. 89⟩Promise which God made to Abraham; Gen. 15. 15. Thou shalt go to thy Fathers in Peace; thou shalt be buried in a good Old Age. That word Going to Fathers, is Emphatical; and has respect to the Soul.
Their Bodies were slain, but their ⟨p. 87⟩Souls were under the Altar; they were with Christ, and expected that their Murderers, who were still dwelling on the Earth should have Justice Executed on them, for shedding innocent Blood. Now tis said of those holy Souls, those Spirits of Just men, that white Robes were given to every one of them, Ver. 11. White Robes are an Ensign of Glory. The glorious Angels of Heaven, would sometimes appear in white Robes; and the Spirits of Just men made perfect are like Angels; and therefore they must be represented as having white Robes on them. Moreover, the words allude to the Priests their being admitted into the Temple, who when they were first bro't into the inner Court, had white Robes put upon them. Thus the Souls of Just men when they first enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary, have white Robes given to them; they are immediately Cloathed with Glory. We have also in the Revelation, a Prophesy relating to such as should suffer Martyrdom under the power of Antichrist. Of these we understand that Scripture, Rev. 14. 13. Blessed ⟨p. 88⟩are the Dead which, Dy in the Lord, from hence forth: Tea, saith the Spirit. Antichrist has caused the Professors of the true Gospel, to be put to Cruel Deaths: Burning is such a Death. There is a Law in Antichrists Kingdom, that Hereticks (which is the Name they give to the Professors of the true Religion) shall be Burnt to Death. Now to encourage the Martyrs, the Spirit says, Blessed are the Dead which Dy in the Lord. You may suffer a painful Death, yet be of good Comfort, as soon as ever you are Dead you shall be Blessed. Says the Spirit, when a Righteous man Dies, his Soul is among the Spirits of Just men made perfect in Heaven, before his Body is laid in the Grave. Isa. 57. 1, 2. The Righteous is taken away from the Evil to came; he shall enter into Peace, they shall rest in their Beds, i. e. in their Graves. It is in respect of their Souls that they enter into Peace; which imports their being in blessed Tranquility, and this as soon as ever they are taken away out of this world, before their Bodies are laid to rest & sleep in the Grave. Let us consider a little a ⟨p. 89⟩Promise which God made to Abraham; Gen. 15. 15. Thou shalt go to thy Fathers in Peace; thou shalt be buried in a good Old Age. That word Going to Fathers, is Emphatical; and has respect to the Soul.
