N01272:196
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the…
Meditations on the glory of the heavenly world. I. On the happiness of the soul of believers, at the instant of their separation from their bodies. II. On the glory of the bodies of God's children, in the resurrection world, when they shall be as the angels of heaven. III. On the glory of both soul and body in the heaven of heavens, after the day of judgment, to all eternity. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston in N.E. printed: : Sold by Benjamin Eliot, at his shop in King Street., 1711
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.
It is so,
1. As to Themselves. It affords matter of Comfort in respect of whatever Afflictions they may for the present be Subject unto: Deep Afflictions are a Metaphorical Grave. They are fitly resembled there unto. Psal. 88. 10. With thou show wonders to the Dead? shall the Dead arise and Praise thee? So did he speak when under sore Affliction both in his Body (for tis thought he was a Leper, v. 18.) and in his Soul which were full of Troubles, and almost distracted with the Terrors of God. When the Lords People did as it were lie buried in a Grave of long Affliction in Babylon, the Lord said to them, I will open your Graves, & cause you to come up out of your Graves, Ezek. 37. 12. He that will bring the Bodies of his Saints out of their Graves at the last Day, ⟨p. 177⟩they may be sure will bring them out of what ever Grave of Affliction, they may Lie Buried in for a time. There are Children of God who are Afflicted with Bodily Weaknesses and Infirmities; and it may be for a Long time. We read in the Gospel, of a Daughter of Abraham, who had been bowed Down with a spirit of Infirmity Eighteen Years, Luk. 13. 11. There will be no Bodily Infirmities to complain of in the Resurrection World. This also affords Comfort to the Children of God, against the Fear of Death. God said to Jacob, Be not afraid to go Down into Egypt, I will surely bring thee up again, Gen. 46. 3, 4. So He says to the Believer, Be not afraid to go down into the Grave, I will surely bring thee up again; and in the mean time, Thou shalt see Joseph, thy Soul shall be with JESUS. Therefore should they go into the Grave, not only Willingly but Cheerfully. The thoughts of their Death being near at hand, should be a Comfort to them. And it is moreover, a comfortable Meditation, for Believers who die in these Last Ages of the world,