N01488:122
Several sermons wherein is showed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II.…Several sermons wherein is shewed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II.…
Several sermons wherein is showed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II. That God converts his elect some at one age, and some at another, commonly before old age. III. That when godly men dye, angels carry their souls to another and a better world. : With a preface in which there is a brief and true character of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bridge a lately deceased pastor in one of the churches in Boston. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Several sermons wherein is shewed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II. That God converts his elect some at one age, and some at another, commonly before old age. III. That when godly men dye, angels carry their souls to another and a better world. : With a preface in which there is a brief and true character of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bridge a lately deceased pastor in one of the churches in Boston. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1715
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.
USE. II.
Godly Men ought not to be afraid of Death, but rather to rejoice at the thought of it. Death is indeed a frightful evil to Nature. The Philosopher calls it, Of all terribles the most terrible. And ⟨p. 117⟩Bildad styles Death, The King of Terrors, Job 18 14. It exceeds other terribles as much as a King excels ordinary Men. A great Man among the Romans was so terribly afraid of Death, as that he said he would be willing to be in any pain and misery, on condition that he might but live. And since Godly Men have Nature remaining in them, the apprehension of Death is frightful to some of them. Through fear of Death they are kept in bondage all their life time. But believers ought not to be afraid of it. And we find in the Scripture that some of the Lords Servants, have been above the fear of Death. The Psalmist could say, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And why should he, when he had Angels to be with him? When Moses was told that he should go up Mount Nebo & there die, he was no more afraid than a Man would be to go up his Chamber, there to lie down & sleep. The Children of God who have Served him faithfully, should (with submission to his Will) ⟨p. 118⟩rather be willing, nay, desirous of the hour of their death, than to be afraid of it: 2 Cor. 5.8. We are willing rather to be absent from the body & present with the Lord. Good old Simeon said, Now Lord let thy servant depart in Peace,