N04758:23
True saints, when absent from the body, are present with the Lord. A sermon…
True saints, when absent from the body, are present with the Lord. A sermon preached on the day of the funeral of the Rev. Mr. David Brainerd, Missionary to the Indians, from the Honourable Society in Scotland for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and Pastor of a church of Christian Indians in New-Jersey; who died at Northampton, in New-England, Octob. 9th. 1747, in the 30th year of his age, and was interred on the 12th following. : Containing some account of his character, and manner of life, and remarkable speeches and behaviour at death. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Five lines from Psalms]True saints, when absent from the body, are present with the Lord. A sermon preached on the day of the funeral of the Rev. Mr. David Brainerd, Missionary to the Indians, from the Honourable Society in Scotland for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and Pastor of a church of Christian Indians in New-Jersey; who died at Northampton, in New-England, Octob. 9th. 1747, in the 30th year of his age, and was interred on the 12th following. : Containing some account of his character, and manner of life, and remarkable speeches and behavior at death. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Five lines from Psalms]
printed by Rogers and Fowle for D. Henchman, 1747
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.
here their Hearts are while they live; and here their Treasure is: The Inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, that is designed for them, is reserved in Heaven; (1 Pet. 1.4.) and therefore they never can have their proper and full Rest till they come here. So that undoubtedly their Souls, when absent from their Bodies, (when the Scriptures represent them as in a State of perfect Rest) arrive hither. Those two Saints, that left this World, to go to their Rest in another World, without dying, viz. Enoch and Elijah, went to Heaven. Elijah was seen ascending up to Heaven, as CHRIST was. And to the same resting Place, is there all Reason to think, that those Saints go, that leave the World, to go to their Rest, by Death. Moses, when he died in the Top of the Mount, ascended to the same glorious Abode with Elijah, who ascended without dying. They are Companions in another World; as they appeared together at CHRIST'S Transfiguration. They were together, at that Time, with CHRIST, in the Mount, when there was a Specimen or Sample of his Glorification in Heaven. And doubtless they were also together afterwards, with him, when he was actually fully glorified in Heaven. And thither undoubtedly it was, that the Soul of Stephen ascended, when he expired. The Circumstances ⟨p. 9⟩of his Death demonstrate it, as we have an Account of it Acts vii.55 &c. He being full of the HOLY GHOST, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the Glory of GOD, and JESUS standing on the Right Hand of GOD; and said, behold, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man [i. e. JESUS in his human Nature] standing on the Right Hand of GOD. Then they cried out with a loud Voice, and flopped their Ears, and ran upon him with one Accord, and cast him out of the City, and stoned him. — And, they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, LORD JESUS receive my Spirit. Before his Death he had an extraordinary View of the Glory that his Saviour had received in Heaven, not only for himself, but for him, and all his faithful Followers; that he might be encouraged by the Hopes of this Glory, cheerfully to lay down his Life for his Sake. Accordingly he dies in the Hope of this; saying, LORD JESUS, receive my Spirit. By which doubtless he meant, "receive my Spirit to be with thee, in that Glory, wherein I have now seen thee, in Heaven, at the Right Hand of GOD."