and has respect to the Soul. It is true, that that Expression of Sleeping with Fathers, is sometimes used in the Scripture to denote no more than Dying; it has respect to the Body, whose Death is a Sleep: But that great Divine, whom we have diverse times taken notice of, has Judiciously Observed, that Going to Fathers implies more, viz. that the Soul goes to that World where Fathers are gone before. When Abraham Died, in respect of his Soul he went to Abel, and to Noah, & to Shem, and to other of his Fore-fathers, who were gone into the Heavenly World before him, where the Spirits of those Just men were made Perfect. Before his Burial could be accomplished, his Soul was gone and got among the immortal Spirits of his Fathers. Let us observe further what is said of Abraham, Gen. 25.8, 9. Where we see that Promise made to him fulfilled; Abraham gave up the Ghost, and ⟨p. 90⟩Died in a good Old Age; and was gathered to his People, and his Sons Buried him. As soon as he gave up the Ghost, that is resigned his Spirit unto God, he was gathered to his People. That Expression implies, that there were a Company gone before him, and Gathered together; and that Abraham instantly at his Death was Gathered with them. Gathering implies Sorting: As long as they are in this world, Good & Bad are mixed together; not Only in the same Country, but the Wheat and the Tares grow together in the same Field of the Church: But at Death all the Good are Gathered into the Heavenly Garner, Mat. 3.12. And there they are kept safe by themselves; not so much as One Ungodly Soul with them. Observe three particulars in what is said of Abraham (1.) That he gave up the Ghost. (2) That he was Gathered to his People. (3.) That he was Buried. The two first were before the last. The like is said of Jacob; Gen. 49 33. He yielded up the Ghost, and was Gathered to his People. This was some time before his Burial. If it be asked, ⟨p. 91⟩By whom are the Spirits of Just men Gathered to their People? Answ. It is by the holy Angels of Heaven. As at the Last Day, they shall Gather all the Elect together, and bring them to Christ; Mat. 24.31. He shall send his Angels, and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. So the Angels Gather the Souls of Just men, and bring them to Christ in Heaven. Angels are always near unto them; but Especially in their Dying hours.
and has respect to the Soul. It is true, that that Expression of Sleeping with Fathers, is sometimes used in the Scripture to denote no more than Dying; it has respect to the Body, whose Death is a Sleep: But that great Divine, whom we have diverse times taken notice of, has Judiciously Observed, that Going to Fathers implies more, viz. that the Soul goes to that World where Fathers are gone before. When Abraham Dy'd, in respect of his Soul he went to Abel, and to Noah, & to Shem, and to other of his Fore-fathers, who were gone into the Heavenly World before him, where the Spirits of those Just men were made Perfect. Before his Burial could be accomplished, his Soul was gone and got among the immortal Spirits of his Fathers. Let us observe further what is said of Abraham, Gen. 25.8, 9. Where we see that Promise made to him fulfilled; Abraham gave up the Ghost, and ⟨p. 90⟩Died in a good Old Age; and was gathered to his People, and his Sons Buried him. As soon as he gave up the Ghost, that is resigned his Spirit unto God, he was gathered to his People. That Expression implies, that there were a Company gone before him, and Gathered together; and that Abraham instantly at his Death was Gathered with them. Gathering implies Sorting: As long as they are in this world, Good & Bad are mixed together; not Only in the same Countrey, but the Wheat and the Tares grow together in the same Field of the Church: But at Death all the Good are Gathered into the Heavenly Garner, Mat. 3.12. And there they are kept safe by themselves; not so much as One Ungodly Soul with them. Observe three particulars in what is said of Abraham (1.) That he gave up the Ghost. (2) That he was Gathered to his People. (3.) That he was Buried. The two first were before the last. The like is said of Jacob; Gen. 49 33. He yielded up the Ghost, and was Gathered to his People. This was some time before his Burial. If it be asked, ⟨p. 91⟩By whom are the Spirits of Just men Gathered to their People? Answ. It is by the holy Angels of Heaven. As at the Last Day, they shall Gather all the Elect together, and bring them to Christ; Mat. 24.31. He shall send his Angels, and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. So the Angels Gather the Souls of Just men, and bring them to Christ in Heaven. Angels are always near unto them; but Especially in their Dying hours.
