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 Metaph••••al Grave. They are fitly resemb•• ••ereunto. Psal. 88.10. Wilt thou show wonders to the Dead? shall the Dead arise […] Praise thee? So did he speak when under ••re Affliction both in his Body (•or 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, ⟨p. 178⟩that they shall not continue Long in their Graves. It was a comfort to Christ, that although' He knew he should Die, He also knew that he should not abide Long in the state of Death: Isa. 50.8. He is near that Justifieth me; I shall not be Long in my Grave. Believers in the Latte• Days, have in this respect an Happiness above what they had in the Years of Ancient Generations. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Samuel and all the Prophets have been in their Graves, for more than Two Thousand Years. Although' we know not the precise Time when it will be;
1. As to Themselves. It affords matter of Comfort in respect of whatever Afflictions they may for the pres•nt be Subject unto: Deep Afflictions are a Metaph••••al Grave. They are fitly resemb•• ••ereunto. Psal. 88.10. Wilt thou shew wonders to the Dead? shall the Dead arise 〈…〉 Praise thee? So did he speak when under ••re Affliction both in his Body (•or 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 ly 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 Ly 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 IESUS. Therefore should they go into the Grave, not only Willingly but Chearfully. The tho'ts of their Death being near at hand, should be a Comfort to them. And it is moreover, a comfortable Meditation, for Believers who dy in these Last Ages of the world, ⟨p. 178⟩that they shall not continue Long in their Graves. It was a comfort to Christ, that altho' He knew he should Dy, He also knew that he should not abide Long in the state of Death:
