tell thee this that say so but the divine Spirit the Holy Ghost himself who is equal with God the Father saith so and that not only in multitudes of places in the Scriptures but in the hearts and consciences of all good men of all true believers This Holy Spirit saith yea to what I have said gives his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Amen or vâ—â—â—ly to â—t and hath commanded me to tell thee as much and therâ—fore thou hast reason to believe it For what he saith and declares is as he saith it is and as he declares it to be and whatever he promiseth or threatneth shall accordingly in time he performed and made good He is as we are told a Spirit of Truth a faithful Witness one that cannot lye as the Apostle expresly tells us Tit. 1 2. his word shall be made good to a tittle Heaven and earth shall pass away but not one Iota not the least tittle of what he hath said shall go unfulfilled as our Saviour assureth us Mat. 5.18 He is not a man that he shâ—uld lye neither the Son of man that he should repent hath he said it and shall it not be made good said Balaam Numb 23.19 the sons of men indeed are often lyars men of low deâ—ree saith the Psalmist are vanity and men of high degree are a lye Psa 62.9 they will say and unsay many times with the same breath we have no sure hold of their word no sure ground to build upon their assertions but it is not so with the Spirit of God we may safely build upon his word 't is impâ—ssible that he should lye or deceive any as the Apostle tells us Heb. 6.18 Truth is of his very nature and essence and he may as soon cease to be as cease to be true but that is the second ground given in my Text why we should believe that such as die in the Lord are Blessed because the Holy Spirit hath affirmed it and gives his yea to it Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit But then 3. As the Spirit saith so as it is evident and clear from what the Spirit tells us in the Holy Scriptures and in the hearts and consciences of all good men so the Ratio rei the reason of the thing speaks as much or it is evident that it must be so from reason it self I might name many but I shall content my self at present with what we have in my Text and we have Two here given for it The dead that die in the Lord must needs be Blessed For 1. They rest then from their labours And 2. Their works will follow them 1. Then if we consult Reason Good Men such as die in the Lord will be blessed after death For then they will rest from their labours they will then be at their rest there the wicked ceasâ— from trouble and the weary be at rest saith Job speaking of the grave or the other world Joâ— 14.13 There remaines a rest for tâ—e pâ—oâ—lâ— oâ— God saith the Apostle Heb. 4 9. And such as die in the Lord are said to rest or sleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 Thâ—y shall â— ter â—â—to peace thâ—y shall rest in their beds saith the Prophet speaking of righteous men that are taken away from the evil to come Isa 57.1 Look what a bed of rest or slâ—ep is to the weary labourer such is Death to good men their dying day is their resting day they shall then rest from their labours Not neither for I would not be mistaking here that the souls of good men after death are without all motion or operation till the Resurrection of their bodies not that they turn sleepers till then as some have imâ—gined not that they dose away all their time or indeed any of it from the last breath or gasp that the body takes to the blowing of the last trumpet as some do fondly dream For the soul is of such a nature as that it can no more be and not act than the wind can be and not blow than the fire can be and not burn than the sun can be and not shine its very nature and essence consisteth in alwayes thinking in constant cogitation as some both of the old and new Philosophers tell us They rest not day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and which is to come saith St. Jo n of the four and twenty elders and so of the souls of just men made perfect Revel 4.8 The resting of the soul then is not a cealing or a rest from all kind of motion or operation But a rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 't is phrazed in my Text that is a rest from all those toilsome labours and troublesome pains whâ—â—h they are forced to undergoe whilst here in the body â—oth in the pursuit of their particular callings as men and in the pursuit of their general callings as Christians They rest from all toilsome labour with reference to both of these and that too both with reference to all sinning and suffering in either of them To mention no more 1. The Souls of good men which die in the Lord rest from all their labours with respect to sinning their death puts a period and an end to all their sinning in both the issue of sin shall then be quite dryed up shall run no longer Here the heart of a Christian is like Rebekahs womb it hath as it were twins strugling in it the old man and the new flesh and spirit the law in the members warring against the law of the mind The flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other as the Apostle tells us Gal. 5.17 and by means of this contrariety there is a great conflict many times much strugling and striving much labour and trouble in the heart of a Christian So that the good which he would do he doth not and the evil which he wâ—uld not do that many times doth he as the Apostle phrazeth it in his own person Rom. 7.22 his very life by means of this is like a Book fraught full of Errata's who knows the Errours of this Life saith David there is not a just Man upon earth that doth good at all times and sinneth not saith Solomon Eccles 7.20 If any man saith he hath no sin he deceiveth himself and the truth is not in him saith St. John 1 Jo. 1.8 And in many things we offend all saith St. James Jam. 2.3 Our very righteousness is but as filthy rags as the Prophet tells us Isa 6.4 Our best graces saith one are not without their defects Lord I believe help mine unbelief cryes he in the Gospel Mark 9.24 Our best duties not without their defaults When I would do good evil is present with me saith the Apostle Rom. 7.21 The purest fire we know hath some smoak the richest wines some dregs Sin in short will have a
being and dwelling in the best of Gods people here but when once the Souls of good men are dislodged and have taken their flight from their Bodies this incroaching inmate as one terms sin shall be turned out of doors shall never have so much as any being or existence any longer in them shall never more give them any further labour or trouble The death of a Believers body shall perfectly deliver him from this body of Death as the Apostle calls sin Rom. 7.23 Christ will present unto himself in the other world a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it shall be holy and without blemish as the Apostle assureth us Ephess 5.27 And hence the souls of just men when once got thither are said to be perfect Heb. 12.23 and death is call'd by one Peccatorum sepultura the burial or grave of sin and that is one thing that speaks out the happiness of those that dye in the Lord they shall then be at rest from the labour of sinning which is of all labours and troubles the worst and greatest the most afflictive to a good man whence the Grecians in their Language term a wicked man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a word which signifieth with them labour and pains To denote as the labour and pains that wicked men are at many times to accomplish their wicked designs for they rest not except they have done mischief and their sleep is taken from them unless they cause some to fall as Solomon tells us Prov. 4.16 so possibly to denote that labour and trouble which sin and the remainders of it give to good men in this life Well from this labour from this trouble they shall be perfectly freed and delivered in the other life they shall be at rest then from the labour and sorrow of sinning any more Yea I may add here as a supplement to this Head the dead that dye in the Lord are not only at rest from sinning but from all suggestions and temptations to it there will be an end put then to all Satans temptations as well as to our sinning He is very busie here in suggesting of bad things to the minds of good men he is dayly dogging them and disturbing them in every thing they go about he buffetted St. Paul we read he desired to winnow St. Peter he stirr'd up David to number the People and whiles Joshua was ministring unto the Lord he was at his right hand to resist him as we are told Zach. 13.1 and it 's no small unhappiness to us that we are thus continually followed and haunted with such an ill Ghost yea but now Death will deliver such as dye in the Lord from this trouble also It will set them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the reach of his batteries and gun-shot though his darts be all fiery darts and so its likely he is able to fling them high as one saith yet not high enough to reach the Saints in glory The Saints on earth indeed are in a Militant Condition part of Gods Militant Church dayly sighting with him and he with them but the Saints in Heaven are in a Triumphant Condition Members of the Triumphant Church wholly above him and more than Conquerours over him and over all their other enemies thro' Christ that loved them as the Apostle assures us Rom. 8.37 His walk is indeed to go to and fro on the earth as he told God himself Job 1.7 but he can't enter the Confines of Heaven When he fell from his integrity he was turned out of that place of felicity and shall never be restored to it again This great Accuser of the Brethren is cast down neither shall his place be found any more in Heaven as we are assur'd Rev. 12.8 this spiritual Pharoth as one terms him may pursue good men to the hour of their death and it may be may then most fiercely too assault them may muster up all his forces in Battle-array against them but at death it may be confidently said unto them in respect of Satan what Moses said once to the Children of Israâ—l in respect of the â—â—gyptians Exod. 14.13 with which I shall conclude this particular Fâ—ar ye not oâ—ly stand still and see the salvation of the Lord whiâ—h he will work for you to dâ—y for the Aegyptians which ye have seen to dâ—y ye shall see them no morâ— forever 2. Such as dye in the Lord shall be at rest as from the labour of sinning and of all temptations to it so also from their labours in respect of suffering their death will put an end to all those sorrows and sufferings to which by reason of sin they are here exposed God will then wipe all tears from his peoples eyes and tâ—ere shall be no more sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain fâ—r the fâ—rmer things are passed away Revel 21.4 and this indeed followeth upon the former for sublata causâ tollitur eff ctus remove the cause and the â—ff cts will ceâ—se dry up the fountain and the streams will not run Sin the cause of sorrow and suffering being removed as you have heard then it will be sorrow and suffering the effects of sin must needs then cease Now if need be saith the Apostle ye are in heaviness 1 Peâ— 1.6 now men have strong corruptions and therefore need strong corrections Now there is Chaff mingled with our Wheat and therefore there is need of Gods Fan to separate it Dross with our Gold and therefore need of his Fire to refine it Now his Rod and Châ—stiâ—ements are very necessary to teach us out of Gods Law aâ— the Psalmist tells us Psal 89.32 but at Deâ—thâ— thâ— Scholar in Christs School will have perfectly learn'd his Lesson and herefore there will be no further need of correâ—tion Thus De th will set good men at rest from the labour of suffering as well as of sinning yea and that both with reference to their bodies and with reference to their souls that I may enâ—arge a little here 1. Death will set good Men at rest from all Sufferings with respect to their Bodies Many and Gâ—eat are the Suâ—fâ—rings which good Men meet with here by reason of their crazy inâ—irm Bodies by reason of the greâ—t variety of Disea es that are inc dent in this Life to them to mention now none of those other sufferings which some have been forced to undergo by reason of the Racks and Wheels of Persecutors Jo had we know his Botches Hezekiah his Boyl David his Sores the poor Widow of the Gospel her Issue of Blood One Man wasteth away with a Consumption till all his Moisture is Exhausted another is Burnt up with a Feaver a third is as it were Drowned with a Dropsy In one the kâ—eepers â—f the House that I may Allude to that Elegant Allegory of Solomon Eclâ—s 12. Tremble in another the sound of the Grinders is brought low in a third those
A SERMON AT THE FUNERAL Of the Worshipful Iohn Symonds Late of Great Yeldham in the County of Essex Esq Preached in the Parish-Church of Great Yeldham aforesaid on the 24th of February 1692. By John Brooke A. M. and Rector there With a short Account of his Life Imprimatur Guil. Lancaster R. P. D. Hen. Ep. Lond. a Sacris Domest May 25. 1693. London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside 1693. To my Much Honoured very worthy Friend Mris JANE SYMONDS Widow OF THE Worshipful John Symonds late of Great Yeldham in the County of Essex Esq Good Madam WE live in an Age wherein the Belief of a future state and of the happy condition of Good Men in the other World is it s to be feared very weak and much decayed amongst many and wherein the good Examples of such as mind this Future Life and live in order to it are too rare and thin I hope therefore that it will not be thought Unseasonable by any at this time of day to set forth a short Discourse to establish us in the one and to help us to a view of the other and that is the principal designe of this SERMON Which for the Substance of it was first Preached and now upon Your Request comes Forth with some Enlargements which the straitness of the time then allotted would not permit me to insist on Such as it is it is wholly devoted to the Churches and to Your Service And that it may be of use to support You under your great Loss and to induce such as shall Read it to Believe what is here Asserted and to Live thereafter by Imitating the Good Example that is here given them is and shall be the hearty Prayer of MADAM Your very humble and most devoted Servant Jo. Brooke Text. REV. 14.13 And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works follow them THIS Book is stiled the Revelation of John the Divine which hints to us both the Author and the Nature of the Book 1. The Author viz. The Apostle and Evangelist St. John that beloved disciple of our Lord who leaned on his bosome when he eat his last Supper as we read John 13.23 and he is stiled here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of special emphasis because like an Eagle the usual emblem that is given him which soars higher than other Birds and looks upon the rayes of the Sun with undazled eyes as the naturalist observes he soared aloft and writ more sublimely of the Son of Righteousness of the Divinity of Christ in this and in his other Books than any other of the Evangelists did Pareus tells us that he finds no less than 48 Arguments for the divinity of Christ in this very Book therefore well might he be stiled the Divine since he writ so divinely of his Lord and Master 2. The Nature of the Book is shewed also by the Title and so it is termed a Revelation so called because it reveals and makes known as many hidden mysteries so many future events which should happen to and befall the Churches of Christ in after Ages The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto John to shew unto his servants things that must shortly come to pass as you have it in Chap. 1. Ver. 1. 'T is true indeed this Revelation is not without a mixture of much intricacy and obscurity Tot habet Sacramenta quot verba saith St. Jerom It hath almost as many Mysteries as words The greatest part of it is Prophetical a prophesy of future events of what should happen in after Ages 'till the end of the world And all prophesies are difficult and hard to be understood 'till they are fulfilled till the time comes when the things foretold or prophesied of take effect Hence the wisest and most learned of Divines have been very much puzled and gravel'd in their Explanations and Expositions of it and after all their profoundest studies and most serious Enquiries have confessed That there are many knots here which they could never unty many depths which they could never yet dive into many mysteries which they could never unfold But as the greatest Rivers so the most mysterious Books of Scripture run not in the same continued depth though in some places they can scarce be sounded yet in other places they shew their bottoms And thus even thus it is with this mysterious book of the Râ—velations In some places as 't is usually observed of it an Elephant may swim in others a Lamb may wade some things are laid down so mystically in such dark prophesies and abstruse Visions as that the judgment of the Wisest may be much tried and exercised therein yea often over-power'd and nonpluss'd And some things are laid down so plainly and familiarly as that the infirmities of the weakest may be much succoured and assisted The one is done as one observes to prevent contempt the other to anticipate discouragement Of the latter sort is my Text in which we have Two things considerable 1. A positive and plain assertion touching the happy estate of such as die in the Lord Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord henceforth 2. A strong confirmation of this assertion in the remainder of the Text I heard a Voice from Heaven saying Write yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works fâ—llow them I shall take these in their order and accordingly begin with the first of these generals viz. 1. The Assertion here laid down touching the happy estate of such as die in the Lord in these words of my Text Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord henceforth In which we have Two things further considerable 1. The subjects of this Blessedness and they are said to be The Dead that die in the Lord. 2. The time whence this Blessedness doth in a more especial manner commence Henceforth 1. Then we have hâ—re the subjects of this Blessedness and they are said to be The Dead that die in the Lord. 1. The Dead to understand which we must know that there is a threefold Death A corporal or natural death which consisteth in the separation of the soul from the body for a time A spiritual death which consisteth in the separation of the soul from Gods gracious presence from his love and favour in this world An eternal death which consisteth in the separation of the soul and indeed of the whole man from Gods glorious presence for ever in the other world The first of these is here understood the Dead that is such as are corporally dead whose souls are separated from their bodies for a time not that all such are blessed in the other world more by far of such it 's to be feared are rather miserable there than
that look out at the Windows are darkned in a fourth the Dâ—ughters â—f Musick are brought down Physâ—cians tell us of hundreds of diseases at leasâ— that are thus Incident to Mans Body and by reason of these he spends his Days many times in Pain and his Nights in Sorrow But here is the comfort of good Men death will be a remedy against them all It will deliver them or set them at rest from them all there shall be saith St. Joâ—n Speaking of the New Jerusalem no more Death nor any more Pain Râ—vel 21.4 As the Blind Martyr told the Lame when they met at the Stake yâ—â— may throw away your Crutches now if you please Dâ—â—th will â—uâ—e us both you of your Lameness and me of my Blindness The great Physician of Souls the Lord Jesus Christ will by Death cure all the Diseases and remove all pains from good Mens Bodies And consequentially they shall then be at rest from all sufferings with respect to the Body 2. They shall be at rest too then from all sufferings with respect to the Soul Many and Sore are the sorrows and troubles of a Christian in this Life in this respect also Sometimes the Afflictions of the good set him on weeping By the Rivers of Babylon we sate down and Wept when we remembred Zion Ps 137.1 viz. The Afflictions and Desolations of Zion and of Gods People that had once lived there Sometimes the Transgressions of the wicked fetch tears from his Eyes Rivers of Waters run down my Cheeks Saith David because wicked Men keep not thy Laws Ps 119.136 Sometimes the Sense of his own corruptions stabs him as it were at the very Heart When they heard this they were pricked in their Heart And said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brâ—thâ—ren what shall we do Acts 2.37 And O Wrâ—tched Man that I am cries St. Paul who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Rom. 7.24 Sometimes God hides his Face and he is troubled thou hidest thy face and I am troubled Ps 30.7 And Tears have been my Meat Day and Night whiles they continually say unto me where is thy God saith he Ps 42.3 Thus the Christians whole Life here many times is as it were a field of Sorrows but now Death will set him at rest from them all It will be the Funeral of all his sorrows and the resurrection of all his joys The Day of Death is the good Man's Marriage-day and at that Marriage day of his Christ will turn again as one Expresseth it all his Water into Wine all his Sighing into Singing all his Mourning into Mirth Then indeed shall the ransomed of the Lord return and come to the Heavenly Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads They shall obtain Joy and Gladness and all Sorrow and Sighing-shall flee away that I may Allude to and Conclude this particular in the Prophets words Isa 35.6 But that is the first reason that is given in my Text why the dead that dye in the Lord are Blessed Because they dye that they may rest from their Labours And that both in respect of all further sinning and all further suffering I come now to the second that is here given us why they are Blessed and that is 2. Because their works shall follow them their works i. e. the good fruits and good eâ—fects of their works or rather the reward of them the great reward that God will then give them though not for yet according to their good works and this is and will be indeed very great so great as that no mortal can declare the greatness of it for Eye hath nâ—t seen nor ear heard neither did it ever yet enter into the heart of man to conceive what great thinâ—s God hath prepared for them that love him As the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 2.9 The Eye of man hath seen wonderful things in nature and the Ear possiâ—ly hath heard of more and as for the heart or mind of man what almost can't that conceive And yet it can no way conceive the greatness of the glory which God hath prepared and laid up in the other world for those that love and fear him in this and yet that hath been and will be still done by all that have love shall die in the Lord therefore all that die in him are and shall be blessed 'T is true indeed this blessedness that I may prevent all mistakes will not 1. Be given out to all alike as there are different degrees of grace upon Earth so there will be different degrees of glory in Heaven There is oâ—e glory of the Sun another glory of the Mâ—on another glory of the Stars for one Star differs from anotâ—er in â—lâ—ry i. e. shines more gloriously than another so also shall it be saith he in the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.41 42. And they that be wise saith Daniel speaking of the same thing shall shine as the fiâ—mament and they that turn many unto righteâ—usnâ—ss as the Stars for ever and ev r Dan. 1â— 3 Now there are we know different degrees betwixt the light of the firmament and the light of the Stâ—rs and so there will be betwixt the glory of one Saint and the glory of another in the future life 'T is true indeed all good Men when once got to Heaven shall have glory enough He that hath the least glory there shall have enough to make him unspeakably and unconceivably happy every Vessel of glory shall be full but some shall have more of it thâ—n others as being more capacitated to receive it God will then and there reward every mâ—n accordâ—ng to his wâ—rks as the Scriptures do abundantly assure us Now look as there are diversities of gifts and graces amongst Gods people here upon Earth so there are of works some do and suffer more for God others less and therefore some shall have more glory others less because every mans glory shall be proportionâ—ted according to his works since mens labours are different in this world their reward and glory will be different also in the world to come This happiness therefore I say will not be given out for degrees alike to all 2. Nor secondly will it be consummated or compleated to any till the last day till the general day of Judgment when their bodies shall rise again be reunited to their Souls though good men such as die in the Lord are immediately admitted to happiness after their death yet not to all that happiness that God intends hath designed for them in the other world this is indeed reserved for that great and general day of Judgment so often mentiâ—ned in the Holy Scriptures when Christ to whom the Judgment of the world is committed shall come in the glory of his Father with his Holy Angels to render to every man fully according to his works as you have it Mat. 16 27. But in the interim and as soon as they
die they shall rest from their labours and their works shall follow them therefore they are and must needs be thenceforth blessed Yea that I may descend to and instance in a few particulars here such as die in the Lord must needs be truly though not compleatly blessed and happy immediately after death for they shall then be blessed with perfection in respâ—ct of their S uls with the comfortaâ—le sociâ—ty of the blessed Angels and Souls of just men made perfect and which is more still than all these with a clearer more immediate and never more to be interrupted enjoyment of God and Christ 1. Such as die in the Lord will be immediately after death blessed with perfection in respect of their own Souls their Souls shall be then no longer clog'd down with their bodies But shall be elevated and exalted to their just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the highest pitch of perfection that they are in their separated Estate capable of and that in all the powers and faculties of them as to instance and but to instance in them 1. Their understandings shall be then extraordinarily enlarged and enlightned to see into those mysteries of nature and divinity which are now hid from them Now I see saith the Apostle through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know but in part but then I shall know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13.12 The good mans understanding shall then be nevermore deceived or mistaken shall never more be troubled with misconceivings or misapprehensions all those mists of ignorance and errour which do now so much cloud his mind shalâ— then be scattered and blown over all those groundless fears and scruples which by reason of the weakness of our understandings and the imperfection of our knowledge do now so rack and gravel tender hearts shall then be laid aside for ever abandoned all those laborious studies controverted problems and polemical disputes which do now steal away so much of our time all to so litle purpose shall then have their final decision and full determination and the meanest understanding of them that are dead in the Lord shall then probably be able to confute the now ignorant sentiments of the learnedest Scholars And as their understandings so 2. Their wills shall be then Perfected with a perfect and indefective Holiness with an exact conformity to the divine will and with a perfect freedom from all servitude to sin they shall then be no more troubled with doubtful choise but with a perfect freedom shall steadily embrace the chiefest good and shall find it too as easie to do good as to will and desire it as one expresseth it And as their wills so 3. Their affections too shall be then all composed and placed aright and that too by an unalterable regularity in which too they shall receive the greatest content and satisfaction All those furious waves which do now many times rage in Mens hearts by reason of the turbulency of their passions and affections and do make them too too often like the Seas to foam forth their own shame shall then be reduced to an Everlasting calm Ye all those peevish passions and brutish affections which do now so often dethrone Judgment Conscience in Mens hearts and set the whole world as it were on a sire shall then be for ever cashiered and abandoned And we shall love fear desire delight and rejoyce in nothing but what is good And as their affections so 4. Their memories also shall not then be idle or useless but they shall perfectly remember the miseries that they were in the rock and shelves the dangers that they have escaped as likewise the mercies and good things which they met with here on Earth and all to inhance and heighten the worth of their Happiness and present enjoyments in Heaven Thus 1. Such as die in the Lord are immediately after Death blessed for they shall then be blessed with all that perfection which the nature of the Soul will admit of in its separate Estate 2. They are Blessed for they shall then be blessed too with the happy Society of the blessed Angels and of the Souls of just Men made perfect ye are come saith the Apostle Heb. 12.22 23. speaking indeed of the members of his militant Church in the dayes of the Gospel upon Earth and therefore it s much truer of the members of his Triumphant Church in Heaven unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem aâ—d to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the nâ—w Covenant 1. Then such as die in the Lord shall after their death be immediately blessed with the Society of the blessed Angels ye are come to an innumerable company of Angels and how sweet and comfortable how pleasing and taking their Society is the Saints in Heaven can only tell us but doubtless it is very lovely and amiable they being all creatures of such a noble Extract and of such an Heavenly make as they are 2. They shall then be blessed as with the Society of the Blessed Angels so with the Society of the Spirits of just Men made perfect as the Apostle tells us in the place fore-quoted this tends not a little to the making up of their Happiness The of God are Excellent persons even whiles they are here upon Earth The righteous saith Solomon is more Excellent than his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 And my delight saith David is in the Saints those Excellent ones upon Earth Ps 16.3 Their company even in this life is very taking and pleasing notwithstanding that by reason of that Body of Death which they carry about with them here they are even loaded with many imperfections which may and do breed sometimes real grounds of distaste to those that converse with them But O how excellent are they in Heaven How pleasant and taking will their company be there when they shall be disburdened of all these when they shall be made perfect as then they will be And shall all joyn together with one heart and with one voice to Offer up Everlasting Halelujahs to God and to the Lamb that hath reâ—â—emed them as we are told they shaâ—l and will Revel 19.1 2 3 4. But then 3. And lastly which is still more than all this the Dead that die in the Lord are immediately after their death though not compleatly yet truly blessed because they then shall be blessed with the blisful fruition of God and Christ they shall come then as to thâ— Spirits of just Men made perfect so to God tâ—e judge of all and to Jâ—sus the Mediator of the new Covenant as the Apostle assureth us in that place so often mentioned Heb. 12.22 23 24. According also to that of our Saviour to the penitent
Son remember saith Abraham to Dives that thou receivâ—â—st thy good things in thy life-time and Lazarus evil things but now thou art tormented and he is comforted Luke 16.25 Look in short as to this use what Difference there is betwixt Bliss and Misery betwixt Heaven and Hell betwixt being Eternally Blessed in the one and Eternally Miserable in the other that Difference there will be betwixt the Wicked and the Righteous in the other Life For the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into life eternal as our Saviour assureth us Mat. 25.46 Great therefore will be the Difference betwixt them 3. Are the dead that die in the Lord so blessed then who would not with Balaam die the Death of the Righteous Yea Who would not live their Life that they might die their Death Who would not live to Christ now that they might die in Christ hereafter Bear his Cross in this World that they might wear his Crown in the other Suffer him by his Spirit and Grace to reign in their Hearts and Lives here that they might reign with him in Glory for ever hereafter Methinks if there were nothing else in a Godly Life but the great Happiness which you have heard will attend those that live it after their Death though there is much very much besides Yet I say if there were nothing else but this every one that hath but the Face of a Man the least Spark of humane Reason left in him should be in Love with it should heartily and solemnly devote himself to it and that presently too without any further delays or put-offs as not knowing how suddenly Death may arrest us nor how soon it may be our turn to die and we can never die in the Lord and so be happy after Death unless we first live in him and to his Glory Look saith Cornelius A Lapide upon my Text as he can't be said to die at Rome that never lived at Rome so he can't be said to die in the Lord that never lived in or to the Lord and therefore if thou designest or desirest to die in the Lord and so to be happy after Death as thou must do if thou beest but still a Man and wilt give thy self leave to consider I say if thou designest or desirest this be persuaded immediately without any further delays to become a good Man to devote thy self heartily to the Service of Christ and to live to his Honour and Praise 4. Are the dead that die in the Lord so Blessed Do they thenceforth rest from their Labours And will their Works follow them Then this may be for Comfort to all good Men. And that 1. Under and against all their present Trials and Troubles their present labours and sufferings death will e're long come and when it comes it will put a period to them all You shall rest shortly from all your labours and sorrows and your works i. e. the reward of your good works will follow You have but a step or two more to take A stile or two more 〈…〉 as the Martyr said and you will be in Heaven at yâ—ur 〈◊〉 â—râ—sently and therefore you have great reason to bear 〈…〉 our present labours and troubles with great patience and â—â—â— erâ—ulness For how great and how sharp soever they may be â—ey will be but short The longest life we live here you know is but short Man that is born of a wâ—man is but 〈◊〉 feâ— dâ—ys as Job tells us Job 14.1 And few aâ—d eâ—â—l have beeâ— the dâ—ys of the pilgrimage of my life said Jacob Gen. 47.9 though he had lived then many more days than any livâ— now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Life f Man is but a poâ—â—t saith Pâ—â—â—arch yea 〈◊〉 â—ctuâ— est quod vivimus adhuc puncto minus saith Seâ—â—â—â— â—â—s lâ—ss than a pâ—iâ—t if any thing can be so at least in respect of that Eternity which is to ensue Our labours and troubles therefore will not cannot last long for this lâ—â—e will not last long and 't is only whiles we live here that we shall be exposed to them Death will set us at rest free us for ever from them and besides all those troubles of ours if we be good men which are but thus for a moment as the Apostle phrazeth it 2 Cor. 4.16 For no more in deed if compared with Eternity will not only in the end work together in the general for our good according to that of the Apostle Rom. 8.28 We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God But if born aright by us they will work for us as he tells us 2 Cor. 4.17 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the Apostle makes use of such Rhetorick as is scarce to be parallell'd as is scarce to be met with in any human Authors an Hyperbole upon Hyperbole an exceeding an exceeding eternal weight of Glory whiles we look not saith he at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal and so be sure will the good mans troubles only be but the things which are not seen are eternal So will his reward be if he bears them as he ought to do ver 18. For we know saith he in the first Verse of the following Chapter that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved as it will be when death comes and that will come as you have heard shortly we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens And this amongst other Considerations supported them and kept them from fainting as well it might under all their troubles and afflictions as he tells us 2 Cor. 4.16 But then 2. This may comfort good men too as against all the troubles of this life so against the fears of death Why should you be afraid of that which will make you happy which will bring you to your rest and to the end of all your labours and sorrows as you have heard your dying will do 'T is true indeed I grant that death to nature is terrible and to wicked men to such as are still in their natural condition it is as the Philosopher stiles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the terriblest of terribles even the king of terrors as Job terms it Job 18.14 that which will bereave them of all their good things and expose them to all evil the very porta Gehenna as one stiles it that which ushers in into Hell The Devils surly Sergeant as another calls death with reference to the wicked sent forth on purpose to drag them thither Hell followeth immediately as we read Revel 16.8 the pale Horse on which death rides with reference to wicked men and therefore such have reason great reason to fear it But to good men it is the introitus Regni their entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven an out-let to all their misery an in-let to all bliss the