Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A60347
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A funeral sermon occasioned by the death of Mr. William Rathband an aged and learned servant of Christ, and preached Octob. 13. 1695. at Highgate. By Samuel Slater, M.A. minister of the gospel.
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Slater, Samuel, d. 1704.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing S3965; ESTC R220549
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27,757
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34
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to eternity 1 Thess. 4. 16 17. The dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air so shall we ever be with the Lord. After that meeting there shall not be a parting any more Secondly When holy Souls go to God they shall he heartily welcome and find as loving and gracious a Reception as they can desire When a Sinner doth here in this life by a sincere Repentance break off from his Sins and returns to God there is rejoycing above Luke 15. â— and 10. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Where upon Bernard said The Tears of a Sinner are the Wine of Angels At such a time indeed and upon such an account Hell is in an uproar and the Devils fret and rage they cannot endure to think that they should lose any of their Prey and that one of their Vassals should be brought into the liberty of the Sons of God But in Heaven there are Triumphs and singing of Allelujahs This our Lord sets out in the Parable of the Prodigal Son upon whose return to his Father and his Duty there were Kisses and Embraces Feasting and making Merry The good old Man forgot his Age and found his Legs ran to meet him and the Family following so good an example was in a transport Just so there is in Heaven upon a gracious Soul's arrival there after its dissolution The great God doth welcome it even the whole Trinity the Father who elected it the Son who redeemed it the Holy Ghost who sanctified it It s old Relations and godly Friends do welcome it for they will not then be Strangers to one another but both know and be known It shall be welcom'd by an innumerable company of Angels who are now ministring Spirits unto the Heirs of Salvation and by the general Assembly and Church of the First-born by all the Spirits of just Men made perfect in Heaven Whatever weeping and mourning bitter sighs and lamentations there are here for being deprived of a faithful Friend a comfortable Yokefellow a pleasant and hopeful Child a learned orthodox and painful Minister an useful warm and exemplary Church-member that did adorn Religion and credit his holy Profession there are Triumphs above for the addition of another Star that will for ever gloriously shine in that celestial Orb. Then indeed is that fulfilled which is written in Psal. 45. 14 15. Those thrice-happy Souls are brought unto the King in rayment of needle-work a curiously embroidered garment a spotless beautiful robe of righteousness wrought for them by the hand of Christ himself with gladness and rejoicing are they brought they do enter into the King's Palace So shall they be received with the highest demonstrations of affection Christ hath most graciously and faithfully promised that when Sinners do now come unto him he will in no wise cast them out And when Saints do at death come to him he will in no wise shut them out but an abundant entrance shall be ministred to them into the glorious Kingdom of their God and Saviour Yea and when the Lord Jesus shall have delivered up his Mediatorial Kingdom to the Father they shall still keep the Mansions prepared for them in their Father's house and God himself shall be all in all to them Thirdly These holy Souls shall not only meet with an hearty welcome from God and all the blessed Inhabitants of that Region of Light and Love but also they shall find a most splendid and glorious entertainment such as will evidently shew forth the Love and Greatness and Glory of God himself and not only issue in their full satisfaction but likewise excite and keep up in them eternal Admirings There are many Mansions and a place provided for every one of them in which they shall have room enough and whatsoever will be pleasant to them for Delights A Throne a Robe of Glory a Crown of Righteousness hidden Manna the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God and to render their happiness complete those bodies of theirs which are now bodies of vileness when they come to be raised out of their Bed of dust by the Divine Power and reunited to their Souls shall be made like unto Christ's own most glorious body Philip. 3. 21. What shall I say Had I the Tongues of men and Angels I could not speak more than is the largest descriptions will fall unspeakably short when you come there you will say not one half was told you I may say this in general in Heaven you will meet with that which will far more than defray all the Charges you were put to here that which will abundantly compensate and make amends for all the hardships you endured here Those that have been the greatest Sufferers in this world when they come into the next will thankfully and chearfully acknowledge they are no Losers They shall receive that which shall richly reward all their pains so that instead of complaining their labour is lost they shall wonder such sorry services should be so recompenced and cry Grace Grace to it They shall have the accomplishment of all their hopes their former askings and thoughts being outdone That which is laid up for them and shall be given out to them will transcend their highest expectations be a full and complete answer to all their Prayers satisfy silence and put an everlasting period to all their desires for their enjoyments will be so great and their capacities so fill'd that there will be no room left for more God will then make good all his Promises which are exceeding great and precious so that not one tittle of them shall fail and by this means all tears shall be wiped from their eyes sorrow and sighing shall flee away never more to return and they shall enjoy an endless Sabbath an everlasting Triumph being fill'd with joy unspeakable and full of glory In short there is that which mortal eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man and though the holy and blessed Angels which kept their standing and continue to be Heaven's Courtiers do both see and enjoy it yet they are not able to express it there is all that which our dearest Lord Jesus did purchase at the inestimable price of his own heart-blood Now from all this which hath been spoken there is abundant reason to conclude Lastly That those holy and truly happy Souls are better with God in Heaven than they were while here or could ever possibly have been True love is free and liberal to its endeared object it studieth to be so and takes singular pleasure in it Those that are kind and affectionate Husbands and live up to the Law of their Relation do and will make it their business and endeavour to make the Lives of their Yokefellows not only easy to them