they repent of their deeds vers 22. so slow is God to anger and so lothe to exclude men from bliss and happiness and so ready to shew mercy and to forgive and so agreeable are Gods dealings to his Word and Oath wherein he saith and sweares to it that as He lives he hath no pleasure none at all secret or revealed in the Death of the wicked but rather that he turn and live Ezech. 33 11. To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope Eccles 9.4 And Christ Dyed for all that they that live while yet they live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that Dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 But now when Death seizes on a man and cuts him off then the door is shut upon him and should he now stand without and knock it is too late the answer from within is I know you not Depart from me ye workers of iniquity No opening then nor any admission Luke 13.25 26 27. the Feast sleighted shall not then be tasted of for ever by them Luke 14.24 thence the Gulf is for ever fixed so that there is no coming of any from Heaven to help them nor no going from their state of Misery to a state of Salvation Luke 16.26 in the Grave whither we go there is no work nor device no knowledge or wisdom for the helpfulness of any that have here neglected Gods work and device declared to them and the knowledge and wisdom here offered them Eccles 9.10 Now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation now is the day for men to hear in and to work the works of God in but if this be sleighted and men harden their hearts now and will not hear Gods voice the night comes and will come upon them wherein no man can work after which there will be no more day except an everlasting Judgment upon them And therefore in the state of Death they that dye in their sins are so far from being happy and blessed that they are far more wretched then then before for though they are not blessed while here because their sins are not blotted out yet there is a possibility they may be so and there is yet such a mercy held forth to them as obtainable by them for if the wicked man will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all Gods statutes and do that which is lawful and right if he will listen to and believe on Christ Jesus and not walk any longer after the Flesh but after the Spirit there shall be no longer any Condemnation to him He stall surely live he shall not dye namely the second Death Rom. 8 1. Ezek. 18.21 all his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned to him c. vers 22. But when dead in his sins then there is no more hope or possibility of being happy He who was miserable before under a possibility of mercy is now endlesly and remedilesly miserable without that possibility Oh! therefore how doth it behove every one now to strive to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13.24 to do what his hands find him to do with all his might for seeking mercy and favour with God seeking the Lord while he may be found and calling upon him while he is nigh at hand Isa 55.6 Eccles 9.10 while it is yet said or called to day not hardning the heart but hearkening to Gods voice Psal 95.7.8 Heb. 3.7 8 15. making haste and not delaying to keep Gods Commandments Psal 119.59 60. hasting to escape as the Angels said to Lot when they brought him and his Family out of Sodom Gen. 19.17 as for our lives or souls not looking back staying or lingring in all the Plain of this World but escape to the mountain of the Lord left we be consumed giving diligence to know win and be found in Christ Jesus and being brought in to him to abide in him and be faithful to him to the Death and then no danger of being miserable for ever For Blessed are they that dye in the Lord from henceforth And so we come to the Substance of the Words and their plain and full import viz. That Note 3. All they that Dye in the Lord are Blessed from henceforth where we shall enquire and shew 1. Who is meant here by the Lord. 2. What it is to Dye in the Lord or who they are that may be said so to dye 3. Wherein they are blessed or what and whence that blessedness is that is asserted of them 4. What is the meaning of that additional word henceforth and what it may import 1. By the Lord here is without all doubt meant Jesus Christ for He is Lord of All Acts 10.36 for though there are that are called Lords many yet to us saith the Apostle there is but one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1 Cor. 8.6 and we find like phrases as this expresly mention him as He in whom the believers on him dye thus in 1 Cor. 15.18 they are fallen asleep in Christ. And in 1 Thes 4.14.16 Them that sleep is Jesus will God bring with him and the Dead in Christ shall rise first He then is here meant by the Lord yet not so as to exclude but include the Father and Holy Spirit who are in and upon him and He may well be stiled the Lord For 1. As God the Word with God in the beginning who was God so all things were made by him and He was and is by that right and stile as one with the Father who made all things by him and with the holy Spirit by whom or which he gave them their Formes Virtues and Beings the Lord of All Joh. 1.1 2. Col. 1.16 17. Heb. 1.2 3. 2. As man also taken into unity of person with the eternal word he must needs be and so was and is Lord the Manhood by that assumption into that personal union being advanced into interest in and communion with him in that his Dignity and Authority And so the Angel that came to declare to the Shepherds his Nativity called him while he lay in the Manger Christ the Lord Luke 2.10.11 so the Evangelists speak of him too in his state of Ministery and service very often as the Lord appointed seventy Luke 10.1 the Apostles said unto the Lord Lord incrase our Faith Luke 17.5 and himself bid the man out of whom he cast a Legion of Devils Go and shew how great things the Lord hath done for thee Mark 5.19 yea and even in his dead state as to his Body the Angels sent to declare his Resurrection call him Lord as to his Body laid in the Sepulchre saying Come see the place where the Lord lay Matth. 28.6 But especially 3. As Mediatour and Immanuel in his exalted and glorified state he is made of God the Father and so declared to be Lord and Christ as the fruit and reward of his
the Saviour from sin both as to the imputation and as to the pollution of it And where sin is taken away or removed evil of Wrath and Punishment hath no place While sin was imputed to and laid upon Christ he was also obnoxious to the curse and wrath that was the Wages of it And while God imputes sin and it is not washed off a man punishment and evil of wrath may befal him but as in him there is forgiveness of and cleansing from sin so in him is deliverance from wrath too either as to misery inflicted on the Creature or as to the hiding of Gods face or withdrawing his favour from it being justified from his Blood how much more saved from wrath both Positive and Privative Positive of evil and Privative of good Rom. 5.9 and then as there is none hath power over him in the least so in him there is that infinite wisdome and power by which he is All sufficient to save us from them and order their enmities as he sees good so as he can suffer them to act forth their malice and yet secure those against whom it 's acted so as it shall have no evil influence upon them yea all enemies spiritual and corporal are at his beck and will to do to or with them as he pleases and he can let out or restrain their wrath inflict punishments by them or save from or deliver out of the troubles they occasion as he pleases Psal 76.10 2. In him also is all fulness of good wherewith he may do us good and content and satisfie us for all the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily in him and in him we are compleat Col. 2.9 10. It hath pleased all fulness to or it hath pleased the Father that all Fulness should dwell in him Col 1.19 the Father is in him with all the fulness of his love and favour He is enough to satisfie the Soul for ever and produce any good to it that he pleases In him is the fulness of the holy Spirit and of all his glorious Power Wisdom Love Sweetness and Comfort and with all its most enabling and enriching vertues so as he can baptise with it us and whom he pleaseth Isa 42.1 Mat. 3.11 Joh. 1.33 and 7.37 38 39. His are all Riches and precious treasures all things in Heaven and Earth are his Riches and Honour are with him yea durable Riches and Righteousness his Fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and his revenue better then choice silver Prov. 8.18 19. Length of days are in his right hand even Immortality and Eternal Life and in his left hand Riches and Honour His ways are ways of pleasantness and all his paths are peace He is a tree of life to them that lay hold on him and happy therefore is every one that retains him Prov. 3.15 16 17 18. Happy indeed For 2. Whosoever comes into him is and abides in him is interested in all that is his and that is in him and comes to the participation of the benefit thereof they that are made in him through the grace of God to them he is made of God Wisdom Righteousness Holiness and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 They have him to be theirs 1 Joh. 5.12 yea and in him they have the Father also being and continuing in the Son they are in the Father also 1 Joh. 2 24. In God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 and as they are both in Father and Son so they have both 2 Joh. 9. And how can they that have such a portion and Inheritance but be happy 1. Privatively Happy so as to be exempted from all that is evil from sin the Root of all evil so it is not imputed to to them In him all that believe are justified from all things which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13.9 in him we have redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 so as to be sanctified cleansed from sin so as it shall not have dominion over those that believe in and so are and abide in him Rom 6.14 He that abideth in him sinneth not 1 Joh. 3.6 and then there is no Condemnation to them that are in him that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 And so there is no evil in their Portion there shall no evil happen to the just as they are that are in and abide in Christ Prov. 12.21 All things work together for good to them Rom. 8.28 and so there is no Death to them nothing of misery or separation from God which is the death of the Soul nothing of destruction they shall not perish Joh. 3.16 True it is that they may have and actually have Enemies against them within and without but Christ is to them a place of sure Defence against them and preserves their Souls Their place of defence is on high a place of the munition of rocks Isa 33.16 and they dwell safely so as they may be also quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1.33 being and dwelling in him who is the most High and in his secret place they dwell under the shadow and Protection of the Almighty saying of him Who is the Lord He is my rock and my fortress my God in whom I will trust surely He will deliver them from the snare of the Fowler and from the truly noisome Pestilence He will cover them with his feathers and under his wings shall they trust his truth shall be their shield and buckler so as they shall not be afraid of the terrour by night nor of the arrow that flyeth by day Yea dwelling in the Lord as in their refuge and having him the most High for their habitation there shall no evil befal them nor any Plague come nigh their dwelling Psal 91.1 2 3 4 5 9 10. 2. Positively happy in the enjoyment of and interest at least in all that 's good for as the Lord is a strong house or house of defence to them that are in him Psal 31.2 and 71.3 so he is also to them a house of feasting or sacrifices Prov. 9.1 2 3. and they that trust in him and under the shadow of his wings shall abundantly be satisfied with the fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the rivers of his pleasures Psal 36.7 8 9. He is to them a fountain of life and living waters both quickning purifying and satisfing them He is to them a sun and shield and will give them grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that are upright with him Psal 84.11 in him they have and from him derive that heavenly wisdom that brings with it to them Riches and Honour and Life in him they have and from him receive that holy Spirit whose fruit is Love Joy Peace and in a word all Goodness Righteousness and Truth Gal. 5.22 Joh 7.38 39. and 4.14 Ephs 5 8.
evidenced in the blood of Christ or also taken from the earth by Death Peculiar services sufferings and successes against Gods enemies have their peculiar joyes not common to others Then shewing 4. Vers 3. What ones these redeemed ones were he adds These are they that were not defiled with women with the Congregations and Assemblies of corrupt Teachers Idolaters and their corruptions in Doctrine and Worship compared to women or harlots Prov. 9.13 and 14.1 Rev. 17.5 for they are virgins chast and single to Christ his Faith and Worship these follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth that is they cleave in all things to Christ and his word and commands and are not moved therefrom by any false pretences of the false Prophet or two-horned Beast and his false and lying miracles nor by the greatness and dreadfulness of the seven headed and ten-horned Beast and their contrary commands for these were redeemed powerfully through the grace of God believed by them brought out unto Christ from among men from the idolatrous and wicked world to be holy to God being the first fruits most desirable and pleasing Mic. 7.1 to God and to the Lamb. 5. Vers 4. And in their mouth was found no guile they were upright and orthodox Christians not dissembling with men to avoid persecutions for they are without fault before the Throne of God Nathaniels or Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile believers in Christ and walkers after his Spirit and so in the light as God is in the light directing and strengthning them and therefore there is no condemnation to them but the blood of Christ cleansing them from all sin they have fellowship with God Rom. 8.1 1 John 1.7 The trusters in God and unmovable as mount Sion Psal 125.1 But let none imagine that Christ died onely for these and such like because called redeemed ones but mind that he adds 6. Vers 4. I saw another Angel flying in the midst of heaven most openly having the Everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on not yet redeemed from the earth and to every nation kindred tongue and people As the Angels sometime appeared clothed in linen like the Priests in the Temple as in Dan. 10.5 Rev 15.6 So the holy Priesthood or Gospel Preachers may be here denoted by Angels and here is Gospel preached to others besides those redeemed ones even to all people but there is no Gospel for any for whom Christ died not and for whom in him no help or salvation therefore Christs death is not to be limited to or measured by such expressions as those in the foregoing verses or that in Chap. 5.9 The sum of the Gospel to be preached is that in 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. that God wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth for there is one God and one Mediatour of God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony or this is the testimony in due times whereunto the Apostle saith He was ordained a Preacher and Apostle c. vers 7. the Everlasting Gospel and therefore Gospel in all ages as well as then Other expressions of the sum of the Gospel see in 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4. 1 Tim. 1.15 The being redeemed from the earth and from among men is a further business at least an effectual product of the grace of God believed in mens hearts and consciences as is fore-hinted but this Angel in Preaching the Gospel said with a loud voice what the whole Gospel loudly speaks to be the duty of all men viz. 7. Vers 7. Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come not unlike that in Matth. 3.8 10. Acts 17.30 31. though it may here have some special eye at the ruine of Babylon presently predicted and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters expressions like those which the Apostle saith was the sum or end of their preaching in Acts 14.15 but after this follows 8. Vers 8. And another Angel followed saying Babylon is fallen is fallen the doubling expression implies its certainty and speediness and the joy of Gods holy ones at it Gen. 41.32 Rev. 18.20 that great city the opposite to Jerusalem the holy City or true Church of God because she made all nations drink of the wine of her fornications Babylon is the then ruling City over the kings of the earth Rev. 17.18 which was Rome and so denotes that idolatrous Church called the Whore for her being corrupted from Christ and the sincere Faith and worship of him forsaking her fidelity to him to follow after and prostitute her self to the Kings of the earth seeking and loving their favour riches gifts honour defence c. and yet as Harlots use to do with their Paramours Jud. 16.6 20. ordering and ruling them as she lists pretending that she is the Lady and Queen of Heaven that onely Catholick Church from whom they must receive all their Faith Worship and Religion and it may be noted that her downfal and so of all Idolatry Heresie and false worship either is and will be the effect not of Seditions and Rebellions but of the sincere and bold Preaching the Gospel of Christ with its instructions by holy living or Angel-like persons not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord Zech. 4.6 or will otherwise joyn and follow after it 9. Vers 9 10 11. After these Christ shewed him a third Angel that followed and warned of the danger of worshipping the Beast especially after the Gospel preached and the fall of Babylon denounced saying with a loud voice If any man worship the Beast or his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name A dreadful Sentence that might awaken all to enquire what this Beast and his Image Mark and Name are and what the worship thus threatened and carefully avoid all things thereof I shall onely here say it 's the preferring some other powers above Christ and so is the same in substance with that Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and his heart departeth from the Lord Jer. 17.5 but that that time will be sad is signified in the following exclamation whether of the Angel or Evangelist which saith 10 Vers 12. Here is the patience of the Saints here at this time most eminently tried and exercised Here are they emphatically that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and
forsake them not for the Beast Worship but then to hearten unto those sufferings though to death he addes in the Text. Ver. 14. And I heard a voice from heaven saying Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord c. from the following whereof so immediately upon the former intimation we may note Christs great care of his Church as when he formerly told his Disciples of weeping and mourning he presently tells them too of what might support them and bear up their sorrowful hearts from sinking When he tells them he must leave them he tells them also that he would see them again and not leave them comfortless or as Orphans and that upon his seeing them again their hearts should rejoyce and their joy should no man take from them and that in him they should have peace who had also overcome the world Joh. 14.18 16.20 21 22 23. And when the Lord speaks of the like sad things with these by the Prophet Isaiah That all the beasts would come to devour his watchmen being blind and the shepherds void of understanding so that the righteous perish no man regarding it and merciful men are taken away from the evil Yet then also for encouraging the hearts of his suffering servants he proclaims like things with these here even the sweet and excellent state of those righteous merciful men when so taken away and perished from among men that is when Dead He shall enter into peace they shall lie in their beds each one walking in his uprightness while he threatens judgment to the seed of the sorceress the seed of the adulterer and of the whore Isa 56.9 10. 57.1 2 3. Though our Lord leads his followers inâ—o afflictions because he sees them needful and useful for them yet he would not have them faint under their afflictions to deprive themselves of the good intended by them His Word and Gospel occasion troubles to them from the world while they are thereby drawn out of the world and are led to testifie of him to and against the wickedness of the world but he provides comforts and supports for them by the same word by and for which they suffer that they might be inabled patiently to endure the things which they must suffer Yea and we may further note from this Voice and Proclamation of the blessed state of the dead that die in the Lord following so immediately after that acclamation Here is the patience of the Saints That the consideration of the happy state of the dead in Christ is an excellent motive to a patient continuance in well-doing though suffering for it unto death Rejoycing in hope first we may be patient in tribulation Rom. 12.12 Did we expect still a continuance of evils in Death and that it would make us still unhappy and miserable and that Death is the end and recompence of an holy life from the world it would exceedingly damp and take off the courage of men from exercising patience and continuing to keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus But being rooted and grounded in the Faith and not moved from the hope of the Gospel we may be there through strengthned to all long suffering and patience with joyfulness Col. 1.11.23 The words themselves are a commandment and we have thereabout 1. The person acquainted with it I the holy Apostle or Pen-man of these Visions Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he reveals his secret unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3.7 The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him c. Psal 25.14 2. The way of his perceiving or receiving it and that was by the ear at least the ear of his Spirit I heard God speaks once and twice and man regards it not or perceives it not Job 33.14 But blessed are the ears of his Disciples for they hear c. Matth. 13.16 3. The way of its being conveyed to him and that was by a voice Sound or voice are the proper ways of conveying things to the ear and by the ear to the mind and a voice is but an articulate sound There may be voice where there is no hearing as above is signified in Job 33.14 c. And as is said of the Levites wife when dead Judg. 19.25 and of the Shunammits son 2 King 4.31 But there can be no hearing without some sound or voice 4. We have the place whence it came from heaven Which being the place of Gods most glorious Residence and Manifestation of himself and where our Lord Jesus Christ the holy and just one is on the Throne of Majesty and where only holy Angels and the spirits of just men have place But no evil Angel Satan being cast out thence nor no unclean thing may be admitted to enter We may be sure no voice comes from thence but what is holy and true and such as is worthy to be received with all acceptation being supremely and originally the voice of God and of our Lord Jesus though it might be instrumentally uttered by some holy Angel And so the Command here was a Command of God and Christ 5. We have the person to whom it was directed and that was to the Apostle himself I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me He heard divers voices in and from heaven not directed to him as may be seen Chap. 5.2 9 10 11 12 13. Voices directed to Christ some to God as Chap. 16.5 7. Chap. 19.1.5 6 7. Some to the people of God Chap 18.4 but this was directed to this Saint John himself wherein we have 6. The matter of the Voice the Command it self and therein 1. The Act commanded him and that was to write Saying to me Write And this was an exercise that God employed divers of his holy Servants in but is not universally the work and business of all his Servants or of those that are accepted of him as all are not Apostles nor all Prophets nor all Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12 28 29 30. so neither are or have all his Servants been either Pen-men of Holy Scriptures or of other Divine Matters but as the same Spirit distributes his sundry Gifts variously so hath he given commands to some to speak to others to write the heavenly Truths But neither the one nor the other so generally as the hearing of them this was an honour put upon his Servants according as he pleased for others usefulness Jeremiah was employed to speak and Baruch to write the words from his mouth Jer. 36.17 18 Moses did both write and speak to the people the words of the Law and Commands of God and of the Song he was to put into the peoples mouths Deut. 31.9 19 22 24 30. Yea this Gift of Writing is an excellent Gift of God a way of conveying his Truths and of his great works and doings which he himself hath made use of as he wrote the Ten Commandments with his own hand or finger Exod. 31.18 32.16 34.1 Deut.
the sense of the words here Thence note Note 1. That bodily Death and Blessedness may be consistent men that dye and are dead may be blessed Not onely those that are dead to the Law by the Body of Christ delivered from the curse of that and from being under it as the Covenant of Life or that are dead to sin or rather persons not onely dead in those considerations but also that are bodily dead may be happy in a very good safe and desirable condition so as that their state may worthily be commended as very excellent They may have their sins forgiven and blotted out and they that are in that condition are blessed Psal 32.12 They may have the favour of God and be accepted and beloved of him and they that are so are blessed Prov. 8.34 35. and which includes both the former they may have God to be their God and to own them as his people as it is said of Abraham Isaac and Jacob long after they were dead and buried I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Exod 3.6.15 And blessed are the people whose God is the Lord Psal 144.15 And forgiveness of sins and the favour of God are both implied to be the portion of those Souls seen in vision under the Altar even the Souls of those that had been slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony that they held in that there were white Robes given to every one of them as a token both of their free and full acquittance from sin and their being owned of God as righteous ones and also of their being highly honoured and favoured of God Rev. 6.9 10 11. And this not a little takes off the dreadfulness of this bodily Death that it may consist with Blessedness and that it is not of it self able to hinder and deprive us thereof Men may be happy notwithstanding its power and force That 's the dreadful Death that men cannot be happy in or under such as the death in Sin the spiritual death of the Soul under the guilt and power of sin committed and continued in and therefore that is threatened as a very sad evil to be shunned To be carnally minded or the minding of the flesh is death Rom. 8.6 a state not to be continued in where it is nor by any means to be run into where men are delivered therefrom As also The second Death the separation of the Soul or of the whole man rather from God in Soul and Body for ever the everlasting fire or lake burning with fire and brimstone the portion of the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 Rev. 20.14 This is a sad and dreadful state indeed namely this of the second Death While men are spiritually dead in sin their sins are imputed and they have no fellowship with God but yet while alive in the body they are in a possibility of being called and made alive to God to him that 's joyned to all the living there is hope Eccles 9.6 But in the second Death is nothing but misery without hope of remedy or redemption This this is the Death then with all diligence to be shunned and therefore care is to be taken to awake out of sin also by repentance for death in sin continued in brings the second Death inevitably upon men But as for this bodily Death that 's not so dreadful in it self men may do well for all that and the reason is because Christ hath died for us and is risen again This death indeed as it was in its first threatning and as upon our desert incurred by us in the Fall of our first Parents deprived us of all Blessedness and would inevitably have done so for ever had not God provided a deliverer and deliverance from it had not he graciously devised a device that his banished might not be expelled for ever from him 2 Sam. 14.14 But blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath raised up an Horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David that by him we might be saved from our enemies that hath given his onely begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him Luk. 1.68 69 70. 1 Joh. 4.9.10 And blessed be the Son of God that willingly took upon himself in compliance with his Fathers will to suffer and die for us that we through his stripes might be healed of that deadly wound wherewith in our listning to the Serpent we were wounded by him he having givâ—n himself the ransome for all and tasted Death by the grace of God for every man hath abolished or taken away the destructive power of this Death and destroyed through his Death him that had the power of it that is the Devil and being raised again from the dead he hath obtained even all redemption of all mankind from out this Death so as none of them shall finally perish therein but be all raised out thereof for as by man Adam came death even by man even the man Christ Jesus comes the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 2 Cor. 5.14 2 Tim. 1.10 Heb. 9.2 1 Cor. 15.21 22. He is the resurrection and the life and through him there is an open passage now made through this death and all the precedents concomitants and consequences of it to life and immortality even to eternal life in which is and stands the onely true blessedness In Christ there is given us even 〈◊〉 mankind generally considered eternal life 1 Joh. 5.11 in him the righteousness of God is for or unto all Rom. 3.22 and the free gift unto all men for the justification of life Rom. 5 18. In him is forgiveness of sins and plenteousness of Redemption through his blood Psal 130.4.5 Coll. 1.14 and therefore by means of him men may be brought back to God and enjoy him his favour and Kingdom notwithstanding this death yea in the very state of it and while actually dead they may be blessed Bless we God for this gracious Device and doing of his for us in and by Christ and bless we Christ Jesus our Lord that he hath so acted and wrought through his Cross for us and imbrace we the glad tidings of it with all acceptation and thankfulness 2. But yet In that the Holy Spirit stopt not there at Blessed are the Dead but adds a restrictive distinctive qualification saying The Dead that die in the Lord. Learn we thence Note Secondly That though this bodily death blessedness may stand be together yet all that die this Death or are dead in it are not blessed No we cannot say so there be many that dye and are dead in the Body that shall never meet with blessedness though blessedness may be met with notwithstanding this death We read of two men that dyed this Death the one blessed and the other cursed the Rich man and
perillous and calamitous time so that it will be a great mercy to be well gone out of it so as but to be and Dye in the Lord yea the sooner the better like that in Eccles 4.13 where the Wiseman considering the oppressions done under the Sun and beholding the tears of the oppressed and that they had no Comforter that on the oppressours side is Power but the oppressed have no Comforter He praised the Dead that were already dead more then the living which were yet alive This sense of the words suits well also with that reading or Translation of the word that some judge the righter here viz. that dye in the Lord speedily And this may also be so because of what results from those Calamities viz. 2. The great difficulty of holding fast the Faith and profession of it and danger of falling from it that will then be as our Saviour saith When the Son of man comes shall he find faith on the earth Luke 18.8 truely in a sense at other times men may dye in the Lord that is in an external Profession and acknowledgment of him according to truth crying Lord Lord and yet not be blessed not enter the Kingdom being not indeed and heartily doers of Gods will but it may be signified that Henceforth from the time of the Beasts sore Rage and the sad Persecutions thence ensuing none shall be able to make a right profession of the Faith so as to persevere to Death in it but such as be indeed Saints and persons indued with singular patience real and hearty keepers of Gods Commandments and therefore all that dye in the profession of the Faith then really Blessed and Happy Or else also 3 To signifie a more eminent degree of Blessedness to be the portion of those that then shall hold out so as to Dye in the Lord a blessedness proportionable to that very sad wo and misery threatened to to the Beast-worshippers vers 9 10 11. after the Preaching of the Everlasting Gospel and downfal of Babylon declared as those Beast-worshippers shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of God poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night A most dreadful Sentence able to deter any one from Worshipping him On the other side here is a like excellent manner of Blessedness signified to be the portion of those that dye in the Lord to allure the Servants of God or any of the People to whom the Gospel is Preached to the worship of God and constancy to Christ against the Beast that they that dye in the Lord shall upon their Death be blessed with a witness more abundantly blessed as the word Blessed sometimes seems to signifie as in Rev. 20.6 for as it 's an aggravation of sin when it is against light and warning and brings the greater and severer judgment whereas the times of ignoranâ—â— God winks at Acts 17.30 31. Heb. 23 10.20 29. So it 's an augmentation of Virtue to be good in the worst of times and to cleave to God and Christ against the greatest discouragements and oppositions and they that so do shall receive the greater blessedness as their reward But we shall have occasion to Consider wherein they may be said to be more chiefly blessed in speaking to the other part of the Text viz. 2. The Confirmation of this truth asserted which is twofold 1. By Authority 2. By Argument and Evidence 1. By Authority The testimony of authentick Witnesses is a good evidence of any matter of fact asserted or of any matter whereof they have sufficient cognisance Now here we have the Authority and Testimony of one that is as good as yea better then ten thousand even the Spirit which is the Truth Yea saith the Spirit By the Spirit is meant the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth for He is Emphatically The Spirit and is divers times so called in this Book as in Rev. 2. and 3. He is so called seven times viz. in the close of every Epistle where it is said Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And in Chap 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come And that he is a sufficient Witness to any thing he Saith and Testifies to is evident in that 1. He is perfect in understanding and knowledge being the Spirit of Wisdome Vnderstanding Counsel and Knowledge Isa 11.2 He that searcheth all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 Therefore He cannot erre or mistake And then 2. He the Spirit of Truth Joh. 14.16 17. yea The truth and therefore it is He that beareth witness to Christ and the things of him 1 Joh. 5 6. therefore he neither will nor can lie for he is one with the Father and with the Son one God And God cannot lie deceive or falsifie wickedness and falshood are an abomination to him and to his lips Prov. 8.7 8. therefore every one that hath an ear may well hear as he is bid what he saith And he saith to this Assertion Yea did men onely say it it might be questioned and if they say otherwise now it is no matter All men are too prone to lie but the Holy Spirit is to be firmely believed because what ever he saith is pure and true Now he in testifying of Christ in the Gospel witnesses nothing but Life to be in Christ and to be the portion of those that believe in him that the believer in him shall not perish whatever death come upon him or whatever trouble but shall have everlasting life yea in a sort he hath it for he that hath the Son hath life saith the Record which God gives us of his Son 1 Joh. 5.11 12. and in testifying of such as are righteous men and merciful taken away and perishing from among men in such an evil day when all the Beasts come to devour he saith they enter into peace and rest in their beds each one walking in his uprighteousness Isa 56.9 57.1.2 that testimony the Holy Ghost that spake in the Prophets and particularlarly in Isaiah Acts 28.25 beareth 2. By Demonstration Argument and Evidence evidencing in what they are blessed viz. That they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Wherein are two particulars First that they may Rest from their Labours Secondly And their Works do follow them or follow with them Wherein is implied Note 1. That they that dye in the Lord and especially from the time of the Beasts rage and the great exercise of the Saints patience have Labours and Services that in the time of their life they are imployed in indeed all things are full of Labour man cannot utter it Eccles 1.8 and the Saints have their portion of Labours more especially in or
of men are the happiest men in the world their portion better than any other mens the Heritage of Jacob to be preferred before all the enjoyments of the great Princes of the Earth Isa 58.14 So as it may well be said the righteous they that are in Christ Jesus walking not after the Flesh but after the Spirit are more excellent then their neighbours Prov. 12.26 however Poor Meane Illiterate Afflicted and Despised the Righteous be And however Rich Learned Honoured or otherwise adorned and qualified their neighbours that be not righteous are Yea well it may be said Happy art thou O Israel a People saved by the Lord the shield of their help and sword of their Excellency thine enemies shall be found lyars to thee and thou shalt tread upon as despising their high place Deut. 33.29 O Lord of hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee Psal 84.12 Blessed at all times blessed in Life more blessed in Death but most blessed in and after the Resurrection of the Dead 3. To commend Piety and Godliness and the exercise thereof to us which hath the Promise of all this great blessedness both of the life that now is and that that is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 6.6 4. To condemn the blind judgment and practice of the world that sleight hate and persecute these things accounting those that are and that dye in Christ especially in a way of persecution to be unhappy and their portion despicable which things I onely mention But besides 5. It directs us whither to flee for shelter and refuge against the fears and feelings horrours and harms of Death the King of Terrours namely to Christ Jesus our Lord who hath both abolished or destroyed its destructive power by his Death and destroyed him that had the power of it the Devil 2 Tim. 1.10 Heb. 2.14 and also hath the keys of Hell and Death Power and full Authority over it and over the dead having dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living Rom. 14.19 as he hath that sharp Sickle in his hand so he can cut off with it high or low rich or poor and he can keep it off or back during his pleasure and order the state of it and the persons in it as seems good in his sight And in him there is deliverance from the horrour and harms of it as he is the forgiver of the sins both that occasioned it and that might render it as an inlet into a worser state then it simply of it self containeth and hath both Authority and proclaims himself ready graciously to do it even both to raise out of it and in the interim to secure from harm and mischiefs by it yea and to make it greatly useful and advantagious to us to make the day of it better then the day wherein we were born Eccles 7.1 a Chamber of ease rest and safety to us from the evils either fore-afflicting us or further threatening and abiding the yet dwellers on the Earth or abiders in the land of the living Isa 26.20 57.2 an outlet to our cares fears labours and temptations to sin or toils by such temptations and an inlet safe Port or entrance into peace and security the end of our exile and banishment and beginning of our actual admission in our spirits into our Fathers presence and glorious fruition of our blessed Saviour that wonderful one the unparall'd lover of our Souls and Paragon and Pattern of all divine and heavenly vertue and excellency the Lamb that had mercy on us and dyed rose again and lives for ever for us the Lord Jesus He is that Sun that shining into our hearts the light of the knowledge of himself and of the glory of God in him and being believingly beheld by us will drive out and expel all that darkness of our ignorance and errour that in the night of our unbelief obscures our minds and fills us with frightful fears of Death and its consequents and chases away all those mists and vapours arising out of the muddines of our hearts to the sadding us at the thoughts of its approches and by his warming influences as streaming forth by his Holy Spirit in the Gospel the beams of his love and favour in the forgiveness of our sins and interesting us in his Righteousness and precious promises of blessing and everlasting Life and Happâ—ness and so the lively hope of his Salvation and Glory to be injoyed by us he can and will so chear and comfort us as to make the grim visage of Death amiable to us and the passage through it very desirable Philip. 1.21 22 23. yea and give us hope and joy in Death as the best hour that ever came upon us And he is that and such a shield too that encompassing us about with his favour and defence interposing himself between us and our enemies even Death and all its train and power secures us against their fiercest assaults and sharpest darts being the Death of Death the Destruction of the Grave and Hell Hos 13.14 we being in him and incompassed about with his arms of love nothing shall be able to approch us to hurt or harm us He is such a Fountain of living waters that whosoever drinks of him receiving his Doctrine into his heart and retaining and keeping it there shall not die of thirst Such a Heavenly Medicine being Gods Salvation or saving health that whosoever takes him down and tastes the sweetness of his Love and Grace and keeps it or the relish of it upon his palace shall not taste Death Joh. 4.14 8.51 52. Yea those Waters he gives and the Medicine he affords will spring up and effect in the receiver and taker down thereof Life in Death even Eternal Life The Tree of Life that was in the first Paradise and which being eaten of would have preserved the life of Man for ever is lost and there is no recovering it again Gen. 3.22 23 24. Nor can all the Physicians in the world find out or compose a Medicine that can keep us from Dying But our Lord Jesus Christ and his heavenly Wisdome and Doctrine is that Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God that Sovereign Antidote of Gods own finding out making and propounding which being eaten and taken down will secure us against all the Poison of the old Serpent the evil of this natural Death and carry us safely through it and bring us certainly out of it to immortality and eternal Life Prov. 3.18 Rev. 22.2 3 14. He will both make the Soul live and be happy in Death and raise up the Body to an immortal state of bliss Isa 55.3 Joh. 11.25 26. 2 Cor. 4.14 In vain do men weary themselves and spend their Estates to find out a Philosophers stone that may turn all things into Gold Here is that true Elixir that will turn all to Good and as he hath reconciled all things in himself that are in
believe the Gospel Mark 1.15 And I say so too repent of these vain excuses and put them away repent of minding other things and neglecting the Gospel and Gods salvation therein that God having given Christ for thee and holding him forth to thee and Christ having giving himself for thee for it was for all men 1 Tim. 2.6 and made peace and atonement through his Blood and being filled with all the fulness of God and calling thee by his Gospel and standing ready upon thy compliance to help and save thee to pardon thee and give thee his holy Spirit admit thee into his favour and protection and make an everlasting Covenant with thee yet thou lettest him stand without knocking and dost not take him into thee nor yield thy hand to him to be taken in to him but runnest away from God thy Saviour after lying vanities after the World and the Flesh and the Devil after pride and Covetousness and the like labourest for the bread that perisheth and refusest to seek and labour in listening to and following thy Saviour for that bread that endureth to everlasting life that he would give thee Repent of this thy carriage and so also of seeking Gods favour by any works or ways of thine own or other mens proposing and not by and in listening to him Repent of these and all other like things and believe and obey the Gospel But be sure it be the Gospel thou believest not what any though an Angel saith contrary to or beside the Gospel Gal. 1.6 9. Not those doctrines of men That God hath rejected the most men absolutely before they were born and is not willing they should be saved contrary to 1 Tim. 2.4 2 Pet. 3.9 that Christ Dyed not for all but only an Elect number contrary to 2 Cor. 5.14 15. 1 Tim. 2 6. Heb. 2.9 1 Joh. 2 2. and the like doctrines and so all such as deny the Person Satisfaction Resurrection or Mediation of Christ his Personal appearance the Resurrection of the Dead the last Judgment and the like Repent and believe the Gospel If thou sayest How canst thou believe Is not Faith the gift of God I answer Yes and he gives it in a sober and diligent hearing of his Word not wilfully closing the eye and stopping the ear and hardening the heart against him Rom. 10.17 Gal. 3.2 Incline thine ear then and hearken unto him Hear and thy soul shall live Isa 55.3 yea while it is said or called to day if thou wilt hear his voice harden not thy heart and thou shalt hear and live onely obey in hearing as he enables thee and is in the power of his light and truth by his Spirit working in thee to will and to do of good pleasure Work thou out in his working thine own salvation with fear and trembling Philip. 2.12 13. doing all things without murmuring or disputing vers 14. putting away and not wilfully retaining what he reproves and yielding thy self to God to follow his counsels and instructions waiting upon him is his wayes and looking to him and calling upon him as he enables thee for his help and thou shalt be saved Be but willing to this Consent and Obey and though thou hast been or hitherto art as bad as one of the Rulers of Sodom or as the people of Gomorrha thou shalt eat the fruit of the land the promised land Thy scarlet sins shall be white like snow and thy crimson sins like wooll Isa 1.10 18 19. Be but as industrious in minding and following after the Gospel and after God and Christ as drawing instructing and strengthening thee as thou hast been and others are for the World and for their corrupt desires and lusts and thou mayest lay hold on Eternal life Prov. 2.1 5. 1 Tim. 6.11 12. This is the sum of the instructions given by the Apostle James when having affirmed that every good gift and every perfect giving comes from above from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning and that of his own will begat he them by the word of truth that they might be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures He adds and infers Wherefore my beloved Brethren let every man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath and laying apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness receive with meekness the ingraffed word which is able to save our souls but be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely James 1.17 18 21 22. But then it is to be minded too that having begun to doe thus it in neccesary to go on and to continue in so doing abiding in Christ minding and believing the Gospel and obeying it and him in and by it and exercising our selves to believe on him and following after him that we may know him more and more and so be more rooted and grounded in and united with him walking in him according to our receipt of him and taking heed of what might turn us out of the way of understanding As of 1. High-mindedness as if we were rich enough and knew and had attained enough already Prov 16.18 2. Sloth and what principles tend to that and to high mindedness Such as That that if we have once believed aright we cannot whatever we may do totally and finally miscarry Prov. 19.15 1 Cor. 10.12 3. Taking offence at either Gods ways and providences Psal 73.2 3 12 13 14. Or at those that fear God so as to break Communion with them lest forsaking the Assemblies and sitting alone we grow hardned through the deceitfulness of sin and for want of right exhortation and provocation to cleave to God withdraw from him through an evil heart of unbelief Heb. 3.12 13. 10 24 26 29. or else we fall into the snares of such as would seduce us against which things the minding and delighting in Gods Law will secure us Psal 119.165 and hereto also it 's good and needful to pluck out the right eye where it offends and cast it from us for in fellowship and unity with the fearers of God God doth command his blessing and life for evermore Psal 133.13.4 Eccles 4.9.10 11. Take heed too 4. Of the Love of the World and of the things in the world and of whatsoever doctrine or practice may corrupt us from the simplicity in and single cleaving to Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 2.15 18. 2 Cor. 11.2 3. I enlarge not to these things nor add any other lest I be volumnious 7. Whereas we may be tempted to grow Weary by reason of the many Afflictions Troubles Temptations and Toilsomness to the Flesh that we may meet with in the way of God and of godliness and especially in times and cases of Persecutions here it also incouragement to patience not only because Christ hath faithfully promised to be with his followers in their sufferings and services to help them as is said Isa 41.10 13 14 and that in the taking courage and not cowardly desponding and laying
yea in him they have the Adoption of Sons and are honoured with that near relation to God where through they become his Heirs joynt-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 And if the Lord being their shepherd they shall not want Psal 23.1 How shall they want then God being their Father Christ their Brother and they joynt-heirs with him these are the fearers of the Lord that are blessed and the very fear of the Lord is such a Blessing to them as tendeth to life so as they shall abide satisfied with it and shall not be visited of evil Psal 112.1 Prov. 19.23 Well may it be said of every such one as is said of Asher whose name signified Blessed that his bread or portion is fat Gen. 49.20 or as of Nepthali that he is and shall be satisfied with favour Deut. 33.23 and of them all as is said of Israel Happy art thou O Israel saved by the Lord the Eternal God is thy refuge or mansions and underneath thee even when thou fallest lowest are the everlasting arms who is like unto thee who hast the Lord for the shield of thy help and whose sword is thy excellency c. Deut. 33.17.29 Object If it be said This is indeed the portion of them that are in Chirst while alive here but here we are to speak of those that are Dead dying in Christ I answer 1. This is the Portion of men in Christ at all times whether alive or dead as to the Body or Flesh yea it 's rather their Portion that Dye in Christ then of others for if men be in Christ when they live here and before they dye turn out from him and so dye not in him they loose and forfeit all this Blessedness for Blessedness is so the Portion of Christ who onely hath purchased and obtained it into himself by his onely perfect and most acceptable righteousness that though he have it not for himself onely but for us yet there is no interest in it nor enjoyment of it to be had out of or apart from him that being also true that he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. He therefore that transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and so not life for God there answers to Father and Son in the next Clause which Son is the life and hath the life given of God to us in himself 2 Joh. 9. The just shall live by Faith but if he or any man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Nay he that draws back draws back to perdition Heb. 37.38 39. so as to loose all this Portion and his Soul in the loss of it But while any man is in Christ alive or dead he is in a full and most accomplisht treasury of all bliss and happiness and in the dispose and favour of one perfectly Faithful to communicate and give forth of his fulness according to his Promises all the Promises of God are in him yea and Amen And he that is in him is in him an heir of them and abiding in him shall not fail to inherit them though they as to the body dye 2 Cor. 1.20 Gal 3.29 For 2. Death this bodily death doth not make any alteration as to mens being in him it is not the going of the Soul out of the Body that is its going out of Christ they that dye in the Lord are in the Lord in the time and act of his dying laying down their lives or breathing out their Spirits in the Faith and in the Spirit of him they are yet in him inclosed in his Arms in his favour and love and Covenant with him whence he is still even in Death as we noted before stiled their God for though Dead men and as to bodily life yet they live to him and in respect of their spirits see no Death Prov. 12.28 Joh. 8.51 their hearts shall live for ever Psal 22.26 this Death is called a sleep they that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him 1 Thes 4.14 And as the bodily sleep makes no alteration in relation or Covenant-engagements no more doth the bodily Death in relation to God and Christ and interest in the Covenant and Promises of his blessing a Child is the Fathers Child as well when asleep as when awake and is nevertheless an Heir to an Estate given by deed of gift or by the Fathers Will and Testament Nor is a Wife the less the Wife and in the marriage-covenant when she lies fast asleep in her Husbands bosom then when she is most awake and active and therefore is in as happy a condition if happy in her Marriage then as at other times yea we may say of the man asleep in Christ or which is all one Dead in the Lord that his state is better then before as we shall shew God willing in what follows for as the Dead that dye in the Lord are blessed both privatively as they are exempted from secured against evil and positively as they are interested in Christ in all the good that is in him and to be communicated by him So also they are 3. Comparatively Blessed more blessed in divers respects then divers others or then themselves in former times 1. Comparatively to other men they be happy whether they be 1. Those that Dye and are dead out of the Lord they are happy in respect of them howsoever they dye it may be in the appearance of men sinners that dye in their sins are happier in their Death then they as having no bands in their death as is said Ps 73.4 they may lye and dye in stately Rooms and soft Beds encompassed about with their Friends and Kindred feel little pain dispose of great estates to their Children friends they may possibly express no fear of Hell but hope they shall go to heaven Mat. 7.22 23. They may when dead have costly Funerals stately Monuments c. when as those that dye in Christ may dye grievous Deaths in the sight of men of sharp Diseases full of Sores and Boyles in Prisons Dungeons yea on Racks or Gibbets as it is said of those Saints of whom the world was not worthy that they were some Tortured others Stoned others Sawn asunder others slain with the Sword that they were destitute of succour namely Friends means of helpfulness and the like Afflicted Tormented Heb. 11.37 38. and yet for all this great difference as to the way and outward manner of Dying Yea though we add also that they being tempted may cry out as forsaken of God as our Lord Jesus on the Cross yet these that dye in the Lord are infinitely Blessed above the other nay rather Blessed and not at all the other let them dye as desirably otherwise they can yea though also they when Dead have their Names cryed up of men as if they were Worthy Gallant Honourable persons and those that dye in the Lord be