The Christians Apparelling, Part 3 · Section 9
Section. 9.
1. Death, whether it be in the Lord, or for the Lord,1. By Death Rom. 8 38.39. as it ſeperates not from Chriſt, nor from the louelove of God wihch is in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, ſo it brings a man neerer vntounto Chriſt, euen to be with Chriſt, which is farre better, and more to be deſired then to be ſtill in the body (if wee reſpect our owne good) Chriſt indeed now is in vsus and we in him, Phil. ….23. Gal. 2.20.but as yet we are not ſo properly with him, in which regard it is ſaid, that whileſt we are at home in the body, 2 Cor. 5.1.2.—4.—6.7.8.wee are abſent from the Lord, but by death, we are abſent from the body, and preſent with the Lord; we ſo are preſent with his humanity, whiles here we are, by faith wee are eſpouſed to him, but by death we beginne to be taken into houſe & home with him for euer, where we ſhall inioy his more immediate preſence and company; for here wee walke by faith, not by ſight. This makes Death ſo deſirable to ſuch as here hauehave truly put on Chriſt; for, ſaith Paul, we know that if our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle where diſſolued wee hauehave a building of God, an houſe not made with hand eternall in the heauen, for in this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be cloathed vponupon withour houſe which is from Heauen—for we that are in this Tabernacle do groane being burthened, not for that we would be vncloathed, but clothed vponupon, that mortalitie might be ſwallowed vp of life. This affection is alſo in Gods Children generally, who though Death be an enemie in it ſelfe, and may affright them as men, deſiring their natuall good and preſeruation, yet whiles by faith they ſeeing beyond it,Not to feare death an argument of our vnion with Chriſt. looke to their eternall good, they feare it not, but much deſire it (as a man doth bitter and loathſome Phyſicke, not for it ſelfe, but in hope of health) and, according to Gods will, willingly imbrace it whē it comes. There may be ſome ſtrife awhile betweene nature and grace, (as there is in them alſo betweene grace and corruption, betweene the fleſh & the ſpirit,Gal. 5.17. which hauehave contrary deſires) but the deſires of the greater good (of our ſoules) by death, preuailes againſt the deſires of the leſſer good (of our bodies) by inioying this temporall life. As therefore we are bid examine our ſelues, 2 Cor. 13.5whether we be in the faith, and proue our ſelues— whether Ieſus Chriſt is in vsus, or we be reprobates, ſo may we doe it as well by this tryall as any; for if Chriſt be in vsus here, and we in the faith of Chriſt, then aſſuredly, we cannot but deſire, and according to Gods will to be with him, and further and more to enioy his more immediate preſence, which cannot be enioyed but by death; at the leaſt wee cannot, (when our time is come, or that God calls vsus to ſeale his truth by our death, which wee profeſſed in our life) bee vnwilling or refractary thereunto; which if for any long time, we be, or if that the louelove of the world and of our temporall life, preuaile with vsus to make vsus vnwilling to die, whether in our profeſsion or for it) we hauehave then too iuſt cauſe to ſuſpect our ſelues, that as yet we neuer truly put on Chriſt, nor were, by faith vnited and eſpouſed to him; for if wee were, wee could not be vnwilling to depart hence (ſeeing he now is abſent in body) and to goe to him, and to bee with him in thoſe Manſion places which he hath prepared for vsus in heauen, which euen Louers and eſpouſed couples (in like caſe of abſence the one from the other) doe ſo much on earth deſire. Therfore to be vnwilling to die and to be with Chriſt, argues that that party hath no hope to ſee Chriſt in his Kingdome or to raigne with him, that he hath ſo little deſire to goe to him; whereas hee that hath once ſeene Chriſt here with the eies of faith (and by it hath put him on) will with good old Simeon, wiſh and ſay,Luk. 2.29.30. Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation. It argues moreouer that ſuch a partie