The Sick Mans Catechism, Chapter 7
The seauenth Chapter. The benefites and priuiledges of death.
Question. HAueHave the Godly any profit and aduantage by death?
A. Much, and many waies.
Q. What benefits and priueledges hauehave they by death?
A. Two sorts of benefits, priuatiue, that remoue euill, and positiue, that ad good.
Q. What are the priuatiue benefits of death?
An. Foure: first it perfectly fréeth Gods children from all temptations, and from all sinnes both originall and actuall, and herein consisteth a maine part of our blessednesse for if he be blessed whose sinnes are not imputed, much Rom. 7. …4.more hee whose sinnes are wholy taken away. Secondly it easeth vsus of all the Isay 57 ve. 1. & 2.miseries afflictions, paines and aduersities of this present life.
Thirdly, it deliuereth from the euill world, and from all sinnefull company, and from all the tiran…e of Gods and our enemies, in so much that our eyes shall neuer sée, nor our eares euer heare the abhominable practises of the wicked much lesse can they hurt or infect vsus; and what an vnspeakeable blessing is this?
Lastly, it preuenteth sinne and misery to come, for the Godly are taken away 2 Kings 22. 20.that their soules should not bee infected with sinne; and that they should …ot with their e…es behold euill, nor the inordinate confusions in church or common-wealth.Isa. 57, 1.
Q. What vse is to be made of th…se priuatiue blessings?
An. We must first learne patience and suffer temporary afflictions without fainting, because shortly our euill shall determine. Secondly, let vsus pray and s…ke for, and wish and waite that blessed time, …hether of …eath, or the last iudgement, that shall f…ée vsus from all the euills whereof in this world we labour.
Section 1.
Question What are the positiue benefites that wee receiue and enioy in death?
An. First death bringeth our soules into the immediate, the glorious, and euerlasting fellowshippe, with GOD the Father, God the Sonne, and God the holy Ghost, where wee shall hauehave perfection of knowledge, absolute purity of will and affections, and fulnesse of ioye for euermore. Psalme 16. vers. 11.
Secondly, wee shall with all the Saints and Angells, behold and hauehave communion with Christ in glory, world without end.
Lastly, death putteth vsus into actuall and perfect possession of all the good things that Christ hath purchased for vsus, which should we… and withdrawe vsus from the louelove and liking of this vaine world, and inflame vsus with an earnest desire of enioying the heauenly Canaan so long agoe purchased and prouided for vsus.
Section. 2.
Q How can death make the faithfull and the Godly perfectly blessed, séeing that their dead corps lie and rot in their loathsome graue?
An. It may very well be, for first he that hath redéemed both body & soule, and giuen vsus two excellent sacraments namely baptisme and the Lords supper to signifie and seale the same, hath by his death embaulmed, yea buried our death.
Secondly it being mistically spiritually and vnseparably vnited vntounto Christ the fountaine of life, and so remayning in the couenant of grace and fauour of God, frée from all sinne and paine cannot be but in part blessed and in a sort partaker of life.
Lastly, it resteth swéetly in the earth as in a bedde of downe vntill the last iudgement, in a blessed expectation of the generall and glorious resurrection.
Que. Shall the body then certainely arise againe?
An. It shall vndoubtedly be raised vp againe at the last day. For first the sacred scriptures, the almighty power and promise of God, and the effects Math. 22. 32.of Christs death doe sufficiently proue it. 1. Cor. 15. ve. 13. & 14.
Secondly the bodies of the saints raised vp in the time of the old and newe Testament, explane the same.
Thirdly, Gods mercy cannot perfectly appeare in the glorious resurrection of the Godly, nor his iustice in the perfect punishment of the wicked vnlesse there be a resurrection both to glory, and confusion.
Lastly the death of the righteous, is but a swéete sleepe, wherein they rest from the labours of this life, and out of which they shall in a moment, be raised at the sound of the last trumpet.
Quest. The bodies of the reprobate, shall as well bée raised vp againe as the bodies of the elect, and how then can it bee any such singular benefite?
An. Yet notwithstanding it is a rare benefise, for the resurrection of the iust and vniust is distinguished the one from the other by the causes and endes. For the Godly arise by vertue of CHRIST their head and by vertue of his resurrection, but the bodies of the wicked by the power of Christ as their iudge onelyonly, who shal arraigne and condemne them.
Secondly, they differ in their endes; the bodies of the Saintes arise in glorie to eternall glorie: but the bodies of the wicked shall rise in shame to eternall shame and confusion.
Qu. If the Godly bee thus blessed as soone as they are dead, is it then lawfull to mourne for the dead?
Ans. It is lawfull, so that our mourning bee moderate and ioyned with hope, for wee hauehave many holy practises in the scriptures of this mourning. 1. Thes. 4. 14. I…h. 11. Phi. 2. 27.
Questi. What shall wee thinke of them that bewade the dead immoderately?
Ans. It is contrary to the hope of a blessed life and resurrection, and calle… Gods wisdome and iust decrée into question.
Qu. For what ends and in what considerations are wee to mourne for those that are dead in the Lord?
Ans. First, because our sinnes and vnthankefulnesse hauehave bereaued vsus of their confortable fellowship.
Secondly, we must here by bee more effectually stirred vppe to entreate the Lord to bée good vntounto vsus and to turne away from vsus those euills that their vntimely deathes many times prognosticate.