The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 19
CHAP. 19.
The Seventh Conſolation againſt the Fears of Death, is our ſtrict and unſeparable union with Jeſus Chriſt, by the means of his holy Spirit and the firſt Fruits of our Bleſſed Immortality.
OUr Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth not onelyonly live and triumph in Heaven, but it is from thence our life, our glory, and our bleſſed Immortality proceed. For as the Father hath life in himſelf, he hath alſo given to the Son to have Life in himſelf, and as the Father raiſeth and quickneth the Dead, likewiſe the Son quickneth whomſoever he will. So that we may not only ſay to him as St. Peter, Thou haſt the words of eternal life, John 6. but we may juſtly ſpeak to him in Davids Language, with thee is the fountain of Life, in thy light ſhall we ſee light, Pſ. 36. Therefore all thoſe that are united and incorporated into Jeſus Chriſt, do participate of the fulneſs of his holy Spirit, and by that means they became Immortal. Now by the vertue of Chriſts Death and Paſtion, we are not only made partakers of the Fruits of his Sufferings, but we are united to, and Incorporated in him, ſo that by that means, we have obtained not only the gr…t and precious promiſes of Glory and Immortality, which he hath purchaſed for us, by the infinite merits of his Sufferings, but we receive the Firſt-Fruits and foretaſts of our future bleſſedneſs.
He that is lifted up and dwells on high, quickens the Spirits of the humble, Iſ. 57. he dwells in our hearts by Faith, Eph. 31. he pours into our Souls his holy and quickning Spirit, for becauſe we are the Children of God, he hath ſent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry Abba Father, Gal. 4. Whoſoever hath not this Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, he is none of his. By the means of this Spirit he dwells in us and we in him, we become the Members of his Body, and we may boaſt that we are his Fleſh and his Bones.
All things that are moſt ſtrictly united by Nature or Art, are employed to repreſent this admirable union, John 6. which we enjoy with Jeſus Chriſt, by the means of his Spirit that quickens us, Rom. 13. From hence are derived theſe expreſſions of the holy Apoſtles, We have put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 3. And that when we draw near to him who is the living ſtone, rejected of Men, but lifted up and of great price with God, 1 Pet. 2. we like ſo many living ſtones, are built up together to make a Spiritual Houſe. For the ſame reaſon our Saviour informes us, John 15. That he is the true Vine, and that we are the branches. And St. Paul aſſures us, that if we are become one Plant with him, by the conformity of his Death, we ſhall alſo be one by the reſemblance of his Reſurrection. Rom. 6.
To ſhew unto us, that this Sacred Union contains many ties of Love, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is repreſented as our Brother, our Father, and our Bridegroom, therefore the Apoſtle tells us, that he thinks it no Diſgrace to own us for his Brethren, in ſaying, Heb. 1. I will declare thy name unto my Brethren; and alſo where he informes us, Rom. 8. that God had predeſtinated us to be conformed to the Image of his Son, that he might be the firſt born among many Brethren. And after his Reſurrection, he ſpeaks in this manner to Mary Magdalen, John 20. Touch me not, for I am not yet aſcended to my Father, but go to my Brethren and ſay unto them, I aſcend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God, Heb. 2. Therefore this glorious Redeemer ſhewing himſelf unto God with all the Elect, ſaith, Here I am, and the Children which thou haſt given me, Hoſea 2, And by the Mouth of Hoſea he ſpeaks to his Church, and makes this promiſe unto her, I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteouſneſs and in Judgment, and in loving kindneſs and in Mercies. From hence it is, that this Church is called, The Spouſe of the Lamb in the Revelations; and in the Cantic…es, the Spiritual Union betwixt Chriſt and his Church, is expreſſed by a continual Alluſion, to a Marriage between Man and Woman.
And becauſe our Meat and Drink are turned into our Body and Subſtance, Jeſus Chriſt aſſures us, That his Fleſh is truly Meat, and his Blood is truly Drink. That he is the true Bread come down from Heaven, that gives Life to the World, and that whoſoever ſhall eat him, ſhall live for ever.
But amongſt all the Similitudes borrowed to repreſent our Union with Jeſus Chriſt by his holy Spirit, there is none employed more frequently in holy Scripture, than that of the Humane Body, for there is not any more proper for us; all the Spirits that give life and motion, proceed from the Head, and aſſoon as the Members are ſeparated from it they Dye. In the like manner the Spirit that quickens us, and makes us become new Creatures, proceeds from Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that whoſoever is ſeparated from this Head, he falls into Death and Eternal Deſtruction. And as there are many Members, nevertheleſs they make up but one Body, becauſe they are all animated with the ſame Spirit, and they are kept alive by the ſame Head; l kewiſe there be many Members belonging to Chriſts Myſtical Body, ſome engaged yet upon Earth, and others glorified in Heaven, nevertheleſs they make up but one only Myſtical and Spiritual Body, for they are all quickned by the ſame Spirit, and receive all the celeſtial influences from the ſame Head. St. Paul teacheth us this Doctrin in expreſſe terms, 1 Cor 12. For as the Body is one and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body, ſo alſo is Chriſt, for by one Spirit are we all Baptiſed into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Finally, becauſe the ſame ſpirit that is in our Lord, as in the Head and Fountain, and in the Church in general, as in the Body which is quickned and moved, is alſo in every particular Member. The holy Apoſtle is not ſatisfied to call this Spiritual Body of Chriſt and his Church Chriſt; but he tells us moreover, that whoſoever is united unto him, is made but one Spirit with him.
Theſe and ſuch like Repreſentations, let them be never ſo lively and noble, are but dark ſhadowes and unperfect Images of our Union with Jeſus Chriſt by his holy Spirit; for the richeſt and moſt Magnificent Garment, can never keep off from the Body Diſeaſes, nor hinder the approaches of corruption that creeps upon it. There is no foundation never ſo firm and well ſetled that can free the houſe built upon it, from the ruines and breach s of time and the weather. Although the Sap mounts up from the root of the vine, and runs into the twigs and branches, they wither at laſt, and are caſt into the fire. The rareſt Meats and the moſt delicious Drinks, can never make our Bodies become Immortal, Death ſnatcheth away the Brother from the Brother, the Father from the Child, and the Wife from her Husband. The ſtroke of a Sword can ſeparate a Body from the healthieſt and ſtrongeſt Head, nay without any ſuch violence, the Head dies as well as the Body, and the Spirits that run in our Ve ns, are far from hindring the corruption of our Bodies, for they corrupt of themſelves and vaniſh away. In ſhort, the ſtricteſt Unions of Nature and Art are diſſolved by time, ſo that all things under the Sun, are ſubject to vanity and unconſtancy. But the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, is the principle of an eternal Life, and the Seed of an uncorruptible gl…ry, whoſoever is united to him by this Spirit, nothing can ſeparate him from Chriſt, neither Life nor Death, neither Hell nor the World, nor things preſent nor things to come. Therefore becauſe our Bleſſed Saviour could find nothing here upon Earth, nor amongſt all the Creatures, worthy and able to repreſent this perfect and unſeparable Union, he ſeeks an Image of it beyond all natural beings, in the holy Trinity, in that unchangeable Union, which was, which is, and which ſhall ever be, between him and God the Father. As we may ſee in his excellent Prayer, John 17. Father I pray for them all which ſhall believe on me, that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they alſo may be one in us, that they may be one ever as we are one. Baniſh therefore from your Souls all apprehenſions and fears, O believing Souls, for all the Three perſons of the moſt holy, moſt glorious and moſt wonderful Trinity, are engaged for your Salvation, and to bring you to your eternal happineſs. The Father by his infinite wiſdom, hath found out a means to reconcile us unto himſelf, to ſatisfie his offended Juſtice, and to declare the riches of his unparalleld Mercies. The Son hath purchaſed for us this great Salvation, by ſuffering the ſhameful Death of the Croſs, and by ſpilling his moſt precious Blood, for the forgiveneſs of our Sins; and the holy Spirit by incorperating us into Jeſus Chriſt, makes us partakers of the infinite Merits of his Sufferings, Revel. 2. That is the true Hyſop, that ſprinkles the Divine Blood of the Lamb, without ſpot or blemiſh, to cleanſe our Souls. It is he that gives to our Souls the white Stone, where the new name of Elect and Believers is written, Heb. 12. which none knows but he that hath it. He gives us to eat of the hidden Manna, and of the food of Angels, Iohn 4. which the World knoweth not. It is inſtead of a precious Ring or Jewel, by which our ſpiritual Bridegroom promiſeth and confirms unto us his conjugal Faith. It is the Seal of the Living God, that Seals unto us the Covenant of Grace, and the promiſes of Glory and Happineſs made unto us in the Goſpel, as the Apoſtle himſelf tells us, Eph. 2. that now having believed the Goſpel of our Salvation, we have been Sealed by the holy Spirit of promiſe, Therefore he exhorts us Eph. 4. not to grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom we have been Sealed for the day of Redemption. Finally, this is the Spirit that witneſſeth with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God, If we be children we are Heirs, Heirs of God, and joynt Heirs with the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Rom. 8.
Think not, Chriſtian Souls, that I labor to perſwade you, that this holy Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, ſhall come and whiſper in your ears, or cry unto you from within, that you are the Children of God, as the extravagant Quakers amongſt us imagine, the Teſtimony that he gives to our Spirits, is a real and an effectual teſtimony, if I may ſo ſpeak, for he regenerates us, and makes us become new Creatures, he gives us a more certain aſſurance of our adoption, then if he did declare from Heaven, Thou art my Child, and thy name is written in the Book of Life. As the Seal imprints its Image in the wax, thus the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus imprints in our Souls the Image of Holineſs and all Divine Vertues; now as the Figure that remains upon the Wax, makes us judge without diſpute, what manner of Seal did print it; likewiſe when you find Gods Image imprinted in your Hearts, acknowledge the finger of God, and the Vertue of his holy Spirit to have been there; for none can have that bleſſed Image, but he muſt needs be the Child of God. The holy Spirit that gives it to our Souls, kindles in us the bleſſed flames of holy Love, and produceth in us Tongue; of fire; he makes us ſpeak to God with boldneſs as to our Father, and lift up our eyes to Heaven with joy and gladneſs, as to the place of our Inheritance. All the goods of this preſent life, may be, nay will be, loſt at laſt, Pro. 23. Riches take wings and flie away like an Eagle, Honor vaniſheth away, as a ſmoak carried away with the wind. Earthly Delights and Pleaſures haſt away as a Torrent or the waters of a River that ſlide along the Banks, and they end at laſt in a Sea of bitterneſs and ſorrow. If by chance theſe vanities continue with the Worldlings, while they remain on Earth, Pſ 49. they can continue no longer, for they cannot carry beyond and the Grave, their Riches, their Honours are not Buried with them, and all their unſetled delights fly away with their Breath, but Death hath no power upon this Spirit of Life, which is our true Treaſure, our glory and everlaſting delight.
Moreover, the true and living Faith, that embraceth Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour ſhall ceaſe, and hope that conſiders the advantages to come, ſhall one day be aboliſhed. Whilſt we are in this earthly Pilgrimage we walk by Faith, and not by ſight, and while we are toſt up and down upon this dangerous Sea of the World, Heb. 6. we have need of the Anchor of our Hope, and to expect with patience the fulfilling of that we hope for, Rom. 8. but when we ſhall come to our heavenly Country, we ſhall neither need a ſtaff to walk with, nor a ſhield to defend us, and to quench the fiery darts of the Devil, when we ſhall be ſecure in the Haven of Eternity; we ſhall have no occaſion to make uſe of this Anchor, for our hope ſhall be changed into a perfect Fruition. When we ſhall be in Paradice, we ſhall need no Wings to carry us up to God, but only to fly about his Throne, as the Seraphims. In ſhort, we need no looking glaſs to ſee the glory of God, for we ſhall behold face to face. All that we believe at preſent without ſeeing, we ſhall then ſee and believe no more. But the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus whom the World knoweth not and cannot receive; he is not given us for a time, but to dwell in us for ever. As that Fleſh which our Lord took from us was never caſt off, nor never ſhall; Thus the Spirit which he given us, ſhall never be taken from us. The fleſh which our Saviour united in the ſame perſon with the Divine word, hath been glorified by this eternal Union, but the Spirit which he hath united to our Spirits, by this gracious Union, is the foundation of Glory, and of our eternal happineſs.
This Spirit of Life is not only the Seal of the promiſes of God, but alſo the earneſt of our uncorruptible inheritance, reſerved for us in Heaven. This is St. Pauls Doctrine, Epheſ. 1. for when he had ſaid, you have been Sealed by the holy Spirit of promiſe, he adds, which, is the earneſt of our inheritance, untill the Redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, unto the praiſe of his …glory. Becauſe this Divine Spirit is the Seal of the living God, he is the earneſt of his Inheritance; for this heavenly Image that it imprints in our Souls, ſhall be part of that glory with which he will Crown us in his holy Paradice. Therefore the Wiſdom that is various in every manner, doth not call this Spirit a Gage but an earneſt; for although both be given as a confirmation of promiſes, and an aſſurance of their accompliſhment, there is this difference, that Men commonly take back again the thing engaged, when that which is promiſed is done, but the earneſt remains always, and is part of the ſumme to be paid. As therefore the earneſt which is given is never taken away, but Men commonly add to it the remaining ſumme promiſed; likewiſe our Saviour never takes away from his Elect the Spirit of Adoption, which hath been once beſtowed upon them, but he increaſeth its Graces and Advantages, until he hath raiſed them to the higheſt glory, and moſt Divine happineſs, which he hath promiſed.
It is in this occaſion as with the Sun, which as ſoon as it appears upon our Horizon, increaſeth the Light more and more, untill he is mounted up to our Meridian, or as the Rivolets and Rivers, which the farther they run, the more they increaſe, untill they diſcharge into the Sea; Therefore when our Lord and Saviour ſpeaks of this Spirit of Grace, which ſuch as believe in him receive, he tells the Jews, John 8. He that believeth in me, Rivers of living Water ſhall flow from his Belly, John 4. and to the Samaritan Woman he ſpeak in this Language. He that ſhall Drink of the Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall never thirſt, but the Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall become in him a fountain of water ſpringing to eternal life, This was ſometimes ſhewn in a Viſion to the Prophet Ezekiel, Ezek. 47. by the waters that ran down from the Sanctuary, for at the firſt they did reach no higher then the Prophets Ankle bone, afterwards they riſe up to his knee, and then to his middle; at laſt they increaſed in ſuch a manner, that they became a great Torrent, and a deep River which was not to be forded over, and which diſcharged it ſelf into the Sea.
As David in the beginning of his Raign, commanded but one Tribe, but afterwards he enlarged the limits of his Kingdom over all the Tribes of Iſrael that ſmall portion of the Kingdom was not then taken from him, but only increaſed and became greater; thus it is with us, during this Life, we have ſmall part of the Kingdom of Heaven intruſted in our hands, or if I may ſo ſay, we have now ſome Jewels of the uncorruptible Crown which is promiſed hereafter: This part ſhall not be taken from us, this bright beam of our future glory ſhall never be put out but in the Life to come, we ſhall poſſeſs as much of this Kingdom as we are able, and ſhall be cloathed with all that light and ſplendor of the Heavenly Glory.
But as there is no compariſon never ſo juſt, but is faulty in ſome reſpects, there is no ſmall difference in this, for the Tribe of Juda was the nobleſt and the richeſt part of the Kingdom of Iſrael, but that part which our Souls enjoy at preſent of the happineſs and glory of the Kingdom of Heaven, is but as a drop of Water in compariſon of the Ocean, or as a weak raye of light, in compariſon, of the Sun 2 Cor. 12. Therefore the Apoſtle St. Paul, who had been raviſhed into the Third Heaven, and who knew better than any Man in the World, what were the Joys and glories of Heaven, when he mentions this Spirit of Adoption that God ſends into our hearts, he calls it, Rom. 8. The Firſt Fruits of the Spirit. To teach us, that there is as vaſt a difference between the meaſure of the gifts and graces which we receive here below, and the overflowing abundance which we ſhall enjoy in Heaven, as between ſome few ears of Corn, and the whole Harveſt of a Field. It is like the ſmall quantity of Fruits which were brough… to the Children of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, compared to the great abundance of all the Land of Canaan. It is like ſome ſmall crums of the Heavenly Bread, of which we ſhall have our fill in the Kingdom of God, as ſome ſmall drops of that New Wine which we ſhall drink for ever in the heavenly Jeruſalem.
Therefore believing Souls, you may from hence conclude, that the approaches of Death ought not to ſcare or fright you, becauſe that you have within you the principles of a life everlaſting, and the ſeeds of a glorious Immortality, which cannot be taken from you. Jeſus Chriſt doth not only wait for you, and ſtretch out unto you his Arms, to receive you into his Reſt, but he himſelf is alſo with you, and will render the paſſage eaſie and pleaſant to this new World, where Juſtice and Righteouſneſs dwell, Iohn 11. He will make Miracles for your ſake, and if you believe, you ſhall ſee the glory of God, Ioſhua 3. We do not only follow the footſteps of this Divine and real Ioſhua, but we paſs with him, and he paſſeth with us, Exod. 19. We are not like the Children of Iſrael, that went through the River of Iordan, whilſt the Prieſts held the Ark in the middle of the River, but we may be compared to the Prieſts themſelves, 1 Pet. 2. that did bear the Ark of the Covenant, and cauſed the Waters to return up to their Fountain again, for we are a Generation of Prieſts, and we bear in our Souls the Lord Jeſus, in whom the fulneſs of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in whom are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledge. In ſhort, our Souls return to God the Fountain from whence they came; Let therefore that heavenly voice which was heard in the holy Land, ſound in our ears, Iſ. 43. Fear not for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy Name, thou art mine, when thou paſſeſt through the Waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee, when thou walkeſt through the Fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the Flame kindle upon thee, and ſay with David, When I ſhould walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I ſhall fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy Staff and thy Rod ſhall comfort me, Pſal. 23.
It ſeems the Primitive Chriſtians had adeſigne to ſhew us this Truth by the Picture of a Giant-like man, wading through the Sea with a Staff in his hand, and a Child upon his Shoulder; for this Giant is the Emblem of a Chriſtian, who lifts up his mind as high as Heaven; The Sea ſignifies the dangers of this World, and the fears of Death; The Staff repreſents Faith that keeps us up in our paſſage through Life and Death, upon which, when we lean, we worſhip the living God of Heaven and Earth, and the Child is an Image of Chriſt; therefore he that bears him, is called Chriſtophorus, that is, He that bears Chriſt. Ceſar could not endure to ſee his Pilot tremble in a furious Storm at Sea, becauſe he was in his Boat; we have far leſs reaſon to be afraid, ſeeing that we carry in our Hearts the great Emperor and Monarch of the World, the Hope and Comfort of Iſrael; Ceſar was as much in danger as his Pilot to make Shipwrack, but our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath all the Winds at his Command. He can ſtill the moſt diſturbed Sea, and through the moſt grievous death, he can cauſe us to paſs and arrive to the ſafe Haven of an Eternal Reſt, and of a moſt happy and glorious life.
When David ſhewed himſelf with a purpoſe to fight with Goliah, he ſpoke to this prodigious Philiſtines in this manner, I come unto thee in the name of the Lord of Hoſts, the God of the Armies of Iſrael. But you Chriſtian Souls, when you are to encounter with Death, you may ſay to it, not only I come to thee in the name of him, who Commands legions of Angels, and all the Armies of immortal Spirits, but I come to thee cloathed with his Armor, ſtrengthened by his Holy Spirit, and aſſiſted by him in perſon, for Jeſus Chriſt who hath overcome death for us, intends to overcome it by us. We are the living Stones which he hath choſen of his diſintereſſed Mercy, to bring down that proud inſulting Enemy, that cauſeth all Worldlings to tremble, and cover their faces with Shame and Confuſion, Judg. 6.
We have already ſeen a Sampſon breaking in pieces, with a wonderful ſtrength, the Cords with which he had been bound by the Philiſtians, and tearing alſo the Body of a young Lion, in which he found ſome few days after, Honey, moſt pleaſant to his taſte. It will be much eaſier for us, when we ſhall be ſtrengthened with the Divine Vertue of the Lord Jeſus, of whom Sampſon was but a Type, to tear in pieces all the Cords and Chains of Death. We ſhall rent in pieces the Body of this old Lion, and when we ſhall ſearch into his Bowels, with a ſerious and repeated meditation, we ſhall find the ſweeteſt and moſt raviſhing Comforts.
As when the Prophet Elias was carried up to Heaven in a fiery Chariot, he let fall his Cloak, with which Eliſha ſeparated the Waters of Jordan, ſo that he paſſed through the River on foot. Likewiſe our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt being aſcended up above the Clouds, to the Throne of his Glory, he hath left us the precious Cloak of his Righteouſneſs, he hath granted us his Holy Spirit, that we might paſs through the turbulent Waves of this tempeſtuous Sea of the World, by its Divine Vertue, and that through death we might enter into immortal Life.
And as the death of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſeparated his Soul from his Body, although both his innocent Soul and Holy Body remained always united perſonally to his Divinity. In the ſame manner the Believers death diſunites, for a time, his Soul from his Body, but it can never ſeparate it from the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, that is the Soul of our Souls, and ſuch an Holy Flame, that it can never be extinguiſhed.
When the High Prieſt of the Jews put off his Prieſtly Garments, he caſt off at the ſame time his Breaſtplate, where the names of the twelve Tribes were engraven, Exod. 20. Not only our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, not only our Pictures are printed upon the Palms of his hands, with the Bloud of the Covenant, but we be as a Signet upon his Heart Cant. 8. ſo that we cannot be ſeparated from him no more than his heart can be taken from him; his Love is ſtronger than Death, and his embraces are embraces of Love.
Ruth promiſed to Naomi, that Death alone ſhould be able to ſeparate them, Ruth, 1. But on the contrary, we may tell our Lord and Saviour, who is as our Father, Brother, and Husband, not only death ſhall never be able to ſeparate us, but it ſhall rather bring us nearer unto thee, and cauſe us to reſt in thy boſome, where we ſhall be for ever ſatisfied with thine Heavenly delights. Chriſtians, you need not fear Death, for you are not to be wounded by all its Darts, for you have been dipt in the River that ſprings to Eternal Life. The Spirit of the Lord Jeſus that is in you, is the Spirit of Life; the beginning of immortality, and the only Spring of Eternal Glory and Happineſs. Seeing that the breath of the Prophet Elias, raiſed a dead Body to life, the Spirit and the Breath of the Father, and of the Son will be able to keep your Spiritual life from decaying; unleſs it be in Death's power to ſtop the breath of the Almighty, unleſs it be able to limit the beams of Light and Glory that came from his Divine countenance; unleſs it can cauſe the Rivers of living Water that ſpring out of his Throne to ceaſe and dry up; It is not poſſible that it ſhould cauſe us to periſh, and render us miſerable. Therefore you are certain of your Eternal Happineſs, while Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be the Author and Well-Spring of Light, Life, Glory, and Immortality; and that his Holy Spirit ſhall be victorious over Death and Hell; and you may ſing with David, I ſhall not dy but live and declare the Works of the Lord, Pſ. 118.
You be not only ſure of this Glory and Eternal Happineſs; and you be not only enter'd into poſſeſſion of it, by your Faith and Hope, but you begin already to enjoy it, and its Firſt-Fruits, for he that believes in Jeſus Chriſt, is paſt from Death to Life; and whoſoever hath the Son of God, hath Eternal Life. As the Prophet Moſes, when he was in the Wilderneſs, did not only ſee afar off the Land of Promiſe, but he taſted of its delicious Fruits; Thus we don't only behold afar off with the Eye of Faith, our Celeſtial Inheritance, but we taſte at preſent, and reliſh ſome of its bleſſed Delights. And as the Fruits brought by the Spies, were the ſame and like unto them that the Children of Iſrael did eat in the Promiſed Land; In like manner, the Fruits that we reliſh in the Wilderneſs of this World, are Fruits of the Tree of Life, with which we ſhall be fully ſatisfied in Heaven; for the Grace that God beſtows upon us here below by his Divine Spirit, is the beginning of the Glory, with which he ſhall Crown us above. The ſame Light that ſhines upon our Souls on Earth, ſhall ſhine much more for ever in Heaven. But whereas we look upon it at preſent as it were, through a black miſt with much imperfection, then we ſhall ſee it clearly without Vail or Darkneſs. The ſame Holineſs that adorns, at preſent, our Souls ſhall be their Ornament and Glory, then it ſhall appear without ſpot or blemiſh. That ſame peace of Conſcience that preſerves our Hearts and Sences, ſhall Crown us above, it ſhall be without the leaſt diſturbance. In ſhort, the ſame Jeſus that is conceived in our Hearts, and that is formed, and grows in us by degrees, ſhall then appear in a perfect Stature, that ſhall want no more increaſe.
As it is with the Sea, it enters into the Rivers before the Rivers can run to the Sea; in like manner God comes to us before we go to him, and Heaven enters into our Souls before we can enter into Heaven.
Aged Sim…on waited patiently for Death, but aſſoon as he had ſeen the Saviour of the World, and embraced him, he ran to meet Death, he thought upon nothing but his latter end, therefore he prayed moſt earneſtly, to receive him into his Glorious Reſt. O Chriſtian Soul, how ſhouldeſt thou diſpoſe and prepare thy ſelf to dy, ſeeing thou beholdeſt, with the Eyes of Faith, this Bleſſed Redeemer, not wrapped up in Swathling Cloaths, but Crowned with an infinite Glory and Light; He is not in thine Arms, but he lodges in thine Heart; thou haſt not received him, to return or part with him again, but to be united unto him for ever, and to be incorporated into his myſtical Body. Seeing therefore that Death brings thee nearer to thy Redeemer, perfects this Bleſſed Union, and caſts thee into the very Fountain of Life, inſtead of being frighted at her, and grieved when it comes to thee, thou ſhouldeſt then rejoyce and be tranſported above meaſure with gladneſs; we ſhould meet this Death with a cheerful countenance; I mean, that we ſhould meet the Lord Jeſus, this merciful Prince of Life, who having vouchſafed unto thee the ſight of his Salvation, intends to receive thee into his Reſt, and Eternal, and Glorious Peace, that Reigns above in Heaven.
A Prayer and Meditation of a Chriſtian Soul, that ſtrengthens it ſelf againſt the fears of Death, by conſidering our ſtrict and unſeparable Union with Jeſus Chriſt, by his Holy Spirit, and the Firſt-Fruits in us, of our Bleſſed Immortality.
O Mighty and Merciful Lord, who art the Son of Righteouſneſs, and the Fountain of Living Water, drive away from me the dark ſhadows of death, and quench all the Fires that it kindles in my Soul; thou art not only dead for me, but thou art pleaſed to live in me, that I might one day live for ever with thee. Thou haſt of thy pure Mercy choſen me for thy Child, and haſt made me a Member of thy Myſtical Body, Fleſh of thy Fleſh, Bone of thy Bone, and cauſed me to be partaker of thine Holy Spirit. God hath not given thee the Spirit by meaſure, that out of thy fulneſs we might receive Grace for Grace. By the means of this Bleſſed and Infinite Spirit that reſts in my Soul, I am united unto thee in a more perfect manner, than the Tree is to the root that bears it, or the Child to its Mother that nouriſheth it in her Womb, or the Members of the Humane Body, to the Head that gives them Life. The Ties that unite me unto thee; O Glorious Saviour, are more unchangeable than the Heavens and the Earth. As nothing can pluck me out of thine Hands, there is nothing can ſeparate me from thine Heart. Whether I live or dye, I am thine, my Lord and my God, and nothing can alter thine affection for me. Death can take me out of the World, and carry me out of the embraces of my deareſt friends; but it can never ſeparate me from thine Holy Spirit, the Soul of my Soul, and the Light of my Life, which cannot be put out by all the envious Blaſts and Storms of the Prince of Darkneſs; this Holy Spirit will bring me to behold thy Face, to reſt in thy boſom, and unite me unto thee for ever. To whom Lord ſhall I go? thou haſt the words of Eternal life, and thou art the inexhauſible Fountain; Thou art my Hope and my Treaſure, my Glory, and mine only Happineſs. O faithful and unqueſtionable Witneſs, I ſhould be worſe than an Infidel, if I did call in queſtion my future Salvation and Glory, ſeeing the Father hath not ſpared thee for me, although thou art his only and beloved Son, the brightneſs of his Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon. Seeing that thou, O merciful Lord, haſt willingly ſuffered the moſt ſhameful death of the Croſs, and ſpilt thy precious Bloud to waſh away all my ſins, and ſatisfy for my crimes; and ſeeing that thine Holy Spirit is come into my Heart, to make me a partaker of that precious Bloud, and Seal me for the day of Redemption. O Glorious Spirit of my Saviour, that reſts upon me; when I ſhould be able to ſpeak the Language of Angels, I could not ſufficiently expreſs the wonderful operations that thou doſt produce in my Soul: thou kindleſt in me ſuch Heavenly Flames as never go out, but are always alive, as the fire of thine Altar; Thou formeſt in me a white Stone, where a new Name is written, which no man knows, but he that receives it; Thou giveſt me to eat of that hidden Manna, of that food of Angels that the World knoweth not: Thou witneſſeſt with my Spirit, that I am a Child of God, an Heir of God, and a Joynt Heir with Jeſus Chriſt, the King of Kings. Thou doſt not only Seal unto me the pardon of all my Sins, but thou doſt alſo purify my Conſcience from all dead Works to ſerve the living God; Thou cauſeſt me to cry out Abba Father, and imprinteſt in my Heart, the Glorious Image of my Heavenly Father; Thou art the Seal of my Adoption, the earneſt of mine uncorruptible Inheritance prepared for me in Heaven; Thou haſt given me the infallible aſſurances of a Glorious and Eternal Life, and begun it already in my Soul, granting to me its Firſt-Fruits; Thou cauſeſt me to behold the Sunſhine of thy Grace, and makeſt it to give Light in mine Ʋnderſtanding; Thou doſt not only vouchſafe unto me, the favour of beholding from this Valley of Tears thine Heavenly Canaan, but thou cauſeſt me to taſt of its Fruits; I am not yet come to the Fountain of Waters that ſpring forth to Eternal Life, but I feel the Streams and the Rivers that run in my Soul, I am not yet come to thine Holy Paradiſe, but thou haſt cauſed Paradiſe to be in me; Thou haſt given unto me an unſpeakable and glorious Joy, and haſt beſtowed upon me that Peace of God that paſſeth all underſtanding. O living and quickening Spirit unknown to the World; thou ſtrengtheneſt me in ſuch a manner that death will never be able to fright me; Thou haſt united me to thy ſelf by an unſeparable Ʋnion, O Prince of Life, and haſt put in me a Seed of Immortality, an infallible Principle of Glory, and a ſource of unſpeakable Happineſs; Thou art in me to dwell with me for ever, therefore thou ſhalt fill up the meaſure of thy moſt ſignal Favors. My Faith, by thy Divine aſſiſtance, hath ſpied out the Kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the World; and ſhortly I ſhall ſee, with mine Eies, the unexpreſſable Beauties of that Celeſtial Countrey, that flows with the Milk of the pureſt and ſincereſt Joys, and with the Honey of the ſweeteſt and moſt raviſhing Comforts; Thou haſt ſent a fore-taſte of the Fruits of the Tree of Life, but I ſhall come into thine Heavenly Paradiſe; I ſhall ever have my fill of theſe delicious Fruits: Now thou haſt cauſed ſome drops of the dew of Heaven to fall upon mine Heart, but then thou wilt make me drink of the Rivers of thy Divine Pleaſures. At preſent, in my painful paſſage through this Valley of Tears, in the midſt of my Groans and Tears, I may gather ſome Herbs, but when I ſhall come to my Heavenly Countrey, I ſhall reap my Hands full with Songs of Joy. Here upon Earth I ſee God as in a Glaſs obſcurely, but in Heaven I ſhall behold him face to face, and I ſhall be ſatisfied with his likeneſs. My Lord and my God, who by the infinite Merits of thy ſufferings, haſt purchaſed for us this Spirit of Life, and who haſt given to my Soul ſuch an Authentick Seal of my Salvation, and ſuch a precious earneſt of thine Eternal Bliſs. I feel in me the motions and endeavours of of this New Man that Eſſays to leave this Body of Darkneſs and Death, to enter into the Light of the Living. Lord Jeſus, ſeeing thou haſt made me partaker of the Spirit of thy Grace, enlightned my Soul with thy Divine Knowledge, and cauſed me to know the way of Life; Seeing that thou haſt given me to taſte of the Heavenly Gift of the Powers of the life to come; Seeing that thou haſt vouchſafed to me the Firſt-Fruits of thy Glory, and that I already feel Heaven in my Soul; Seeing that I behold thee with the Eyes of my Faith, that I embrace thee with all my affections, and that thou dwelleſt in my Heart, perfect in me, the work of thy Grace, and bring me at laſt to thine Eternal Glory. Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation, Amen.