The Soul of Man, Part 8 · Doctrine · Proposition 8
PROP. VIII. At the time a gracious Souls separation from the Body, it is instantly, and perfectly freed from sin, which till that time dwelt in it, from its beginning: But thenceforth shall do so no more.
IMmediately upon their separation from the Body,Ideoque vocat conse…ratos, vel perfectos, quia carnis infirmitatibus non amplius sint obnoxii, depositâ ipsâ carne. Marl. in loc. they are Spirits made perfect, as my Text stiles them; and that Epithet perfect could never suit them, if there were any remaining root or habit of corruption in them.
The time, yea, the set time is now come, to put an end to all the dolorous groans of gracious Souls upon the account of indwelling sin. What the Angel said to Ioshua, Zech. 3.3, 4. The same doth God say of every upright Soul at the time of its separation, Take away the filthy Garments from him, and cloath him with change of rayments, and set a fair Miter upon his head. Thus the Garments spotted with the flesh, are taken away with the Body of flesh, and the pure, unchangeable Robes of perfect holiness cloathed upon the Soul, in which it appears, without fault before the Throne of God, Rev. 14.5.
There is a threefold burdensom evil in sin, under which all regenerated souls groan in this life, viz. (1) The Guilt, (2) The Filth, (3) The Inherence of it in their nature. And there is a threefold Remedy or cure of these evils. The guilt of sin is remedied by justification: The filth of sin is inchoatively healed by sanctification: The inherence of sin is totally eradicated by glorification. For as it entred into our persons, by the union of our Souls and Bodies; so it is perfectly cast out by their disunion or separation at death. The last stroak is then given to the work of sanctification, and the last is evermore the perfecting stroak: Sin languished under imperfect sanctification in the time of life, but it gives up the Ghost under perfected sanctification, from … after death. Sanctification gave it its deadly wound, but glorification its final Abolition. For it is with our sins after Regeneration, as it was with that Beast mentioned Dan. 7.12. which though it was wounded with a deadly wound, yet its life was prolonged for a season: And this is the appointed season for its expiration. For if at their dissolution they are immediately received into glory (as it hath been proved they are, in our seventh Proposition) they must necessarily be freed perfectly from sin, immediately upon their dissolution; because nothing that is unclean, can enter into that pure and holy place: They must be, as the Text truly represents them, The Spirits of just men made perfect.
For if so great holiness and purity be required in all that draw nigh to God upon earth, as you read Psal. 93.5. certainly those who are admitted immediately to his Throne, must be without fault, according to Rev. 7.14, 15, 16, 17.
When a compounded being comes to be dissolved, each part returns to its own principle; so it is here. The Spirit of man, and all the grace that is in it, came from God, and to him they return at death, and are perfected in him, and by him: The flesh returns to the earth whence it came, and all that body of sin is destroyed with it; neither the one or other shall be a snare or clog to the soul any more. A Christian in this World, is but Gold in the Ore; at death the pure Gold is melted out and separated, and the dross cast away and consumed.
Hence three Consectaries offer themselves to us.
Consectary I.
That a Believers life and warfare end together. We lay not down our weapons of war, till we lie down in the dust, 2 Timothy 4.7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. The course and conflict you see are finished together. Though they commence from different terms, yet they always terminate together. Grace and sin have each acted its part upon the Stage of time, and the victory hovered doubtfully s…times over Sin, and sometimes over Grace; but now the …r is ended, and the quarrel decided, Grace keeps its ground, and sin is finally vanquished. Now, and never before, the gracious Soul stands triumphing like that noble Argive,
In vacuo solus Sessor Plausorque Theatro:
not an Enemy left to renew the Combat, the war is ended, and with it all the fears and sorrows of the Saints.
Consectary II.
Separated Souls become impeccable, or free from all the hazard of sin, from the time of their separation. For, there being no root of sin, now inherent in them, consequently no temptation to sin can fasten upon them: all temptations have their handles in the Corruptions of our natures. Did not Satan find matter prepar'd within us, dry tinder fitted to his hand, he might strike in temptations long enough before one of his hellish sparks could catch or fasten upon us. Temptations are grievous exercises to Believers; they are darts, Eph. 6.16. they are thorns, 2 Cor. 12.7. but the separate Soul is out of Gun-shot. 'Twere as good discharge an Arrow at the body of the Sun, as a temptation at a translated Soul.
Consectary III.
Separated Souls are more lovely Companions, and their Converses more sweet and delightful than ever they were in this World. It was their corruption which spoil'd their Communion on earth; and it is their spotless holiness which makes it incomparably pleasant in Heaven. The best and loveliest Saints have something in them, which is distastful; even sweet Bryars, and holy Thistles, have their offensive Prickles; but when that which was so lovely on earth, is made perfect in Heaven, and nothing of that remains in Heaven, which was so offensive in them on earth; O what delightful Companions will they be! O blessed Society! O most desirable Companions, let my Soul for ever be united to their assembly. I love them under their Corruptions, but how shall my Soul be knit to them when it seeth them shining in their Perfections!