Jesus and the Resurrection Justified by Witnesses in Heaven and Earth, Dedication 2
TO The moſt Reverend Father in God, GILBERT, By Divine Providence, Lord Archbiſhop of CANTERBURY, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan; and one of His Majeſtie's moſt Honourable Privy Council, &c.
May it pleaſe Your Grace
TO caſt your eye upon the Second Part of that Work, the Firſt Part of which I took the confidence to addreſs unto your Grace the laſt year. It is concerning that ETERNALL LIFE which was with the Father, as St. John ſpeaks; and now is manifeſted to us by his Son Jeſus Chriſt, who hath publiſhed the moſt gracious Purpoſes of God the Father towards us. The thoughts of which, as they cannot but be at all times exceeding welcome to Devout Chriſtians, (eſpecially to thoſe who are faithfull Miniſters in Chriſt's Kingdom▪) ſo never more, then when they ſee their Departure is at hand. In which regards I doubt not this Treatiſe will be acceptable to your Grace, becauſe it contains a Deſcription and full Aſſurance of that happy Life which you ſhortly expect. For there is nothing ſo reviving in our declining Age, as to think that the paſſage out of this Life leads us not to Death, but to Immortality: and that it will not take away our Happineſs from us, but give us a purer enjoyment of it: Pleaſure not mixed with a mortall body, but ſincere and free from Grief and Sorrow. For when we ſhall be ſet at liberty and delivered from this Priſon, we ſhall come thither where there is no Labour, no Sighing, nor Old age: but a Life of perfect eaſe and tranquillity, that breeds no trouble, nor any other evill; but is ſerene and clear in an immovable Reſt and Peace. Where the happy Inhabitants ſweetly contemplate the nature of things; and philoſophize, not for Popularity and the Theatre, but for the finding out ſolid and everlaſting Truth.
I have but tranſlated the words of Plato *in Axiocho, p. 370.(or of ſome other Philoſopher that hath borrowed his name,) who was much pleaſed in ſuch thoughts as theſe: though he made but uncertain gueſſes at that bleſſed ſtate, which our Lord hath ſo clearly revealed, and ſo ſtrongly demonſtrated; that we have reaſon, with never-ceaſing joy, both in life and death to give him thanks for ſo great a Grace. For as there is nothing beyond this that the heart of man can wiſh; ſo nothing of ſuch importance to our preſent Happineſs in this World. For which cauſe the Jews have thought fit to expunge thoſe from the number of Iſraelites, who do not believe the Immortality of the Soul, and the Reſurrection of the dead: and to reſolve, that they ſhall have no part in the World to come, though they otherwiſe live orderly, and obſerve the Precepts of the Law. For ſuch men, they ſaw, opened a door to all licentiouſneſs; and could never doe ſo much good by any other means, as they did hurt by ſubverting this Belief.
Which I have endeavoured therefore to eſtabliſh by ſuch Arguments, as they were ignorant of, till our Bleſsed Lord and Saviour appeared: who, as St. Matthew obſerves out of the Pſalmiſt, uttered things which had been kept ſecret from the foundation of the World. Maimonides himſelf ſaith, in his laſt Chapter of his Book concerning Kings, that at the coming of Chriſt, things hidden and profound ſhall be laid open and revealed to all. Which is true of nothing more, I have ſhewn, then of that which is the greateſt deſire of all mankind, immortall Life. Of which though I have not treated according to the dignity of the Subject; yet I am confident I have laid a good Foundation, to be improved by the labours of thoſe who have more skill and more leiſure. And it is a very great ſatisfaction, to have done any thing (though never ſo ſmall) for the honour of our ever-Bleſsed Lord and Maſter: whom it is the higheſt glory in the world to ſerve in faithfulneſs and truth. For He will not fail to reward ſuch ſervices with an ample recompence: being a Prince ſo great, that nothing is beyond his Power; and ſo gracious, that his Servants have reaſon to expect the beſt effects of his Good will. Which may very well content us, whatſoever uſage we meet withall at preſent: And ſhould mightily excite us, as St. Chryſoſtom often and earneſtly exhorts *Homil. 87. in Matth. p. 539., neglecting the ſuſpicions, and the reproaches, and the praiſes too of men, to ſtudy this one thing alone; how to be conſcious to our ſelves of no evill: which will bring us in the end, both here and hereafter, the greater glory.
The God of all Grace bleſs this Work to the ſettling and increaſing this holy Faith and Reſolution in all our hearts; whereby we ſhall alſo obtain the ſweeteſt foretaſts of the Joys of the future State. And may your Grace be bleſt with many of them, to ſupport the infirmities of Old age; and having finiſhed your days, have an eaſie paſſage to that better Life; and there receive from the Chief Paſtour, when he ſhall appear, the Crown of glory which fadeth not away. Which is the hearty Prayer of
My Lord, Your GRACE's in all dutifull Obſervance, SY. PATRICK.