Religion & morality > Human nature in its four-fold state ... in several practical discourses

Head IL anfwered. 41 y
phantly, yet they can and will fay confidently*
tfbe Lord is their God. Tho* they cannot triumph
over Death, with old Simeon having Chrifl in his
Arms and faying, Lord, now letteft thou thy Ser¬
vant depart in Peace, according to thy Word. For
nine Eyes have feen thy Salvation, Luke ii. 29, go.
Yet they can fay with dying Jacob, I have waited
for thy Salvation, O Lord, Gen. xlix. x 8. His Left
Hand is under their Head, to fupport them; thoJ
>his Right Hand doth not embrace them: They firm¬
ly believe, though they are not fill'd with Joy in
believing. They can plead the Covenant, and hang
by the Promife, although their Houfe is not fo with
! God, as they could wiih. But the dying Day of
fome Saints may be like that Day mentioned, Zech.
xiv. 7. Not Day, nor Night. They may die under
great Doubts and Fears; fetting as it were in a
Cloud, and going to Heaven in a Mift. They may
go Mourning without the Sun, and never put off
their Spirit of Heavinefs, till Death ftrip them of
it. They may be carried to Heaven through the
Confines of Hell; and may be purfued by the de¬
vouring Lion, even to the very Gate of the new
Jerufalem; and may be compared to a Ship alriioft
wreck’d in Sight of the Harbour, which yet gets
fate into her Port, 1 Cor. iii. 15 If any Man’s
Work Jhali be burnt, he Jhall fuffer Lofs: But he
hinifelf Jhall be faved, yet fo as by Fire. There’s
Safety amidft their Fears, but Danger in the
Wicked’s ftrong Confidence ; and there’s a blefied
Seed of Gladnefs in their greateft Sorrows, L'ght
is [own for the Righteous, and Gladnefs for the Up¬
right in Heart, Pfal. xcvii. 11,
Now Saints arc liable to fuch Perplexity in their
Death, becaufe tho’ they be Chriftians indeed, yet
Vox.. II. ’ Dd they