1$z Chap. 38. Crin Expofttton upon the'3°&of ] o E. Verf. 57 That, whacroever it is, by which we enter into death, or go imo the black hall of the grave. Again , The gates of death are any great and eminent dan- ger. Thenwe may bePaid tobe at thegatesof death when our lives are in great h :zard tobe loft , eivaer by theviolence of e- nemies , or by any violent ficknefs. In the former fence David fpake (inway of fupplication, ?fat. 9. i 3. ) Havemercy on me, O Lord , confider my trouble, which 1 fifer f o f them that bateme , thou that lrftefl me top from '} thegates of death ; that is, from deadly danger. In the latter he fpak; by way of narration , in his elegant defcription of the fick, (P/al. 107. 18.) Their foul abborreth all manner of meat, and they dram near unto thegate; of death ; that ir, they are ready to die, or lick untodeath. And thus laid King Hez,ekahupon his fel -bel , and at he thought (a little before) upon his death -bed, (1fa. 38. 1o.) 1 flallgo to the gatee ofthe grave, fam detrived of the refidueof my year;; that is, of thole years which I might have reckoneduponas mine , according to the common account of mans life , or the ufual courte of nature. Thefe are the more general gares of death , and about chafe all agree. But there are feveral opinions , what fhould be fpecially in- tended by thegates of death in thisplace. ratan:oar Fittl , One rtfeth veryhigh, laying, that by the gate; ofdeath font caufe tor- we are to underhand the vifible heavens ; becaufe the heavenly raptionir,gxon bodies fend down fomecinzes malignant influences, whichhave a tumadvirtwes mighty pottier to corrupt the bodies of men herebelow , fo cau- ogle- fang death co carry them away. Thus he imagins death iffuing m Fen Iota, 9 our of the clouds, as out of opened gates, upon men onearth; But that's a far fercht interpretation. Secondly , O. hers go to the ufmoh contrary point , and fay, by the gates of death we are ,tounderftand Hell. The Papihs gave a defcripuon of feveral receptacles for fouls departed un- der the ea'th , they make at leaft three diflin6 }ions ; Firft , Limb Patriot; , The place where they affirm the fouls of the Fathers were beforeChrih cam_ in the fleíh , and had ac- ctmplifhed the workof our redemptionhere on earth. Secondly , Purgato y , the place where the fouls of all that die not in mortal fin (as they diflinguifh) are referved to be pur- ged
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