C H A'p4. ,Eptftle to the'Theffalaattms. ait. i 8 they knew not the (lorehoufe of comfort the Mediator Chri ff Iefree, q that died, to reconcile vs vos God. Thirdly, Mare etleEf fall. What words but there, haue the Spirit of God p.omifed to make them efpc .uall to the conlolation of the 4f1 cted ? This r Word and the Spirit goe tog.ther. The holy Ghoil, the Comforter, feales it vp to the Souk, and c (beads Gods loue abroad in our hearts. And ifwefhall a little enter companion betwixt the Comforts extant in the writings of' Men, and thofc pro. pounded in the Scripture, wee (hall fee, how vtterly vaine , and of no worth, choie are, in comparifon of there. ` Tofpeake to the point Paul here treats of: Tully and Seneca haue many large Dilcotufess tending to yeeld comfort in the death of friends. The fumnìe of all they lay, is this, EAlege nafcimur, Death is ineuitable, none can auoid it ; foolith therefore for a man to grieue for ir. Againe, it is exittca commons, none (capes it ; and here they lay on load, with htíiories of Cities, Kingdomes, Monarchies, that haue come to ruine. Thirdly, lome- times they demure, whether any thing of man remaine after &itch ? imagining no other immortality, but in the mouches of men, by commendation : either they are not, and then are not nriferable ; or if they bee, yet herein (lands their bletfednelfe, their foules are ridde from the prifon of the body.. What are the comforts Scriptures affoord in this cafe? t Death feparates sot from the loue of god, brings ireftt from Laboars, leads to the Xprefexsee of Chrit ; yea, of the very bodies teach truly, their death is but a fleepe._ See in another particular : Oarward affl Ctións and vexations; what comforts herse they ? Forfooth, either they are fatal!, and cannot beauoided;or elfefortitous, and therefore to bee contemned ; Compare. thé Scrip- tures; they are fwayed by the prouiaent band of a losing Father,; 349 g Rom.q.to. r 1fai.49.Zt: f Rom.f.g. fRosz,8.3.3Jo. u'Reu.i4.r3, xPbil.i.a3.
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