SECTION III. 23 26. the sight of it shall be publie and common to all the world, and not any peculiar favour to the saints. It seems, therefore, most probable, that it is only or chiefly in the separate state of souls departed, that the saints have a special promise of beholding this mediatorial glory of Christ in his kingdom ; and this favour our Saviour entreats of his Father for others that shall believe ou him, as well as for his apostles. I might here take occasion to enquire, whether every text, which promises to other christians, as well as to the apostles, a dwelling with Christ in his kingdom, must not have a more spe- cial reference to the glory of the separate state, upon this very account, because this kingdom of Christ ceases at the resurrec- tion and judgment ; and particularly that text in 2 Pet. i. 11. So an entrance shall be ministered unto you, abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: which is often, in- scripture, called everlasting, because it continues to the end of the world : And the abundant entrance into it, very naturally refers to our departure from this life. 4. I cannot find any text of scripture, where this blessing of being present with the Lord, after death, in the separate state, is limited only to the apostles : I read not one word of such a peculiar favour promised them by Christ ; and therefore, ac- cording to the current course of several other places of scripture, which have been here produced, I am 'persuaded it belongs to all true christians, unless the apostle, in some plainer manner, had limited it to himself, and his twelve brethren, and secluded or forbid our hopes of it. After all, if it be allowed, that the apostles may enjoy the blessedness of a separate state before the resurrection, then there is such a thing as a separate state of happiness for souls : this precludes, at once all the arguments againts it, that arise from the nature of things, and from any supposed impropriety in such a divine constitution And since it is granted, that there are millions of angels, and several human spirits, in this unbodied state, enjoying happiness, I see no reason why the rest of the un- bodied spirits of saints departed, should not be received to their society after.death, unless there were some particular scriptures that excluded them from it. ' VI. Phil. i. 23.24. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh, is more needful for you. M' hen the apostle speaks here of his abiding in the flesh, and his departing from the flesh, he declares the first was more need- ful for the Philippians, to promote religion in their hearts and lives ; but the second would be better for himself, for he should be with Christ, when he was departed from the flesh.
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