14. The sixth is, the presence of the holy angels, who carry our departing souls into Abraham's bosom. Our soul enters into the regions of eternal glory, and joins the society of blessed spirits. This is what is meant by “Abraham's bosom.” Luke 16:22. That rest of the soul consists entirely in a freedom from the fears and terrors of death. So “Return unto thy rest, O my soul. For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: for thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” Ps. 116:7-9. For then the soul, being delivered from the yoke of the flesh, will rejoice like a prisoner rescued from long captivity.
15. The seventh comfort is, the eternal duration of our future glory. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, or any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:16, 17. “My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.” Isa. 32:18. And “I will extend peace to her like a river. And as one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Isa. 66:12, 13. “My servants shall eat, and drink, and rejoice.” Isa. 65:13. Such eating and drinking, are to be understood of their exalted pleasure, arising from their vision of God, “Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.” 1 Cor. 13:12. “We shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2. “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Ps. 17:15. O happy day, when we shall see God face to face! How ardently did holy David long for it, saying, “When shall I come and appear before God?” Ps. 42:2.
16. In short, the joy of eternal life [pg 372] will consist: 1. In the beatific vision of the face of God. 2. In the presence of Christ our Redeemer, in all his glory and majesty: “Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me.” John 17:24. 3. In the most exalted enjoyments of all the gifts, graces, and pleasures of the Holy Ghost, “the fountain of life.” Ps. 36:9. 4. In the society of all the Elect, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35:10.
17. II. Thus much for those consolations that arise from the nature, offices, and promises of the blessed Jesus. I come now to consider those that may be drawn from the consideration of the vanity of the world. Of these there are also seven.
18. First, this life, how great and glorious soever it may appear to some, is made up of misery and sorrow. 1 Cor. 15:31. Every day steals away a part of our life, and as our years increase, our life decreases; so that every moment of our time is divided betwixt life and death. How many and various diseases are there, which, like slow poisons, waste and consume our bodies! How are we tormented with sorrow, broken with labors, and distracted with care! So that the wise man truly pronounced that “the day of death is better than the day of one's birth.” Eccles. 7:1. “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work: so am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.” Job 7:1-3. “Man that is born of a woman, is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1. But a holy and happy death puts an end to all these miseries.
19. Secondly, we are exposed to many and very grievous sins, from which nothing can deliver us but a happy death. Thus St. Paul complains, “I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Rom. 7:23, 24. What is life but a continued course of sin? So that it was a prayer of one of the ancients, “Lord, let me die, that I may cease from sin.” And if the whole creation is travailing in pain, and waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom. 8:21, 22), how much more ought we to sigh after it? How full the world is of offences and stumbling-blocks, which we are continually obliged to see and suffer, whether we will or not! And these offences will so increase in the last days, that the souls of the righteous shall be vexed like righteous Lot's in Sodom. 2 Pet. 2:8. “I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore, I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the living which are yet alive.” Eccles. 4:1, 2. How many pestilent errors in matters of faith; how many heresies, superstitions, false [pg 373] prophets and false Christs there are, so that, if it were possible, even the elect might be deceived! Matt. 24:24. Upon this account God takes his faithful people out of all these dangers and troubles. How many dreadful mischiefs, and mournful events, how many wars, butcheries, plagues, and famines occur! Such, and so great, are they, that indeed no Christian would wish to see or endure them.
20. Thirdly, all must die without distinction. “Death hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12. Since so many holy and excellent men, so many Patriarchs, Prophets, and so many other righteous men are dead, who would not willingly follow them? “Take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4), said the prophet Elijah. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:27. “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it.” Isa. 40:6, 7. “I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.” Ps. 39:12.
21. Fourthly, no man dies by chance; but God is the Lord of life, and he has appointed the bounds of its duration. “His days are determined, the number of his months are with thee.” Job 14:5. “Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” Ps. 90:3. “In thy book all my members were written.” Ps. 139:16. “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matt. 10:30. “God is thy life, and the length of thy days.” Deut. 30:20.
22. Fifthly, “To die is gain.” Phil. 1:21. We gain more than we lose by dying; righteousness, instead of sin; glory, for misery; heavenly riches, for earthly; instead of the short-lived friendships and relations of this world, we gain an eternal fellowship and union with the saints in heaven; instead of this mortal, diseased, and frail body, we gain a heavenly and glorious one; we change banishment for our own country; misery, for peace; and this world for heaven. In short, what is there in this world, that we cannot have infinitely better in the next? If thou seekest riches, honors, or glory; with friends, pleasures, peace, or enjoyments, all these thou shalt enjoy in a far higher degree in the next world.
23. Sixthly, Man would be the most miserable creature in the world, if he were obliged to abide in it forever. “If in this life only,” saith St. Paul, “we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Cor. 15:19. It follows, therefore, that we are designed for a better world. So that, in truth, it is a very affecting instance of divine mercy to take us out of this valley of tears, and translate us to a better place. “The righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isa. 57:1, 2. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors.” Rev. 14:13.