A state of glory for spirits of just men upon dissolution, demonstrated. A sermon preached in Pauls Church Aug. 30. 1657. before the Rt. Honourable the Lord Mayor and aldermen of the City of London. / By Tho: Goodvvin, D.D. president of Magd. Coll. Oxon.

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That nothing may be wanting in this last place cited, to make up all the particulars in the fore-going Sections insisted on: So it is, that the Apostle Peter doth fur∣ther plainly insinuate, That this salvation (here) con∣sisteth in the sight and vision of Christ (which was one particular afore-mentioned) accompanied with joy un∣speakable, and glorious. The Coherence (if observed) makes this forth clearly: For whereas in the Verse im∣mediately fore-going, he had commended their present state of faith by this, Whom [NOW] though you see not, yet believing, rejoyce with joy unspeakable, and glo∣rious. That [NOW] you see not, (in this life) is set in opposition, and carries a promise with it of a Time to come, wherein they should see, even as Christ said to his Disciples, Joh. 13. 33, & 36. compared, Whither I go, I [NOW] say to you, ye cannot come; but thou shalt follow me [AFTERWARDS]. So here [NOW] believing, (which is the Principle at the present which you live upon) you see him not; but when the end of your faith shall come, you shall then see him; and in

this it is consisteth the salvation of your souls. So that still it carries on what I have afore spoken unto, That when Faith ceaseth, Sight cometh; yea, perfects and swallows it up, as was said even now, out of 1 Cor. 13.

And let me adde this, That the Apostle on purpose doth bring in the mention of this supereminent fruit of faith, (Even Now when we see not) that believing, ye yet rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious: On pur∣pose, I say, to make way for the raising up their thoughts and apprehensions, how infinitely transcending that salvation of their souls must be, when Faith ending, they attain to Sight, To see him face to face, whom their souls have loved: It is implicitly as if he had said unto them, Oh! think with your selves, what Joy, what Glory that must needs be, which exceedeth and surpasseth this that now accompanies your faith, in an answerable proportion, as much as sight of Christs pre∣sence, and face to face, must be supposed to excel the knowledge of him by faith, which sees him but as absent, darkly!

And further, give me leave to improve this No∣tion: You may take this assured evidence, That your souls shall then see and enjoy God, when your faith shall CEASE, which will be, when once your souls shall come to be separate from your bodies by death: In that, even now, in this life, it is your Souls and Spi∣rits that are the immediate receptives, or partakers and subjects of such glorious joys.

The soul enjoys them (though in the body, yet) without the help or concurrence of the body, or the phantasms of it: yea, such Raptures do pass under∣standing, that is, the common way of understanding, which by the use and help of the body, or images in

the fancy, the Minde exerciseth in other things, and which do concurre with the understanding ordinarily in faith. But this joy falls into, and is illapsed within the soul it self immediately; yea, the weakness of your bodies, and bodily spirits, will not permit you to have so much of this joy, as otherwise the soul is now capa∣ble of by faith. And therefore by this experimental taste aforehand in your own souls, you may be ascertained, That your souls, when separate from your bodies by death, as well as when united again unto their bodies, shall enjoy this great Salvation.

And thus much for the first Point raised out of the words, which did undertake an Argumentation for a separate souls Glory and Happiness. (1.) From the Condition of the Soul, as the immediate subject of Grace wrought in it. (2.) From Gods Ordination of the Work wrought, To raise the soul up to life, whilst Sin should bring Dissolution upon the body. (3.) From the Scope of the Worker, God himself; who as an Efficient will accomplish the end, when his work for that end is finish'd. And all these, as comprehend∣ed in what the very first view and front of the words of my Text hold out, God hath wrought us for the self same thing.