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.
Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.

Doctrine III.

That it is the interest and engagement of all Three per∣sons to see to it, that a righteous separate soul be brought to glory at dissolution.

And this carries it yet higher, even to the highest, and gives the most superabundant security and assurance of this thing that can be given and superadds above all the former.

But you will ask me, How I fetch this out of my Text? Thus:

1. You see here are Two Persons expresly named, God [the Father] namely, and the Spirit. This is a Rule, that where the name God, and then some besides o∣ther of the Two Persons, Christ or the Spirit, are men∣tioned therewith, as distinct; There God is put perso∣nally (not essentially onely) to expresse The Father:Page  67 Now here the Spirit or holy Ghost is mentioned distinct from God; For it is said that This God hath given the Spirit; which also Christ so often speaketh of the Fa∣ther, as I need not to insist on it.

2. It is an other Rule, That in any Scripture where Two Persons are mentioned, as concurring in any thing, or matter; There the other Third Person also must be understood to have his speciall share therein also; as when he wisheth grace and peace from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ; 'Tis certain the holy Ghost is as specially understood; as indeed we find him in that Apostolicall blessing as distinctly spoken of as the Fa∣ther or Christ. Thus it must be here. Christ must be taken in, who also in John is so often said to give the Spirit, when the Father gives him, as it is said here he hath, For this same thing.

But 3. You have even Christ also not farre off inte∣rested in this self-same thing in the next verse, and v. 8. Absence from the Lord, whilest in the body, v. 6. and pre∣sence with the Lord, when separate from the body, v. 8. This Lord is Christ; the phrase of the New Testament con∣cerning Christ runs in this style, To be with Christ, This day with me—To be where I am, and see my Glory: So Christ. To be with Christ is best of all, and we shall be ever with the Lord. So Paul.