The Works (Vol 7) by Thomas Goodwin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue the work 'Of the blessed state...' by reading Chapter 13 and 14.
This week, in Chapter 13, Goodwin teaches us about the differences and similarities between the state of glory Christians experience immediately after death and the state of glory experienced after the resurrection.
Then in Chapter 14 Goodwin gets into a little more detail and gives us information about the particular glories that the soul experiences immediately after death. The soul will:
(i) not be under the power of the second death;
(ii) have angels to wait on it;
(iii) be in heaven instantly;
(iv) be strengthened;
(v) be fully purified from sin;
(vi) experience great solemnity upon its arrival.
I enjoyed this clear statement about the sinlessness of souls in heaven: 'Either at the instant of death, or in that passage to heaven, thy soul shall be fully purified from sin, and made perfectly holy, Heb. x. 23. The church in heaven is said to consist of angels (whose style is the holy angels), and of 'the spirits of just men made perfect.' These just men, whilst men, and their souls abiding in their bodies, were but just imperfectly, though just in God's acceptation (as Job, and others we read) ; but the souls of these men now when separate are made perfect ; that is, in that sort of righteousness (their sanctification) wherein they were deficient afore.'
Oh, to be purified from sin for all eternity!
Next week's reading
Conclude the work 'Of the blessed state...' by reading Chapter 15.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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