Question 58

What comfort receiuest thou by the Article of everlasting life?

That because in this present life, I feele the beginnings of everlasting ioy in my hart, I^a shall after this life inioy full & perfect blessednes, wherein I shall praise God for euer: which blessednes neither eie hath seene, nor eare hath hard, nor any man can conceiue.^b

The Vse.

It is the duty of every faithfull man, by a true fayth, and ful and stedfast perswasion, to apply vnto himselfe this comfort, generally propounded out of the assurance of euerlasting life, wher vnto this clause leadeth euery man: I beleeue the life everlasting, that is, I am perswaded that both in soule and body, I shal attaine that life everlasting, and that the same life which is in Christ Iesus, shalbe reueiled in me, and that when Christ shal appeare, then shal I also be with him in glorie. For first, Christ wil not breake his promise, who as he hath promised euerlasting life, to those that are his, so will hee raise them vp at the last day, that they may enioy it. Secondly, I am assured thereof, by the very beginning of it, and that hee which hath begun that good worke in me,^c will also make it perfite, even vntil the day of Iesus Christ.^d Last of al, wee must marke that this is the most principall end of everlasting life, namelie, that wee should praise God in that life for euermore. For as the rest of the creatures, were created for the vse of this present life, although they do also after a sort glorifie God: so men were created, much more to glorifie God in that everlasting life, according to the testimonie of Esai: Ioy and gladnes shal be found therein, thanksgiuing and the voice of praise, which being spoken of that deliuerance, which was but a type of this, shall then be really performed.^e