Page:History of the life and sufferings, of the Reverend John Welch.pdf/14

of them that are under the alter who were ſlain for the word of God, and the teſtimony they held; and to ⟨have} theſe long white robes given me, that I may walk in white raiment, with thoſe glorious ſaints, who have waſhed their garments and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Why ſhould I think it a ſtrange thing, to be removed from this place, to that, wherein my hope, my joy, my crown, my elder brother, my head, my father, my comforter, and all the glorious ſaints are; and where the ſong of Moſes and the Lamb are ſung joyfully; where we ſhall not be compelled to ſit by the rivers of Babylon and to hang up our harps on the willow trees; but ſhall take them up and ſing the new hallelujah, bleſ{ls⟩ing, honour, glory, and power to him that ſits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever? What is ther under the old vault of the heavens, and in this old worn earth, which is under the bondage of corruption, groaning and travelling in pain, and ſhooting out the head, looking, waiting, and longing for the redemption of the ſons of God; what is there, I ſay, that ſhould make me deſire: to remain here? I expect that new heaven, and that new earth, wherein righteouſneſs dwelleth; wherin I ſhall, reſt for evermore. I look to get entry to the new Jeruſalem, at one of theſe twelve gates, where upon are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Iſarael. I know that Chriſt Jeſus hath prepared them for me. Why may I not then, with boldneſs in his blood, ſtep into that glory, where my head and Lord hath gone before me? Jeſus Chriſt is the door, and the porter; who then ſhall hold me out; will he let them periſh for whom he died? will he let them poor ſheep be pluck'd out of his hand, for whom he hath laid done his life? who ſhall condemn the man whom God hath juſtified? who ſhall lay anything to the charge of the man for whom Chriſt hath died, or rather riſen again? I know I have grievouſly tranſgreſſed, but where ſin abounded, grace will ſupperabound; I know my ſins are red as ſcarlet and crimſon, yet the red blood of Chriſt my Lord, can make them as white as ſnow or wooll; whom have I in heaven but him, or whom deſire I in the earth beſides