world sufficeth them they are weary of it He is no Christian whose whole treasure is laid up in present enjoyments The Saints are of another spirit and live much upon hope Rom. 8.23 24 25. We our selves who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption and it follows We are saved by hope now hope that is seen is not hope but if we hope then doe we with patience wait for it So 2 Cor. 5.2 c. In this we groan earnestly Their going out of this world is not their loss but their gain for to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil 1.21 T is not their ruine but their redemption not their being uncloathed or stripped naked but their being cloathed upon not their going into obscurity and darkness but their glorious manifestation of being the sons of God and heirs of glory 1 Tim 6.6 Godliness in the winding up of things is great gain The going out of this life is like the ending of a fight 2 Tim. 4 6 7 8. It is not a flying of the field as those that are vanquished but the saints goe out Conquerours yea more then Conquerours I have fought a good fight the time is now come that they may fairly leave off it is the finishing of their course and the winning of their crown having kept the faith while they lived they are kept from fear in the hour of death Pâ—iâ— 1.23 Having a desire to depart Love and longing to be with Christ made the world tedious to Paul that which all men naturally love and Death desirable which men naturally dread and abhor Assoon as good old Simeon had Christ in his arms Now let rest thou thy servant depart Luk. 2.29 When John Baptist saw Christ he resigns up all to him Let all men follow him Let me decrease so Christ increase my joy is fulfilled in him Joh. 3.29 30. So Paul when once he thought what it was to be with Christ to goe to God and to be with the Lord for ever he 〈◊〉 nothing that he wanted but this was the sum of his desire to be dissolved and no joy now to him but to enjoy Christ no glory but to 〈◊〉 where he is to behold his glory The love of this world ceaseth wâ—â—â— we tast of the next No matter then if the Manna of this world ceaâ—â— when we are got to Canaan Elias can easily part with his Mantle 〈◊〉 keep on his journey So a saint dying can easily part with all his present enjoyments in the hope of what is to come for how easily 〈◊〉 part with that which I know and firmly believe I shall never need That City which hath no need of the Sun Rev. 21.23 I am sure need not any thing under the moon and if a dying Saint may leave the temple of God here lâ—aâ— sure he may leave the wor'd A Child of God being thus mort sied to the world one sting of death is taken away 8. The sting of death is taken away in that it brings the Saints to higher and better things as you would take straws and pebbles out of a child hand and give him necessary bread or remove poyson and things hurt full from a sick man and give him cordials and restoratives so doth the blessed God deal with his Children He takes away this world from them or rather them from it and gives them another and a better He takes away occasions of sin and trouble and gives us salvation and rest He takes away the cross and gives us a crown He takes away temporal enjoyments and gives us eternal He takes away Earth and gives us heaven And are we any loosers by this Doe we well to be angry Is there grief and sear No sure but rather if we are in Pauls state to reckon as he did To live is Christ and to dye is gain No better way for a true Christian to better his state and advantage himself then to depart hence lay down his life No man saith Christ that hath left house or parents brethren or wise and children for the Kingdome of Gods sake but shall receive manifold here and in the life to come that which cannot be unfolded Luk. 18.29 30. The Prophet resolves that he will rejoyce in God though the Fig tree doth not blossome c. Hab. 3.17 13 Now if the gleaming of Gods gracious presence be so solacing when all lower causes of joy fail whhat will the bright shinings of Gods glorious presence be Let Ziba take all said Mephibosheth since my Lord the King is come again in peace 2 Sam. 1930. So much more may the â—â—â—nts of God say Let the world take all since my Lord is safe upon his throne and I am now going where I may behold his glory Death is as the Chariot that is sent from Jesus to carry his true Israels to Canaan and therefore their Spirits may now revive and say as holy Jacob. Gen. â—5 28 It is enough Jesus that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and I will goe and see him The good the grace the glory of all heaven shall now be theirs Now then may the Saints say I leave a Cottage to take possession of â—â—â—â—cely Palace I leave my friends here and am going to the Father the holy Spirit to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testrmeut and to the Angels in light and to the Church of the first born I leave present enjoyments and goe to take up an eternal inheritance Let the loss here be as much as can be supposed the gain is as much yea more then can be expressed Ah who would now regard his stuff when he sees the Waggons and the Convoy of Angels the provision for the way and the end of his race and that Jesus is there in honour and power who would not resolve to goe and see him 9. The sting of Death is taken away in that it s given in that hour to the Saints with Faith and patience to endure temptations to resist stand in the midst of danger A dying hour is an hour of temptation yea of multiplyed violent temptations Christ found it to be the hour power of darkness Psal 22.12 13 16. Now the Prince of the world comes Joh. 14 30. Now when his time is short our bodies weak and souls perplexed many even all circumstances and accidents occasions of sorrow is a special season for the Tempter to tempt to security infidelity carnal confidence to impatience and if possible to despair and casting away of our hope Now when Satan resists God doth assist if Satan desire to winnow Christ will be sure to pray that our Faith fail not If there be Chariots and Horsemen against Elisha there is a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 King 6.15 17. If God let Satan out it s but a little way if he tempt its never more then the Saints are able to bear Hence
victory Deaths commission and power is taken away it comes not as a penal and judicial evil to the Saints not as a part of the curse but a remain of the cross an evil of affliction sanctified and eminently conducing to their good hence the Apostle gloryes over it not in a way of proud insulting but in an humble triumph of faith in God through Christ which plainly argues death as to him and all believers was spoiled of its power Hence we may take up these two Doctrines of just and weighty Observation Doct. 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death or natural Death is armed by Sin with a sore and grievous Sting Doct. 2. That the Sting of Death is certainly and infallibly taken out so that it cannot really hurt prejudice or annoy true Believers These two Doctrines doe contain the true meaning and intent of the Apostle in these words 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death This lies first in our way Never shall we see our deliverance fully till we see our danger nor be sensible of the excellent remedy till we have felt the smart of the fore hence many men out of stupidity or a wilful slighting or refusing to mind their death their last end have made too light a matter of it but of a truth when death comes armed by sin with an high Commission from the Law it will be found to be piercing painful and poysonous I shall therefore in the first place endeavour to shew more particularly what the Sting of Death is before I come to shew how it is taken out 〈◊〉 â—â—ow there are several Stings in Death 1. The first sting in death is that it came into the world through mans own fault Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered and death by sin and death passed upon all men c. It is sin brought in death as a curse and punishment Death comes from God not as instituting the course of Nature at first but as revenging sin There is a Saying in Ecclsiasticus that God did not make Death true it is not a Creature but the destruction of the Creature God is not the peccant cause of the falling of this house of clay but our sin as Eccles 10.18 It s plain in the tenor of the first threatning Gen. 2.17 They are Malefactors that are sentenced aâ— judged and condemned to die Every sinner dyes as a Malefactor as an evil doer suffering for his own sin And truely it pierceth deep if a man consider that he fetcht the Viper out of the snow and nourished it in his own bosome which now doth sting and devour him When a man must say In me convertite ferrum mea caedes mea fraus omnis When it shall be told him as Jer. 2.19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee And as Jer. 4.18 thy way and doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness We like the foolish woman Prov. 14.1 pull down the house over our heads with our own hands Before we feel the burthen of sin our own will to it is our warrant for it and because our selves have done it we can easily excuse it but at last it will sting like an Adder This will double the burthen this will be enough to silence any sufferer in this last execution of Justice upon him i.e. in this life This consideration will devolve all the load upon our selves Who shall relieve us Who shall grieve for us Whom shall we blame but even leave our complaint upon our selves 2. Another Sting in Death is that it comes from the Wrath of God Psal 78.50 He made a way to his anger and spared not their soul from death God takes away the wicked in his wrath Psal 58.9 Death is his destroying Angel that chaseth them out of the world There are two thing in a curse or punishment 1. Something that is evil some oppressing evil 2. The wrath of God mixt with it Now death is a part of the curse now this is piercing and painful indeed for a man to be taken away in wrath Sinners in Sion are afraid and a fearful thing it is to tall into the hands of the Living God 3. Another sting in death is that it is the punishment due to sin It comes armed therefore with a Commission to take satisfaction for of sence and wrong done to the infinite God It is the wages of sin Rom. 6. ult We were bound upon peril of our lives and on pain of death to keep Gods Law Gen. 2.17 In the day thou catest thereof thou shalt surely dye that being broken death ensues and seizeth on us as our punishment So v. 22. of this Chapter In Adam all aye Sin and punishment goe together When the body of sin goes before Punishment as its shadow attends it When Eve brought forth a son she was brought a bed of death according to the Proverb Ex malo Corvo malum Ovum The Jews have a Saying There was never any punishment hapned to them but there was anounce of the golden calf in it So there is no death but there are some drachmes of sin in it The lively Image of Sin is ever to be seen in Death Would you see the sad influence that moisture hath upon iron Look upon the rust of it Would you see the horrid evil of drunkenness Look upon the effects of it Prov. 23.29 Who hath woe who hath sorrow Who hath contention Who hath babling Who hath wounds without cause Who hath redness of eyes v. 30. They that tarry long at the wine they that goe to seck mixt wine So here Who hath shortness of breath a pale countenance a crazy body Catarrhs Epilepsies Palsyes c They that continue in sin Why doth the living man complain Lam. 3.39 A man for the punishment of his sin This stings pains and pierceth the sinner when death comes 4. Another sting in death is that it separates the soul and body each from other These antient friends whose lives and happiness here as Jacobs was in Benjamins Gen. 44.30 lare bound up in one anothers welfare Will ye take Benjamin away All these things are against me If mischief befal him then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave Gen. 42 36 38. So may the body which is so closly wedded and so dearly affected to the soul say If ye take away my soul you take away my life As it is reported of Madrian the Emperour when he was dying he thus trembling at the gastly countenance of the King of Terrors bespake his miserable soul Animula vagula blandula Hospes Comesque corporis Quoe nune abibit in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis Jocos O thou little pleasant wandring soul the guess and companion of the body 〈◊〉 what place will it goe c. So hard did he find it for these two friends to part If it be so hard for a man to part
but God takes them to himself Body and soul are taken assunder as the pieces of a Watch out of order not to be lost but to be set together again that they may goe better God is a carefull and faithful keeper of those precious Reliques and will bring them together the word of his Truth is for it Ezek. 37.12 O my people I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves What then though they part asunder since neither of them part nor are disunited from â—he Lord Jesus O happy parting to leave this Cell this crazy earthly â—â—bernacle for a glorious Mansion and to embrace a dear Saviour It s but like going to bed at night the body rests and the soul keeps in action while the night time of the grave lasts in this world the bodies of the Saints sleep in Jesus but their souls are in bliss The Souls of just men may bespeak their bodies as the Lord Jesus did his Disciples Joh. 14.3 It is expâ—diens â—â—r you that I goe away and if I goe away I will we again and receive you to my self The Body like Onesinus is an unprofitable servant for the present Phil. v. 11. therefore departs for a while that it may be received for ever 4. The Sting of Death is taken out in that though the body rot and consume and becomes loathsome yet it is but dissolved it is not destroyed As Christ told Martha Thy Brother shall rise again Joh. 11.23 so the body shall rise again hence the Apostle though he grants that the body doth dye yet it is no otherwise then as a fruitful seed dyeth that it may spring up again v. 36.37 of this Chapter Job 19.25.26 27. For I know saith Job that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin worms ' destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me God doth not intend to lose what he leaves behind in this world no but as he brought Israel out of Egypt so will he ransome us from the power of the Grave and redeem us from Death Hos 13 14. he will not leave an hair nor a broken bone nor a dust behind All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth Joh. 5.28 29. Christ shewed a Type of it at his own Resurrection Mat. 27.52 c. And the Graves were opened and many bodyes of Saints which slept arose which shall be fully accomplished in all the Saints in the general Resurrection The Grave shall then be found to be a chamber of Repose and a bed of Rest Christ having made it so to the Saints And as for the soul of a child of God it shall not see corruption It s not so much as dissolved but released and set at liberty Sin here makes its motion towards heaven and its progress in grace flow The body is a weight pressing down but when Death shall rid us of this the souls motion and pass into heaven shall be quick and speedy like the Thief on the cross no sooner crucified and dead but glorified This day saith Christ thou shalt be with me in Paradise Let who will dream of the souls sleep they are asleep that think so saith Calvin No assoon as the vail of the body is removed we with open face behold the Glory of the Lord. The spirit shall return to God that gave it 5. The Sting of death is taken away in that all the dolorous accidents 〈◊〉 attendants of death are by Christ qualified sanctified What are pains agonves of Body but the putting down of this earthly Tabernacle iâ— order to the raising of a spiritual and everlasting Building the breaking off of our chains fetters in our being released hence While the bodies of the Saints are filled with pains their souls are filled with the comforts of God Our friends lament but Angels rejoyce though we must now part from them yet there is Gods Host the Life guard of heaven ready to accompany us thither Suppose a Saint going to his grave and the mourners by trains going in the streets could the departed utter a word would it not be that of Christ to the danghters of Jerusalem Luk. 23.28 Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children 6. The Sting of Death is taken out in that though the purposes of a godly man in death are destroyed yet his main purpose and his chief design stands and abides his main purp ose and design was to glorifie God and save himself his own soul Now he that hath walked with God that hath traced the wayes of holiness that hath studied the mysteryes of the Gospel that hath laboured and not fainted and that is found so doing that hath committed his soul into the hands of God and is able to stand at the appearing of Christ he doth not miss of nor lose his purpose I have fought the good fight I have finished my course saith Paul did henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 2 Tim 4 7 8. What though men gather no more of the wealth of this world Heaven is inheritance enough What though they gain no more repute here Their Record is on high What if they attain not the end of their labours Yet their reward is with the Lord. What though their worldly affairs be discomposed if their eternal concerns be fixed What if their dayes be cut off since their work is done It would not avail a man any thing to win the world and lose his soul its profit enough if a man save his soul though he lose the world It was a sad thing for the Mariners to cast over their goods Acts 27.18 but when Paul told them that no life should be lost v. 22. they are comforted So here though we leave our stuff and lose our worldly labours yet our lives 〈◊〉 safe the main Chance is secured 7. The Sting of Death is taken away in that the Saints are dead â—â—nd mortified to the world they glory in nothing more then in the cross 〈◊〉 Christ be which they are crucified unto the world and the world unâ—â—â—â— them 〈…〉 11. Hence they enjoy this world as though they enjoyed it not 〈…〉 Hence while they live in the world and upon the necesâ—â—ry com 〈…〉 they live above it Hence it s no hard matter for them to dye and 〈◊〉 out of the world The world will have no great miss of 〈◊〉 and I shall 〈◊〉 no great miss of it Things dead have no seeling or sence of any parting from each other Wicked men think the Saints not worthy to live in the world Acts 22.22 and God thinks the world not worthy of them Heb. 11.38 nor doe they esteem the world worthy to be desired the time past of their lives in this
they are as water in the Sea safe and united in its inclosure with the rest of the element so the Saints are gone to their place after death a place of rest and known to be so it s a known and knowing state which they enter into it s known for their is a clear description of it in the holy Scriptures a Map as it were of the heavenly Canaan It s a knowing state for then we shall know as we are known 12. Deaths sting is taken away in that it s made a passage into heaven The Saints they pass from death to life when the wicked pass from death to death from the first to the second death Hence they may be terrified at it and shrink but a Child of God when he considers its errand that it comes to carry him hence to his Fathers house he can entertain it with comfort Death to the Saints is the middle point between two lives it is an harbinger and fore-runner of their being received up the righteous being taken up thus they enter into peace Isa 57.2 they never reach the end of their race till now they have shot this gulph and now immediately they arrive at it No sooner are the Saints undressed here but they are cloathed upon in heaven No sooner doe they leave this lise but they enter upon a better Lazarus died and was carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 The thief goes from the cross with Christ to Paradise Luke 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Death is not an abiding but a transient state like a dark entry into a lightsome room Death doth assault but not conquer them it shall not have dominion over them as it hath over the damned in hell No death and hell as to them shall be cast into the lake of fire its dominion is taken away here yet its life is prolonged for a season and time as it s said of them Beasts Dan. 7.12 So death is prolonged here in this world after its dominion is broke â—hilst it is of use to the Saints and may serve the interest of mercy but â—â—n this is once over it shall be swallowed up So that is a suitable Eâ—â—aph which the holy Ghost has composed to be writ upon the Tombs â—â—â—e Saints lye BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH Uâ—E IN THE LORD Rev. 14.13 Thus you see how the sting taken out by Christ and how he doth disarm Death VSE 1. Of Instruction 1. Hence see why the Saints deliberately 〈◊〉 and yet desire to dye the reason is because its sting is gone 〈◊〉 therefore is no way hurtful or terrible to the Saints they can oâ—â—â—munion with death and not be harmed by it A child may play with an Adder when it has lost its sting There is no sin nor curse nor sorrow nor pain that can hurt a child of God O no it s all removed in the blood of Christ were it not so they could not desire and long for it as they doe Paul presseth forward and reacheth forth to those things which are before and his mark is the Resurrection Phil. 3.13.14 Now in the mention of the Resurrection he necessarily includes Death yea a necessity of dying surely this argues death hath no sting to the Saints it ceaseth to be so great an enemy to them as it is to the Herd of ungodly men 2. Hence learn the great difference that there is between the Death of the righteous and the wicked They seem as to what is visible to be equal and alike in death they all goe to their long home and to the house appointed for all the living Yea but mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is prace Psal 37.37 even a wicked Balâ—â—m when his eyes were open could say seeing the great difference between the godly and the wicked O that I might dye the Death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23.10 3. Hence learn wherein the Saints are more then Conquerours They are tryumphers over their spiritual enemies as the Apostle saith in another case God made them to tryumph in Christ so he and the rest of believers Rom. 8. are more then Conquerours i.e. Tryumphers Christ hath overcome for them and by his Spirit enables them to overcome to tryumph in himself 4. And lastly Learn unto whom the praise of all the case and comfort which the Saints have in their death doth belong viz. to Jesus It is he makes them to differ Death would be as powerful as piercing as painful to them as it is to others but that Christ hath pluckt out the sting of it as to them What Hallelujahs of praise are due to him that hath redeemed us to God by his bood Rev. 5.9 How thankful how dutiful should all the Saints be to the blessed Lord Jesus as v. 57 58. Thanks be to God that giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus and I follows Be steadfast and immovable alwayes abounding in the work of thâ— Lord. II. Let all hence be exhorted all and every one to labour to get this stin removed Make it your work while you live do not leave and neglect it till you be alarumed by Death and it comes in view when slesh 〈◊〉 heart fails and Paysitians grow doubtful or despair of your escapeâ—â— Conscience is startled when distress and anguish take hold on you Doe not defer it I say till then but make it your business while you live 1. Labour to last the bitterness of sin so as to be duely affected with it and to be aff icted and mourn for it It s sin makes death bitter and painful but now let sin be therefore throughly sorrowed for and repented of that you may not dye in your sins then death will not nor cannot sting you O you poor mortal sinful men that must shortly dye Labour to repent and turn your selves Let your hearts be grieved and your reins be pricked for your sins Repent that your sins may be forgiven before you come to dye get the strength soveraignty and dominion of sin taken down this is the way to peace in a dying hour Wo to you saith Christ that laugh now Luk. 6. 2. Live by Faith depending on and cleaving to the Lord Jesus as your Redeemer and Deliverer There is none that can save and deliver us but He Act. 4.12 VVhen you have done all you can t is he alone that can save you and deliver you from the sting of death live so by Faith that you may dye in Faith as they Heb. 11. that will take away the sting of Death the shield of Faith quenches the fiery darts of the Devil Eph 6.16 the way to loose the pains of Death is to set and cleave close to Christ and to depend upon him 3. Live well Walk with God live holily righteously and godly in this present world serve your Generation as David get your work done it is a dreadful stinging thing for a man to have his work to doe when his day is done and death is come No Work while it is day work out your Salvation with fear and trembling be stedfast and immoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord so it shall be a blessed thing to you to Dye in the Lord and rest from your labours How much of this was exemplified in the life and expressed in the Death of this honourable and virtuous Lady who is now gone hence to be with the Lord for ever who was chiefly in my thoughts in the choice of this Text. What ardor of desire What Faith What Hope What Confidence What gleamings of joy What Patience and willingness to depart is now issued in her is known to some and somewhat to my self I shall not therefore insist But since it was not my lot to attend her in her more solemn obsequies I thus come to lay down these little branches of Bays and Cypress on her Tomb. And as it was her earnest desire that whenever this her great change should come her own Family might reap the saving benefit of it so it is my hearts desire and Prayer that this Coogregation may have some saving benefit by and a sanctified use of her death that the remembrance of her pious Life may teach us how to live so that when our lise is â—pun out we may dye in peace and receive a Crown of Life FINIS