Christ. Secondly to satisfie us on the contrary concerning the dejectedness and despondency wherewith some men do meet death from whom yet better things might have been expected Men of strong bodies athletick constitution happy education great parts much reading how fearful have they been to look death in the face yea a good man when God hides the light of his countenance from him doth tremble to think of death and judgment of this a reason is easily given from what hath been spoken the Author of so great a blessing with-holds it where it doth not seem good to his infinite wisdom to bestow it Thrirdly this directs us whether to apply our selves to obtain strength in the last encounter We must not trust to our selves to natural or acquired gifts but we must go forth in the strength of the Lord and make mention of his name even of his only Psal 71.16 On him let us call by prayer him let us sollicite by acting faith on him who giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Isa 40.29 Fourthly what thanks and obedienâ—e can be sufficient for a just acknowledgment to God from them to whom he hath vouchsafed this glorious triumph over death It is the greatest victory that can be imagined to conquer this king of terrors the greatest gift we can think of imploring the divine favour to bestow upon us in this world that he will furnish us with that strength and resolution that will make us not afraid to leave the world It is one of the blessed fruits of our Saviours meritorious sufferings and obedience And therefore what shall we return unto the Lord for this and all other his benefits What thanks offering can be of due value to present unto him what fruit of the lips what obedience of heart and life can be sufficient to express 〈◊〉 râ—sâ—â—ment of this favour O give thanks unto the Lord for he is God 〈◊〉 hâ—â— meâ—â—y â—â—duâ—â—eth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lâ—â—d 〈◊〉 whom he hâ—â—h redeemed from the hand of the enemy O 〈◊〉 would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wâ—nderful worâ—s towards the sons of men Psal 107.1 2 8. But from the Author of this victory which was proposed as the third thing considerable let us advance to the Fourth General to be considered in the Text the procuring cause of this victory by whom it was acquired and purchased for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through our Lord Jesus Christ. The main argument whereby the Apostle had established that great Article of our Faith the resurrection of the body in the precedent part of this Chapter was grounded upon the resurrection of Christ from the dead Who not only shewed that it was neither impossible nor yet incredible that God should raise the dead Acts 26.8 because he himself overcome the sharpness of death and broke its bonds but also by rising as a publick person the second Adam the first-fruits from the dead hath made way for us also to follow him in the resurrection of our bodies And this expression in the Text seems to be the Epiphonema or close of that discourse and arguing It is in Christ that God blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things Eph. 1.3 And particularly this blessed victory over death is derived unto us through Christ several ways hath Christ overcome death and made way for our being victorious over it First he hath destroyed the sting of death even sin by his merits and sufferings The sting is the most formidable part in those animals that are arm'd therewith And sin which rendred us obnoxious to the wrath of God and curse of the Law was the chief thing that made death dreadful to mankind as arresting us in order to bringing us before the Judg of all the earth who will render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 But this sting hath Christ plucked out from death by his voluntary and meritorious obedience answering the exaction of the Law and by his unparallel'd and meritorious sufferings enduring the malediction thereof So that there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 As a great High Priest he hath by one offering perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 As our surety he hath paid our debts and cancelled the hand-writing that was against us As our God he hath redeemed us not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with his own most pretious blood 1 Pet. 1.19 And in each respect God is just and yet the justifier of the ungodly when he believeth in Jesus Rom. 3.26 In him mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Psal 85.10 Secondly he hath overcome the pains of death by his example and promises By his example who as the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2.10 He suffered perfectly all that the Law of God could exact or the rage of his enemies inflict And he was perfect under his sufferings so as not to entrench the least upon the bounds of compleat patience Jam. 1.2 He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth Isa 53.7 When he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2.23 Further by his sufferings he perfected the work of our Redemption and fully satisfied Divine Justice And hereby he hath engaged and encouraged us to arm our selves likewise with the same mind because Christ hath suffered in the flesh for us 1 Pet. 4.1 And by his promises he hath encouraged us telling us that this strait way leadeth to life that in the mean time he will never fail us nor forsake us Heb. 13.5 But when we pass through the fire and water he will be with us Isa 43.1 2 and that these light afflictions that endure but for a season do work for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Thirdly he hath wiped away the scandal of death by his leading the way in suffering death and lying in the grave It is a great affront to this stately piece of well-formed earth to own kindred with corruption and worms Job 17.14 But Christ the best of men yea the Son of God hath led us on the way to Golgotha and we need not be ashamed to follow him in the steps he hath troden He suffered before he was glorified he endured the cross and digested the shame of that scandalous death before he set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 12.3 And therefore it is no disgrace to us to die and be laid in the grave Yea it was a far bitterer cup that he drank off for us than what God useth to put into the hands of his people and therefore we should not scruple at drinking our own portion He hath perfumed the grave by laying
his own body there before us This Unicorn by dipping his own horn before-hand hath rendred these waters safe and wholsome So that we shall rest in our graves as in beds every man that hath walk'd before him in his uprightness Isa 57.2 Fourthly he hath vanquished the power of death by his resurrection Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who of his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 Hereby he shewed to the World that he had by death overcome him that had the power of death even the Devil Heb. 2.14 Yea that he hath not only commanded a passage for himself whom death could not possibly hold any longer than was necessary for the satisfying of Divine Justice Acts 2.24 but hath also taken away the keys of power from this surly Porter and made way for his own people to follow him And because I live ye shall live also Joh. 14.19 Fifthly he killed the Hopes of death by his Ascension Thereby he made it evident that he had fully accomplished his mediatory Function upon earth and that Christ being risen from the dead dieth no more death must have no more dominion over him Rom. 6.9 that he should no more submit to take on him the form of a servant and to be obedient to death Phil. 2.8 And consequently it may encourage Believers that as it is appointed for men once to die Heb. 9.27 so this trouble shall be dispatched at once so that they that have part in the first resurrection over them the second death shall have no power Rev. 20.6 Sixthly he shall destroy the very being of death at the last day Death hath its commission extended to the end of this World and then the rod that hath so long been used for the trial and chastisement of mankind shall it self be cast into the fire The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death 1 Cor. 15.26 Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction repentance is hid from mine eyes Hos 13.14 As consequents of this that hath been last spoken First we may consider how glorious was the Conquest of Christ in his sufferings Well might it be said that he was made perfect by them Heb. 2.10 For he obtained by dearh a most compleat victory over death in all its circumstances and over him that had the power of death both for himself and also for all his people Secondly therefore how great was God's love in sending his Son into the World Joh. 3.16 So God loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Scarcely for a righteous man would one die Yet peradventure for a good or useful man some might be found that would even dare to dye But God commended his love to us in that when we were so far from being good and useful men that we were not so much as righteous and innocent men yet in due time Christ dyed even for the ungodly Rom. 5.7 8. Thirdly let us hence learn to fly unto Christ and to secure our interest in him This is the way to have a right to that comfort that flows from his incarnation and death and thereby to have satisfaction and comfort both in our life time and at our death to be secure under the preapprehensions of it and to entertain it with joy and comfort when it cometh If his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him therefore let us kiss the Son Psal 2.11 12. and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 let us examine our selves whether we be in the faith and prove and know our own selves whether Christ Jesus be formed in us 2 Cor. 13.5 that when death shall summon us to an encounter we may be victorious over it Fourthly let the redeemed of the Lord walk with joy and thankfulness before him as in a sense of all other his mercies so particularly of this blessed fruit of our Saviours death and resurrection the glorious victory thereby obtained for us over death Bless the Lord O our souls and all that is within us bless his holy name Bless the Lord our souls and forget not all his benefits Who forgiveth all our iniquities who healeth all our diseases Who redeemeth our life from destruction who crowneth us with loving-kindness and tender mercies Psal 103.1 2 3 4. And let us walk chearfully before God in a sense of our great priviledg amongst all the troubles of the world that accompany us in our abode here and under the thoughts of leaving this world at last forasmuch as this last enemy is vanquished let us not fear any thing else but under our dependencies let us call up our souls to a more comfortable and chearful temper let us chide away dejectedness and drooping and say why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the help of my countenance and my God Ps 42.11 And that I may come to a closer application of the point and pass à thesi ad hypothesin this victory over death which I might have been representing unto you from the words of the Apostle as attainable by a Christian and his singular priviledg was no doubt the acquisition and priviledg of our dear and reverend Brother whose Remains we are now assembled to inter And for that reason I have insisted upon this subject to press us all to imitate him in fighting for the same victory The name of the wicked shall rot saith the wise man but the memory of the just shall be blessed Pr. 10.7 Of wicked Jehoram it is said he departed without being desired 2 Chr. 21.20 But of good Jehoiadah and I am now speaking of a Priest though not an High Priest that the people did him honour at his death because he had done good in Israel ch 24.16 The wicked leaves the world like a filthy Lamp leaving an offensive stench in the Nostrils of all that knew him but a Good man ends his dayes like a Wax-taper that exchangeth its pleasant and useful light for the grateful scent it leaves behind it The Psalmist tells us That precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Ps 116.15 And our Lord Jesus Christ when he conversed with men on earth when Lazarus a good man was dead although as man he believed his Soul to be removed to present Bliss and as God he knew that he should return to life again in this world being free from those turbulent Passions that are our sin and at once our burden it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jo. 11.33 He troubled himself and expressed his trouble of mind by
mature consideration finds this to be best for him Phil. 1.23 An heathen may take some satisfaction in reflecting upon his life past with Vixi et quem dederat cursum natura peregi I have lived and filled up the station wherein nature hath placed me But this comes short of the stable confidence of the Apostles when in leaving the world he could say I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me in that day 2 Tim. 4.7 8. A Socrates from principles of Philosophy might conclude the immortality of the soul and consider his wages in some sort An opera nostra sit probaturus Deus nescio certe sedulò conati sumns ut ei placerent Est mihi tamen certa spes conatus nostros eum fore accepturum But by what means imperfect good works could obtain acceptation with the strict justice of God and how sin could obtain pardon with him this Philosophy could not teach them But the Scripture tells us that God will own his people in the day when he maketh up his jewels and will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 That with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plenteous redemption and that he shall deliver Israel from all their sins Psal 130.18 So that we may say Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who of his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 and hath hereby given us comfort through faith in our conflict with this last and mortal enemy Secondly If a true Christian is conqueror over death why then should he fear it The spirit of a man will help him to sustain his infirmities or bodily pains Prov. 18.14 Manly courage should help to bear us up under outward trials And the Spirit of God bearing witness with our spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8.16 will help us to master the fear of death as an enemy to the soul Why then should we fear that Serpent that is disarmed of his sting that Lion whose mouth is shut and his jaw-teeth pulled out that adversary whose weapons are taken from him It is enough for them that know no better place to go unto to to be affraid and unwilling to leave the world enough for them that have not a God to support them to sink under pains and sickness enough for them that do not beleeve themselves to have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous who is a propitiation for their sins 1 Joh. 2.1 to be affraid to appear before Gods tribunal Christian religion hath taught better things to all that duly embrace it And therefore let us comfort our selves therewith and with joy draw water out of these wells of salvation Isa 12.3 Thirdly If we have overcome death why should we sink under the fear of any other troubles Death is called the King of terrours Job 18.14 in the same sence as the Lion is called King among the beasts and the Eagle among birds because it is the chief of all the rest And if the leader of terrors be overcome why should we fear those that follow and are less formidable The uttermost that can be threatned by any worldly misery is to bring us to death under disadvantageous and dreadful circumstances And if this be conquered what need we fear that which can but threaten to bring us thither Therefore let us not fear these fears nor be afraid but sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself and let him be our fear and our dread Isa 8.12 13. Let us with chearfulness expect and with patience endure all the troubles of this life because we have victory over the last enemy Death Thus much for the joyful report of this victory which was propounded as the first general to be considered The Second general in the Text is the thankful resentment of this victory vouchsafed to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thanks be to him that giveth it to us How thankfully every good man should and doth resent the victory vouchsafed unto him over Death will appear by considering how great a priviledg this is And that will be evident to him that considers on the one hand the miserable estate of him that lyes under the dominion of Death and at its mercy and on the other the happy estate of him that through Gods mercy hath obtained this victory First for the misery of those that are in subjection to Death whose tender mercies are cruelty this will appear if we take notice of their estate either when Death is apprehended at a distance and under a remote prospect or when it is at hand and comes to do execution upon them First let us take notice of them when Death is apprehended at a distance and under a remote prospect and so the thoughts of Death as victorious over them do First allay the generosity and abate the sweetness of all worldly comforts He that duly considers that his time is in Gods hands Psal 31.15 and that himself is not master of the next moment that is to pass by that man goeth down to his grave and returneth no more and if a man dye shall he live again Job 14.14 What a cooler doth this afford to his spirits when warmed and made brisk with the enjoyment of worldly affluence This is apt to make a man despair of all his labour under the Sun and to reckon all but vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 2.20 Considering that the riches for which he hath toiled and about which he hath disturbed himself the pleasures in which he hath delighted to wallow the honours to which he hath aspired and climbed up by such a steep and slippery ascent shall then cease from affording him any more satisfaction And withall that he is not within the prospect of a better enjoyment that may recompence his loss of these present good things but must go naked out of the world in all respects as he came naked in and so lye down in eternal misery Secondly this abates the lively and generous actings of the soul and dismays it for any noble designs and attempts When a man seriously considers all his endeavours under the the Sun to be like Spiders webs spun with a great deal of painful labour and exenterating care and contrivance and after this in a moment swept down and destroyed by the besom of Death that when mans breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth and in the same day all his thoughts perish Psal 146.4 And if withall there be not a greater and more noble design which such a man hath proposed to himself and hath attained probable hopes of the accomplishment of it this is apt to make him conclude that truly man walketh in a vain shadow verily
Victory over Death A SERMON PREACHED At Steeple-Ashton in the County of Wilts upon the 27th day of April 1676. AT THE FUNERAL OF Mr. Peter Adams The late Reverend Pious and Industrious Minister of Gods Word there Sometime Fellow of Vniversity-Colledge in Oxford By Paul Latham P. S. and V. W. Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us London Printed by H. C. for Edward Gellibrand at the Golden Ball in St. Pauls-Church-Yard 1676. To my worthy and much respected Friend Mrs. Margaret Adams the sorrowful Relict of the deceased And to the rest of his near and dear Relations My Dear Friends VIctory over death as it was one of the blessed fruits of our Saviours death and resurrection and is one of the glorious priviledges of those that believe in him so if it had been represented unto you by the hand of that happy Comprehensor who now triumpheth in the accomplishment of it might have appeared like Apelles his Picture drawn by his own hand or like Cesars Conquests by himself recorded in his own Commentaries But that the Discourse upon it fell into an hand so unsuitable to the subject the misfortune is imputable to the charity of him that made his survey of the person with the charitable eye of a Friend and committed a matter of such weight like a beautiful Face to a sorry Limner or a rare Atchievement to an unskilful Herald only because he had a kindness for him That the representation of this Victory appeareth without the Walls where it was once divulged stands charged upon your candour that entertained this sudden production with more friendliness than the Parent had for it I shall not mention either the shortness of the time alotted for the composure or the intervening occasions that disturbed it nor yet the little leasure I had for reviewing and transcribing the Notes but leave it to the courteous interpretation of those that by knowing how to do far better do know also how to bear with the imperfections of others For your own parts I look upon your request for making this publick as the desire of true Friends to retain the Picture of a deceased Brother when the Prototype is removed from them Or like the ambition of the primitive Christians to preserve the memory of the Martyrs and Confessors that were gone before them and had taken heaven by violence Mat. 11.12 He hath run his part of the Christian Race and hath delivered the Lamp to us that are left God grant that we may not be slothful but followers of him and of all others who through faith and patience do inherit the promises Heb. 6.12 Though I know you have other and greater matters to draw you to hasten homeward yet I presume this will make an addition to the rest that you may be joined to our good Friend that sleepeth and to the rest of that general Assembly and Church of the First-born that are written in Heaven even to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 I doubt not but you have those comforts from Gods good Spirit that will support you under so great a loss And that this small memorial of our Reverend Friend may be a mean to stir up you and his late Parishioners and all others that may cast their eyes upon these lines to fight the good fight of Faith that they may attain victory in the great conflict and finally attain everlasting life is the hearty Prayer of Your sympathizing Friend and unworthy Brother Paul Latham Warmister May 22 1676. Victory over Death A SERMON ON 1 CORINTH XV. 57. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ IF the Interment of a good Christian afford matter of solemn thoughts to that Minister who seriously considers such men to be as the Grape-gleanings of the Vintage Mic. 7.1 If the parting with a dear and intimate Friend be tedious to him that considers such an one to be more pretious than the Gold of Ophir If the translation of a dear Brother and faithful Labourer from serving God in his Church on earth to attending on him and enjoying him in heaven do cause sad thoughts of heart in him that duly surveys the greatness of the Harvest Once more if the removal of a Minister that was in his life time a burning and shining light be to a considerate Parishioner like the setting of the Sun in the Firmament Then all these circumstances combined in the sad occasion of this solemn Assembly may justly render it very mournful to me To whom the greatness of grief might most justly have enjoined silence had not the earnest request of our Reverend Brother now with God which had the power of a command upon me appointed speaking to be my work this day Who if he had also thought fit to have suggested words for my subject at this time they might have been like the Mantle of Elijah attended with some of his Spirit and thereby being dead he would once more have spoken unto you Heb. 11.4 But seeing it was his pleasure to repose that confidence in me as to leave the choice of a subject to the conduct of my own thoughts I shall not disappoint his expectation by gratifying my own passion For then to express my tender brotherly affection I might have insisted upon such words as those of David I am distressed for thee my Brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women 2 Sam. 1.26 Or rather to express a more honourable and reverent affection more suitable to my juniority in years and deficiency in attainments I might have spoken of him and by a figure to him in such words as those of the King of Israel to the Prophet My father my father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof 2 King 13.14 But instead of humouring my self which would be a very unsuitable design in him that steps up into the Chair of so worthy and self-denying a man of God I shall rather chuse to represent unto you your late Reverend Minister now dead in living colours and in his example and attainments to set before you at once your duty and happiness in obtaining a glorious and comfortable victory over death And for this end I have chosen to insist upon this portion of Scripture Thanks be to God which hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Which words are the result of the Apostles joyful preapprehending by the eye of Faith that victory which shall hereafter be compleated to Believers over the last great enemy Ver. 54. He stretcheth forward his head to look unto this So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory Whereupon he subjoineth a confident challenge to death or rather he manfully defieth
men are killed all the day long they are not only victors but more than conquerors Rom. 8.36 37. And even in dying they are troubled but not distressed they are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 2 Cor. 4.9 More particularly First they are victors over the fear of Death That fear that ariseth from an apprehension of turning their backs upon the fruit of their labours they overcome by considering that in heaven they have a better and more enduring substance Heb. 10.34 Even an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.4 That which springs from the thoughts of the dissolution of this beautiful and majestick piece of Gods workmanship which hath been so much adored and deified Phil. 3.19 is overcome by considering that if their earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved they have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 That which ariseth from the preapprehension of the pains of death in the violent ejecting of this old inhabitant the Soul from its beloved mansion the Body is overcome by considering both the necessity of this violence and our being but once molested with it which are thoughts that offer themselves to all mens consideration and withall that Death is a passage though a strait one unto life a Porter though a rugged and surly one that lets us into the Palace of the great King And who will dread that which delivers him from so much sin and misery and puts him into possesion of so great good in another place though like the Angels to Lot it use some friendly violence in haling him hence Gen. 19.16 This makes a good man not only to submit to death and say the will of the Lord be done Act. 21.14 and it is the Lord let him do what seemeth good in his sight 1 Sam. 3.18 but further to be desirous to depart and to be with Christ as esteeming that to be far better Phil. 1.23 yea to groan being burdened desiring to be clothed upon with their house which is from heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 and to account Death as great gain Phil. 1.21 Secondly they are conquerors over the pains of Death which are a great evil and sorely pressing to humane nature These a good man overcomes not so as to be exempt from the same exquisite sense of pain which other persons feel yea God is ofttimes pleased for most wise and gracious ends to exercise the best of men under most tedious and exquisite pains But yet they are conquerors in the conflict though the encounter be sharp Partly through that great measure of Patience which God gives them under his hand which then hath the best opportunity for shewing its perfect work Jam. 1.3 And it is a glorious victory when patience holds out to the end and this strong man cannot be brought to bow under the greatest burden of extremity that can be laid upon it witness the case of Job whose invincible patience under the greatest sufferings was to the glory of God and to his own comfort and ease at present and future honour Partly through the strength of that other grace of Faith whereby they look unto that fatherly hand that lays these things upon them and thereby are not only drawn to a filial submission which gives ease to the mind under sufferings but also take the advantage of deriving comfort from him that smites and will also heal them So that when the outward man decayeth the inward is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 And withall this grace enables a good man to look up into Heaven in the midst of the pains of Death as St. Stephen did Act. 7.55 and to see his Saviour there standing ready to receive him to himself in glory And this makes him though not to hate his own body nor simply to desire to be unclothed yet willing and desirous to be clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5.4 and comfortably to bear those difficult methods whereby the divine wisdom thinks it fit to bring this to pass Thirdly over the sting of Death There is a sharp and poysonous thing put into the tayl of this Serpent through our transgressing the Law of God and this is that which is most dreadful in Death to a considering person and that which even a Roman courage could not prevail to master But a Christian finds that in the word of God that fortifies him against this also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Chirst that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.33 34 35 38 39. Here then is the strong man disarmed the Lions mouth shut the Serpents sting taken from him Fourthly over the Power of Death To reason not improved by the supplemental light of divine revelation it seemed incredible that God should raise the dead Acts 26.8 And to him that considers the severity of Gods justice it might seem that when the judg should have delivered us to the officer and he cast us into prison we must by no means come out thence till we should have paid the utmost farthing Math 5.25 26. That is never at all But when we consider that as Christ was delivered for our offences so he rose again for our justification Rom. 4.25 we may thence very reasonably conclude that he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies Rom. 8.11 And upon this account a good man hath confident hopes of victory over the power of Death and can say I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this flesh yet with mine eyes shall I see God Job 19.26 The precedent discourse being reflected upon may be useful First to shew us the excellency of the Christian faith above all other notions of a Deity that have been entertained in the world in that it enables us for the great conflict and gives us victory over the worst of our enemies Indeed the ancient Romans have shewed themselves sufficiently audacious in looking death in the face but their confidence was supported by slender props Amor patriae laudumque immensa cupido a desire to advance and enlarge the City whereof they were freemen and to erect a monument of their own praise to posterity this made them prodigal of their lives and fearless of death But a Christian hath a desire to depart hence that he may be near unto Christ and upon a full and