with the strangury or when it comes raging in a violent and masterless phrenzy In a word when it endeavours to appear more formidable than it self who ever could pretend to such strength as should not grow seeble or to such hardiness as should not be dismayed before it Its first encounter baffles the appetite and causeth it to languish it disturbeth and interrupteh the sleep weakens the joynts commands a cessation of the usual exercises spreads paleness and wanness upon the skin Its next proceedings subject a staff for the necessary support of the enfeebled structure call in the Druggist to supply the place of the Cook and Confectioner cast a man upon his bed as the retirement of his wearied and fainting limbs and by degrees invade the seats of the vital and animal spirits afflict the heart with faintings the head with pains obstruct the vessels serving for the passage of the blood and spirits cause the keepers of the house to tremble the strong men to bow themselves and those that look out of the windows to grow dim for want of the usual supply of animal spirits Till at last the cold sweat takes possession of the Hippocratical face the disturbed soul sits upon the trembling lip threatning to take its leave of that body where the enfeebled spirits will not prevail to fetch up that phlegm that lyes ratling and betokening suffocation And then is the dust prepared to return to the dust whence it was taken Eccl. 12.7 Then doth man set forward in his joyrney toward his long home and the mourners go about the streets Then comes a shrowd to be the modish apparel and a sepulcher the bed for repose then begins this proud aspiring Nimrod to know himself and to own his original saying to corruption thou art my father and to the worms ye are my brethren and sisters Job 17.14 Then he that so bustled above ground as to think the world too strait for him is content with six foot of earth for his patrimony A rare conquest the fruit of a signal conflict Thirdly victory as it is here applied supposeth Death accustomed to conquer That challenge or triumphant insultation v. 55. O death where is thy victory seems to suppose Death a tryed Champion fleshed in conquest And if First we look to its power over mans body we must confess it an irresistable enemy and a constant victor Pallida mors aequo c. It is not the robes and pallaces of Kings any more than the rags and cottages of beggars that exempt them from the arrest of this Sergeant neither are those so high as to affright death from attempting them nor these so low that it should scorn to meddle with them It is not the long delay and forbearance of Death in demanding its due that can make it forget the debt that is owing by the aged The short histories of the strangely long lives of those Antedeluvians that survived the elapsing of several hundreds of years are every-where closed up with and he dyed Gen. 5. Nor it is the pittiful cryings and pulings of the infant in swadling clothes that is loth to be snatched away form its beloved breast and seems to plead that it hath tasted nothing of the pleasures nor understood the design of its being set a-shore upon the earth that can move this Skeleton void of bowels to hold its hand and to draw back its envenomed darts But these things are done in the green tree yea in the tender plant as well as in the dry Luke 23.31 The wisdom of Solomon or of the seven Sages of Greece would in vain have attempted to out-wit Death The strength of Samson or of Davids worthies whose countenances were like the countenances of Lions 2 Sam. 17.10 could not daunt this Messenger of Gods justice or prevail in the last conflict with it but these also yeilded to be led in triumph by Death In Golgotha are skuls of all sorts and sizes as tokens of the impartial conquest that Death is making There lyes Absolom so perfect in beauty as well as Mephibosheth a deformed Cripple There lyes the wanton and amorous youngster as well as the old man that doted and leaned on his staff There lyes Goliah a man of overgrown nature as well as David a ruddy youth There lyes Hector and Achilles so famous for manly valour as well as Thesites a cowardly and seditious brawler We may see there that wise men dye as well as the foolish and brutish persons Psal 49.10 There have Xerxes and all his vast army that threatned to level the mountains and to drink the Oceans dry laid down their skuls and owned deaths soveraignty Nor could those many million of millions that like piles of grass have stood before Death yet blunt the edge of its Scyth but hitherto it goes on conquering and to conquer Secondly if we take measure of its strength in arresting the Soul of man we must needs own it as an absolute victor It hath a sting put into it by sin which makes it assault the sinner with deadly strength and violence Man by his wilful and disingenuous transgression incurred the sentence of the Law which was Death in the comprehensive notion of it To bring men to that which the Scripture calls the second death Rev. 20.6 the former death hath commission And who is able to withstand a Messenger of the Almighty or refuse appearance when he summons us to that tribunal It is not mens hiding their sins like Adam nor covering them with the fig-leaves of trifling excuses it is not gilding over the potsherd of abomination with the silver dross of Pharisaical pretences or outside holiness It is no palliating colours no cunning conveyances no subtil evasions no critical subterfuges can deliver a man in that last encounter or stand him instead when Death summons him to appear before the judgment seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 So that in every respect Death pleads custom for the victory it demands over mankind But yet Fourthly the term here used and applied to a Christian doth signifie that a good man may obtain a victory over this mortal enemy in the great conflict though so accustomed to conquer and so proud with success And the joining of the subject we with the adjunct victoriousness shews that it is the peculiar priviledg of true Christians so that strangers do not intermeddle with this joy Prov. 14.10 Not that a good man can expect to be exempt from the stroke of Death nor be secure as to any particular time or season of his life nor plead exemption from any sort of disease or circumstance of Death for what man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the power of the grave Psal 89.48 And it is appointed for men indefinitely and without distinction once to dye Heb. 9.27 This being the passage through which we are to enter into another world But yet though it may seem a wonder even when good
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
behave himself aright in it It is an hard matter in the day of prosperity to rejoice in the Lord and to carry that full Cup so evenly as not to spill it And it is as hard in the day of adversity to consider Eccl. 7.14 to be mindful that we ought thankfully to receive evil as well as good from the hand of God Job 2.10 To keep from despising the chastening of the Lord also from fainting when we are corrected by him Heb. 12.5 Now nothing will better teach us these hard lessons than a true victory over death This will moderate our joy in prosperity and make us rejoice with trembling and as though we rejoiced not because the time is short 1 Cor. 7.29 It will moderate our sorrow in the time of trouble as considering that these are light afflictions and endure but for a moment and that they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 So every way happy is that couragious Christian that hath obtained victory over this last enemy The greatness of this priviledge hath in some sort been represented to oblige us to thankfullness That this is a priviledg attainable was shewed upon the former general head But there is something required in and from us that conduceth much to the gaining of this victory viz. Courage strength and Skil First Courage or Christian resolution faint-heartedness weakneth the hands disappointeth contrivance and frustrateth endeavours Let us therefore arm our selves with the same mind that was in Christ when he suffered in the flesh for us 1 Pet. 4.1 that same mind wherewith he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12.2 Let us manfully resolve to leave the World with willingness and joy not lingring in it like Lot in Sodom nor looking back with his Wife as unwilling to leave it Gen. 19 16 26. But duly considering that in Heaven we have a better and a more enduring substance Heb 10.34 Let the spirit of a man help us to bear the infirmities and pains of our body Prov. 18.14 And as Christians let us consider that it is God's hand and that this is the passage he hath appointed to eternal joys Let us not be afraid of God's Tribunal as knowing that we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2.1 Secondly Strength without which Courage doth bestow it self to little purpose Let us not go forth in our strength but in the strength of the Lord and encounter this Philistine in the name of the Lord of Hosts 1 Sam. 17.45 from him let us derive strength by prayer even the prayer of Faith For this is the victory that overcometh death as well as the world even our Faith 1 Joh. 5.4 even that Faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 Let us by Faith look unto Christ's death and resurrection as that whereby he hath overcome death for us and to the joys that are before us In this strength let us encounter death Thirdly Shill without which courage will make use of strength unhappily Let us acquaint our selves with death and be at peace so shall it be well with us Set not only God but Death also always before our eyes and in this sense die daily 1 Cor 15.31 Let us exercise our selves in velitations and skirmishes with the thoughts of death in the time of our health and strength Consider what death is in all its notions and then its approach will be familiar and no ways dreadful unto us Hereby we shall succesfully prelude to that last conflict and conquest To conclude this head let those that are so happy as to live in the comfortable sense of their having obtained this blessed victory over Death be careful to walk as children of the Kingdom First in holiness and righteousness before God Because thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living Psal 116.8.19 Seeing that all these things must be dissolved and we know so much and are not affraid to know and consider it what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness And seeing we look for such things a great conflict and a glorious victory over a formidable enemy let us be diligent that we may be found of him in peace at that day without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3.11.16 Those that fight or run for victory do diet themselves and are temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we observe rules that we may obtain that which is incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 Well may we then be content to deny our selves to keep under our bodies and bring them into subjection that the sensual appetite being subdued may not clog us in that great congress Secondly let our temper savour of Heaven If ye be risen with Christ and have a sense of the benefit of his death and resurrection in order to the overcoming of death seek those things that are above Set your affections on things above not on things out he earth Col. 3.1 2. Let those that believe death to be the end of all pleasure and comfort give themselves up wholly to enjoy the good things that are present but let us declare plainly that we seek a Countrey Heb. 11.14 Thirdly let us walk humbly with our God Mic. 6.8 Let us say Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy name be the glory of this victory Psal 115.1 Let us be duly sensible that it is the Lord that delivereth us from the paw of the Lion and of the Bear and from this great Goliah Let us not arrogantly peark up our heads like empty boughs or blasted ears of corn but like those that are loaden with good fruit let us stoop toward the earth in a thankful sense of the great obligations that God hath laid upon us Which leads me from this second general head of Discourse to the Third general in the Text the Author of this victory acknowledged and magnified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thanks be to God that giveth us this victory The hand that reacheth out a favour doth many times add very much to that which is conferred upon us Now this is a princely favour bestowed by the royal hand of the King of glory it is Gods gift For First as all good things do come from God so in particular all spiritual gifts all the graces and comforts of a Christian are the products of his favour and bounty Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from above even from the Father of lights James 1.17 even from that supreme being and first cause of all things in whom we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28 Particularly he it is that blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1.3 He is called the God of all Grace that God who hath
called us into his eternal Glory by Christ Jesus and who after we have suffered a while will make us perfect stablish strengthen and settle us 1 Pet. 5.10 He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation 2 Cor. 1.3 And therefore this especial comfort that ariseth from victory over death is to be owned with thankfulness as his gift Secondly it is a gift which none but himself can bestow Human reason and manly courage may in part support us under the thoughts of leaving the World and sleeping in the Grave by telling us that the World is vanity and vexation of spirit and helping us to consider that we are every way as well at ease wâ—en we are a-sleep and forget the World as when we are awake to enjoy it But what strength or courage of a mortal man can bear up without fainting under weakning decays of bodily vigour and endure without complaining that tedious pain and anguish with which it pleaseth God sometimes to afflict our bodies except he that lays on his hand to afflict do also put underneath his everlasting arms to support Thou even thou art to bâ— feared and who may stand in thy sight when on â—â—th 〈◊〉 wâ—â—â—â— Psal 76.7 Can thy heart endure or thy hand be strong in the day when God shall visit thee Ezek. 22.14 Especially who can bear up under the dreadful apprehension of appearing before almighty God as the judg of all the world except he hath comfortable apprehensions of God being reconciled and the judg become his friend They were no cowards nor sorry mean spirited persons but the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty man and every freeman as well as every bondman that sought to hide themsâ—lves in dens and in the rocks of the mountains that courted the mountains and rocks to fall on them and to hide them from the face of him that sat on the throne and from â—he face of the Lamb for when the great day of his wealâ—h should come who say they shall be able to stand before him Revel 6 15.16.17 Thirdly this enemy Death is in perfect subjection to God as his servant and therefore he is able to bless us with victory and to command deliverance to Jacob. No man can enter the house of a strong man armed and spoil his goods except he fiâ—st bind the strong man Mar 3.27 Now this can God do not only in respect of his infinite power to which all creatures in heaven and earth do bow and obey whereby he can stop the mouths of Lions suspend the natural influence of fiâ—e appease the rage and swelling of the sea But also because Death is his servant the minister of his wrath the executioner of his justice And therefore he that saith to the raging sea peace and be still yea that hath placed the friable body of sand to be a rampart against its fury by a perpetual decree which it cannot pass nor return again to cover the earth Jer. 5.22 He also gives laws to death and sets bounds to its rage giving victory over it to them that fear him Fourthly the conferring of this victory is a favour that will eminently shew the great love and kindness of God to his people for naturally we are under the power and dominion of death by reason of sin it being as due as the wages to the workman when he ended hath his business And it was the meer mercy and undeserved good will of God toward the workmanship of his own hand now degenerated and become miserable through their own wilfulness that helped them to overcome that enemy which themselves had formed to be a thorn in their sides and a prick in their eyes Yea it was a peculiar favour to mankind not vouchsafed to the superior order of reasonable creatures to be able to vanquish that death that misery which there ungrateful revolting from their maker had brought upon themselves for verily the Son of God took not on him the nature of Angels nor helped them up but he took on him and relieved the seed of Adam and for them did by death overcome him that had power over death even the devil and delivered them who otherwise through fear of death must all their life time have been subject to bondage Heb. 2.14 15 16. Yea it is a mercy not vouchsafed to all mankind as to the actual enjoyment of it but to those only that beleeve in him To as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God John 1.12 to have part in the first resurrection so that the second death should have no power over them Rev. 20.6 Fifthly consequently this Garland of Victory doth greatly oblige the hearts of Gods people unto himself It being the fruit of that preventing love that remembred us in our low and lost estate even because his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136.23 the manifestation of the kindness and bounty of God to procure for us so great a priviledge as this victory hath appeared to be and that at so dear a rate as the most precious blood of his own Son that Lamb without spot and blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16 This tends to draw us with the cords of a man with cords of love Hos 11.4 It sets us upon our legs to run the way of Gods commandments it renders us subjects capable of ingenuous service by setting us free with the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 And withall it layeth the strongest engagements of love and gratitude upon us to give up our selves both souls and bodies as living sacrifices unto him Rom. 12.1 and being delivered from our enemies to serve him without slavish fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Luk. 1.74 75. This period being reflected upon will be of use First to resolve that wonder that sometimes possesseth our minds when we behold the great courage and undaunted confidence of some persons in looking death in the face Many that could not look upon those instruments of violent death a sword or pistol in the hand of an enemy people that are of weak constitutions and mean spirits for encountring an adversary abroad have yet been able to entertain death when coming from Gods own hand with great composure and sedateness of spirit yea many whose education hath placed them under disadvantageous circumstances through want of due knowledg and clear notions as to other things have been able to grapple with death when clothed with all that terror which cruel men could hang on its back The reason is because God gave them that gift which is in his own power to bestow and this wind bloweth where it listeth these favours are many times conferred upon babes in
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
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