THE CHRISTIANS ADVANTAGE BOTH BY Life and Death Discovered in a SERMON PREACHED At the Funeral of that Faithful and Eminent Servant of the LORD JOSEPH JACKSON late Esq and Alderman of the City of Bristol On the 17. day of January An. Dom. 1661. By Fran. Roberts D. D. Rector of the Church at Wrington in the County of Somerset Phil. 1.21 To me to Live is CHRIST and to Die is GAIN Hieronym ad Eustoch in Epitaph Paulae tom 1. Non moeremus quòd talem amisimus Sed gratias agimus quòd habuimus imò habemus Deo enim vivunt omnia quicquid revertitur ad Dominum in familiae numero computatur Hieronym ad Theodor. in Epitaph Lucinii tom 1. Nos dolendi magis qui quotidie stamus in praelio peccatorum vitiis sordidamur accipimus vulnera de otioso verbo reddituri sumus rationem LONDON Printed by Edw. Mottershed 1662. TO My much Honored and entirely beloved Friends in the LORD The Children Brethren Sisters and others in near and dear Relation to JOSEPH JACKSON late Esq and Alderman of the City of Bristol now sleeping in Jesus yea living and triumphing in bliss with IJSUS Grace mercy and peace in this life and eternal glory in the life to come My dear Christian Friends HOw brittle frail and fading is the most flourishing Life of Man here on Earth The Holy Scriptures compute it By 70 or 80 years Psal. 90.10 by a few years Job 16.22 by moneths Job 14.5 by dayes Job 14.5 by a few dayes Job 14.1 by one day Job 14.6 by all denoting the extreme brevity of it And they compare his life and time of abode here below To a vanishing vapour Jam. 4.14 to a transient wind Job 7.7 to a perishing puff of breath Psal. 146.4 Isa. 2.22 to a fading flower Psal. 103.15 16. Job 14.2 to a momentary meditation thought or tale told Psal. 90.9 to withering grass Psal. 90.5 6.1 Pet. 1.24 to a speedy irrevocable flood Psal. 90.5 to yesterday when past and gone Psal. 90.4 to an hastening Post Job 9.25 to a swift Weavers shuttle Job 7.6 to short handbreadths Psal. 39.5 to a Weavers web soon brought to the thrum to be cut off Isa. 38.12 to a Watch in the night but three hours long Psal. 90.4 to a vanishing shadow Job 4.2 8.9 Psal. 102.11 to crumbling dust Psal. 103.14 to a sleep insensibly passing Psal. 90.5 to an Apparition or image Psal. 39.6 And as if all these reached not home to meer Nothing Psal. 39.5 By all these emphatically describing the extreme lubricity uncertainty and vanity of Man's life VVhereupon we may with the Psalmist justly conclude Surely every man at his best state is altogether vanity Selah Psal. 39.5 Not only man but every man not in some state only as of childhood sickness old age c. but at his best state Heb. when setled Is not only vain but vanity it self Not only vanity in part or in some regard but in whole altogether vanity And all this with a Surely prefixed for the more undoubted certainty And with a Selah suffixed for the greater observableness It is not long since his late dear Yokefellow was by Natures dissolution divorced from him And now Himself ◠by Death separated and removed from you Oh what is man Little did I think to have preached at the Funeral of either And lo so hath the LORD disposed things that I have not without much reluctancie and grief performed this last office for them both not many years interposing They have prevented both you and me Our work is to prepare to follow after The good Lord teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom Psal. 90.12 To true spiritual wisdom To wisdom for our selves for our souls for our eternal estate with our dearest Saviour IESUS CHRIST in Heaven We have here no continuing City Let us diligently seek one to come A City that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God Heb. 13.14 11.10 Let us so manage our Earthly Pilgrimage that we may make sure of the Heavenly Heritage Let us so improve this Mortality as not to miss of that Immortality And so live on Earth a while that we may undoubtedly live in Heaven for ever As for you that are surviving My Conscience and Affection I cannot but affectionately love those that belong'd to him whom I so intensively affected for Christ in him prompt me to present a few requests unto you by way of Advice And I hope you will resent them with Christian acceptation 1. Be pleased to peruse and practise those Ten Instructions or Practical Directions published in my Instructive and Hortatory Epistle prefixed to my Sermon preached at the Funeral of Mary Jackson his late religious Yokefellow You have the printed Books and Directions I need not mention any Particulars but compendiously refer you to them I heartily recommend them to your faithful practice beseeching the God of all wisdom to give you salvifical understanding in all things 2. Endeavour to comfort your selves in this your great loss of him and deep affliction for him by Christian considerations And what Consolatory Arguments may you not readily suggest unto your selves His Life was so Christian that his Death must needs be comfortable Of a good life there cannot come a bad death As of a bad life seldom comes a good death Life and Death were his for all manner of spiritual advantages He liv'd to the Lord and died to the Lord both living and dying he was and is the Lords Rom. 14.8 His body as Hierom said of Nepotianus is returned to the earth but his soul is restored to Christ. His Sins and Sorrows are all ended his Graces are perfected and his eternal Joyes are begun VVhile you are lamenting in black He is triumphing in white Are we born that I may use Hierom's words to Paula upon the death of her daughter Blesilla that we should here abide eternally Abraham Moses Isaiah Peter James John Paul the chosen Vessel and above all the Son of God died And are we grieved that one depart the body whose soul was so accepted of God as to be snatched out of the midst of iniquity and error Let that dead person be lamented whom Hell receives whom the Infernal pit devours for whose punishment everlasting fire doth burn As for us whose End the Angels accompany whom Christ meets let us rather grieve that we are kept so long in this tabernacle of Death and may not meet Christ sōoner seeing while we are present in this body we are absent from the Lord. Let Faith Hope and Love be your comforters as Augustine sometimes advised an Italian widow upon the death of her Husband Faith For you are not desolate so long as Christ dwells in your hearts by Faith Hope For you cannot but confidently hope That he is not lost but only sent before you That he is in Heáven with Christ which
Grace Possession of Glory the Inheritance of Heaven the Society of Saints and Angels the immediate fruition of Christ and beatisick vision of God for ever face to face Heb. 12.23 Job 17.24 1 Thess. 4.17 Matth. 5.8 1 Joh. 3.2 All their Losses are nothing to these Gains 5. Death is their Red Sea affording them an eternal esâ—ape from all evils and dangers but swallowing up all their enemies for evermore Then they cease from sin which shall no more defile them Rom. 6.7 Then they rest from their labours which shall no more weary them Rev. 14.13 Then God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be to them no more Death Pain Sorrow nor Crying Rev. 21.4 Then no fiery darts of Diabolical Temptations shall ever more reach them Then the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest Job 3.17 6. Death is their Bodies Seed-time for an hopeful crop at the Harvest of the Resurrection Tertullian said excellently The Confidence of Christians is the Resurrection of the Dead But the Apostle Paul most sweetly That which thou sowest is not quickned except it die And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be but bare grain it may chance of wheat or of some other grain But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him and to every seed his own body So also is the Resurrection of the dead It is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body 1 Cor. 15.36 37 38 42 43 44. A wet and sad Seed-time but a joyful and happy Harvest 7. Finally Death is their Souls Birth day of eternal Bliss As it is the Omega to all their Miseries in this world present so is it the Alpha to all their felicities in that world to come Then the voice from Heaven saith unto them Rome up hither Oh the day of their Dissolution will to them be a great an happy a glorious day indeed Their Redemption from all their sin and sorrow Rom. 6.7 Rev. 4.13 Their translation into the better Country that is the Heavenly Their entrace into their Masters joy Mat. 25.21 23. The Day-break of their endless Sabbath Heb. 4.9 Rev. 14.13 The inchoation of their eternal Jubilee Their heavenly Coronation-day with that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Tim. 4.7 2 Cor. 4.17 Yea their blessed Marriage-day with the Lamb in whose immediate vision and fruition their ravishments shall be unutterable and their intrancements unspeakable Joh. 17.24 The enjoyment of Christ in Heaven is the very Heaven of Heaven Thus to them that are Christs out of Death that great eater comes meat and out of strength comes sweetness Whence is it That thus Life and Death become theirs that are Christ's Resol All this comes to pass 1. From the All-ordering Purpose and Providence of God towards them that are Christ's who love him and are the called according to his purpose He makes all things good and evil prosperity and adversity life and death c. cooperate for good unto them All things not only some things All things not divisim but conjunctim not severally but jointly one with another and all with the influence of Divine benediction As all the wheels in a Wâ—â—ch work together to tell the hour And as all the Ingredients in a Medicine work together to effect the cure We know that all things work together for good to them that love God that are the called according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 The Lord makes every wind to blow them profit every thing do them good 2. From Christ's meritorious Purchase Among many other the glorious atchievements of Christ there are three very observable in reference to our present purpose viz. 1 Christ hath obtained regained restored all Good to his which the first Adam had forfeited and lost Col. 1.20 Mat. 6.33 Rom. 8.32 Tit. 1.15 2 Christ hath removed all the evil from his which the first Adam had procured Tit. 2.14 Gal. 3.13 14. Heb. 2.14 15. 3 Christ turns that evil unto Good to his which is not totally removed Their Sin makes them so much the more see the need and worth of a Saviour Rom. 7.23 24 25. Their Afflictions become great spiritual advantages Rom. 5.3 4 5. Heb. 12.6 7 8 9 10 2 Cor. 4.17 Yea their Death it self is rendred to them a glorious gain Phil. 1.21 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2 3 4. One well observed The Covenant of Grace made no Death but found it in the world Christ made of an old enemy Death a new servant It 's now the Kings Ferry-boat to carry the children over the water And I may adde Through Christ's merit to them that are Christ's Death is but a dark entry into their Heavenly Mansions A churlish Porter ushering into the glorious Paradise A fiery Chariot and Whirlwind conveying them speedily unto Heaven 3. From the predominant and inviolable concatenaâ—ion of the Causes of their salvation They that are Christ's are Predestinated Called Justifiâ—d and in some measure Glorified Rom. 8.29 30. Therefore if God be thus for them what shall prevailingly be against them He that spared not his own Son but gave him up freely for them how shall â—e not with him also freely give them all things ver 31 32. Shall not life be theirs and Death theirs and all things theirs for good This indissoluble Chain of salvation cannot be broken by Life Death or any thing Therefore Life Death and all things must comply to it contribute to it be wholly and universally subordinate and every way subservient to the accomplishing of it Thus we see How Life and Death are theirs that are Christ's And whence this comes to pâ—ss Now come we to certain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to certain Consectaries or Inferences hence by way of Application Hence What Priviledged-persons are true Christians above all Christless wretches both in Life and Death Parallel them a little according to former discoveries and see what the Lord Christ hath done for his more than for all others They that are Christ's 1. Have Life theirs Their Holy Seed-time Their Spiritual Trading-time Their Striving-time after best enjoyments Their Trying-time in their Spirituals Their Growing time in Grace and Knowledge Their Fruit-bearing time in all good works And their Hoarding time for Life eternal 2. Have Death theirs also Their sweet sleep in Christ Jesus Their perfective Alteration not their Abolition Their happy Departure not their Destruction Their great Gain not at all their Loss Their Red-Sea delivering them but drowning all their Enemies Their Bodies Seed-time for the glorious Harvest at the Resurrection And their Souls Birth-day of Eternal bliss They that are Christless on the contrary are naked and destitute of all these Advantages both by Life and Death Nor Life nor Death are
theiâ—s for Good but for harm Not their Advantages but their disadvantages Not their sanctified Mercies but their mischiefs c. To them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Tit. 1.15 To them that are Christless and ungodly 1. Their Life in this world what is it else but Their sinful Seed-time to the flesh Gal. 6.8 Their wretched working and trading time in iniquity Matth 7.23 Luk. 13.27 Psal. 6.8 Their striving time onely after earthly enjoyments Matth. 6.31 32. 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Their trying time to detect and draw forth their vileness Exod. 3.19 20. 14.17 Job 12.4 5 6. Their declining time wherein they waxe worse and worse 2 Tim. 3.13 Their Barren time wherein they bring forth nothing but briars and thorns fruits of Sodom and Gomorrha and all pernicious works of the flesh Hab. 6.8 Deut. 32.32 33. Gal. 5.19 20 21. And their unhappy Seâ—son wherein after their hardness and impenitent heart they treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Rom. 2.5 2. And their Death from this world what is it else than The rotting of their flesh and bones full of the sins of their youth which shall lie down with them in the dust Job 20.11 Their woful change of painted Felicities for real Miseries Luk. 16.19.22 23. Their wretched departure from their wicked Bodies till both Souls and Bodies shall depart from Christ Luk. 16.22 23. Matth. 25.41 Their utter loss of all enjoyments on Earth and of all hopes of Heaven Luk. 12.20 21. Heb. 9.27 Eccles. 9.10 Their fatal Red-Sea overwhelming them for ever Luk. 16.22 23 26. Their Body's bondage in the cursed Grave and their Soul's enthralment in the Prison of Hell till the day of the Lords vengeance shall overtake them both at his second appearing 1 Pet. 3.19 Heb. 9.27 Oh then let every one consider these things and say How happy are all that are Christ's both in Life and Death How wretched are all that are Christless both alive and dead Hence Who would not now study and strive to become Christ's indeed This this is the onely way to be truly rich to be eternally happy If the World Life Death Things present Things to come All things and all this theirs in Christ be able to do it He that hath Christ his and himself is Christ's may sweetly say Christus meus omnia Christ is mine and all 's mine Therefore when others say Who will shew us good Do thou saâ— Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon me Psal. 4.6 7. Lord give me Christ and then I have all Hence What a shame is it for Christians to have the least irksom or undervaluing thought of Christianity When Corruption within rebels against the Spirit in us Temptation from without perplexeth us Afflictions toss and tire us Persecutions puzzle us and the Prosperity of the wicked amaze and dazle our apprehensions How are we then distempered and discomposed Then we have cleansed our hearts in vain and wished our hands in innocency Then we bless the wicked whom God abhorrs and speak against the Generation of Gods children as once the Psalmist Then we loath our Spiritual Mannah and like Israel run back in our hearts again unto Egypt c. O let us enter into the Sanctuary of God and then all our misdeeming thoughts shall be reformed O all ye that are Christ's consider this Text and check your selves for these your imprudent and ingrateful misappâ—ehensions Christ is yours and ye are Christ's therefore in Christ Life and Death are yours and all things yours for your manifold advantage O bless the LORD that ever you were savingly acquainted with and interessed in Christ and Christianity Christ turns all your darkness into light makes all your gall and wormwood Honey turns all your poysons into Medicines makes both your Life and Death both profitable and pleasant like the Land of Promise flowing with milk and honey Christianity is the right Philosophers-stone indeed turns all it touches into spiritual Gold Say oh say it with much rejoycing We are Christians therefore we are happy both living and dying Whether we live we live unto the Lord whether we dâ—e we die unto the Lord. Whether therefore we live or die we are the Lord 's Hence Why should they that are Christ's be either weary of Life or afraid of Death Are not both theirs and theirs for the Best What wise man is weary of his welfare or afraid of his Advantages Especially when both of them are of a spiritual and eternal concernment It 's happy for Christians that they may live a while on Earth to be prepared for life eternal And it 's happy again for them that they may die and depart from Earth that they may go to possess their Life eternal for which they are prepared Hence How silently self-denyingly and contentedly should all that are Christ's submit to Gods disposal of them in all Conditions yea both in Life and Death Why Because Life's theirs Death 's theirs All 's theirs Every wind blows them profit All things cooperate unto their good Murmure not then at any Divine dispensations but be silent yea contented yea thankful in all Consider how the Saints of old behaved themselves in all even the worst Conditions As Job ch 1.20 21. Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 David Psal. 39.9 Hezekiah Isa. 39.8 Paul Phil. 4.11 12 13. yea Jesus Christ himself Joh. 18.10 11. Matth. 26.39 42 44. Walk thou as Christ walked 1 Joh. 2.6 and follow the Saints as they follow Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Hence finally How thankfully should we rejoyce in the Life and how patiently yea comfortably should we beâ— the Death of dearest Friends and Relations that were truly Christian whether of Father Mother Husband Wife c. Are they alive Life is Their spiritual Seed-time to sow in Their Mart-time to trade in Their Rare-time to run in Their Spring-time to grow in Their Summer to bear fruit in Their Autumn to treasure up in for Eternity And their Winter to be tryed in that they may be found more precious than gold Are they dead Mourn moderately Comfort your selves with this That even Death is theirs also Their sweet sleep in Jesus Their blessed Change Their happy Departure Their great Gain Their Red-Sea to all their Evils and Enemies Their Bodies Seed-time for the eternal Harvest and Their Souls Birth-day of everlasting Bliss Thus I have done with my Text. And now I know you expect I should superadde something in reference to this Worthy Person deceased Of whom we were unworthy Should I say Nothing of him I doubt I should offend you Should I say Much I should offend my self He was one of the most eminent Members of this famous City well known to you all but more intimately to some and particularly unto me And did I not verily believe That he was one of Christ's and
will so you rightly understand the thing 2 Spiritual 3 Eternal Now here we are not to understand Life and Death Spiritual or Eternal but only Life end Death Natural Corporal or Temporal Life Natural or Temporal is one of our dearest Temporal enjoyments in this present world All that a man hath will he give for it It consists generally in the vital union of Matter and Form of Body and Soul Life said one is the Souls abode in the Body But here three things must be distinguished viz. Principium vivendi Esse viventis Operationes vitae 1. Principium vivendi the Principle of living And that 's the Form or Soul Vegetative in Plants Sensitive in Bruits Intellective or Rational in Man 2. Esse viventis The Being of the living which is properly such a Nature in the living Creature while the Principle of Natural life is in it as whereby it is disposed to exert and exercise acts of life 3. Operationes vitae The Operations or Acts of Life Properly and formally these are not Life but the effects fruits and evidences of Life These Acts of Life may be reduced to Motion In him we live and move Act. 17.28 Every Creature that lives moves And as the Motion in any Creatures is more or less perfect so the Life of them is more or less perfect Thus Living Plants do move by Nourishing themselves Growing Fruit-bearing and Breeding their like Thus Living Bruits do move by all the said Motions of Plants and over and above them by Outward senses Seeing Hearing c. by Inward senses The Common-sense Phantasie and Memory and by Loco-motion or moving from place to place Thus Living man moves by all the Motions of both Plants and Bruits and above them all by Understanding Conscience and Will The Motion of Bruits is more perfect than that of Plants and consequently the Life of Bruits is more perfect than the Life of Plants But the Motion of Man is more perfect than the Motion of Plants or Bruits and therefore Mans Natural Life is incomparably more perfect noble and excellent than theirs Death Natural or Temporal is The Privation of Life Natural through the Separation of the Matter from the Form of the Body from the Soul In the Death of Plants or Bruits the Form or Soul is so severed that it 's destroyed with the Body Goes downward But in the Death of Man his Soul is so separated that it separately subsists without the Body Goes upwards Returns to God to be immediately disposed by him unto eternal weal or woe Eccles. 12.7 1 King 17.21 22. Heb. 9.27 12.23 Luk. 23.43 16.22 23. 1 Pet. 3.19 Now they that are Christ's have Life and Death Natural Corpoâ—al or Temporal theirs Theirs peculiliarly their 's advantagiously beneficially salutiferously How is Life theirs that are Christ's Resol They that are Christ's have Natural Life theirs in a far and more excellent sort than any Christless persons have it viz. I. As a Token of Gods paternal favour They that are Christ's have Life not only from God as a Common Creator but also from God as a peculiar tender Father in Christ. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things Our Father which art in heaven give us this day our daily bread Again He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things They have Life not only with Gods leave and permission but also with Gods love and approbation Not only by Gods general Providence and common donation but also by Gods special Providence and peculiar dispensation Now the Affectus Amantis the Affection of the Loyer is that which highly commends the Munera Dantis the Gifts of the Giver and is more than the Gifts themselves This makes the present Life of the Saints double sweet II. As an additional Mercy in and with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is The Gift of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The primary transcendent supereminent Gift of gifts Joh. 4.10 3.16 All others are but Additionals Accessories Appurtenances attending upon him Accessories follow the Principals Christ is the grand Mercy the Mercy of mercies Till we have obtained him we have in effect obtained no mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 But to whom God gives Christ to them he gives freely both life and all things with Christ Rom. 8.32 Mat. 6.33 He is the Inheritance these are but th' appurtenances He is the Fountain these but the streams thence flowing To them that are Christ's He brings all blessings in his arms As Christ's blood flows freely to them so Life and all things come sweetly swimming to them in the blood of a Saviour III. As a fruit of Gods precious Promises Christless men have Life and all their enjoyments only by Common Providence But they that are Christ's have and hold Life andall things by Covenant and Promise Godliness hath the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Again the Promise is Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Mat. 6.33 They that are Christ's are children of the Covenant which God made with Abraham c. Act. 3.25 They that are Christ's are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the Promise Gal. 3.28 29. 4.28 whilst all others are strangers from the Covenant'â— of Promise Ephes. 2.12 Now to hold Life by Promise is both a sure and sweet tenure For God that promised cannot lye Tit. 1.2 yea Gods Promise and Oath are those two immutable things 〈◊〉 it is impossible for God to lye And this ministers â—o ais strong consolation Heb. 6.18 And All the Promises of God in Christ are Yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Oh what an Advantage is this to them that are Christ's that hold Life and all of God in Christ by Promise God hath as Augustine notes made himself their Debtor not by Receiving from them but by Promising to them They may by Faith confidently rest and rely upon his Promise They may by Prayer in all wants and dangers plead Gods Promise and sue him as it were upon his own Covenant and Bond. He will not He cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.13 IV. As an onely happy Season divinely blessed and sanctified to all that are Christ's for their salvifical furtherance in Spirituals and Eternals Tit. 1.15 2 Cor. 6.2 Others have Life but not in such sort sanctified They as one said not so much live as are in life Life unto them is as the Quaits were to Israel a curse rather than a blessing Or as the Pearl is to the Muscle or Oyster on the Precious stone to the Serpents head their Disease rather than their Perfection Hereafter the wicked shall say It had been good for them they had never lived they had never been born Mat. 26.24 Or that assoon as
known his truth Isa. 38.18 19. Therefore now let the councel of Solomon sink deep into every true Christians heart Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work noâ— device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither tâ—â—â— goest Eccles. 9.10 7. Finally Their Hoarding time for Eternity In this Life they that are Christ's lay up for themselves Treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt nor thieves break through and steal Matth. 6.20 Now they treasure up Gifts Graces Prayers Tears Promises Experiences Evidences for Heaven c. Now they may be rich in good-works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves bags that wax not old and a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.19 Now they may make themselves friends with the Mammon of unrighteousness that when they fail they may be received into everlasting habitations Luk. 16.9 Now they may meditate of their Mortality and prepare for their Immortality Now they may ponder upon their First Middle and Last things as Bernard ranks them Those bring shame those grief and these Fear They may think whence they came and blush where they are and groanâ— whither they go and tremble They may remember their latter end that they may not easily do amiss Thus Life is theirs How is Death theirs that are Christ's Resol As I have discovered the bright Day of Life to be theirs so now I shall shew how the dark Night of Death is theirs also It 's appointed to all men Godly and Wicked once to die But oh what a vast disparity is there betwixt the Godly that are Christ's and the Wicked that are Christless in Death To the wicked belong 1 The terrors of Death that King of Terrors as Bildad calls it that Most terrible of terribles as the Heathen stiled it The enmity of Death 1 Cor. 15.25 26. 3 The sting and venom of Death 1 Cor. 15.56 4 The curse and bitterness gall and wormwood of Death Gal. 3.10 5 The woful followers of Death viz. The Judgment of Condemnation Heb. 9.27 Joh. 5.29 And everlasting Torments in Hell Matth. 25.41 46. Luk. 16.23 But from them that are Christ's All this evil and mischief of Death is sweetly removed away by Christ. â— They fear not Death but can desire it and groan after it Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is much more best Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy Word For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our House which is from Heaven 2. Of aâ— Enemy Death is become their Friend Of Loss their Gain Phil. 1.21 2 Cor. 5.1 3. Of an Hornet Death is become a Drone The sting of Death is plucked out by Christ who hath given them the victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. 4. The Curse of Death is turned into a Blessing Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 5. And the Consequents of Death are to them most comfortable viz. The judgement of Absolution Heb. 9.27 with Matth. 25.34 And eternal life in Heaven Matth. 25.46 Luk 16.22 Thus to them that are his Jesus Christ brings light out of Darkness Good out of evil life out of Death He turns this venemous Viper Death into a soveraign Treacle Death is as Sampson's roaring Lyon slain by Christ our true Sampson out of whose carkase he gives his members the sweetest Honey-combs of Spiritual advantages More Particularly let them that are Christs know That 1. Death is their sweet sleep in Jesus It 's often stiled their Sleep As Joh. 11.11 12 13. Acts 13.36 1 Cor. 15.51 11.30 And sometimes their Sleep in Jesus As them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes. 4.14 Then thâ—y also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15.18 The Grave is their Bed they shall rest in their Beds Isa. 57.2 It is said of godly King Asa they buried him and laid him in the Bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the Apothecaries art 2 Chron. 16.14 But the Saints last bed the Grave is perfumed with better sweets than Spices and Odors even wiâ—h the Burial of Christs own blessed Body Matth. 27.59 60. In these Beds they rest from all their labours of sin and sorrow Rev. 14.13 Here they sweetly sleep as in the bosom of Christ unto whom even their dead dust remains still mystically united and therefore is of precious account with him And out of this last sleep they shall again awake at Christs glorious appearing Dan. 12.2 1 Cor. 15.23 51 52 c. 1 Thâ—ss 4.14 15 16. 2. Death is their Alteration not their Abolition their Change not their Confusion Thus â—ob accounted it All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Job 14.14 And of all men in the world they that are Christ's do at death make an happy change They change Earth for Heaven An earthly Clay-tabernacle for Celestial Mansions in the Heavenly Fathers house 2 Cor. 5.1 Job 14.2 Rags of Mortality for Robes of Immortality 2 Cor. 5.4 1 Cor. 15.53 Society of Saints imperfect for the company of blessed Angels and of the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 As Hierom said of Nepotianus He did not so much die as remove not so much leave his friends as change them In all respects they change every way for the better 3. Death is their Departure not their Destruction Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dissolution not their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or reversion Having a desire to depart Phil. 1.23 Their loosing from this Earthly shore to set sail for Heaven Good old Simeon said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Lord now loosest thou thy servant or lettest thou loose thy servant c. Luk. 2.29 They depart From this Egypt and Wilderness to that Canaan From this earthly to that better and heavenly Country From this decaying City below to that continuing City above Heb. 13.14 From visibles to invisibles From transitory and finite creatures to God the Creator and Jesus Christ the Redeemer blessed for ever Amen Joh. 20.17 Phil. 1.23 1 Thess. 4.17 Rom. 9.5 4. Death is their Gain not their Loss So the Apostle judged it would be to him For to me to live is Christ and to die is Gain Phil. 1.21 What Gain They that are Christ's when they die lose their dearest Natural lives and therewith their earthly relations and acquaintance their Friends houses Lands Livings Honors Riches Pleasures even all these temporal enjoyments True But what are all these Painted shadows vanishing Bubbles magnifi'd Nothings They gain by Dying other manner of Treasures as Perfection of