victory Deaths commission and power is taken away it comes not as a penal and judicial evil to the Saints not as a part of the curse but a remain of the cross an evil of affliction sanctified and eminently conducing to their good hence the Apostle gloryes over it not in a way of proud insulting but in an humble triumph of faith in God through Christ which plainly argues death as to him and all believers was spoiled of its power Hence we may take up these two Doctrines of just and weighty Observation Doct. 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death or natural Death is armed by Sin with a sore and grievous Sting Doct. 2. That the Sting of Death is certainly and infallibly taken out so that it cannot really hurt prejudice or annoy true Believers These two Doctrines doe contain the true meaning and intent of the Apostle in these words 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death This lies first in our way Never shall we see our deliverance fully till we see our danger nor be sensible of the excellent remedy till we have felt the smart of the fore hence many men out of stupidity or a wilful slighting or refusing to mind their death their last end have made too light a matter of it but of a truth when death comes armed by sin with an high Commission from the Law it will be found to be piercing painful and poysonous I shall therefore in the first place endeavour to shew more particularly what the Sting of Death is before I come to shew how it is taken out 〈◊〉 â—â—ow there are several Stings in Death 1. The first sting in death is that it came into the world through mans own fault Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered and death by sin and death passed upon all men c. It is sin brought in death as a curse and punishment Death comes from God not as instituting the course of Nature at first but as revenging sin There is a Saying in Ecclsiasticus that God did not make Death true it is not a Creature but the destruction of the Creature God is not the peccant cause of the falling of this house of clay but our sin as Eccles 10.18 It s plain in the tenor of the first threatning Gen. 2.17 They are Malefactors that are sentenced aâ— judged and condemned to die Every sinner dyes as a Malefactor as an evil doer suffering for his own sin And truely it pierceth deep if a man consider that he fetcht the Viper out of the snow and nourished it in his own bosome which now doth sting and devour him When a man must say In me convertite ferrum mea caedes mea fraus omnis When it shall be told him as Jer. 2.19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee And as Jer. 4.18 thy way and doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness We like the foolish woman Prov. 14.1 pull down the house over our heads with our own hands Before we feel the burthen of sin our own will to it is our warrant for it and because our selves have done it we can easily excuse it but at last it will sting like an Adder This will double the burthen this will be enough to silence any sufferer in this last execution of Justice upon him i.e. in this life This consideration will devolve all the load upon our selves Who shall relieve us Who shall grieve for us Whom shall we blame but even leave our complaint upon our selves 2. Another Sting in Death is that it comes from the Wrath of God Psal 78.50 He made a way to his anger and spared not their soul from death God takes away the wicked in his wrath Psal 58.9 Death is his destroying Angel that chaseth them out of the world There are two thing in a curse or punishment 1. Something that is evil some oppressing evil 2. The wrath of God mixt with it Now death is a part of the curse now this is piercing and painful indeed for a man to be taken away in wrath Sinners in Sion are afraid and a fearful thing it is to tall into the hands of the Living God 3. Another sting in death is that it is the punishment due to sin It comes armed therefore with a Commission to take satisfaction for of sence and wrong done to the infinite God It is the wages of sin Rom. 6. ult We were bound upon peril of our lives and on pain of death to keep Gods Law Gen. 2.17 In the day thou catest thereof thou shalt surely dye that being broken death ensues and seizeth on us as our punishment So v. 22. of this Chapter In Adam all aye Sin and punishment goe together When the body of sin goes before Punishment as its shadow attends it When Eve brought forth a son she was brought a bed of death according to the Proverb Ex malo Corvo malum Ovum The Jews have a Saying There was never any punishment hapned to them but there was anounce of the golden calf in it So there is no death but there are some drachmes of sin in it The lively Image of Sin is ever to be seen in Death Would you see the sad influence that moisture hath upon iron Look upon the rust of it Would you see the horrid evil of drunkenness Look upon the effects of it Prov. 23.29 Who hath woe who hath sorrow Who hath contention Who hath babling Who hath wounds without cause Who hath redness of eyes v. 30. They that tarry long at the wine they that goe to seck mixt wine So here Who hath shortness of breath a pale countenance a crazy body Catarrhs Epilepsies Palsyes c They that continue in sin Why doth the living man complain Lam. 3.39 A man for the punishment of his sin This stings pains and pierceth the sinner when death comes 4. Another sting in death is that it separates the soul and body each from other These antient friends whose lives and happiness here as Jacobs was in Benjamins Gen. 44.30 lare bound up in one anothers welfare Will ye take Benjamin away All these things are against me If mischief befal him then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave Gen. 42 36 38. So may the body which is so closly wedded and so dearly affected to the soul say If ye take away my soul you take away my life As it is reported of Madrian the Emperour when he was dying he thus trembling at the gastly countenance of the King of Terrors bespake his miserable soul Animula vagula blandula Hospes Comesque corporis Quoe nune abibit in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis Jocos O thou little pleasant wandring soul the guess and companion of the body 〈◊〉 what place will it goe c. So hard did he find it for these two friends to part If it be so hard for a man to part
Josiah Flint Dorchester from my Study 7th of 5th 1680. DEATH DISARMED BEING A Funeral Sermon Upon 1 Cor. 15.55 O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory THE great Article of the Resurrection of the Dead is the Subject of the Apostles Discourse in this Chapter a Doctrine by the Jews denyed by the Gentiles derided as Acts 17.8 They â—â—â—ffed at Paul because he preached Jesus and the Resurrection from the Dead This as a great Subject and fundamental Article of Religion of which some in the Church of Corinth doubted or else denied it the Apostle labours from several Topicks to prove 1. From the common Testimony or joynt Witness of all the Apostles as having seen and bearing Testimony unto the Resurrection of Christ v. 4 c. to 9. 2. From that Faith whereby these Corinthians did formerly entertain this Doctrine v. â—1 3. From the Perfection of the Gospel which contains this among others of the fundamental Doctrines to be known and believed v. 12. 4. From the Resurrection of Christ who rose as a publick Person v. 13. c. He is the first fruits of them that sleep v. 20. and 23. whence he is called the first born of the Dead Col. 1.18 Rev 1.5 And the first begotten of the Dead in respect of order and causality 5. From the many absurdityes that would follow if there were no Resurrection as 1. Then the Apostles Preaching and Miniâ—try was in vain v. 14. 2. Then the Faith of the believing Corinthians was in vain ibid. 3. Then the Apostles were false Witnesses of God ver Ver. 16. 4. Then those that believe Justification by the Resurrection of Christ are deceived v. 16. 5. Then they that are dead are lost i.e. damned totally and finally lost even those that are dead in Christ v. 18 6. Then the hope of Believers is in vain v. 19. 6. From the Signification of some Christian Rites v. 29. in which the Apostle alluâ—es to the custome used Acts 9.37 It was the custom not only of the Jews and more prudent moralized Nations but of the Christians also to wash and anoint the Bodies of the dead which sprung from a natural instinct and hope of a future Resurrection as Onâ— faith on the place 7. From the Sufferings of Believers v. 30. c. Lastly From the easie solution of all Arguments Allegations and Objections to the contrary v. 35. c. Now the Apostle together with this proof doth also illustrate and amplifie the Truth shewing the glorious consequents of the Resurrection as the resignation of the Mediatory Kingdome to the Father by the Lord Jesus and the glorious state of Believers after the Resurrection When the whole Army of Saints shall follow Christ the Captain of their Salvation in their own Order and the whole Rout of Sinners ungodly men shall stand bound before him Christ shall lead forth his own Souldiers victoriously and gloriously dragging the Herd of his spoyled Enemies opprobriously after him Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt He shall receive his Church into the nearest embraces of Love he shall reioyce over her with singing he shall rest in his Love each believing Soul shall be raised changed made immortal and glorious As the Sun riseth from under clogging Mists and obscuring Clouds so shall they be exalted unto heaven and there shine with an high-noon glory Dan. 12.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightâ—â—â— of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars â—â—â—er and ever then v. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory In this Verse in allusion to the words of the Prophet Hosea Hos 13. 〈◊〉 O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy destruction the Apostle sounds the Triumph O Death where is thy Sting O Grave â—â—eye as thy Victory Such was the Apostles confidence God-ward that 〈◊〉 dare what he afore dreaded and handle the Viper he could not â—uch before To make way for the Doctrine it is necessary to enquire 1. What is meant by Death Answ By Death we are to understand natural or bodily Death It is the Resolution of the body into its first principles by and upon the Seperation of the Soul from it which is the close of this life and the beginning of another There is a twofold consideration of Death as learned Paraeus notes on v 53. 1. There is a general and meer natural consideration of Death and so it happens not only to man but to all Creatures living 2. A Theological consideration of it as it is inflicted by the just punishing hand of God and is a part of the curse and so it is a miserable privation of Life and so it is to be considered here as a judicial penal evil and so armed with its sting it is the greatest evil in the world 2. What are we to understand by the Sting of Death Answ 1. The ground-work is Metaphorical the Apostle herein alluding to venomous Creatures as snakes serpents and vipers who are by nature armed with a sting for offence and defence so Death hath something in it offensive until it be removed A Sting at least in common account is the chief subject of venome and the instrument whereby venomous creatures pierce others and convey their poyson into them so as to fill them with pain and anguish 2. The Sting of Death is its strength and power to annoy and hurt The sting of death in a similitude and resemblance of a serpent is its offending power the sting of death is sin as in v. 56. Sin arms death and the Law impowers sin and hence death hath its sting its power to offend and hurt sinners Death is the fruit and consequent of sin Rom. 5.12 Sin entered and Death followed after hence Death comes as an Evil not only as a natural but as a penal and judicial evil as I hinted before Now sin gives strength and power unto Death so that he thâ—â—â— dyes in his sins has a very strong Death for sin puts forth all its potâ—â—â— and poyson to the utmost in the infliction of death upon the sinner 〈◊〉 causeth death to pierce pain and poison the sinner it lets out the wrathâ— which is to come upon the sinner it opens a door to endless and succorless torments it makes the parting with life and the comforts of it bitter to the sinner hence in the death of a sinner all his sins are revived and the curse seizeth on him 3. What is meant by the Apostles thus speaking in a Way of triumphâ—â— Glorying Answ 1. It is a figurative manner of speech in which Death is spoken to as in the form and guise of a Person as an Officer coming under Commission 2. It imports that his power was lost as to the Apostle and so all Believers so the Apostle includes all believers v. 57. who giveth us the
and to look up to that which is to come yet I am sure it iâ—… greater error and a damning error in the wicked and ungodly whâ—… they are not afraid of Death at all when they look upon Death as a common and usual event and have slight thoughts of it all their complaints are out of sympathy with their friends or from their bodily pains or their distracted thoughts about worldly matters but never consider what a weighty thing it is to dye well or what a dreadful thing it is to miscarry in their latter end And O the wretched stupidity of some that can be then most secure and are even like the beasts which perish Psal 49.12 O then blame not any that have woful apprehesions of death and beware of indulging your selves in a stupid secure frame for as Solomon saith in another case Prov. 23.32 It will sting like an Adder and bite like a Serpent II. Hence learn why the wicked and those that are out of Christ have such dreadful deaths they are under the sence and apprehension of the sting of death Death hath a piercing painful and poysonous sting and it hath power over them and doth as armed with the curse of the Law improve its power to fill them with pain sorrow and anguish They may be secure and stupid and their consciences may be seared but those that are not given up to a reprobate sence and so are past feeling they cannot but be full of bitterness and anguish under the unloosed pangs of Death But so much for this Doctrine I proceed to the second II. Doct. The sting of Death is certainly and infallibly taken out so that it cannot really hurt prejudice or annoy any true Believer They may truely and groundedly say as he 1 Sam. 15.32 Surely the bitterness of Death is past it may pierce and pain them but it cannot poyson them it may bruise their heel but cannot break their head What is become 〈◊〉 all that are fallen asleep in Christ are they destroyed Nay they 〈◊〉 made Are they undone Nay they are perfected Is their state â—â—â—tered Nay it is bettered and compleated Are they conquered Nay they are crowned Are they perished No they are highly priâ—â—â—â—dged Are they in bondage Nay they are set at liberty Are 〈◊〉 killed Nay they are revived Are they swallowed up Nay Deach their last and greatest enemy is swallowed up into a compleat victory But I shall endeavour in the opening of this Doctrine to shew you how â—he sting of death is taken out 1. That Sting is taken away that consists in its coming through mans own default But you will say is not death even in the godly a fruit of sin I answer it cannot be denied but that to the godly it is the consequent of sin but it is not in a strict sense the Punishment of their sin for there is no condemnation to them that are â—r Christ Rom 8.1 but it is rather a sanctified affliction to them and the Saints priviledge They made themselves sinful and God made them mortal that so they might not be alwayes miserable Though it came in by sin as Râ—m 5.12 yet as things are now stated in Christ Death to the Saints is the only choice Remedy against sin and the way of their return and entrance into a state of Perfection Thus of the flesh of the Viper is made a choice Antidote against his own poison Christ having overcome death for us Heb. 2.14 Temporal and bodily death is one of the streams of the bitter waters that flow from our provocation against God but since the wood of the Cross is cast into it it is become to every godly man delightsome and savoury and without any distastfulness in it It came with the curse of the thorns but since Christ wore his crown of thorns we may suffer and dye without fear So long as the curse of the Law hath power sin will be strong so long as sin is strong death will be terrible and bitter but Jesus Christ hath satisfied the Law vanquished death and taken out its sting even in Golgotha the place of sculls where were so many Trophies of Deaths victory in its own territories there he overcame it so that now a Believer may say I brake the Law but in Christ I satisfied it and may glory saying In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength 2. The sting of Death is taken out in that it is not now a part or fruit of the revenging wrath of God but of his fatherly love and therefore he doth not so much thrust them out of this world when they dye as take them to himself as it is said concerning him Ger. 5.24 God took him And so Christ tells his Disciples Joh. 14.3 I wâ—ll come again and receive you to my self They are gathered to their Fathers Thâ—â— that dye in the Lord doe not fall but yield themselves into the hand◠〈◊〉 God Acts 7.59 Stephen resigns up his spirit into the hands of Chrâ—â—â— The wicked are gathered like Tares and like chaff to be burned but the Saints like a shock of ripe corn in its season like the preceâ—â—â—â—ain into the Garner to be preserved Hence as a man would â—â—lly â—ay siâ—â— best Moveables when a place is to be destroyed so 〈◊〉 God â—o be 〈◊〉 way his Saints before he bring destroying Calamityes upon a Nation 57 1. The righteous perisheth and no man layâ—th it to heart and the mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Old Mothuselah goes in the year before the Flood came Hezekiah and Josiah are removed by death that so they might not see the evil coming upon Judah Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Saints Psal 116.15 It s no messenger of Satan nor an instrument of wrath but the messenger of Christ to translate them into the Kingdome of heaven whilst others fall into Gods angry revenging hand the Saints dye in the Lord and rest in the embraces of his Love It is said of Moses Deut. 34.5 He dyed at the mouth of Jehovah with a Kiss of his mouth as the Rabbies gloss it as it were sweetly respiring his breath back again into the hand whence he received it So that death to the Saints is not from Justice but choicest mercy and love It is one of those things given us by God in Christ 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours 3. Deaths Sting is taken away in that though it separate Body and Soul yet neither the one nor the other are separated from Christ their Communion with one another indeed is broken but their Union with Christ is no wayes impaired or disanulled They dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 and sleep in Jesus 1 Cor. 15.18 we dye unto the Lord whether we live or dye we are the Lords Rom. 14.8 Our friends indeed are not with us but they are with Christ which is far better Phil. 1. They are taken hence
humbly with their God to watch and pray They that are fit to dye they are and will be fit for any service that God calls them to Paul prepared for Death and willing to dye is fit to continue and abide with the Churches and to be eminently useful for their furtherance and joy of Truth Phil. 1.25 There are solemn exercising Changes foretold by the fearful signs of this time if we are prepared for Death we are armed against the worst and to endure the greatest affliction that can betide us on this side Death Acts 21.13 Paul being ready to dye is ready for bonds and imprisonment at Jerusalem O how comfortable a thing is it to be ready to doe and suffer any thing for the Name of Christ But not to insist longer here If we would be prepared for Death 1. Be and live in the daily and lively exercise of Repentance It is Sin that makes Death bitter and terrible to the sons of men Be thorough and serious in Repentance for sin Let no sin lye unrepented of This was Pauls practice while he lived to exercise himself to have a Conscience void of offence Acts 24.16 Not but that he had to charge himself with and which Conscience might accuse him of yea but he cleared all Reckonings between God and himself by a lively renewed exercise of Repentance Pass not a day without a serious and close review of your actions and wayes and without deep searchings of heart and repentings for all your errors and violations of Gods holy Law and your Rebellion against the Gospel Give diligence to be found of God in peace and this will make the time of Death and Judgement times of refreshing Act. 3.19 If you can allow and live in any known sin if you can digest sin without great bitterness sorrow of a surety you are not prepared for this Change 2. Believe to the saving of your Souls Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus To dye in truth is to dye comfortably it easeth and looseth the pains of Death This is the way to dye in the Lord Rev 14.13 and to sleep in Jesus 1 Cor. 15.18 i. e. in union with God in Christ They that dye in Christ will die in Peace and be sound of God in peace for there is no condemnation to such Rom. 8.1 And the blood of Christ also cleanseth Believers from all sin now it is a blessed thing to be free from the guilt of sin and to have our consciences purified in the blood of Christ this will prepare us for an happy and comfortable Death Now it s the Son only that can make us free in this matter and that must be in a way of union with Christ by Faith O believe in the Lord Jesus he oft and constant in the renewed exercise of Faith as it is said of Abraham Gen. 15.6 He believed Though he believed long before that when he answered the call of God Heb. 11.8 The Apostle tells us By Faith Abraham when he was called obeyed and yet after this its said He believed as if he had not believed before 3. Be throughly mortified to the world Get your Affections crucified to the honours pleasures and profits of this life Weep as though you wept not Rejoyce as though you rejoyced not Buy as though you possessed not Vse this world as not abusing it as the Apostle exhorts 1 Cor. 7.30 31. When this or that aâ—urement of the world bids high and sollicits strongly for your affections then think with old Barzilloi How long have I to live O my friends God forbid that you should glory save in the Cross of Christ If you are Christ's then crucifie the flesh with its whole Train of carnal and sensual Lusts these corrupt the judgement and put a false varnish upon the things of the world It is a dreadfull sign upon any soul to love the world it undeniably evinceth that the love of the Father is not in him 1 Job 2.15 And he that is destitute of the love of the Father is not fit to dy He shall never be received into the everlasting Kingdome that is totally destitute of the Love of God O then mortifie and purge out all inordinate affection to the world and the things of this life whatever you doe get your hearts dead to the Sins Gallantryes and Jollityes of this time 4. Live to the Lord Serve your Generation this is the way to dye unto the Lord and in death to be the Lords Rom. 14. The comforts of a well compleated coâ—â—â—â— of life and service to God therein will give as a serene and quiet frame of spâ—â—â—â— in Death I am ready to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand 〈◊〉 comes he to be thus ready I have finished my course saith he 1 Tim. 4.6 7. 〈◊〉 the labouring Saints and Servants of Christ Death is but a Dismission to Rest So it was to David Acts 13.36 and to Daniel Dan. 12. ult Doe much for God while you live Death will be then sweet and comfortable to you Especially consider and put forth acts of charity and bounty to Christ's poor ones 5. Secure a firm Vnion with Christ that you may dye in the Lord and sleep 〈◊〉 Jesus It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.18 In hiâ—â— there is a full supply of Grace to enable you to live and dye to doe and sufferâ—â— whatever he calls you to now if you are Partakers of Christ have mystical union with him then by the almighty power and working of the holy Spirit you shall have a full supply of all Grace and ability to increase those Graces in Death which are necessary for your comfort an I security in such an hour 6. Number your Dayes yea so number your dayes as Psal 90.12 General Conclusions concerning Death should be enforced upon our hearts by particular application The brevity of Life the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time of Death should be thus enforced upon our hearts I know thou wilt bring me to Death Job 30.23 So Eliphaz tells him he shall come to his Grave Job 5.26 27. Hear know it for thy good Lastly Pray to God to prepare and fit you for Death as David Psal 39.4 Lord make me to know my end and the measure of my dayes So Moses applyes himself to God Psal 90.12 in a sence of his own inability to learn Thus in a few words have I desired to discharge something of that great care which bears strongly upon my heart if God shall help us to fall on and seriously to practise this great lesson then our Death will be but a loosing from this troublesome Shore and however various our Course and the season of our departure hence are yet our meeting and Mansion with Christ in his Fathers House shall be sure and everlasting which that it may be is and shall be the Prayer of Madam your most obliged Kinsman