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
and neglected in the grave keeping an everlasting fast yea instead of faring deliciously every day it self must afford a meal to the worms and say to corruption thou art my father Job 17.14 But this is not all nor the worst yet Sixthly Death sends the Soul to be a prey to the worm that never dyes Here is the Morral of Prometheus his Vulture the preying of the Conscience upon it self with the ungrateful and corroding remembrance of the pleasures of this life when they are to part as never to return of the sins of a mans life for which God doth now bring him into judgment of the day of grace which he neglected being like the fool that had a price put into his hands to get wisdom but had no heart to make use of it Prov. 17.16 This is a vengeance worthy of God a punishment suitable to the nature of a separate Soul when it hath not the company of the Body to partake of the other torment the fire that never shall be quenched Mar. 9.44 To this torment death sends the soul as judgmet shall hereafter send the body to the other This is the unhappiness of those that so live as to fear death and justly to fear it because under its power and dominion in the worst and severest sense But as we have seen the dark side let us also take a view of the bright side of the cloud let us Secondly consider the happy and comfortable condition of those that have attained a blessed victory over death and and live in the enjoyment of the sense thereof and so it will appear to be matter of thankfull resentment and worthy of giving praise to the author thereof For First such a man enjoys more comfort in the world then another man doth or can God as a bountiful Creator hath given us variety of comforts in the things of this world and it is his will that we should serve him with gladness and cheerfullness of heart in the abundance of all things Deut. 28.47 And he is best able to rejoyce and take comfort in the fruits of Gods goodness who hath overcome the danger and fear of Death For First This sets his Aflections above the world It is most certain that whatsoever we have of worldly enjoyments either imperat aut servit to some the world is a master to others a servant And as it is a very useful and obsequious servant when it is kept under so it is a very imperious and tyranical master when we subject our selves to it Now he only is a truly free man who hath placed his most lively affections upon better things this frees him from those eager desires after getting more which like a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the body do gnaw the mind with perpetuall unquietness from those distracting sollicitudes about worldly matters which keep the soul continually upon the Rack drawing it this way and that way And in the affluence of the things desired this prevents that puffing up with pride which like a status in the Hippocondries or a tumor in any part of the body renders the mind subject to an uneasy calendure that pinching greediness in keeping together the heap which like a compressed vessel in nature hindring the free motion of the blood and spirits bindeth the soul and hinders it from a comfortable enjoyment of its portion This dischargeth the mind from that anxiety as to losing these things which in many takes away the pleasure they should reap from the enjoyment of them and finally so suits the spirit to a compliance with the Divine Providence that it reckons the lines fallen to it in a pleasant place Psal 16.8 and shakes off that repining and discontent which like an unfit shooe makes a man step uneasily in the condition wherein he walketh Now this is the victory whereby we overcome the World even our Faith 1 Joh. 5.4 This raiseth the heart above it when we with comfort look on our selves as strangers and pilgrims in it and such as seek a better Countrey that is an heavenly Heb. 11.16 Secondly this satisfies a mans mind that his main concerns are secured and the greatest of fears overcome Go thy way eat thy bread drink thy drink with a merry heart for God accepteth thy works Eccl. 9.7 In worldly matters then are we at ease and can enjoy a friend or take satisfaction in any other comfort when our greatest concerns are secured and our main business over And especially in spiritual affairs then do a mans morsels go down sweetly and he doth sleep with freedom and security when the fear of God's wrath is removed and an interest in his love and favour secured This is bread that the World knows not of hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 such joy as a stranger intermedleth not with Prov. 14.10 Such is the sweetness and satisfaction that this affords that the like is in vain sought for in worldly acquisitions Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us And this puts gladness into our hearts more than the men of the World have in the time when their Corn and Wine and Oil encreaseth Ps 4. 6 7. Secondly such a man goes along in the way of his duty with vigour and delight It is a great happiness as well as a duty to cut with a keen edge in doing the will of God to proceed with vigour and to take delight and complacency in doing well And there is nothing so much conduceth to work in us this temper of mind as confidence of a reward added to a conscientious sense of God's command Be not weary of well-doing knowing that in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not Gal. 6.7 Be stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 Thirdly he will pass through the difficulties of a Christian course with courage and serenity of spirit The Apostle tells us that we have need of patience that after we have done the will of God we may inherit the promises Heb. 10.36 because through much tribulation we pass into the kingdom of heaven Act. 14.22 And if we faint in the day of adversity it sheweth our strength to be small Prov. 24.10 Now this consideration that death will put an end to all these troubles and a confident perswasion that death shall be an happy change to us will help us to hold out with courage and chearfulness in opposition to fainting or fretting at the difficulty of the way Thus Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin because he had respect to the rceompence of reward Heb. 11.25 26. Yea the master of that house in which Moses was faithful as a Servant was by the joy that was set before him encouraged to endure the cross and despise the shame Heb. 12.2 Fourthly he will be fit for every condition and know how to
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
it v. 55. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Which he further amplifieth by representing the length and strength of Deaths weapons v. 56. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law And concludes with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or song of triumph in the words I have chosen to insist upon But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Wherein we have this blessed Apostle expressing the courage and yet the humility of a Christian His confidence through Faith and withal the lowly deference that he owns to Almighty God through our Lord Jesus Christ Or more particularly we have the true Christians victory over Death First joyfully reported 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a victory to us Christians over Death Secondly thankfully resented 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thanks be to him that giveth us this victory Thirdly the Author of it acknowledged and magnified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thanks be to God Fourthly the procuring or meritorious cause of this victory signified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through our Lord Jesus Christ I begin with the joyful report of this victory over Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word victory is a martial term and intimateth First that Death is an Enemy There may be an obliging victory in the friendly contests of Lovers who endeavour to outstrip each other in offices of kindness and good-will But this victory is of another nature it is like the battel of the warriour with confused noise and garments rolled in blood Isa 9.5 It is the overcoming of a great and formidable enemy Such is Death and that First To the natural concerns of man To destroy either the Soul or Body of man is a work beyond the reach of Death or any other on this side that infinite power that made them both But what Death aims at is the separating of these old friends and dissolving the union that was so intimate between them And this is that which Nature so industriously endeavoureth to maintain that the dissolution must be an act of great violence to it To maintain this union Nature is not only forward to gratifie sense by eating and drinking what is pleasant and delightful but sometimes content to affront and annoy it by submitting to severe abstinences laborious exercises ungrateful and nauseous doses of Physick To maintain this the most greedy Mammonist will break off some pieces of his adored Idol employing his bags to compass this greatest purchase of continued health Yea the industrious Merchant will discharge his Ship of the most promising return to secure what he accounts the most precious thing aboard his life To continue this union how many are content to undergo the tediousness of a lingering distemper and chuse a dying life before death it self To maintain this how many do meet force with force and make their neighbours life a commutation for their own Yea for this end how oft do men expose and sometimes yeild to part with some of the less useful members of their own bodies to secure by composition the health of the whole All which sheweth how earnest desires and what diligent care Nature hath inspired us with of maintaining this union of Soul and Body and perpetuating it as far as may be And consequently what an enemy Death is in attempting the dissolution thereof Secondly to a man in his moral concerns Death is an enemy Even a criminal while he can escape the arrest of the Law thinks the best of his own condition and a sinner while he can hold up his head in the land of the living is apt to bless himself in his own sanguine conceits and to laugh at the doctrine of a Judgment to come But look what an enemy the Malefactor esteems him that hales him before an earthly Tribunal or a Debtor him that calls him to account for his scores such an enemy doth every man that knows himself to have offended and hath not sued out his pardon every man that hath run in score to Gods justice and hath not applied himself to that Surety that so graciously offers to pay his debts esteems Death that comes to bring him before Almighty God as a righteous Judg from whom he may expect a dreadful sentence and the great Creditor to whom he knows himself not responsible Secondly this term Victory supposeth a conflict Over a Coward that dares not to fight or a Town that surrenders upon summons we are not ordinarily said to obtain a victory This is properly the effect of strugling and striving for mastery And with this enemy Death every man hath a great conflict And that both First Eminùs at a distance when it threatens us and thus it begetteth fear which is a passion that commonly makes impression especially upon persons of soft and tender natures not inferiour to those that attend the approaches of evil Especially O death how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that lives peaceably in the enjoyment of his friends to him that is quiet and prosperous in his business and to him that hath an appetite and can relish his meat Ecclus 41.1 This is such a conflict as doth quietos sollicitare disquiets those that are at ease in Sion and disturbs them that are setled upon their Lees. To think that this healthy body must e're long be distempered with diseases that those pleasures that have been the darlings of their souls must everlastingly forsake them that those riches for which they have toiled and laboured must take themselves wings and for ever fly away yea that this stately and beautiful structure of the body must yeild to dissolution and which is more dreadful than all the rest that when the dust shall return to the earth the spirit shall return to God that gave it Eccl. 12.7 to pass an account of the things which it hath done in the body and to receive a reward according to them whether they be good or evil 2 Cor. 5.10 This is that terror of the Lord through which so many are all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2.16 Secondly and especially Cominùs when Death comes to conflict with us hand to hand when the battel is set in array and pila minantia pilis Can thy heart endure or thy hands be strong in the day when God thus dealeth with thee Ezek. 22.14 When Death is represented in its most ordinary habit this ghastly Skeleton armed with Scyth and Spade beset with the skulls and bones of dead men as trophyes of its multiplied conquests how dismally doth it look how far from the aspect of one that designs to court delicate Ladies yea more like to a Mormo designed to affright mankind But especially when it clothes it self in an habit of extraordinary terror when it appears in the scarlet cloak of a violent calenture in the purple robes of a pestilential feaver when it enamels its weapons with the stone or stains them
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
they disquiet themselves in vain and that every man living upon ground or in what capacity soever he stands is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 6. and to cry out with the wise man Vanity of vanities all is vanity Eccl. 1.2 And if the profit that is in all labour do encourage a man to take pains and to endeavour to shew himself wise under the Sun then sure these thoughts of the vanity of humane designs and attempts do take a man off from striving to do wisely and worthily in his generation Thirdly it duls the edge of the soul for good duties He that fancies himself to lye down under the burden of insuperable difficulties that apprehends God to be an austere Master Heaven to be unattainable and Hell unavoidable will have very little mind to stir up himself to lay hold upon God or to work out his own salvation Isa 64.7 Phil. 2.12 or to use that violence of holy endeavours that is required in taking the kingdom of heaven Mat. 11.12 For it is hope of success that quickens endeavours and despair of this doth disspirit a man and make him dull and unactive Secondly let us take notice of such a man when Death is at hand and begins to encounter him and here we find him in a very miserable estate that hath not attained victory over Death for First it dispossesseth him at once of all the fruits of his labours and ejects him from the enjoyment of all his worldly acquisitions Though whilst he lived he blessed his own soul he shall go to the generation of his fathers and shall no more see the light of comfort and therefore man that is in honour and underctandeth not is like the beasts that perish Psal 49.18 19 20. And is it not a dismal condition for a man that hath toiled and bestowed great industry that hath plotted and contrived to the disturbing of his head and interrupting of his sleep that hath pinched and denied himself the enjoyments of many worldly comforts to increase his heap by parsimony yea that hath too often stained his conscience and hazarded his soul to heap up that which might be called a plentiful estate in this world this man I say to hear on a sudden that dreadful and heart-breaking voice Thou fool this night shall thy soul be taken from thee and then whose shall all those things be for which thou hast laboured Luk. 12.20 Secondly It dasheth all those vain hopes of Heaven with which such a man had flattered himself As there are politick projecting hypocrites who know themselves to be no better than whited Sepulchres Matth. 23.37 so are there many foolish Virgins who bear about the lamp of an outward profession in their hands and want oil to make it burn Matth. 25.3 and yet are so simple as to expect at last to enter in with the Bridegroom as well as the best And how sad will it be to them when at death coming to the door and crying Lord Lord open unto us they shall be repulsed with Verily I say unto you I know you not What is the hope of the hypocrite though he have gained applause from the World when God taketh away his soul Will God then hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him Will he then delight himself in the Almighty will he always call upon God Job 27.8 9 10. Beside there are many who though they could not find in their hearts to day while it was called to day to hear God's voice Heb. 3.8 yet they verily intended to take a time more convenient for these things But now these mens hopes are over the Bridegroom is come on a sudden those that were ready are entred with him and the doors are shut Thirdly Death puts an end to his day of Grace Some men indeed have so long hardned their hearts against hearing the voice of God that he hath already given them up to their own hearts lusts Ps 81.12 they have so long resisted the Holy Ghost in its strivings Acts 7.51 that God hath resolved that his Spirit shall no more strive with them Gen. 6.3 But ordinarily mens day of grace is commensurate with the day of their lives and whilst men are alive there is no man so bad but he may become better But death puts an end to these expectations it shuts-men up in an unalterable condition and as the tree falls so it shall lye for ever whether toward the South or toward the North Eccles 11.3 Fourthly death commonly brings to a mans remembrance those sins which before he was unmindful of In the day of health and prosperity men are apt to put far from them the troublesome and ungrateful remembrance of their sins past Worldly business and company and divertisements worldly pleasures and delights suggest more sanguine thoughts to the mind But when death cometh God doth ordinarily to them that are of sound mind and memory shew that he hath set their iniquities before him and their secrets sins in the light of his countenance Psal 90.8 Yea after his long silence he doth then use to reprove men and set their sins in order before their eyes Psal 50.21 and causeth mens iniquities to compass them about as at their heels Psal 49.5 and lets them see and feel that it is an evil thing and a bitter that they have forsaken the living Lord and that his fear hath not been before their eyes Jer. 2.19 And judg how unwelcome this is to a man's mind that hath long lain asleep in security when it makes him cry out with Ahab to Elijah hast thou found me O my enemy 1 Kin. 21.20 Fifthly death puts the greatest affront imaginable upon the beautiful and majestick fabrick of the body This pile of dust and ashes that appeareth so stately through the Divine Architecture that is so fearfully and wonderfully made in its contexture Psal 139.14 that is rendred so glorious by the enstamping of God's Image upon it that is by God's ordination become so awful and formidable to inferior animals of far greater strength This painted piece of dirt that hath been so much doted upon and adored for its delicate feature and amiable intermixture of lillies and roses this well-formed statue which voluptuous persons have adored as a terrestrial Deity Phil. 3.19 to which they have constantly sacrificed whole hecatombs of all the dainties which the Earth the Air and the Sea could afford this flesh for which men have made provision to fulfill its lusts Rom. 13.14 This must then become equal to the beasts that perish a prey to the inferiour animals the very worms loathsom to the eye of its former admirers so that they that loved it best when informed with a Soul can afford it now no better complement than let me bury my dead out of my sight Gen. 23.4 This that was sometime fed and clothed by the contrivance and industry of so many heads and hands must go naked out of the world as it came naked in and lye solitary
Christ. Secondly to satisfie us on the contrary concerning the dejectedness and despondency wherewith some men do meet death from whom yet better things might have been expected Men of strong bodies athletick constitution happy education great parts much reading how fearful have they been to look death in the face yea a good man when God hides the light of his countenance from him doth tremble to think of death and judgment of this a reason is easily given from what hath been spoken the Author of so great a blessing with-holds it where it doth not seem good to his infinite wisdom to bestow it Thrirdly this directs us whether to apply our selves to obtain strength in the last encounter We must not trust to our selves to natural or acquired gifts but we must go forth in the strength of the Lord and make mention of his name even of his only Psal 71.16 On him let us call by prayer him let us sollicite by acting faith on him who giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Isa 40.29 Fourthly what thanks and obedienâ—e can be sufficient for a just acknowledgment to God from them to whom he hath vouchsafed this glorious triumph over death It is the greatest victory that can be imagined to conquer this king of terrors the greatest gift we can think of imploring the divine favour to bestow upon us in this world that he will furnish us with that strength and resolution that will make us not afraid to leave the world It is one of the blessed fruits of our Saviours meritorious sufferings and obedience And therefore what shall we return unto the Lord for this and all other his benefits What thanks offering can be of due value to present unto him what fruit of the lips what obedience of heart and life can be sufficient to express 〈◊〉 râ—sâ—â—ment of this favour O give thanks unto the Lord for he is God 〈◊〉 hâ—â— meâ—â—y â—â—duâ—â—eth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lâ—â—d 〈◊〉 whom he hâ—â—h redeemed from the hand of the enemy O 〈◊〉 would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wâ—nderful worâ—s towards the sons of men Psal 107.1 2 8. But from the Author of this victory which was proposed as the third thing considerable let us advance to the Fourth General to be considered in the Text the procuring cause of this victory by whom it was acquired and purchased for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through our Lord Jesus Christ. The main argument whereby the Apostle had established that great Article of our Faith the resurrection of the body in the precedent part of this Chapter was grounded upon the resurrection of Christ from the dead Who not only shewed that it was neither impossible nor yet incredible that God should raise the dead Acts 26.8 because he himself overcome the sharpness of death and broke its bonds but also by rising as a publick person the second Adam the first-fruits from the dead hath made way for us also to follow him in the resurrection of our bodies And this expression in the Text seems to be the Epiphonema or close of that discourse and arguing It is in Christ that God blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things Eph. 1.3 And particularly this blessed victory over death is derived unto us through Christ several ways hath Christ overcome death and made way for our being victorious over it First he hath destroyed the sting of death even sin by his merits and sufferings The sting is the most formidable part in those animals that are arm'd therewith And sin which rendred us obnoxious to the wrath of God and curse of the Law was the chief thing that made death dreadful to mankind as arresting us in order to bringing us before the Judg of all the earth who will render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 But this sting hath Christ plucked out from death by his voluntary and meritorious obedience answering the exaction of the Law and by his unparallel'd and meritorious sufferings enduring the malediction thereof So that there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 As a great High Priest he hath by one offering perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 As our surety he hath paid our debts and cancelled the hand-writing that was against us As our God he hath redeemed us not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with his own most pretious blood 1 Pet. 1.19 And in each respect God is just and yet the justifier of the ungodly when he believeth in Jesus Rom. 3.26 In him mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Psal 85.10 Secondly he hath overcome the pains of death by his example and promises By his example who as the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2.10 He suffered perfectly all that the Law of God could exact or the rage of his enemies inflict And he was perfect under his sufferings so as not to entrench the least upon the bounds of compleat patience Jam. 1.2 He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth Isa 53.7 When he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2.23 Further by his sufferings he perfected the work of our Redemption and fully satisfied Divine Justice And hereby he hath engaged and encouraged us to arm our selves likewise with the same mind because Christ hath suffered in the flesh for us 1 Pet. 4.1 And by his promises he hath encouraged us telling us that this strait way leadeth to life that in the mean time he will never fail us nor forsake us Heb. 13.5 But when we pass through the fire and water he will be with us Isa 43.1 2 and that these light afflictions that endure but for a season do work for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Thirdly he hath wiped away the scandal of death by his leading the way in suffering death and lying in the grave It is a great affront to this stately piece of well-formed earth to own kindred with corruption and worms Job 17.14 But Christ the best of men yea the Son of God hath led us on the way to Golgotha and we need not be ashamed to follow him in the steps he hath troden He suffered before he was glorified he endured the cross and digested the shame of that scandalous death before he set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 12.3 And therefore it is no disgrace to us to die and be laid in the grave Yea it was a far bitterer cup that he drank off for us than what God useth to put into the hands of his people and therefore we should not scruple at drinking our own portion He hath perfumed the grave by laying
Victory over Death A SERMON PREACHED At Steeple-Ashton in the County of Wilts upon the 27th day of April 1676. AT THE FUNERAL OF Mr. Peter Adams The late Reverend Pious and Industrious Minister of Gods Word there Sometime Fellow of Vniversity-Colledge in Oxford By Paul Latham P. S. and V. W. Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us London Printed by H. C. for Edward Gellibrand at the Golden Ball in St. Pauls-Church-Yard 1676. To my worthy and much respected Friend Mrs. Margaret Adams the sorrowful Relict of the deceased And to the rest of his near and dear Relations My Dear Friends VIctory over death as it was one of the blessed fruits of our Saviours death and resurrection and is one of the glorious priviledges of those that believe in him so if it had been represented unto you by the hand of that happy Comprehensor who now triumpheth in the accomplishment of it might have appeared like Apelles his Picture drawn by his own hand or like Cesars Conquests by himself recorded in his own Commentaries But that the Discourse upon it fell into an hand so unsuitable to the subject the misfortune is imputable to the charity of him that made his survey of the person with the charitable eye of a Friend and committed a matter of such weight like a beautiful Face to a sorry Limner or a rare Atchievement to an unskilful Herald only because he had a kindness for him That the representation of this Victory appeareth without the Walls where it was once divulged stands charged upon your candour that entertained this sudden production with more friendliness than the Parent had for it I shall not mention either the shortness of the time alotted for the composure or the intervening occasions that disturbed it nor yet the little leasure I had for reviewing and transcribing the Notes but leave it to the courteous interpretation of those that by knowing how to do far better do know also how to bear with the imperfections of others For your own parts I look upon your request for making this publick as the desire of true Friends to retain the Picture of a deceased Brother when the Prototype is removed from them Or like the ambition of the primitive Christians to preserve the memory of the Martyrs and Confessors that were gone before them and had taken heaven by violence Mat. 11.12 He hath run his part of the Christian Race and hath delivered the Lamp to us that are left God grant that we may not be slothful but followers of him and of all others who through faith and patience do inherit the promises Heb. 6.12 Though I know you have other and greater matters to draw you to hasten homeward yet I presume this will make an addition to the rest that you may be joined to our good Friend that sleepeth and to the rest of that general Assembly and Church of the First-born that are written in Heaven even to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 I doubt not but you have those comforts from Gods good Spirit that will support you under so great a loss And that this small memorial of our Reverend Friend may be a mean to stir up you and his late Parishioners and all others that may cast their eyes upon these lines to fight the good fight of Faith that they may attain victory in the great conflict and finally attain everlasting life is the hearty Prayer of Your sympathizing Friend and unworthy Brother Paul Latham Warmister May 22 1676. Victory over Death A SERMON ON 1 CORINTH XV. 57. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ IF the Interment of a good Christian afford matter of solemn thoughts to that Minister who seriously considers such men to be as the Grape-gleanings of the Vintage Mic. 7.1 If the parting with a dear and intimate Friend be tedious to him that considers such an one to be more pretious than the Gold of Ophir If the translation of a dear Brother and faithful Labourer from serving God in his Church on earth to attending on him and enjoying him in heaven do cause sad thoughts of heart in him that duly surveys the greatness of the Harvest Once more if the removal of a Minister that was in his life time a burning and shining light be to a considerate Parishioner like the setting of the Sun in the Firmament Then all these circumstances combined in the sad occasion of this solemn Assembly may justly render it very mournful to me To whom the greatness of grief might most justly have enjoined silence had not the earnest request of our Reverend Brother now with God which had the power of a command upon me appointed speaking to be my work this day Who if he had also thought fit to have suggested words for my subject at this time they might have been like the Mantle of Elijah attended with some of his Spirit and thereby being dead he would once more have spoken unto you Heb. 11.4 But seeing it was his pleasure to repose that confidence in me as to leave the choice of a subject to the conduct of my own thoughts I shall not disappoint his expectation by gratifying my own passion For then to express my tender brotherly affection I might have insisted upon such words as those of David I am distressed for thee my Brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women 2 Sam. 1.26 Or rather to express a more honourable and reverent affection more suitable to my juniority in years and deficiency in attainments I might have spoken of him and by a figure to him in such words as those of the King of Israel to the Prophet My father my father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof 2 King 13.14 But instead of humouring my self which would be a very unsuitable design in him that steps up into the Chair of so worthy and self-denying a man of God I shall rather chuse to represent unto you your late Reverend Minister now dead in living colours and in his example and attainments to set before you at once your duty and happiness in obtaining a glorious and comfortable victory over death And for this end I have chosen to insist upon this portion of Scripture Thanks be to God which hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Which words are the result of the Apostles joyful preapprehending by the eye of Faith that victory which shall hereafter be compleated to Believers over the last great enemy Ver. 54. He stretcheth forward his head to look unto this So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory Whereupon he subjoineth a confident challenge to death or rather he manfully defieth