the remains of that death from which they were (1.) It is crucified, gets a deadly wound, and under grace." (2.) It is weakened and mortified more and more, in the gradual advances of fanctification: Rom. viii. 14. "But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Every new fupply of grace weakens corruption more and more. The grace of Chrift in the heart is a fpring that will never be quite ftopt, and therefore will work out corruption by degrees, as the fpring does the mud: John, iv. 14. "But the water that I fhall give him, fhall be in him a well of water -fpringing up into everlafting life.” They will be be like the houses of Saul and David, while the former waxeth weaker, the latter waxeth ftronger. (3.) At the death of the body, the body of death is utterly destroyed: Heb. xii. 23. " And to the fpirits of juft men made perfect.' There is not the leaft remains of it to be feen any more then; then there fhall not be the leaft darkness in the mind, corruption in the will, nor diforder of the affections. When they are taken up into the mount, they are ftript of their rags, and cloathed with change of raiment, for then Chrift fays, "Loofe him and let him go." 4. He dries up all the forrows of death, wipes away all tears. David was fometimes encompaffed with them, but he is now got beyond them all. Death entering the world at the back of sin, has made an universal flood of misery, that covers the face of the whole earth; even the redeemed ones walking to Zion, cannot mifs to dip their foot in it, and that often very deep; they are liable to afflictions on their bodies and fouls, and all that is theirs; they are diftreffed with defertions and hidings of God's face; they often go mourning without the fun. And what are all thefe but the arrows of the foiled enemy, wherewith he annoys the Mediator's company in this lower world; but Chrift will also spoil this part of death's game in his kingdom; he has taken the poison and strength out of thefe arrows already, that they cannot give a deadly wound; and in a little thefe Egyptians whom they fee to-day, they fhall fee no more for ever: Rev. xxi. 4. " And God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there fhall be no more death, neither forrow, nor crying; neither hall there be any more pain, for the former things are paffed away." 5. He brings all his people fafe through the valley of the fhadow of death: Pfal. xxiii. 4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." Death advances at length to the faint as a king of terrors, to loose the foul from the body. They are ready to be affrighted at the fight, but the waters are dried up where they are to país. It stands before them like a serpent, but the fting of it is gone, they can get no harm of it. "O death! where is thy fting ?" may the dying faint fay; they tread then upon the ferpent, while they país over to the other fide; it cafts down the body into the grave, but their more precious part it cannot touch. It is like the ftorm to Paul; the body, the fhip of the foul, is dashed to pieces; but the foul, the paffenger, gets safe to land. This is a noble victory got through Jefus Chrift. 6. Now, death has nothing of Chrift's but the bodies of his faints, not a foot of ground in his kingdom but the grave; and these he will also wrest out of his hand at the resurrection. So, then, at the laft day, by the found of the trumpet, death fhall be fummoned, in the Conqueror's name, to give up its dead; and immediately it fhall fling open its doors, and yield all up to him: Rev. xx. 13. "And the fea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them." "Then this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal fhall have put on immortality; then fhall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is fwallowed up in victory." Death will hold faft by them that are his own, even when they are come out of the grave; but then nothing that ever belonged to it fhall any more be about those that are Christ's. 7. In confequence of the abfolute victory over death, it shall be shut up, and confined for the ages ages of eternity to the lower regions, the lake that burns with fire and brimftone: Rev. xx. 14. And death and hell were caft into the lake of fire: this is the fecond death." As the waters of the deluge, that overfpread the whole face of the earth fome time, were, by the voice of God, chafed away into, and confined in the deeps; fo death, in its whole extent, as comprehending all miferies, greater or leffer, that fome time ranged through the earth at liberty, fhall be gathered together, and thrown into the place of the damned, there to prey for ever upon its proper objects, the enemies of Chrift, the great Conqueror.--I am, IV. To make fome practical improvement. This doctrine is of manifold use. I fhall drop a few words from it to the profane, and to profeffors.I fhall addrefs, ift, Profane folk, who are quite careless about their state and converfation, on whofe face death is painted, in the eyes of God and all serious perfons. Confider, 1. Ye have neither part nor lot in this victory of Christ's over death, but are yet lying a prey to the devourer. What elfe means that loathfome converfation of yours? Pfal. xiv. 1.-3. "The fool hath faid in his heart, There is no God; they are corrupt, they have done abominable works," &c. What elfe means it, but that ye are yet rotting in the grave of your lufts? Do not your profane fpeeches declare your throat to be an open fepulchre; the full liberty your lufts get without controul, fays ye are not fick of fin, but dead in it; your want of the fense of religion, your not difcerning the voice of God in his word, and having no relish for the sweetness of it, all these say ye are dead. 2. Awake, 2. Awake, and come forth to Christ, in a holy life, elfe your lot shall be for ever among the congregation of the dead: Gal. v. 21. " They which do fuch things fhall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Chrift has fet up a kingdom among us, but ye say, Let us break his bands, and caft his cords from Remember, if ye continue in this condition, Chrift will caft you out of his kingdom; for if death fhall be abolished out of his kingdom, be fure fuch dead fouls fhall never inherit among the faints, but receive their portion where death bears eternal fway. us. 2dly, Profeffors, amongst whom I must reckon communicants. To fuch, 1. By way of caution, I would fay to you, (1.) Beware of hypocrify, having a name to live, and yet dead: Rev. iii. 1. "I know thy works, that thou haft a name that thou liveft, and art dead." O! how many are there like fome dead beafts, whereof there is nothing good but the skin! Except the form of godlinefs, and their religious duties they go the round of, there remains nothing but a rotten heart quite eftranged from the life of God, and a life full of dead works. Beware of this, for, with the abominable, the hypocrite will also be swept away. (2.) Beware of apoftacy, Christ will pursue his victory, and therefore, whofo draweth back, his foul fhall have no pleasure in him, Heb. x. 38.; they that draw back leave Chrift's camp, and join his enemies, and they will be involved in their ruin, with a double destruction, as run-aways. 2. By way of application to your cafe on the back of this communion, I would ask you, (1.) Have you got nothing at this feast from the Conqueror to fet you a ftep forward to the victory, the fpiritual victory? Blame whom or what thou |