but God takes them to himself Body and soul are taken assunder as the pieces of a Watch out of order not to be lost but to be set together again that they may goe better God is a carefull and faithful keeper of those precious Reliques and will bring them together the word of his Truth is for it Ezek. 37.12 O my people I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves What then though they part asunder since neither of them part nor are disunited from â—he Lord Jesus O happy parting to leave this Cell this crazy earthly â—â—bernacle for a glorious Mansion and to embrace a dear Saviour It s but like going to bed at night the body rests and the soul keeps in action while the night time of the grave lasts in this world the bodies of the Saints sleep in Jesus but their souls are in bliss The Souls of just men may bespeak their bodies as the Lord Jesus did his Disciples Joh. 14.3 It is expâ—diens â—â—r you that I goe away and if I goe away I will we again and receive you to my self The Body like Onesinus is an unprofitable servant for the present Phil. v. 11. therefore departs for a while that it may be received for ever 4. The Sting of Death is taken out in that though the body rot and consume and becomes loathsome yet it is but dissolved it is not destroyed As Christ told Martha Thy Brother shall rise again Joh. 11.23 so the body shall rise again hence the Apostle though he grants that the body doth dye yet it is no otherwise then as a fruitful seed dyeth that it may spring up again v. 36.37 of this Chapter Job 19.25.26 27. For I know saith Job that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin worms ' destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me God doth not intend to lose what he leaves behind in this world no but as he brought Israel out of Egypt so will he ransome us from the power of the Grave and redeem us from Death Hos 13 14. he will not leave an hair nor a broken bone nor a dust behind All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth Joh. 5.28 29. Christ shewed a Type of it at his own Resurrection Mat. 27.52 c. And the Graves were opened and many bodyes of Saints which slept arose which shall be fully accomplished in all the Saints in the general Resurrection The Grave shall then be found to be a chamber of Repose and a bed of Rest Christ having made it so to the Saints And as for the soul of a child of God it shall not see corruption It s not so much as dissolved but released and set at liberty Sin here makes its motion towards heaven and its progress in grace flow The body is a weight pressing down but when Death shall rid us of this the souls motion and pass into heaven shall be quick and speedy like the Thief on the cross no sooner crucified and dead but glorified This day saith Christ thou shalt be with me in Paradise Let who will dream of the souls sleep they are asleep that think so saith Calvin No assoon as the vail of the body is removed we with open face behold the Glory of the Lord. The spirit shall return to God that gave it 5. The Sting of death is taken away in that all the dolorous accidents 〈◊〉 attendants of death are by Christ qualified sanctified What are pains agonves of Body but the putting down of this earthly Tabernacle iâ— order to the raising of a spiritual and everlasting Building the breaking off of our chains fetters in our being released hence While the bodies of the Saints are filled with pains their souls are filled with the comforts of God Our friends lament but Angels rejoyce though we must now part from them yet there is Gods Host the Life guard of heaven ready to accompany us thither Suppose a Saint going to his grave and the mourners by trains going in the streets could the departed utter a word would it not be that of Christ to the danghters of Jerusalem Luk. 23.28 Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children 6. The Sting of Death is taken out in that though the purposes of a godly man in death are destroyed yet his main purpose and his chief design stands and abides his main purp ose and design was to glorifie God and save himself his own soul Now he that hath walked with God that hath traced the wayes of holiness that hath studied the mysteryes of the Gospel that hath laboured and not fainted and that is found so doing that hath committed his soul into the hands of God and is able to stand at the appearing of Christ he doth not miss of nor lose his purpose I have fought the good fight I have finished my course saith Paul did henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 2 Tim 4 7 8. What though men gather no more of the wealth of this world Heaven is inheritance enough What though they gain no more repute here Their Record is on high What if they attain not the end of their labours Yet their reward is with the Lord. What though their worldly affairs be discomposed if their eternal concerns be fixed What if their dayes be cut off since their work is done It would not avail a man any thing to win the world and lose his soul its profit enough if a man save his soul though he lose the world It was a sad thing for the Mariners to cast over their goods Acts 27.18 but when Paul told them that no life should be lost v. 22. they are comforted So here though we leave our stuff and lose our worldly labours yet our lives 〈◊〉 safe the main Chance is secured 7. The Sting of Death is taken away in that the Saints are dead â—â—nd mortified to the world they glory in nothing more then in the cross 〈◊〉 Christ be which they are crucified unto the world and the world unâ—â—â—â— them 〈…〉 11. Hence they enjoy this world as though they enjoyed it not 〈…〉 Hence while they live in the world and upon the necesâ—â—ry com 〈…〉 they live above it Hence it s no hard matter for them to dye and 〈◊〉 out of the world The world will have no great miss of 〈◊〉 and I shall 〈◊〉 no great miss of it Things dead have no seeling or sence of any parting from each other Wicked men think the Saints not worthy to live in the world Acts 22.22 and God thinks the world not worthy of them Heb. 11.38 nor doe they esteem the world worthy to be desired the time past of their lives in this
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
things be they shall be another mans It s certain saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.7 that we carvy nothing out of this world Where we took up our Lot in this life there we must leave it The things of this life are like a boat to wast us over the water which can doe us no further service when we come on shore as our cloaths that we put on in the morning and put off at night Now for them that dote upon their worldly enjoyments and have their portion in this life what a grief is it and how doth it sting them to consider that they yet must take an utter leave of all their joyes delights friends and good things at once as the merchants of Babylon lamented over the costliness of the city for in one hour it was made desolate so may the rich Miser in a dying hour They at Ziglaz wept for the sacking of the place and the captivity of their sons and daughters till they had no more power to weep yet they might be recovered but in Death there is no Return 9. Another sting in Death is that Satan is very busy to hold the souls of men in a desperate security or plunging them into the depth of 〈◊〉 spair which is the very image of Hell hence Asaph in Psal 73. spâ—â—â—â— of some in his observation that had no bands in Death and Bildad â—enâ— of others that are haled to the King of Terrors O the Râ—â—â—â—â— and restless tostings of some poor wretches when they 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 out as if their breath were already made up of Fire and Brimstone as Francis Spira and Hadrian the Emperour And oh the sottish stupidity and senslesness of others who mind nothing at all neither past nor present but their bodily pains when their souls are sinking into hell How few are there that commit their souls to God and wisely and patiently dispose themselves for their latter end There is a woe pronouced upon the inhabitants of the earth for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Râ—v 12.12 So it may be said of every inhabitant of this earth when he comes to dye the weight of sin the unsupportableness of Gods anger the terrors of hell the nearness of the danger the difficulty of salvation will all appear nakedly to the naked soul When God makes darkness and it is night then the beasts of the forest creep forth every frog will be croaking towards the evening every puddle will send up a stinking vapor in a foggy night all the several shadows of things will unite every thing will concur to make up and compleat the misery of the poor sinner but the Rulers of the darkness of this world and powers of darkness set in to doe the last and worst in this life 10. Another sting in death is in the manner of its coming 1. It comes inevitably none can withstand or evade it the wise the rich the strong the beautifull the virtuous the young and the grey-headed c. fall and perish by it It s as a River that carryes all before it a Sythe that cuts all clean before it and levels all before it Job 3.14 15 18 19. It turns Kings and Counsellors Princes into the grave it breaks prisons small and great are seized by it It is appointed for all once to die saith the Apostle Heb. 9 27. Like sheep they are laid in the Grave and Death feeds on them Psal 49.14 This carryes a sting with it â—o lye open to the power of an enemy inevitably 2. It comes suddenly without delay this night saith God thy soul â—â—all be taken from thee Luk 20. Man knoweth not his time Eccl. 9.12 3. It comes irrecoâ—erably Job 14.12 Man lyeth down and riseth not 〈◊〉 the heavens be no more and v. 14. shall he live again the interrogaâ—â—â—â— implyes a strong and vehement negation Job 7.9 10. as the cloud â—â—â—onsumed and vanisheth away so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more he shall return no more to his house nor shall his place know him any more 4. Another sting in Death is that it puts us into a state unknown of which we have no experience it s called a Land of darkness as â—â—â—â—ss it self and of the shadow of death and without any order and where the light is as darkness Job 10.22 Men are afraid to goe in the dark the traveller is afraid to pass when the evening is come and where a man knows nothing he suspects the worst Mat. 17.6 The Disciples were sore afraid at the voice from the excellent glory Lastly Unto ungodly men it is a certain inlet and entrance into eternal Death It s a dark passage into the bottomless pit they are led through the prison of the grave to the place of execution Death temporal ushers in death eternal the death of the body makes way for the death of the soul they dye now and they dye ever Rev. 21.8 We read of A second Death after which there is none to come This is the sting of all its stings a state in which a man cannot be worse and yet shall never be better when death and hell shall be joyned in one for ever VSE I. Hence learn why men dread and are so afraid of Death yea there are many causes why a natural man should fear Death because of the sting that is in it Ah should I tell you nothing and you should mind no other but your souls seperation from your body can you part with it without a sigh or a serious thought or of your bodyes corruption though it might be wrapped in lead and entombed in marble yet in a few days it shall be an abhorring and loathing to all living it shall be a prey to vipers and creeping worms of the earth your carcases and your remembrance shall alike rot and perish together Should I tell you of your sicknesses and death-pangs that shall oppress you and your helpless friends standing by should I shew you your coffin your Grave or Tomb your Herse cloath and your Bier should I tell you of the breaking of your purposes and your intents frustrated and this coming inevitably suddenly and unalterably methinks these things should present Death as terrible Ah but I tell you it is the wrath of God the scalding drops of it and the fruit of your sin the beginning of your everlasting destruction It s no other liberty but what the Felon hath when he is taken out of prison and brought forth to execution it s your extream agony and the time of Satans rage and the prevailing of the powers of darkness the black guard of Hell surrounding of you the rending of you in pieces I acknowledge its an error in the saints 〈◊〉 people of God to be so much affrighted at death and to goe so mournfully out of this world surely they have not learn'd to look off this world
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
world sufficeth them they are weary of it He is no Christian whose whole treasure is laid up in present enjoyments The Saints are of another spirit and live much upon hope Rom. 8.23 24 25. We our selves who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption and it follows We are saved by hope now hope that is seen is not hope but if we hope then doe we with patience wait for it So 2 Cor. 5.2 c. In this we groan earnestly Their going out of this world is not their loss but their gain for to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil 1.21 T is not their ruine but their redemption not their being uncloathed or stripped naked but their being cloathed upon not their going into obscurity and darkness but their glorious manifestation of being the sons of God and heirs of glory 1 Tim 6.6 Godliness in the winding up of things is great gain The going out of this life is like the ending of a fight 2 Tim. 4 6 7 8. It is not a flying of the field as those that are vanquished but the saints goe out Conquerours yea more then Conquerours I have fought a good fight the time is now come that they may fairly leave off it is the finishing of their course and the winning of their crown having kept the faith while they lived they are kept from fear in the hour of death Pâ—iâ— 1.23 Having a desire to depart Love and longing to be with Christ made the world tedious to Paul that which all men naturally love and Death desirable which men naturally dread and abhor Assoon as good old Simeon had Christ in his arms Now let rest thou thy servant depart Luk. 2.29 When John Baptist saw Christ he resigns up all to him Let all men follow him Let me decrease so Christ increase my joy is fulfilled in him Joh. 3.29 30. So Paul when once he thought what it was to be with Christ to goe to God and to be with the Lord for ever he 〈◊〉 nothing that he wanted but this was the sum of his desire to be dissolved and no joy now to him but to enjoy Christ no glory but to 〈◊〉 where he is to behold his glory The love of this world ceaseth wâ—â—â— we tast of the next No matter then if the Manna of this world ceaâ—â— when we are got to Canaan Elias can easily part with his Mantle 〈◊〉 keep on his journey So a saint dying can easily part with all his present enjoyments in the hope of what is to come for how easily 〈◊〉 part with that which I know and firmly believe I shall never need That City which hath no need of the Sun Rev. 21.23 I am sure need not any thing under the moon and if a dying Saint may leave the temple of God here lâ—aâ— sure he may leave the wor'd A Child of God being thus mort sied to the world one sting of death is taken away 8. The sting of death is taken away in that it brings the Saints to higher and better things as you would take straws and pebbles out of a child hand and give him necessary bread or remove poyson and things hurt full from a sick man and give him cordials and restoratives so doth the blessed God deal with his Children He takes away this world from them or rather them from it and gives them another and a better He takes away occasions of sin and trouble and gives us salvation and rest He takes away the cross and gives us a crown He takes away temporal enjoyments and gives us eternal He takes away Earth and gives us heaven And are we any loosers by this Doe we well to be angry Is there grief and sear No sure but rather if we are in Pauls state to reckon as he did To live is Christ and to dye is gain No better way for a true Christian to better his state and advantage himself then to depart hence lay down his life No man saith Christ that hath left house or parents brethren or wise and children for the Kingdome of Gods sake but shall receive manifold here and in the life to come that which cannot be unfolded Luk. 18.29 30. The Prophet resolves that he will rejoyce in God though the Fig tree doth not blossome c. Hab. 3.17 13 Now if the gleaming of Gods gracious presence be so solacing when all lower causes of joy fail whhat will the bright shinings of Gods glorious presence be Let Ziba take all said Mephibosheth since my Lord the King is come again in peace 2 Sam. 1930. So much more may the â—â—â—nts of God say Let the world take all since my Lord is safe upon his throne and I am now going where I may behold his glory Death is as the Chariot that is sent from Jesus to carry his true Israels to Canaan and therefore their Spirits may now revive and say as holy Jacob. Gen. â—5 28 It is enough Jesus that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and I will goe and see him The good the grace the glory of all heaven shall now be theirs Now then may the Saints say I leave a Cottage to take possession of â—â—â—â—cely Palace I leave my friends here and am going to the Father the holy Spirit to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testrmeut and to the Angels in light and to the Church of the first born I leave present enjoyments and goe to take up an eternal inheritance Let the loss here be as much as can be supposed the gain is as much yea more then can be expressed Ah who would now regard his stuff when he sees the Waggons and the Convoy of Angels the provision for the way and the end of his race and that Jesus is there in honour and power who would not resolve to goe and see him 9. The sting of Death is taken away in that it s given in that hour to the Saints with Faith and patience to endure temptations to resist stand in the midst of danger A dying hour is an hour of temptation yea of multiplyed violent temptations Christ found it to be the hour power of darkness Psal 22.12 13 16. Now the Prince of the world comes Joh. 14 30. Now when his time is short our bodies weak and souls perplexed many even all circumstances and accidents occasions of sorrow is a special season for the Tempter to tempt to security infidelity carnal confidence to impatience and if possible to despair and casting away of our hope Now when Satan resists God doth assist if Satan desire to winnow Christ will be sure to pray that our Faith fail not If there be Chariots and Horsemen against Elisha there is a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha 2 King 6.15 17. If God let Satan out it s but a little way if he tempt its never more then the Saints are able to bear Hence