be left: no, the believer has the victory, yea, death will be SWALLOWED UP" in victory. 66 4. You can die but once. The agonies of death, be they what they may, are to be felt but once by the disciple of Jesus. "It is appointed for men, in general, once to die." And to the Christian only but once. The hardened infidel, the proud self-righteous, and the mere professor, will find a "second death!" But the mind that applies to and rests on Jesus, dies but once, and "behold he is alive for evermore! Amen." All the hurt death can possibly do to a believer, "is to put it absolutely out of his own power ever to hurt him more." Then, (gracious God)! "let me die the death of the righteous; let my last end be like his!" Because, it is his privilege, and his only, at death, to enter a world where there is no more death." Rev. xxi. 4. Do happy angels fear death? No. Why not? Because they all know themselves to be confirmed in a state and bliss immortal. And of the saints it is said, " neither can they die any more; but are equal to the angels." Luke xx. 36. 5. The soul is immediately with Christ. No long-sleeping absence from Jesus, as some dreamingly say. No, much less a separation from the love of God. Nothing in this world can effect that; no, "not death, that separates the soul from the body," and both from the dearest earthly interest, "can separate the believer from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." "Christ's being with the soul in this life makes a heaven here, and the soul's being with Christ in a future life, makes a heaven there." His words to one of the dying thieves, therefore, were not merely, thou shall be in Paradise, but," thou shalt be with me in Paradise." This is the heaven he promised his sorrowing followers; "I go to prepare a place for you." Death is only his coming again, "to receive you to himself." To be in Paradise is much; to be there with Christ is much more: but to be instantly there, this day--not another day—but this day-thy dying day-"shalt thou be with me in Paradise!" This is superlatively animating. 6. It is an anxious moment, and the more so, because no one knows a step of the way beyond it. This uncertainty is gloomy and painful to the thinking mind. But how cheering to reflect on our convoy. "And Lazarus died, and was carried-borne away, by the angels into Abraham's bosom." That is, to sit down with Abraham and to rejoice with him in heaven's fulness of joy! Blissful thought! to have my soul, when it leaves the body, to fall into the hands of such mighty, wise, and benevolent spirits, who rejoice at the repentance of a sinner-much more at his final perseverance and glorification: by them to be caught, and borne away from malignant devils, a polluting world and a cumbrous body, to the regions of wonder, joy and love! Precious Bible! that throws such light over the shades of death, to the departing Christian, through the ministry of angels. "Lord, when I quit this mortal ground, Safe to conduct my spirit home." God, the God whom the believer serves, is able to deliver him out of thy hand, O death! such is the constancy of his love, the power of his arm, and the wisdom of his heart, that the soul that belongs to him knows a heaven in exclaiming, "this God is my God, for ever and ever, he will be my guide, even over and beyond death." Psalm xlviii. 14. No near relation, no affectionate friend, can accompany us through death, to assist, direct, or comfort the departing scul. They will want this assistance, direction, and comfort themselves. Well, when I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou (chief shepherd) art with me." Psalm xxiii. 4. 7. The time and circumstances of your death are all exactly settled. Whatever occurences or disorder may prove the means, 'tis God who is the great agent to use that means; for "the Lord bringeth down to the grave." 1 Sam. ii. 6. We must not say, if I had not been attacked by such a disorder, or, had been so happy as to have sent for some other physician; or, if he had come sooner, my brother or friend had not died; for "there is an appointed time to man upon earth, his days are as the days of an hireling." Job vii. 1. The year, the month in that year, and the week in that month, in which thou art to die, are all fixed. Yea, the day in that week, the hour in that day, the minute in that hour, and the moment in that minute, in which thou art to close thine eyes and depart, is decreed. For your "days are determined; the number of our months (irresistible being)! are with thee. Thou hast appointed man's bounds, that he cannot pass." Job xiv. 5. 8. 'Tis the lot of the wisest and best of men. The favoured patriarchs, the honoured prophets, the gracious and useful apostles are dead. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, but Noah died. Abraham was the friend of God, but he died. "Moses, my servant, is dead." The first good man, that ever was born, went through this dark valley. Let this prove a consolation to thy soul in death, that it is not only "the way of all the earth" in general, but is the way of the saints too. If so, why should I wish to make an exception, seeing that "wise men die." Psalm xlix. 10. "Tis the right way to the city of habitation. Art thou to die, believer? what then? It is the Lord's way of being " merciful to you, as he used to do, to those that love his name." Psalm cvi. The consequences of death are so interesting, instant and durable, as to render death itself a comforter to the believer, endowed with proper views of it. Relative, I. To his body. Here, sin spreads its painful effects into every member. It often pours dullness over the mind in those moments which we are most desirous of redeeming for God. Some member is lost, or tortured by an unconquerable disorder. The faculties of the mind are often obscured, and its operations clogged by the body. Inordinate appetites agitate, defile, and afflict: but death parts the soul and body, and sin, that trying inmate, is not longer to prove "a law in our members, warring against the law of the mind." Death is a long farewell and endless adieu to the great train of natural and afflictive evils to the body. II. Death is the moment when the believer launches from the shores of "this present evil world." The toils, the snares, the disappointments and vexations of business, are now all over! No longer shall thy affairs disturb thy rest, perplex thy thoughts, bury thee in care, exhaust thy spirit, nor obstruct thy way to God. No more shall the honours, profits, and pleasures of this world allure, nor the power of it awe thee into sin. III. The poor man, if a good man, in the moment of his exit, departs from the pinches of present, or the painful fears of future, poverty. Through many a cold and trying winter, many a long and parching summer, with stiffened limbs and an aching heart, has he gone. His little or large family he has barely fed and clothed. Well, follow him in your thoughts; he, rich in faith, has entered the kingdom of which he was heir; and "he shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on him, nor any heat." IV. The Christian-member of some church of Jesus, who has long witnessed in public, and mourned in secret, the love of many waxing cold-the house of God neglected-the treachery of some, the pride of others, the backbiting, quarrelling, and envy of many. Discord, confusion, and division in the church of the Prince of Peace, have often extorted David's wish, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest." The believer's own carnality, lukewarmness, and barrenness, under all his advantages from public ordinances, puts a heaviness into his heart, which makes it stoop. But in death, he leaves this imperfect society, he leaves his own unhallowed imperfections, and soars to a world of entire purity, perfection, and joy. Yonder he is, among the spirits of the just men made perfect, and an innumerable company of angels. V. Fallen angels have been the trying adversaries of the dear Christian here. The shop, the street, the church, the closet, the bed, and the field, have witnessed the struggles, the tears, the prayers, and fears of the tempted soul. When thou hast soared in sweet meditation above the clouds of heaven, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, has Satan discharged a fiery dart at thee, and brought thy very state of friendship with God into question. In prayer, how has he disturbed, discouraged, confused, and distressed thee! In trials, how has he misinterpreted the Lord's designs! Now he allures thee by some deceiving bait; anon, he terrifies thee by the charges of past crimes! Now he tempts to despair; then, to presume! There, he told thee thou hast done nothing for God, to sink thee; here, he tells thee thou hast done enough, to lull thee! One moment thou art the very worst of sinners; the next, thou art one of the best of saints. He sometimes says, thou hast no love to God, and as often suggests God has no love to thee. The Bible, he hints, is not true; or, if true, thou hast no part or lot in its promises -they belong to others. He reads over thy infirmities, says they are sure signs thou hast no grace. Oh, how does the conflicting soul groan in its tabernacle, being burdened with temptations: but death is the soul's passage to that world, to which no one dart of Satan can fly. No lion shall be there!" Dear soldier, cheer up! For in death, God will finally and completely "bruise Satan under thy feet." Courage, trembling soul, courage! for, through the Lord thy Saviour, "Thy weak soul No. II. THE GOSPEL. ALL understanding agents propose ends proportionable to the excellency of their capacity; the means also are fixed on, and should be equally admirable. In redemption, God's supreme end is, 1. His own glory, Luke ii. 13, 14. different works, with a different lustre. Ps. xix. 1; redemption excels it. This glory is displayed in 2. The subordinate end is man's complete happiness. How this could be done, no finite understanding could guess. Sin had shut up the channels of goodness, and opened a wide passage for just vengeance to fall on the creature. Man's crime was transcendant. Divine wisdom, an incomprehensible treasure of it, dwells in God. It was equal to the most admirable expedient. Redemption is a heap of wonders. Angels bend, with an extraordinary application of mind, to study the rich and unsearchable variety that is in it, 1 Pet. i. 12. It ravishes angelic minds to discern such a compass of wisdom. Heaven, that sanctuary of life and immortality, is the place where its wonders shall be more unravelled. Solemn veneration and ardent affection will attend the display. The displays of it are rich, various, and dazzling. Human wisdom, at its highest, is but a spark, and that a borrowed one. Angelic wisdom might twinkle like a star: but divine wisdom, as it opens in redemption, bursts forth, with an insupportable glare, like the meridian sun. Angels adore it with covered faces. The English word, from the Saxon, a good message, admirably expresses the force and propriety of the Greek, eva ̃yeλiov. 1. Its author is God: from him it originally came. The smallest message from a royal personage claims the most respectful reception. Tidings from Him, who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out the heavens with a span! Who comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance! A Being, at whose feet worlds unnumbered revolve! whose understanding is infinite, whose arm is almighty, whose holiness is purer than light, whose justice is invariable, and whose truth is inviolable! A Being, whose wisdom has formed a plan involving man's highest happiness, and his own highest glory! A Being, whose frown shakes hell to the very centre, and whose smile pours unmixed joy through the spirits of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands in worlds of light! To say the Gospel is the message from such a Being, is a recommendation sufficient to challenge the most cordial reception, and justify the infliction of the severest vengeance on the soul that neglects it. God is a happy Being, and is therefore called "the blessed God." His happiness is underived; he has no one to thank for it. It is an independent blessedness. It is also full, infinite, and endless. It can receive no addition or diminution. So wise and powerful, he has nothing to fear; and infinitely self-sufficient, that he has nothing to hope for. This, this is the grand, the happy, the kind Author of the Gospel. 2. The nature and properties of the Gospel comes next to be considered. It is a constitution or message; 1. ENTIRELY GRACIOUS. However great its blessings, they are free. It supposes the creature unworthy. Its grand provision is not pay to man what he claims, as a debt; but to supply his wants. It supposes him needy, and makes provision; unworthy, and therefore that provision is gracious. "Without money and without price:" is its suitable language. Not, perform this term, or that condition first; but, here are "spiritual blessings, in heavenly things in Christ;"take them freely, possess them fully, and enjoy them for ever.' Here, Jehovah passes by, and proclaims his name—" the Lord God gracious and merciful, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;' sins, beyond the capacity of an angel to number: vile in their quality, beyond an angel's conception; and aggravated beyond even the sin of devils. Yet the Gospel presents the broken-heart with a pardon, free, full, and for ever. "All manner of sin and blasphemy" it will shew a pardon for. 2. It is a special message. Millions and millions of rational |