Stroke of temporal Death; yet the Sting of it is taken away through Jefus Chrift, so that it is in a great Measure difarmed of it's Terrors and deftructive Power, and becometh really a Gain to all his faithful Difciples. The Sting of Death is Sin (faith the Apoftle) and the Strength of Sin is the Law. 1 Cor. xv. 56. It is the Guilt of Sin, and the condemning Sentence of the Divine Law, that renders Death most terrible. When the Sinner dieth in an unpardoned State, expofed to the juft Wrath of a holy Deity, in that Cafe Death tranfmits him to a dismal State of future Mifery and Woe: As his Body falls into the Duft, fo his Soul enters guilty and defiled into an eternal World. The State of Trial and Forbearance is then over, and that of Retributions doth fucceed: And, when the Sinner fhall appear, laden with the Guilt of all his Sins, at the Tribunal of the Supreme Judge, what can be expected, but that Wrath fhould come upon him to the uttermoft? And that he fhould continue banished from the Joys and Glories of God's bliffful Prefence, and groaning under the direful Effects of his righteous Vengeance, from which he is utterly unable to deliver himfelf? Now this is what renders Death moft dreadful, when it is regarded as configning us over to endless Miferies. The Apprehenfion

I

Apprehenfion of this is incomparably worfe than any bodily Pains, or than the outward Stroke of Death: It is this imbittereth all it's Pangs, and giveth a flinging Accent to the dying Groans and Agonies. The mere Diffolution of this animal Life, the Separation of the Body from the Soul, and the being deprived of all our earthly Comforts, is difagreeable and fhocking to Nature; but all this may be borne and furmounted by a strong and fteady Refolution: But, when Death is confidered as an Introduction to future Mifery, as a Paffage out of this State of Trial into a State of Wrath and Punishment, the Wrath to come, as our Saviour calls it, it is enough to overwhelm the firmeft Refolution; human Nature cannot bear up against the Terror of it: This may be justly called the Sting of Death. Now Chrift hath difarmed Death of this it's Sting, fo that it is no longer able to hurt his faithful Difciples, that fincerely believe and obey him, fo as to render them finally miferable: For he came to Jave us, both from the condemning Guilt, and from the Power and Dominion of Sin. He hath appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself; and bath redeemed us from the Curfe of the Law, being made a Curfe for us; fo that there is now no Condemnation to them that are in Chrift Jefus, Cc 2 who

who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. They have Redemption through his Blood, even the Forgiveness of Sins, which fhall not be imputed to them, and shall be remembered against them no more. Being juftified freely by Divine Grace, they have Peace with God through Jefus Christ our Lord, through whom they have received the Atonement. And, when God is reconciled, there is little in Death that they have Reafon to be afraid of: Yea, Death itself is one of those Things that are comprehended in the New Covenant, and which shall to our Advantage, through Jefus

turn

Chrift. All Things are yours, faith the Apostle, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or Things prefent, or Things to come; all are yours; and ye are Chrift's; and Chrift is God's. 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22, 23. Our Lord Jefus Chrift hath triumphed over Death; be broke it's Bands, it being impoffible that be fhould be bolden of it; it is become as it were his Vaffal, fubjected to the Redeemer, who maketh Use of it for removing his People out of all their prefent Troubles, and for leading them to immortal Glory and Felicity. Thus the very Nature of Death is changed through Jefus Chrift; instead of being the greatest Prejudice, it becomes the highest Gain; it is in a

great

great Measure divefted of it's terrible Appearance, and puts on a smiling Afpect. It is true that fincere Chriftians themselves are not freed from a natural Dread of Death, as it is the Diffolution of the vital Union between Soul and Body; but the Wound, the Stroke of it, is foon over. They can, in the Article of Death, look up to the Lord Jesus to receive their departing Spirits, and can comfort themselves with this, that he hath the Keys of the unfeen World and of Death. Though Death feparates their Bodies from their Souls, it cannot separate their Souls from God: Their Bodies fall into the Duft, and continue under the Power of Death for a Time; but their Souls, the nobleft Part of their Natures, when abfent from the Body, are prefent with the Lord. They then go to Chrift, which is far better than to continue here. By Death a Way is opened for their entering into thofe glorious Manfions in their heavenly Father's Houfe, into which Christ, as their great Forerunner, is entered before them to prepare a Place for them, that, where he is, there they may be alfo. So that Death, instead of being an Introduction to future Mifery, is now, through Jefus Christ, the final Period of all their Troubles and Sorrows, and an Entrance upon a State of endlefs Blifs: It lets the Soul loose from

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the Prison of this Body into those happy Regions. And accordingly many have been inabled, through Faith in Chrift, to rejoice and exult, even in the Article of Death itself: Witness the glorious Army of Mar~ tyrs, many of whom, though of no great natural Courage, have, with a noble Fortitude, triumphed over Death, even when attended with the moft exquifite Torments that Cruelty could invent to render Death more terrible; for the inward Sentiment of their Hearts was what one of them openly expreffed, when he lifted up his flaming Arms out of the Midft of the Fire, and cried out, None but Chrift, none but Chrift. But, befides those that have been called to fuffer a violent Death, for the Sake of Chrift and a good Confcience, and who we may juftly fuppofe had, in that Cafe, extraordinary Supports, there have been not a few Inftances of Persons that have gone off this earthly Stage, triumphing in Jefus Chrift, and have felt fome Foretaftes of the Joy of Heaven, even whilst they were walking through the dark Valley of the Shadow of Death. And many, that have not attained to triumph and Exultation, yet have been inabled to meet Death with a chearful Hope, with a calm and undisturbed Compofure, that shewed that they had furmounted the Fears of

Death,