A Treatise of Death, Sermon · Section 6
SECT. VI.
Ʋſe 4.
MOreover this Enmity of Death may help us to underſtand the rea…on of the ſufferings and Death of Chriſt. That he gave his life a Ranſome for us, and a Sacrifice for ſin, and ſo to make ſatisfaction to the offended Majeſty, is a truth that every Chriſtian doth believe. But there was another reaſon of his death, that all of us do not duely conſider of, and improve to the promoting of our Sanctification as we ought. Death is ſo great an Enemy, as you have heard, and ſo powerfull to deter our hearts from God, and dull our deſires to the heavenly felicity, that Chriſt was fain to go before us, to embolden the hearts of believers to follow him: He ſuffered Death (with the reſt of his afflictions) to ſhew us that it is a tolerable evil: Had he not gone before and overcome it, it would have detained us its Captives: Had he not me…ited and purchaſed us a bleſſed Reſurrection, and opened heaven to all bel…evers, and by Death overcome him that had the power of death (as Gods executioner) …hat is, the Devil, we ſhould all our life time have been ſtill ſubjected unto bondage by the fears of Death, Heb. 2.14. But when we ſee that Chriſt hath led the way, as the victorious Captain of our Salvation, and that he is made perfect by ſufferings (in his advancement unto glory) and that for the ſufferings of death (which by the grace of God he taſted for every man) he is crowned with glory ad honour, Heb. 2.9, 10. this puts a holy valour into the ſoul, and cauſeth us cheerfully to follow him. Had we gone firſt, and the task of conquering Dea…h been ours, we had been overcome. But he that hath led us on, hath hew'd down the enemy before him, and firſt prepared us the way, and then called us to follow him, & to paſs the way that he hath firſt made ſafe, and alſo ſhewed us by his example that it is now made paſſable. For it was one in our Nature, that calleth us his Brethren, that took not the nature of Angels, but of the ſeed of Abrah…m, that is one with us, as the Sanctifier and the ſanctified are, and to whom as children we are given, Who hath paſſed through Death and the Grave before us, and therefore we may the boldlier follow him, Heb. 2.11, 12, 13.16. Being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs, and therefore God h…th highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, Phil. 2. 8, 9. Hereby …e hath ſhewed us that Death is not ſo dreadfull a thing, but that voluntary obedience may and muſt ſubmit unto it. As Abrahams faith and obedience was tryed, in the offering up his Son to death, at Gods command: ſo the children of Abraham and the heirs of the promiſe, muſt follow him in offering up themſelves, if God require it, and in ſubmitting to our natural death (for that he doth require of all.) Examples work more then bare precepts: and the Experiments of others, do take more with us then meer directions. It ſatisfieth a ſ…ck man more to read a Book of Medicinal Obſervations, where he meets with many that were in his own caſe, and finds what cured them, then to read the Praxis of medicinall receipts alone. It encourageth the patient much, when the Phyſitian tells him, [I have cured many of your diſeaſe, by ſuch a medicine, nay I was cured thus of the ſame my ſ…lf.] So doth it embolden a believer to lay down his Life, when he hath not only a promiſe of a better life, but ſeeth that the promiſer went that way to Heaven before him. O therefore let us learn and uſe this choice remedy, againſt the immoderate fear of Death! Let Faith take a view of him that was dead and is alive, that was buried and is riſen, that was humbled and is now exalted! Think with your ſelves, when you muſt think of dying, that you are but following your Conquering Lord, and going the way that he hath gone before you, and ſuffering what he underwent and conquered: And therefore though you walk through the valley of the ſhaddow of death, reſolve that you will fear no evil, Pſal. 23.4. And if he call you after him, follow him with a Chriſtian boldneſs; As Peter caſt himſelf into the Sea, and walkt on the waters, when he ſaw Chriſt walk there, and had his command; ſo let us venture on the jawes of death, while we trace his ſteps, and hear his encouraging commands and promiſes, John 21.7. Mat. 14.28, 29.