The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 15
CHAP. 15.
The third Conſolation againſt the fears of Death, is to repreſent continually unto our ſelves, the Death and Sufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to truſt upon the merits of his Croſs.
IF we will dye with a peacable and quiet mind, we muſt always repreſent to our ſelves the death and ſufferings of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and rely upon the merits of his Croſs; for the death of this Prince of Life ſhould be the Model of ours, and the bottomleſs Fountain of Comforts to a believing Soul.
1. By looking upon this perfect example, the wonder of Men and Angels, we learn to endure with an Holy reſolution and patience, all the evils and pangs that accompany Death, Luk 22. For although our Saviours Torments were moſt bitter, ſo that his Soul was ſorrowful unto death, although there iſſued out of his innocent Body, a bloudy Sweat for the violence of his pain; nevertheleſs, none ever heard the leaſt murmuring, or expreſſion of impatience, Iſai. 53. He was led to the ſlaughter as a Lamb, and as a Sheep before the Shearer, is dumb.
2, From hence we learn, that the laſt hours of our life, muſt be employed in fervent and continual Prayers unto God, ſeeing, that this Beloved of the Father, offers unto him at ſuch a time his Prayers and Supplications, with great Cries, and a floud of Tears, as to him who was able to deliver him from Death; Heb. 5. In the boſoms of this Heavenly Father, he poureth out all his Griefs, and three times he preſents this requeſt, Father, if it be poſſible that this cup ſhould paſs away from me, except I drink it, Matth. 26.
3. We learn to preſent our ſelves before God's Divine Majeſty with Humility, and to reſigne our ſelves wholly to his wonderful Providence; ſeeing that he who thought it no robbery to be equal with God, he whom the millions of Angels and Seraphims worſhip continually, thought it no diſgrace to himſelf to fall upon his knees three times to the ground, and ſubmit his Will to that of his Heavenly Father, for after that he had ſaid, Father, if it be poſsible, let this cup paſs away from me, except I drink it. He adds theſe words, Nevertheleſs, O Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt, Matth. 26.
4. If at the time of our death, an exceſſive ſorrow, or a malignant humour ſeize upon our minds, ſo that in that diſpoſition we are not able to ſee the Heavens open, nor God who ſtretcheth out his Arm to receive us into his Reſt; Let us remember that this merciful Lord ſpeaks to us as he did to his three Apoſtles, who fell aſleep, when he was in his Agony, Cannot you watch one hour with me? Mat. 29. My dear Children, it is no time to fall aſleep with the fooliſh and inconſiderate Virgins, trim your Lamps, put on the Garments of Light, to meet your Celeſtial Bridegroom, and to enter with him into the Marriage Chamber, Matth. 25.
5. God requires that we ſhould do as much good at all times to our friends as we are able, and to expreſs the ſincerity of our affections, to thoſe with whom Nature and our Duty have cauſed us to be related, but eſpecially at the hour of death, we are more bound to this Religious Duty; therefore Jeſus Chriſt hath ſhewn us an excellent example, for when he was nailed to the Croſs, and ready to breathe forth his Soul into the hands of his Heavenly Father, he had an eſpecial care of his Holy and Bleſſed Mother, ſaying to his beloved Diſciple, My Son, behold thy Mother, and to her, Woman, behold thy Son.
6. We muſt not only do good, and ſhew kindneſs to our friends, but we muſt forgive our greateſt enemies, ſuch alſo as employ their greateſt fury againſt us; for by this means we ſhall follow the Bleſſed footſteps of our Gracious Saviour, for he had compaſſion upon them that crucified him, and mocked him; Father, ſaid he, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
7. By the Croſs of Jeſus Chriſt, we learn to put our truſt in the goodneſs of God, in our greateſt pangs, and to embrace him as our moſt loving Father and Redeemer, when he ſeems to diſcover to us a ſevere countenance, full of wrath and diſpleaſure for this Eternal Son of God, in his moſt violent tortures, when his Heavenly Father did ſuſpend his aid and aſſiſtance, and withheld the effects of his Grace, the expreſſions of his Love, and the comforts of his Divine Spirit; nevertheleſs, he looks upon him as his God, and repoſes himſelf upon him; he prays unto him with an Holy aſſurance, and repeats theſe paſſionate words, My God, my God!
8. If we will dye willingly, and leave theſe crazy Bodies with a joyful mind, when the time is come, that we muſt go to the Father of Spirits; we muſt remember with what reſolution our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt prepar'd himſelf for death, and how willingly he commended his innocent Soul into the hands of God his Father, when he required it; No man taketh my life away from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this Commandement have I received of my Father, John 10. Heb. 10. This cauſed him to ſpeak in this manner, Here am I, O God, to do thy will, Luk 23. Therefore when he gave up the Ghoſt, he cried with a loud voice, to ſhew that his precious Soul was not taken from him by violence, but that he did willingly offer it up as a Sacrifice to God.
9. In this rich deſcription of Chriſt crucified, we may further learn what ſhould be our laſt words, and laſt thoughts; for if God vouchſafes to us the uſe of our Tongues, until the laſt gasp we cannot end our life more comfortably, than by ſuch expreſſions as our Saviour made uſe of upon the Croſs; Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit. But if we cannot move our Lips, and that we cannot pronounce theſe words, we muſt inwardly meditate upon them in our minds, and expreſs them with motions of the Heart.
10. When we look more narrowly into the death and paſſion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we may eaſily find how much we are bound to give up our ſouls unto God, when he is pleaſed to call for them, for this Bleſſed death is the price and ranſom that he hath paid for them; now, if there be any reaſon to render unto every one that which hath been dearly bought, and purchaſed with a great price; and ſeeing that it would be a great ſin to refuſe unto any man, that which he hath paid for, with the Bloud of his only and beloved Son, how can we refuſe our Souls unto God, ſeeing that they belong to him? becauſe he hath not only created them and ſtamped in them his Image, but he hath alſo purchaſed them with the Bloud of his only Son, in whom, from all Eternity he is well pleaſed. We muſt not therefore imitate the example of naughty paymaſters, or unjuſt poſſeſſors of other Men's Goods, we muſt not expect until our Souls be plucked from us by violence, but rather like the good and righteous Debtors, we muſt return them willingly, and yield them up into his hands who hath paid for them an infinite, and an unvaluable Ranſome. David was of this mind when he ſaid, Into thine hand I commit my ſpirit, thou haſt redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth, Pſal, 31.
11. In this Death and Paſſion of our Glorious Redeemer, we learn not only our Duty, but alſo ſufficient grounds of comfort and hope; and if I may ſo ſay, it is in the Bowels of this dead Lion, that we find the ſweeteſt and moſt raviſhing Conſolations; this Chief Prieſt, that bears us upon his Breaſt, in his Heavenly Sanctuary, or rather upon his Heart, will not forſake us in the day of our diſtreſs, and will not give us over to the fears and pangs of death, for ſeeing that he hath encountred with this cruel Death, ſeeing that it hath felt its ſting, its ſhiverings and pains, and that he hath bin tempted as we have bin in all things, except in ſin; he is merciful and faithful, to have compaſſion of our infirmities; he is no leſs able to aſſiſt us in our temptations, and to make us in all things more than Conquerors.
12. Believing Souls, conſider with me the noble expreſſions of St. Paul, Bleſſed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them, which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1. Theſe excellent Truths may be very well applied to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whom the Holy Ghoſt names, The Apoſtle and High Prieſt of our Profeſſion, Heb. 3. For the comfortable aſſiſtances which he hath received from God, in the time of his greateſt anguiſh, are precious tokens, and infallibie aſſurances of God's future help in our need; for as, when he was in his bitter Agony, when his Soul was caſt down with deadly ſorrow, an Angel from Heaven comes to comfort him. Likewiſe when we ſhall be engaged in an encounter with death, when it ſhall endeavour to fill our Souls with ſadneſs and apprehenſions, he will, doubtleſs, ſend unto us ſome of his good Angels, that be at his right hand, I mean the faithful Teachers of his Holy Word, or elſe he will ſend from Heaven ſome of his bleſſed Spirits that ſtand about his Throne, and that are commonly employed in the preſervation of the Godly. The Holy Ghoſt himſelf, the Comforter of afflicted Souls, and the true Oil of Gladneſs, will then drive from our hearts all grief, and refreſh us with his Heavenly Comforts. He will not forſake us, until he hath brought us to the Head Spring of Eternal Joy and Comfort.
13. Our Lord and Saviours deliverance from death, is an Image, and an aſſurance of our future deliverance which we are to expect from God's Mercy, and Almighty Power; for as, when St. Paul ſaith, that this High Prieſt in the days of his Fleſh, offered up Prayers and Supplications, with ſtrong crying, and tears unto him, that was able to ſave him from Death, And was heard, in that he feard. We are not to underſtand, that he was freed altogether from death, but rather, that he had the favour granted to him of ſwallowing Death up into Victory, and of triumphing over the Powers of Hell; and that through the ſhame and bitterneſs of death, he is gone into his Glory, and into the Joys of his Heavenly Paradiſe. Likewiſe when we pray unto God in our greateſt diſtreſſes, and deepeſt ſorrows, when we pour into his boſom the Tears of a ſincere Repentance; he hears us from his Sanctuary, and delivers us from Death, not by hindring us from dying, but by raiſing our Souls to paſs through Death into an immortal Life; from this valley of Tears, into Happineſs and endleſs Bliſs.
14. If we will be ſully perſwaded that God will not with-hold from us the Joys and Comforts of his Holy Spirit, and that he will make us more than Conquerors of death, by admitting us into an Eternal Felicity; we need but caſt our eyes upon our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; for as he who beſtows much will not refuſe a little; ſo God who hath not ſpared his only Son, but hath delivered him, for us all, to an ignominious and cruel Death; how ſhall not he with him freely give us all things? St. Paul hath taught to argue in this manner, and to gather this conſequence, neceſſary from God's proceedings, Rom. 8.
15. When Chriſt our Lord gave up the Ghoſt upon the Croſs, the vail of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom; Heaven was opened, and a repenting Thief was admitted. All this happened, to teach us, that we may enter into the Holy of Holies, by the Bloud of Jeſus, by the new and living way, which he hath conſecrated, by the Vail, which is by his Fleſh; and that this merciful Lord hath always his Arms wide open to receive us, and that he will never refuſe the Glory of Heaven, and the delights of his Paradiſe, to the greateſt ſinners that repent, and that ſeek to his Eternal Mercy, by his infinite Merits.
16. The Death of this great God and Saviour, is the payment of all our debts, and the expiation of all our crimes, it is the healing of all our diſeaſes; the freedom from all our miſeries; for it hath overcome Satan, and the powers of Hell: It is the death of an Eternal Death, it is this meritorious death that hath purchaſed for us Heaven, and all its Excellencies, and procured to us a Right to God's Paradiſe, and to its Delights and Pleaſures. In ſhort, it is this Death that conveys Pardiſe into our Souls, before we enter into Paradiſe, and fills our minds with an Heavenly and Divine Peace, and an unſpeakable and glorious Joy.
17. This Croſs of our Saviour may be compared to the Wood which Moſes caſt into the Waters of Marah; for it takes away from the natural Death of God's Children, whatſoever is incommodious and bitter, and cauſeth us to reliſh Sweetneſs and Comforts that cannot be expreſs'd; It is like the Salt which the Prophet Eliſha caſt into the Waters of Jerico, to make them wholſom and fruitful; for it cauſeth that death it ſelf proves our Salvation, and brings unto us unſpeakable comforts. I may alſo liken it to the Meal which the ſame Prophet caſt into the Pot, of which the Sons of the Prophets had made this complaint, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. It is the death of Death, becauſe it removes from it all deadly poiſon, and cauſeth us to reliſh Angelical ſatisfactions. I may therefore juſtly ſay of this Glorious Croſs, that it is The Tree of Knowledge, of good and evil; Becauſe it makes known, and underſtood the dreadful evils from which we are delivered, and the infinite advantages which are procured to us … Chriſt's death. I may call it alſo the Tree of Life, for every one that takes of the Fruit of this Tree with the hand of Faith, and he that eats of it ſhall live for …ver, John 6. Believing Souls, it is that Myſtical Ladder which Jacob ſaw in a viſion, for it unites Heaven and Earth, ſinful Man with his God, Gen. 28. It pleaſed the Father to make peace by the Bloud of the Croſs of his Son, and to reconcile all things unto himſelf, whether they be things in Earth, or things in Heaven, Coloſſ. 1. It is by the means of this Bleſſed Croſs, that the good Angels are ſent to our aſſiſtance, and that all the Graces and Bleſſings of God, are procured unto us; by this Croſs we ſhall aſcend up to God, and to his Eternal Happineſs, under the ſhadow of this Divine Croſs, our Souls do reſt, and enjoy the Peace of God which paſſeth all Underſtanding. It is like the Golden Scepter which King Ahaſuerus ſtretched out unto Eſther, for if we touch this precious Croſs with the hand of Faith, if we embrace it with a contrite Soul, we ſhall obtain from the King of Kings, not only the half part, but all his Kingdom, with all its Delights, Honours, and Advantages.
18. Moſes's Rod was chang'd into a Serpent, as well as the Rods of Pharaoh's Magicians, but this Serpent devoured all the reſt. Thus the death of our Lord and Saviour is accompanied with Sorrow, Fear and Anguiſh, but theſe fears ſwallow up all other fears, and cauſe us to draw near with confidence to the Throne of Grace; his Sorrows drive away all our Griefs, and fill us with Joy and Eternal Comfort: his Anguiſh gives eaſe and ſatisfaction to our Souls; his troubled Mind is the cauſe of the ſettlement of our Conſciences; his drops of Bloud do waſh down our Tears; his Groans hinder us from Sighing; and his grievous cryings do cauſe us to ſing with Joy, The Fetters of this Glorious Redeemer have purchaſed our Freedom, and his Condemnation, our Abſolution; he hath been content to drink Vinegar mingled with Gall, and to ſwallow the very dregs of the Cup of God's Wrath and Juſtice, that he might cauſe us to drink of the Rivers of his Divine Pleaſures. He cried out in the violence of his Grief, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Matth, 27. That God might never forſake us, and that in our greateſt troubles, we might have always his fatherly aſſiſtance, ready at hand; he hath ſtooped his Head to raiſe our hopes. In ſhort, he is dead, that he might deliver them, who through fear of death, were all their life time ſubject to a cruel and unſufferable Bondage, Heb. 2. So that all ſuch as tremble and are afraid at the approaches of Death, have not yet felt the power and efficacy of the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus. They trample under feet the Bloud of the Son of God, and as much as in them lies, they render the fruits and efficacy of this bleſſed death of no effect.
19. Conſider well, Chriſtian Souls, and imprint into your minds this Leſſon; Remember that death is never to be feared, but when it proceeds from God's wrath, and the curſe of his Law; and when our ſins and offences have ſupplied it with offenſive weapons, when the Devil, who ſeeks to devour us as a roaring Lion, follows death at the heels; and when, at the ſame time, Hell opens its infernal jaws to ſwallow us up: But thoſe who have placed their Faith and Hope in the Death and Paſſion of the Saviour of the World, and who embrace his Croſs, are exempted from all its fears, and out of the reach of all its poiſonous Darts.
20. My beloved Souls, be not therefore frighted to ſee the face of the great Judge of the World, 1 Tim. 2. Seeing that there is ſuch an excellent Mediator between God and Man, namely the Man, Chriſt Jeſus, who hath given himſelf a Ranſom for all, Rom. 3. He hath diſarmed God's Eternal Juſtice, and ſtopt the proceedings of his Vengeance, for God hath appointed him for all Eternity, to be a Propitiation by Faith in his Bloud, John 5. The Father judges no man, but hath given all Judgement to the Son, as he is the Son of Man. There is now no condemnation to them that are in Jeſus Chriſt; whoſoever believes in him, ſhall never come into condemnation, but is paſſed from Death to Life, Rom. 8. John 5.
21. Fear no more the Thunderbolts, and the flaſhes of Fire of Mount Sinai; neither do you tremble, when you hear its horrible Thunder, Curſed is every one, who continues not in all things written in the Book of the Law, to do them, Deut. 28. For although Chriſts Hands be nailed and faſtened to the Wood, they pluck, nevertheleſs, out of the Hands of God's Juſtice, his terrible Thunderbolts, and the Sword of his Vengeance. The precious Bloud that runs down from the wounds of this Divine Redeemer, do quench the ſcorching heat of his Eternal burning. As at the morning of our Saviours Paſſion, he had a care of his Diſciples, and therefore he deſired thoſe that came to take him, If you ſeek me, let theſe goe. John 18. Likewiſe he hath now a care of all ſuch as believe in his name, to ſecure them under the ſhadow of his Croſs. He takes their place, and for them he ſtands before God's juſtice, ſaying, Seeing that you have taken me to be their pledge, and that you have purſued me without Mercy; ſeeing that I have ſufficiently ſatisfied for all their crimes, and have taſted for them, the moſt bitter and cruel death; ſuffer them to enjoy the freedom that hath been purchaſed at ſuch a dear rate. Suffer them to paſs through death, into the enjoyment of a bleſſed Life, which is the price of my Bloud, and the fruit of my Victories. This merciful Redeemer hath put himſelf, of his own accord, in our ſtead, and hath endured, in his own Perſon, all the pains which were due to our ſins; he hath been ſtruck with Moſes's Rod, and pierced through with the Darts of the Law; he hath been made a Curſe for us, for it is written, Curſed is every one that hangeth upon a Tree, Gal. 5. But we are not only by his means redeemed from the Curſe of the Law, but we are alſo bleſſed in him, with all manner of Heavenly Bleſſings; when we were without Chriſt, we were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, having no Hope, and without God in the World; But we, who were far off, are made nigh by the Bloud of Chriſt; we have acceſs with confidence by Faith in his precious Bloud, ſo that we may go with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace, to find mercy and help in time of need, Heb. 4. Rejoyce therefore Chriſtian Souls, for you are not come to the Mount that might be touch'd with hands, nor to a burning Fire, nor unto Blackneſs and Darkneſs and Tempeſt, and the ſound of a Trumpet, and the voice of words, which voice, they that heard, intreated that the word ſhould not be ſpoken to them any more, but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Aſſembly and Church of the Firſt-born which are written in Heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the ſpirits of juſt Men made perfect, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the bloud of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things than that of Abel. For Abels Bloud called for vengeance againſt his own Brother, Heb. 12. Col. 1. but the Bloud of Chriſt pleads for Mercy, Pardon, and Forgiveneſs for them, who were his enemies in their underſtandings, and wicked deeds. And if when we were enemies, we have been reconciled unto God by the death of his Son, Rom. 5. How much more now, that we are reconciled, ſhall we be ſaved by his life and interceſſion?
22. Never fear, neither the Devil nor all the powers of Hell, for according to God's antient promiſe, The ſeed of the Woman ſhall bruiſe the Serpents head, Gen. 3. The Lord of Glory hath ſpoiled the Principalities and Powers, he hath made a ſhow of them, openly triumphing over them in his Croſs, Coloſ. 2. By his death, he hath deſtroyed him who had the Empire of death, that is the Devil, ſo that he hath cruſht to pieces this red Dragon that did devour whole Nations and People, Heb. 2. Rev. 12. As it happened when the Children of Iſrael did look to the brazen Serpent, which Moſes ſet up in the wilderneſs, they were perfectly cured of the bitings of the fiery Serpents; Likewiſe, you wretched ſinners who feel the venemous and deadly wounds of the old Serpent, caſt the eyes of your faith upon Jeſus Chriſt crucified, and you ſhall be ſaved from death, John 3. As when the Angel deſtroyed the Firſt-born of Egypt, he had not the power to meddle with the Children of Iſrael, who had ſprinkled their doors with the bloud of the Paſchal Lamb; ſo the Devil, who deſtroys the Children of this world, hath no power to touch thoſe, whoſe Hearts and Conſciences are waſhed in the Bloud of the ſpotleſs Lamb. And as Pharaoh, and all the Egyptians that followed him, were overwhelmed and drowned in the waters of the Red Sea, Heb. 10. which ſerved as a paſſage to the Children of Iſrael, to their promiſed Land: Thus Satan and all his wicked Spirits are, as it were ſwallowed up in this precious Sea of Chriſts Bloud, which opens unto us a way to the celeſtial Canaan. Rejoyce you Heavens, and you that dwell in them, for the accuſer of our Brethren is caſt out, who accuſed them day and night before God, but they have overcome him by the Bloud of the Lamb, 1 Pet. 1. Jam. 5. Chriſtian Souls, reſiſt the Devil, and he will fly from you; If he goes about as a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour, be not troubled at his fury, nor at his infernal power, for he is tied to a Chain, that he cannot ſtretch nor break; He hath been overcome by the Lion of the Tribe of Juda. Take therefore the ſhield of Faith, that you may be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Devil, Rev. 6. and ſpeak to him with an undaunted Soul; Get thee behind me Satan, for thou haſt no part in me, I belong to the Lord Jeſus, who hath paid my ranſom, who hath redeemed me with his Bloud, and ſealed me with his Spirit. The Gates of Hell have no power upon thoſe that are built upon the Rock of Eternity, Matth. 16.
23. Let not your ſins caſt you into the Abyſſe of deſpair, nor drive you from the Anchor of your Hope; for God hath ſo loved the World, that he hath given his only Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life; they that are whole have no need of the Phyſitian, but they that are ſick, John 3. Our Saviour is not come to call the Juſt to Repentance; ſuch as are puft up with a vain conceit of their own Righteouſneſs, but ſinners who acknowledge their faults and are ſorry for them. The ſacred Arms of your Redeemer that were ſtretched wide open upon the Croſs, are yet ſtretched wide open to receive us; and from the higheſt Heavens where he dwells, he cauſeth theſe comfortable words to be heard, Come unto me all ye that travel and are heavy loaden, and I will give you reſt, Matth. 11. This merciful Lord is come to ſeek for the loſt Sheep, to ſave ſuch as were periſhed, and to redeem his people from their ſins. As by one Man Sin came into the World, and by Sin Death; thus death is come upon all Men, for they have all ſinned; likewiſe by the obedience of one, we are become conquerors over death, Rom. 5. And we have obtained the gift of Righteouſneſs and Immortality; it is the Lamb of God that taketh away the ſins of the World, and that hath made an atonement for all our iniquitites, John 1. For as the Ram that was caught by the Horns in a Thicket was offered up unto God, as a burnt-offering, inſtead of Iſaack, Eph. 5. Thus the true Lamb of God hath been offered up unto God upon the Croſs for us as a Burnt-Sacrifice, well-pleaſing unto him, he hath born our iniquities in his Body upon the Tree, and by his ſtripes we are healed, Iſai. 53. He hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows, the chaſtiſements of our peace was upon him. As Aaron did put upon the live Goat Hazazel, all the ſins of the People Lev. 16. God hath made him who knows no ſin, to be made ſin for us, that we might become the Righteouſneſs of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. Acts 10. Whoſoever believes in him ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins in his Name. Therefore rather than to play the deſperate, as Cain, Achitophel, and Judas, let us cry out with King David, O bleſſed is the man whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, and whoſe ſin is covered. O bleſſed is he unto whom the Lord imputeth no ſin, Pſal. 31. Or let us burſt out into St. Pauls language, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is God that juſtifieth. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that dyed, Rom. 8. Let us therefore embrace this crucified Jeſus, and ſay with the Bleſſed Virgin, My Soul doth magnify the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. Or with the Glorified Spirits of Heaven, To him that hath loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his bloud, be Glory and Strength for ever and ever, Amen.
24. Chriſtian Souls, if the vaſt number of your ſins come into your remembrance, conſider that it is not ſaid, that the Bloud of Chriſt cleanſeth us only from a certain number of ſins, but, That if we confeſs our ſins, he is Faithful and Juſt, that is, True and Merciful, to forgive us our ſins; and that the Bloud of Jeſus Chriſt, cleanſeth us from all ſins. Let them be never ſo numerous, drown them all as ſo many helliſh Monſters, in the bloud of thy Saviour, take hold of this Divine Jeſus, with the Arms of Faith and Repentance; wrap your ſelves up in his Winding ſheet, repoſe your ſelves upon his Croſs, and reſt ſecure in the ſhadow of his Almighty interceſſion.
25. But if the grievouſneſs of your crimes fright you, take hold at the ſame time of the Horns of this myſtical Altar, and all the powers of Hell, will not be able to pluck you thence. Comfort thy ſelf, ſinful Soul, for there cannot be a ſpot ſo black, nor ſo deep, but the Bloud of Chriſt is able to waſh it clean away: There is no crime ſo grievous and horrid, but the Sacrifice of this Lamb without ſpot, that taketh away the fins of the world, can make an atonement for it. Let thy ſins be never ſo great, they have their limits, but thy Redeemers Merits are without limits, and the efficacy of his ſufferings continues for ever. To aſſure thee of this truth, and to encourage thee, he was pleaſed, upon the Croſs, to diſcover the Riches of his Mercy upon a wretched Robber, who ſuffered then the hands of Juſtice for his crimes: aſſoon as he ſaw him moved with Repentance, he changed his infamous and painful Croſs into a Paradiſe of Glory and Happineſs, and filled his Soul with the ſweeteſt Comforts of his Holy Spirit. This merciful Redeemer is the ſame yeſterday, and to day, and ſhall be the ſame for ever. Therefore be never ſo foul and abominable a ſinner, if thou doſt groan under the burden of thy ſins, and art moved with contrition, Heb. 13. thou oughteſt not to caſt off thy hopes, and to be diſcouraged; draw near with humility to thy Saviours Croſs, and waſh thy ſelf in the Bloud that comes out of his veins. All the diſeaſed perſons that entred into the pool of Betheſda, were healed of all manner of diſtempers, Joh. 5. Likewiſe all ſpiritual diſeaſes are cured in this Divine Pool, of all their griefs; it is not neceſſary to ſtay till a good Angel from Heaven come to move the Waters, for Chriſt's Bloud is always freſh, living, and of the ſame Vertue and Efficacy; we need not fear that others ſhould ſtep down before us, or that the throng ſhould hinder us, for a thouſand worlds may be all healed at the ſame inſtant; neither do ye pretend that there is no body to caſt you into this myſtical Pool, for our Lord will never refuſe to admit you when you ſhall have been Bedrid eight and thirty years, as the poor man that was troubled with the Palſie: and when you ſhall be nailed to a Croſs, as the good Thief, you may nevertheleſs dip your ſelves into this Divine Pool, and feel its ſaving and healing Vertue. It doth not only waſh away the filth, and heal all thy diſeaſes, but it gives alſo life to the Dead, and renders the living immortal: Whoſoever thou art that dippeſt thy ſelf in this precious Bloud, thou mayeſt ſay with the Apoſtle St. Paul, This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave ſinners, of whom I am the chief, 1 Tim. 1. Howbeit I have obtained Mercy, the Lord will deliver me from all wicked work, and will preſerve me to his Heavenly Kingdom, to him be Glory for ever and ever, Amen. 1 Tim. 7.
26. You underſtand therefore very well, believing Souls, that you have no cauſe to fear Death, ſeeing that all its Darts have been broken to pieces, all its Armor hath been torn, and that its ſpoils appear ſo viſibly upon Chriſts Croſs. You may ſee the Claws of this old Lion, the paw of this devouring Bear, the Teeth and Poiſon of this infernal Serpent, and the Head of this prodigious Dragon; you may ſee death ſwallowed up into victory, and the Prince of Life leading it in triumph: follow then the Glorious Chariot of this noble Conqueror, ſinging with the Apoſtle. O death! where is thy Victory? O Grave! where is thy Sting? The ſting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the Law, but bleſſed be God who hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.
27. Therefore when God ſhall draw near to you, covered with the vail of Death, be not terrified; ſeek not to run from him, and to hide your ſelves from his all-ſeeing Eyes, unto whom darkneſs is as the noonday, Gen. 3. Although you are by nature poor, wretched, blind and naked, you have more ſubſtantial Garments than Fig leaves, for you have the leaves of the Tree of Life, that are deſigned for the ſalvation of the Gentiles, Revel. 22. The Leaves that ſhall never fade, ſhall cover all your nakedneſs, and adorn your immortal Souls; for it is the Eternal Righteouſneſs, the moſt accompliſhed Righteouſneſs of our Lord Jeſus, who hath been made unto us of God, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption, Dan. 19. It is Jeſus Chriſt himſelf who is named The Lord our Righteouſneſs. It is the precious Garment of Salvation, the Glorious Cloak of Righteouſneſs mentioned by the Prophet, Iſ. 61. It is the Wedding Garment whitened in the Bloud of the Lamb, without ſpot, and the fine and bright Linnen which are the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, Ezek. 16. In ſhort, it is a Garment which will not only cover and adorn you, but it will alſo heal all your infirmities, and make you become immortal. Rev. 7.
28. If you come before your Heavenly Father with this perfumed cloathing of your Elder Brother Jeſus Chriſt, Gen. 27. or rather, if you be cloathed with him as with a Garment, Rom. 1. You ſhall not only obtain the beſt and moſt advantageous Bleſſing, but you ſhall enter into the poſſeſſion of the uncorruptible Inheritance, prepared for you from the beginning of the World. For the wages of ſin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal life, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 6.
A Prayer and Meditation for a Chriſtian, who ſtrengthens himſelf againſt the fears of Death, by meditating upon the Death and Paſſion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
O Merciful Saviour! who haſt cloathed thy ſelf with our mortal Fleſh, that thou mighteſt offer it up as a Sacriffce to God; ſuccor me in my weakneſs, and increaſe the Faith and Hope which thou haſt begun in my Soul. I ſee Death threatening to deſtroy me, and ready with its jaws open to devour me. But Lord, I come to caſt my ſelf before thy Bleſſed Croſs, I take hold of the Horns of this Altar, I dip my ſelf in thy Bloud, I put on the Robes of thy Righteouſneſs, and wrap my ſelf up in thy Death. O Holy Redeemer! I know that thou haſt been diſtreſſed, and grievouſly perplexed at the approaches of Death; and that thine Agony hath been ſo bitter, that thou haſt ſweated drops of Bloud, and the Holy Angels have come down to comfort thee; whereas thy Servants the Martyrs have gone to death, and their ſufferings, with expreſsions of Joy, as to a moſt ſplendid Banquet, or to a Triumph. Thou haſt prayed with ſtrong Crying and Tears to be delivered from death, and that this Cup might paſs away, ſo that thou mighteſt never taſt of its bitterneſs; But Lord! thy death was not as mine, and as that of thy bleſſed Martyrs. Thy death was an atonement for the ſins of the whole World; whereas our death is not intended as a ſatisfaction to God's juſtice, but rather to render us capable of receiving the bleſſed Fruits of his Eternal Compaſſions. Thou didſt bear the ſtrokes of God's Juſtice, and endure the fierceneſs of his wrath, enflamed againſt the ſins which thou haſt loaded on thy ſelf: But we, inſtead of this conſuming Fire, which thou haſt quenched with thy precious Bloud: we perceive the flames of Love, inſtead of the Hand of thy juſtice; we ſee thy Arms wide open to receive us into Eternal Happineſs. Death, good Lord! was armed with our ſins and iniquities, and with all that is dreadful in Hell; but I ſee that all the Armor of Death are hung upon thy Croſs; they are the Trophies, and everlaſting marks of thy Glorious Victory. Thou haſt felt, not only the moſt ſenſible Darts of Death, but alſo the moſt terrible Thunderbolts, and fearful Curſes of the Law. Thou haſt ſecured us from all that violence; thou haſt redeemed us from the dreadful Curſes. When thou waſt made a Curſe for us, thou hadſt not only to encounter with death, but alſo to deſtroy him, who had the Empire of Death, and to break in pieces the Gates of Hell. Thou didſt ſpoil Principalities and Powers, ſhewing them openly, and triumphing of them in thy Croſs. O wonderful Saviour! How marvellous are thy Works, and worthy of the continual admiration of Men and Angels? Thou haſt drunk up the very dregs of the Cup of God's fury, that we might never taſte of it, and thou haſt taken upon thee all the puniſhment that our ſins and offences had deſerved, that we might never feel them. Thy grievous pangs alleviate my torments; thy bruiſes and wounds are my health and cure; thy fears do comfort and ſettle my mind, and thy diſtreſſed Soul doth fill mine full of joy and comfort; thy crying doth appeaſe the troubles of my Conſcience, and thy drops of Bloud do waſh down my Tears; thine affliction comforts me, thy ſorrow is my joy, and thy bitterneſs is my ſweetneſs; thy death is my victory, and thy Croſs is my Triumph; I ſhall no longer apprehend to dye, ſeeing thou didſt procure unto me Life and Immortality. O Glorious and Merciful Lord, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs unto thee by a twofold Right; it belongs to thee, becauſe thou art the only Son of God, and the Heir of all things; it belongs to thee alſo, becauſe thou haſt purchaſed it with the infinite Merits of thy Sufferings; the firſt is ſufficient for thee, the ſecond thou haſt reſigned unto me, that I might one day enjoy this Heavenly Kingdom, as the fruits of thy Death, and the price of thy Bloud. I have hoped in thee Lord, I ſhall never be confounded; I know that nothing impure or defiled ſhall enter into thine Holy Jeruſalem, but thy Bloud ſhall waſh me from all my ſins, and make me as white as Snow. O Glorious Lord! O thou that art wonderful! how precious is thy death unto me? It is the payment of all my debts, the atonement of all my crimes, and the ranſom of the whole World; It is our peace with God, our re-union with Heaven, and our reconciliation with the Bleſſed Angels of Light; It is the death of Death it ſelf, and the ruine of Hell. In ſhort, it hath not only drawn me out of an Abyſſe of Miſery, freed me from Eternal Damnation, and the infinite torments of the bottomleſs Pit, but it hath purchaſed for me Heaven, with all its Glory and Paradiſe, with its unſpeakable Delights. David was much admired for making uſe of Goliah's Sword, to cut off his Head; but who will admire and wonder at thee, O victorious Son of David, ſeeing thou haſt ſwallowed up Death into Victory by thine own death? Sampſon was wondered at becauſe he killed a few Enemies by his death; but who will not wonder at thee, O Son of Righteouſneſs, who by thy death haſt deſtroyed all the enemies of our Salvation, and given to death itſelf, its death's wound? Jacob ſlept peaceably at the bottom of the myſterious Ladder, which reacht from the Earth up to Heaven; But, O my Lord God, I ſhall lay my ſelf down, and find more peace and quiet at the bottom of thy bleſſed Croſs; ſeeing that by its means I have acceſs to the Father, unto whom thou haſt reconciled me, ſeeing that I may with boldneſs go to the Throne of Grace, to obtain Mercy and Help in time of need. Lord Jeſus, I diſcover in thy Croſs, not only the ſource of my ſweeteſt Comforts, of my greateſt Joys, and of my nobleſt expectations; but I learn alſo there, how to dye well, and I perceive all the Vertues in their greateſt perfection, that ſhould accompany my Soul at its Egreſs out of this Body. O Lord! Who art Perfection it ſelf, and who haſt left me ſuch a notable Example, that I might imitate it, give me Grace to expreſs to all my Relations, that cordial and holy affection, and that tenderneſs which I ſee in thee; give me Grace to forgive with all mine Heart mine Enemies, that I may pray God for them who have perſecuted me with fury. Give me Grace in my greateſt pains, to follow the example of thy ſweet Nature, of thy Goodneſs, of thy Patience and noble Reſolution. Inflame my Soul with an earneſt Zeal for thy Glory, and with ſuch a love, as cauſed thee to offer thy ſelf up in Sacrifice to God. Here I am O God, ready to perform thy Will; my Soul is none of mine, but thine, who art its faithful Creator, and its merciful Saviour. Seeing that thou haſt paid its Ranſom, that thou haſt waſhed and cleanſed it in thy Blood, cloathed it with thy Righteouſneſs, and put it in a capacity of entring into thine Heavenly Sanctuary, and of appearing before the Father of Lights, do with it as it ſhall ſeem good unto thee. O ſweet Jeſus, who haſt been pleaſed to Dye and be Crucified for me wretched Sinner, give me that Grace that I may for ever live and raign with thee, and that I may at every inſtant be ready to ſay with all my heart, I commend into thine hands my Spirit, for thou haſt redeemed it, thou who art the ſtrong and faithful God. Amen.