The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 17
CHAP. 17.
The Fifth Conſolation againſt the Fears of Death, is to Meditate upon the Reſurrection of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
AS there is nothing more grieveous and unſufferable, than to behold a proud and inſulting Enemy, who is alwayes victorious, and whom none can overcome in his inſolent and braving humor; likewiſe, there is nothing more pleaſant and comfortable, then to ſee ſuch a pride caſt down, and to overcome ſuch an Enemy. Therefore the Children of Iſrael, who had long groaned under the cruel tyranny of Pharaoh, ſung with Joy a Song of Triumph and Thankſgiving, when God deſtroyed that wretched Tyrant, and Buried him and his Army in the waves of the Red Sea. For this cauſe, when the Red Dragon, the ancient Serpent, called the Devil and Satan, Exod. 15. who ſeduceth whole Nations, was overcome, and caſt down from Heaven to the Earth; There were Songs of Joy and Gladneſs heard in Heaven, Revel, 12. Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the Power of his Chriſt, for the Accuſer of our Brethren is caſt down, which accuſed them before our God day and night, therefore rejoyce ye Heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
From hence let us conclude, Chriſtian Souls, as it was a grievous Affliction, and a ſenſible Grief, to behold Death tyranniſing over all the World, and ſhutting up in its Dungeons, Kings and Monarchs, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and generally all the Children of Adam, of what condition or degree ſoever; likewiſe it is a great comfort, and unſpeakable joy to us, to behold this cruel and proud Enemy brought down, overcome, and diſarmed, to ſee our Lord Jeſus Chriſt marching out of Deaths fortifications, loaden with its Spoiles; rejoyce therefore ye Heavens, and ye that dwell in them, for the Murderer of our Brethren, is ſwallowed up into Victory.
We who are the Members of this great Conqueror, have a ſhare in his Honour and Glory, in his Perſon, we are Conquerors of Death, ſo that we may ſay with the Apoſtle, That God hath quickened us together, and raiſed us up with him.
This Prince of Life, hath not only looſened all the bands of Death, and broken to pieces all its chains, but he hath led away Death in Triumph, and made it ſubject to his Celeſtial Empire. He hath an abſolute power over Death, as he himſelf declares in theſe words, I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the Keys of Hell and of Death.
For it ſtands with reaſon, that if this invincible Lord, when he was in the Priſon of Death, commanded over Death itſelf; if he broke in pieces its Iron bars, and its Braſen gates; if he cauſed the Dead to go out, and led them into the Holy City, now that he is out of the Grave a victorious Conqueror, he muſt needs command with an uncontrolable power, this dreadful Enemy which he hath already overcome, and brought under by his Almighty Hand.
O Death! fret and fume out thy rage and fury, I ſee that thou art tied as a Priſoner, to the Triumphing Charriot of Jeſus Chriſt my Saviour, and I am certain, that thou canſt do nothing without leave, and that thou canſt not go a ſtep, unleſs he lengthens thy Chain.
As Joſhua, when he had overcome the Kings of Canaan, called for his Captains, and ſpoke to them in this manner, Come near and put your feet upon the necks of theſe Kings, fear not, nor be diſmayed; be ſtrong and of good courage; Likewiſe we may imagine, believing Souls, that our Divine Joſhua, now that he hath conquered Death, calls to us from Heaven, tread upon this wretched Death with boldneſs, fear not, nor be diſmayed.
The Children of Iſrael that trembled at the threatnings of Goliah, were freed from all apprehenſions, when they ſaw him fall with a Stone from Davids ſling, ſo that the moſt timerous, could have freely put their feet upon his Neck. And ſhall not you Chriſtians, baniſh from your Hearts all fears and dread of Death, now that you ſee that it is caſt down at the feet of our true David, the great Shepherd and Biſhop of our Souls, for although it opens its Jaws, and that it fomes out flames of Fire, it hath nevertheleſs received the Stroke of Death, and is ready to give up the laſt gaſpe.
And as the ſervant of Jonathan the Son of Saul, diſpatched and killed thoſe whom his Maſter had caſt down; Thus we need but purſue the glorious Victories of the Son of the King of Kings; or rather, we need but gather up the pleaſant Fruits of his Conqueſts, for this Prince of Life that hath overcome Death for us, offers to overcome it alſo in us, with the Weapons with which he arms us. In ſhort, to ſpeak properly, there can be no Death for ſuch as are Incorporated in Jeſus Chriſt, by a true and lively Faith, for he that lives and believeth in him, ſhall never Dye, and he that believeth in him, though he were dead, yet ſhall he live, Joh. 11.
A Prayer and Meditation for the believing Soul, that ſtrengthens it ſelf againſt the Fears of Death, by a Meditation upon the Reſurrection of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
LOrd Jeſus who haſt been fully declared to be the Son of God, with power by thy Reſurrection from the Dead, and who liveſt for ever and ever, ſtrengthen me in my weakneſs, comfort me in my Sorrows, and drive from my Soul all Fears and apprehenſions of Death. O wonderful Saviour! I need no longer fear this cruel and proud enemy, for thou haſt broken all its fetters and chains, and haſt overcome Death, and the Grave. O glorious and triumphing Monarch, what cauſe have I to dread a diſcomfited and diſarmed Enemy, whom I ſee lying under thy feet, and chained to thy Triumphing Charriot; I need but follow the ſacred Footſteps of thy Victories, and gather its excellent Fruits. If thou haſt been able to deal with Death, when thou waſt ſhut up in a Dungeon; if thou didſt then, bring down its pride, and carry away its priſoners; what may not I expect, from thy Victorious and Almighty Arm, now that thou haſt in hand, the Keys of Hell and of Death. O moſt mighty and merciful Lord! Thou haſt not only overcome Death for me, but thou wilt alſo overcome it by me, who am thy Child, and the Sheep of thy paſture, whereof thou haſt paid the Ranſome. Thou art not only raiſed from the Dead, but thou art alſo the Reſurrection and the Life. Thou the Prince of Life, and the Lord of Glory and Immortality, ſo that he that lives and believeth in thee, ſhall never Dye, and whoſoever believeth in thee, though he were Dead, yet ſhall he live. Sampſon was worthily admired when he ſlept until midnight, roſe up and carried away the Gates of Gaza upon his Shoulders, up to an high Mountain, but who would not admire thee O invincible Nazarite! who having ſlept until the third day in the bowels of the Earth, didſt riſe again by thy Divine Vertue, carry away the Gates of Hell, and made them to become the Gates of Heaven, and the entrance into thy celeſtial Paradice. Let me Dye, ſeeing that my Redeemer liveth, and ſeeing that he intends to introduce me into an happy Life, purchaſed for me with his moſt precious Blood, and ſecured unto me by his glorious reſurrection. Amen.