DEATH.]

Fear of Death.

CHAP. 11.

undying worm of conscience, the other to the grave to be a prey to the worms of corruption-how are they overcome with horror! Dan. v.

(2) The continual succession of the pleasures and business of the world diverts the mind from the attentive, strong contemplation of death, and its consequences. Pensive thoughts are unwelcome, and we studiously endeavour to cancel the memory of such things as afflict us. It is said of the wicked, that 'God is not in all their thoughts.' The consideration of the holy inspector and judge of their actions is tormenting; therefore they fill their minds with earthly imaginations, in order to exclude the divine. We read of those who, to put far away presence. the evil day, chaunted to the sound of the viol, and drank wine in bowls. Amos vi. 3, 4. Amos vi. 3, 4.

no

They are rocked asleep with the motion of phantastic vanities; and sleep takes away fear, but gives no safety. It is recorded of Marius that after his overthrow by Sylla he was always in consternation, as if he heard the sound of the trumpets, and the noise of the victori-, ous army pursuing him; and his fears were longer quiet than while charmed with wine and sleep. He therefore was continually drunk, that he might forget himself, his enemy, and his danger. Thus men make a pitiful shift to forget their latter end; and while they are following either secular affairs or sensual pleasures, are unconcerned for what is to be hereafter. But this diversion will shortly be at an end, for in their languishing hours, when, the

CHAP. II.]

Fear of Death.

[DEATH.

wasted body fails the carnal mind, and sensual desires fails the man, then conscience that spoke with > a low voice before, is loud and terrible; and like the rigid exactor in the parable, that took his debtor by the throat, requires them to pay what they owe.

(3) Some are so hardened in infidelity, that the powers of the world to come may have no impression on their hearts. They mind but little, and are less affected with invisible things. They fortify themselves with gross thoughts, that the spirit of man vanishes with his breath; that death is the end of this life, and not the beginning of another; and therefore they feed without fear.' Place one in the midst of destructive evils, but unseen or not believed, and he is as fearless as a blind person walking on the brink of a deep pit. Indeed there are none less disturbed with the fear of death, than the eminently good, or the extremely bad. The one have a blessed hope that death will be to them an entrance into life, and they shall live like angels, with a joy unspeakable and glorious; while the others are as sensual and secure as the beasts that perish, having extinguished the fear of eternal future evils, which is the proper passion of reason. apostle declares, that knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men to be reconciled to him, before the season of mercy be expired. 2 Cor. v. 11. But those who have suppressed the natural notions of eternal judgment," as they think it beneath their wisdom to be persuaded by the promises of heaven,

The

DEATH.]

Fear of Death.

[CHAP. I

so beneath their courage to be terrified with the threatenings of hell, and triumph over the ruins of conscience. But though wicked infidels slight the threatenings, they shall not escape the vengeance of God.

6

We read of Noah, who being warned of God of things not seen as yet, and moved with fear, he prepared an ark for the saving of his house. Heb. xi. His fear was the native issue of his faith. But the profane world, in whom sense was predominant, despised the oracle, and trembled at no judgments but what were acting on the visible stage. They ate and drank, married, and were given in marriage, till swept away by the unfeared inundation. Lot also being certified by an embassy of angels, that a deluge of fire would in a few hours pour down from heaven upon Sodom, he most earnestly solicited his sons-in-law, saying, • Arise, depart out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city.' But they treated his compassionate advice with derision; he seemed to them as one that mocked;' and they were surprised by those fearful flames which dispatched them from a temporal hell to that which is eternal. Thus also it is prophesied, that in the last days there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming.' But let them blaspheme and scorn the most sacred and terrible truths; let them perpetuate their excess of riot, and wild mirth while they live; death will come, and judgment as sure as death.

CHAP. III.

How the death of Christ frees us from the tormenting fear of death. By dying he paid our ransom to the injured justice of God; and deprives Satan of the legal power he had over us. His death is our redemption from the curse of death. It makes death a blessed advantage to believers. The happiness obtained by death unfolded. It frees the saints from afflicting evils, and sin the cause of them. The highest positive good obtained by death.

I NOW come to show how the death of Christ

frees us from the tormenting fear of death. And here we are to consider that sin, Satan and death, are enemies in combination against man in his mortal state; and the destructive power of Satan, and death, is from sin. When man renounced his Creator and natural Lord, he was judicially given up to Satan as the executioner of vengeance, and to the power of death.

Such is the order, rather than the world by sin. The empire of Satan and death is built on the ruins of our inno

confusion in the

cence.

Now the Son of God came from his throne in heaven to deliver us; and there are two ways of obtaining freedom from captivity, by ransom or by

D

DEATH.]

Fear of Death removed.

[CHAP. III.

power and rescue, so in both respects our deliverance from bondage to those capital enemies is ascribed to the death of Christ.

It is called our ransom, which properly refers to a state of captivity. There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all.' 1 Tim. ii. 6. His life was the full price of our liberty and salvation. God does not pardon sin, and release from punishment by a pure absolute act of his will and authority, as a creditor forgives a debtor; but in such a way as to preserve the rights of justice inviolate. Therefore when man was devoted to death, our Redeemer exchanged conditions with him, and offered up his precious blood as our ransom to God, in the quality of King and Judge of all. was the dignity of his person, that the entire world, the heavens and the earth, with all their inhabitants, are of less value to him than the basest dross to refined gold. Such was the greatness of his sufferings, in which the highest degree of obedience and the lowest degree of humility were conspicuous, as to be a valuable compensation to obtain eternal redemption for us. Phil. ii. 8.

Such

Now when God the supreme Judge is satisfied, Satan forfeits the right he had to torment us, and is divested of his dominion over our wills; which though justly permitted, was an usurpation upon God's right in man that can never be extinguished. It is said by the apostles, that our Saviour