26o The Delire ofthe Saints, match, but as his underlin, .infulteth over him, fettethhis foot on the neckof this King of terrors, and by conquering him, captivates with great facility all other petty fears of ignominy, poverty, and the like, which therefore are dreadful, be_ caute they tend to Death, the lafi, the worft, the end, the fum ofall feared evils t this is the unconquerable crown of Faith ; this is the glory ofa Chriftian, this is the Diadem of honour wreathed about his Temples, advancing him above all other men whatfoever. But you will fay, may a man defire, death I Is this now a queftion, what means the Agony of the Apoftle, I defre to be dilfolved, and to be with Chrifl. , What means the earneft longing of the Spoufer Apoc. zz. The Spirit faith come , and the Bride faith come ; and let him that hears Jay come. What means her fainting in the Canticles ?- I amfink of love, let him bring me into his chamber Let me fee his face, 1 am fickante death : Let me die left 1 die, that I may fee himfor ever. What means the Chara&er of a true Chrìftian : ,,4s manyas love the appearance of the Lord, which cannot be without death : What means the incredible contempt of deathin ancientChriftians,infomuch,that it was a received Maxime with the Hea- then s OmnisCbrilianuc eft contemptor mortir. What means the heroical incourage- ment ofold Hilarion, Egredereanima, egredere, quid timer? Goout my foul,go out, why trembleftthou ? What meansthe wordsofold Simeon in the flames ; Thug iodic is to. live? What means the rapture ofSaint Chryfoflome, that he would thank that man that would kill him, as tranfeìittinghimmore fpeedily to thofe unconceivable Joyes ? What means thisgroaning, and thirfting in my Text ? Do not there de-. monftratc that it is lawful to delire death ? Not limply in it felf, or for it fell, it is , the feparation of thofe two whom,God bath coupled; it is a reflation of being -1 it is an evil ofpunifhment, the daughter of fin : to delire it (imply, were to delire evil, which is abhorrent to nature ; much lets ought we to haften our death by violent means. Let their memories be buried in perpetual filence, as the botches andulcersof Chriftianity, who out of impatience have perpetrated this heinous fin, afin againft God and man ; againft nature, againft grace, againft the Church, a- gainftthe common - wealth, againft all things : TheHeathenman could fay, that we are the poffeflion of God, to be difpofed ofby him, not by our felves : the . body is the ftruâure of God, the workofhis hamds,theTabernacle whichhe hath made,and not to be removed, or to be taken down, but by his command : while we live, we may advance the gloryofGod, thegood ofothers ; . we may impeo- plc heaven, make up the ruinesof ? ngels ; to haften our death, were to envy this glory to God,this good to others : In that diftraâionofOur Apoftle between two good things, his own glory, and the good of others; youknow whichway the (cales inclined, to the good ofothers ; as ifhehad Paid, let my glory bedeferred, Co Gods glory be increafed ; let my joy be increafed, let my joy be fufpended, fo the joy ofAngels, and ofthe Court ofheaven beintented bythe converfion offn- ners ; Nay more, this is a (mall thing; Let nie be an dthema, fo Ifrael be bleffed, let me be blottedout ofthe bookof life, fo thoufands be inferted ; çt the bowels of Chrift be ftreightned to me, fo they be enlarged to others ; this is life indeed, this is the endOfour life: this will comfort us in this life, and crown us in the life to come. He that can truly fay, that while he lived, he lived to God, not tohim- fell, that he fincerely propounded the glory ofGod, and the good ofothers unto hitnfelf ; this man may write upon his Tomb , ACV.. , I have lived : take this out of the life ofman, and what is it but a meardeath, ifnot worfe, thoughit be protrac ed to the years ofMethufalem twice told ? Thus , limply to delire death is not good; butcloath this with tome circumftances,andthen todelire death is not only warrantable,but commendable;when we have done all the good we can,when our lives will be no more ferviceable to Church or Common-wealth,when we have with all fidelity done our Matters work, when we have the teflimony ofa good confcience,that wehave fought a goodfight, that we have kept thefaith, that we have frnifhed oar race ; thenmay we fay with oldSimeon,Lordnowletteff thou thyfervant depart inpeace; then may we with our Apoftle lift up our eyes to the crownof righteoufiref, .which the righteous yudge hath laid upfor them that fear him ; then we
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