412 Death in Birth, or, .s Our benefit Thirdly, God fubjcts his children to this courfe, that by it, they may the bet- bYChúít. ter conceive what ineflimable benefit they reap by Jefus Chrift. When they do think upon death, as it isan enemy, they cannot chufebut fear it ; Nature affedfing acontinuation,and prefervationof it fcff,cannot chute but loathand abhor it. Now then, if Death being changed be fo fearful ; well may we conclude, that it would have exceeded in terror, ¡fit hadcontinued as at the firff it was ; that is, a gate and paffage to cverlafling torment in hell fire. If the very light of the Serpent afright us now the fling is out, what would, it have done, if the fling had liill remained? Hereby then Almighty Godwouldhave us learn, how deeply we Stand ingaged to him for his mercy,whobyhis SonJefus.!riflhathf&eedtusfrom fogreat mieery. 4. To conform Laflly, the lawof Death feizeth upon the very eledh children of God, that they us to Chnft. may be thereby madeconformable to their head Chrift e He was asthe wheat- corn,, which except it fall into the ground and die, abideth alone, Death washis paffage, the fame muff be ours alfo. The way ofthe tree of life is kept with the blade of a fword thaken, under the flroak whereof, we mull firif come, before we can hope for any entrance into Paradife; as we feehere it is faid of2jgche , thedied. AndRachel died. I will not Rand upon any diviuion of the words, but will (God willing) unite , them together at this time,m this difcourfe. I conceive it is not altogetherimper- i tinent in the handling of thefe words of my Text, to Phew you'theoccafionof Rackets death ; What the was`, and for what the {lands recorded in the facred Scriptures. Rachelwas one of Labans Daughters, and one oftheWivesof Jacob. Queflion- lets, the was a good woman, though in fume thingsfaulty : But the imperfeElions ofthe holy people ofthofe times,are neither tobeblazedabroad (as though we took pleafure in difcovering their (hatne,) nor to be followed neither; as though by their doing this or that, were a fufficient plea for us; thatwere to drawblood,not milk out of the breflsof the tiered Scriptures, and isa thing, whichfor my ownpar.* titular were the-caulenever fo ¡tilt, I do frommy foul abhor and detefl. kmdul was Firfi of all then, the is recorded to havebeen fruitful, by whom Jacob had two a.- Fluittul, tons, yofephand Benjamin; andbyher,andLeah hisother wife, God accomplished' his promife that He madetoAbraham, that his feed thould be as the liarsofHcavcn, which teacheth us ; that, The fruitfulnefs of thewife, is to be reckoned as a Wing, and to be earnefllyfough by prayer fromAlmighty God. It is that bleffing which God promifetittotheman that fears him,and putshis truft in him ; That bis wife fhould be asa fruitful vine, and his Children they fna11(land1 as Olive branchesround about bis table, Tfal. sal. ;. And in the precedent Pfalm, Loe, Children are an heritagefrom theLord, and the fruit ofthe wombare his reward, happy is the man that bath hi; quiver full of them. In former times, barrennefs was accounted for a'thame and reproach. When Godwould punifh Abimelecb, about r.dbrabam and Sàra his Wife ; it is laid, that he clofed "pall the wombs in the houfe ofAbímelech, Gen. zo. i8. Andwhen God would beefs Jobsfail dayes more than his fiat, he gave him feven fops, and three daughters,asan additiontohis happinefs, and as fo many emblems ofhis grace, and favour towards him. In the rehearfingof the fives of theFathersbeforetheFfood, yon[hall find, efpecially in Gen.5. ftndry' times thus, filch, and fucha ope Iivedfo many years, and begatfans and daughters. What was thè'bleffng upon the fstl couple ? was it not this, be fruitful andmul- tiply? Gen.s.aS. What bleflinggave the friends ofRabecca at her departure? was it not this , be the mother of tboufands, and millions; Gen. 2e,.. 60. What was the manner of Godrblèfíing theJews after their return from the captivity? was it not this, that their)?reets fhould befull of boyes, andgirls? Zech. 8... . This being fo, it may fern for a twofold Life ; Firfl,,
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