Serm. CXX. Of the Immortality of the Soul, &c. brought Salvation to us, and called us to this holy Profeffon; not according to our works, that is, not that we by any thingthat we have done, have deferved this at his Hand, but according tohis own purpofe andgrace, that is, according to his own gracious Purpofe, which wasgiven us inChrifl before the World began, that is, which fromall eternitybedecreed and determined to accomplifh by 7efus Chrifl ; But is now made manìfefi by the appearing ofour Saviour Jefus ChrJl ; that is, which gra- cious Purpofe of his is now clearly difcovered by our Saviour 7efus Chrifi's coming into the World; who bath abolifh'd Death, and bathbrought Life and Im- mortality to light, through the Gofpel. Which words exprefs to us two happy Effe&s of Chrift's appearance ; Firfi, The abolifhing of Death; and, Secondly, The bringing of Life and Immortality to light. In the handlingof there words, I (hall, Firfl, Open to you the meaning of the feveral expreffions in the Text. Secondly, Shew what our Saviour Yell's Chrift did towards the abolifhing ofDeath, and bringing to light Lift and Immortality. For the Firfi, I (hall thew, I. What is here meant by the appearing of Jefas Chrifi. II. What bythe abolifhingof Death. 111. What by bringing tò light Life and Immortality. L What is here meant by the appearing ofour Saviour7efus Chrifi. The Scripture ufeth feveral Phrafes to exprefs this thing to us. As it was the gracious Deign of God the Father, fo it is call'd the giving of his Son, or fending him into the World. John 3. id God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, Gal. 4. 4. In thefulnefs oftimeGod feet his Son. As it was the voluntary Un- dertaking.of God the Son, fo it is call'd his coming into the World. In relation to his Incarnation, whereby he was made vifible tous in his Body, and likewife in reference to the obfcure Promifes, and Próphefies, and Types of the Old Te- ftament, it is call'd his manifefiation orappearance. So the Apoftle expreffeth it, 1 john 3. 5. Te know that he was manifeffed to take away our Sins; by which we are, tounderftand primarily his Incarnation, his appearing inourNature, where- by be became vifible to us. Ashe was God, he could not appear tous, dwelling in light and glory, not to be approached by us in this ftate of Mortality, and there fore he clothed himfelf in Flefh, that he might appear and become manifefi to us. I fayby his appearing we are primarily to underftand his Incarnation : yet not only that, but likewife all that was confequent upon this, the A&ions of his Life, and his Death and Refurreftion ; becaufe all there concur to the producing of there happy Effe&s mentioned in the Text. II. What is meant by the abolifhingofDeath. By this we are not to underftand, that Chrift by his appearance bath rooted Death out of the World, fo that Men are no longer fubje& to it. For we fee thateven good Men, and thofe who are partakers of thebenefits of Chrift's Death, are [till fubje& to the common Lawof Mortality: but this expreffion of Ch rift'shaving abolifh'd Death, liignifies the Con- queft and Vi&ory which Chrift bath gained over Death in his own Perron, in that after he was dead, and laid in his Grave, he rofe again from the dead, he freed himfelf from the bands of Death, and broke loofe from the fetters of it, they not being able to holdhim, as the expreffion is, AEIs 2. 24. and confequentlp bath by this vietory over it, given us affurance ofa Refurre&ion toa better Life. For lince Chrift bath abolifh'd Death, and triumphed over it, and thereby over the PowersofDarknefs : (for fo the Apoftle tells us, that by his Death, and that which followed it, his Refurre&ion from the Dead, he bathdefiroyedhim that had the power of Death, that is, the Devil. The Devil he contributed all he could to the deathof Chrift, by tempting judos to betray him, and engaging all his Inftru- mehts in the procuring of it; as he had before brought in Death into the World, by tempting the firft Man to Sin, upon which Death enfued; thus far he prevailed, and thought his Kingdomwas fafe, having procured the death of him who was fo great an Enemy to it : but Chrift by riling from the Dead, defeats the Devil of his deign, and plainly conquers him, whohad arrogated to himfelf the power of Death; ) I fay, fince Chrift bath thus vanquifh'd Death, and triumph'd over it, and him that had the power of it, Death bath loft its dominion, and Chrift 1 I I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=