SÉÀM.XL.] LIVING ABOVE TIÌE DEAD. I91 in heaven ; courage to speak boldly for Christ, and zeal to give him public glory, by maintaining his gospel in the face of terror and death : for there are no infidels, no sinners, no enemies in all the heavenly regions. There are no threatening tyrants, no persecuting powers, no penal laws in the upper world : No prisons, no fires, no gibbets nor axes there for the followers of the Lamb; no cruel mockings, nor so much as a reproachful word : but the greater our zeal is for the service of God an-d our Saviour in the heavenly state, the greater shall be our honour and applause among the inhabitants of that country. Endure then for a season, ye disciples of Christ, grow bold in the profession of his name, and exult with holy joy, " that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for his sake ;" Jets v. 41. It is here on earth only; that it is in your power to shew, how much you love your Sa- viour more than your life, and that your love to your Lord is stronger than death with all its terrors. Upon this account shall I exhort you to practise what the apos- tle James expresses ;; James i. 2. " Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into divers temptations ; for the proof or trial of your faith shall appear honourable and glorious when Christ cornes ;" 1 Pet. i. 7. It was a frequent and sacred ambition among the primitive christians to contend for the crown of martyrdom. This world is the only stage for such bloody conflicts, and this life is the only season wherein we can obtain the ad- dition of this ornament to our crown ofglory. XII. May I add in the last place, that a calm and chearful readiness for a removal out of this world, is an honour done to Christ and his gospel here on earth, which belongs not to the heavenly state. Death, in the course ofnature, as well as by the hands of violence, bath always something awful and formidable in it. Flesh and blood shrinks and trembles at the appearance of adisso- lution, and Christ delights to see the grace that he has wrought in his saints, gain the ascendancy over flesh and blood, and conquer the terrors of death and the grave.' He loves to see his followers maintain a serene soul, and venture into the invisible world upon the merit of his blood, with holy fortitude, and a chearful faith. It is only the living christian- that can dies and glorify God N 3
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