MSRM. ?CLI.1 THE DEATH OP SAINTS IMPROVED. Igs of the truth and power ofour religion, above all other re- ligions in the world, when it enables a poor feeble dying creature to face'death with courage, to look beyond the limits of life and time, and venture into an unseen world. with holy, joy and triumph. It gives us a glorious evi- dence, that the principles of christianity are such, as will justify all the labours of a holy life, and will bear us out in the profession of it, in the midst of ridicule and mockery, of persecution and martyrdom. This surely must be a religion coming down from God, that can give the weak and the unlearned such a courage, as to encounter death itself without fear ; and that not from a stupid and senseless temper of spirit, not from a brutal hardiness, such as carries the horse and the hero into the battle, but with a clear and full discovery of God and his holiness, of our owxa sins and his forgiving grace, this religion can enable us to venture into his immediate presence. How glorious is our gospel, how divine a doctrine is this ! It has wrought ten thousand such won- ders by faith in the blood of Christ, as the great atone- ment for sin, and the only way to the Father. A saint leaving this world, and putting off mortality, with the light of heaven breaking in upon his soul, and the beams of glory shining round about him, with divine joy and transport inhis countenance. and the language of heaven uponhis lips, brings the invisible world into present view : The pious spectators grow up to a sensible assur- ance of the glories and felicities of that, invisible world ; each of them sits on the borders of paradise, each of them gets a glimpse of the New Jerusalem, and all the heavenly, country, and this adds newstrength to his faith and hope. 2. The glorious death of our fellow -christians greatly encourages the imitation of their holy life. To see a child. of God die from amongst men, leave this world with a holy contempt and sincere pleasure, and enter into the presence of his heavenly Father with a filial confidence : to see him finish his race with joy, and, as it were, lay hold on salvation, and put on his heavenly crown : This calls aloud upon us to tread in the saine steps, to pursue the blessed prize, and to be " followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises ;" Heb,. vi. 12. When we " mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, and see that his end is peace;" 04
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