SERM. RLir'S. DEAT73 A ELESSING TO TEE SAINTS. X27 shall be released from your present bondageand impri- sonment by the messenger ofdeath : Fear it not, for it is your Lord, and my Lord, your Saviour and mine, who sends it to release you from all the evils which you have long groaned under, and to bring you to our Father's house, where the businesses, the pleasures, and the company are infinitely agreeable and entertaini:ng." Thus have I shew how in various instances, the ,death of a believer in general is appointed to work for .his good, and becomes an advantapc to him through the grace of Christ. I proceed to spew how the death ofa Christian in all the particular circumstances that attend it, has something in it that may be turned to his benefit. " ,Christ has the keys of death and the grave; he was dead, and is alive, and behold he lives for evermore," Rev. i. 18. And he knows how to manage all the cir- cumstances of the death of his saints for their profit : He appoints the time when, the manner how, and the place where they shall die, and determines all these things by rules of unsearchable wisdom, under the influence of his faithfulness and his love. 1. The time when we shall die is appointed by Christ: If he calls us away in the days of our youth, he secures us thereby from many a temptation, and many-a sin; for our life on earth is subject to daily defilements. He prevents also many a sorrow and distress of mind, many an agonyand sharp pain to which our flesh is subject, and saves us-from all the languishing weaknesses of old age, and from tasting the dregs of mortality. When our blessed Lord foresees some huge and heavy sorrows ready to fall upon us, or some mighty tempta- tions approaching towards us, he lays his hand upon us in the midst of life, and hides us in the grave. This has been the sweet hiding-place of many a saint of God, from a day of public temptation and overspreading misery. If he lengthens out our life to manyyears, we have a, fair opportunity of doing much more service for our God, and our Redeemer; and we also enjoy the longer expe- rience of his power, his wisdom, and his faithful mercy, in guiding us through many a dark difficulty, in support- ing us under many a heavy burden, and delivering our souls from many a threatening temptation. Oftentimes Q;
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