362 THE CONQUEST OVER. DEATH. [DTSc. t. inhabitant is an inward friend, and peace, and joy, and love smile in every countenance. Will an old saint complain that he finds'many infirmi- ties attend his age, that his senses are feeble, that his eyes are dim, that Satan now and then arises from hell, ánd casts a gloom and darkness around his soul, and buffets him sorely in that darkness ? Will he complain that his natural spirits are heavy, that the world is trou- blesome to him, and every thing in life painful ? Me- thinks it is a consolation equal "to all these sorrows, that he is just entering into the last field of battle ; the last hour of controversy is begun; a few strokes more will de- cide the strife, and make him an eternal conqueror. Behold I come quickly, saith our Lord, holdfast that which thou hast gained, that no man take thy crown; Rev. iii. 11. SECTION III. The destruction ofdeath. The third thing we are to enquire, is, how death is destroyed, and what are the steps, or gradual efforts to- wards its destruction. The person that has this honour put upon him to sub- due this universal tyrantis our Lord Jesus Christ; so the words inform us all round my text. Though his media- tion for sinners was sufficient to have prevailed with God to destroy death at once, yet it was agreed upon in the eternal counsels, that for wiseends and purposes it should be done by degrees. His blood was of sufficient value to have procured for his elect a deliverance from every enemy at once, and a translation to heaven as soon as they were born ; hut it was wisely concerted betwixt the Father and the Son, that we should pass through temp- tations, difficulties, and death itself; that by feeling the sharp assaults of ourenemies, we might be better ac- quainted with the greatness of our salvation, and pay a larger tribute of thanks and honours to oúr deliverer. The steps whereby death is destroyed, are these : 1. It is subdued by the death of Christ ; its sting was then taken away, that is, the guilt . of sin ; 1 Cor. xv. 56, 57. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of_sin is the law; but thanks be to Godwho giveth us the
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