SERMON XLI. 583 I. As reigning over all mankind in general. II. As seiz- ing on impenitent andunpardoned sinners. - -III. As takingcap- tive the bodies of the saints. IV. As depriving us of our dear relations and kindred. And, V. As bringing our own bodies dower to thedust. I confess, I was very unwilling to leave the death of Christ out of this catalogue ; for his death is not only the most eminent, 'blessing to every christiaii, but it is also the price that purchased all Other blessings in time, and in eternity. It is the death of Christ that may be called the christian's richest treasure, for it Procures for him all the treasures of grace and glory. It is the fruit Of his death, that gll things are ours, whether Paul, or Apol- los, or Cephas, or things present, or things to carne. It is his death that gives truth and virtue tO the words of my text, and -to all the rich and spreading comments upon it, that faith can make hereon earth, and that our souls shall taste and enjoy hereafter in heaven. Yet when I consider, that the death of Christ is more di- rectlyexpressed in many other scriptures, and does not seem at all to have been the design of St. Paul in this text : and when I survey what a vast and copioussubject I must enter into if I re- count th'e riches of blessing that are derived from this spring, I chose to refer that subject to another season. I proceed there- fore according to the order I have proposed, to treat of the vari- ous advantages to be derived from this proposition, Death is yours. First, The death of mankind in general shall be made pro- fitable to believers. The death of all the sons and daughters of Adam, shallpromote the improvement of the children of God, in knowledge, grace, and holiness; for it instructs them in three Most useful lessons. 1. It gives them a most powerful and sensible lecture on the vanity of man. A burying place filled with tombs, is a lively book of Haman frailty : It repeats the melancholy lesson in every leaf Each little grave-stone becomes a preacher of vanity to the living, -even in the profound silence of the dead. This is the doctrine of every rising hillock, this is the universal theme : And every stately monument there strikes the beholder with the same mortifying truth : though perhaps it swells with many pompous titles and images of honour. And this lesson of vanity stands written there still in fair and indelible characters, though the name of the dead, and all their praises be quite worn out. Dust and ashes, even without au inscription, and withouta monument, are silent but powerful teachers. Alas, what is man in his best estate ! A poor and mortal dying créature ! When the read the histories of past ages and
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