SERMON XLI. . 595 of these glorious sufferers for Christ. And those that have been doubtful and trembling believers, whose faith was wavering, and who were ready tolet go their profession, have ventured through blood and torments, and death, with a divine resolution, when they have beheld the martyrsmeet the same death and torments with a sacred bravery ofsoul. A multitude of fearful christians may be animated and en- couraged to travel through the dark valley, and to cross the cold flood of death, by the example of a single saint, who has passed that important hour with success and honour. So you have seen a flock of sheep stand doubtful and delaying on the bank of some little brook ; but when the first and second have made their way through it, the rest venture over in multi- tudes, ,and leap the ditch with the greatest ease, thedifficulty and the danger vanish at once, when they have seen a forerunner leading the way. Thus it hathbeen made evident in several instances, that the death of fellow- christians is ours. It shall turn to our great advantage, through the influences of the gospel, and the Spirit of grace, where ehristtaps die like themselves, in the exercise of a joyful hope. Tt confirms our faith in the gospel of Christ, it en- courages otlr imitation of their holy life, it makes earth and this life less pleasant to us, andheaven more desirable, and it instructs us how to die. But if a saint go out of this world under much darkness and terror, this is commonly to be supposed a divine chastisement for the criminal indulgence of some temptations, or some un- watchful steps he has taken in the course of his _life ; for God will make his own people know, many times by painful experience, that it is an evil and bitter thing to backslide and depart from him. A wise and pious spectator upon this occasion, will take warning by the terrors of the Lord, andby the punishment of his fellow-christian, to avoid that guilt, and those criminal indul- gences, which have provoked God to leave his brother to dark- ness, even in the hour of death : And this may be a means to awaken him to a most watchful course of holiness, lest he fall under the same strokes of anger from his heavenly Father, and suffer his displeasure in that awful moment, when he would most earnestly wish for the sweetest sense ofhis love; Thus I have finished the third general head, and sheaved that the death of the saints may be richly improved to theadvantage of the living. The Recollection." Come, my soul, who art daily conver- singwith the affairs and.concerns of life, come now, and meditate on the name of death : It is a name that carries much terror in it ßg3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=