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strong cries and groans. Death stung him to the heart; but, (as it is said of the enraged bee,) he lost his sting. The law having been honoured, and sin expiated, by the obedience and sufferings of the Son of God for us, and in our nature, death has no longer power to sting those who believe in him. They do not properly "die," they "fall asleep*" in Jesus. To them this last enemy acts a friendly part. He is sent to put an end to all their sorrows, and to introduce them into a state of endless life and joy.

1. Dying believers can sing this song before their departure out of the world. We expect it, when we are called to attend them in their last hours; and if their illness leaves them in possession of their faculties and speech, we are seldom disappointed. Yet I believe a full knowledge of this subject cannot be collected from what we observe of others, or hear from them, when they are near death. We must be in similar circumstances ourselves, before we can see as they see, or possess the ideas which they endeavour to describe, and which seem too great for the language of mortals

to convey.

We know, by the evidence of undeniable testimony, that many faithful servants of God, when called to suffer for his sake, have not only been supported, but comforted, and enabled to rejoice, under the severest tortures, and even in the midst of the flames. We suppose, I think with reason, that such communications of light and power as raise a person, in such situations, above the ordinary feelings of humanity, must, either in kind or degree, be superior to what is usually enjoyed by Christians in the smoother walks of prosperity and

*Acts vii. 60. 1 Thess. iy. 15.

outward peace. God, who is all-sufficient, and always near, has promised to give his people strength according to their day, and in the time of trouble they are not disappointed. A measure of the like extraordinary discoveries and supports is often vouchsafed to dying believers, and thus the gloom, which might otherwise hang over their dying hours, is dispelled; and while they contemplate the approach of death, a new world opens upon them. Even while they are yet upon earth, they stand upon the threshold of heaven. It seems, in many cases, as if the weakness of the bodily frame gave occasion to the awakening of some faculty, till then dormant in the soul, by which invisibles are not only believed, but seen, and unutterables are heard and understood:

The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd,
Lets in new light through chinks-

Instances are frequent of those who are thus blessed when they die in the Lord; and it does not appear that old age, or great knowledge, or long experience, give any considerable advantage in a dying hour; for when the heart is truly humbled for sin, and the hope solidly fixed upon the Saviour, persons of weak capacities and small attainments, yea, novices and children, are enabled to meet death with equal fortitude and triumph. And often the present comforts they feel, and their lively expectations of approaching glory, inspire them with a dignity of sentiment and expression far beyond what could be expected from them; and perhaps their deportment, upon the whole, is no less animating and encouraging, than that of the most established and best informed believers. Thus, "out of the "mouths of babes and sucklings," the Lord "ordains

"strength, and perfects his praise*." In a few hours, under the influence of his immediate teaching, they often learn more of the certainty and importance of divine things, than can be derived from the ordinary methods of instruction in the course of many years. In the midst of agonies and outward distress, we hear them with admiration declare that they are truly happy, and that they never knew pleasure in their happiest days of health equal to what they enjoy when flesh and heart are fainting. For death has lost its sting as to them, and while they are able to speak, they continue ascribing praise to him "who has "given them the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Every word in this doxology is emphatical.

First, "Thanks be to God." This blessedness is all his work. The means are of his gracious appointment. The application is by his gracious power. He gave his Son for them; he sent his Gospel to them. It was the agency of his Spirit that made them a willing people. The word of promise, which is the ground of their hope, was of his gratuitous providing; and it was he who constrained and enabled them to trust in itt.

Secondly, "Who giveth us the victory." This is victory indeed; for it is over the last enemy; and after the last enemy is vanquished, there can be no more conflicts. In this sense, believers are more than conquerors. In other wars, they who have conquered once and again, may have been finally defeated, or they may have died, (like our long-lamented general Wolfe,) upon the field of battle, and have left the fruits of their victory to be enjoyed by others. But the Christian soldier, though he may occasionally be a loser in a skirmish, is sure to conquer in the last great, deciding

Psal. viii. 2.

Psal. cxix. 49.

battle; and when, to an eye of sense, he seems to fall, he is instantly translated to receive the plaudit of his commander, and the crown of life which he has prepared for them that love him.

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Thirdly, This victory is "through our Lord Jesus "Christ." They gained it not by their own sword, "neither was it their own arm that saved them*." He died to deliver them, who would otherwise, through fear of death, have been always subject to bondage. And it is he who teaches their hands to war, and their fingers to fight, and covers their heads in the day of battle. Therefore they gladly say, "Not unto us, O "Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name, be the glory "and the praiset." And this consideration enhances their pleasure; for, because they love him above all, they rejoice not only in the victory they obtain, but in the thought that they are indebted to him for it. For were it possible there could be several methods of salvation, and they were left to their own choice, they would, most gladly and deliberately, choose that method which should bring them under the greatest obligations to him.

2. This triumphant song will be sung to the highest advantage, when the whole body of the redeemed shall be collected together to sing it with one heart and voice at the great resurrection-day. Lot was undoubtedly thankful, when he was snatched from the impending destruction of Sodom. Yet his lingering showed, that he had but an imperfect sense of the greatness of the mercy afforded him. His feelings were probably stronger afterwards, when he stood in safety upon the mountain, and actually saw the smoke rising, like the smoke of a Gen. xix. 16.

Psal. xliv. 3.

† Psal. cxv. 1.

furnace, from the place where he had lately dwelt. At present, we have very faint ideas of the misery from which we are delivered, of the happiness reserved in heaven for us, or of the sufferings of the Redeemer ; but if we attain to the heavenly Zion, and see from thence the smoke of that bottomless pit, which might justly have been our everlasting abode, we shall then more fully understand what we are delivered from, the means of our deliverance, and the riches of "the in"heritance of the saints in light." And then we shall sing in more exalted strains than we can at present even conceive of, "Thanks be to God who hath given "us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

SERMON XLV.

DIVINE SUPPORT AND PROTECTION.

ROMANS viii. 31.

1

[What shall we then say to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us?

THE passions of joy or grief, of admiration or grati

tude, are moderate, when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which after his most laboured efforts, is too big for ut

terance.

We way often observe the apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite in others such sensations as filled his own heart, while contemplating the glories and blessings of the Gospel. Little verbal

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