Inf. 7. How great a blessing is the gospel which brings life and immortality to light, the most desirable mercies to immortal souls ! This is the great benefit we receive by it, as the apostle speaks, 2 Tim. i. 10. " Christ hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel." Life and immortality by a sv dia dvo/v, is put for immortal life, the thing which all immortal souls desire and long for. These desires are found in souls that enjoy not the gospel light ; for, as I said before, they naturally spring out of the very nature of all immortal souls : But how and
* Fateor insitam esse nobis corporis nostri eharitatem. Faleor nos hujus gerere tutelam, nes ego indulgendum Mi, serviendum nego. Multis enim serviet qui corpori servit, qui pro illo nimium timet, qui ad illud omnia refert ; hvjus nos nimius amor timoribus inquietat> solicitudinibus onerat, contumeliis objicit : honestum eivile est cui corpus nimis charum est .-> agatur ejus diligentissima cura ; ita tamen ut cum exiget ratio, cum dignitas, cum fides% "■rittendum in ignem sit. Senec. Ep. 14, p, 545,
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where it is to be obtained, that is a secret for which we are entirely beholden to the gospel-discovery. It lay hid in the womb of God's purpose, till by the light of gospel-revelation it was made manifest. But now all men may see what are the gracious thoughts and pur- poses of God concerning men, and what that is he hath designed for their immortal souls, even an immortal life ; and this life is to be obtained by Christ, than which no tidings can be more welcome, sweet, or acceptable to us.
O therefore study the gospel. " This is life eternal, to know Thee " the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent,"1 John wii. 3. And see that you prize the gospel above all earthly trea- sure. It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. You have two inestimable benefits and blessings by it. (1.) It manifests and reveals eternal life to you, which you could never have come to the knowledge of any other "ay ; those that are without it are groping or feeling after God in the dark, Acts xvii. 27. Poor souls are conscious to themselves, that there is a just and terrible God, and that their sins offend and provoke him ; but how to atone the offended Deity they know not, Micah vi. 6, 7. But the way of re- conciliation and life is clearly discovered to us by the gospel. (2.) As it manifests and reveals eternal life to us, so it frames and moulds our hearts, as God's sanctifying instrument for the enjoyment of it. It is not only the instrument of revelation, but of salvation ; the word of life, as well as the word of light, Phil. ii. 16. It can open your hearts, as well as your eyes, and is therefore to be enter- tained as that which is in the first rank of blessings, a peerless and inestimable blessing.
Inf. 8. If our souls be immortal, certainly our enemies are not so formidable as we are apt, by our sinful fears, to represent them. They may, when God permits them, destroy your bodies, they cannot touch or destroy your souls, Mat. x. 28. As to your bodies, no enemy can touch them till there be leave and permission given them by God, Job i. 10. The bodies of the saints, as well as their souls, are within the line or hedge of Divine Providence : They are securely fenced, sometimes mediately by the ministry of angels, Psal. xxxiv. 7. and sometimes immediately by his own hand and power, Zech. ii. 5. As to their souls, whatever power enemies may have upon them, (when Divine permission opens a gap in the hedge of providence for them) yet they cannot reach their souls to hurt them, or destroy them, but by their own consent. They can destroy our perishing flesh, it is obnoxious to their malice and rage ; they cannot reach home to the soul : No sword can cut asunder the band of union between them and Christ : they would be dread- ful enemies indeed if they could do so. Why then do we tremble and fear at this rate, as if soul and body were at their mercy*
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and in their power and hand ? The souls of those martyrs were hi safety under the altar in heaven, they were clothed with white robes, when their bodies were given to be meat to the fowls of hea- ven, and the beasts of the earth. The devil drives but a poor trade by the persecution of the saints ; he tears the nest, but the bird es- capes ; he cracks the shell, but loseth the liernal. Two things make a powerful defensative against our fears : (1.) That all our enemies are in the hand of Providence. (2.) That all providences are steered by that promise, Rom. viii. 28.
Inf. 9.* If souls be immortal, Then there must needs be a vast dif- ference beeicixt the aspects and influences of death upon the godly and ungodly.
Oh ! if souls would but seriously consider what an alteration death will make upon their condition, for evil or for good, how useful would such meditations be to them ! (1.) They must be disseized and turned out of these houses of clay, and live in a state of separation from them ; of this there is an inevitable ne- cessity, Eccl. viii. 8. It is in vain to say, I am not ready ; ready or unready, they must depart when their lease is out. It is as vain to say, I am not willing ; for willing or unwilling, they must be gone ; there is no hanging back, and begging, Lord, let death take another at this time, and spare me ; for no man dies by a proxy. (2.) The time of our soul's departure is at hand, 2 Pet. 1, IS, 14. Job xvi. 22. The most firm and well-built body can stand but a few days ; but our ruinous tabernacles give our souls warning, that the days of their departure is at hand. The lamp of life is almost burnt down, the glass of time is almost run ; yet a few, a very few days and nights more, and then time, nights and days shall be no more. (3.) When that most certain and near- approaching time is come, wonderful alterations will be made on the state of all souls, godly, and ungodly.
(1.) A marvellous alteration will then be made on the souls of the godly. For, (1.) No sooner is the dividing stroke given by death, and the parting pull over, but they shall find themselves in the arms of angels, mounting them through the upper regions in a few moments, far above all the aspectable heavens, Luke xvi. 22. The airy region is, indeed, the place where devils inhabit, and have their haunts and walks; but angels are the saints convoy through Satan's territories. They pass from the arms of mourning friends, into the welcome arms of officious and benevolent angels. (2.) From the sight and converses of men, to the sight of God, Christ, and the general assembly of blessed and sinless spirits. The soul takes its leave of all men at death, Isa. xxxviii. 11. Farewell vain world, with all the mixed and imperfect comforts of it, and wel- come the more sweet, suitable, and satisfying company of Father,
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