The chief wisdom of a man is to live well and die well, to live godly and die blessed. The same corruption of nature that makes us un- willing to live well makes us unwilling to die. To forsake our cor- ruptions, and go out of the world, are both displeasing to flesh and blood ; therefore we need to be pressed often both to the one and the other, for the one maketh way for the other.
Upon this occasion I know not a more seasonable argument. In autumn, when we see one leaf or a few leaves fall, we conclude the rest will follow afterwards. Every funeral should put us in mind that our death is not far off. Some of us have cause to expect the next turn. Old men, in scripture account, are as good as dead already, Heb. xi. 12. Those that lived longest died at last ; Enos lived 90.5, Cainan 910, Seth 912, Adam 930, Jared 962, Methuselah, 969 years, but they all died. All must die ; the great care should be to die well ; none can die well but those that die in the Lord, for they are blessed ; so it is proclaimed from heaven. Every divine truth comes from heaven ; but some are more solemnly proclaimed from thence, as the mortality of man and the blessedness of the dead : the mortality of man, Isa. xl. 6, our affections are against the thought of that ; the blessedness of the dead, in this place, against which carnal reason opposeth, — nature will so hardly believe that the dead can be blessed, that we need a voice from heaven to confirm it.
The context speaks of many troubles to try the patience of the saints. Now the comfort propounded is the blessed estate of the de- parted. The worst that wicked men can do to the saints is but to help them the sooner to heaven.
In the words observe a preface and a doctrine. The preface shows it is a matter of weight. Here is a voice from heaven, and a command to write, for the more assurance, an open publication.
In the doctrine you have an assertion and an amplification. la the assertion, the qualification : the dead luhich die in the Lord ; the privilege : are blessed. In the amplification you may observe : —
1. The season: air' dpTi,from henceforth.
458 THE BLESSED ESTATE OF THEM [ReV. XIV. 13.
2. The confirmation : saith the Spirit ; the Holy Ghost maketh affidavit.
3. The parts of this blessedness, which are two — a release and a reward. A release : theij rest from their labours ; a reward implied : their tcorls follow them. Death to the godly is not only an end of misery, but a beginning of glory and happiness. Philosophers could look upon it as the end of misery, but Christians look upon it as a be- ginning of glory and happiness.
Because I shall not be able to discuss the amplification, let me open some of the circumstances.
'Air apri, ' from henceforth.' Those that died in the Lord in former ages were blessed ; but these times did require this singular comfort, because of the dreadful persecution, and that from those who carried the name of Christians. Now, saith the Holy Ghost, not only those that suffered by heathens are blessed, and counted the Lord's martyrs, but those that suffer also under pseudo-Christians. Some indeed carry it in another sense, as if it were said, before Antichrist be cast down, it will cost the church such a world of trouble that from hence- forth you will count the dead happy, as being taken from the evil to come, Isa. Ivii. 1. Others thus: ' from henceforth,' that is, after salva- tion offered to the Gentiles in the gospel, the dead shall be known to be happy ; as the apostle saith that, 2 Tim. ii. 10, ' Life and immor- tality is brought to light in the gospel' Others apply this ' from henceforth ' to the time of their death, as if the saints were here asserted to be immediately happy upon their dissolution. But I think the first exposition most simple and genuine.
Best from their labours : troubles, services, the labours of their callings, the troubles of their condition. The godly are taken away from evil, and the wicked are taken away to evil. From glorifying and serving God they never rest, but from weariness in serving God, from weakness, sin, and distraction.
Their ivorJcs follow them. As it is said of wicked men, their ini- quity shall find them out. We carry nothing out of the world with us but the conscience and comfort of what we have done for God ; their wealth doth not follow them into the other world, but their works do.
Doct. The point which I shall prosecute is the assertion of the text, that they that die in the Lord are in a blessed condition. I shall inquire:— (1). What it is to die in the Lord? (2.) Show you how they are blessed. (3.) Whence it is that they who die in the Lord are sure to be in a blessed condition.
1. What it is to ' die in the Lord '? 'Ev Kvpup, may be rendered * for the Lord,' or ' in the Lord ;' as Eph. iv. 1, ' Paul, a prisoner in the Lord.' We render it ' of the Lord,' or ' for the Lord's sake.' 1 Thes. iv. IG : ' We render ' the dead in Christ ' shall rise first ; and ver. 14, ' those that sleep in Jesus,' which is to be ])reterred ? I answer — Neither is to be excluded; whether a godly man fall as a peace- offering or as a burnt-offering, he is still in a hapjty condition.