Ans. 4. A godly man sceth thincfs ivitli life, Jiis sir/Jit workethupon him. It is a transforming sight. As the apostle saith, ' We all behold the glory of God, and are changed,' 2 Cor. iii. 18. Sight of light and life goeth toge- ther with a Christian ; as Christ saith, ' he is the light of the world,' John ix. 5, and ' the life of the world,' John i. 4. First light, for life cometh with light, and light convey eth life. All grace is dropped into the will through the understanding ; and wheresoever Christ is life, he is light, be- cause true knowledge is a transforming knowledge. But if religion be not known to purpose, it hardens and makes worse.
We are now by God's good providence come to farther business, to par- take of these mysteries ;* yet it should be the desire of our souls that our eyes may be opened, that in these divine and precious mysteries he would discover hidden love, which is not seen with the eyes of the body. They may see and taste and relish his love and goodness in Jesus Christ ; that as the outward man is refreshed with the elements, so the inward man may be refreshed with his Spirit, that they may be efiectual to us ; that we may justify the course God takes, so far as to come charitably and joyfully to them.
THE FOURTH SERMON.
I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory, dv.—lsA. XXV. 7, 8.
We have heretofore at large spoken of the spiritual and etei'nal favours of God, set out in the former verse, ' In this mountain will the Lord of Hosts make a feast of fat things.' While our soul is in the body, it is much guided by our fancy. Spiritual things are therefore presented by outward, and conveyed to the soul that way ; only we must remember that there is a far greater excellency in the things themselves than in their representation. For what is all banquets, fatness with marrow, wine on the lees, to the joy and sweetness of religion, begun here, and accomplished in the world to come ?
In Christ there is nothing but all marrow and sweetness in religion, that may refresh a man in the lowest condition, if he can but have a tasle of it.
Now because the spiritual things of Christ do us no good, as long as they are hid, therefore the Holy Ghost setteth down a promise, ' that God will * In the margin, ' Application of this to the sacrament.' — G.
ISA. XXV. 7, 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 471
take away the covering cast on all people, and the veil spread over all nations.'
But there be some things that will damp all mirth. Now here is security against them, that our joy may be complete ; and this in the next verse, to which I now come, ' He will swallow up death in \-ictor3% he will wipe away tears from all faces.' The prophet having spoken of a great feast before, an excellent feast, sets forth here the services of that feast. What is it that accompanies it ?
Fu'st of all, there shall be light to discover the excellency of the feast ; the veil is taken away, and a knowledge given to know divine things in a spiritual manner.
Then, which will damp all feasts, the fear of death is taken away. ' He will swallow up death in \'ictoiy, and wipe away all tears,' that is, all soitow. The eflect is put for the cause. This is an excellent promise, an excellent service in this spiritual banquet. Suppose a man were set at a feast fur- nished with all delicates, royally attended, clothes suitable, and had a sword hung over his head ready to fall upon him, it would cast such a damp on his spirit, as would spoil the joy of this feast. So to hear of spiritual ex- cellencies, and yet death, and hell, and damnation coming along, alas ! where is the comfort j'ou speak of. And therefore to make the feast more perfect, there is not only light and knowledge, but removal of it ever may damp the feast. So this must needs come in to comfort all the rest. ' He shall swallow up death in victoiy, and wipe away tears fr-om all faces.' Death is here represented to us under the word victory, as a combatant, as one that we are to fight withal, a captain.
And then here is the victory of him, Christ overcomes him, and over- comes him gloriously. It is not only a conquest, but a swallowing of him up. Usually God useth all sorts of enemies in their own kind. He causeth them that spoil to be spoiled, them that swallow up to be swallowed up. So death the great swallower shall be swallowed up.
Beloved, death is the great king of kings, and the emperor of emperors, the great captain and ruling king of the world ; for no king hath such do- minion as death hath. It spreads its government and victory over aU nations. He is equal, though a tyrant. As a tyrant spares none, he is equal in this. He subdueth young and old, poor and rich. He levels sceptres and spades together. He levels all. There is no difference be- tween the dust of an emperor and the meanest man. He is a tyi-ant that govemeth over all. And so there is this equity in him, he spares none.