He hath continued from the beginning of the world to this time ; but he is a tyrant brought in by ourselves, Rom. v. 19, seq. Sin let in death. It opened the door. Death is no creatm-e of God's making. Satan brought in sin, and sin brought in death. So that we be accessory ourselves to the powerful stroke of this prevailing tyrant. And therefore sin is called the cause of death. Sin brought in death, and armeth death. The weapon, that death fights with, and causeth great terror, it is sin. The cause is armed with the power of the wrath of God for sin, the fear of hell, and damnation. So that wrath, and hell, and damnation, aiming sin, it briageth a sting of itself, and puts a venom into death. All cares, and fears, and sorrows, and sicknesses, are less and petty deaths, harbingers to death itself ; but the attendants that follow this gi-eat king are worst of all, as Rev. vi. 8, ' I saw a pale horse, and death upon it, and after him comes hell.' What were death, if it were not for the pit, and dungeon that foUoweth it ? So that death is attended with hell, and hell with eternity. Therefore here is
472 THE MARRIAGE FEAST SeRMON. IV.
a strange kind of prevailing. There is no victory where there is no enemy, and therefore death must needs he an enemy, yea, it is the worst enemy, and the List enemy. Death is not planted in the forlorn hope, but it is planted at last for the greatest advantage, and is a great enemy. What doth death ? It depriveth us of all comfort, pleasure, communion with one another in this life, callings or whatsoever else is comfortable. The grave is the house of oblivion. Death is terrible of itself, even to nature, as Augustine saith, where it is not swallowed up of Christ ; for it is an evil in itself, and as I said, armed with a sting of sin, after which follows hell.
Now this death is swallowed up. When the Scripture puts a person upon death,- it is not uncomely for us to speak as the Scripture doth. The Scripture puts a person upon death, and a kind of triumphing spirit in God's children over death. ' 0 death, where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where is thy \'ictory ?' 1 Cor. xv. 55. Death is the gi'eatest swallower, and yet it is swallowed up by Christ. Death hath swallowed up all, and when it hath swallowed up, it keepeth them. It keeps the dust of kings, subjects, great and small, to the general day of judgment, when death shall be swallowed up of itself. It is therefore of the natm'e of those that Solomon speaks of, that cry, ' Give, give,' Prov. xxx. 15, and yet is never satisfied, like the grave, yet this death is swallowed up in victory.
But how cometh death to be swallowed up ? Christ will swallow up death in victory, for himself and his.
Beason. First of all, because sin brought in death, our Saviour Christ became sin, a sacrifice to his father's justice for sin. He was made sin for us, he was made a curse for us, to take away the curse due to us ; and sin being taken away, what hath death to do with us, and hell, and damnation, the attendants on death ? Nothing at all. Therefore, Col. ii. 10, upon the cross Christ did nail the law, and sin, and the devil. There he reigned over principalities and powers, which were but executioners let loose by reason of our sins. And God being satisfied for sin, the devil hath nothing to do with us, but to exercise us, except it be for om- good. So that he hath swallowed up death, because by his death he hath taken away sin, and so the power of Satan, whose power is by sin. And therefore it is excellently set down, Heb. ii. 14, ' He also took part of flesh and blood, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.' So Christ by death overthrew Satan, that had the power of death, because by death he took away sin, the sins of all, and bore our sins upon the cross, and was made sin for us, that knew no sin. He is om's, if we believe. For then Christ is given to a particular man when he believes. Beloved, Christ upon the cross did triximph over all our spkitual enemies, sin, and death, and all. It was a kingdom of patience. You know there is a double king- dom of Christ ; a kingdom of patience, and a kingdom of power.
1. Christ on the cross suflering punishment due to sin, overcame the law, and the devil, and sin, which is the kingdom of patience.
2. The kingdom of power he hath in heaven. If Christ were so able in his kingdom of patience to conquer our gi'eatest enemies, what will he do in his kingdom of power ? As Paul reasoneth, ' If by his death we are saved, much more now he triumphs in heaven, and appears for us, is he able to convey greater matters to us,' Rom. v. 21.
If Christ in the days of his flesh did conquer, how glorious will his con- quest be at the day of judgment ! Koic, Christ hath conquered all in his own person, as om* head ; then he will conquer for us in his mystical body. * That is, 'personifies.'— Ed.