Use 2. Again, if death be s^vallowed up in victory, labour to be one with (Jhrist crucified, for union u-ith him. Begin with union -n-ith Christ crucified. The first union is with Christ abased, and then ^\'ith Christ glorified. And therefore labour to see sin, that brought in death, subdued by the power of Christ's death in some measure, and then we shall have comfort in his death glorified. For in my ' holy mount' death is swallowed up, that is, the true church of Christ. Labour to be members of Christ, otherwise death will come as a tyrant indeed, armed with a terrible sting, in his full force to assail you. It is the most terrible thing to see death come armed with the wrath and anger of God, and attended with hell and damnation. Labour, therefore, to be one with Christ crucified, to get our sins crucified, and our- selves partakers of his death ; and then no damnation, no fear of death to them that are in Christ. They may die, but they are freed from eternal death, and they shall rise again, even as Christ's body rose, to glory.
Get, therefore, into Christ, and desire the power of his death subduing sin. In what measure we grow in that, we gi'ow in boldness and joy, and whatsoever privileges follow Christ.
Use 3. Again, when we be in Christ, true members of him, then let us he thanhful to God for this victory, thankful to Jesus Christ that hath given us ■victorj/. When we think of death, of sin, of judgment, of hell, of damna- tion, let us be framed as a Christian should. Now let him that hath the most terrible and fearful things in the world as conquered enemies, say, Oh, blessed be God for Christ, and blessed be Christ for dying for us, and by death disarming death of his sting ! That now we can think of it in our judgments quietly ; now we can think of all these as conquered enemies : this is the fruit of Christ's death. They are not only enemies, but friends in Christ. Sin, the remainder of it — (the guilt of it, that bindeth over to damnation, is taken away) — the remainders of it serve to humble us, make us feel the power of pardon, and to desire another world, where we shall be a.U spiritual. So that death is a paii; of our jointure. ' All things are yours, life and death,' 1 Cor. iii. 22. Death doth us many excellent ser- \'ices. It is a door and passage to life. Death is the death of itself, destroyoth itself. We never truly live till we die, and when we die, we ara
I3A. XXV. 7, 8. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHUECH. 475
past fear of death. So that sin dieth, iniseiy dieth, death dieth. Though it takes us from comforts, and employments, and friends here, yet it is a change to a hetter place, and better company, and better employments, and better condition, to be in a glorious condition to eternity ; and therefore we have cause to bless God in Christ, that took our nature, and in our nature disarmed our greatest enemy, sin, and so disarmed death, and freed us from the wrath of God, and hell, and damnation. Oh, we can never be thankful enough for this !
Use 4. Again, if death be swallowed up in victory, let us he ashamed of the fear of death, because Christ saith he will swallow him up, as he hath already in his o%\'n person. Shall we be afraid of an enemy that is swal- lowed up in our head, and shall be swallowed up in every one of us ? If we cherish fear, we shew we look not for an interest in this promise ; for it is a promise, that * in this holy mountain death shall be swallowed up in \-ictory,' and why should we fear a conquered enemy ? None will fear an enemy that is conquered.
Obj. But how came Christ to fear death, and we not to fear ?
Alls. Christ had to deal with death armed with a terrible sting, with sin, and the wrath of God for sin. And, therefore, when he was to die, ' Father, let this cup pass from me,' Matt. xxvi. 39. But death is dis- armed to us. He had to encounter with sin and the wi'ath of God, and death in all its strength. But we are not so. We are to deal with death like the brazen serpent, that hath the shape of death, but no sting at all. It has become a drone ever since it lost its sting in Christ. Life took death, that death might take life, as he said. The meaning is, Christ's life itself took death, that we that were so subject to death, that we were death itself, might take hfe. Oh blessed consideration ! Nothing comparable to the consideration of the death of Christ ! It is the death of death.
And then again we are sure of victory. It is conquered in our head, and shall be in us. But you say we are to conflict with the pangs of death, and many troubles meet in death. It is true, but it is conquered to faith, and in Christ our head. We must fight. Christ traineth us to overcome death om'selvcs by faith, and then we are sure of victory. Join these two together. It is conquered in Christ our head, and shall be conquered of us. Death keeps our dust, and must give them all again.