A SERMON PREACHED at the FUNERAL OF Mr. John Bigg.  
To which is added, Another SERMON upon the same Subject.  
ALSO, A NARRATIVE of Mr. BIGG's CONVERSION, etc.  
By R. DAVIS, Minister of the Gospel.  
LONDON: Printed for ROBERT PONDER. MDCXCI.   

TO THE READER.  
INstead of an Epistle Dedicatory, I shall only briefly acquaint thee with the Reasons that induced me to print these Sermons: and why they came forth so long after they were preached. I have sometimes ceased to be a Friend to the Press, and never intended to print them at all, though often put upon to do it: But the Lord, the Redeemer, whose Blessing and Power made Clay and Spittle to open the Eyes of the Blind, was pleased to own these so, as to make them of great use to several. Their Entreaty, with divers others, prevailed with the Widow of the Deceased, to importune me further, so that her Importunity joined with theirs obtained upon me, at least to redeem (when I could) now and then a little time from the great Work of Christ, that is upon my Hands to set them in order, and so venture them into the World. There fell in also another cogent Motive, viz. The Consideration of the false and lying Stories scattered through City and Country concerning me and the Doctrines I preach, made me willing to let all know (if they please to read) what those Doctrines are, and so they may make a better Judgement afterwards. And I do assure thee these Sermons contain the chief Substance of what I preached here in the Country: Therefore I have made some Additions hereunto, and Alterations suitable to my main Scope in preaching this Year past. Had the Men of the World only cast Dirt, it would have been more tolerable. Better could not have been expected from them, but to act according to their Nature. But this has been piercing, that the Truths of Jesus have been wounded in the House of Friends. Here a sufficient Occasion is given for a pathetic Lamentation; But tell it not in Gath, and publish it not in Askelon, etc. Whatever Blows some aim at one another, they all fall upon their holy Profession. whilst a too eager Vindication is pursued of our good Names and Reputation from undue and unjust Calumnies, The Name of Jesus and his Gospel may be exposed to greater Reproach. This made me choose to lie still with a Gag in my Mouth, whilst I was, and am still clothed with Sambanettoes, than use the Methods I might to assert my wronged Innocency, leaving it to God, the Judge of all, to vindicate his Name and Gospel in his due time, and in his own way (which I am certain he will.) And as for me, let my Name lie in the Dust, provided it may make for the Honour of Christ, and the Furtherance of his Gospel. I am endeavourring to learn this Lesson, to rejoice in Reproaches (from whatever Tongues they come) as well as in Infirmities for Christ's Sake; and I would press after that meek Spirit of the Gospel; that being defamed to entreat, viz. To entreat Christ on the Behalf of my Defamers, and entreat them in the Bowels of Mercy to lay aside their Enmity against the Lord Jesus his Truths and Ways.  
Reader, I shall add no more, but commend thee to God and the Word of his Grace, which is not only able to translate thee out of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son; but also build thee up therein, and give thee an Inheritance among them that are sanctified. And now the God of Peace, that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, make thee perfect in every good Work to do his Will, working in thee that, that is wellpleasing in his Sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.   

A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL OF Mr. BIGG, Gent.  1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57 
55. O Death, where is thy Sting? O Grave, where is thy Victory?  
56. The Sting of Death is Sin; and the Strength of Sin is the Law.  
57 But Thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
OUR Great Apostle in this Epistle of his, having answered several Cases of Conscience to the Church at Corinth, in this Chapter, refutes that dangerous Error, that denied the Resurrection of the Dead.  
HE found'st his Argument for the overthrow of the Error, and the Establishing the contrary Truth, chief upon the Resurrection of a buried Jesus. Having prosecuted this from v. 12. with the Intermixture of other Mediums; and also exhortatory Inferences to v. 35. he there states the Adversary's Objection in these Words, With what body do they come again?  
THIS Objection he answers shaving rebuked the Objector with the Title of a Fool, v. 26.) from the Nature of Grain thrown by the Sour into the Ground, rising into a Crop of beautiful Corn, pleasant to the eye and useful for food: Further, showing and explaining the difference between human Bodies and the Flesh of Beasts, Birds and Fish, and the difference of their Glory from the Terrestrial and Celestial Bodies, even the difference between Celestial Bodies themselves in Glory.  
HAVING managed this, from v. 36, to 42▪ he there applies it to the case in hand, showing in v. 42, 43, 44. That the Bodies of the Saints are sown in Corruption but raised in Incorruption. Sown in Honour, but raised in Glory, etc. This he repeats, varying his Phrase, v. 53, 54. And draws in this Inference in the Close of the 54 v. Death is swallowed up in Victory; which Inference he confirms in a way of triumph, in the Words of my Text.  
O Death, where is thy Sting? etc.  
IN which words you have the Apostle triumphing in the Person of every dying Believer, wherein are contained these Parts.  
1. THE Apostles Triumph, in v. 55.  
2. THE Cause of it. 1st. laid down negatively, v. 56. The Sting of the Believer's Death being pulled out by the Abolishing of Sin, which is Death's Sting; and the Reign of the Law over him, which is the Strength of Sin, positively laid down in v. 57 viz. A Victory being obtained over Death, through our Lord Jesus Christ; which the Apostle mentions with Thanksgiving to the Almighty.  
IN handling these Words, I shall only insist on the Triumph or Ovation in v. 55. and the rather because the Prosecution of the Truth that shall arise from that Verse, will reach and take in the chief Matter contained in the following Verses.  
IN these words, you have, as was aforementioned, the Believer's Triumph over Death, and that in a twofold Respect. 1. In respect of his Soul. O Death, where is thy Sting? 2. In respect of his Body. O Grave, where is thy Victory? Without spending further time in opening the Words; they afford us this Doctrinal Observation.  
Doct. THAT every true Believer, in the Moment of his Death, can Triumph over Death, and the Grave both in reference to his Soul and Body.  
I shall divide this general Doctrine into Two Branches, and speak to each part. The First is this.  
THAT a Believer in the Moment of his Death can Triumph over Death in reference to his Soul.  
FIRST (as the Lord shall enable me) I will prove this Truth, and then explain and illustrate it.  
FOR Proof, I shall only at present give you two places of Scripture.  
Rev. 14.13. And I heard a Voice from Heaven, saying unto me, Writ; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labours; and their Works do follow them. Where First you have the Truth plainly asserted,— Blessed are the dead, that die in the Lord, or in dying in the Lord. 2ly, The Reasons of it. 1. They rest from their Labours. 2. Their Works follow them, i. e. They will meet with their Prayers and Duties entered on the File for their review as an additional to their eternal Delights. 3. You have here insinuated the Certainty and Importance of this Truth. 1. The Commandment to write, they are weighty things usually committed to Ink and Paper, and that for duration also.— Littera Scripta manet. 2. The Commander, the Spirit. I heard a Voice from Heaven, saying write, etc.  
THE second place is, Heb. 4: 19 There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of God. Their rest is not in this World but in another; and they enter upon it in the moment of Death; therefore they have then ground of triumphing.  
I shall add to these the Experiences of Three Worthies. The first was David's, 2 Sam. 23.5. Althô my House be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure: For this is all my Salvation and all my Desire; althô he make it not to grow. David was now on the brink of Eternity, taking a view of the past and present Disorders of his House and Heart, yet rejoices and triumphs in the view of the Covenant of Grace, and his Interest in it, and the influence it had on the Eternity he was entering into. The second was that of faithful Stephen, that glorious Proto-Martyr; who when the Stones that dashed out his Brains and Life, flew about his Ears, cried out triumphantly, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit, Acts 7.59.  
THE last I shall mention, is the Experience of the blessed Apostle Paul, Phil. 1.23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to departed, and to be with Christ, which is far better. But very pat and pertinent to the purpose, 2 Cor. 5.1, etc. He being harrassed with Labours, Perils and Sufferings, at the apprehension of the time of his departure being at hand, triumphs thus, v. 1. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens:  
HAVING thus, from the Holy Scriptures of Truth, proved the Doctrine, I shall proceed to the explication of it.  
'TIS undeniable, That Contraries do the better illustrate one another, as black Spots make a white Skin shine the brighter, and a Black-a-Moor, is a Foil to set off an European: Therefore I shall illustrate this Truth, by another Contrary, that I might the more emphatically explain it; which is this: The triumph of Death over an Unbeliever, and thus lay down the Doctrine to be explained.  
DEATH in Death triumphs over the Unbeliever, and the Believer triumphs over Death in dying.  
I shall begin with the first Branch, viz. Death in Death triumphs over the Unbeliever; and (as the Spirit of the Lord shall assist me) show you in what respects.  
1. DEATH triumphs over the Unbeliever's sensual Pleasures. Where are now (says Death) your vain Pleasures that you wantonly rolled yourself in, in your life time? What are become of those jolly, merry frolicsome hours, that you lavished away with your frothy Companions? Where are now your drunken Cups and Glasses, and your riotous Feasts, with which you so often drowned and glutted your sensual Appetite? What do they profit you now? What pleasure do you find now from your former repeated acts of Lusts and Beastliness? What relish now from those brutish tickling of swinish Delights? What does all your vain Merriment avail you now? What fruit have you from those Things, that formerly you reckoned your Heaven and Happiness? Instead of Pleasures, you now shall have your belly full of everlasting Torments. Now your merry Moment's are turned into an eternity of Sorrows. Now, instead of swimming in Wine, and luxuriously feeding on Dainties, you shall swim, world without end, in fiery Streams of burning Brimstone. You shall drink your Tears, and feed on your own tortured Flesh in endless and never-ceasing Misery. Now, the flame of your Lust is succeeded by a hotter flame, even the flame of divine Vengeance. Now, instead of your frothy Spirit and vain Laughter, you shall have enough of howling, weeping and gnashing of Teeth. Nay, you shall carry with you all your Lusts and Corruptions to Hell, not to please you, but to pain you. The same Water that the Fish swims in with delight, if beated over the Fire, will be the Fish's torment.  
THE Sins you acted with pleasure in the World, you shall act the same in great measure in Hell, but to your eternal torturing: You shall there act your Revenges, but wound none with its poisoned Arrows, but your own Soul. You shall there have your covetous Desires enlarged, as wide as the Hell you are in; but it will only be your pain and punishment: Your own Lusts there shall be the Flames that will scorch you. Come thou, trembling Wretch, will Death say, to the place of sinning and the place of punishment; and thy very sinning shall be thy punishment. Oh! then will Death insult in the words of the Wiseman, Whatsoever thine Eyes desired, thou keptest not from them: Thou withheldest not thy Heart from any Joy, Eccles. 2.10. And now all will be Vanity and Vexation of Spirit to thee, part of v. 11. And also in those Words as are written, Luke 12.19. Thou hast long said to thy Soul; Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink and be m●rry,— But, thou Fool, I am come this Night to require thy Soul of thee, part of v. 20. And to add no more, Death will only change the Moods and Tenses in that portion of holy Writ, Eccles. 11.9. insulting thus; Thou hast rejoiced, Oh! Young Man, in thy youth; and thy Heart has cheered thee in the days of thy youth; Thou hast walked in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine Eyes; but know thou now, thou trembling Wretch, that for these things, I am sent by the God of Justice, to bring thee into Judgement.  
CONSIDER this, thou voluptuous sensual Wretch, thou Drunkard, thou Belly-slave, thou unclean Beast, thou Blasphemer, thou Swearer, thou Reveller and Persecuter, consider this, and ponder it in thy Heart, thou must 'ere long come upon a Deathbed; this grisly King of Terrors will stare thee in the Face. The Sting, that now at a distance thou seest not, when he comes near thee with open mouth, thou wilt then see and be dismally affrighted at that fatal Fork. Death and thee must meet 'ere long, and thou knowest not but this dismal meeting may be 'ere a week rolls about, and how wilt thou like such an horrid greeting, such a black welcome, such a terrible language, and bitter insultings as you have heard. How do you relish and savour thus being triumphed over in a dying moment. Oh! consider this, and look out after the Remedy.  
2. DEATH triumphs over the Pride of the Soul. The Pride of the Soul is either a Glorying before God, or a Glorying before Men. As it is a Glorying before God, I shall reserve that to speak to under its proper Head, which is to follow. The Soul before Man prides in its Endowments, either outward or inward, Death will then thus Glory over their Glory. Where are now your airy Honour and bubble Dignities? What is become of your State and Grandeur? Where are now your Crowns, O Kings, your Sceptres, O Princes, I have tumbled them in the Dust, and my Spade has leveled them with the Earth. Can not your Purple, or your Fures, your Swords and Maces and Magistrates, defend you from my Arrest? What signified all your Guards, your Officers and Attendance who would not protect you from me? What a bussel and fluster have you made? How have you set all in a Flame about you, and waded through blood and slaughter, cruelty and oppression, and all manner of villainy to attain such a Degree of Honour, and where is it now? My breath has blown it all away. Where is now O Spluttering Monarch, that great Conduct, that deep Policy, wherewith you conquered other Nations and enslaved your own? What could you use none of it to avoid my Attacks? Where is that imperial frown that used to overawe the gaping, cringing crowd; I have divested it of all Majesty, and made it now meaner and simpler than the look of an Idiot, so says, the wiseman. A Living Dog is better than a Dead Lion, Eccl. 9.4. Thou cunning admired Politician in thy Neighbourhood; that madest all thy Neighbours tremble at thy fraudulent Wit; that studied'st only how to overreach, cheat and impoverish, that thoughtest to hook in all to thyself? Why usest thou not some of thy cunningness to deceive me too? Why didst not thou play the Politician with me also? What do all thy Tricks and Artifices now advantage thee? Thou now perceivest that one event happeneth to the Wise, and to the Fool, Eccl. 2.14, 15. As it happeneth to the Fool, so it happeneth to the Wise. Go now and try what all thy wisdom and cunning will do in Hell? Consider this you, that are Great and Honourable in the Earth. You that are cunning to deceive in your Neighbourhood, that admire and flatter yourself, that you can overreach your Neighbours in bargaining. There will come an hour of Death; that will efface and tarnish all the Glory of your Honours, Dignities, Wisdom and Policies. There is no overreaching Death. There is no such thing as being too cunning for the Grave. Death will soon tumble down all the pageantry of your own Dignities and Abilities, that you have set up●n your own Conceit. The Fire of God's wrath will soon burn up your Cobweb Policy: For this your Wisdom is your folly. Methinks this should be as cold Water upon all burning Pride, and a check and rebuke to all your glorying, that very few of your Class and complexion are chosen out to eternal Life. Your very Wisdom, Parts and Dignities for the most part, mark you out for eternal Misery. This is the Sum of what the Apostle Discourses, 1 Cor. 26.27, 28, 29. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh: not many mighty, not many noble are called, etc. read that portion of the Holy Spirit of Truth, consider it seriously and tremble.  
3. DEATH triumphs over the Riches and Possessions of a Man in such Heart-rendring words as these. O where are now, Man, all thy vast Possessions? What signify thy Heaps of Gold and Silver? Hadst thee amassed together all the Treasures of the Indies; they could not bribe me or buy me off. Eccles. 4.8. Thine eye has not been satisfied with riches in all thy life time. Now thou must carry none with thee to the Grave. Naked camest thou out of thy Mother's Womb, and naked shalt thou return thither.— Job. 1.21. Instead of thy many Fields, Farms and Tenements now thou must be content with so much Ground as thy Body can measure out. Now instead of thy many Bags of Gold and Silver thou must rest satisfied, to be wrapped up in grosser Clay. Now farewell, gilded Coaches, fair Palaces, splendid and well Furnished Rooms, stately-Beds, and all other costly Furniture: Now for all the Numerous Troop of cringing attendants; thou shalt be surrounded with an Host of Vermine, and for the very same end with the former attendants, to feed upon thee too. What is become of all thy Glory and Excellency now? 'tis all laid in the Dust. Job. 20.6, 7, 8, 9 Though thy excellency did mount up to the Heavens, and thy Head reach unto the Clouds. Yet, thou shalt perish for ever, like thine own Dung: they which have seen thee, shall say; where is he? Thou shalt fly away as a Dream, and shalt not be found: Yea, thou shalt be chased away, as a Vision of the Night. The Eye also which saw thee shall see thee no more; neither shall thy place any more behold thee, and v. 11. Thy Bones are full of the Sins of thy Youth, which shalt lie down with thee in the Dust. Thus will Death then triumph.  
CONSIDER this, thou that forgetest God in the midst of thy plenty and abundance, that notwithstanding thy Pleasures and Treasures and great Possessions, thou must enter to eternity, poor and wretched, miserable and naked, unless thou art clothed with that Royal Robe of Christ's Righteousness. No riches then will suffice to enrich thee, but the Gold tried in the Fire, i. e. an interest in Jesus; who was made the perfect Captain of Salvation through sufferings. No Raiment will then so cover thee, as to hinder the Appearance of the shame of thy nakedness like that white Raiment, viz. the Righteousness of God, which is of Faith. And without that Wedding Garment, thou wilt stand speechless at the Bar of God, and then shalt be bound hand and foot, and cast into utter darkness; where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat. 22.13.  
4. DEATH triumphs over a Man's own Righteousness. Men are apt through the Horrid Pride of their Natures, to trust to their own do for Salvation; and 'tis but too too common for Sinners in a State of Nature to apply Plasters of their own making to the Smarting Wounds of their Consciences, and to usurp Christ's Royal Prerogative of speaking Peace to their Souls; whereas, thus says the Lord, Isa. 57.19. I create the Fruit of the Lips Peace; I speak Peace to them, that are a afar off, viz. in a Natural State, and to them that are nigh, viz. them that are made, Eph. 2.13. nigh to my Father by my Blood. But over all such white washed, painted Pharisees, will insulting Death Glory thus. Thou Pharisaical Fool, thou refusedst Fire from God's Altar, viz. the Lord Jesus, Joh. 5.40. Thou wouldst not come to him, that thou mightest have Life; but thou hast kindled a Fire of thine own; nay like Nadab and Abihu hast brought strange Fire. Isa. 50.11. Thou hast compassed thyself about with sparks. Thou hast walked in the Light of thy Fire, and of the Sparks that thou hast Kindled. This thou shalt have now at God's Hand by my Dart to lie down in a Bed of Eternal Sorrows. Thou were't for digging to thyself a Way to Heaven; and hast refused the, Heb. 10.2. New and living way, that the God and Father of Christ had consecrated; that is to say the Flesh of Jesus, or his suffering raised, glorified, human nature; and though, Isa. 57.10. Thou wast wearied in the greatness of thine own way; and hast often tried in vain with thine own Do and Works of the Law, and couldst not; but in spite of thy Teeth, the Fire of Hell that was in thy Conscience, would be often blazng-out, yet saidst thou not, there is no hope; but wouldst be still hoping for Life from the Dead; unprofitable Works of the Law; Thus thou didst sinned the Life of thine hands; therefore thou wast not then grieved; but still didst stifle all thy convictions: But now thou shalt grieve, and eternally grieve without intermission; now thou wilt not be able to stifle thy convictions, but they will tend and tear thy Soul with unspeakable horrors for ever and ever.  
NOW Psa. 16.4. Thy Sorrous shall be multipled, that didst hasten after other Gods, and other Idol Righteousnesses. Thou leftest no stone unturned, no way of working unessaied to procure warmth and life to thy Soul, Isa. 57.5. Thou didst inflame thyself with Idols under every Green-Tree, and didst let thy Heart run out for Holiness and Salvation upon every Branch of, in itself beautiful morality. Isa. 57.6. Among the smooth Stones of the Stream was thy Portion, they were thy lot, even to them thou hast procured a Drink-Offering, etc. i. e. Thou hast set up thy Duties for Saviour's, hast trusted in them, and so fallen down and Worshipped them. Isa. 57.7. Upon a Lofty and High Mountain hast thou set thy Bed: Even thither goest thou up to offer Sacrifice. i e. Thou didst confide in thy splendid towering Profession, and didst make a God and Saviour thereof, 
The 10. v. of this Chapter, is a Key to open the the rest of the Chapter.  by laying the whole stress of thy Soul upon thy outward Profession, without Faith in Jesus. Isa. 57.8. Behind the Doors also and the Posts hast thou set thy remembrance, i. e. And hast set up a Record within thyself for the Goodness of thy Estate from thy Family, and Closet Prayers; things good in themselves, but become Idols of Indignation, when advanced into the Room, and Throne of the Mediator. Isa. 57.8. Thou hast discovered thyself to others, then to Christ, and art gone up; but thou wouldst not come to Jesus, that thou mightest have Life: What are now become of thy Do, thy Works, and thy Righteousness? Isa. 57.12. I will declare thy Righteousness and thy Works: for now they shall not profit thee. Cry now to thy Morality and Reformation; lift up thy suppliant hands to thy Duties and Profession. Cry aloud to thy Prayers and Tears; thy convictions and thy terrors of Conscience: Fall prostrate to thy wish, and to thy wouldings, and thy desires to desire to have thy Sin inwardly mortified under the obstinate refusals of Christ and his righteousness. And try these thy Idol Saviour's whether they will now hear thee. Isa. 57.13. When thou criest, let thy companies of Saviour's deliver thee; but the wind now carries them all away, and vanity takes them. Hadst thou trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, thou shouldest now have, Isa. 57.13. possessed the Land, and shouldest have inherited his holy Mountain, even the everlasting Hills in the Highest Heavens. But now thy Mountains of self righteousnesses, which thou goest up to, to offer Sacrifice to set thy Bed, and to build thy Nests upon; and, which thou thoughtest eternally strong, I thrash them to dust, and my breath blows them away like chass. All thy Pharisaical Do, do now leave thee; and nothing of them goes with thee to Hell, but the unpleasant remembrance thereof to torment thee, that thou wast such a Madman to set up these instead of Christ the only Saviour; as if thy good Duties, good Professions, good Frames, and good Privileges had undertaken for thee from eternity had obeyed the Law for thee with a Godlike Obedience, and suffered the cursed death of the Cross for thee, were raised up again, and by the Father's right hand were exalted to be Princes and Saviour's to give repentance and remission of sins, and were now ever living at the Father's right hand to make intercession for thee. Why callest thou these good Saviour's? There is none good in that sense; but he that is God. Thus I say will Death then insult in the dying moment, and glory over, and tread under foot like Dogs-meat, all the ragged Righteousnesses of Men and Women.  
THAN consider it seriously, thou, that with the Pharisee in the Gospel, gloriest before the Lord, that thou art not as other Men, an Extortioner, , an Adulterer, or even as the Publicans and Sinners, and layest hold on this for eternal Life. Thy Conscience is not purged, but choked and bribed with false Counters, of outward Reformation. The unclean Spirit of Debauchery may be has been cast out, and thou thinkest that enough; but the Spirit of the Lord, the Gospel-sanctifier has not been there at work; for he walked through dry places. The Rest and Peace of Conscience thou hast obtained are not right; for 'tis written, he sought for rest, and found none. The House, i. e. Thy Person has been swept by Reformation, and garnished with a fine Profession: But 'tis but the strong-hold of wicked Spirits still. 'Tis empty of the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Ghost has had no indwelling there at all; therefore the unclean debauched Spirit transformed into an Angel of Light, with seven other Spirits more wicked than himself (not more unclean than himself, but more wicked) a complete Number of evil Spirits, i. e. the Devil of unbelief and spiritual Pride, two great Legions have returned and entered into thee; and if the Lord does not pity thee, and discover the rotteness of thine Estate to thee, Thy last state will be worse than the first. Ah! deluded Soul: Thou wouldst heal thy Conscience with thine own Medicines, thou wouldst cover thyself with thine own Righteousness, thou wouldst lay thyself down on thine own Bed of eternal Happiness; thou wouldst climb up to Heaven by thine own Methods, and find out a way for thyself to eternal Glory. But thou will find in Death, thy Plasters will not stick, Isa. 28.20. Thy covering will be too narrow for thy Soul to wrap itself in. Thy Bed too short for it to stretch itself upon; thy Ladder, unlike jacob's, will not reach to Heaven. Thy own way to Glory, how fair soever a Prospect it may have at first, does so wind and turn, that at last it will lead directly, down to the Chambers of eternal Death.  
I should have improved this Branch in several uses; but having done somewhat of that under every Head, I shall only now answer a Question, which I suppose some, if not many, may be ready to ask under the Conviction of their miserable and lost Estate by Nature. May be some, now under present awakenings, are enquiring,  
Q. WHAT shall I do to be saved?  
Ans. I answer in the Words of the Apostles, Acts 16.31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, etc.  
Obj. WHAT, nothing else but believe on Christ? That I do already, and did it ever since I was born, and so do all, that are not Turks and Pagans.  
Ans. I answer. First, They that say, they believed ever since they were born; never yet believed at all.  
Rea. FOR Faith grows not in Nature's Garden, neither is it born with us, But it is the Gift of God, Ehp. 2.8. and 'tis written, Phil. 1.29. For unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, etc. Whence observe, that to believe on the Lord Jesus, must be given from above: Therefore 'tis not born with us.  
Ans. THEY that think Believing an easy thing, I dare engage never yet believed. FOR,  
Reas. Nothing less than the Almighty Power of God in Christ, can work this Faith in us; even the same Power that created the World, must be put forth to an Act of Faith: 2 Cor. 4.6. God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, viz. in the Creation of the World, Gen. 1.3. hath shined in our Hearts, to give the light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. Whence observe, That to believe is to have a view of the Glory of the Eternal Godhead, especially of the Glory of the Father's Grace and Goodness, shining through Jesus of Nazareth. 2. That this Divine Beam of eternal Light, is infused into the Soul by the same powerful Command, that sent down the creating Light to inform the dark Chaos: God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness, etc. Nay, a greater Power must be put forth to an Act of Faith, than to the World's Creation; because in the World's Creation there was no Opposition, though there was Indisposition; but in the sinful Soul where Faith is wrought, there is Indisposition and Opposition too.  
Ans. 3. They that do not painfully feel the Evil of indwelling Unbelief, never knew what Faith meant. John 16.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. there when the Spirit is said to convince of Judgement and of Righteousness, he is said to convince of Unbelief too: And wherever Faith is, the contrary Principle of Unbelief rises always to oppose it, Rom. 7.15, to the end; Gal. 4.22, to the end, chief v. 29. where though the Apostle speaks chief in both places of the contrary effects of the working Law and the working Gospel, in the same enlightened Conscience, yet the mutual opposition and warring of Faith and Unbelief, is also especially included. I apprehend that to be a typical instance of this, spoke of to Rebeccas, Gen. 25.23. Two Nations are in thy Womb, etc. This is evident, That no sooner a grain of saving Faith is sown in the Soul, but Unbelief, that afore lurked undiscovered in the Soul, rises instantly in Arms to war against it.  
Ans. 4. They that are under no influence of the indwelling Spirit, have no Faith; Rom. 8.9. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his; and he that is not in Christ, has not a drachm of Faith. They that have the Spirit, walk after the Spirit, v. 1. and are led by the Spirit, v. 14. they mind the things of the Spirit, v. 5. and their mortal Bodies are quickened, because of the Spirit of Christ that dwelleth in them, v. 11. Now they that are never spiritually, but carnally minded, that know nothing what the indwelling of the Spirit means, nor his blessed Influences and Operations; but are so far from knowing all these, that they reproach and blaspheme his blessed Person and Operations, as Whimsies, heat of Brain, Fanaticism, Enthusiasm, and the like; how can it be said, That such Enemies of the Spirit have the Spirit? And if they have not the Spirit, they are not only wholly ignorant of, but utter Enemies to the Grace of Faith.  
Ans. 5. Dare the Drunkard, the Swearer, the Blasphemer, the Sabbath-breaker, the profane, ignorant, carnal, vile Person say he has Faith? His profanity, enmity and wickedness always give him the Lie to his teeth, and his sinful practice is an undoubted Test of the badness of his Faith, and that he professes a Lie, when he professes Faith in Jesus. Show me, says the Apostle, Jam. 2.18. thy Faith without thy Works, and I will show thee my Faith by my Works. The Heart is purified by Faith, Acts 15.9. Nay, Faith sanctifies throughout, Acts 26.18. Faith purifies the Conversation: 'Tis this Grace of God, this great Grace of Faith that teaches us, That denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly, reghteously, nnd godly in this present World, Tit. 2.11, 12. Nay, let me tell you, that such have no more Faith in Christ, than Turks or Heathens: They have no more of Christ and his Righteousness, than the chiming of Words in their Heads, and the sound of Phrases rolling in their Memories: They have heard of one Jesus Christ, and that is all; but they know him not. As to any Soul, Bellef and Conscience, Persuasion, concerning him, his pardoning Grace and his Righteousness, they have as little as the very Heathens, that never heard of his Name: But they are worse than the Heathens, because they abuse his holy Name, to patronise their Lust and wickedness.  
Object. 2. BUT I can show my Faith by my Works: I reform, hear, pray, meditate, weep, mourn for Sin, and profess: And have not I Faith then?  
Ans. THOU mayst do all these, very commendable in themselves, yet not growing on the root of Faith; and as trusted in, they are an abomination to the Lord. There is a vast difference between the Fruits of Holiness flowing from Faith, and good Works set up instead of Christ the Object of Faith. Thou mayst do all these, and much more, and yet make Saviour's of them, and so be void of saving Faith, that looks to Jesus, and him alone at God's Right Hand for Salvation; and at last be damned for idolising thy good Works, as well as others are for wallowing in their Lusts: For all equally refuse the Lord Jesus, and will have none of him for Life and Salvation, but tread with, like scorn and contempt, the offered Son of God underfoot: There's not a Dram of Gospel-Holiness, nor one Evangelical good Work, but what flows from Faith in the Person and Righteousness of the once-crucified, but now ascended, Jesus at the Father's Right Hand.  
Object. 3. BUT for all my Reformation, Duties and Profession, I seek to Christ too.  
Ans. THAT is perhaps as the common Proverb runs, You will set the Cart before the Horse. Your Duties and Righteousness shall lead the Van, and Christ and his Righteousness shall bring up the Rear. You will put him to no other use, than to carry the Train of your ragged Robes of Righteousness, to patch up your Rags, and make up what is wanting in your Duties: But the Garment of Christ is seamless, and cannot be divided; but if it could be, that his new Cloth could be pieced to your old, the rent in yours would be the worse, Mat. 9.16. Perhaps you are sensible of your inability to do, therefore ye look to him for assistance to help you to do for Life: But what says the Lord, The Just shall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17. You would have him be King over you, to subdue your Iniquities, that for your subdued Iniquities you may get to Heaven. But you must look to him by Faith to be saved, and then mortification of Sin, and Holiness shall be given in unto you. The High Priest under the Law had his Mitre and Crown on his Head, and his Urim and Thummim on his Breast, to typify that the Lord Jesus executes his Kingly and Prophetical Office, by his Priestly Office; and all whom he instructs and subdues, he does it by shedding in the Faith and Hope, either more or less, of their pardoned estate through his Blood into their Consciences▪ Again, Do not you seek Christ because of your Reformation, Duties and Tears? If so, you bring your own Money in your Hands to buy Christ; and that's quite contrary to the Proclamation the Lord makes of Heaven's Market, Isa 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth; that is, after the Things of the World, or their own Righteousness; for 'tis such thirsting as v. 2. calls spending Money for that which is not Bread, and labour for that which satisfieth not. These are summoned here to come to the Fair of the Almighty, where glorious Commodities are put to sale, Waters, Wine and Milk. But what price must the Buyers bring? No price at all. They that would speed in Heaven's Market, must come without Money and without price, Heb. 12.13. Esau sought to buy Repentance with Tears, but he found no place for it. All buying in the meaning of Christ, is but accepting, and he gives the power to do that too: Therefore come to Christ as poor, blind, miserable, naked, vile, ungodly Wretches, and and he will be Riches to the Poor, Eyes to the Blind, Happiness to the Miserable, Clothing to the Naked, and Sanctification to the Vile and Ungodly. The voice of the Gospel is for the present time, 2 Cor. 6.2. Now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of Salvation. Heb. 3.15. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your Hearts. The Gospel does not say, Go home now, and pray, and mourn, and weep, and come to morrow, or next week, or next month, after you have prepared and qualified yourself with so much praying, mourning, weeping, repenting and reformation, then come to Christ; but come now; now is the accepted time, now is the day and hour of Salvation. But, further, some may be ready to ask me,  
Quest. WHAT is believing in Christ, or Faith in him?  
Ans. IT would be too tedious now to answer the Question as it ought to be; I shall only briefly thus define it, and then make good my Definition. Faith, as strictly and properly taken, is a powerful Conscience-Perswasion wrought by God, concerning Christ and his Things, their excellency and suitableness to the Soul, and more or less concerning the Souls Interest in them, according to the Word of God. Faith, in the Original, is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to persuade, and really signifies a persuading. 'Tis phrased in Old Testament-language, in Noah's Prophecy concerning his Children, Gen. 9.17. God shall persuade Japhet, and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. And to the same purport 'tis phrased in the New Testament; 'tis said to be, 2 Cor. 4.6. A light shining into a dark Heart; which is a persuasive Knowledge. Called Rom. 1.17. the Righteousness of God in the Gospel, revealed from Faith to Faith. 'Tis named, Rom. 3.21. a manifestation without the Law of the Righteousness of God, v. 25. styled a declaration of his Righteousness for the remission of Sins; and defined to be, Heb. 11.1. The evidence of Things not seen, which are Christ and his Righteousness, which are wholly without us, not seen by our bodily Eyes, or natural Reason or Understanding. The Spirit in working Faith, is said to take of Christ and his Things, and show them to the Soul, John 11.14, 15. God the Father, as the Worker of it, so is said to reveal his Son in the Soul, Gal. 1.16. Which Expressions evidently import a persuasive Knowledge. 2dly, This Persuasion is an inward Conscience-Perswasion, and not only an Head Knowledge, or notional Persuasion, Gal. 1.15. but when it pleased God, etc. v. 16. to reveal his Son in me, etc. 1 John 5.10. He that believeth hath the witness in himself; i. e. a Conscience-Testimony. 3dly, This Conscience-Perswasion is very powerful, for it instantly works a great change on the whole Man, Heart, Lip and Life: 'Tis a creating Power, 2 Cor. 4.6. an exceeding great Power, Eph. 1.19. and 'tis the Declaration of the King of Heaven to the Conscience; and where the Word of the King is, there is Power, Eccles. 8.4, etc. And (as Divines say) in this the Soul is wholly passive, like a dark Room, that has light let into it from without. The object of this Faith is Christ, and the Things of Christ, as in that fore mentioned place, John 16.14. He shall glorify me, for ●he shall receive of mine, and show it unto you, v. 15. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and show it unto you. The Rule of Faith is the written Word of God, 2 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21. And this I take to be and Concomitants of this inward revelation of Jesus, which are also called believing, which is the Souls accepting of this manifested Jesus, and his Righteousness, venturing itself upon him, and committing itself to him; which Acts are set forth in Scripture by various phrases; as, Looking unto him, Isa. 45.22. Coming unto him, John 6.37. Casting ourselves and burden upon him, Isa. 55.22. Staying upon him, Isa. 5.10. Leaning upon him, Cant. 8.3. Trusting in him, and many more. And thus I have answered this Question with all the brevity and perspecuity I could, as the Lord has enabled me, and as time would give leave. And now, methinks, some are ready to ask in the words of the blind Man, whom Christ had restored to his Sight.  
Quest. BUT who is he that I might believe on him, John 9.36. You say he must be seen and ventured on; pray then who is he?  
Answ. I shall answer you from the Sermons of the Apostles, preached by them after they were endued with Power from on high. And first the Apostle Peter tells you who he is, Acts 2.22, 23. Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God; him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Foreknowledge of God ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, comp. with 32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all Witnesses. 33. Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted, hath received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost. Once more, Acts. 5.30. The God of our Fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree, 31. Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prinee and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. Add to these, Heb. 12.2. Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the joy set before him [in the saving of Sinners] enduring the Cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right Hand of God. In short, he that was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh (Rom. 3.) who yet is God over all blessed for ever, Rom. 10.5. That mighty glorious God-Man, who was born of a Virgin, that lived and preached in Judea, Rom 8.38. that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right Hand of God, who also ever lives to make intercession (Col. 1.18.) the first born from the dead (Col. 1.15.) and the first born of every Creature, the despised Jesus of Nazareth (1 Col. 2.9.) in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily: And all the Glory, Excellency, Beauty and Majesty that shines on Jesus of Nazareth. is the Glory, Excellency, etc. of the Godhead. This is he, that blessed Object of your Faith; this is he whom you must believe in. When he lived on Earth, the Faith of his Children was more dark about his Godhead than his human Nature, but now he is in Heaven, their Faith is more at a loss about his human Nature, and it is to be lamented that the glorified human Nature, even Jesus of Nazareth, is so little in the Preaching, Profession, Faith and Experience of Gods own Children. But yet this is the Lord, whom we, through Grace, have seen and tasted to be gracious: Will not you too, O Sinners! come and taste and see how gracious he is? Cant. 5.16. This is our Friend, this is our Beloved, O Daughters of Jerusalem. He is altogether lovely, Cant. 5.10. He is the chiefest among ten thousand. He is able Heb. 7.27. to save you to the uttermost. O come therefore and venture your Souls upon him, commit them to him; O that you would but try him! you have tried his Patience to the utmost by your Rebellion and Obstinacy in Wickedness. O that you would but try his boundless Grace, by casting yourselves into the Ocean of it! You must venture on his Grace, or you must be damned. Mark 16.16. He that believeth shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned. If you accept not of this offered Jesus, you despise this only Sacrifice, and there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgement and fiery Indignation, which shall devour the Adversary, Heb. 10.26.  
I am now come to the second Branch, the Believers triumphing over Death.  
AND 1. the Believer triumphs over the Sting of Death, and what else does concur to make it.  
2. THE Believer triumphs over every thing else in Death that is formidable.  
First. THE Believer triumphs over the Sting of Death. He then can rejoicingly cry out, O Death, I fear thee not! thou art very harmless unto me. Thou comest indeed like a Dragon, with open Mouth; but where is thy Sting? I dread not that open Mouth, or that wide Throat. I with Joy am swallowed up of it, and pass through it up to the highest Heavens into my Redeemers Arms. Here at this dark Portal, I undress myself of this mortal Flesh, and fly with holy Confidence to the Presence of the Lamb upon the Throne, and the Presence of God the Father in him, and the bright innumerable Company above in this full Assurance, that I shall not be found naked. Welcome Death, to dissolve and pull down this earthly House of my Tabernacle, that so I may go to my House, not made with Hands, the Building of God, eternal in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5.2. Welcome sweet Messenger, that comest to fetch me home from this mad, confused, wicked, raging, tottering World, into my Father's House. I thank thee, O grim Porter! who openest the Gates to eternal Happiness. 'Tis true, the News of thy Approach did terrify me, as the Report of the Coming of rough blustering Esau, with his armed Men, did Jacob, Gen. 32. But yet now thou art come to me, I can say as he did, I behold thy black and grisly Face, as the Face of the Angel of God, or the Messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ. For in thy black Face I see Beauty, in thy grisly Terrors great Glory, In thy Dragon's Mouth no Sting at all. O Death! where is thy Sting? Thus the Believer in dying triumphs over the Sting of Death.  
2. THE Believer in dying triumphs over those things that go to make up the Sting of Death. And  
1. OVERDO Sin. The Sting of Death is Sin, says the Words of my Text. And 1. In its Gild. 2. in its Pollution. And  
1. OVERDO the Gild of Sin. Thus the Believer in dying glories over it: O Gild of Sin! who in my Life-time, since my Conversion, notwithstanding I was washed with the Blood of Jesus, and he had obtained an eternal Redemption for me, didst often use to sting my Conscience, and thereby to fill me with Dread and Horror, and so didst weaken my Faith and Confidence in the Lord Jesus; didst strengthen the Hands of my Unbelief, in making me departed from the living God: Didst make me often come in Prayer to God as my angry Judge, and not as to my Father, reconciled to me in Christ. And thereby didst bind up my Soul, fetter my Spirits, so that I had no freedom of Access to God through Christ: Thou didst often deal with me as the Man that went from Jerusalem to Jericho; didst wound me and strip me, and leave me half dead: Didst often force me to entertain hard, murmuring and outrageous Thoughts against my dear Lord and Master Jesus, and my reconciled God and Father in him: Didst often make me add Iniquity to my Sin, and a carnal, lose, vain Conversation to my inward Deadness and Enmity; and when Death approached to bring me to a State of perfection in Glory, didst represent him to me as a dreadful King of Terrors. But now Death is come, and has executed his Office, I welcome him, and laugh thee to Scorn. Free Grace has disarmed him of the Sting that thou wouldst have given him against me. I shall now no more be perplexed with thy Gripes: I shall now plainly see my Redemption eternal, and always the same, without as much as a Cloud as big as a Man's Hand to interpose. I shall never look off the Lord, my Righteousness, my Sanctification and Covering, but always behold my Father's reconciled Face in the Face of my beloved Jesus: I shall never departed from him any more: I shall now have perpetual Freedom and Enlargement of Soul before him: I shall never have an hard Thought of him any more, nor ever sin the least sin against him any more. Farewell eternally, O Gild of sin! thou canst not enter into Heaven, where I am going. Thus I spurn thee now, mounting up into everlasting Glory.  
DEATH triumphs over the Pollution of sin, and makes a full End of Corruption and Iniquity. Then may the Believer cry, O filthy sink of Sin! thou shalt defile me no more. How often, even since Conversion, hast thou ravished my Virgin Soul? How oftentimes a day hast thou scattered thy Filth in my Conscience, and left an envenomed Taint there? How often, when I was going to approach an holy God, didst thou appear in my Soul in thy ugly Colours, to terrify me, and to turn me aside from the living God? Yea, and though I often saw the Righteousness of Christ covering me, yet thou often filledst my Conscience with such a Cloud of Filth and Stench, that that glorious Covering was hid from mine Eyes; but now thou shalt blind mine Eyes no more: I shall now have perfect uninterrupted Visions of that spotless beauteous Garment wrapping me round, and that to all Eternity. Not the least speck of thee shall enter into Heaven; in my Father's House, I am entering into, there's nothing but complete Purity and Holiness: There is not the least Atom of Dirt in the Streets of the Jerusalem above. Here, thou filthy Load, I finally part with thee, I shall never be defiled any more with thee. Hallelujah, Amen. And thus the Believer triumphs over Sin; that is the Substance of the Sting of Death.  
Thirdly, THE Believer triumphs over the Law, which the Words of my Text call the strength of Sin; and the Law, or the Covenant of Works, is the strength of sin (though it be in itself holy, just and good) in a twofold Respect. 1. It condemns the Soul, and tortures the Conscience; so drives the Soul farther from God, and increases the Enmity against him, and thereby puts the Soul more under the Power of sin, enlarging and strengthening sins Dominion over it, Rom. 6.16. Sin shall not have Dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under Grace. Where 'tis evidently implied to be under the Power of the Law, is to be under sins Dominion; and this is exemplified and proved plainly and clearly in the former Part of the seventh of the Romans, which I cannot now stay to open. 2. The Law judicially delivers the Soul up to the Will and Power of sin by way of Punishment. Thus the Son of God is said to come in the Likeness of sinful Flesh, and for sin, or sinning, to condemn sin in the Flesh. Sin, by the condemning Law, has assigned it penally, as Executioner, a Power of sinning in the Soul; from which Sentence, only a crucified Jesus can free the Soul. The Law therefore as it is the strength of sin is a sore Exercise to the Believer, and the strength of the old Man, or the Body of Death in his Soul all his life time; but in his Death he may thus glory over it. Thou Covenant of Works, thou Killing Letter in my Conscience, though I was much freed from thee by the Law of Righteousness, which is of Faith, yet thou didst still work there, Gendering unto Bondage, opposing the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, Gal. 4.29. Thou that wast born after the Flesh, didst persecute that that was born after the Spirit, Gal. 4.30. But now the Bondwoman and her Son shall be quite cast out. Thou didst all my Life time endeavour all ways to keep up Gild in my Conscience, and if at any time removed, to do it away by Obedience to thee, by legal Sorrow and Contrition, by Resolutions to amend, and greater Watchfulness for the future. Whilst I was thereby diverted from making first Applications to the Blood of sprinkling, so that my sin was rather oftentimes compounded for, than in Faith washed away, in that Fountain that is opened for Sin and for Uncleanness. Whence I was not only diverted from continual Believing into a bleeding Jesus, but had my Conscience rather stupefied than healed, my sin made little, harmless and familiar, and rather encouraged, than a real dying unto it, and hence oftentimes my Soul cast into a deep Lethargy. But now I am absolutely freed from that Yoke of Bondage Mount Sinai in my Conscience, and shall be made for ever, to Gal. 5.1. Stand fast in that Liberty, wherewith the Son hath made me free indeed, John 8.36. Thus will the Believer in Death, triumph over the Law as it is the Strength of sin.  
Fourthly, THE Believer in Death may glory over the Justice of God, as it is armed with Vengeance against Sinners. Though Believers are fully delivered in their life time from the stroke of Divine Justice, yet they do oft times not so fully apprehend it: But after Death, the Believer shall see as he is seen, apprehend as he is apprehended; and then be enabled to rejoice thus. Divine Justice, whilst I lived, though thou wast my Friend in Jesus, yet many times I dreaded thee as mine Enemy; but now I plainly see thou art my Friend indeed, and that it is just with thee to justify me in the Lord, my Righteousness. Thy Sword that was pointed at my Breast, and should have now thrust me down to Hell, was received by my crucified Lord into his own Bowels, and I am now made for ever to escape, Being made more than a Conqueror through him that loved me. My dying Saviour in Falling, wrested thy Weapon out of thy Hand, and made his blessed Body a Grove, planted from thy poisonous Quiver, so that there is not an Arrow now left to spend upon me. I now come, O Justice, in the Right of my Lord, to sit for ever down in his heavenly Mansions; to sing Hallelujahs to that righteous and true God for ever and ever.  
Fifthly, THE Believer in Death may triumph over Satan. Satan, though a Soul is Translated out of his Kingdom, yet through his restless Enmity, is always seeking to devour. He has Wiles Methods, and cunning Devices of Temptations to ensnare; imperious Suggestions, fierce Assaults, and fiery Darts to terrify: with these several ways of Attacks is the poor Believer harrassed as long as he lives; but in Death he can insult over all. Thus then can the Believer vaunt it: Satan, thou hast long tortured me with throwing in wicked and blasphemous Suggestions, and then perswadedst me, to my great Terror, I had sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost. Thou shalt no longer be able to throw in any more of thy fiery Insinuations. I am now beyond the reach of any of thy Darts. Thou hast always endeavoured to tempt me to sin, and then to make me question my Interest: But now I shall sin no more, nor question my Interest any longer. I shall not now be tempted any more to Despair on the one hand, nor presume on the other. Thou darest not appear where I am going. Thou vile Satan, I shall be disturbed with thee no longer. I shall have no further Concerns with thee, till I come with my Lord to sit in Judgement upon thee at the great Day.  
Sixthly, and lastly, THE Believer can thus triumph over the World, which is the last thing that goes to make up the Sting of Death. Thou empty confused World, that didst use to terrify me with thy Threats, I defy thee and them now; and wast wont to allure me with thy Flatteries: I am above their Undermining now. I scorn thy Rattles, and thy painted Beads, and thy airy Bubbles. I dread not now thy haggard Face; nor shall I any more be moved with thine Enchantments. It will add to my Pleasure in my Mansions of Glory, to see thee burnt for thy Witchcraft; I shall no more dread thy mighty Hunters, nor be awed with thy grim Tyrants, nor be enslaved in Body, nor Conscience, by thy bloody Laws, now be harrased with brutish Executioners. There are no oppressing Magistrates, no Catchpoles, nor Informers in the place I now enter to. Nay, now I tread under foot all in thee, that is enticing; I set Health, Wealth, Pleasures, Honours, Friends, Relations and all in one Scale, and my dear Forerunner in the other, and that Scale weighs down now to the Ground. I now go to the heavenly Jerusalem, and that better Country, where I shall have better Riches, and more durable Substance, better Honours, better Pleasures, and far better Relations. Thus will the Believer then triumph over Death, and whatsoever goes to make up the Sting of it.  
BUT Secondly, The Believer can triumph over every thing else in Death, that is formidable. To instance in one for many, Nature abhors a Dissolution, and the Soul, though it has but a bad Lodging, does not care to be turned out of Doors. It's tenement of Clay it cares not to be dislodged of, though its all over tattered, and needs Repairs. It shrinks back at entering into a new way of acting separate from the Body, when it has all the while been accustomed to act only by such an Organ. It has been used to such a poor Garment, yet as sorry as it is, it knows not how to be undressed of it, and made naked. Whereas now in the Moment of Death, that's over to the Believer: It can cry then like his Master giving up the Ghost, All is finished. It sees a better House to go to, upon its being dispossessed of this, even the Father's House, that has many Mansions. And a better Garment to be clothed with, even his elder Brother's glorious Robe of curious Embroidery: And can triumph in the Words of the Apostle, varying a little the Form of speaking, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2. etc. I now see that my earthly House of this Tabernacle being dissolved, I have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. In this I have groaned, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with my House which is from Heaven. I am sure, being so clothed, I shall not be found naked. For I, that in this Tabernacle did groan, being burdened, not for that I would be unclothed, but clothed upon. And now Mortality shall be swallowed up of Life.  
THUS the Believer triumphs over this Terror of Death, and every thing else in Death that is terrible. And thus I have finished the first Branch of my Doctrine, viz. That the Believer, in Death, triumphs over Death, in reference to his Soul. I should pass away now to various Uses, but time will not permit; I shall therefore wind up this Branch with one Word of Exhortation to poor Sinners.  
O you poor perishing Sinners, over whom my Bowels yearn! In my Master's Name I beg, that you would suffer a Word of Exhortation. You must needs be all persuaded firmly of this, that you must once die, and you know not how soon: You may perhaps go to bed well, and never see Morning. Would you then in that instant of time avoid being insulted over by Death, and triumph over that cruel Dragon, Death and his fatal Sting; then look up to that brazen Serpent, the blessed Jesus, erected on the Pole of God's Word, the only Hope, set before you in the Gospel. O fly to it for Refuge! Would you glory over that King of Terrors, and all his Dread, 2 Tim. 2.1. Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. Would you die the Death of the Righteous; than you must live the Life of the Righteous; and we are told what that is, Rom. 1.17. The Just shall live by Faith. Believe in the Lord Jesus, the exalted Prince and Saviour, and his Godlike Righteousness; and earnestly beg of the Lord for the Revelation of the Righteousness of God to you from Faith to Faith, Rom. 1.17. That so when that Faith is going to be swallowed up of Vision, you may triumph over Death and all its Terrors, in respect of your precious and immortal Soul.   

The Second SERMON.  1 Cor. 15.55. O Grave! Where is thy Victory. 
SOME of you may remember, that from the Words opened and Explained, I raised this general Observation.  
THAT every true Believer, in the Moment of his Death, can triumph over Death and the Grave, as well in reference to his Soul as to his Body.  
I divided it into two Branches; the first whereof was this. That a Believer in the Moment of his Death, can triumph over Death in respect of his Soul, which I have dispatched, and now proceed to handle the second, viz.  
THAT a Believer in Death can triumph over the Grave, in respect of his Body.  
I judge it most convenient to use the same Method in the Prosecution of this Branch, as I did in the former, viz. to illustrate it by its contrary; and therefore lay it down thus to be spoken to.  
THE Grave can triumph over the Unbelievers Body; but the Believer can triumph over the Grave in respect of his Body.  
SINNERS are apt to make Gods of their Bodies, honouring them excessively with Food, Raiment, Lodging, and the like; and to glory in the Health, Beauty and Strength of their Bodies; but the Grave will trample upon all these. Instead of delicious Wine, and choice Dainties, the Grave will fill their Mouths and Bellies with Dust: Their Silks, and Laces, and abominable impudent whorish Head dresses, their proud and lofty Crests shall be exchanged for stinking Rottenness, odious Filth, and crawling Maggots. And instead of their stately Houses and Down Beds, they must be content to take up with a dark Hole, and a cold Bed of Clay. The most vigorous Health than is vanished; a little pitiful Vermin can there deal with the stoutest Hector, and the strongest Samson. The fairest Face will soon prove as dismal there as the foulest Monster. The most exquisite Beauty look as squalid, and as horrid as the ugliest Blackamoor; and none shall be able to see any Difference between the rotten Skull of the one and the other. But having spoken somewhat to these things already, and being desirous to hasten to other Matter, I shall here put a Conclusion to this, and only add three or four things to be considered in. Death, wherein Death and the Grave triumphs over a Sinners Body, but the Believer triumphs over Death and the Grave, etc. I shall speak to both the Contraries together by way of Antithesis.  
1. NATURAL Death to the Wicked is an entrance to eternal Death, Heb. 9.27. And 'tis appointed to Men once to die, but after this, the Judgement. The Righteous Law of God has so ordered it for Sinners, that Death, as a Sergeant shall arrest and cast their Bodies to the Grave as to a Dungeon, there to be reserved in Death's Chains to the Judgement of the great Day. But natural Death to the Godly is a Passage to eternal Glory: and Death, like a skilful Chemist, takes their Bodies and puts them into the Alembick of the Grave, and there distils them into pure spiritual and glorious Bodies against the great Day; but more of this hereafter.  
2. NATURAL Death to the Wicked, is a part of the penal Sentence of the Law, Gen. 2.17.— For in the Day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. The Law threatened a threefold Death, spiritual, temporal and eternal. The Hebraism in the Original is emphatical to the Purpose, dying thou shalt die. To me having this Force dying in thy Body, thou shalt die eternally in thy Soul. 'Tis evident, that to the Ungodly, natural Death is a part of that punishment inflicted by the righteous Law of God; and what Death is, the Grave is the same. If one be the Laws Jailor to the Body, the other is the Laws Prison. But to the Godly 'tis far otherwise: For as Death has lost his Sting to them, so has the Grave: 'Tis not to them penal, but purely natural; the putting off the old Adam, that the second Adam may take possession of the whole Body. The Apostle in 1 Cor. 15. discoursing of the Necessity of the natural Death of Believers, argues thus, That the old Adam had first took possession of the Elect Vessels Bodies. V 46. That what of the old Adam is there, is earthly, and tends to Earth and Dissolution. V 47. It being the proper Nature thereof. V 48. Concludes thus, that the Image of the old Adam on the Body must be wholly laid aside, and that by Death; so that the Image of the second might take sole and full Possession. V 49. As we have born the Image of the Earthy, we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly.  
3. NATURAL Death is a separation of the Body from all Life; and thus it is to the Wicked: Their Dust dwell alone in the Grave, united to nothing, only there reserved by an Almighty Power of God, in an extraordinary way, for the Glory of his Justice hereafter. But the Dust of the Godly in their Graves, are united to the Body of Christ now in Heaven, and there is held still a secret Correspondence between their scattered Dust and the Life of Jesus, who in this sense, is the Resurrection and the Life. To make this more evident, 'tis to be considered, 1. That the Person of the Believer, both Body and Soul, in the first act of Faith, is united to the Person of Christ; yea, joined to the Body of Christ, Rom. 7.4. 2. That by virtue of this Union, the second Adam takes Possession of the Body as well as the Soul, as proved afore from 1 Cor. 15.45, to 50. especially 46. Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual; but that which is natural, and afterward spiritual. Observe that the Apostles Discourse must be here confined to the Bodies of the Saints, for it is the Resurrection of their Bodies he is a proving. 3. The Believer holds his natural Life upon another tenure than he did formerly, even from the second Adam, by virtue of his Implantation into him. The great Apostle Paul, in the 2 Cor. 4. declaring how his Body had been supported in the Work of Christ, under all Perils, Pains, Watch, Labours, Imprisonments, etc. almost insupportable, declares the Cause V 10. That it was from the Life of Jesus made manifest in his Body, repeating the same in the last Clause of the 11th. Verse, only instead of Body, there he writes mortal Flesh: All which thus explained, does evidently prove, that the Bodies of the Saints derive now their natural Life in great measure from another Root. 4. As an undeniable Consequence of this, that that Life the Body holds from Christ, does not quite vanish, as that of the first Adam does; but is gathered up into Christ, and retreats back to him the Root, as the Sap of Trees in Winter Time falls down from the Branches to the Root. And I take that to be the Meaning of that place of holy Writ; or at least I may allude to it, Col. 3.3. Your Life is hid with Christ in God, especially because of the following Verse, when Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in Glory; which Glory respects the Body as well as the Soul. 'Tis to me plain that there is a secret Commerce between the Living glorious Body of an exalted Jesus, and the Dust of a deceased Believer, which may be further proved from Mat. 22.31, 32. The Argument Christ himself uses to prove the Resurrection of the Dead, and the force of his Argument I apprehend to lie here: That God calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, though dead: That God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living, therefore, that though Abraham, Isaac, etc. were dead, yet they were still united to the living God, and by Virtue of those secret Beams of Life from him (the inseparable Effects of that Union) that still corresponded and preserved their mouldered Bodies in the Grave, they should be raised up at the last Day. This sense of the Place seems to be confirmed from the Answer of our Lord Jesus to Martha's Objection against the present Resurrection of her Brother, John 11.34. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day. John 35. Jesus saith unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life, etc. As if he should have said, thou grantest that I can raise him up at the last Day; but how? Is it not by Virtue of that Union that is between his dead Body, and my living Body? If then I will be his Life, and therefore his Resurrection. I am now his Life, and consequently can be now his Resurrection. I shall add that Argument, the Lord, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Life abides and dwells in a Believer for ever, in his Body as well as his Soul. 1 Cor. 6.19. What, know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, etc. If it be granted then, that he does still indwell in the separate Soul of the Believer, why not in a sense in the separate Body too? He brooded formerly over the Chaos till it was form into a beautiful Creation; and why not in like manner over the Dust, till the appointed time of actual Life by the Father comes? but,  
4. NATURAL Death tends to an utter Abolition. Natural Death in itself, tends to an utter Consumption of the Body, and that by Steps retrograde to the Methods of the first Creation. First, There was a Chaos created, and then that disposed and digested into a very beautiful and lovely Frame; but Death deals thus with Man, the Epitome of the Creation, reduces the fair Structure to a Chaos, or Heap of Dust, and then commits it to the Grave to annihilate it. And so would the Bodies of Sinners be annihilated, especially in the universal Conflagration; but that, as has been afore mentioned, the God of Nature by his infinite Power preserves and sits them to be Vessels of Wrath for Destruction, and at last raises them, that they might be for ever miserable Companions to their miserable Souls, on which he might make the Power of his Vengeance known to all Eternity. That as the Body has been a a Companion to the Soul in sinning, so it shall be World without end, in suffering. But as to the Bodies of the Saints, it is otherwise. Death only sows their Bodies into the Ground, that they might be quickened again into more glorious Bodies, 1 Cor. 15.36, 37. compare with 42, 43. etc. And pulls down the old tottering House, that it may be built up a more glorious Fabric in the Day of Resurrection, and they shall arise then from the refining Alembick of the Grave, with several wonderful Advantages; especially these five,  
1. THAN Corruptibility shall put on Incorruptibility, 1 Cor. 15.53. For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption, and when thrown into the Grave corruptible Bodies than shall be raised incorruptible— V. 42. Sown in Corruption, raised in Incorruption. The Bodies of the Saints shall have no tendency to decay any more; no more shall the Bodies of the Wicked: but here will be the Difference; the Bodies of the Saints will be unpassible, and will not be capable of suffering Pains; but the Bodies of the Wicked, though not apt to decay, yet will be the Seat of eternal Pains and Torments.  
2. Then Immortal shall put on Immortality, 1 Cor. 15.53, 54. And the Bodies of the Saints sown mortal, shall rise immortal. There will be no dying in the new Jerusalem above, nor decaying, nor fading; but Bodies as well as the Spirits of the Just being made perfect, shall endure the same in that glorious State to all Eternity. 'Tis true, the Bodies of Unbelievers shall never die more; but their Living and Continuing will be a constant Dying. They will be dying to all eternity, but never absolutely die; and happy would it be for them, if they could altogether cease to be. But on the Bodies of Believers, the second Death can have no Power at all. As for instance, The last Enemy that Christ will destroy for them, will be Death, 1 Cor. 15.26. And then Death will be swallowed up in Victory, 1 Cor. 15.54.  
3. THAN natural Flesh will put on Spirit, 1 Cor. 15.44. It is sown a natural Body, it is raised a spiritual Body. There is a natural Body, and there is a spiritual Body. Not that these natural Bodies in the Saints shall be turned into the very Essence of Spirits; but they shall come as near their Natures as 'tis possible, for corporeal Substances to come. So says our Lord himself, in answer to the Sadduces Cavil, Mat: 22.30. For in the Resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in Marriage; but are as the Angels of God in Heaven. i e. They shall be as near to the Nature of Angels as is possible. They will be of a purer and more incompound Substance, than the purest Elements of Fire: They will be endued then with wonderful agility and celerity, and their motion surpassing swift; probably they will fly then as swift as Thoughts: We experience that our Thoughts now speed in an instant to the farthermost Regions of the Earth, whilst the heavy Log of a Body stays behind, and can go no faster than its Legs can carry it, or some more artificial means. But doubtless then our Bodies, that believe will be fitted to keep pace with our glorified Souls, in all their Motions, for the Glory of God in Christ, not hindered by Sicknesses and Ails, nor made slow with any weakness, imperfection, or mutilation. The Sun is swift in his race; but what is his race compared to that of the glorified Bodies of the Saints then!  
Fourthly, DISHONOUR then will put on Honour, and that that is sown in Dishonour will be raised in Glory, 1 Cor. 15.43. Then they will be in part clothed with the Glory that is upon the Body of an exalted Jesus. 'Tis true, there will be difference in degrees, though not in kind: For as there is one Glory of the Sun, another Glory of the Moon; and another Glory of the Stars: For one Star differeth from another Star in Glory. 1 Cor. 15.41. So the Glory on the Body of Christ, will be as the Glory of the Sun; and the Glory of the Bodies of his Children like the Glory of the Stars, all shining in Brightness, Splendour and Majesty, though not equally alike. When Christ appeared with Moses and Elias in the Transfiguration on the Mount, the Glory then on his Body is set forth, as in a Glass: His Face did shine as the Sun, and his Raiment was white as the Light, Mat. 17.2. So will the risen Bodies of the Saints be, shining brighter than the Sun, whiter than the purest Light. That, that is sown in Dishonour, as afore hinted, will be raised in Glory. They that are laid in the Earth little Infants, will be raised in full growth and perfect statured; they that be entombed decrepit, old and deformed, shall rise again well-shaped, vigorous and beautiful. They that drop to the Grave poor, tattered, Servants and Slaves, shall come out from thence rich, free and illustrious, greater than Kings and Emperors: Then indeed in a literal sense the Eyes of the Blind shall be opened, the Ears of the Deaf be unloosened, the Lame shall leap as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb shall sing for Joy, Isai. 56, etc. For the bodies of the risen believers that are now wrapped up in Dishonour, shall be then clothed with the highest Honour.  
Fifthly, THAN Weakness shall put on Strength; and that that is sown in weakness, shall be raised in power, 1 Cor. 15.43. Then the Coward shall be valiant, and the Feeble exceeding strong; their Strength and Courage will be very near Angelic then. We read, that an Angel destroyed an hundred thousand in one Night; and how great, ineffably great, will be the Strength and Power of the spiritual Bodies of the risen Saints in that day! But having spoke of this dispersedly afore under other Heads, I shall now add no more thereunto; nor mention several other Advantages that the Bodies of the Saints shall arise with, that I might insist on: For these are sufficient to evince, that Believers can triumph over the Grave in respect of their Bodies.  
THUS having dispatched the Doctrinal part. I now proceed to the Application, which I briefly intent to finish in three or four Inferences: The two first will particularly relate to the last branch of the Doctrine: The two last will respect the whole Doctrine in general.  
1. Infer. THE first Inference is, for the Comfort of Believers against Death. If it be so that their dead Bodies can thus triumph over the Grave, what else is there in their Death that seems terrible? As for their Souls, they are then instantly lodged in the Mansions prepared for them above: But if their Bodies are thus also excellently provided for, every thing in Death is to be contemned. Nor need we shrink at the Pangs that usually attend Death; they are but the Cracks of a tattered House, blown up in order to be rebuilt a stately Edifice: or rather a Groan or two at farewel, between two parting Friends that have been long loving Companions together, but now must be separated for a great season, that they might meet again to the greater advantage of both, and these are the Body and the Soul. And Death is no less to be scorned coming by his terrible Messengers, Fire, Sword, Gibbets, Poison, or the like: When he uses Instruments, he is generally more courteous and gentle in his Deal, and quicker of dispatch. A torrid malignant Fever, or a Torture of several Weeks or Months by the Stone, Gout, or Strangury, have dealt more cruelly with a Body in dissolving it, than the Spanish Rack or Parisian Wheel have done. So that consider Death in all its affrighting Circumstances, it need not be at all frightful to the dying Believer.  
2. Infer. THE second Inference is, for the Comfort of Believers, against the tiresome fatigue of Pains, Sicknesses and Infirmities. The comfortable Consideration is this: That all Pains and Maladies prepare and hasten the Body for the place of refining; as they are Nature's Sufferings, so they are the effect of Grace mellowing the whole Man for Glory: They in whom Grace shines most, are commonly most infirm in their Bodies; for the Souls that are most on the Wing for God, whose Graces are most vigorous in their Exercise, eat out soon the Tenement of Clay. As the painful feeling of the Body of Death within, is the nailing of the old Man to the Cross by the new Creature, and Corruption painfully felt and odiously seen, is Corruption a mortifying; proved by the Apostle, Rom. 6.5. where he calls the Mortification of Sin, a being planted into the likeness of the Death of Christ; which was a painful and shameful, as well as a cursed Death: v. 6. he calls it the crucifixion of the old Man, and the destruction of the Body of Sin; that of Galat. 2.20, being added thereunto, and compared with Romans 7. from the 15 vers. to the end, particularly vers. 24. compared with vers. 25. From all which places, 'tis evident, that the painful feeling of Unbelief, and the Body of Death within is Unbelief and the Body of Death crucified, and the dying Tiger roaring in the Soul. The inward Blows of that Nature we feel, are Stabs at Heart given to inbred Corruption by the second Adam: So the pains Believers feel in their Bodies are but as so many Blows the second Adam gives there to the first, in order to drive him out, and take up the whole Room for himself. Comfort thyself then with these words, thou sick Believer, under thy tedious malady and sore pains, or with such arguings as these: These Pangs indeed are sharp, but they will after yield peaceable and blessed fruits, for 'tis in order that that which is earthly may be done away; that that which is spiritual may fill up all in all; 'tis for the refining of Flesh and Blood; for Flesh and Blood, as now circumstanced, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither Corruption inherit Incorruption, 1 Cor. 15.50. I will be patiented under my greatest pains then, since their tendency is to eat out Corruption in my Body, so that it might inherit eternal Glory, together with my Soul, in incorruption.  
THE other remaining Inferences relate to the whole Doctrine, as laid down in the first Sermon.  
1. Infer. THAT the Doctrine is a cogent motive to Holiness in Life and powerful Godliness in Conversation. If so be that a Believer can triumph over Death and the Grave, in reference to his Soul and Body, than the unspeakably free, rich, glorious Grace of God in Christ manifested in him, and believed into, must needs oblige the Man or Woman to all manner of holy Conversation. When Men have said all they can, against the Doctrine of Free Grace, impiously branding it with the Names of Antinomianism and Licentiousness; yet this is undeniable from the experience of the most Godly, as well as from the Word of the Lord, that nothing constrains to all manner of holy Obedience, like the Love of Christ revealed to the Conscience, and the Love of the Father in his Love. All that are most godly, can say what is said of the Woman in the Gospel; they weep much, and do much, as she, Luke 7.44, 47. because they love much; and they love much, because much is frankly forgiven them. This is certain, that the inherent Holiness of the Soul, is the Strength of the Soul, and the Strength or inward Sanctification of the Soul, depends upon looking to, by Faith, that Grace that is in Christ. Thou therefore, my Son, be strong within, [〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉] 2 Tim. 2.1, 5. in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus, viz. at God's right hand. 'Tis not said, Be strong in the Grace that is in yourselves, for that is to seek the living among the dead, a living Christ in our dead Frames, when he is never to be found there, for he is risen, and ever lives at the Father's right Hand, to make intercession for his Children, and a constant steady looking to him there, always interceding, and still full of Grace and Truth; 'tis that will carry on the Work of Sanctification in the Soul. The spiritual Life of a Believer is from Faith, and maintained by Faith. It is written, The Just shall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17. Gal. 3.11. Heb. 10.38. Faith is said to purify the Heart, Acts 15.9. to sanctify, viz. the whole Man, Acts 26.18. and Faith always respects Christ and his Grace. The Blood of Christ, i. e. pardoning Grace in the Blood of Christ, received into the Conscience by believing, is affirmed to purge the Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God, Heb. 9.14. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, and hath appeared to all Men in the Gospel, but as revealed unto the Consciences of them that believe, teacheth them, that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts, they should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present World, Tit. 2.11, 12. And the GOD of all Grace in manifesting his Grace to the Soul, that he has called it to eternal Glory by JESUS CHRIST does go on to make perfect, establish, strengthen and settle the Soul: Which Expressions, comprehend all the Work of Sanctification, in its several parts and degrees, till it arrives to the fullness of the stature of a perfect Man in Christ Jesus. 'Tis apparent from these and several other places of the holy Scriptures, that the Grace that is in us, proportionably rises and falls to the believing Views we have of the Grace that is in the Heart of Christ towards us, and in the Hand of Christ to give us. To draw towards a close in this matter: This is it I am at, that our inherent Righteousness within us, is begun and carried on by Faith in the imputed Righteousness of Christ without us: These two are every way distinct, yet so as the former still flows from the latter. The Alwise GOD has so ordered it in the dispensation of his Grace, that his free Grace shall be magnified, and the Righteousness of his Son highly valued and advanced. Were the only use of Christ's Righteousness (and indeed that is a great use of it) to secure eternal Glory for us, we should be tempted to have little recourse to it by Faith; for that being once done, and our state secured, corrupt Nature would be apt to insinuate to us there would be no great need of such frequent viewing that Godlike Righteousness without us, wherein we stand, it being that that is so contrary to Flesh and blood. But now our Holiness in every step of it depending upon the Righteousness of Christ being apprehended by the Soul in believing; it must, or it ought, to necessitate us to have constant recourse, by continued Acts of believing to this glorious Righteousness all the day long. Since it is thus, that every dram of true Gospel-Holiness flows into the Soul only this way: The Apostle affirms it three times, That now the just shall live by Faith; which Life, 'tis evident, he means to be a Life spiritual, or Life of Holiness here. And 'tis necessary that the Work of Holiness be carried on continually and constantly; and therefore that we believe in Christ and his Righteousness always. The reason of all is this: The Lord will have the Righteousness which is of Faith, the imputed Righteousness of his Son always viewed, believed in, and admired by us. So that hence you may believe the Doctrine of Freegrace does not tend to Licentiousness (as Satan in various Instruments clamours against it) but the quite contrary. Such undeserved superabounding Grace to pardoned Sinners, being the main motive unto Holiness of Heart, Lip and Life. The Apostle plainly affirms, Rom. 6.14. That the Souls being brought under Grace, breaks Sin's Dominion therein, i. e. the Soul being brought in believing under the powerful influence of that Grace that Reigns through Righteousness unto eternal Life, by Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 5.21.  
2. Infer. The second and last use is, for the encouragement of Sinners; yea, the chiefest, worst and vilest to come to Christ from the glorious Grace that is held forth in the Doctrine. The Believers, that thus have, and can, triumph over Death and the Grave, were once Sinners as you; may be some of them as vile as the vilest of you. Come you, therefore, and taste and see how gracious our Lord the Redeemer is, Come you and join with us in a perpetual Covenant to serve the Lord. Accept of the peace of the Gospel, and make a venture upon an offered Jesus: Oh come you, the worst of you, and live the Life of Faith like the Just, and you shall die the Death of the Righteous, to triumph over all in Death. Whatever your Objections can be, this astonishing Freegrace can answer them all. Infinite Wisdom has permitted all along prodigious Mountains of Opposition to rise in the way of Grace, on purpose that that Grace of God may declare itself boundless by triumphing over all. Thus though it was designed from all Eternity, that Freegrace should have all the Honour in making the Elect happy: Yet a Law for Life was set up, that through the Breaches thereof, Sin might be suffered to enter; Sin, that odious thing that was such an Affront to the whole Godhead, and brought so great an eclipse on his manifestative Glory, was suffered, I say, to enter, that electing Grace might be magnified in mounting above it. And the Law entered once again on Mount Sinai, that so Sin might abound, on purpose that Free Grace might superabound, and reign and triumph over all. Freegrace and electing Love does not only, like Jordan, overflow all its Banks, but, like the mighty Deluge, cover the tops of the highest Mountains of Opposition in the World. Therefore what Objections, O Sinners, can you have against bowing down to the Grace offered in the Gospel. O harden not your Hearts, but now hear ye his Voice? Know assuredly this, That objecting against your acceptance of the Grace of Christ (be your Objections never so specious) is no other but a gainsaying of Christ. O do not rebel and gainsay against the wide-opened and stretcht-forth Arms of eternal Mercy and Compassion that now is extended to you. Be thou the vilest on the face of the Earth, yet as vile as thou has obtained Mercy. There are on Record instances of Sovereign Grace, greater than any of you can be: What think you of Adam? I durst almost engage to answer all thine Objections thou vilest Sinner, from that single Precedent. You say you are the greatest of Sinners; you cannot be greater than he, who was the Arch-Rebel and Traitor, who led his whole Race into an horrid Rebellion against GOD, yet he found Mercy. Ay, but your Sins are great; not greater than his, who, in one Sin, was guilty of the highest Ingratitude, the most monstrous Unbelief, and the most devilish Pride and Discontent, etc. besides his breaking the whole Moral Law in that one Sin. Yet you may say, My Sins are many. I answer, That first Sin of his was a pregnant Monster, millions of Legions in it. But you'll reply, I sinned against Knowledge: So did he, against the most perfect Knowledge of God and his Will; yes, and against the most perfect enjoyment of God too; that is more than you can do. But you will object, I have sinned grievously. I reply, Adam was reeking hot in his deep-dyed Iniquity, when Mercy stepped in. True, say you, but I have shunned Mercy: So did he, when he fled to hid himself in the Garden. But you may again object, I have extenuated mine heinous Sins, instead of abhorring myself for them. Indeed you have done ill; yet though thou hast done as evil as thou couldst, yet do not let that discourage thee from accepting of offered Mercy; which to refuse is the greatest Sin of all: So did he, and charged God with it too. The Woman thou gavest me, etc. yet he found Mercy; and why not you? Many other things of this nature might be added, but that I am now bound to the greatest brevity. What shall I add, the case of Paul, who was an injurious Person, a Persecuter and a Blasphemer, yet he obtained Mercy; or the case of Mary Magdalene, who had seven Devils; of the Woman of Canaan, and the Woman mentioned Luke 7. etc. who were all three notorious Sinners, yet Sovereign Grace was extended to them. Let me add but one instance more, and that is fresh in your Memories; the case of Mr. Bigg, whose late decease gives the occasion to this Discourse, and the present Solemnity. His Deathbed attended with the manifestation of such Sovereignty of Grace and Power from above, has alarmed the Neighbourhood. And you seem all to be in a surprise, and at a gaze about the things you have seen and heard relating thereunto: I shall therefore give as an exact account of the whole as has come into my Hands, that though he be dead, he may yet speak to you. And though in the Account I shall give, it will be necessary to touch upon his former Life, yet it shall be done with a favourable hand, only so much as may tend to the advancement of that glorious Freegrace manifested towards him: But ere I begin, I must antidote my Hearers with this Caution; Because it pleased the Lord to magnify his glorious Grace towards him on his Deathbed, that none of you dare to presume from thence to put of your coming to Christ till a Deathbed season. The voice of this mighty Providence is, Turn now the worst of you, and live, 'Tis not, Defer Believing till a dying time. I durst almost venture to say, That whoever encourage themselves to continue in ways of Impenitency from this example, have breaking forth upon them the black Marks and Tokens of final Rejection. It was well observed by one, One Thief on the Cross, in his dying Moment's, obtained Grace, that none might despair; and but one, that none might presume: So but one Mr. Big perhaps in an Age, that none may think when they have lived all their Life-time to Sin, they shall with ease, and at pleasure, die to Christ. Thus having given this Caution, I now proceed to my Narrative.   

A NARRATIVE OF Mr. BIGG's CONVERSION, etc.  
MR. Big, when married to worthy Mr. Browning's Daughter, was very sober and well inclined, and by some, thought to be Godly. But it appeared in some time after, the Work was but outward; for being led aside by vain Company, and being at first (as it was thought, and he expressed it to some) filled with dreadful Horrors for it, he fell into a woeful Security, and continued hardened in Sin, especially that of Company-keeping for several Years. At last he was surprised with a lingering Distemper, that brought him nigh to the Gates of Death; during which time, he continued stupid and unconcerned about his Soul; but it pleased the Lord that then he recovered, and continued well for about two years or above; but then fell into a dangerous Relapse, and then there appeared, pretty early in him, some Concernment about his Soul, though he kept it very secret, as indeed he was by Nature reserved, close, and of few Words, except he was amongst his Company, and distempered in his Head. The first time he was seen to be apparently concerned, was upon this following Occasion. It has pleased the allwise God, whose ways are in the Deep, and whose Judgements are past finding out, to lay his heavy Hand upon a Child of his of twelve years of age (who is known to be very gracious) in that strange and unusual Distemper that hath seized many others; which Dispensation of God towards us, makes us to be taken up into the Mouths of Talkers, and to be gazed and wondered at by many, who pass their Censures variously, as they are disposed. Though we desire humbly to acquiess in the Will of the Lord, waiting for his Salvation, not in the least questioning, but he will eminently glorify himself in the Issue, as he has already in some Measure, blessed be his Name, and then they that have reproached us, shall see, and hear, and be ashamed. The Distemper afflicting the Child with Light-headedness (the first Effect of it in that kind, as was observed on her) she talked of divers things, and amongst the rest, of what good People there were in the Neighbourhood that she loved, and amongst the rest, she said her Mother was good and would go to Heaven; but being asked concerning her Father, whether she thought her Father would go to Heaven; she replied, she desired he might: Hereupon Mr. Bigg being called, and she again in his Presence asked, what she said of her Father? Nothing, says the Child, very gravely and awfully, but that I wish his eternal Good? which Words fell upon him with such Power and Weight, that it cast him into great Passion of Weeping for some time. About that time, being very restless in the Night, said to his dear Relation, he needed to have something: It was answered (supposing he meant Physic) that nothing would do him more good than a little Sleep. He replied, yes, a little Hope would do me more good. It was told him, True! a little good Hope through Grace, would do you more good indeed. Remember that Place of Scripture, Isa. 45.22. Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth? For I am God, and there is none else. He presently answered, That was not so easily done, and then continued, These Words have run in my Mind of late to terrify me: Because I have called, and you have refused, etc. And many dreadful Scriptures altogether. Then he was told, That Christ was able to save to the uttermost. Yes, said he, and able to destroy to the uttermost too. Then he ended (speaking nothing of Soul Matters, but what the Force of Terror one while, and Joy another while made him. Some time after he was again complaining; which, whilst he was doing, he was acquainted, That his Condition was hopeful though painful: It being added, Time was, when you have been under God's Hand, and in great Danger, and to my Apprehension, was stupid and Sottish. He answered, Yes, it was so. Then being asked, if he had not some Hope, he replied, that sometimes he was ready to think, that if God had had a Purpose to destroy him, he would have done it before now. Not long after, as he was going to Bed one Night, he asked one, what she thought of him, as to his Living? she answered, she did not know what the Lord would do with him: As to Sense, you are not like to be long in this World (he then being very weak.) And must I die then? said he: Oh, I dare not die! I dare not die! Oh! 'tis an awful thing to die, etc. Some short time after, whilst he was in his bitter Complaints, several Scriptures were laid afore him to encourage his Believing into Christ. He said, right! if it had been in time; but it is too late now. He was answered, it was not too late, seeing the Lord had opened his Eyes on this side of the Grave, and made him see his Need of Christ. He said, yes, it is too late; for I have had the proffer of Christ, and the same Tenders of Salvation with others: And I would not have Christ then, and therefore it is just with God to deny him to me now. But one added, you can justify God under all. Oh! Ay, said he: Oh! Ay. He that hath born so many years' Provocations at my Hands— I will speak well of him 〈◊〉 long as I live, however he deals with me. Another time he desired that Scripture might be turned to, Phil. 3.12. That I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ. Methinks, said he, it bears this Sense: That Christ must first take hold of the Soul, before the Soul can take hold of Christ. A little before he kept his Bed, he said to his Wife: Dear, What must I do? There is no way for me but to close with Jesus Christ, and I cannot do it, I cannot do it. I do not know either whether I am willing to be saved by Christ or no. May be, if I should recover, things would wear off. Oh! I dread the Thoughts of it. If I may but live till I have obtained Mercy, I shall think I have lived long enough. But Oh! the Thoughts how few find Mercy at last, would make any one's Heart to ache. It being on the Heart of his dear Relation to send to the Church of Christ at Rothwell, to pray for him, acquainted him with it; ask him, if it was not his Desire also. He answered, he thought of it some Days afore, but durst not be so bold as to mention such a thing; but did desire they should seek the Lord for him, that he might close saveingly with Jesus Christ, and have a true Godly Sorrow and Repentance, never to be repent of. Now we are drawing towards the Close of his Life. The Friday before he departed, he could scarce rise, being exceeding weak; but he began to be very earnest about his Soul. He spoke thus to Mrs. Bigg, The Prayers of God's People are a great support to me; I always had a great Esteem of the Prayers of God's People. That Night he was confined to his Bed; when he was laid in it, he said very awfully, I shall rise no more till the Trumpet sounds. When in Bed, he was complaining of the greatness of his Sins; he was taken up by one, saying, Whether he thought his Sins so great, as that there was not enough in Christ to pardon? No, says he, I will not reflect such Dishonour on the Blood of Christ, as to think so. I know there is an effectual Plaster prepared; but if not applied, what then? A little after he broke forth into this Expression: As there is a fullness of sin in me, so there is much more Fullness in Christ to pardon. However that Night he continued very restless, his Distress being such, he could scarcely lay his Eyes together: And in the Morning (which was Saturday) he spoke in great Agony, I must die, and have not the least bit of Hope. Being then advised to venture on Christ, and cast himself upon him, as one able to save to the uttermost: He with a Countenance, that witnessed huge inward Grief, replied, it was too late. His dear Relation answered him thus, It is not too late. God has opened your Eyes on this side the Grave, and made you see your need of Christ; therefore 'tis not too late; but he calleth you now. He presently spoke thus, Shall I venture then upon Christ? It was answered him, He must. Then having paused, his Countenance more composed and cheery, he spoke resolvedly, I can but perish— then stopped. Then his dear Wife observing his Words and countenance, said, Hope is a Dawning. He quickly replied, I hope it is, and soon after burst forth into high Acclamations and Expressions of spiritual Joy, and Admirations of the free Grace of God as Strength would permit. But he was much afflicted, that he had not Strength nor Breath to speak of God's free Grace to him, that the World might know what God had done for him. Notwithstanding he spoke somewhat to this effect: It troubles me that God should lose his Glory, who hath not, I hope, suffered me to lose my Soul. Oh, that I had Breath to speak of Christ! Methinks I could speak of Christ till Night! I think I could speak of Christ a Year together! And indeed all that Day, when he had strength to speak, it was excellently of Christ: And once fetching his Breath with much Difficulty, he said, I shall breathe out my last Breath with a blessed be God for Jesus Christ; and little afterwards he would complain, that he could love Christ no more. That day there came a young Gentleman, an Acquaintance of his, to visit him, who found him very weak; but when he had recovered a little Strength, he addressed himself to him thus: All that we have to do for God and our Souls Salvation, is to be done here: There is nothing to be done in the Grave, and it is my Advice, and my dying Counsel to all young Men, that they labour to make sure of Christ in a time of Health, and not put off so great a Work as I have done.  
The following Day, which was the Lord's Day, he was exceeding weak, and pained in his Body, and variously exercised in his Soul, as appears by several Expressions that dropped from him at times. Whilst he was complaining of his Illness, he was told, that however it was, yet God is good, He answered, You shall never hear me say otherwise, sink or swim, saved or damned, I will justify him. A little after, being exercised in his Soul, he cried out, How hard a thing it is to crowd through the Throng of Sin and Gild to Jesus Christ: Sure Christ will not accept of such a filthy thing as I: But, said he again, God's End in pardoning and saving Sinners, is to glorify his own free Grace; and then why not towards me as well as another? What a wonderful Word is that? A Man may die with that Word in his Mouth, The free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification. Then added, And though my Flesh and my Heart faileth, God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever. Another time, being somewhat clouded, and speaking of the Grace of God, I cannot demand it, nor have I deserved it: But being asked, if he would not accept of it: Yes, replied he, very thankfully. Towards Night he grew more distressed, for several Friends being gathered about him he looked upon them dolefully, and said, Oh, I tremble! being asked at what? he answered, at the possibility of Perishing. One than sitting by, that knew how it was with him, told him, it was impossible, he being helped through Grace to commit his Soul into such Hands. It was said further, None can pull you out of his Hands. He speaks a little after, Poor Hearts, you are willing to hope the best; I wish you are not mistaken. You know, said he, to his Wife, Dear, oppressed Nature will cry out for Relief; but being answered, that oppressed Nature could not rest on Christ for Salvation; or to this Effect, he was silent. Next Morning he was much complaining that he was to die, and do Christ no Service in the World. He cried out, Oh, that I might live but one Year! but may be if I should, I would be wicked: But yet, said he, I think verily, if I know my Heart, I am willing to embrace Christ on his own Terms; I think verily, if I was to live the strictest Life as ever Saint lived, yet I think I could embrace none but Christ. A little after, being full of Complaints as to his Soul, it was told him, Yesterday you could say, though my Heart and my Flesh faileth, etc. He answered, But I cannot say so to day. Some time after, his Faith began to mount up, and being melted under the Sense 〈◊〉 God's Grace to him, he said, If I had strength, I would soon make my Confession Town-Talk. I need not tell the Town what my Life hath been; they know that very well: But I would have them know the difference between them that have Grace, and them that have none. Monday about Noon Mr. Bear came to visit him, and asked him, What, art thee going now to Christ? He answered, Better now than ever. But he was so weak, and laboured with such Difficulty of Breathing, that he could scarce speak; which he expressed himself, saying, That if it were to save his Life, he could not speak; yet desired Mr. Bear, that he would wrestle and strive with God in Prayer for him, that he might be helped sincerely to close with Christ. A little after, finding his Weakness increase upon him, he spoke thus, I am brought to the Dust of Death. That Night, which was the Night before he departed, about nine a Clock, he grew weaker and weaker, and fetched his Breath shorter and shorter: Being a little lifted up on his Pillow, he lifted up his Hands, and bad all farewell. After which, he drew his Breath as one just departing; being (as 'twas thought) past speaking, was spoke to by a Friend thus, putting him in mind of his own Expression, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ; whereat he was heard to say softly, Amen. Then his dear Relation added, Christ the Forerunner is for thee entered: Then he, with a pleasant Countenance, nodded his Head, being not able to speak. And now Death indeed was in his Face in all its Symptoms, and all concluded him just a dying; when, all of a sudden, his Blood returned into his Face, Vigour and liveliness into his opened Eyes, and with a Voice exceeding loud, as if he had rose from the Dead on purpose to give in his dying Testimony for free Grace, he thus spoke triumphantly. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that with these Eyes I shall see him, and not another's: Come Lord Jesus, come quickly; Come Lord Jesus, come quickly; Come Lord Jesus, come quickly: These Words he spoke with such Vehemence, that he made the whole House to echo, when afore he could scarce be heard if one laid his Ear to his Mouth, and then continued thus with no less Accent and Affection, I am no more afraid to die, than I am to shut my Eyes: I am no more afraid to die, than I am to go to sleep. God loves me dearly, and I love God dearly: I am sure he will do me no hurt. Lord, strike the Blow, and the Work is done, I long to be gone, I long to see Jesus Christ. O that all the Town might ring of God's free Grace to me! What, at the last Hour too? Who would have thought of this a few Weeks ago? Nothing less than Eternity is sufficient to admire free Grace: This is blessed Work indeed: This is Dying indeed. Thy Father, said he, turning to his Wife, will wonder to see me in Heaven: He little thinks I am so near him. His Wife asked him, if he thought she should ever come where he was a going. He answered, I do not question it; thou, nor the poor Children neither. Through God's Grace, his dying Prophecy is in a likely way to be accomplished in all of them.) You will not be long after me. Come, one Bosom will hold us all: He that hath begun the good Work in them (meaning his Children) will carry it on till the Day of Jesus Christ. A Friend hearing him speak so hearty, said, Sir, I hope you may live still. He replied. Oh do not tell me so! I do not love to hear of that Ear: I would not come back again for thousands of Gold and Silver; but what the Lord will, I am wholly swallowed up in Gods Sovereign will. After he was spent with speaking, he said, I can speak no more; I hope you are all satisfied. Far you well, expecting (as it seems) he should have gone immediately to Heaven. But it pleased the Lord to order it otherwise, and to continue him till the next Night, though under some Regret, for he presently added, Oh! I thought I had been going so sweetly, but I am here still; and next Morning, hearing some Friends discoursing about the Distress he had been in, he said to them, but the Lord has now fully satisfied me. Yet by reason his Dissolution was delayed, it occasioned further Temptation, and a black Cloud arose upon his Soul after all this glorious Sunshine. He burst out into such bitter Expressions as these: God has forsaken me, and I am afraid 'tis a sore Judgement of God upon me, that I lie in such a Condition. I am afraid, lest I have deceived myself with false Hopes. Some time after the beginning of his Distress, there appeared on him Convulsive Fits; whereupon he said to his Wife, I have Fits. She answered, I am afraid you have. He added, I am almost frighted out of my Wits. Being asked at what: He replied, At the Awfulness of Death. This Conflict lasted for some time; but the Lord was pleased to return again, as was perceived; for his Soul was composed and still. His Fits ceased, though his Strength was gone, that he could speak but little. However, this for Satisfaction was had from him a little before he departed. He said, would I was up! His Wife answered, That would be a pleasant Sight indeed to see thee up again, to tell us what thou hast seen on this sick Bed. He answered, I have seen that here, which hath made my Heart, and the Hearts of many more glad. It was then told him, you may see now what Satan's Temptations are, when God permits him, he will rob a Child of God of his Comforts; but that is all he can do. And it is a great All too, said he, it was that which made my Life a Burden to me. Being asked, if he did not believe he should have Comfort again. He answered, Yes, but did not know when. But it was not long before he had it to the full; for now he fell into a sweet Sleep, the best he had for many Days; in which Sleep, he quietly slept in Jesus.  
Thus I have given you an Account of some of his Death bed Experiences, in whom; though now dead, he yet speaketh to you the Living, and invites you all to partake of the same Grace with him, that you may enter into the same Glory ●e now is in. Have a care, as I cautioned you afore, to suck Poison to the Ruin of your own Souls out of this Instance of God's Free, Rich, and Glorious Grace; but make this Improvement of it, to stir you up now to accept of, and venture on the boundless Grace of God in Christ Jesus. Consider what has been said, and the Lord give you Understanding in all things.  

His EPITAPH.  

Here lies interred  
The Body of Mr. John Big;  
Who departed this Mortal Life,  
When he had seen his thirty seventh Year,  
On the twenty eighth Day of January,  
Anno Domini, 1689.   

Cropped in his full blown Age, if we by Grace  
His time compute, he lived but five Weeks space.  
Dead whilst alive, in dying Life gins.  
Short Race of Life! But what a Crown he wins!  
In Sin him Death attacks; but Grace steps in,  
And makes him Triumph over Death and Sin.  
Thus by Christ's Death, in death he's made to cry;  
Death, where's thy Sting? Grave, where's thy Victory?   
Now to the only wise God be Glory and Dominion World without end, Amen.   
FINIS.