A Golden Chain

The second objection is taken from the testimonies of Scripture. Death is the wages of sin, Rom. 6.22. it is an enemy of Christ, 1. Cor. 15. and the curse of the law. Hence it seems to follow that in and by death, men receive their wages and payment for their sins: that the day of death is the doleful day in which the enemy prevails against us: that he which dieth is cursed. Ans. We must distinguish of death: it must be considered two ways: first as it is by it self in his own nature: secondly, as it is altered and changed by Christ. Now death by it self considered, is indeed the wages of sin, an enemy of Christ and of all his members, and the curse of the law, yea the very suburbs & gates of hell: yet in the second respect, it is not so. For by the virtue of the death of Christ, it ceaseth to be a plague or punishment, & of a curse it is made a blessing, and is become unto us a passage or mid-way between this life and eternal life, and as it were a little wicket or door whereby we pass out of this world and enter into heaven. And in this respect the saying of Solomon is most true. For in the day of birth, men are borne and brought forth into the vale of misery, but afterward when they go hence, having death altered unto them by the death of Christ, they enter into eternal joy and happiness with all the Saints of God for ever.

The second obiection is taken from the testimonies of Scripture. Death is the wages of sinne, Rom. 6.22. it is an enemie of Christ, 1. Cor. 15. and the curse of the law. Hence it seemes to follow that in and by death, mē receiue their wages and paiment for their sinnes: that the daie of death is the dolefull daie in which the enemie preuailes against vs: that he which dieth is cursed. Ans. Wee must distinguish of death: it must be considered two waies: first as it is by it selfe in his owne nature: secondly, as it is altered and changed by Christ. Now death by it selfe considered, is indeed the wages of sinne, an enemie of Christ and of all his members, and the curse of the law, yea the verie suburbs & gates of hell: yet in the second respect, it is not so. For by the vertue of the death of Christ, it ceaseth to be a plague or punishment, & of a curse it is made a blessing, and is become vnto vs a passage or mid-waie betweene this life and eternall life, and as it were a little wicket or doore whereby wee passe out of this worlde and enter into heauen. And in this respect the saying of Salomon is most true. For in the daie of birth, men are borne and brought forth into the vale of miserie, but afterward when they goe hence, hauing death altered vnto them by the death of Christ, they enter into eternall ioy and happines with all the Saints of God for euer.