TO Conquer the Enmity of Death, you must live by faith in Jesus Christ: as men that are emptied of themselves, and ransomed from his hands that had the power of Death; and as men that are redeemed from the curse, and are now made heirs of the grace of life, being made his members, who is the Lord of Life, even the second Adam, who is a quickening spirit. The serious believing study of his design and office, (to destroy sin and death, and to bring many Sons to glory) and also of his voluntary suffering, and his obedience to the death of the Cross, may raise us above the fears of Death. When we live by faith as branches of this blessed Vine, and are righteous with his righteousness, justified by his blood and merits, and sanctified by his Word and Spirit, and find that we are united to him, we may then be sure that Death cannot conquer us, and nothing can take us out of his hands: For our life being hid with Christ in God, we know that we shall live, because he liveth, Col. 3. 3. Joh. 14. 19. and that when Christ ⟨p. 76⟩who is our life appeareth, we shall also appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. And that he will change our vile bodies, and make them like to his glorious body, by his mighty power, by which he is able to subdue all things to himself, Phil. 3. 20, 21. In our own strength we dare not stand the charge of Death, and with it the charge of the Law, and of our Consciences▪ How dreadfully should we then be foiled and nonplussed, if we must be found in no other righteousness, but what we have received from the first Adam, and have wrought by the strength received from him! But being gathered under the wings of Christ, as the chickens under the wings of the Hen, (Mat. 23. 37.) and being found then in him, having the righteousness which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, we may boldly answer to all that can be charged on us to our terror. If we know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and are made conformable to his death, (Phil. 3. 9, 10.) if we are dead with him to the world, and risen with him to a holy life; if we have believingly traced him in his sufferings and conquest, and perceive by faith how we participate in his victories, we shall then be able to grapple with the hands of Death;
TO Conquer the Enmity of Death, you must live by faith in Jesus Christ: as men that are emptied of themselves, and ransomed from his hands that had the power of Death; and as men that are redeemed from the curse, and are now made heirs of the grace of life, being made his members, who is the Lord of Life, even the second Adam, who is a quickning spirit. The serious believing study of his design and office, (to destroy sin and death, and to bring many Sons to glory) and also of his voluntary suffering, and his obedience to the death of the Cross, may raise us above the fears of Death. When we live by faith as branches of this blessed Vine, and are righteous with his righteousness, justified by his blood and merits, and sanctified by his Word and Spirit, and find that we are united to him, we may then be sure that Death cannot conquer us, and nothing can take us out of his hands: For our life being hid with Christ in God, we know that we shall live, because he liveth, Col. 3. 3. Joh. 14. 19. and that when Christ ⟨p. 76⟩who is our life appeareth, we shall also appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. And that he will change our vile bodies, and make them like to his glorious body, by his mighty power, by which he is able to subdue all things to himself, Phil. 3. 20, 21. In our own strength we dare not stand the charge of Death, and with it the charge of the Law, and of our Consciences▪ How dreadfully should we then be foiled and nonplust, if we must be found in no other righteousness, but what we have received from the first Adam, and have wrought by the strength received from him! But being gathered under the wings of Christ, as the chickens under the wings of the Hen, (Mat. 23. 37.) and being found then in him, having the righteousness which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, we may boldly answer to all that can be charged on us to our terrour. If we know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and are made conformable to his death, (Phil. 3. 9, 10.) if we are dead with him to the world, and risen with him to a holy life; if we have believingly traced him in his sufferings and conquest, and perceive by faith how we participate in his victories, we shall then be able to grapple with the hands of Death;
