N01109:29
Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showedMeditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed
Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showed; I. That some true believers on Christ are afraid of death, but that they have no just cause to be so. II. That good men as well as others may be taken out of the world by a sudden death. III. That not earth but heaven is the Christians home. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]Meditations on death. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed; I. That some true believers on Christ are afraid of death, but that they have no just cause to be so. II. That good men as well as others may be taken out of the world by a sudden death. III. That not earth but heaven is the Christians home. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]
printed by Timothy Green, 1707
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. He is said to have the Power o• Death, because of his being an Executioner. He does by the permission and appointment of the Sovereign Judge of all the world, Execute Death o• the sinful Children of men. As th• Executioner has the power of Death when the Malefactor is delivered into his hands, to deal with him according to the Law and the appointment o• the Judge; such a power of Death has the Devil▪ it is a Righteous thing with God when men have hearkened to the Devil, and in compliance with him have sinned, to make him the Instrument of their Punishment. Thu• when there was a terrible Plague i• Egypt, in which not one Family escaped, tis said, Psal. 78.41. That th• Lord sent Evil Angels among them. Evi• ⟨p. 9⟩Angels were the Instruments of the Providence of God in this Destruction. Now this adds to the Terror and Affrightment of Death. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a merciless Executioner. When David was doubtful lest he should fall into the hands of his inveterate Enemies, from whom he could expect no mercy, he said, The Terrors of Death are fallen upon me, Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me, Psal. 55.4, 5. This must needs be a frightful thing. As Saul when he was told he should be with the Devil the next day, he was sore afraid, and •ell down on his face on the Ground. He swooned away with the Fear and Horror of it. This is one Reason why Death is so frightful to Sinners.
2. He is said to have the Power o• Death, because of his being an Executioner. He does by the permission and appointment of the Sovereign Judge of all the world, Execute Death o the sinful Children of men. As th Executioner has the power of Deat when the Malefactor is delivered into his hands, to deal with him according to the Law and the appointment o the Judge; such a power of Death has the Devil it is a Righteous thing with God when men have hearkene to the Devil, and in compliance with him have sinned, to make him the Instrument of their Punishment. Thu when there was a terrible Plague i Egypt, in which not one Family escaped, tis said,