Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

11. with commission to do them honour; howsoever awkwardly it be performed: I question not but Haman performed the ceremony with a very ill mien, a pale face, a down look, and a cloudy countenance, and like one who came to hang him, rather than to honour him. But he, whom the king delighted to honour, behoved to be honoured; and Haman, Mordecai's grand enemy, must be the man employed to put this honour upon him. Glory, glory, glory, blessing and praise to our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Mediator, by whose death, grim devouring death is made to do such a good office to those, whom it might otherwise have hurried away in their wickedness, to utter and eternal destruction! a dying day is, in itself, a joyful day to the godly, it is their redemption-day; when the captives are delivered, when the prisoners are set free. It is the day of the pilgrims coming home from their pilgrimage; the day in which the heirs of glory return from their travels to their own country, and their Father's house; and enter into actual possession of the glorious inheritance. It is their marriage day; now is the time of espousals; but then the marriage is consummate, and a marriage feast begun, which has no period. If so, is not the state of the godly in death a hopeful state? •BJECT. But if the state of the godly in their death be so […] •peful, how comes it to pass that many of them, when dying ⟨p. 240⟩are full of fears, and have little hope: ANSW. It must be owned, that saints do not all die in one and the same manner; there is a diversity among them, as well as among the wicked; yet the worst case of a dying saint is indeed a hopeful one. Some die triumphantly, in a full assurance of faith. 2 Tim. iv. 6. The time of my departure is at hand. ver. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. ver. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. They get a taste of the joys of heaven, while here on earth; and begin the songs of Zion, while yet in a strange land. Others die in a solid fiducial dependence on their Lord and Saviour: though they cannot sing triumphantly, yet they can and will say confidently, The Lord is their God. Though they cannot triumph over death, with old Simeon, having Christ in his arms, and saying, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,