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Corinthians 15. 56. 57, The fting of Death is Sift, and the Strength of Sin is the Law. But thanks he to God who giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jcfus Chrift. \ v-~ • As fome among the Corinthians doubted, and otheri denied the Refnrre(5lion of the Body, the Aportlc en- larges in this Chapter on the Certainty and Importiince of that fundamental DocSlrine of the Chriftian Religion. And proves it by divers Arguments. At the 35th Verfe he brings in the Phllofophic Infidel pro* polling his Queftion, with Defign, it may be, to ridicule this Dodlrine. But fome Men will yet fay, how arc the Dead ralfed up again? And with what kind of Body do they come? Some pretend *tls impoflible, and a thing incredible that God fhould raife the Dead. This was the cry of the amient Fhilo- fophers; and is taken by the Delfts of our own Age. They tell us that *tis not confiftent with the known Rules of Philo- fophy for the Body to rife. But the Apoftle anfweri the Scoffer with a Severity due to his Temper, Thou Fool, that which thou foweft is not quickened, except it die, and lie hurried in the Earth. Which fhows that the Diffolution and Corruption of the Body by Death is fo far from being an Ob- jc6lionto its Refurredlion, that it isneceflary to it, even as the a^'ing^ AHu ^uinryiiii^ ui lut uucu, Oi \jiAn\. ui vviiuai, IS ne- / Aa IS ce ffa 0' c <\ ^ ,^^' V Jx y (4) \% ceiriry to its C|u.cknin- and rifing up again; and that if God IS able k:, quicken a Seed or Grain that is Rotten and entirely cFcao, and caufe it to rife up in Verdure and with much Fruir. as he does every Year in Millions of Inftances, why fhould It be thought incredible that God HioulJ quicken dead Bodies, when^ the One is a'; muclj an Infiance of his Po^ver as the otherr Ho adds, Verfe 43, where he begins to ai)ply his Simile to his prefent I'urpofe; fo is the Refurreaion of the iJcad, that is, That Cafe refembles this: As the Seed fown is not exaaiy the iarne xvhieh fprings up ; for a Grain of Wheat is not the fame with a Stalk and Ear of Wheat, and yet it is partly the fame; tor every Seed has its own and proper Body given to It; thus it is in the Cafe of the Rcfurredion of the Dead W'hare there feems implied, that our prefent Body is a bort of a 6W of the Refurredion Body. And alfo that it is in lome Kefpea the fame with the Body that is fown, even the Body which we now live in, and at death lay in the Grave • ^^rthus, (in the Simile) God gives, fays the Aponie, to every Oiva Its own Boaj, "^ Here is alfo implied that it fliall undergo a confTdcrable Uiangc, and confequcntly, not be abfolutcly the fame: It is lo the fame as yet to admit of a difference; that which thou loweft, thou foweft not that Body that fhall be. It i^ fowa bare Gram, but when it fprings up it is varioufly changed; and thus It fhall be with our Body: It fliall be changed. It is fowa in Corruption, it is raifed in Incorruption— It is fown a natural Body, It IS raifed a fpiritual Body. v. 42. 43. 44. Now what id^-ntifics, or gors to conilitute ihcfame Body we can t pretend to be certain, {{ncQ the Scripture has not told us- therefore with Refpeft thereto, we can have no determinate d^aith. But as every Seed has its own Body, fo wilJ every Soul t (5) Soul have its own Body, tho» greatly dilTcrent a. to Its QiiaK- ties. t is abundantly fufficicnt, th^it God ^heth it a Bod^, as pleajeth htm. \ J* ^ The Apoflle harlng this proved the Doc^rfne of the Rcfnr- region, fa,th Then iliall be brought to pafs the SayiW thai IS written, Death is fwallovvcd up ,n ViL%jy: that is, 'is over- come lor cTer lo as never to have any Strength or Power oyer our hodies any more. So that Chriilians may ling triumph- andy m the Words (;f the Prophet Hofea, O Death whcrj is tny bting 1 O Grave where is now thy Vidory ? The Sting of Death is Sin, and the Strength of Sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who giveth us the Viaorv through our Lord Jcfus Chrift. ^ From the Words of my Tex» I Hiall note thefe three Things • and then improve the Subjed. I ft. That God hath given to the Saints Vidory over Death. 2d. This Viaory Is through the Death and Refurreaio- -four LordJefusChrill. 3d. This thatis PiTnr? H »!^°'L'P5'" "c of Opinion, fmce the microfcop.cal Difcover.c,. mooer An?l? , ""'^^'J^/'^V*'''"^^''" ^^""^ ^eeds. (o Animals proceed fS Animllr^I ''= ""^ they fuppofe .he humane Bo.iy particularly oneofTe VeS The^^r. "l^ """'"^'^ bytheExpanfion of ics numer^ous minute the Si^e ^hev .°f ''^'' -^[e folded up in fo fmall a Compafs are fuelled to Fluid, rh?^ afterwards arrive at, by the Addition made to the Quan.i.y of y>t^, aod alwavsthe (amejallthe Change is in the Fluids, which are indeed in a perpetual Flux, fome conllan.ly perfpiripg or pa/fing off by the fecretary iT?hll\ hV ' T" ''nTP'"' '•^^ VclTdscfrhe B^ are\nch nge . J LlluA^T''^''' " '^^ P"iods of humane Lif.. and the Bodies of Men are fo d.lhnd that one can't become a Part of another, nor fuifer anv confuhnn^ (6) 3c3. This Viaory of the Saints affords them fome Joy and Con- folation in this Life, and in the Morning of the Kefurrcaion will fill them with Joy, Th:inkfgiving and Triumph. ifV. God hath given to the Saints Vi^ory over Death. the ApoAle tells us, Verfe 26. The laft enemy that fhall be def^royed is Death. And 'tis «n Enemy being the Fruit Effea, and Wages of Sin ; the Penalty and Curfc of the Law- as 'tis Gontrary to human Nature, and deilruaivc of the Work of God's Hands ; it is indeed, through the Blood, Rightcouf- nefs and Sacrifice of Chiift become the Friend of his People • yet in itfclfh formidable to Nature and difagrecable to it. But that which makes Death avenging Punifhment is dyinff under the guih of Sin. The Sting of Death is Sin : it is the Caufe of Death ; it is what has given Rife and Being to it and entered into the World by it. 'Tis Sin that gives Death all its Bitternefs, Agonies and Miferies. And the strength of Sin is the Law. The evil nature, and all the dreadful -Aggravations of Sm, and fad Confequences upon it are difcovcred and made Joiown by the Law, and may be called the Strength of Sin Tis the Law which binds Sin upon a Man's Confcience, ac cufes him of It, pronounces him guilty, curfes, condemns and adjudges him to Death eternal for it. Thus the Law gives Sin Its Strength, and Death its Warrant to arrefl and execute us. But God hath given his People the Vidlory over Sin Death and fhe Law. Thanks be to God who givcth us Viaorv through our Lord Jefus Ch rift. Wherefore ^ 2d. This Vicflory of the Saints over Sin, Death and the Law is through the Death and Refurredion of our Lord Jefus Chrifl. He has got the Vidory over Sin ; he has put it away by the Sacrifice j i J (7) Sacrifice of himfclf; he has finilTied and made an End of it; for though it icigns over his People before Convcrfion, and dwells in thcni after it, yet in confcquence ot his Attoncrnent for it, it l()fcs its governing Power thro* the Spirit and Grace of God in Regeneration; and entirely its damning Power over them in the Rcfiirrcdlion Morning, when their vile Bodies fhall be changed and fafhioned like unto ChriA's glorious Body. Sin will then have no Being in them. Again, Chrift has ob- tained a Vidory over the Law : He ftopped its mouth, and anfwered all its Demands ; he has bc.'n made under, and fub- jea to it ; he has obeyed its Precepts, and bore its Penalty, and has delivered his from the curfe and Condemnation of it, fo that they have nothing to fear from it, it is dead to them and they to that ; and he has abolifhed it as a penal Evi/ to his Saints ; and tho' they die, they fhall not always remain under ^ the Power of Death, they fhall live again, and with him for ever. He has alfo conquered the Grave by rifing out of it himfelf, and living for ever more ; having the Keys of the Grave in his Hands; and will at the laft Day oblige it to give up its Dead. Now this Vidory in all its Branches is given by God to Believers ; they are made to fhare in all ihe Vidories of Clirift their Head, and are more tVin Conquerors thro' him; but this is not by Merit, but by U* ft, the Gift of God the Father, who gives his Son and all Things with him that are his ; and this Gift is a diAinguifhing one ; it is given to us, and not to others; and which therefore calls aloud for their Praife, Ad- miration and Thankfgiving, even in this Life, in the Language of the Apoflle, Rom. 8. ^2- 34- V- Who fhall lay any Thing to the Charge of God's Eled ? It is God that juf^ified : VV ho IS he that condemneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea, ra- ther that is rifen agam, who is even at the righ Hand of God, who makcth alfo IntercefTion for us. We are more than Con- q,uerors, thro' him that loved us. Wherefore ' 3d. (S) 3d. This yiaory of the Safnts yields them fomc Confoljtion in this Life; and will fill them with |oy, Thankfgivin"- and Tiii]mj)h in the Morning of the Rcfurrcaion. ^ Believers thro' Faith, rejoice many Times before hand in the lively Hope and Profpca of this Vidory. iJut when they nfe glorious from the Grave, will glory over Death as a van- giilflicd Enemy, and infiilt this great and terrible DeOroyer, O Deadi where is thy Siing? O' Grave where is thy Vidlory ? How glorious will the Refiirreaion Day be to good 'Men; and \vhat an Addition may then be cxpcded to their former Vlap- l)inefs! There are many Circumflances that will :idd to the Solemnity and Glory of it; as the Defcent of Chrirt from Hea- ven in flaming Fire ; the Voice of the Arch-Angel; the Tri- umph of God, 6:c. The Ref^oration of the Body, fo changed and exalted, will, no doubt, be a mighty Imi)rovement of the Hajjpinefs of the Saints ; being railed in Glory. Some fuppofe that our Bodies in the Rcfurrcdlion (as to their Purity, Conflitution and Livelinefs) will be the fame with that of Adam, when it firA came out of the Hand of God, with the Stamps of divine Wifdom and Goodnefs frefli upon it. Others fuppofe that our firi\ Parents were as to their Bodf-s, formed after the Image of the ^hcchinah, ' ight organized in human Shape, as their Ornament and Glory. Hence when after the Fall, 'tis faid, they were naked^ the meaning \^^ they had loft this Clothing of Light and Glory. Be that as it may, we are afTured that the Refurredion Body fliall be exceeding glorious, even in Fafhion like Chrift's glorious Body. And, oh, what a Day of Gbry will it be when all the Saints fhall appear thus arrayed; with their Bodies oiufhining the Sun in the Firmament, with Crowns on their Heads, and Palms (9) with Palms In their Hands I " How many Springs of Joy to the *' Saints and Thankf^iving to God, arc opened by the Refur- " redlion, the Sufferings andConqiKjfts of our Redeemer? c< *< With what Acclamations will Saints rifmg from the dead applaud him ? How will the Heaven of Heavens refound ** his Praifcs for ever ? Thanks be it to God, will he the " Burden of their Song, and Ana;cls will join in the Chorus " and declare their Conlent with a loud Amen, Hallelujah. It now remains that we make fome Rcfledions on the fub- jed, by way of Application. And, I. We may hence infer ths happy and bleiTed Condition of the Righteous. Their Happinefs may be faid to commence on the Day oF ihcir new Birt/j, when they pafs from Death to Life; and arc made Partakers of the divine Nature. Our Salvation begins in Converfion : and we arc faved by the wafhing ot Regener- ation, and renewing of the Holy Gholl. They are waflied, fandlified and juftified in the Name of our Lord Jefus, and by the fpirit of cur God- They are now interefted in all the ex- ceeding great and preciour. Promifes, which are comprchen- five of all the ElefTings of Time and Eternity. Therefore arc tnily blefTed. And hVingor dying they are the Lord,<J. And tho' the wicked is driven away in his Wickednefs, the Righ teous hath Hope in his Death. Tho' all believers have not full Affurance upon aDeath-bed,yet they have theGracc of//i./" in them; tho' they have Pain and fome dread of Death, yet they have Hope which is always attended with Fait/j: Thcfe two C-racesgo together, being wroughtby the fameHand and at the fame Time in Regeneration; and are more or lefs excrcifc\l together ; tho' the one may be at fomctin^es more vilible in it; Escrcife than the other; and thcicjiiay be H^pj when Fait^i B I .';'■ IS ( 10) Icaivcly diTccrnablc; yet Faith h at the Eoi SuhO torn, and is the imc of Things hoped for. And this Hope is founded upon the alifolutc Mercy of God, not not Cr upon the iXferit of the caturc; not ..pon any outward Ads of Ri.yhteou(nefs; or on external Irofcihonot Reliolon ; but upon the Pcrfon, Blood Ki^htcoufnefs and Saeriliee of Chrifl. This is died the Hope ot Salvation tlie Hope of Glory, and the Hope of eternal Life heeaule u a^ires thefe Things. This is the good Hope thro Grace, peculiar to Believers ; and is the Achchor of the boul, lure and lledlal>. Thcfc are fafe in l\^ath : for being abfem from the Bodv arc prefcnt with the Lord. ^'' The intcn-al between Death and the R.^furrcdion is a Scate of Abfenc^ from the Body, during which Time the Soul is in a State of Happinels and Glory, believing and waiting for the. Kclurrecflionotthe Body, when Both will be united toiret her again. ° And being raifed up to Glory they fliall be openly acknow- ledged and a< quitted; and owned by the King of Saints rs tlie redeemed and blcfTed of the Lord, wheA he fliall fay unto them, Come ye BlefTed of my Father, inherit the King- dom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. Matt. 25. 34. The Hai.i)Inefs of the Saints in the other World is here ex- j)reircd hy a Kingchm, becaufe of the Glory, Riches, Gran- tieur and Magniluence of it. And whntfoever conilitutes the Felicity of that State, all that Maty IS chrrjl: At God's right Hand are Plcafure cver- nioic. But But ( " ) But how widely different i. the S.atc and Condition „f the U tcked, wl„c-h ,« tndccd the very Kevcfc ,;t the CodK- jl .^' have no l-ut,nd»t,on fur I'cace or Cotulbrt, Ji^ln,, o, 'dyi, g. '^ They flt-ive to (liffle the Conviaion. of Conf.lencc and try Peace wlien yet there's no I'eaee. There is a h.rkin," Felr ha often hattntsand purfuesthe Sinner like a tnurdered^C hoft m all Cotrtpantes, and amidft all Delights. And we have ,;l , rcc^n the departing S,nner in great DirtreCs from a Senfe of hi" finhtl Condttton And he has heen forced to ft,I,f rH e t , e Truth of that AfllTUonr^ i,i.g of Death is Sin, Jul 2 .tlrf 5^ f ""'*'• ^"'i'- T^ •■ <hM comefoth o ,t f ihetr Graves to Shame and cverlalting Contempt, to the Ke flrreflton of Damnation; as Vel^-ls of Wrath ' fitted to De-" flruflion ; to whom therefore Chrift the Judge tvill fav detnrr rotn tjje ye eurfed into everlafling Tire prc?.a ed f r^ihe C V.1 and h,s Angels. Thefe fhall go a'vay into cverLin. Pumlhment, but the Righteous into Life eternal '""''''''"•f Then ITiall we difccrn between the Righteous and the Kth'and'.t's"'' H^''^"?Tl"f '"'''''■' '"^^ --'■'-- n inc tarth; and the Seed which the Lord hath blcflld. n.^'i H^u'^ g;.''? ^ '='"^<='' 'o o""- inordinate Grief for the Death of holy ^r.ends and Relatives. Grace doth a tlJaft teach us to moderate our Grief on fuch Oecafiorand for^ bids us to forrow as thofc that are without Hope. For Death fixes them in a State of unchangeable HaooInrR and everlafttng Joy. We Ihould therefore cafry s &"^ thetrjoy, and beheving Admirers of their Felicity And 's l2 V^rVK"" '"•''^' l-etter Country, if we be Fo| overs of thofc who thro' Faith and Patience fn'herit he P - B2 And f 1 An^ ibis juft Ground of Confolatlon I am pcrfwaded we have in Reference to that deceafed Servant of Chrift whofe Death gave Occafion to this Difcourfe. Her Character we had epltomiz'd in. our weekly Paper. And yet I conceive a further public Honour due to a Perfon of fuch diftinguiflied Worth, I prefumc not to attempt her full Charader ; But having had the Honour and Plcafure of a perfonal Acquaintance with her for feveral Years, I am the better able to relate fome Things that were commendable and praife worthy in her, and moft worthy of our Imitation. It pleafed God to call her by his Grace, while flie was yet young ; fo that ihe fear'd the Lord from her youth. She had the higheft Efteem and Rellfli for the DoHrines cf Grace, as having, in her Efteem, the mofl aj)politc Tendency to humble the Pride of human Nature; to exalt the Riches of divine Grace, and the Glory of God in the Salvation of Sinners. % Books of meer Amufement (Plays, Romances, Novels, &-c^ Hie feldom looked into : Efleeming Time too precious to be trifled t By the Doarir.e of Grace, we mean that Syftem of Evangelical truths which !S commonly called Calvinillical ; as, that God has from all Eternity loved fome of the human Race, and has chofen them unto everlafting Salvation, by Jefus Chriil ; (hat he has mide a Covenant of Grace with his Son on the Behalf of the chof n Ones, which is ahfolute and unconditional ; that Chriil in the Fulnefs of Time affumecl human Natu .;, fuf^cred and died to redeem a fpccial and peculiar People to himfelf ; that by bearing their Sins, and all Punifhment due to them he has made full S.uisfad\ion to the Juftice of God ; that p Sinner's Jollification letoreG.d is only by the RigSteoufnefs of Chrilr, imputed to him, without any Couiuieration of Works done by him; that Pardon cf Sin is only through the lUo'i of Chtift, and for his Sake, according to the Riches of his Grace; that Co(i fees no Sin in hisjullihcd and pardoned Ones, fo as to condemn them for n ; th?.t Regeneration and Convcrfion are by the Powerfull and efficacious Grace of God ; and thst thrie who are tf!caaal!y called by Grace, Tnall perfeyere to the Lr.U, ami be eternally faved. ( '3 ) trifl.?d away in Vanity. She was fo mortified to the Vanities of the World as to have little or no Relifhof thofe idle Amufc- ments, and enfnaring Paftimes, and iifclefs frothy Entertain- ments in Converfation which arc the common Guize and Fafhion of the Age wherein we live. She paid a folemn Regard to the holy Sabbath, as a Day of facrcd rert to the Lord. She efteemed it a great Privilege to wait upon God in his San6liiary, where her Deportment was remarkable ^r^2t;f and ferious^ becoming the Solemnity of the Place, and Worfliip of God who is in Spirit. She was a Lover Osgood Men, efpecially of good Minifters of Jefus Chrif^, of every Denomination ; thefe fhc honoured as his Ambafladors who bring good Tidings of Peace and pub- lifh Salvation. She was meek and humble, and fo clothed with Humility, as to entertain low and mean Thoughts of herfelf, freely acknowleding that all fhe had or hoped to have, was owing to the free Grace of God. She was faithfull in all her relative Capacities, therein ferving the Lord as well as Men. And the clofe of her religious Life was every way fuitable to the general Tenor of it. In her laft Sicknefs God did not leave her comfbrtlefs ; he was with her to the End of her Life; and gave her that good Hope through Grace by which fhe was fupported, and carried above the fears of Death ; earnefWy defiring if it were the Will of God foon to depart and be with Chrift. Still looking unto Jefus the Author and Finifher of her Faith ; and firmly per- fuaded that God was able to keep that Soul in Safety which flie had committed unto him againft the day of Recompenfe. How happy and bkfled are fuch as die in the Lord ; and what ( 14 ) what Ground of Confolation have we on their Account ' twfe ."f^' f^' '\^'''T' ^«"^-^« of thofewho w' 1, fP u""^ ?'''"i'^ ^^ ^"^^'^^^ ^^^e Promifcs: for th. Work of R,ghtco.^nefs fliall be peace, and the effcd of R,Vh n th^ 1 orS^"^"''^^- ^"^.^^"-"^^ f- --■ And our Labot- n the Lord ,s not m vam, for we arc Concjuerors, yea, more than^Conquerours thro' him that loved us ^nd gave hin.fclf " Now let my Soul arife, " And tread the Tempter down ; My Captain leads me forth " To Conqueft and a Crown. " A feeble ^aint " Shall win the D^y *' Tho* Death and Hell „ Obflrua the Way. Many may with Balaam, wifli to dye the Death of the Righteous, and that their latter End might be like h s Let iuch know, that the only Way to this is by living the Life of he Rtghteous. ^A;hich holy living depends t^pon^he implan- tatton of a holy Principle ; without^vhich we einnot ferle God acceptably wuh Reverence and godly Fear. AndTsanecef- fary Preparation for Glory. Grl^ce and G/ory wHl he give. The Grace of God given at Converfion is an immortal oTnatVth'i'r' '-^S-^'/y-'-h'tis ml'.r' to partake of the Inhentaace of the Saints in Light. John 3. 5- 1- o o ( 15 ) 5- Col. 12. 13. Some indeed flip pofc that Ri'^etterafron and the new Crc:iturc includes no more than what is done for us in Baptifm ; as a learned Do6lor intimated to his Auditory, when in a Difcourfe on that fubjeft, he jiointed to the Font] and told them, T/jerc they were all regenerated. But let no Man deceive you with vain Words ; nor let any Aian deceive himfelf; for unlefs a Man be born of Water and of the spirit ; he cannot fee the Kingdom of God. " Thefe Words Water and Spirit cxprcfs the fame Thini^, " and %nify the Grace of the Spirit of God Nor has " Haptifmany regenerating Intlucnce in it. 'Therefore a Per- " fon may be baptifed, and yet not born again." Kut if we be not regenerated and quickened by the Spirit of God, and don't become new Crea ures inChrifl, we have no well grounded hope of eternal Life : nor can we die in Peace with God ; for we are yet in our Sins. If we have not the Spirit of Chrift we arc none of his: yea, nothing in God's Efteem ; nothing as Chriftians. True Godlinefs there- fore is the principal Things " It is fo, as it is that which recommends us to God, which " beautifies the Soul, which enables us to anfwer the end of " our Creation, to live to fome good Purpofe in the World, " and to get to Heaven at laft ." Many adorn their Bodies with cof^ly Ornaments and Ap- parel to attrad the Eyes of vain Spedators, and gratify their own Pride ; but negleft their finful Souls, that ftand in need of more care and adorning than thefe vile Bodies. Therefore the Apoftle exhorts the Female Sex, to beautify and i i (16) and adorn their Souls with the Graces and Virtues of God« holy Spirit, rather than their Bodies with gaiidy and rich Attire. Whofe adorning, fays he, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair, and of wearing ot Gold ; but the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is incorruptible, viz. a meek and quiet Spirit, which is highly precious in the Sight of God. For thus alfo the holy Women of old adorn'd themfelves. In like manner alfo, I will that Women adorn themfelves with decent Apparel, with Modefly and J^obriety, not with coflly drefs, but with what becomcth Women pro- fefling Godlinefr, with good Work. i. Pet. 3. 3. 4. 5. I. Tim. 2. 9. 10. It is hence evident that the Endowments of the inner Man arc the chief Ornaments of a Chriftian. And Plainncfs among Chriftians is a greater Honor than fine Clothing. " The outward adorning of the Body is very often finful and cxccflTive." For Inftance, when it is immoderate and above your Degree and Station in the World ; when you are proud of it, and puffed up with it; when you drefs deiigning to allure and tempt others ; when your Apparel is too rich, curious, or fuperlluous ; when the Fafhions are Fantaftical, imitating the Levity and Vanity of the worfl: People ; and when they are immodeft and wanton. But there is no Reli- gion or Irrcligion inDrcfs provided Pride andLuxury are guard- ed againfl", and Modefly and Moderation preferved. Though, ordinarily, you may read the Vanity of a Perfon's Mind by the Gaiely and Gaudinefs of their Habit." Internal Grace ^^called the hidden Man of the Heart) gives a Beauty and Ornament to the Soul far preferable to that which any coi^ly Apparel or outward Adornings can give to the < 4 I tl C the .he Body. But this is hidden from ilieMc, of ilv " n they don't know what it is, nor wlia, m ""'''• or can be. And hence the^ feek n af cr l^h'u 't/' ''"" ," '"u .' more precious than Rubies and 111 ,h ™,^^^''''""'. "''"^h defired an not to be compared .Zo'. ^1"%]^ "" ^'' thine Head an Ornament of erT-e Tr ' f'r' ^"''' ' ' fte deliver to thee. ^ ' ^ *^'°'™ '^'^ '^'''T 1>;il! Grace is, in Scriptura compar'd to a ^sA. AnHnll / c^c^fcthThfR^obe 1t^] ""-rr^ ^^^' -^ nefs both ofS^f^^t:;;;^^:'' ''' '^^'-'^' clt^!fT:ft l^'s^^t^ "^ -commended to God-staage 'ren"etcdVo„ .hel^"""°" "' """ 'i'"' '-- The Church triumphs In this inefllmihN Pi rr ir ^ of SaivatL;ttd^ttdte1.i,rt,;e'Ro^- ^>rf tecH,fnefs. The Righteoufnefs of Chrift ^^e a Rob. ^'"'" Believers, bu» not ,» ih-m . 't- , ■ , , ^ '^°"'^ 'S til)on covers th;ir Perfons and rlu V ,'"? ''? I"")'"''''™; ^nd it nnd all theirln , fo'a not S. '''"f'.'''^^ "^''^^ ^'^'■'' ■•ng Ju«ice. To* clot"a"n°d' cov r' wrth";: VcolrAa "fT*^" puta,,on, and Chrift-s Application of if by hi?si;r "'''"■ cy iMcai. ivc;/.', /y^.t" Rciimcnt of H ( >8) ivr'Atght Gold, ihc ivecUi?7p; Gcirmnit, the I^cfi Ro/)i\ and Gar- ment oi Salvation', imd t/j/s is callctl a Change of Ra'mient, for Sin and Guilt which l^y Nature and BackllidinL^s coYcr the Soul arc called lis. filthy Rags. Uj)on the Return of the penitent Prodigal, the Father or- dered the bcfi Robe to be jnit upon him, ^'c. *' Take off his Cloaths of Shame and Sin, *' (The I'ather gives Command) *' l^refs him in Garments white and clean, Ct With Rings adorn his Hand. Now Chrlft hath clothed his Church with the RighteoMfnefs both of Juflili:atioa and Sandtification ; for belides this Robe cf Righteoufnefs and Garment of Salvation, there is the Gar- ment of inter )2al Holiriefs^ the new Man, or new Nature con- lilling of the fevcral Graces of the Spirit, which is put on as a Garment, and makes Believers all glorious lintbiii. For he hath clothed them with Salvation as a Garment, and witl Righteoufncfs, as with a Robe. " 'Tis God adorn'd m}' naked Soul, " And made Salvation mine; " Upon a poor polluted \\''orm '' He makes his Graces Ihine. And left the Shadow of a Spot Should on my Soul be found. He took the Robe the Saviour wrought, " And eaft it all around. cc «< How far the heavenly Robe exceeds What earthly Princes wear ! The Ornaments, how bright they ftiinc ! '' How white ihe Garments are ! cc tc The The ( 19) The Bride (Rev. 19.) Is defcrlhed as makinir her Anp-ar ince, nut in the gay and gaudy Drcfs of the Motlicr of Harl.ts 'nn mjinc Li?ifien, clean and iL'hite, which is the Ri^htcouf- iicfs of Saints. Becaufc Sin is Jikc to/% Garments Riglnoiirncfs h like ic Garments beautiful and 'wbiic. And nnlefs vvc are thus clothed and adorned with Rightouf- nefs, there is no Safety of appearing at the Day of Judgment For fuch being arraigned, fliall be coriviacd and condemnecl by their own Confcience. And the King fhall fay to the Ser- vants bind him Hand and Foot, and take him awav, a/:d caft him into outer Darknefs; there fhall be wcci)in"- and gnafhing of Teeth. Matt. 22. 11. 12. 13. Many are exceffively fond of being in the Fadiion tho' ever fo indecent and ridiculous : And will fpare no Coft or Pains for that Purpofe ; tho' God has threatened to [mn\i^^ all fuch as are clothed with Jirange Apparel, j^robahly iox their Pride and Vanity in affeaiing to appear in the Fafliion or other Nations. Zech. i • 8. And the Prophet Ifaiah expofes the Sin and Folly of the Daughters of Zion, for that Pride and vain Curiofity tliat appeared in their Drefs, and great Variety of fine Cioaths- And fliews the Punifhinents threatened for the fame. Ifa. ^. 1 6.-26. whichldclire may be read out of your own Bible.' It were to be wiflied that more would follow the -Ex- ample of thofe good Women who adorned ihemfcives with decent Apparel, being clothed with Humilit)-. hrA hearken to the Counfel which Chrift gives to fuch as are not clothed with the Garments of Salvation, nor covered with tlic R(;I e c 2 y of ( w) of Ryncc,r„cf. I Coimf.I .h.e ,o Iniv of ,»c Gold tried ia of'ib -"N.k '/ r'" '"-'''^ "' ^'"""^' ••■"'' ■''« '''>-• «'>-"" otth) ^Jl^cJncfsmay. notapjiear, iScc. Rev. 3. iS. In ihefo Words uv are dlrcflod to come to hhn for Grace Lre and b.dvat,on ; for Pardon, Peace and R.Vhtoufn^f ! \v]i:d) are to be ioui^it of liini. S»="uin,,is, New to buy, hero fignifics to receive l-y fi.ch USv^ inrl Mean.s. as God has dlreeled, ,I,of. f,,iritu.^l bldli 4^ Uich I?. uJ fr^ '" "'u' ^Y^"'' ^^'^^ thrift and aifhisBene . ht, Allthefo are to be ioug/,r of Chrift, ,0 be had of him >v//, w,.hot,t Money and withom Price for Chrift and iTs Grace are g'v- Av./j.. He doth not. in a proper S nfe, ^./ thefe Benehr.c bi„ he gtves them to thole that come to Wm ■hey ":t r bTi^d-fr^j^i''^ °"'^- "°"'^'"°- - ^^'-'^ Who then that is wife, wot.Id reft contented withom thi, %/...,i/;./f for the Sotd. f„ abfoh,tely^'nee:k:;',o''f „e Peace and Comfort lierc, and e^•er]af1ing Happ nefs in h^. Ktngdom of Heaven ! O taife and fee thaf the Lord is good!. " Ve perlfhing and naked Poor* " Who work with mighty Pain, ;• To ^vcave a Garment of your own, That will not hide your Sin ; (( Coinc ( " ) *• Come naked, and adorn your Souls "In Robes prepared by God, " Wrought by the Labours of his Son, ** And dy'd in his own Blood. § To conclude, let us (cck Jrji the Kingdom of God, and his Righteoufnefs ; without which there wil' be no Adniiflion into it. And fear Icll a I'romife being left us of entering into his rcfi, any of us fliould evenyi'tv/z to come fliort of it. Therefore, endeavour to make your Calling and Eledion fure, that when your great Change by Death Ihall come, you may fear no Evil; but kn(jwing your Election of God, you may be able thro' Grace to triumj^h over Death as a van- quiflied Enemy, faying, Tiianks be to God who givcth us the Vidory thro' our Lord Jefus Chrirt, A M E N.. ■MWi^ § While Women profefling Godlinefs are adorning their Bodies, they might thence take Occafion, naiuraily enough to refiedt thus with themfelves ; I am adorning this vile Body at great Expence, which murt fnon return to the Grave and Corruption; but is my Soul clothed with the Garments of Salvation, and covered with the Robe of Righteoufnefs ? Have I i-^iught of Chrilt ivinte Raiment • to hide the Shame of my Nakednefs ? What then (hall I do when Gud riCeth up? And when hevifiteth, and ("hall fay, How comeft thou hither not having » wedding Garment, what fliall I anfwer him ? Surely I (hall be expofed to Shame and everlafting Conteoif t i and be baniihed the Kingdom of Glory forever, &c.