the teeth and poison of this infernal serpent, and the head of this monstrous dragon. You may there see death swallowed up in victory, and the Prince of Life leading it in triumph. Follow therefore the triumphal car of this glorious Redeemer, singing, O death, where is thy sting,? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56, 57.

27. Consequently, if God approaches you under the vail of death, you must not be afraid, nor endeavour to hide yourselves from those piercing eyes, to which the darkness and the light are both alike, Psal. cxxxix. 12. Though of ourselves we are poor and miserable, and wretched, and blind, and naked, Rev. iii. 17, yet we have something to cover us which is far better than fig-leaves for we have the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations, Rev. xxii. 2. These leaves which never fade, not only hide our nakedness, but adorn us. They are an everlasting righteousness, Dan. ix. 24; the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. i. 30. They are the Lord Jesus himself, who is called, The Lord of our righteousness, Jer. xxxiii. 16. They are the precious garments of salvation, the magnificent robe of righteousness, Isa. lxi. 10, and the divine broidered work (Ezek. xvi. 10, 13.) spoken of by the prophets. They are the marriage-robe made white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. vii. 14, and the fine white linen, which is the righteousness of saints, Rev. xix. 8. Finally, they not only cover and adorn us, but heal us of all our diseases, and render us immortal.

28. If ye present yourselves before your heavenly Father, in this sweet-smelling raiment of Jesus Christ your eldest brother; or rather, if ye put on the Lord Jesus himself, ye shall not only obtain the first and most excellent blessing, but ye shall enter into possession of that incorruptible inheritance which he hath prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. vi. 23.

PRAYER AND MEDITATION,

For such as fortify themselves against the Fears of Death, by meditating upon the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

MERCIFUL Saviour! who, of thine own accord, took upon thee our mortal flesh, to offer it a sacrifice unto God, help mine infirmity, and strengthen that faith and hope which thou hast kindled in my heart.I see death threatening me, and opening its infernal throat to swallow me up; but to obtain freedom from these terrors, I cast myself at the foot of thy cross, and lay hold on the horns of thine altar. I plunge myself in thy precious blood, put on thy righteousness, and wrap myself up in thy death. O divine Redeemer ! I know that thou wast seized with fear and anguish at the approach of death; that thine agony was so violent, that drops of blood fell from thy sacred body, and that angels came down from heaven to comfort thee: whereas thy blessed martyrs went to death and torment with an holy joy, as to a delicious feast, or a pompous triumph. Thou didst pray with loud cries and tears, to be delivered from death, and that this cup might pass from thee, that thou mightest not taste of its bitterness.

But, O Lord! thy death was quite of a different nature from mine, or that of thy blessed martyrs. Thy death was to make atonement for the sins of the whole world; whereas ours is not to satisfy the justice of God, but that we may reap the fruits of his eternal compassions. Thou hadst the heavy arm of his vengeance to sustain, and the fierce burnings of his wrath kindled against our iniquities, which thou didst willingly take upon thee.— But instead of this consuming fire which thou hast quenched with thine own blood, we discover nothing but the soft and lambent flames of love. Instead of this revenging arm, whose weight thou hast borne, we see the arms of mercy open to receive us. Thy death, O Lord! was armed with our sins and iniquities, and with all the terrors of hell; but now those weapons of death are nailed to thy cross, and are the trophies and eternal monuments of thy glory. Thou wast not only exposed to the cruel darts of death, but also to all the horrid thunders, and dreadful curses of the law. Thou hast shielded us from these thunders with thy precious body, and hast redeemed us from this terrible curse, being made a curse for us, Gal. iii. 13. Thou hadst not only death to encounter, but also him to destroy who had the power of death, and to break down the gates of hell. Thou hadst principalities and powers to spoil, and to make a show of them openly, triumphing over them in thy cross, Col. ii. 15. O incomparable Saviour! how marvellous are thy works! how worthy the perpetual admiration of men and angels! Thou hast drank, even to the dregs, the cup of God's wrath, that we may be excused tasting its bitterness; and hast taken upon thee all the punishment due to our sins and offences, that they may not be visited upon us. Thy violent pains appease my anguish, thy bruises and deep wounds are my cure and my health. Thy fears encourage me, and thy sharp agonies swell my heart with transport. Thy loud cries still my conscience, and thy bloody sweat dries up all my tears. Thy affliction comforts me, thy sorrows give me joy, and the bitter

ness of thy soul is my sweet consolation. Thy death is my victory, and thy cross my triumph. I will no more be afraid of death, since thou hast died to obtain for me life and immortality. O glorious and merciful Lord! the kingdom of heaven belongs to thee by a double right; as thou art the only Son of God, and the heir of all things, and as thou hast purchased it to thyself by the infinite merits of thy sufferings. Contented with one of these claims, thou hast made over to me the other, to the end I may possess this heavenly kingdom as the fruit of thy death, and the price of thy blood. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion, Psal. Ixxi. 1. I know that nothing that defileth, or that worketh abomination, shall enter into thy holy Jerusalem; but thy blood shall wash me from all my sins, and make me whiter than snow, O victorious Lord, how wonderful and precious is thy death! It is the payment of all our debts, the atonement for all our offences, and the ransom of the whole world. It is our peace with God, our re-union with heaven, and our reconciliation with the angels of light. It is the death of death itself, and the destruction of hell. It hath not only delivered me from the pit of eternal damnation, and the infinite torments of hell; but it hath purchased for me heaven with all its glory, and paradise with all its delights. We admire David for cutting off Goliah's head with his own sword! but shall we not rather admire thee, O victorious and triumphant son of David! who, by death hath swallowed up death in victory? We extol Samson, for destroying, at his death, a few of his enemies; but shall we not rather extol thee, O Almighty Son of Righteousness! who, by thy death, hath destroyed all the enemies of our salvation, and amongst the rest death itself. The patriarch Jacob slept in security at the foot of that mysterious ladder, whose top reached to heaven, Gen. xxviii. But, O Lord, and my God! I shall rest much more secure, and find much sweeter repose at the foot of thy blessed cross, seeing by that I have free access to the Father, whom

thou hast rendered propitious to me; and can come boldly unto the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb. iv. 16. O Lord Jesus! I not only discover in thy cross the fountain of my sweetest consolations, and my greatest joys, and most aspiring hopes; but I learn from it the way to die in thy favour; and behold there, in their most excellent beauty, all those virtues which ought to accompany my soul at its departure from the body. O Lord! who art perfection itself, and hath set me so rich a pattern, to the end I may tread in thy blessed steps, grant me the grace to manifest to all my relations and friends, who are witnesses of this my last conflict, that holy and cordial affection, and all those tendernesses, wherewith I see thy bowels moved towards me. Grant that I may forgive according to thy example, all mine enemies, and even pray unto God for all those who have cruelly persecuted me; and that in my sharpest agonies, I may imitate thy meekness, patience, and heroic constancy.Inflame me with that ardent zeal which hath eaten thee up, and kindle in my soul that fervent charity which hath consumed thy burnt-offering. Lo, I come to do thy will, O my God! Psal. xl. 7. 8. My soul is not mine own, but thine, who art the faithful Creator and merciful Saviour thereof; since thou hast paid its ransom, washed and made it white in thy blood, clothed it with thy righteousness, and put it into a condition to enter into the heavenly sanctuary, and to appear before the face of the Father of lights, dispose of it according to thy good pleasure. O sweet Jesus! who hast willingly suffered a shameful death for me, a poor miserable sinner, graciously grant that I may live and reign for ever with thee; and that I may be always ready to say unto thee, from the bottom of my heart, Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth, Psal. xxxi. 5. Amen.