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ever.

his place, where he shall be shut up, and a seal set upon him; whence he shall come out no more for He shall tempt no more, vex no more, deceive no more, destroy no more, torment you no more; he shall be thrust out, he shall be chained up; the tormentor shall be tormented day and night for ever and

ever.

Stand, Christians, stand your ground a little while; follow your work, hold up your holy profession, hold on your holy course; keep your hearts, keep your garments, keep on your armor, keep corruption under, resist temptation, bear your affliction; hold out faith and patience, fight against your adversaries, watch with your Lord this one hour, and behold, he that shall come, will come; he cometh quickly, and he that is in the world shall be consumed with the breath of his mouth, and destroyed with the brightness of his appearing. He shall be cast out, he shall be cast down, and rise no more for ever.

III. God has put DEATH into the covenant. "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, all are yours." 1 Cor. 3:21. Death! there is a great purchase, you will say; what advantage is that? Yes, death is an advantage. To die is gain.

For,

1. The commission of death is changed. It was once, Take him, jailer; away with him, carry him to prison, there to be reserved to the judgment of the great day. It is now, Take him, janitor; take him, porter; take him in, give him an entrance into his

Master's joy. Death does but take the bride when she is ready, and lodges her in the chamber of the bridegroom; this made death the apostle's desire: "I desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better." Phil. 1:23.

2. Death is conquered. What does this mean? Your enemy is yours; your enemy is subjected to you; a conquered enemy is made a tributary; death is disarmed, it has lost its sting. When a serpent has lost its sting, you may take it into your bosom. He that can say, "Death, where is thy sting?" may go on and add, "Thanks be to God, which hath given me the victory." A signet sent from heaven with a death's head, is a precious token. Come, Christians, be of good courage; set your feet on the neck of this king of terrors.

3. Death is at once the destruction of all their enemies. When once death has done its office upon them, then farewell Edom, and Ammon, and Amalek, and Egypt-farewell the pricking brier and the grieving thorn; then farewell sin and sorrow for ever: the Egyptians they have seen and feared and felt to-day, they shall never see again for ever. It destroys itself, the saints' last enemy, by destroying them; it has its welcome and farewell the same moment; it is but "Welcome death!" and "Farewell death for ever!" Death dies with the saints; once dead, they die no more for ever; mortality is swallowed up of life; death is cast into the lake of fire; that is its region; there, there souls die, and die, and die again, over and over, for ever and ever: but for the saints, it

does but set them on the banks of that good land, whither it cannot follow them. Our Lord by death, by ours as well as his own, has delivered those who "through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

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Yea,

Lord,

Christians, you may now not only with patience, but with desire, expect the assault of this king of terrors. What, shall tribulation, and persecution, and famine, and nakedness, and peril, and sword; shall sorrows and fears and mortality die with me? shall sin die with me? then welcome death. strengthen me this once, let me die with the Philistines." Would it be good for thee to be with thy Father; in the bosom of thy Bridegroom; the presence-chamber of thy Lord and Love? Would it be a mercy to thee to weep no more, fear no more, suffer no more, be tempted no more, sin no more; to be unclothed of corruption, and be clothed upon with immortality and incorruption? Then bid death wel

come.

Blessed souls, when you come ashore, and see the light, the love, the joy, the rest, the glory, that is on the other side, you will then more fully understand what this meaneth, "Death is yours." He knew something, who said, "I cannot tell you what sweet pain and delightsome torments are in Christ's love; I often challenge time, that holdeth us asunder; I have for the present a sick life, much pain, and much lovesickness for Christ; O what would I give to have a bed made for my wearied soul in his bosom! O when shall we meet? O how long is it to the dawning

of the marriage-day? O sweet Lord Jesus, take wide steps: come over the mountains at one stride. O my Beloved, flee as a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of separation. O if he would fold the heavens together like an old cloak, and shovel time and days out of the way, and come quickly."

IV. God hath put THE KINGDOM into this covenant: "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:3. "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O thou city of God. I might here enlarge in describing the glory of this kingdom; but when I have said all, I must at last leave it within the veil; and therefore shall only tell you from the apostle, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God. hath prepared for them that love him,” etc. 1 Cor. 2:9. When by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, the eyes of your understandings are opened, ye shall know "what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1:18.

CHAPTER VI.

A NEW HEART IN THE COVENANT.

God hath put into the covenant ALL THE MEANS OF SALVATION-all things necessary to our obtaining the everlasting kingdom.

All the outward means of salvation. Ordinances— the word, sacraments, and prayer; officers-prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Ephes. 4:11, 12; 1 Cor. 3:22.

All the inward means of salvation. Every grace, every duty; our obtaining the one, and performing the other; these are all comprehended in the second part of that great promise, "THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." Two things are hereby signified :

The first is, I will account you and reckon you for mine. You shall have the privilege and the blessings of my people. I will set you apart, and separate you to myself, out of all the tribes and kindreds of the earth; and will avouch you for my portion and peculiar possession. I will set you as the apple of mine eye, as a seal upon my heart, and upon mine arm. I will mark you out for the people of my love; of you will I take care, for you will I provide, with you are my delights, over you will I rejoice, with you will I dwell, and you shall dwell with me for ever.

The other is, I will not only reckon you for my people, but I will undertake for you, that you shall consent to me, accept of me, own me, follow me,

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