to the coming of the Lord, fhall not prevent them
which are afleep-For we shall be caught up toge-
ther with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in
the Air: and fo fhall we ever be with the Lord.
Whether those that are rais'd from the dead,
and thofe that shall be chang'd who never died,
fhall be caught up into the Air by the immediate
attractive Power of Chrift, or by the Ministry of
Angels, I will not determine; but that they
fhall afcend in order to their coming with him,
is beyond all difpute: and probably their
Bodies may
be fo refin'd, that they may be ca-
pable of treading Air, and mounting upwards
as easily as they now move upon the Earth.

Fourthly, Being brought with Christ at his fecond Coming, fhall be to illuftrate the Glory of our incarnate God, and to advance the Happiness of his redeemed ones. They fhall attend their Lord's Triumph, and make up a part of his magnificent Retinue: for as he fhall come to be admir'd in all those that believe, fo 2 Theff. 1. they shall all share in his Glory; they will 10. then know by experience, what riches of Glory is comprehended in that Promife and Privilege, of being Heirs of God, and jointHeirs with Jefus Chrift. O what a glorious Proceffion will this be through the Air! when he that fuffered upon the infamous Tree, fhall appear at the head of fo long and bright a Train! when all that the Father gave to him, fhall appear with glittering Crowns and spreading Palms, the Rewards of Grace, and the Tokens of Victory!

I proceed now to make fome improvement of what I have said. And,

A

First, This Doctrine that I have deliver'd, difcovers to us the Excellency of the Christian Inftitution: Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gofpel. All that has been faid by Heathen Poets and Philofophers concerning a Future State, was but obfcure Conjecture to the fhining Revelation of the Gospel. They understood not that the Sting of Death was remov'd by the Sufferings of the Redeemer, or that the Body fhould be rais'd with a tranfcendent Luftre and Dignity, to receive a Reward with the Soul. Yea, under the Mofaick Oeconomy, a future State was but obfcurely reveal'd; but under the Difpenfation of the Gospel, we have a most charming Landskip of Heaven, and the way to obtain it is fet in the most clear and certain Light.

Secondly, This Doctrine may be improv'd to guard good Men against the flavish Fears of Death. Why should the Righteous be afraid to repose upon a Bed of Duft? Death is but a Sleep, from which we shall be awaken'd in the Morning of the Refurrection; and Christ, as you have heard, hath difarm'd Death of its Sting, and alter'd it in its very nature to the Righteous. I confefs, I do not wonder that the Wicked and Profane are afraid of Death, for they know it puts a period to their Pleafures, and begins their Torments; it fnatches them from the Joys of Life, and fixes 'em under the Agonies of the fecond Death. So that fome not only fear Death it felf, but the very Name of it is terrible: which occafion'd a Prince that I have read of, to forbid the mention of it in all his Court. Yea, fo enflav'd are fome by the fear of Death, that they conceive an Abhorrence at the fight of a Coffin, the dress

of

of Mourners, and the Solemnities of a Funeral; which (as one fays) are only the Outguards that make up the Retinue of the King of Terrors.

'Tis reported of Alexander, who had often encounter'd the numerous Armies of the Afian Monarchs, and defpis'd the Terror of Battels, yet when he was feiz'd with a mortal Difcafe in Babylon, he was fo afraid of Death, that his Court was fill'd with Diviners and Victims, and all the little arts of Superftition were us'd to preserve his Life. And indeed all Men have just reafon to fear Death, who have nothing but a gloomy Profpect beyond it, the terrible Apprehenfions of an angry God, and a tormenting Tophet. But fuch whofe Guilt is remov'd by the Blood of Chrift, and their Souls renew'd and cleans'd by the Spirit of Christ, have no reason to fear Death, for it approaches 'em without a Sting.

Thirdly, From the Doctrine I have establish'd, we learn of what neceffity it is to be united to Chrift; for 'tis only fuch that shall have part in the first Refurrection, over whom the fecond Death fhall have no power: 'tis only fuch as die in the Lord, i. e, united to Chrift by the Spirit and Faith, that are faid to fleep in Jefus, and that God our Saviour will bring with him. I know that fome Men think themfelves very witty, when they ridicule the Doctrine of Union with Chrift; but I am fure they are very miferable, if we may take the word of an Apostle for it, who fays, that if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Now none but fuch as belong to Chrift fhall attend his Triumph at the Last Day, and reign with him in his immovable Kingdom. F 3 Fourthly,

Rom. 8.9.

Fourthly, How great are our Obligations. to our Redeemer, who hath alter'd the very nature of Death by dying in our ftead, and given us affurance of our Refurrection by his own rising from the dead? O the Heights, the Depths, the Lengths, the Breadths of the Love of God in Chrift Jefus ! Shall not our Hearts burn with a grateful Flame! and fhall not his unexampled Love render him exceeding precious to our Souls, and cause us to Rev.5.12. ftrike up with the Church Triumphant, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wifdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleffing, for ever and ever!

Fifthly, How little reafon have those that are united to Chrift, to defire any long tarry in this World, which is a fink of Sin and Sorrow, a place of Gloominefs and Darkness; where we conftantly fuffer, and are always in danger of finning? Moreover, while here, we are kept from our Inheritance and our Father's House: Therefore it better becomes a true Member of Chrift's Myftical Body, to defire rather to depart, and to be with Christ, which is best of all.

Sixthly, How great is the Difference betwixt the Death of a Believer and that of Mr. Crufo. an Infidel?" They may both fall by the "fame Diseases, and their Dust be mingled "in the fame Pit; but their immortal Part "will be everlastingly divided: There is a

great Gulf fixed between the Spirits in "Prifon, and the Souls in Paradise." We Luke 16.22, read that when the rich Man died, in Hell he lift up his Eyes, being in Torments; but when the religious Beggar left this World, he was

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carried

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carried by Angels into Abraham's Bofom. impenitent Sinner at Death lofes the very Shadows that he courted for Happiness; but the Saint heightens his Felicity into Perfection. Mark the perfect Man, and behold the upright; Pfal. 37. 37. for the end of that Man is peace.

Laftly, If fuch as fleep in Jefus, God will bring with him, then let us not forrow like those without hope when God removes our Relations and Friends by death; especially fuch whom we have good ground to believe are fallen asleep in Jefus, as bleffed be God we have of that excellent and worthy Gentleman Mr. ABBOTT, whofe Death has given the fad occafion to this Discourse. And is he dead? Well, but his Name lives, and will be fresh and fragrant to Pofterity. And I cannot do Justice to his Memory, without taking notice of those Graces and Virtues that eminently fhin'd in his Converfation and Conduct; for the Memory of the Just shall be blessed, and the Righteous fhall be bad in everlasting remembrance.

I am not now to give the Character of one that dwelt in a Shade, but of one whofe publick Imploys expos'd him to continual View; fo that I doubt not of a crowd of Witnesses to atteft the Truth of what I fhall fay. I confefs, to collect all that was excellent and imitable in the deceas'd Gentleman, is too big a task for fo unskilful a Perfon as I am; who can but lay the dead Colours of his Character, and must leave the finishing Strokes to more artful Hands, to Men of better Judgment, of greater compass of Thought, and exactnefs of Stile. I must own I am at a lofs where to begin, and what part of his excellent Character I fhall in