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death and burial of the true Joseph will fill us full of unspeakable comforts, and will cause us to speak in another manner, I shall go down to my father into the sepulchre with joy. The prophet Elisha raised to life a child which was laid in his chamber upon his bed; when he stretched himself upon it, the soul that was departed came again. And Elisha raised another in the same manner, by applying his mouth to the child's, his hands and eyes to his. But, believing souls, God works for you, on this occasion, a far more wonderful miracle: for our resurrection and life proceed from the death and burial of our great Prophet. If we go into his holy tomb, if we lay ourselves down upon his precious body, if we embrace it with a true and lively faith, and a serious repentance, he will quicken us again, and cause us to become immortal: for he hath been pleased to enter into the state of the dead, with an intent to procure us a blessed and a glorious immortality.

A PRAYER and MEDITATION for a Christian who strengthens himself against the frightful Aspect of the Grave, by looking upon our Lord Jesus Christ laid in his Tomb.

O

WONDERFUL Mediator between God and man! Thou art God immortal, and yet hast vouchsafed to take upon thee our mortal nature, and to die for me a miserable sinner, and to remain for a time in the state of the dead, that thou mightest procure to me a blessed immortality. Give me grace to meditate as I ought upon thy sacred body, wrapped up in a winding-sheet, and laid in the earth. For by this means, sweet Jesus, I shall be reconciled to the sight of the grave; I shall look with a stedfast and settled countenance on the pit into which I must enter, when thou shalt appoint it. For the servant is not greater than his Master. It belongs not to the

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creature

creature to prefer itself above the Creator. Since I expect to share in thy glory and exaltation, it is but just and rea sonable that I take some part in thy disgraces and abasement. My reason, assisted by thine holy Spirit, teacheth me that I must be content to be wrapped up in thy darkness, and remain with thee in the valley of the shadow of death, şince I hope to be clothed one day with light, and crowned with an eternal life. I must not only look upon the grave without fear, but I shall consider it with joy, in regard thou hast honoured it with thy holy presence, and perfumed it with thy divine and celestial odour. I shall look upon it, as if thou didst yet lie down in it, as if I were to keep thee company there, my Lord and my God. A dead man returned to life again, when he did but touch the bones of thy prophet; but I do not only touch the Prince of prophets, but embrace thee by faith, as thou art for my sins, and as resting in thy grave for my salvation. Thou shalt therefore make me sensible of thy divine virtue, put in me the seeds of immortality. and raise my hopes up to heaven. My soul hath already a share in the first resurrection, and one day this infirm body shall return to newness of life. If my resurrection be not so quick and speedy, as that of the dead raised to life by the prophet, it shall be far more glorious and lasting, that I may bless thee with all thy saints, and praise thee for ever, with thine inheritance in heaven. Amen.

CHAP. XVII.

The fifth Consolation against the Fears of Death is, to meditate upon the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

S there is nothing more grievous and insufferable, than

As my

to behold a proud and insulting enemy, who is always victorious, and whom none can overcome in his insolent, and

braving

braving humour; likewise there is nothing more pleasant and comfortable than to see such a pride cast down, and to triumph over such an enemy. Therefore the children of Israel, who had long groaned under the cruel tyranny of Pharaoh, sang with joy a song of thanksgiving, when God destroyedthat wretched tyrant, and buried him and his army in the waves of the Red Sea. For this cause when the red dragon, the ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, Rev. xxii. who seduceth whole nations, was overcome and cast down from heaven to the earth, there were songs of joy and glad ness heard in heaven, Rev. xii. "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accuseth them before our God day and night; therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them."

From hence let us conclude, christian souls, as it was a grievous affliction and a sensible grief, to behold Death tyrannizing over all the world, and shutting up in its dungeons kings and monarchs, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and generally all the children of Adam, of what condi tion or degree soever; likewise it is a great comfort, and unspeakable joy to us, to behold this cruel and proud enemy brought down, overcome, and disarmed; to see our Lord Jesus Christ marching out of Death's fortifications, loaden with its spoils. Rejoice, therefore, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them; for the murderer of our brethren is swallowed up in victory.

We, who are the members of this great Conqueror, have a share in this honour and glory: in his person, we are conquerors of Death, so that we may say with the apostle, "That God hath quickened us together, and raised us up with him."

This Prince of life hath not only loosened all the bands of

Death,

Death, and broken to pieces all its chains, but he hath led away Death in triumph, and made it subject to his celestial empire. He hath an absolute power over Death, as he himself declares in these words, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death."

For it stands with reason, that if this invincible Lord, when he was in the prison of Death, commanded over Death itself; if he broke in pieces its iron bars, and its brazen gates; if he caused the dead to go out, and led them into the holy city; now that he is out of the grave, a victorious Conqueror, he must needs command with an uncontroulable power this dreadful enemy, which he hath already overcome, and brought under by his almighty hand.

O Death! fret and foam out thy rage and fury; I see that thou art tied as a prisoner to the triumphant chariot of Jesus Christ my Saviour; and I am certain, that thou canst do nothing without leave, and that thou canst not go a step, unless he lengthen thy chain.

As Joshua, when he had overcome the kings of Canaan, called for his captains, and spoke to them in this manner, "Come near, and put your feet upon the necks of these kings; fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong, and of good courage ;" likewise, we may imagine, believing souls, that our divine Joshua, the conqueror of Death, calls to us from heaven, Tread upon this wretched Death with boldness; fear not, nor be dismayed.

The children of Israel, who trembled at the threatenings of Goliath, were freed from all apprehensions, when they saw him fall with a stone from David's sling, so that the most timorous could have freely put their feet upon his neck.

And

And shall not you, Christians, banish from your hearts all fear and dread of Death, now that you see it is cast down at the feet of our true David, that great shepherd and bishop of our souls? For though it opens its jaws, and foams out flames of fire, it hath, nevertheless, received the stroke of Death, and is at the last gasp.

And as the servant of Jonathan, the son of Saul, dispatched and killed those whom his master had cast down; thus, we need but pursue the glorious victories of the Son of the King of kings; or rather, we need but gather up the pleasant fruits of his conquests. For this Prince of life, that hath overcome Death for us, offers to overcome it also in us, with the weapons with which he arms us. In short, to speak properly, there can be no death for such as are incorporated in Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith. For he that lives, and believeth in him, shall never die; and he that believeth in him, though he were dead, yet shall he live, John xi.

APRAYER and MEDITATION for the believing Soul, who arms himself against the Fears of Death, by meditating upon the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ORD Jesus, who hast been fully declared to be the Son

and who livest for ever and ever, strengthen me in my weakness, comfort me in my sorrow, and drive from my soul all fears and apprehensions of death. O wonderful Saviour! I need no longer dread this cruel and proud enemy; for thou hast broken all its fetters and chains, and hast overcome Death and the grave. O glorious and triumphing Monarch! shall I tremble before a discomfited and disarmed enemy, whom I see lying under my feet, and chained to thy tri

umphing

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