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 condition 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, laden 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, 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 έσ 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, 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 triumphing 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 lengthens 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 Goliah, 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 shall not you, Christians, banish from your hearts all fear and dread of death, now that you see that 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.

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

LORD JESUS, who hast been fully declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead, 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 triumphing chariot? I need but follow the sacred footsteps of thy victory, and gather its excellent fruits. If thou hast been able to deal with death when thou wast shut up in a dungeon, if thou didst then bring down its pride, and carry away its prisoners, what may I not I not expect from thy victorious and almighty arm, now that thou hast in thy hand the keys of hell and death? O most mighty and merciful Lord, thou hast not only overcome death for me, but thou wilt also overcome it by me, who am thy child, and the sheep of thy pasture, whereof thou hast paid the ransom. Thou art not only raised from the dead, but thou art also the resurrection and the life. Thou art the Prince of life, the Lord of glory and immortality; so that he that liveth and believeth in thee shall never die; and whosoever believeth in thee, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Samson's act was admirable, when he slept until midnight, rose up, and carried away the gates of Gaza upon his shoulders up to an high mountain: but who would not admire thee, O invincible Nazarite, who, having slept until the third day in the bowels of the earth, didst

rise again by thy divine virtue, carry away the gates of hell, and make them to become the gates of heaven, and the entrance into the celestial paradise! Let me die, since the Redeemer liveth, and intends to introduce me into a happy life, purchased for me with his most precious blood, and secured for me by his glorious resurrection. Amen.

CHAP. XVIII.

The Sixth Consolation against the Fears of Death is, the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven, and sitting at the Right Hand of God.

IT is indeed a great joy and comfort to behold a cruel and proud enemy overcome and disarmed, and ourselves freed, by that means, from the heavy yoke of his ul. sufferable tyranny; but our joy would be turned into grief, and our comfort into sadness, if we did but perceive at the same time the author of our freedom choked with his own blood, and breathing out his last gasp at the moment of his victory. It is requisite, to render our satisfaction complete and perfect, that his triumphs might be everlast, ing, and that he might be advanced to the highest glory and 1 sovereign empire. Now there is no enemy more cruel and terrible than Death. We have beheld it disarmed upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and perfectly va nquished and subdued by his glorious resurrection. But if with the eye of our faith we look a little higher, to the glorious ascension of our divine Saviour, we shall see the same Death bound to his triumphing chariot, and this conquering Redeemer exalted above the highest heav ens, and sitting gloriously at the right hand of God; we shall see him invested in an almighty all creatures; we shall see him com

power, adored by

manding not only the angels of light, and the celestial

spirits, that are about his magnificent throne, but exercising dominion also over the world, over death, the devils, and hell. Because he hath been "obedient unto death, "yea to the ignominious death of the cross, God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which " is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every "knee shall bow, of things in heaven, in earth, and un"der the earth," Phil. ii. "And that every tongue "shall confess, that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory "of God the Father."

Every soldier shares not always in the triumph of the general, and all the subjects taste not of their prince's happiness; but, as we are the brethren of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the members of his mystical body, we have a share in his triumph, and in the glory of his empire. Therefore the apostle St. Paul informs us," that our life," that is to say, our glory and eternal felicity, "is hid with Christ in God." In another place he tells us in express words, "that God, who is rich in mercy, hath "made us sit in heavenly places with Jesus Christ."

This glorious Saviour is gone to take possession of the kingdom of heaven, not only for himself, but also in our names, and for us; therefore he informs the holy apostles, and all true believers, "That in his Father's house "there are many mansions: I am going to prepare a "place there for you." In the same manner he speaks in that admirable prayer, in the which he consecrates himself to God for the great work of our redemption; Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given "me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me." For the same reason, St. Paul tells us, in his epistle to the Hebrews, for our comfort, Heb. vi. that Christ is gone into heaven as "our fore-runner."

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6.

The high-priest of the Jews entered into the earthly