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SER M. full and particular account of the order VIII, and manner of the refurrection of the

body; he concludes his whole discourse with this triumphal exclamation; So then when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to Rafs the faying that is written, Death is fwallowed up in victory, i. e. utterly and for ever; O death where is thy fting? O grave, where is thy victory? The fting of death is fin, and the strength of fin is the law; but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift.

I shall endeavour ft, To explain the words briefly, and fhew in what Sense Sin is faid to be the fting of death, and the law the ftrength of fin. 2dly, I fhall indeavour to show how and by what means Christ gives us the victory, over the law which is the ftrength of fin, over Sin which is the fting of death, and finally over Death it felf; And lastly, I fhall draw fome practical Inferences from the whole.

First, I fhall indeavour to fhew in what Sense Sin is faid to be the fting of death,

and

and the law the ftrength of fin. Sin's being the fting of death,

That by SER M. is meant VIII.

that Sin is the cause of Death, and that 'tis Sin only that makes Death terrible, is evident. The first mention we find of death's being in the World, is upon Adam's committing the first tranfgreffion; In the day thou eateft thereof, thou shalt furely die, Gen. ii. 17. And the cause of the continuance of its dominion ever fince in the World, is the conformity of the rest of mankind to that of their Forefather; As by one man fin firft entred into the world, and death by fin; and fo death has fince paffed upon all men, for that all have finned; Rom. v. 12. The Apostle lays it down as a maxim, that the cause of the dominion of death, is fin; and because it might be objected that fince Sin is not imputed where there is no law, therefore those who lived between Adam and Mofes, without any express revealed Law, should seem not to be concluded under the sentence of death; he adds, that even in that time, men had some discovery of the Will of God; So that before the de

livery

SERM. livery of Mofes's law Sin was in the VIII. World; and therefore death did reign

from Adam to Mofes, even over them that had not finned after the fimilitude of Adam's tranfgreffion; that is, who had not indeed like Adam finned against a pofitive and immediate Revelation of the Will of God, with an express threatning of death annexed; but yet had finned against such a law, as they had fufficient reason to be affured was a discovery of the Will of God. The Scripture is very exceeding full in this point; inculcating every where, that as the knowledge of God and Obedience to his commands is life, fo the immediate and neceffary confequence of Sin is death. When luft has conceived, it bringeth forth Sin; and Sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death; St James i. 15. What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now afba med? for the end of those things is death, Rom. vi. 21. and ver. 23, the wages of fin is death. Moreover, as Sin is the cause of death, fo alfo is it That only which makes Death it felf terrible. 'Tis not barely

barely the feparation of Soul and Body, SER M. Ewhich is the terrour of death; but that

feparation, as inflicted by, and accompanied with, the wrath of God. Death may poffibly be otherwise so far from terrible, that it may be and often is expected by good men with joy and comfort, as an entrance into life and happiness. "Tis Sin only which is the horrour of death, and which gives it that fting, which makes it really infupportable even to the most distant thought. When the death of the Body is the forerunner of that death of the Soul, from which there is no hopes of release, but the wrath of God must abide on it for ever; then is it that death appears truly dreadful and terrible. This is that which makes wicked men, conscious of their own guilt, and sensible of the wrath of God hanging over their heads, fo amazed at the approach and even the thoughts of death: They cannot bear to think on so affrighting a profpect, but are even overwhelmed and fwallowed up with aftonishment and defpair: Not that they fo dread death

barely

VIII.

SER M. barely and in it self, (for they could call on VIII. the hills to fall on them, and to the moun

tains to cover them; they could seek death when they cannot find it, and defire to die when death fhall flee from them, Rev. ix. 6.) but 'tis the confequences of death, That fting which Sin gives it, that they are fo terribly and fo justly afraid of.

But to proceed: The Strength of Sin, faith the Apostle, is the law; The ftrength of Sin, viz. that which gives it its power and efficacy. "Tis evident that Sin is the tranfgreffion of the law, and that where there is no law there is no tranf greffion, Rom. iv. 15. By the law therefore is the knowledge of fin, Rom. iii. 20; or as the Apoftle more fully expreffes himself, ch. vii. ver. 7 and 8, I had not known fin but by the law; for I had not known luft except the law had faid, Thou fhalt not covet; But fin taking occafion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupifcence; For without the law fin is dead: that is, the knowledge of Sin muft needs be, by the knowledge and promulgation of the law that forbids it. But

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