walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." O welcome death! when Christ comes with it. This bitter cup, of which we must all drink, is brought to us by the hand of our dearest Lord: this last stroke is given by the hand of love: it is a taking us home to our father's house; this last enemy hath Christ conquered for us; because his children are "partakers of flesh and blood, he likewise took part of the same, that though death (that is, his own death) he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them, who through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage," Heb. ii. 14. Jesus knew what death was, he himself had the pangs of death upon him: Sin the sting of death was laid on him; and the law, which is the strength of sin, the curse of the law was upon him; but now for us, who believe in Jesus, the sting and strength of death is taken out, and when we die, we shall die in the Lord, sleep in Jesus: in union and communion with Jesus; we shall fall asleep. in the blessed arms of our dear redeemer. He will come then to keep us company, through that dark entry (death), into the father's house; his angels shall carry our souls into Abraham's bosom, yea, into the father's bosom. O that we would make sure of our union with Christ and then let us believe, that he will come with death, to translate our souls out of these earthly tabernacles, these prison houses, these houses of bondage (wherein our poor souls have been fettered and chained, cloyed and clogged with corruptions and temptations, kept at a distance, and absent from the Lord, and in which they have been groaning for deliverance) into "the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in their father's house, and shall ever be with the Lord," 1 Thes. iv. 17. Secondly, I will receive you to myself: O sweet promise. This is all the hope, all the desire, all the longing, thirsting, breathing, of poor believers, viz. that Christ would take them to himself. This is the sum of all their prayers and labours, that they may be fitted for Christ, and then that Christ would take them to himself. Well, saith Christ, work and wait a little longer; do, and suffer a little more; act your faith and patience a little longer, and I will come to you, and take you home to myself, where your soul shall be at rest for ever. The saints, while they are here, at home in the body, they are absent from the Lord; they see but in part, darkly, and know but in part, very imperfectly, and enjoy but a little, a very little of God and Christ. O how sweet are a few drops, a few glimpses and glances of divine love now to a poor soul; the least cast of Christ's eye, the least beam of his loving kindness, the least intimation of his favour, the least hint of his goodness, how refreshing to a poor believer? But when Christ shall receive them to himself, they shall "then see him as he is, shall be like him, and shall be satisfied with his likeness," 1 John iii. 2, 3. Psal. xvii. 15. Then shall they see him, whom their souls love, face to face: and then will Jesus open to them all the treasures of his love and grace, to their everlasting consolation. They shall then be admitted into the glorious presence of the great God, and our saviour Jesus Christ, in whose presence is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore," Psalm xvi. ult. When the world shall cast them out, and their habitations shall cast them out, and shall know them no more; yea, when their houses of clay shall be broken down and dissolved, and can hold them no longer, then will Jesus, blessed Jesus, receive them to himself. Then shall they be solemnly married to their glorious bridegroom the king of heaven's son, the prince of the kings of the earth; he will receive them to himself, he will take them for his bride, embrace them in his everlasting arms, and lay them in his blessed bosom for ever and ever. "I will receive you to myself," into the nearest union and communion with myself; and therefore be not unwilling to part with your dear relations; be not afraid to be separated from your bodies, your old friends; for when these earthly tabernacles are dissolved, immediately I will receive you to myself, which is best of all. You shall then enjoy the fruits of all my sufferings; death, resurrection, ascension and intercession, and the fruits of all your own labours, prayers, tears, and sufferings; and shall find that I am faithful in making good all my promises, and that your labour was not in vain in the Lord; then shall there be no more any distance between you and me for ever. Comfort, yourselves and comfort one another with these words; "believe this and let not your hearts be troubled." Thirdly; "That where I am, ye may be also;" and what more can be desired? Where is Christ, but "at the right hand of the majesty on high, far above all principalities and powers, far above all heavens, Heb. xii. 2. there shall you be also. O admirable, astonishing dignity, that blessed Jesus will advance his poor saints unto at that day! This high and wonderful honour shall all his saints have; they shall now receive the kingdom prepared for them, and that crown of glory, of righteousness and of life, which Christ hath purchased for them, perfectly freed now from all sin and sorrow, and stated in an unchangeable state of happiness and blessedness. What cause have we then to grieve for our dear relations, whom Christ hath taken to himself, and placed in the father's house, who are now sitting at his right hand in glory, and singing hallelujahs? And could we but firmly believe these promises of our Lord, and act our faith in meditating fixedly on them, and on Jesus in them, applying and appropriating them, and Christ in them, to our own souls, considering and pondering on them, until our hearts be warmed, and our affections stirred and kindled with them, acting also hope, love, joy, desire, delight, hunger, thirst, panting, breathing; pouring out our hearts in prayer to God for his spirit to bring home these promises to our souls in power, fixing them upon our hearts, and helping us to lay hold on them and upon Christ in them, and resigning up our whole souls to Christ in them, stedfastly relying on his goodness and faithfulness, and trusting in him; I say, could we but do so, and in the strength of God betrust our wholeselves, and all our concerns, thus with Christ, and live in the lively exercises of faith thus on God, and on Christ, we should find this to be hearts ease to us in all our heart trouble. Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth in him, shall not be confounded, 1 Pet. ii. 6. Let all heart-trouble cease, Let nought disturb your peace, And in his Son no less. For in the Father's house |