Victory over death

1. This blessed victory is enjoyed, by a gradual anticipation, from the day of their effectual calling and conversion to God. It belongs to the wisdom of the righteous, to look forward habitually with a serious eye to death: hereby they are distinguished from the multitude of the foolish, whose false comfort and cheerfulness depend on a forgetfulness that they are mortal.

The solemn thoughts of death mingle themselves with the first awakening views of the regenerate, and give an unutterable terror to the alarms of conscience, and the fears of falling short of salvation. In those days of trembling, it is no unusual thing, for the person, filled with anxiety about his eternal state, to say to himself, What if death overtake me in this gloomy condition? Then the imagination rushes forward into futurity, and realizes the horrors of dying without interest in Christ, and of going down, condemned, by the sides of the everlasting pit.

But, in proportion to the wormwood and anguish of such prospects, is the sweetness and joy of reconciliation with God, and of the sure hope of eternal life, arising from the believing knowledge of Christ, and of him crucified. Then the solemn thoughts of death are sweetened, and begin to be welcome to the soul. And, though the mind be conscious that much is yet wanting in its actual preparation for the conflict, from time to time in the progress of communion with God, the secrets and furniture are disclosed, "of that everlasting covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure." There, the believer sees secured for him, the communication of "that grace which is sufficient, and of that strength which is made perfect in weakness." Advancing in the improvements of the spiritual life, he finds his anticipation of victory over death brightening, like the shining light, more and more, unto the perfect day.

2. This anticipated enjoyment of victory is tenderly and powerfully impressed on the Christian soul, by sympathy with his dying friends and brethren. It is within the compass of the fruits of Christian love to lead the child of God to lay down his life for the brethren, much more to exercise a generous sympathy with them in dying circumstances. True disciples of Jesus Christ experience a mutual union and adherence to each other, in the face of the king of terrors, to which others are strangers. "Ye are in our hearts," saith the great apostle, II Cor. 7:3, "to die and to live with you." The Christian looks round on his afflicted brethren, he bears their burdens, he sustains their shock of calamity, he is bound with them by the cords of affliction, he goes down with them to the dust. The precious reward of grace, connected with such communion of love, is a witnessing and sharing that victory over death, which they enjoy before him. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

3. At length, the solemn, appointed period arrives, when death no longer is to be viewed at a distance, but sends forth such harbingers as announce that "the sound of their master's feet is behind them." It is the happiness of the established Christian, to know, that no new, untried course, is now to be sought for. He has only to go over his old exercises of faith, resignation, patience, and spiritual desire. These, however, must be renewed with new energy and solemnity. To this, therefore, he is roused, and his cries to heaven become more frequent, piercing, and importunate. And the answer of these cries, surpassing all that faith could anticipate, attends the approaches of the enemy up to the fatal stroke, gilding the gloomy vale with luster, and investing each succeeding wound with sweetness and victory. The whole progress, -- for it is unnecessary to state over again the particulars already suggested, -- may be summed up in the words of David. Ps. 18:4-9, 16-17, 19. "The sorrows of death compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; -- there went up a smoke out of his nostrils, -- he bowed also the heavens and came down: -- he took me, he drew me out of many waters, -- he delivered me from my strong enemy, -- he brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

4. This victory over death is enjoyed by the soul, during the period of its separation from the body. "He passed safely, even by the way which he had not gone with his feet," -- words spoken by the Prophet respecting Abraham's remarkable expedition against the kings, but capable of expressing the safety and victory of the soul, in its passage through death. Amidst the pains, and under the stroke of the enemy, there is victory. But, immediately on its being parted from the body, the soul ascends into that light and joy of the presence of God, into which no imagination can follow it. There, in an inexpressible manner, it reviews its late conflict, and gives glory to him to whom belong the issues from death. What was transacted under a cloud of darkness, now appears manifest in the light. The nature of death, -- the work of God in conducting through it, -- the display of Divine love and wisdom respecting all its circumstances, and surveyed in the light of heaven, -- fill the soul with wonder, gratitude, and complacency: it blesses those pains, which are now gone for ever, but the joyful reflection whereon shall continue to all eternity.

From that lofty and luminous situation, in the high presence of God, the soul at once looks down with triumphant confidence and hope, on the dust it hath forsaken; upward to the incomprehensible power which holds fast that dust, and will gloriously revive it; and forward to the appointed period of the blessed resurrection. Thus, the souls of the righteous rest and rejoice under the altar, in the sanctuary of glory, uttering, in the manner of spirits, the song of victory, and "waiting for the adoption, even the redemption of their bodies," while, every moment, they behold the pattern of the future building, in the glorious body of the Lord Jesus.

5. We now advance to that scene of victory, which the tongues of men and of angels cannot describe. The appointed ages will speedily revolve; the morning, marked with bright characters in the book of the decrees of Jehovah, will dawn. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise. When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." The majesty, power, and love of the Savior, -- the glory of his attending armies, -- the beauty, felicity, number, union, and order, of those who rise immortal at his call, and encircle his throne, -- their sense of victory, -- their prospect of eternal enjoyment, -- I leave, my brethren, to your silent, illuminated thoughts. Realize the scene as fully as you can; go as far into its great depths as the light of God, given by his word and Spirit, will conduct you: and having done so, believe that the reality shall exceeding abundantly surpass your loftiest ideas, your sweetest and most transporting expectations. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

But how weighty is the application of this subject! Let us summon up all that is within us, to attend to it with the utmost seriousness, earnestness, impartiality. Woe to them, who are contented with barren, fabulous speculation, on such a subject!

1. I beseech you, brethren, beware of a false victory over death. "The heart is deceitful above all things." I will warn every man, therefore, against delusion. O enemy of souls, how cruel are thy wiles! Wilt thou not retire from the scene of death, where poor mortals cast the die for eternity, for the last time? "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan!" The Lord turn thy counsel into foolishness, respecting him or her who now reads or hears these words! Get thee behind us, thou blood-stained murderer.

We have seen, that victory over death is a singular work of God, a work, wherein his right hand and his holy arm is eminently revealed. It must, therefore, be arrogance, presumption, and folly, for the poor sinner to imagine himself capable of delivering himself from death by any power of his own, and to attempt to achieve the work of God: Yet, such audacity is almost universal among miserable mortals.

How many simple ones are there, who maintain cheerfulness, and keep themselves easy respecting death, merely because they have learned to forget that they are mortal? They are airy, pleasant and joyful, and presume that the bitterness of death is past; because they never spent one hour in serious consideration of the subject. "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?" You think to elude the frown of death by mere levity and petulance. What a surprise is preparing for you! What solemn, dying hours will conclude thy gay life, and deliver thee over into the sullen agonies of the second, endless death! Awake, now, thou that sleepest, if thou hast the least spark of reason, the least regard to thy own safety. There is victory over death to be enjoyed in Christ, but not by those who continue giddy, careless, and trifling. Sleep on a little longer, and the merciful Savior of the world will "laugh at thy calamity, and mock when thy fear cometh."

In others, the folly of the disobedient assumes a more daring and dignified form, and strikes a bolder note. Blind to all that is invisible, -- confiding in a courage, the result of bodily constitution and of worldly principles, -- having actually escaped from many dangers, and surmounted difficulties, -- the sinner imagines himself a hero in the warfare with death. Fed by the applause of other sinners, he presumes on farther dangers, and, under the first approach of the grisly king, supposes himself falling gloriously, and sinking into a happy repose. Among the heathen, such characters were sometimes invested by survivors with the honors of deity; and no hesitation remains among modern, nominal Christians, of their finding a place in heaven. But the ungodly here overcame only the frown and shadow of death; he saw not, till too late, the sting of death, -- the hell which follows him, -- the arrows of vengeance from the throne of the Almighty. The tremendous disappointment of such sinners, whether on their beds, or in the scene of military exploit, shall be disclosed at the morning of the resurrection; when, at the feet of Jesus Christ, millions on millions of such men shall be seen weeping like children, but weeping in vain. He, who spared not the angels who sinned, will exhibit terrors sufficiently awful to tame, and depress, and overwhelm the whole host of heaven-defying ruffians.

But, how various and manifold are the delusions of the heart of man! Others procure to themselves a false ease, by indulging a rebellious sullenness and despondency, in relation to death. They think to pass quietly over the precipice, by shutting their eyes, and wrapping themselves in the sable mantle of despair. Dislodged from the lurking holes of carnal security, instead of looking towards the Divine city of refuge, they rush to the opposite extreme. But stand! stand, O sinner! trust not in thy wickedness; think not that mere obstinacy will shelter thee, or procure for thee a bed of ease, amidst those punishments which are directed by Infinite wisdom, and enkindled by the fire of Divine indignation! Turn thy face another way: Turn quickly "to the strong hold, thou prisoner of hope."

It is still more afflicting to think of the dismal surprise, at the hour of death, of men serious, decent, partially diligent in religion, "almost, but not altogether Christians." Time would fail me to enter into all the varieties of their delusions. I will say in a word, they may all be reduced to one or other of these classes: -- Idolatrous confidence in man, his counsel, authority, and merit, -- self-righteousness, or a presumptuous application of the merit of Jesus Christ. And, in proportion as false assurance intoxicates and elevates the poor sinner, so is the bitterness which surprises him when death, -- not he, -- proves the conqueror. See Luke 13:24-28.

2. This subject commends to our attention those precious discoveries of God, and exercises of soul, which lead to the real, unfallacious victory over death. These have been distinctly stated. Lay it to heart, O man, whosoever thou art. Death and thou must have a meeting ere long. And if thou desirest to part a conqueror, know that the foundation of thy strength must be laid in a supernatural knowledge of God, -- a true application of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to thy conscience, -- a spiritual acquaintance with heaven, -- and weanedness of heart from this world.

3. From this subject, various duties open to view, which peculiarly bind those who are in any degree assured that they are in the way towards such victory.

With what grateful meltings of soul doth it become such of them to say, "I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel." Ps. 16:7 compared with verses 8-11.

Let them also faithfully regard the voice of that heavenly counsel, which places spiritual diligence in close connection with the joyful issue of peace and triumph amidst the terrors of the last conflagration. II Pet. 3:14. "Beloved, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless."

Let them put on the strength of supernatural courage. Though thy heart be faint and timid, O Christian, Jesus Christ, will make thee like a lion. "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Have it as thy object, that Christ may be magnified in thy death. And, for this end, learn thy death-song before-hand, as the poor Indians, on miserable carnal principles, do from their youth. And while thou singest it, cast a pitying look on sinners around and near thee, wandering, under the curse, towards the chambers of death. Do thy utmost to warn and save them, while they are yet in health, and in the day of trouble, before their feet stumble on the dark mountains.

To Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, be glory and victory for evermore. Amen.  Rev John Love