Assurance will sweeten the thoughts of death
and all the aches, pains, weaknesses, sicknesses, 
and diseases—which are the forerunners of death; 
yes, it will make a man look and long for death. 

Nazianzen said to the king of terrors, "Devour me,
devour me!
 Death cures all diseases, the aching 
head, and the unbelieving heart!"

Assurance makes a man smile upon the king
of terrors
. The assured soul knows that death 
shall be the funeral of . . .
  all his sins,
  all his sorrows
  all his afflictions,
  all his temptations

He knows that death shall be the resurrection of 
his joys. He knows that death is both an outlet 
and an inlet; an outlet to sin; and an inlet to the 
soul's clear, full, and constant enjoyment of God!
And this makes the assured soul to sing it sweetly 
out, "O death, where is your sting? O grave, where 
is your victory? "I desire to depart and be with 
Christ, which is better by far!" "Make haste, my 
beloved." "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" 

Now death is more desirable than life. Now says 
the soul, "let him fear death, who is averse to go 
to Christ."

The Persians had a certain day in the year, in which 
they used to kill all serpents and venomous creatures. 
The assured Christian knows that the day of death will 
be such a day to him—and that makes death lovely and 
desirable. He knows that sin was the midwife which 
brought death into the world; and that death shall be 
the grave to bury sin. And therefore death is not a 
terror—but a delight unto him. He fears it not as an 
enemy—but welcomes it as a friend.

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