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Death abolijhed by our Saviou r : 
 
 And Life and Immortality brought to 
 Light through the Gospel. 
 
 ' I ~ 
 SERMON 
 
 •Occafioned by the 
 
 D EAT H 
 
 Of theJieverend 
 
 Mr. John Munckky^ 
 
 Preached Aug. 20. 1738. 
 
 In Barthohmew-CIofe, 
 
 By SAMUEL WRIGH T,D.D. 
 
 Publijheci at theRequeft of the Congregation. 
 
 
 m 
 
 wSsm 
 
 m 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for H. Hbtt, in the Poultry ; ai 
 T. Saunders, in Little-Britain. 1738. 
 ( Price Sixpence. ) 
 
[3] 
 
 Death abolifhed by our Sa- 
 viour Jefus Chrift, &c. 
 
 2 Tim. L 1 6. latter part. 
 
 — « Who hath abolifhed death; 
 " and hath brought life and im- 
 " mortality to light,, thro' the 
 "Gospel.' 
 
 AT your requeft I am now to affift 
 you in improving the unexpected 
 death of your late juftly efteemed 
 and beloved Pastor. As he 
 was a preacher of that Gofpelj that hath 
 brought life and immortality to light, and 
 his cohftant ftudy and endeavours were to 
 prepare himfelf and you for an happy im- 
 mortality ; fo we may with fpecial propriety 
 fix our thoughts upon* this fubjecT: On the 
 prefent occafion : And fince death is become 
 the gate of life thro' our Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 A 2 this 
 
4 Death \aholiJhed by 
 
 this mould lead us to think of Him who* 
 hath abolifhed death, whilft we are mourn- 
 ing the lofs of a Good Man that hath fallen 
 by the awful ftroke of it. In the midft o£ 
 life we are in death, and therefore every 
 one of us mould make it our concern to be 
 ready, and to get above the flavim fear of a 
 diflblution.. An unfeigned faith in the Gof- 
 pel, accompanied with an humble fincere 
 obedience to the precepts of it, will make 
 death our defire t rather than our terrour. 
 But as our Saviour faid to the Jews, it may 
 be faid to others who have the Golpel,, 
 that if they believe not in him whom God' 
 hath fent, they {hall die in their fins. 
 
 The context tells us,. that " God hath 
 " faved us, and called us with, an holy 
 " calling; not according to our works, but 
 " according to his own purpofe afld grace',. 
 " which was given us in Chrift Jefus before 
 * { the world began ; but is now made ma- 
 " nifeft by the appearing of our Saviour 
 " Jefus Chrift." The fenfe of which you 
 may take in other words thus : 
 
 God hath faved us fr6m the. legal fpi- 
 rit of fear and bondage *, from the fervi* 
 tude and condemnation of fin, and the 
 powers of darknefs ; and hath called both 
 Jews and Gentiles to be a church and 
 people, feparatetfr from the kingdoms of 
 this world, and ta be holy as " He who 
 " hath called them out of this world is 
 " holy." Not that our being brought into 
 * Ver. 7. this- 
 
our Saviour jfefus Chriji. 5 
 
 tiiis privileged, confecrated ftate, is owing 
 to our works, or to be any wayafcrib'd to 
 our merit, but " according to his own pur- 
 " pofe and grace," (or his gracious purpofe, 
 and purely from his own infinite goodnefs) 
 we obtain this favouf of beirig under a dif- 
 penfation of religtart the moft merciful of 
 all others, and which may emphatically be 
 ftyled an holy tailing. 
 
 " This grace was given us in Chrift;'* 
 i. e. was appointed, and determined to ex-"- 
 tend to us in the Gofpel age,, before the 
 Other ages and difpenfations of religion! 
 began. It Was given us in God's decree,, 
 and in the prOvifion made for it from the 
 beginning of the world ; tho' not clearly 
 and fully ,underftood, till it i9 now •' jnadc 
 " manifeft by the appearing of our Saviour 
 " JefusChrift." 
 
 If you here alk, how this "purpofe of 
 grace is accomplished, and our falvation 
 effected by Chrift ? the anfwer is in the 
 words of the text, " He hath abolifhed 
 *' death y and hath brought life and immor'- 
 w tality to lights through the Gofpel." He 
 hath taken away the dominion, the fting',, 
 and the dread of death ; and he hath brought 
 the-future refurrection of the body, and 
 the immortality both of foul and body, to 
 our certain notice, or to a mot clear and 
 Satisfying light. By thefe difcoveries, and 
 bleffed effects of ChrifVs appearing, " We 
 •' are faved — we are call'd to be holy" — and 
 ;~ are 
 
6 Death abolijhed by 
 
 are made partakers of the grace purpofed 
 and defigned, before the entrance of fin and 
 death, when the world began. 
 
 Jesus Christ, the great father 
 and author of the Gofpel age, delivereth 
 from death fo as to include both the 
 evils that lead to it, and thofe that follow 
 upon it. And he hath revealed a future 
 life and immortality, fo as to include every 
 thing that is neceffary to our obtaining it, 
 thro' the Gofpel ; for " He hath the words 
 " of eternal life *." 
 
 Where then mould dying creatures 
 take refuge, when we look to our own 
 death approaching ? — or where fhould we 
 go for confolation upon the death of ufeful 
 deniable friends and relatives, but to Jefus 
 Chrift, " who hath abolished death, and 
 " clearly revealed life and immortality ? " 
 This is a moft important fubjedt, and wor- 
 thy our ferious thoughts at all tim«s ; but 
 I apprehend, we are now come difpos'd to 
 give a fpecial and more than ordinary atten- 
 tion to a Difcourfe on death and its con- 
 fequences, in thefe moft ufeful and inftruc- 
 tive views of them. I therefore propofe to 
 confider the two propofitions in the text 
 diftinctly, as well as in their reference to 
 each other. 
 
 I. Jesus Christ appearing as our Sa- 
 viour, hath abolifhed death. 
 
 * John vi. 68. 
 
 II. He 
 
our Saviour Jefus Chrift* 7 
 
 II. He hath moft clearly and fatisfadto- 
 rily revealed a future life and immortality. 
 
 T h e practical improvement of each of 
 thefe heads will be directed to as we go 
 along : And fome things particularly fuited 
 to the prefent occqfion, will be added in the 
 clofe of this difcourfe. 
 
 I. "Jesus Christ appearing as our 
 w Saviour, hath aboliflied death." He hath 
 not fo aboliflied it, as that thofe who believe 
 in him fliould be exempted from the com- 
 mon law of mortality : For all the difci- 
 ples of Jesus muft be conformed to him 
 in dying naturally, as well as' in dying fi- 
 guratively to fin and this world. As the 
 body of Chrift was laid in the grave, fo 
 our bodies muft go thither ; but they ftiall 
 not always continue there, they (hall as 
 certainly rife again as the body of Chrijl 
 did. Of this hereafter. 
 
 Let us now confider what account the 
 Scriptures give us of Chrift's abolijhing death 
 in his appearing as a Saviour to us. Dr. 
 Hammond expreffeth it thus, " that Chrift 
 " by his coming and preaching the Gofpel 
 *■' hath voided the power of death." Others 
 add, *■' the malice and enmity of death is 
 ♦' made void," exprefsly afcribing this to 
 the obedience and death of Chrift. By his 
 righteoufnefs and fufferings he hath conquer- 
 ed death, and made void its claims, in the pe- 
 nal 
 
8 Death abolijhed fy 
 
 nal fruits and confequences of it to his faith- 
 ful followers. According to thefe con- 
 ftructions and explications, the abolifhing 
 of death by our Lord Jefus Chrift may. be 
 confidered in the refpedts following, 
 
 i . He hath abolifhed the dominion of 
 death, and taken away its right to deftroy. 
 Death obtained a reigning power, upon the 
 human race being at firft configned.or 
 delivered over to it *. " In the day thou 
 " eateft thereof, thou malt furely die-f-." 
 This, in other words, is to fay, that in 
 the day thou rebelleft againft the Author 
 and Maintainer of thy being, thou forfeit- 
 eft that being he hath given thee, and 
 " thy foul fhall be required of thee." This 
 declaration and threatninrg, fo juft in it- 
 felf, (hall take place by an aclual deliver- 
 ing thee over to the power of death. From 
 thence it follows, that as the Executioner 
 reigneth when the Judge hath pafled the 
 fentence, and given orders' for execution, 
 fuch we may conceive the reign of death 
 to be. It hath full power to detain, to 
 load with chains and miferies, and to ful- 
 fil all the demands of vindiSiive jujiice. 
 The confequence of death's having this 
 abfolute rule and power, cannot be lefs 
 than " everlafting deftruction from the 
 " prefence of the Lord." For the reign* 
 xyf death once begun, will laft to the utter 
 * Rom. v. 14. f Gen. ii. 17- 
 
 de- 
 
our Saviourjefus Chrift. g 
 
 deftru&ion of them who are given up to 
 it, unlefs fome deliverer interpofe, fome 
 redemption be made. This is the fubftance 
 of what the fcripture hath declared con- 
 cerning " death's pafling upon all men, for 
 " that all have finned *." 
 
 There is a. jus or law of death, given 
 by the great Creator and Difpofer of all 
 things i according to which, death makes 
 a feizure, and keeps thofe under its power, 
 who have rebellioufly refus'd fubjedtion to 
 him that made them. Upon this is founded 
 the dominium or empire and reign of death, 
 in the whole extent and continuance of it. 
 Upon this law or maxim, the dominion I 
 am fpeaking of is wholly founded, viz. 
 " the wages of fin is death." Now as 
 this law of mortality extends to the whole 
 race of tranfgreflbrs; fo he that abolifheth 
 death, or maketh void the power of it, muft 
 be able to refcue from that fentence or law, 
 which configns the finner over to its em- 
 pire and dominion. And then, alfo, up- 
 on the repeal or limitations of that law, 
 he muft actually deliver the dead from the 
 territories and bounds appointed for them. 
 Both thefe the fcriptures exprefsly declare 
 concerning our falvation by Jefus Chrift. 
 He delivereth from the condemning fentence, 
 by offering himfelf for us j and he refcueth 
 from the power of the grave, by entring 
 
 * Rom. v. 12. 
 
 B in 
 
i o Dedib abolijhed bf 
 
 in his own perfon into the regions of the 
 dead, and bringing forth his ranfomed from 
 thence. <r Chrift being raifed from the dead, 
 " dieth no more ; death hath no more do- 
 " minion over him *." Nor mail it pre- 
 vail over his faithful followers; for " by 
 " his own blood he entred in once into 
 " the holy place, having obtained eternal 
 " redemption for us ■f." 
 
 The account of our Saviour's abolifb- 
 ing death in this manner, — that " as fin 
 " reigned unto death, even fo might grace 
 " reign unto eternal life by Jefus Chrift," 
 — the apoftle fpeaks of very fully in the 
 fifth to the Romans ; and that chapter can 
 hardlv be underftood without a careful afc- 
 tention to thefe things. 
 
 A s the Jewifli law, when h loft its Geign* 
 ing force and power, is faid to be'abolifhed, 
 ( "J having abolifhed the law of com- 
 " mandments ;" ) fo death lofing its domi- 
 nion and all right to- it, is faid to be abo- 
 lifhed by Jefus Chrift. THus the fcripture 
 being its own interpreter, we fee what is 
 the fenfe in which it ufeth the word abo- 
 UJh. And in this view of things there can 
 be deliverance from death no other way but 
 by our Lord JeTus Chrift, and by faith in 
 him : He only can fatisfy the demands of 
 that law, which configns us over unto death, j 
 
 * Rom. vi. 9. f Heb. ix. 12. 
 
 % tph. ii. 15. 
 
 and 
 
our Saviour jfefus Chrift. 1 1 
 
 and he only can refcue fouls from hell, and 
 break up the boundaries of the grave, and 
 take thofe from under its dominion who are 
 carried captives thither. 
 
 •2. By Jefus Chrift the enmity of death 
 is abolifhed, and we are delivered from the 
 fting of it. 
 
 As it is faid of the Son of God, that " he 
 " was manifested to take away fin •" fo by 
 his appearing for this end, he hath taken 
 out the fting of death": "for the fting of 
 " death is fin, and the ftrengtTi of fin is the 
 '* law j" but thanks be to God, who giveth 
 " us the vidtory, thro* our Lord Jefus 
 " Chrift *." Every man, who thro' faith 
 in Chrift, according to theGofpel, is brought 
 into a pardoned juftified ftate, doth hereby 
 obtain a deliverance from death, confider'd 
 in its enmity -, and is only called to fubmit 
 to it, as it is in the hand of Chrift, who 
 hath made it friendly to us. It is com- 
 miflion'd to take the minifters and fubjects 
 of Chrift's kingdom, only as a meflenger 
 from their Lord, to remove them from a 
 world of' fin and pain ; from toils, and la- 
 bours, and difappointmentsj to a world and 
 ftate of holinefs, and reft, and joyful recom- 
 mence. 
 
 Death fo reigns over them that are 
 cut orFin their fins, and in the contempt of 
 the Golpel, that it hath power to execute 
 
 * i Cor. xv. 56, 57. 
 
 B 2 an 
 
12 Death aboliflxd by 
 
 an irreverfible fentence. For death, in fuch 
 cafes, is an executioner from the condem- 
 ning jitftice of God. It comes therefore 
 with full enmity, and none {hall be able, 
 to deliver the condemned prijoner, or to find 
 a ranfom for him. The ranfom of a foul, 
 in fuch circumftances of unbelief and dif- 
 obedience, is beyond all price, and it ceaf- 
 eth for ever. But when death cometh 
 under the commiffion of Chrift, and ac- 
 cording to the Gofpel limitations of its pow- 
 er, it only tranflates the foul to be with 
 him that hath created and redeemed it, 
 and layeth the body to fleep in the duft j 
 committing it to the grave, to be kept there 
 till it (hall be called for at the day of Chrift's 
 future appearance. Thus the enmity is 
 flain. 
 
 Bu t may it not here further be added, 
 that the manner and time of a good man's 
 death are generally fo ordered, as to take off 
 the apprehenfion of enmity in the very 
 ftroke of it ? Death is fo commiffioned by 
 Chrift, as to come at the fitteft feafon (all 
 things confidered) and under the leaft ap- 
 pearance of enmity to a faithful Chriftian. 
 However the arrefts of death may feem to 
 be alike, in the cafe of them that believe 
 and obey the gofpel, and of them that be- 
 lieve and obey it not ; yet in the difpofi- 
 tion and frame of their fouls, if we could 
 look fo far, we mould fee as much diffe- 
 rence, as there is— between falling a prey 
 
 into 
 
our Saviour Jefus Chrift. 1 3 
 
 into the hand of an enemy, — and falling, 
 afleep. in the boiom,, or under the care and 
 protection of a friend. Though death may 
 feem to ravage in the church of Chrift, and 
 even among good men, as well as among 
 the reft of the world, and by the genera- 
 lity is therefore thought to be under no 
 order or government at all ; yet it is cer- 
 tainly quite otherwife. 
 
 It is faid of Chrift, that " he hath the 
 " keys of the invifible world, and of 
 " death * ". As he hath purchafed for 
 men the grace of being put into a new 
 ftate of trial ; fo he is fitly conftituted judge, 
 when that time of trial fhall be nnifhed 
 with every one. .And no doubt but the 
 laws of the invifible world, and of God's 
 moral government, are exactly obferved in 
 tranfmitting of fpirits from this earth, both 
 to the upper and lower regions. Over both 
 thefe our once dead, but now glorified 
 Lord, hath obtained the dominion. So 
 that as to the time, circumftances and man- 
 ner, in which the members of Chrift's 
 kingdom are removed from one world to 
 another, no doubt but our blefTed Lord 
 takes the moft favourable, and proper mea- 
 fures to render death fafe and friendly to 
 every one of them. In his wifdom and 
 goodnefs let us then learn to acquiefce, 
 whether any one's death be fudden or lin- 
 gering, at home or abroad, in the vigorous 
 * Rev. i. 10. 
 
 or 
 
i4 Death abolijhed by 
 
 or in the wearifome ftages of life. No words 
 can better reprefent Chrift's taking away 
 the enmity and fling of death, than thofe 
 of the apoftle, when he fays, " them that 
 " Jleep in Jefus God will bring with him." 
 From hence we are encouraged to look 
 upon death as no more an enemy to a true 
 Chriftian, than Jleep is: and by thus con- 
 fidering it, we may familiarize the thought 
 of dying, when we go to fleep at night in 
 hope of riling with new life and vigour 'in 
 the morning. This leads to another thing 
 mentioned in Scripture concerning Chrift's 
 delivering us from death. 
 
 3. He hath abolifhed its power of en- 
 Jlaving us by previous frightful apprehen- 
 sions, and continual terror of it. 
 
 Not that all Chriftians are free from 
 a Jlavijh fear of death ; but Chrift hath fo 
 abolifhed it, that all might be free, at leaft 
 from that degree of terror which hath bon- 
 dage in it. It might be thus if it were not 
 our own fault, or our owniveaknefs. For 
 as the children of the kingdom which God 
 hath given his Son, are " partakers of flefh 
 " and blood, he alfo himfelf likewife took 
 " part of the fame, that thro' death he 
 " might deftroy him that had the power 
 " of death, that is the devil :" and then it 
 followeth immediately, that the defign and 
 plain tendency of this was " to deliver 
 
 " them, 
 
our Saviour yefus Chrifl. 1 5 
 
 " them, who tbro' fear of death were all 
 " their life-time fubjeSt to bondage * ". 
 
 The inftances of thofe who thro' faith, 
 prayer, patience, and felf-denial have over- 
 come the dread of death, are fufficient to 
 prove, that its pejwer of enfkving thro' fear 
 is abolifhed thro' the Gofpel. 
 
 4. Death is abolifhed by our Lord 
 Jefus Chrifl: fo intirely, that it fhall not be 
 able 'to detain the body when called for ; 
 but at the great rifing day fhall be compkatly 
 conquered, and triumphed over for ever. 
 
 The aflurances that we have, of the 
 bodies being raifed to life again fo as never 
 to die more, and of its being reunited to 
 the immortal Spirit from which it was for 
 a time feparated, and of both entring into 
 eternal life and glory, are fo very exprefs, 
 as to declare the entire and abfolute abo- 
 lijhing- of death at the confummation of 
 the Gofpel, kingdom. And thus the fecond 
 proportion in the text {lands connected 
 with, and fully confirms the firft. There 
 isfuch a clear and perfect revelation of life 
 and immortality thro' the Gofpel, that in 
 the final iflue of things death fhall be 
 taken away, and conquered fo as to be 
 known- no more in the kingdom of Chrifl 
 for ever. Of this difiinSily.. 
 
 i 
 * Hcb. ii. 14, 15. 
 
 II. " Jesus 
 
1 6 Life and Immortality 
 
 II. " Jesus Chrift hath brought life 
 " and immortality to the ckareji light, thro' 
 " the Go/pel." 
 
 By tradition and the ufe of natural rea- 
 fon, the Gentiles which had not immedi- 
 ate revelation, yet had fome apprehenfions 
 and expectations of immortality ; and ■ in 
 fome of the Writings of the heathen philo- 
 sophers there are very ftrong prefumptions, 
 and rational proofs and confirmations of 
 thofe prefumptions, that the foul doth exift 
 after the death of the body. But their 
 opinions are fo various, and their reafonings 
 fo dubious and uncertain, that there is much 
 more darknefs than light in them, and there- 
 fore it is properly faid, with reference to 
 thefe, that " Immortality is brought to light 
 " by the Gofpel." 
 
 Dr. Whitby, in his Annotations on this 
 text, hath drawn up a large and particular 
 account of the very uncertain reafonings of 
 the wifeft and beft philofophers upon the 
 future exiftence of the foul. And he hath 
 juftly obferved, that as to the life and re- 
 furredtion of the body, they had no thoughts 
 about it. They were fo far from having 
 any notion of this, that the Athenians mock- 
 ed and derided St. Paul's account of it *. 
 
 The Jews had better notions, both of 
 immortality and the refurrecYion, from their 
 fcriptures, than the heathen had from any 
 * A£ts xvii. 32. 
 
 writings 
 
brought to Light by the GofpeL 1 7 
 
 writings of their wifeft men. " Enoch the 
 " feventh from Adam prophefied, faying, 
 " Behold the Lord cometh with ten thou- 
 " fand of his faints -j- ". From the time 
 of God's being called " the God of A- 
 " brabam, Ifaac arid Jacob, " they were 
 taught to argue that " God is not the God 
 " of the dead, but of the living." The 
 beft expofitors underftand Job to fpeak 
 of this, when he faid, " I know that my 
 " Redeemer liveth, and that he fhall ftand 
 " at the latter day upon the earth. And 
 " tho' after my fkin worms deftroy this 
 " body, yet in my flefh fhall I fee God J". 
 David had certainly a clear fenfe of this, 
 when he faid, " Thou wilt not leave my 
 " foul in hell, neither wilt thou fufFer thine 
 " Holy One to fee corruption * ". He 
 had the clearefl and fulleft view of the re- 
 liirredlion of the MeJJias**. The prophet 
 Daniel exprefsly taught them, that "many 
 " who flept in the duft fhou'd awake j 
 " fome to everlafting life, and fome to 
 " fhame and everlafting contempt || ". 
 
 The common people in our Saviour's 
 days had fuch a belief of this, that Martha, 
 the fifter of Laztirus, when our Saviour 
 fpoke of her brother's rifing from the dead, 
 made this reply, " I know that he fhall 
 " rife again in the refurredtion at the laft 
 " day § ". But yet there was a learned and 
 
 + Jude 14. J Jobxix. 25, 26. * Pfal. xvi. 10. 
 ** Ails ii. 31. || Daa. xii. a. § John xi. 24. 
 
 C powerful 
 
i# Life and Immortality 
 
 powerful feet in that nation, the fe& of 
 the Sadducees, who rejected the belief of 
 this. It is therefore faid with great propri- 
 ety, that the full and clear difcovery both 
 of the body's being railed to life again 1 , and 
 of the foul's immortality in and with the 
 raifed body, is only made to us by the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 By our Saviour we are exprefly and 
 moft certainly allured, that " the hour is 
 " coming, in which all that are in the 
 " graves mall hear the voice of the Son of 
 *' man, and lhall come forth. They that 
 " have done good, unto the refurredtion of 
 " life ; and they that have done evil, unto 
 *' the refurredtion of damnation * ". 
 
 Again, as it is faid, that «* God hath 
 " appointed a day [a fet time] in which 
 " he will judge the world by that man 
 v whom he hath ordained ; fo he hath af- 
 " fured the world of this, by raifing him 
 *' from the dead -f ". And when that day 
 cometh, in which Chrift lhall appear 
 vifibly in the heavens, then the bodies 
 of them that deep in him lhall arife. 
 They (hall not be detained one mo- 
 ment longer. " I wou'd not have you ig- 
 " norant (lays St. Paul) concerning them 
 v that are afleep. For if we believe that 
 " Jefus died and rofe again, even fo them 
 v alfo that fleep in Jefus God will bring 
 " with hinv The Lord himfelf mail 
 * John*. 28, 29. i Adts xvii. 31. 
 
 '' defcend 
 
brought to Light by the Go/pel. 1 9 
 
 " defcend from heaven, [to bring them in 
 a very pompous and glorious manner] with 
 " a fhout, with the voice of the arch- 
 " angel, and with the trump of God. And 
 " the dead in Chrift {hall rife firft. Then 
 " we, which are alive and remain, mall 
 <c be caught up together with them in the 
 " clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: 
 " And fo (hall we be ever with the 
 " Lord *•*'. In St. John's vifibn, he , 
 tells us, " He faw the dead, fmall and 
 " great, ftand before God". None fo 
 fmall as to be overlooked ; none fo great 
 as to refift the fummons : Neither the deep- 
 eft feas, nor the ftrongeft monuments, nor 
 hell itfelf, being able to detain thofe that 
 were in them. " The fea gave up the 
 " dead which were in it. And the grave 
 " delivered up the dead that lay there. 
 " And they were judged. And death and 
 " hell were caft into the lake of fire, 
 " which is the fecond death -f- ". Then 
 they that fhall be found among the people 
 of God, and are fitted to dwell with him, 
 fhall be removed far from the regions of 
 death, and from all fears of it. For un- 
 to them " there fhall be no more death, 
 " neither forrow nor crying ; neither fhall 
 " there be any more pain % ". 
 
 I have quoted thefe fcriptures at large, 
 to fhow, that the future life, and refurrec- 
 
 * 1 TheA". iv. 14, &c. + Rev. xx. 12, 13. 
 % Rev. xxi." 4. 
 
 C 2 tion 
 
20 Life and Immortality 
 
 tion of the dead, with a confequent Im- 
 mortality, are brought to light in the plain- 
 eft, fulleft manner, thro' the Gofpel. So 
 that none, who hear and read the Tefta- 
 ment of . our Lord and Saviour, can be ig- 
 norant , of thefe things; and if they are found- 
 ly believed, the thoughts of- death are in a 
 manner loft and fwallow'd up in the thoughts 
 of that bleffed life and immoctality which 
 lie beyond the grave. Therefore not only in 
 what Chrift.hath done and fuffer'd, to de- 
 liver us from the dominion, fting, and ter- 
 ror of death, but in what he hath taught 
 with fo much clearnefs and evidence con- 
 cerning the future ftate of them! that die 
 in him, we learn to look upon death as an 
 abolifhed thing : We have the other life fo 
 nearly and firongly in view, thro' the Gof- 
 pel, that the paffage-ftate with all its gloom, 
 is as nothing to the joy of our Lord, into 
 which we (hall be received. 
 
 Now according to this representation of 
 the future eternal bleffednefs both of foul 
 and body, a firm belief of it enableth us 
 to triumph, over death two ways: more es- 
 pecially : That is r ,by carrying our hopes and 
 defires above this prefent life, to that fu- 
 ture life which is infinitely better; and at 
 the fame time giving us moft comfortable 
 and pleafing apprehenfions of the difference 
 between the body as it is put off at death, 
 and as it fhall be renewed at the refurrec- 
 tion. 
 
 i. The 
 
brought to Light by theGofpel, 2 1 
 
 i. The clear difcoveries of immortality 
 enable us to triumph over death, by carrying 
 our hopes and defires above theprefent life., to 
 that life which is future and everlafling. 
 
 The difcoveries that are made of 
 the perfection and felicity of them that in- 
 habit the regions of eternity, tranfport the 
 believing foul from the love of this life to 
 the defire of a better. To read and think 
 of the light and knowledge, the love and 
 goodnefs, the life and active power of them 
 that are made perfect with Chrift, cannot 
 but raife the longings of a fincere chriftian, 
 tho' he die for it, to be with Chrift. • This 
 is far better, in his efteem, than the befl 
 life here on earth. To be perfect, I fay, 
 in wifdom and love, and to be fixed in 
 that happy fociety where there is none but 
 what are foj and to have life in perfection 
 too, without any thing to clog the mo- 
 tions, or to allay the enjoyments of it ; may 
 well raife our moft ardent defires to an hea- 
 venly country. And where thefe defires are 
 habitually fixed, and improved by frequent 
 exercifes of devotion, according to the in- 
 ftructions given us by the firft publifhers 
 of chriftianity, they will not only enable 
 us to get above the common fears of death, 
 but the more /hocking apprehenfions of it: 
 Tho' it mould appear in its wor/l formi, 
 yet " all prefent fufferings will be accounted 
 " unworthy to be compared with the glory 
 .*' which fhall be revealed in us." By car- 
 rying 
 
2 2 Life and Immortality 
 
 rying our love and defire of life, as the Gof- 
 pel doth, from the prefent to a future and 
 better ftate of exiflence, we are prepared 
 to go thro' the change that is neceflary to 
 our paffing from one world to another. And 
 that which farther facilitates the paffage, 
 and enableth us to triumph over death, is, 
 
 2. The comfortable and pleafing repre- 
 fentation which We have of the different 
 Jlate of the body itfelf, at death t and at the 
 refurre&ion. 
 
 In this we are not left to entertain our- 
 felves with meer conjectures; but we are 
 aflur'd by the exprefs word of God, that 
 " the body which is- fown in difhonour, 
 " fhall be raifed in glory *." All refur- 
 rection-bodies will not be equally glorious ; 
 " for as one ftar differeth from another 
 " ftar in glory, fo alfo mall be the refur- 
 " region of the dead : " But all fhall be 
 to completely glorious, as to be free from every 
 mark of di/honour. It is alfo added by the 
 Apoftle, " that which is fown in weak- 
 " nefs, (hall be raifed in power." What 
 degree of power fhall be granted to each, 
 we are not told ; but fuch as to take away, 
 and ftand directly oppofed to its former 
 weaknefs. " That which is fown a natural 
 " [or animal] body, fhall be raifed a fpi- 
 " ritual, celeftial body:" It fhall then be' 
 fuited to the capacities and defires of the 
 * i Cor. xv. 41, &c. 
 
 foul, 
 
brought to Light by the Gofpel. 2 3 
 
 foul, to be its everlafting companion ; and 
 fuited to the celeftial manfions, where it 
 is to have its everlafting abode : " In my 
 " father's houfe are many manfions ; if it 
 " were n6t fo, I would have told you : I 
 " go to prepare a place for you *." In 
 fhOrt, whatever the difference be between 
 the body of Chrift when it was crucified 
 and buried in the earth, and that body which 
 he now hath, in which he is preparing a 
 place for his faithful fervants in the heavens, 
 that is the pattern and model of the diffe- 
 rence between our bodies, in their prefent 
 mortal, corruptible ftate, and that ftate when 
 they {hall put on incorruption. " The 
 " Lord from heayen fhall change our vile 
 " body, that it may be fafhioned like unto 
 " his glorious body, according to his work- 
 " ing whereby he is able to fubdue all 
 " things to himfelf -j-." By our believing 
 and clofe meditation on this account of the 
 happy change that is made in the body it- 
 felf, and the glory and immortality to which 
 it mall be raifed when called out of the 
 grave, we are enabled to conclude with 
 St. Paul, that " when this mortal fhall 
 *' have put on immortality, then fhall be 
 " brought to pafs the faying that is written, 
 '*' Death is fwallowed up in victory §." 
 
 * John xiv. 2. t Phil. iii. 21. 
 
 4 1 Cor. xv. 54. 
 
 This 
 
2± Life and Immortality 
 
 This fubjedt may be applied to a va- 
 riety of things relating both to faith and 
 pradtice j but the time will not allow me 
 to go into particular inferences and deduc- 
 tions : I {hall therefore improve what hath 
 been faid only by thefe two general con- 
 clufions. 
 
 i. Christ's aboliming death, and 
 bringing life and immortality to light thro' 
 the Gofpel, Jhould engage us firmly to ad- 
 here to the chrijlian faith. 
 
 "We fhould be ready always to give an 
 " account to every one thatafketh a reafon of 
 " the hope that is in us, with meeknefs and 
 " reverence * :" And we mould not be afraid 
 of the pride or the fcorn of thofe who fet 
 themfelves againft the common faith and 
 hope of chriftians. In oppofition to them that 
 thro' pride and vain conceit refufe to be fubjedr. 
 to the Gofpel-revelation, we mould declare 
 that we are not amamed of it; fince " it 
 " is the power of God unto falvation, to 
 " every one that believeth -j- : " And in 
 oppofition to them that thro' the " cares 
 " of this world, and the deceitfulnefs of 
 " riches," depart from the word of Chrift's 
 kingdom, and become forgetful of eter- 
 nity y we mould refolve " to hold fail 
 " the profeffion of our faith without wa- 
 " vering ; for he is faithful who hath pro- 
 <c mifed to be with us to the end of the 
 
 * i Pet. iii. 15. t Rom. i. 16. 
 
 world, 
 
 (C 
 
applied td Faith and PraBice. 2 5 
 
 " world, and hereafter to receive us to glory." 
 The more we fee men lofe the apprehenfions 
 of a future ftate, by their neglecting or defpi- 
 fing the fcriptures, the more {hould this in- 
 creafe our value and love of the word of God. 
 Have we not known fome who have become 
 perfect brutes after they have learned to 
 make a jeft of their bibles ? Are there not 
 thofe who have broken thro' all the rules 
 ofjociety, and have reafoned themfelves into 
 the vileft actions, even fuch as jelf-murder, 
 as foon as they have deftroy 'd ,the apprehen- 
 fions of an awful future account, accord- 
 , ing to the defcription of it in the .Gofpel ? 
 Should not this make us refolve to abide 
 by the exprefs ajfurances of life, which we 
 have in the chriftian revelation, fo as not 
 to be toffed to and "fro by the uncertain, 
 unfatisfying notions and ways of reafoning, 
 which, men that have not faith wander into? 
 In this we mould glory, as the peculiar 
 honour of our religion, that it hath made 
 the fulleft and clearer!: difcoveries of im- 
 mortality and eternal blifs j and we mould 
 perfevere in the believing expectation of it, 
 to the end of our lives, " that, we may then 
 " obtain the end of our faith and hope, 
 " even the falvation of foul and body." 
 Which that we may do, we muft attend 
 to another general way of improving what 
 hath been laid, 
 
 D 2. Upon 
 
26 Application to the Death 
 
 2. Upon the confederation of a refur- 
 rection and eternal life, we fhould be dili- 
 gent in the praBice of every chrijiian duty. 
 
 Altho' in the prefent life we have much 
 to oppofe a-nd difhearten us in our obferv- 
 ing the ordinances and institutions of the 
 Goipel ; tho' we meet with grievous flights 
 and provocations to make us leave off works 
 of piety and mercy ; yet the views of a 
 future recompence, and of being bleffed for 
 ever with our Lord, fhould carry us above 
 all difcouragements. We fhould look to 
 Jefus as our pattern and chief leader, " who 
 "for the joy that was fet before him, 
 " endured thecrofs; and endured all the 
 "contradictions of finners againft himfelf." 
 Without a due consideration of this; " we 
 <( fhall be weary and faint in our minds *-." 
 
 I n a word, the exhortation of St. Paul, 
 at the conclufion of his difcourfe in proof 
 of a refurredlion, fhould never be forgotten 
 by us : " Therefore, my beloved brethren, 
 " be ye ftedfaft, unmovable, always abound- 
 " ing in the work of the Lord}" [i.e. in 
 every chriflian fervic'e and fuffering] " for- 
 " afmuch as ye know that your labour is 
 *' not in vain in the Lord -f." 
 
 To bring this to the prefent occafion. 
 God hath now feen fit to take away from 
 you a faithful and affectionate Monitor, 
 
 *Heb. xii. 2, 3. • f iCor. xv. 58. 
 
 who 
 
of the "Rev. Mr. M'unckley. 27 
 
 whoufed to be ftatedly inculcating the great 
 things both of chriftian faith and praEiice 
 from this pulpit ; by whofe awful unexpect- 
 ed remove out of our world, we are loudly 
 cali'd upon to prepare for our own removal, 
 which we have reafbn to expect daily. 
 The natural ftrength and vigour with 
 which your late paftor was blels'd, above 
 moft of us, mould teach this leffon to 
 the healthieft and ftrongeft in this af- 
 fembly, viz. to do whatever our hand finds 
 to do for our own falvation, for the honour 
 of God, and the good of others, with all 
 our might, and without needlefs delays ; fince 
 the moft likely projpecls of life do fo fadly 
 and frequently difappoint us. 
 
 The preparations you have made for con- 
 tinuing thcworjhip of God in this place, mews 
 your expectation of the continued labours 
 of him who is now taken from you. Could 
 you have forefeen his death, perhaps you 
 would not have taken this houfe for a new 
 term of years ; but fince you have done 
 fo, you will, I doubt not, prudently exert 
 yourfelves to ; keep together as a chriftian 
 community, till you fee whether it be the 
 will of God to give you another Paflor<, 
 or to direct your fettlement with fome other 
 congregation. As to one or t'other, it is 
 my hearty prayer for you, that all may 
 be directed fo as not to lofe the things 
 which have been wrought, but that you 
 may receive a full reward. 
 
 D 2 What 
 
28 A brief Account of the 
 
 What remains to finim this difeourle, 
 is only to add fome account of our dear 
 brother and friend, the Rev. Mr. John 
 Munckley. Death has now fealed his 
 character, and it mould alfo feal his pious 
 inftrudtions upon your hearts. His mini- 
 sterial warnings and teachings fhould be 
 the more deeply imprefs'd, when you con- 
 fider, that you fhall fee his face and hear 
 his voice no more. [It is my fecret hope, 
 that fome of our miniftrations will be 
 thought on with greater kindnefs, and to 
 jnore advantage, after we are dead, than 
 vwhile we are living : I wifti it might be fo 
 with you, in recollecting the things that 
 .you have heard from the deceafed, and cal- 
 ling to mind the fubje&s and fermons that 
 have proved upon any occafion of fpecial 
 Service to you.] You know with what hu- 
 mility, and follicitous concern for your 
 welfare, and fometimes with tears, he 
 fpoke unto you the word of the Lord. Re- 
 member him on this account,- and follow 
 bis faith; confidering alfo the end of his 
 converfafion. This is not my advice only, 
 but an apojiolical rule and direction *. 
 
 H i s fermons, you know, were pre- 
 pared with diligence} and they were alfo 
 carefully committed to memory. This was 
 .not from any affectation of Angularity , or 
 from a vanity of temper, but (ashehim- 
 * Heb. xiii. 7. 
 
 m 
 
Rev. Mr. John Munckley. 29 
 
 felf once told me) that he might the bet- 
 ter imprefs and fix things upon his own 
 mind, in hope that he fhould be thereby 
 enabled to- convey them with greater clear- 
 nefs and advantage to the minds of others. 
 You know his readinefs, alfo, to affift you 
 by his counfels and prayers, in private j 
 and to difcharge all parts of his minifte r 
 rial office, as your occafions call'd for his 
 help. 
 
 He had a great deal of ufeful learning, 
 and a good acquaintance with books j but 
 his modefty and humility were fuch, as not 
 .to make the leafl' oftentation *. His com- 
 pofitions were grave and folid, and moftly 
 practical. His prayers were very ferious, 
 and earned, in his defiring to fave both 
 himfelf^ and them that heard him. Tho' 
 your ftated congregation was very fmall, 
 yet he was not lefs careful to provide for 
 you on that account, nor lefs affectionate 
 in ferving you. He had an uncommon- 
 fear, which he was never able to conquer, 
 in his publick -work : This was accompanied 
 with a delivery that fometimes gave uneafi- 
 nefs to 'himfelf, (fo I have heard him com-r 
 
 * After fome years ftudy, and attending the le&ures 
 at a private academy near London, he went over to 
 Leyden : His proficiency is well known to thofe that 
 accompanied him there, and has been fully proved on 
 feveral occafions; more especially, in the improvements 
 of his fon, whom he hath entirely educated himfelf, 
 %nd inftru&ed with fo much reputation, both in hu- 
 man and religious knowledge. 
 
 plain) 
 
A brief Account of the 
 
 plain) as well as to others, efpecially fuch 
 as were unacquainted with him. Upon this 
 account, and this only as I apprehend, his 
 labours were not accompanied^ with that 
 acceptance and fuccefs which attend many 
 others lefs deferring ; and if any mould 
 reckon^ mine among that number, through 
 their affection to him that is gone, I mould 
 not be difpleafed. In fome places Mr. 
 Munckley was well accepted ; and I 
 trull, his miniftrations were fo bkfs'd to 
 you, that both he and you will have occa- 
 sion for joy at the coming of our Lord. 
 
 1 should not have taken notice of any 
 feeming difadvantage in the character of 
 our worthy friend, had not he himfelf often 
 fpoken of what I have mention'd, fo as to 
 fliew the mod pious fubmijfions to God, 
 and to manifeft the moft Jhining benevo- 
 lence toward his brethren ; fo that this Jhade 
 in the picture adds to the beauty and force 
 of the brighter colours. This will appear 
 by giving you a paragraph out of one of 
 the laft letters I received from him. The 
 letter was written upon an affair of charity t 
 in which he propofed to affift me, both by 
 writing into the country, and getting re- 
 ceipts fign'd, and other things that might 
 fave time and trouble to thofe that were 
 entrufted with the diftribution. He writes 
 thus : " You cannot think, Sir, how much 
 " you encouraged my fpirits under the me- 
 " lancholy mortifications I meet with, by 
 
 " the 
 
Rev. Mr. John Munckley. 31 
 
 u the hopes you gave me, that tho' God; 
 " is not pleafed to own me with any ufe- 
 " fulnefs and acceptance in my own mi- 
 " niftry, I mould, however, be fome way 
 '* inftrumental in procuring fomething for 
 " the fapport of thofe whom God does 
 " own and blefs with a great, deal of fuc- 
 " cefs." Inftead of envy and chagrin un- 
 der his own discouragements, to break forth 
 in fuch joyful benevolence towards his bre- 
 thren, hath fomething too great to be loft 
 and buried in oblivion. 
 
 He was indeed a moft diligent folicitor 
 to get fupplies for his neceffitous friends* 
 and particularly for his poor brethren in 
 the Weft of England, His applications for 
 their fupport and encouragement, both in 
 publick and private charities, had this re- 
 commendation, " that however any man's 
 " opinions differed from his own, he ne- 
 " ver defir'd one indigent perfon mould be 
 " overlook'd on that account : To be poor 
 " and to be hotieft were fufficient induce- 
 " ments with him to be their advocate." 
 Both in his own private charities, and what 
 he procured from others, he was careful - 
 to avoid every air of vanity, and to prevent 
 the fmalleft acknowledgments in return. He 
 had, it muft be own'd, hi§ peculiar attach- 
 ments, that made, him fometimes mew a 
 great deal of eagernefs and concern about 
 a relation, or an intimate friend : His earneft- 
 nefs was to have them as well thought of 
 
 by 
 
32 A brief 'Account of the 
 by others, as by hirhfelf ; but this did not 
 lead him to any evil reprefentations of thofe 
 who were of different ientiments from him 
 or his friends ; nor did he quarrel with any 
 man for not favouring their interefts in any 
 publick affair, where the oppofers of them 
 were guided by an apprehenfion of the pub- 
 lick good. He was not, by his fpecial 
 friendships, and ftrongeft affections, (fofar 
 as I could ever obferve) carried into any 
 party views, to the lefiening or defpifing 
 of others. 
 
 Happy were it for us, if, inftead of 
 faying, " I am of Paul, and I of Cephas, 
 "and I of Apollos," we could efteem each of 
 them for their different gifts and talents ; 
 and look upon them all as the minifters of 
 Ch r ist for our falvation. But as the man- 
 ner of fome is to cry up the reafoning and 
 learning of Paul, that they may run down 
 the experience and boldnefs of Cephas ; or 
 to cry up the eloquence and fcripture- 
 knowledge of Apollos, to the contempt of 
 Paul, for his wanting the excellency of 
 fpeech ; this way of ufing minifters is an 
 unfpeakable prejudice to the gofpel-mini- 
 ftrations. Whilft fome are running down 
 one, and others another, what effecl hath 
 this, but to prejudice by-ftanders againft 
 theme//? And what can this end in, but 
 a breaking your interejl in general, or a 
 breaking die hearts of particular minifters ? 
 
 But 
 
Rev. Mr. John Munckley. 22 
 
 BuTto return to the good difpofition 
 of our departed friend j 
 
 He was of a very refpedtful temper and 
 behaviour toward all, very careful not to 
 give offence, and very unwilling and flow 
 to take offence: If any thing of that kind 
 happened, he was not eafy till all was fet 
 to rights. He made it his conftant prac- 
 tice every night to review what had pafs'd 
 in the day, and then fet himfe If particularly 
 to devife things that would make for peace. 
 One of my brethren was much imprefs'd 
 one evening with a pauage of this kind. 
 
 H e was remarkable for his affable and 
 free way of converting with the poor; he 
 was very good and kind to them, advifing 
 them in the moft friendly manner, both in 
 what concerned their temporal and eternal 
 interefts. 
 
 If I was now to fpeak the language of 
 near relations^ his conduct in his own fa- 
 mily would appear moft exemplary and 
 amiable. Their affections would tenderly 
 defcribe him as a moft endearing hujband, 
 and father ; and as a friend dearer than a 
 brother to fuch as flood in that relation to 
 him. He was a moft obliging fon-in-law 
 to a late aged parent of his wife. He was 
 indeed peculiarly happy in the relations of 
 his wife; and particularly in the fincere 
 friendfhip of Mr. Theo. Rowe. Among his 
 own relations, he had one who gave him 
 much uneafinefs, but yet in many great and 
 £ repeated 
 
34- A brief Account of the 
 
 repeated inftances he ihew'd his concern 
 for him, and an earneft defire of his doing 
 well, both for this world and another. He 
 was fo kind to his fervante, as to inftrucl: and 
 direct them in their duty to God, to warn 
 them againft all needlefs expences, and par,- 
 tkularly againft all^«j and would keep for 
 their ufe what little money they could lave, 
 allowing them very jconfiderably for it. 
 "The departure of fuch a Jbul'is a great 
 lofs to thofe of his own houfe ; and caUstfor 
 your prayers, and for your friendly, rqgacdv 
 more especially to a fiirviving, afflielted fin 
 and widow. May God be their fjroteftor 
 and guide, and render them lafting com- 
 forts to each other. 
 
 Such a death is alfo a great lofs to fo- 
 ekty in general. Every cementing fpir'it 
 that is taken from us, is a weakning of the 
 whole ftru&ure of our churches, and cx- 
 pofeth to the ill fraftices of narrow and 
 contentious minds. But in an age whereia 
 a Gofpel minijlry is brought into fuch ge*- 
 neral contempt, how few are there that think 
 the breaches made upon us of late years 
 worth laying to heart i and yet how rarely 
 are they made up, by the diligence, tem- 
 per, and ufefulnefs of them that Succeed ? 
 
 Brethren, pray for us, that we may 
 be further ftrengthened and encouraged in 
 our work, — and pray for your/elves, that 
 God would fend forth more ikilful and 
 fe&hful labourer $ into his vineyard; and let 
 
Rev. Mr. Jobn Mu n c k lje y . 35 
 
 yx^r? prayers be animated with an arden^ 
 dgfire, that the caiafe of *r»$:and liberty, 
 and a pure fcripture religion, may ftill be 
 fupported, andmay }&tf$ future generations. 
 . I conclude this difcourfe, and the ac- 
 count of your deceased Paftpr, with part 
 of a letter that was written by one who at- 
 tended him in his laft Jicknefs, and at hi§ 
 death. " Throughout the whole of his ill— 
 " ,nefe, he fliew'd an exemplary patience 
 * c and fubmtffron to the divine will. In 
 ** the beginning of it, he exprefs'd witK 
 4t an uncommon eagernefs, and with tears, 
 " his firm hope and expeftation of theyfrz- 
 " cerity of his conduct being accepted, not- 
 *'• withftanding the imperfections of it. He 
 " had lived in fuch a manner,, and felt fp 
 "much of the force of religion, that he 
 " never (hewed, the kafi fear of dying, 
 "but always the contrary ; fpeaking of 
 Xl death with the. greateft fatisfadtion, and 
 ? c the firmed aflurance and expectation of 
 xt bis partaking of that happineft which 
 " follows it, to all true chriftians." 
 
 A fresh witnefs this, to the truth of 
 what has been faid on the Subject before us; 
 that the power, fting, and terror of death, are 
 taken away by a fincere belief of chriftianity, 
 and of that life and immortality which are 
 -brought to light thro' the Gofpel. 
 
 The mature of that .diftemper which 
 brought <teathf was fuch as to deprive 
 ff ibe free ufe of reafon, for the moft 
 
 part 
 
3& A hrief Account, Sec. 
 
 part * ; he could therefore % very little 
 then, that might be of advantage to living 
 friends and relations : But there was one* 
 thing worthy of their remarking, that the 
 lajlfermon he preach'd, mould be a confola- 
 tory difcourfe under afflictive providences -f t 
 He could not have chofen a text more emi- 
 nent and proper to ferve foch a purpofe; 
 than that which he preach'd upon j being 
 the firft •words of our faviour*s confolatory 
 difcourfe to his difciples, when he was go- 
 ing to lay down his life §. And that I 
 may fay nothing to carry your thoughts 
 from them, I have referved them for the 
 la/l words of this fermon. Let them be 
 considered, as if you heard them preached 
 upon with the greateft life and fpirit, by 
 him who preach'd his lajl when he deli- 
 vered his thoughts upon them ; or rather, 
 as if you heard Christ himfelf, who can 
 {peak not only to the ear, but to the heart, 
 laying to you; — Let not your heart be 
 troubled, ye believe in God, believe aljb in 
 me. To him be glory for ever. Amen. 
 
 * A violent fever. 
 
 t Preach'd to a very numerous a flembly at Exeitr. 
 
 $ John xiv. i. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 n. w. 
 
 mm