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VICTORY IN DEATH.

A SERMON

PREACHED AT BRISTOL, ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 1791.

On Occasion of the Death

OF

THE REV. JOSEPH EASTERBROOK,

VICAR OF TEMPLE, IN THAT CITY.

B

THIS Sermon was written (after it was preached) at the desire

of many of the friends of Mr. Easterbrook. It was then sent to Mr. Wesley, the intimate friend of the deceased Vicar; who immediately ordered it to be printed at his Press. It was published but a few days before his last illness.

SERMON I.

VICTORY IN DEATH.

THE righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

He shall enter into peace: They shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. Isaiah lvii. 1, 2.

A WISE Heathen* has declared death to be "the most terrible of all terribles." And such it is to all who are not "born again to a lively hope." They are, on this account, "all their life long subject to bondage." The violence of the other passions may sometimes suspend this fear, and make a man rush into danger, as a "horse into the battle." But when he can think, the soul shrinks

Back on herself, and trembles at destruction.

It is also true, that death is generally spoken

Aristotle.

of in the Old Testament with a melancholy air. Even good men in that day do not seem to have

Gloried in dissolution near.

Hezekiah is a remarkable instance of this. (Isai. xxxviii.) The dread of death, though not of "something after death," (that certainly belongs to those who know not God,) seems to have had a great effect upon him.

But the gospel of Christ, by its greater light, takes away this gloom. We look through death to the resurrection, and shout, "O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory ?" Ye destroyers of the human race! Ye who are accustomed to conquer, and have made the earth a "field of blood!" Ye shall fall before Him whom we worship! Christ, in his glorious manifestation, "shall destroy those who have thus destroyed the earth! Then shall death be swallowed up in victory." Our Joshua will say to his risen saints, as he now says by anticipation to all his adopted sons, "Come hither, and put your feet on the necks of these kings!" "There shall then be no more death, neither sorrow, nor 'crying; for the former things," it shall then be said, "are passed away."

But this life is hid from the world: Both the life of grace, and the life of glory. So that we also may say with the Prophet, "The righteous

perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart." But, we may add too with him, (and, blessed be God! with brighter evidence,) "He shall enter into peace. They shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness."

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These words seem to me to be strikingly proper for the present occasion. We have to lament the removal of "a burning and shining light" from the Church Militant. But we 66 sorrow not as those without hope." "We count not the life of the just to be madness, or his end to be without honour. We know he is numbered with the sons of God, and his lot is with the saints."

I shall, FIRST, with the Lord's assistance, give some explanation of the passage, and show how it is fulfilled in the death of every righteous person. And then, SECONDLY, speak of the very exemplary life and happy death of the pious and useful Minister lately gone to his reward.

I. "THE RIGHTEOUS." Not merely those who do good. Men have various motives for doing good. St. Paul tells us, that a man may "give all his goods to feed the poor," and yet be nothing profited; consequently, may not be righteous. No: Righteousness, like wisdom, "cometh from above." (James iii. 17.) It is the work of God. As "all have sinned, so God commandeth all men everywhere to repent," and believe in Him who is the "propitiation for our sins." This is "the righteous

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