[ 1812] The true Christians confidence and con∣tempt of Death.
OBservable is that speech of King Agag, when Samuel sent for him, Surely the bitternesse of Death is past.* 1.1 Now the ground of this speech was either his ••alse hope, as thinking that the worst was past, because he was fetched off the Kings guard of Souldiers and brought to Samuel the Prophet who was Vir togatus a Man of Peace; Or else if the Messengers did tell him, why he was sent for, then he set a bold face upon it, and spake out of stomach intimating his resolutenesse and contempt of Death, that he was resolved to die bravely and like himself;* 1.2 This now was carnall gallantry; And thus many a man may Agag-like contemn Death and all Gods judgments out of stoutnesse and stiffness of heart; But all true believing Christians may and do gratiously despise Death, and say thus from a principle of Faith and cer••ain hopes of Heaven, Surely the bitternesse of Death is past,* 1.3 certainly Christ by his Death hath taken away the bitter∣ness of Death, and hath sweetly perfumed our graves by the burial of his own blessed body, so that we shall taste nothing but the sweetness of Death, and may now couragiously and triumphingly sing and say not as Agag did, Surely the bitternesse of Death is past, but as S. Paul did, O Death where is thy sting? &c. and to me to dye is gain,* 1.4 Phil. 1. 21.