ding garment? And he fpeechless, having nothing to alledge as a plea for his being there. Now fuch as are found in Chrift, and cloathed with his righteousness, will be found, at death, neither naked nor fpeechless, but fhall have a ready and an abundant entrance into Chrift's kingdom and glory.

(4.) A being washed in the blood of Christ, and fo clear from all guilt and charge of it, and condemnation by it, is a fure and lafting readiness for death. Chrift's blood is a fountain opened to wash in; and it has fuch virtue in it, ast to cleanse from all fin whatever, and leaves none behind; fo that a perfon once washed or purged by it, is clear from it, and when death comes, fhall immediately inherit the kingdom of God: which none fhall, but those who are washed, sanctified, and justified.

(5.) Spiritual knowledge of Christ, and true faith in him, have eternal life connected with them infeparably; though not always clear, and unbeclouded, and in lively exercise, yet the principle itself always abides, and is never loft; and fuch who know in whom they have believed, are faithfully kept by him, to whom they have committed themselves, against the day of death and judgment.

There is another fort of readiness which is not always the fame, and lies in the frame and pofture of the foul, and which a faint is defirous of having when death comes, both for his own comfort and the glory of God; though he knows that his fafety does not lie in it, yet he wishes to be found in the lively exercise of faith, and hope, and love, and patience, and refignation to the will of God: to be awake, and not in a lumbering frame; but watching and on his guard. against the enemy, and expecting his Lord's coming; to be frequently meditating on death, and making it familiar to himself, and fo become free from the fear and dread of it; and to be in fuch a difpofition of mind, as to be defirous of dea h, and willing to depart; and rather choofing it, and longing for it; faying, why are his chariot-wheels fo long in coming? And to be fo fearless of death, as to triumph over it, and say, Death, where is thy fting! Grave, where is thy victory! Or however, he withes to be in a waiting posture when death comes, waiting for the hope of righteousness by faith, and looking for his Lord's coming, with his loins girt and his lamp burning; and bleffed indeed are thofe fervants whom, when their Lord comes, he fhall find fo doing, Luke xii. 35-37, 43.

II. There are feveral things which may ferve to reconcile men to death, though it is fo difagreeable to nature; as, 1. The neceffity of death to free them from fin and forrow, without which they will not be free. Whilft they are in this tabernacle they are burdened with fin, and groan under their burden; nor will they be eafed till the tabernacle is diffolved, or pulled down by death. Whilst they are in this land, the Canaanites are in it, their inbred fins and cor

ruptions,

The FIRST CHAPTER of S. JOHN's GOSPEL, With Dr GILL'S COMMENTARY on it.

To which is prefred, by acte Hand,

A PREFACE,

Recommended to the serious Consideration of the

REV. DR PRIESTLY.

JESUS CHRIST the true GOD and Eternal Life, 1 John v. 10.
Deaving the only LORD GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST. The

PRINTED FOR GEORGE KEITH, IN GRACICHTRc-Štu

NE. This is intended as a SPECIMEN of a New Entrics of the du COMMENTARY on the WHOLE Bite; containing a Double Wei of the Sacred Text, the frid by ineff, the other with the lever Trans and Paraphrales of the Original Verfions, and large Explicious Cazz Hitaraal. Dietmanal, and Practical, which hath been long de Tref

TO TRY for Publication, with his laft Corrections and Im

མག།

こ

ruptions, and thefe are thorns in their fides, and pricks in their eyes; and will continue fuch. But, when they have got through death into the better and heavenly country, there will be no pricking briar, nor grieving thorn, throughout the land. 2. Death is no other to faints, than going to their father's and Chrifl's father's houfe; where are many manfions provided, and where they fhall enjoy the kingdom it is their father's good pleafure to give, and where they fhall have his prefence for evermore. 3. It is in order to be with Chrift, which is infinitely preferable to being in this world, and where they fhall be for ever with him and behold his glory. 4. Which, though of leffer confideration than the former, yet it has fomething in it to reconcile to death, that that will introduce them into the prefence and company of pious relations and friends that are gone before, and died in Chrift; fo David took fome fatisfaction in this, that though his child was dead, and fhould not return to him, yet he should go to that, 2 Sam. xii. 23. 5. Death is the time of the Lord's in-gathering of his people to himfelf; then it is he comes into his garden, and gathers his lilies, and this and the other flower, to put into his bolom. Heaven is his garner, into which he gathers his wheat; and this is done at death. Now it is, that he makes up his jewels, his full number of them, one by one, and will lofe none. 6. The death of the faints is precious in the fight of God, Pfal. cxv. 16, and if it is precious to him, they fhould not fhrink at it themselves.

The philofo

Thirdly, Death is very terrible to nature, and to natural men. pher calls it, the most terrible of all terribles. And the wife man, when he fuggefts what is most grievous, diftreffing, and intolerable, fays, "What is more "bitter than death?" Eccl. vii. 26. To Chriftless finners, death is the king of terrors; and even fome gracious perfons are, all their lifetime, through fear of death, fubject to bondage; but as formidable as it is, there are some things which may ferve to fortify us against the fears of death: as, 1. That the fting of death is taken away by Chrift; which is fin: and a very venomous fting it is; and death, thus armed, is to be feared. But, when its fting is taken out, it is not to be dreaded any infect with a fting we are naturally afraid of, but if its fting is drawn, we have no fear of it, though it flies and buzzes about us; the believer may fing and fay, Death where is thy fting? and be fearless of it. 2. It is a bleffing and privilege to a believer, it is reckoned among his privileges, 1Cor. iii. 22. they are blessed that die in the Lord; and are more happy than the faints alive, because free from fin and forrow, fee Rev. xiv. 13. Eccl. iv. 2.

3. Death

TWV pobegwr pobεgwτatov i Javar. Ariftot. Ethic. 1. 3. c. 9. and no wonder he should call it fo, fince he adds, according to his opinion, it is the end of all things: and to one that is dead, there is neither good nor evil. Such a notion of death, as being an extinction, must be terrible.

4. The

3. Death is but once, and foon over; the bitterness of it is quickly past, and will never be repeated; it is appointed to men ONCE to die, and no more. confideration of the refurrection from the dead, may yield comfort in the view of death; as it did to Job, ch. xix. 26, 27. the body, though a vile body as laid in the grave, will be raised, and fashioned like to the GLORIOUS body of Chrift. It will be raised in incorruption: this corruptible fhall put on incorruption. It will be raised in glory, like Chrift; it will be raised in power, and be durable, and always remain in a ftate of immortality. It will be raised a spiritual body, and fo more fit for fpiritual fervices than ever, 1 Cor. xv. 42, 43. fo will be no loofers, but gainers, by death; and need not fear it. 5. Be it that death is an enemy, as it is contrary to nature; it is the last enemy that shall be deftroyed; and, when that is conquered, the victory will be compleat over every enemy, sin, fatan, the world, death and the grave, 1 Cor. xv. 26, 55, 57. Thanks, therefore, to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jefus Christ.

that the faints

FIN. I S.