Works (Vol 4) - Bates - XV - Sermon on the death of Manton concluded

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) by William Bates (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'A sermon on the death of Thomas Manton'.
 
My summary
This week we finish Bates' sermon for the funeral of Thomas Manton on 'And so we will be with the Lord forever.' (1Th 4:17)

Firstly Bates applies the text by telling us we should:
(i) consider the woful folly of men in refusing such an happiness;
(ii) be excited seriously to apply ourselves in the use of effectual means for the obtaining this happiness;
(iii) consider that the lively hope of this blessedness is powerful to support us under the greatest troubles that can befal us in this our mortal condition;
(iv) consider that the hope of this blessed state is able to free us from the fear of death.

Secondly Bates speaks about the life of Thomas Manton.  We hear about Manton's:
(i) preaching ministry;
(ii) doctrine;
(iii) Christian living.

What grabbed me
I liked Bates fourth point about the way heaven frees us from fear of death: 'The hope of this blessed state, is able to free us from the fear of death. This last enemy gives, a hot alarm to mankind, both as it deprives them of all that is pleasant here, and for the terrible consequences that attend it. To the eye of some, a dead body is a spectacle; of fearful appearance. He that a little before heard, and discoursed, and with a cheerful air conversed and enjoyed the World, now is dead, and all his senses in him: the eyes are dead to lights and the ears to sounds, the tongue to words, the heart to feel any affections, and the countenance to discover them : nothing remains but silence, horror and corruption. Besides, "after death comes judgment," and a state of unrelenting torments to the wicked. But a true believer that has been obedient to the Saviour, sees things by another light than that of sense, and has living hopes in his dying agonies. He knows that death to the saints is but a sleep : and while the body rests in the grave, the soul is as it were all act, continually exercising its most noble faculties on the best objects.'

For the Christian, death has lost its sting.

Next week's reading
Commence 'A sermon on the death of Thomas Jacomb' by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'II. We are to show upon what accounts our service is due to Christ.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.