dering that we have the true fountain of it revealed to us, and the
true nature and consequents of it.

All men must needs know that death is the most universal king in the
world, that it reigns over all ages, sexes, conditions, nations and times,
though few be willing to entertain thoughts of it, yet sooner or later,
they must be constrained to give it lodging upon their eyelids, and suffer
it to storm the very strongest tower, the heart, and batter it down, and
break the strings of it, having no way either to fly from it or resist it.
Now, the consideration of the general inundation of death over all
mankind, and the certain approaching of it to every particular man's door,
hath made many serious thoughts among the wise men of the world. But being
destitute of this heavenly light that shineth to us, they could not attain
to the original of it, but have conceived that it was a common tribute of
nature, and an universal law imposed upon all mankind by nature, having
the same reason that other mutations and changes among the creatures here
below have, and so have thought it no more a strange thing, than to see
other things dissolved in their elements. Now, indeed, seeing they could
apprehend no other bitter ingredient in it, it was no wonder that the
wisest of them could not fear it, but rather wait and expect it as a rest
from their labours, as the end of all their miseries.

But the Lord hath revealed unto us in his word the true cause of it, and
so the true nature of it. The true cause of it is sin,--"Sin entered into
the world, and death passed upon all, for that all have sinned," Rom. v.
12. Man was created for another purpose, and upon other conditions, and a
law of perpetual life and eternal happiness was passed in his favour, he
abiding in the favour, and obeying the will of him that gave him life and
being. Now, sin interposing, and separating between man and God, loosing
that blessed knot of union and communion, it was this other law that
succeeded, as a suitable recompense, "thou shall die:" it is resolved, in
the council of heaven, that the union of man shall be dissolved, his soul
and body separated, in just recompense of the breaking the bond of union
with God. This is it that hath opened the sluice to let in an inundation
of misery upon mankind: this was the just occasion of that righteous but
terrible appointment, "It is appointed that all men once should die, and
after death come to judgment," Heb. ix. 27