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Inquire whether, in obedience to his word, you are relying solely upon him, and coming to the Father through him, and pleading his merits and mediation as the only grounds of your hope.

Carry your inquiry yet further; and see whether your transition from death to life be so clear and manifest, that it admits not of any reasonable doubt. Are you "crucified with Christ" to all the vanities of this world? and are you "living entirely by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," "receiving every thing out of his fulness," and improving every thing to his glory?

If these things be indeed your daily experience, then is all the blessedness annexed to such a state your assured portion. But consider, I pray you, the sad alternative. If these things be in you, "you shall not come into condemnation:" but if you have only the appearance of them, and not the reality, then does condemnation await you at your departure hence; yea, our blessed Lord expressly tells you, that " you are condemned already, and that the wrath of God abideth on you." What a fearful thought is this! How can you bear to live in such a state, or endure even to have your state a matter of doubt or suspense? If it were at an earthly tribunal only that condemnation awaited you, it were a tremendous prospect: but to be condemned by the Judge of quick and dead, and be sentenced by him to everlasting misery, is so terrible, that I wonder the apprehension of it does not utterly overwhelm you. My heart's desire and prayer to God for you, brethren, is, that not one of you may be ever subjected to such a doom as this.]

2. Pursue with all earnestness the blessedness that has now been set before you-

[Surely it is worth seeking for, and will richly repay all that you can either do or suffer to obtain it. Were you urged to commence a life of suffering, such as the devotees of idols inflict upon themselves, you might well undertake the painful task, and submit to all that could be inflicted on you. But we call you to nothing of this kind. We invite you only to come to Christ, and to "hear his word, and to believe in the Father who hath sent him:" and shall this be deemed hard? Even in this present life, the blessedness of having a title to heaven, and the very life of heaven begun in your souls, would richly repay you how much more, then, will all the glory and felicity of God himself, so far as a creature can enjoy it, recompense your labours? Be in earnest, brethren. There is nothing under heaven worth seeking after in comparison of

a John iii. 18, 36.

this. Let "the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" and in dependence on it, go to the Father, and "lay hold upon him," and remind him of his covenant: yea, take all "his exceeding great and precious promises," and plead them before him: and see whether it shall be in vain to call upon God. No, indeed: He will be merciful unto you: he will seal a sense of his pardoning love upon your soul; and make himself over to you as your God and portion for ever. Call to mind the assurance given you in my text: "Verily, verily, I say unto you." Thus shall it be done to the believing soul. What more can you want to comfort and encourage you? Only come to God in his appointed way, and all this blessedness shall be yours.]

MDCXXVIII.

THE RESURRECTION.

John v. 28, 29. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

FROM the resurrection of Christ we may infer, that we ourselves also shall rise from the dead. Indeed, he is called "the first-fruits of them that slept;" and therefore we may expect that there will be a complete harvest in due time. To this effect also we are informed in the words before us: from which we shall be naturally led to consider,

I. The certainty of the resurrection

By many it has been "thought incredible that God should raise the dead." But "their error proceeds from not knowing the Scriptures, or the power of Goda." Consider then,

1. What the Scriptures speak concerning it— [They have recorded many instances wherein the dead have been raised — Even in the Old Testament there

a Matt. xxii. 23, 29.

b 1 Kings xvii. 17-23. 2 Kings iv. 32-37. Luke vii. 12-15. John xi. 43, 44. Acts ix. 36-41. and especially Matt. xxvii,

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are not wanting many strong intimations of it the New, it is declared in every paged]

2. The power of God to effect it

and in

[See what God has done: look at the whole creation; and then ask, Whether He who formed the universe out of nothing, cannot as easily re-unite our scattered atoms (whatever changes they may have undergone), and restore to every one his own body? Yes; it was the voice of Jesus that spake the universe into existence; and that same voice will call forth into renewed existence all that are mouldered in their graves. See, moreover, what our God is doing. We forbear to notice the succession of day and night, and summer and winter; or the reviviscency of birds and insects after long intervals of suspended animation. We call your attention rather to the changes wrought upon the seed that is cast into the earth: it dies, and rises again, in appearance different, in reality the same. What more striking image of the resurrection could be presented before our eyes? Surely in this we have a pattern of the change that shall be accomplished in us at the last day; and a pledge that "our bodies, which are sown in corruption, weakness, and dishonour, shall be raised in incorruption, power, and glory."]

As no doubt can remain upon our minds respecting the certainty of the resurrection, let us next consider,

II. The issue of it

There will be an immense difference between the states of different men

[Who can conceive all that is implied in "a resurrection to life?" If in some respects we may borrow images from the present life in order to illustrate it, in other respects that new and heavenly life will form a perfect contrast to all that we now experience. It is true, that all the faculties of our bodies shall be employed in the service of our God: but it is also true, that they shall never clog the soul in its operations; their capacities shall be exceedingly enlarged; they shall never be subject to weariness or want of any kind; they shall be as full of activity and blessedness as the soul itself.

On the other hand, Who shall declare what is the full import of " a resurrection to damnation?" We are shocked at the very sound of the word " damnation:" how much more

• Exod. iii. 6. with Mark xii. 26, 27. Isai. xxvi. 19. Hos. xiii. 14. with 1 Cor. xv. 54, 55. and especially Job xix. 25-27.

d passim. See 1 Cor. xv.

should we be so, if we knew all that is comprehended in it! It is in vain to attempt to describe the anguish which the body shall endure in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. But we are persuaded that the soul will bitterly bewail the necessity it is under of being re-united to that body, which once, instead of governing it aright, it pampered and obeyed

And its misery will be fearfully augmented by the increased. capacity of anguish which it will derive from its union with the body

This difference will correspond with, and be founded on, their moral characters

[The Scriptures uniformly declare the connexion that subsists between our present conduct and our future state. Nor need we be afraid of stating the truth precisely in the same manner, provided we bear in mind what is implied "in doing good, and doing evil." To do good is, to serve God cheerfully and without reserve. Now the very first "commandment of God is, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." This at once lays the axe to the root of all self-righteousness; and necessitates us to look unto Christ both for righteousness and strength. And we do not hesitate to say, that all who serve God in conformity with this fundamental principle, shall have a resurrection to life.

If, on the contrary, we "do evil," neglecting this adorable Saviour, and living to ourselves rather than to him, we shall certainly "come forth to everlasting shame and contempt."

Each of these truths is so firmly asserted in the Scriptures, that no doubt of them can be entertained. We want only to have them brought home with more feeling to our hearts.] ADDRESS

[Consider for which of these states you are preparing. You may delay, under the idea that the time will never come: but "the hour is coming," as fast as the wings of time can bring it forward. Let not your preparation for it be deferred: for life is uncertain; and as death finds you, so will judgment find you. If you live and die obedient followers of Christ, you will be happy. If you rely not on him, or devote not yourselves unreservedly to him, it will not be in the power of God himself to save you: for" he cannot deny himself;" and he has expressly said, that all such persons shall have "a resurrection to damnation."]

e Dan. xii. 2.

f Gal. vi. 7, 8. Rom. ii. 6-10.

MDCXXIX.

JOHN BAPTIST'S CHARACTER.

John v. 35. He was a burning and a shining light.

IT might well be expected that the advent of the Messiah should be marked by such concurrent circumstances, as should carry conviction, to every dispassionate mind, that the person assuming_that character was indeed the person predicted by Moses and the prophets. Accordingly we find, that there was a person sent as the forerunner of our blessed Lord, to prepare his way, and to bear witness to him. This person was John the Baptist, himself a most extraordinary man; so extraordinary, that the Jewish rulers doubted whether he was not the Messiah: but he disclaimed all pretensions to that honour; and rested satisfied with executing the office which had been assigned him. To this man's testimony our blessed Lord appealed; at the same time testifying respecting him, that " he was a burning and a shining light.'

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In confirmation of this assertion respecting John, I will,

I. Point out the peculiar excellencies of his character

Of course I cannot enter into all the parts of his character: I will content myself with specifying three things which pre-eminently distinguished him:

1. The clearness of his knowledge—

[In this he excelled all who went before him. Many prophets had spoken plainly of Christ, declaring both his sufferings, and the glory that should follow them. But they spake of Christ at a distance of several hundreds of years, and understood not the prophecies which they were inspired to record. But John pointed out the Messiah himself, and directed the people to Jesus, as "that Lamb of God, who, by the sacrifice of himself, should take away the sins of the world." In this act, not only was the typical nature of the b John i. 19-27.

a John i. 6-8.

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e 1 Pet. i. 10, 11.

d John i. 29.

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