come into the world, but that he should suffer on the cross; whence they ought to regard their former condition with holy terror and abhorrence. In his death they perceive how hateful sin is in the sight of God, since it was necessary that the blood of an infinite and Divine person should be shed in order to its expiation. In that death they discover the ineffable love of God, which has even led to the delivering up of his only begotten Son for their salvation. They discover the love and compassion of the Son himself, which induced him to come down from heaven to save them, which should beget reciprocal love, and an ardent zeal for his service. They perceive the hope of their calling, and realize the blessings of the eternal inheritance of God, which have been acquired by that death. They see the honour and dignity of their adoption, for Jesus Christ has died that they might become the children of God. They have been born of his blood, which binds them never to lose sight of this heavenly dignity, but to conduct themselves in a manner suitable to their high vocation.

In the death of Jesus Christ the eyes of believers are directed to the Spirit of sanctification, whom God hath sent forth; for in dying Jesus Christ has obtained for his people the inexhaustible graces of the Holy Spirit. This leads

them to renounce the spirit of the world, and submit to the direction and guidance of the Spirit from on high. They discover the honour of their communion with Jesus Christ, being his brethren and joint heirs, the members of his body, those for whom he shed his blood, and whom he hath redeemed at so astonishing a price. They see the peace which he hath made between God and them, which imposes on them the duty of never disturbing that blessed reconciliation, but on the contrary of rendering the most profound obedience to the divine law. They see the most powerful motives to humility, for the death of Jesus Christ is a mirror in which they behold the vileness and indignity of. their natural corruption, and perceive that they have nothing in themselves wherewith to satisfy divine justice for their sins. His death placing before their eyes their original condition, leads them to cry out before God, "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee; but unto us confusion of face." "Our justification is a blessing which proceeds from thy grace, thou hast conferred on us the righteousness of thy Son, but to ourselves belongeth nothing but misery and ruin.” The death of Jesus Christ presents the strongest motives to repentance, for if, after the redemption he has wrought, they should still continue in their sins, it would be making him, as the

Apostle says, "the minister of sin." And, finally, the death of Jesus Christ teaches them not to dread their own death, for he hath sanctified the tomb, and rendered death itself innoxious to his people, since he has condescended to suffer it for them. Their death is the last part of their fellowship on earth with their suffering Redeemer; and as his death was the gate through which he entered into his glory, so the earthly house of their tabernacle must be dissolved, that they may be also glorified together with him. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as his death, presents the strongest motives for the encouragement and sanctification of believers. His resurrection establishes their faith, as being the heavenly seal with which God has been pleased to confirm the truth of the Christian religion. Having been declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead, they are led to regard him as the Creator of the world, and the eternal Son of the Father. It assures them of the effect of his death in expiating their sins, and obliges them to embrace the blood of his cross as the price of their redemption. His resurrection being the victory which he obtained over the enemies of his

church, they are bound to place all their confidence in him, and to resign themselves for ever to his guidance. It presents the most powerful motive to have constant recourse to the mercy of the Father, for having himself raised up the Head and Surety of his people; it is an evident pledge of his eternal purpose to love them, and of their freedom of access to God by his Son.

In the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ believers are taught the certainty of their immortality and future blessedness. Lazarus and others who were raised up, received their life in the same state as they possessed it before; and after they arose they died a second time; but Jesus Christ, in his resurrection, received a life entirely different. In his birth a life was communicated to him which was soon to terminate on the cross. His resurrection communicated a life imperishable and immortal. Jesus Christ being raised from the dead, death hath no more dominion over him. Of this new life the Apostle speaks as being already enjoyed by his people. “He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Elsewhere he calls that heavenly life which Jesus Christ now possesses, their life. "Your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, ye also shall appear with him in glory."

"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me," he himself hath said, "shall never die." All this should inspire his people with courage to finish their course here, in order to go to take possession of the heavenly inheritance which he has gone before to prepare for them, and from whence he will come to receive them to himself. It should inspire them with fortitude, that they may not sink under the afflictions and trials which they experience on earth. The Apostle counted all things but loss and dung, that he might win Christ—that he might know him and the power of his resurrection. On the resur rection of Jesus Christ he rests the whole value and evidence of the truth of the Gospel." If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain." "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept."

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, on which believers rest their hope, is intimately connected with every part of the Christian religion. The perfections of the Father, his power, his justice, his faithfulness, were all engaged in raising up his Son from the grave. The constitution of the person of Jesus Christ himself also required it. He was the Son of God, the Prince of Life, holy, and without spot, conse quently having nothing in common with death.