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not risen. We shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. He shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. They that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."*

These are only a few passages out of many which might be quoted, and which plainly assert that there shall be a resurrection. This shall be universal. All the sons and daughters of Adam, of every nation, age, or condition. What an awful sight to behold unnumbered millions all starting into existence to receive the sentence of their final doom! "The sea (says John) gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them."+ At the voice of the Redeemer, every grave shall open, every tomb unfold its doors; the earth shall yield back its deposit, and the whole uni

* John v. 25, 26. Acts xxvi. 8. Ibid xxiv. 15. Job xix. 26, 27. 1 Cor. xv. 4. 1 Thess. iv. 16. Dan. xii. 2. + Rev. xx. 13.

verse will afford the most grand, yet the most awful scene ever beheld. The wicked, it is said, shall rise to shame; filled with consternation, and trembling to approach the awful Judge. The righteous shall rejoice with joy inexpressible. Their bodies shall be raised incorruptible, and be made like unto Christ's glorious body. No more subject to sickness nor pain, no external violence nor internal disease shall injure them. They shall be raised spiritual bodies, active and refined, fit for spiritual exercises, and, united to the soul, shall dwell for ever in the world of glory.

When this shall take place we know not; and therefore how necessary is it that we be ready, that we may be found of him in peace. Reader, can you look forward to this awful day without concern? Is it nothing to you how you shall rise? Have you never thought in what state you shall appear among all these myriads? If, in the dark gloom of this very night, you should hear the trumpet sound, would you not be filled with horror? would you not shriek and cry for mercy? or, would you endeavour to compose yourself with the thought that you should be as

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safe as others? O ask, whether it be not the highest wisdom now to consider your ways; for as you live and die, so will you be found at the resurrection morn. Now then is the time to seek a part in the resurrection of the just. Come and listen to him who said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die: believest thou this ?"*

But it is not only the resurrection of the body, but a

JUDGMENT

To come, that we are called upon to believe. The description of this awful scene is given us by our Saviour in the following words :-" Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation

*John xi. 25, 26.

of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and took thee in? or naked, aud clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I

say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."*

However some may affect to make light of this, let it be remembered, that the justice of God requires it. In the present state, the wicked are often exalted, while the righteous are depressed and persecuted. The principles of truth and justice do not sway all mankind. Religion has often been driven into a corner, while wickedness has triumphed, and been openly sanctioned and practised by the generality. How has ambition and the lust of dominion ravaged the world, thrown down altars, depopulated kingdoms, laid waste the fruitful fields, and caused torrents of human blood to flow in all directions? How have some, lost to all sense of feeling, reason, or truth, played the tyrant, violated the most sacred rights, trampled on the laws of God, and fettered the consciences of men? Alas! what horrid spectacles of cruelty and blood have been produced by inquisi

*Matt. xxv. 34 to 46.

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