flefh of beafts, another of fishes, and another of birds ;" as there are bodies celeftial and bodies terreftrial, each invefted with its peculiar and appropriate glory and excellency, as "there is one glory of the fun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the ftars; for one ftar differeth from another ftar in glory. So alfo is the refurrection of the dead." Next to the uniformity and regularity which pervade the system of the univerfe, the diversity and variety of the productions of nature, and of the ways of Providence claim our attention and excite our admiration. To this diverfity the field and the foreft the fragrant earth and the ftarry heavens are indebted for all their beauty. Hence the brute creation derives utility and importance, and human fociety its being and comfort. Under the addition of another orb fimilar to that which illumines and animates the world, nature would be oppreffed, and mourn, and expire. Withdraw that fingle little moon, that fpeck in creation, that mere attendant minifter on our globe, and what a blank is left in the fyftem, what myriads are rendered comfortless, how the harmony is destroyed! Countlels as various are the ftars in the firmament; but the fubtraction, the tranfpofition, the accelerated or retarded motion of one of the leaft of them would unhinge the general frame, unfettle the balance, and introduce contulion. But arranged as they are, counterpo:fed fultained by the arm of Omnipotence, every one lends its portion of ftrength, beauty and ftability to the whole. Each orb reflects luftre on its oppofite; an harmonious difcord be comes. productive of perfect union; every thing differs, and yet every thing agrees. In the prefent imperfect ftate of the moral world, we must not look for the harmonious variety which reigns in the kingdom of nature. Society prefents not only variety of rank, of talents, of poffeffions, but differences of opinion, oppofitions of intereft, the fermentation of paffions. Offences will come, peace must be disturbed, blood must flow. But in the resurrection of the dead the harmonies of grace fhall correspond to thofe of nature, for univerfal nature shall be under the dominion of love. "Chrift loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might fanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might prefent it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish." From what has been faid, let us,

1. Blefs God for the clear light in which this all-important doctrine is placed. The evidence of it pours into the eye, rushes into the heart every step we take. As often as we walk out into the corn-field, we have the image of death and of the

refurrection

refurrection of the dead. The husbandman caft in the feed that it might die, that it might fee corruption. The fight of the springing grain affures us that he fowed in hope, and that his hope maketh him not afhamed. So alfo is the refurrection of the dead." Every time the epicure fits down to a feast, he has in the dainties of his table a reprefentation of the varieties which the day of the renovation of all things fhall display. Every time that the contemplative man" confiders the heav ens, the work of God's fingers, the moon and the ftars which he hath ordained," he perceives an image of the future glory of the redeemed. As one ftar differeth from another ftar in glory, fo allo is the refurrection of the dead." The wearinefs and wafting of the, bodily, vigour, throws the human frame night by night into the femblance of death; the freshnefs of the dawn reftores it to newnefs of lite; fo alfo is the refurrection of the dead," them that fleep in Jefus will God bring with him." "Why fhould it be thought a thing incredible with you that God fhould raife the dead ? Was not that ftately. oak once a dry acorn ?. Was not that gorgeous bird of a thou fand radiant colours enclosed in a putrid fhell? Did not that, wonder of every eye, of every ear, once crawl a poor helpless reptile? How grievoufly do men err, "not knowing the Scrip tures and the power of God.".

2. The doctrine has a happy tendency to reconcile the mind to the profpect of our own diffolution. The body, the object of fo much anxiety and attention, is after all but a flimfy garment, of feeble texture, and of perishable materials. And is it indeed fuch a mortification to lay down an old, rufty, galling armour, and go to reft at eafe, when the labours and dangers of a hard warfare are at an end? Is it fo very humiliating to part with worn-out raiment, with filthy rags, to exchange them for røbes of immortality ?. This is the profpect which the refurrection opens to the Chriftian's hope. This is the change which paffed upon Jofhua the high priest in prophetic vision, the emblem of final deliverance, of unfading glory. "Now Jofhua was clothed with filthy garments, and flood before the angel. And he answered and ipake unto thofe that flood before him, faying, take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he faid, Behold, I have caufed thine iniquity to pafs from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I faid, let them fet a fair mitre upon his head. So they fet a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord ftood by." Thefe are words which deferve to be written, to be printed in a book, to be graven with an iron pen and lead, in the rock for ever: "I know that my

redeemen

redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my fkin, worms deftroy this body, yet in my flefh fhall I fee God, whom I fhall fee for myself, and mine eyes fhall behold, and not another; though my reins be confumed within me."

3. "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are afleep, that ye forrow not, even as oth ers which have no hope." You have been called, it may be, to bury out of your fight what was once youth and beauty, tal ents and virtue, wildom and piety. But these were, on earth, neceffarily blended with weakness and imperfection. That weakness and imperfection remain in the grave, never to rife again. What are the tranfient youth and fading beauty of this world? What are the talents and the virtues of the wifeft and the best of men, compared to the celeftial radiance, the immortal vigor, the unfullied purity, the fublime wifdom of beings fhining in their Redeemer's likenefs! Were it in your power, could you find in your heart, to bring back a beloved child, a friend dear to you as your own foul, to a ftate of depreffion, and pain, and forrow? No, the bitterness of death is past, The last enemy hath done his worft. They were first ready; They have reached home before us. Therefore,

4. "Be ye not fothful, but followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promifes." Be conftantly aim.. ing at higher degrees of moral and intellectual excellence; at thole qualities which, though of little estimation in the eyes of men, are in the fight of God of great price, and conftitute the glory of the kingdom of heaven. Be filen ly, unoftentatioufly adding," with all diligence, to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godlinefs; and to godlinefs, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity. For it these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye fhall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift."" Finally, brethren, whatfover things are true, whatfoever things are honeft, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatfoever things are lovely, whatfoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praife, think on thefe things:" Seeing that in the refurrection, thofe who fleep in the duft of the earth thall awake, and they that be wife fhall fhine as the brightnets of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the ftars forever and ever.

LECTURE

LECTURE XXI.

JOHN, IV. 46-54

So Jefus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose for was fick at Capernaum, when he heard that Jefus was come out of Judea into Gaiilee he went unto him, and befought him that he would come down and heal his fon: for he was at the point of death. Then faid Jefus unto him, except ye fee figns and wonders ye will not believe. The nobleman faith unto him, fir, come down ere my child die. Jefus faith unto him, gothy way, thy fon liveth. And the man believed the word that Ffus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And

as he was now going down his fervants met him, and told him, faying, thy for liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they faid unto him, yesterday at the feventh hour the fever left him. So the Father knew that it was at the fame hour in the which Jefus faid unto him, thy fon liveth; and himself believed, and his whole houfe. This is again the fecond miracle that Jefus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.

THE moft ferious bufineffes of human life make but a forry

figure when they come to be recorded. Interesting to the individual, and for the moment, they awaken no general concern, and become to the parties themselves, when the moment is past," trifles light as air." The avidity with which fresh journals are read is a perfect contrast to the indifference with which they are treated on the fecond or the third day. Let a man fit down to write the hiftory of his own life; let him be the busiest and most important of perfonages, and what has he got to relate? A meagre account of the miles he travelled, of the bargains he drove, of the fpectacles he beheld, of the viands which covered his table, and of the guests who furrounded it. Into this little measure shrink the atchievements of the great, the fplendor, pomp and pride of kings, as well as the fhort and fimple annals of the poor." When the pageant has paffed by, it is as a vision of the night, it vanishes into air,

"

1

it leaves no track behind. In vain is the monumental column reared. The hand of time erafes the infcription, shakes the fabric, crumbles it into duft. In vain does History promise to fave from oblivion, and to confer immortality. The author, his work, his fubject, the very language in which he wrote, all perish.

Nevertheless there are illuftrious exceptions. There have been perfons whofe names are dear to every fucceeding generation, and who fhall be had in everlafting remembrance; who were engaged in purfuits of endless utility, and producing events which fhall never fpend their force. And there is a record which survives the lapfe of ages, the ravages of bar barifm, the revolutions of empire, and which fhall outlive the diffolution of worlds. There we contemplate the deathlefs glory of the venerable benefactors of mankind, who "being dead yet speak," who were and are the light of the world. All thofe fcattered rays of light are collected into one focal point, in the person of Jefus Chrift. "To him give all the proph ets witnefs;" "all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God;"-" the nations of them which are faved walk in his light, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it."

In the busiest and most active life there are long and frequent intervals of repole. Much must be allowed to human infirmity both of body and mind; the fpirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. One life alone difplays an inceffant progrefs in doing good; no word idly spoken, no moment unprofitably spent, no step unneceffarily taken. The night itself is made a feason of devotion, the hour of focial refreshment becomes an occafion of communicating ufeful knowledge, a walk into the corn-fields or by the fhore of the fea, a journey" from city to city, an ascent into the mountain, all are facred to one commanding object, the glory of God and the good of mankind, the inftruction of the ignorant, the pardon of the guilty, the relief of the miferable.

The folemnities of the paffover being finished, Jefus, accord ing to the wildom which directed all his proceedings, thought it proper to retire from Jerufalem, and to return into Galilee. The road lay through Samaria. The inhabitants of that country, though defcended from the fame ftock with the Jews, and once members together with them of the commonwealth of Ifrael, were now cordially hated and despised by them. But they poffeffed the fame" lively oracles of God," they looked for the fame Meffiah promifed to their common fathers, and they gladly received the word when it came unto them. The

great