The Resurrection and the Life.

COLOSSIANS, I: 1. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.”

THERE is one peculiar festival, consecrated by a majority of Christian believers to a celebration of the Redeemer's resurrection. They not only recur to the wondrous fact with gladness ever, but set apart one day of separate joy, for its special commemoration. Once at least in the year, a great host of believing hearts would journey together in feeling to see the place where the Lord lay, to meditate upon the deserted tomb, to gather up in joyful remembrance the lessons of hope thus inspired, to follow him with a brightening faith in the path of his ascension.

It is a holy pilgrimage. It may be performed silently, in the secrecy of the heart, with no sign to attract the world's eye, or with rejoicings in the sacred temple. It may have no resemblance to those strange manifestations of sincere, yet blind enthusiam, in former days, when men rushed on with arms in their hands, to redeem the holy sepulchre from the power of the infidel. But how infinitely more beautiful is it in the sight of heaven! It is a pure crusade of faith and love, whose origin was sacred, and whose

effect may be indeed redeeming. What blessed confirmations of our faith may come as we gather there in lowly, glad meditations! What varied confirmations are these, adapted to meet all peculiarities of thought and feeling! Some there are for example, who are troubled by the operation of this great law of death as it appears to our senses; those who long for some visible proof that man may yet live when the eye is fixed in deathly stillness, when no trace of the living spirit can any more be found, and decay commences its rapid work upon the once active frame, and all that is seen only speaks of destruction. Let such hearts come and meditate. And when we admit the substantial truthfulness of the record, there is just the ministry they need, to suggest a solution of their difficulties. They may touch the print of the nails. They may put their hands into the side. They find an evidence addressed to the senses even, assuring them the grave is not the gate of destruction, but of glory. They see it is like the door of entrance to the splendour and joy of the marriage feast, as imaged in the parables of Jesus. To those without, all may appear frowning and dark. To those within, it is illuminate and bright forever.

The hearts also that desire upon any other ground to have a wonderful attestation of the doctrine of immortality whereon to repose, may come and meditate. And there they see that he

who spoke of an immortal being in tones of confidence almost precluding any doubting thought, himself wonderfully arose. And they know not how to resist the impression, that he who stood forth so gloriously in diviner power, dwelt also in the brightness of holy truth. The spirit of power could not have rested upon any soul, except it were sent of God.

And even the more philosophic believer as he is generally termed, who supposes his faith in immortality is based upon the conviction so irresistible when he considers the life of Jesus, that here was a spirit too divine to die, which all outward change might affect for the moment, but could not destroy, he could not look at the empty sepulchre in vain. From the place of the actual resurrection this joyous faith might be declared perhaps in its greatest power. And there might the joyous inference that all who may receive a like kindred to the Redeemer's spirit shall also tread death beneath their ascending feet, have a new impressiveness to his rejoicing soul.

But we are not disposed at present to discuss with any carefulness the varied and precise modes in which the literal resurrection may suggest the hope, or bring a confirmation, or give an assurance of an immortality of being. We only propose to recognize the general fact, that in some way it may brighten that triumphant thought. We only desire to say, that no pilgrimage of feel

ing to the tomb to celebrate the resurrection can ever be in vain. Ah! angels come to speak to us at every season when we devoutly gather there, to tell us in a new power of conviction, "He is not here, but is risen." And as we hear their testimony, the heavy doubts and fears which pressed us down to the earth, are in some degree at least, removed. We gain the joy of a more blessed immortal hope. All the graves in the world appear to be unsealed. The forms we laid. there amid dust and decay, rise before our thoughts in an unfading bloom. They are not embalmed in spices and myrrh, as the believing women sought to embalm the Saviour's body. But ah! they are robed in the garments in which an undying faith arrays them. They are embalmed in the pure and living trust, whose virtue and power are enduring as the love of God whence it springs.

The resurrection of the Lord! It is not however the confirmations of our own immortality alone, suggested by that event, to which the Apostles turn in adoring gratitude. This was doubtless a present thought. Yet was it equally, we may safely say I think, these more directly spiritual influences flowing from this assurance. It was the power and impulse of that faith, the glory and rapture of the immortal life itself, which entranced their imaginations, and ravished their hearts. This is the thought declared in the text.

And this it is they continually express throughout their writings in tones of deep and fervent eloquence.

I do not agree to the implication so often to be detected in earnest, glowing statements of the blessedness of an immortal hope, that everything having a truly inspiring influence to quicken the heart, is derived from the consideration of its immortality. It is a joyfulness, yes, a thought abounding in reasons for gratitude, and motives of holy power, when carefully considered, that we may live even in this present life. This present existence alone, is beautiful. What a theatre of action this world may open! How beautiful it is in many aspects! How beautiful it is even to our sense! May the expression be pardoned, yet when we consider that alone, it almost seems at times that infinite love has toiled to robe this world in charms, so fair are its thousand scenes delighting the eye. Our present dwelling place is adorned for us with the kindness of a God. And when the heart awakes to perceive the peculiar expression of love in this outward beauty, the impression is complete. Indeed, here is one of the purest proofs of an infinite goodness; a proof to which none can be insensible, and to some a source of intense delight. The fruits needful for man could have grown, had the trees not been so fair. It is a super-abounding kindness which both supplies the want and then pours forth