children now playing in our fields." Does not this help us to understand St. Paul's argument: "All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars : for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."

That men will certain as that

It is impossible, my dear brother, to go into the depths of the subject before us. And it is altogether unnecessary that we should do so. rise again with their bodies, is as countless millions of them have died. Our adorable God has undertaken to effect this miracle, and we cannot take the most transient glimpse of nature, without seeing miracles as great. The very sight of these ought to inspire us with confidence in God's promise. If luscious fruits, and lovely sweetlyscented flowers, and some of the staple articles of our daily food, are developed from dead seeds, then surely will the resurrection-body be developed from the natural body. Oh, well does the " "Country Parson " say, in his " Graver Thoughts ” :—“I believe in the resurrection of the body." There is

not a doctrine of the Gospel that is more clearly, strongly, and fully declared. You remember how St. Paul argues the question at length; and anticipates and puts down all objections. "This corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality." "The dead shall be raised incorruptible." "That which was sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption; that sown in dishonour shall be raised in glory: that sown in weakness shall be raised in power: that sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body." And, remembering that the soul is not all the man; remembering that it needs body and soul, in union, to constitute the perfect human being; remembering that the body is redeemed with Christ's blood, as well as the soul; the great apostle hesitates not to say, that".. "only when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"

Prayer.

OH LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, we would love and worship and adore Thee. In the beginning, Thou didst breathe into man's nostrils the breath of life, and didst make him a living soul. "Thou turnest man to destruction: again Thou sayest, Come again ye children of men." Oh visit this our sick brother, we beseech Thee, with comforting thoughts concerning the resurrection of that body which is now suffering under the weight of illness. Let him entirely, and with child-like faith, believe that Thou wilt raise the dead. Quicken him to perceive that Thou hast shadowed forth this Thine intention in the miracles of the animal and vegetable worlds. Mercifully grant, that if Thou willest he should die, "death," in his case, may be "swallowed up in victory." Remove far from him the sting of death, which is sin, through the precious blood of Thy dear Son. Grant that, in anticipation of a probable release, he may ever be ready to exclaim, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Thy Divine grace render him stedfast, unmoveable as to his faith in Thee.

Grant that, so long as Thou willest to extend

his earthly course, he may always abound in Thy work, supported therein by the continual assurance that because of the resurrection to eternal life, his labour is not in vain in Thee. Mightily assist us all to love and serve Thee here below, and afterwards, oh Lord, receive us to glory, for the alone precious merits' sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with Thee, and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

XLVI.

THE SAVIOUR'S RESURRECTION.

ST. MATTHEW xxviii. 1-10.

THE resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the great event that forms the very foundation and ground-work of our Christian faith. St. Paul gives to it no more than its due importance, when he says, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is

Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: Whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins! Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. xv. 13-20.) Such language as this cannot fail to convince all who are taught of God through the Spirit, that the resurrection of Christ is an undoubted fact. It is the Sun of Glory that has arisen upon a dark, dying world. It is the precious Stronghold to which the Christian turns in time of affliction. Would St. Paul have undergone so much as he did for Christ's sake; would he have ceased the persecution of the Christians; would he, in common with a number of other honest, calm, and credible witnesses, have chosen a life of trial and persecution as a Christian, rather than one of carnal ease and security as a Jew, if the resurrection of Christ, and all its glorious consequences to our world, had not been proved by him? Why should we accuse him, or them, of being false witnesses ?