when thou sayest, "Return, ye sons of men :" 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, when they are past; or as a watch of the night. 5 Thou refreshest them with sleep; and, in the morning, they are like the springing grass; 6 Which is green and flourishing; but, before the evening, is cut down, and wihered. 7 So are we consumed by thy displeasure; and carried off by thine indignation. 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 9 All our days are passed away through thine anger; we bring our years to an end, like, as it were, a tale that is told. 10 The days of our age are three-score and ten years; and if by reason of our strength we come to fourscore years, yet their increase is but labour and sorrow: for we are soon cut off, and sink into the grave. 11 Yet, who regardeth the vehemence of of thine anger; or the terribleness of thy displeasure? 12 Teach us to number our days aright; and we shall bring our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Return unto us, O JEHOVAH! at the last, and be gracious unto thy servants; 14 O satisfy us speedily with thy mercy; so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. 15 Comfort us according to the days thou hast afflicted us, and according to the years we have suffered adversity. 6 Show thy work unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children : 17 And let the glorious countenance of JEHOVAH Our GOD be upon us; o prosper thou the work of our hands! Now unto JEHOVAH, immortal, in visible, the only GOD; Be honour and glory, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, for ever. The minister. Amen. The following portion of scripture is selected to be read, as being suitable to the present present occasion, and is taken from the fif teenth chapter of the first epistle of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians, beginning at the twentieth verse. CHRIST hath been raised from the dead, and become the first fruits of them 21 who sleep. For, since by a man came death, by a man will also come a resur22 rection of the dead. For, as by means of Adam all die; even so by means of 23 Christ will all be made alive. (But every one in the class to which he belongeth; Christ the first fruits; afterward they who are Christ's at his 24 coming. Then shall come the consummation, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to his GOD and father; after he shall have put down all pre-eminence, and all authority and 25 power: for he will reign till all ene mies are put under his feet. The 26 greatest enemy shall be destroyed27 even death for all things are put under his feet. But, when it is said, 'all things are put under him,' it is plain that this is in addition to their subjection to HIм who put all things under 28 under him. But when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the son also himself be subject unto HIM who put all things under him, that GCD may be every thing with all.) 29 Else, what shall they gain who are baptized on account of dead instructors? If the dead assuredly will not be raised, why are they baptized on ac30 count of these men? Why do we also run into danger of this baptism every 31 hour? Iprotest, by the boasting which I maintain in Christ Jesus our lord, I die 32 daily. If, with human strength only, engaged with wild beasts at Ephesus, of what advantage could it be to me? 33 If the dead will not be raised, Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we 34 die.' Be not deceived. 'Evil connections corrupt good morals.' Be thoughtful, as ye ought to be, and sin not for some of you have no knowledge of GOD. I speak this with a view to your refor mation. 35 But some one will say, How are the dead to be raised? and, with what 36 body are they to come? Inattentive man! man! That which thou sowest is not 37 brought to life, except it die. And, that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body which will be produced; but a bare corn, perhaps of wheat, or 38 of some other grain. But GOD giveth 40 it a body as it pleaseth him; and to 39 every seed its peculiar body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men; and another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds. There are both celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial: but the splendor of the celestial is one, and the splendor of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one splendor of the sun, and another splendor of the moon, and another splendor of the stars. Nay, even one star differeth from another 42 star in splendor. Thus will it be in the resurrection of the dead. We are 43 born in corruption; we shall be raised in incorruption: we are born in dishonour; we shall be raised in glory: we are born in weakness; we shall be raised 44 in power. An animal body is born; a spiritual body will be raised. There is |