In the solemn close, alighting again from the world of light, and life, and glory, he just touches upon earth to drop another brief, but most impressive lesson that though the victory is obtained, though the last conquest is achieved, though Christ is actually risen - all these ends accomplished, are not to dismiss us from diligence, but to stimulate us to it. They furnish only an additional argument for " abounding in "the work of the Lord."— It adds animation to the motive, that from this full exposition of the doctrine, they not only believe, but they know, that their labour is not in vain in the Lord.

With this glorious hope what should arrest their progress? With such a reward in view- eternal life, the purchase of their risen Saviour, he at once provides them with the most effectual spur to diligence, with the only powerful support under the sorrows of life, with the

only

only infallible antidote against the fear of death.

To conclude, this blessed apostle never fails, where the subject is susceptible of consolation as well as of instruction, to deduce both from the same premises. What affectionate Christian will not here revert, with grateful joy, to the same writer's cheering address to the Saints of another church, who might labour under the pressing affliction of the death of pious friends? He there offers a new instance, not only of his never-failing rule of applying the truths he preaches, but of their immediate application to the feelings of the individual. This it is which renders his writings so personally interesting. That the mourner over the pious dead might not " sorrow as those "who have no hope," after the declaration that "Jesus died and rose again;" he builds, on this general principle, the

particular assurance, "Even them also "who sleep in Jesus will God bring "with him."

What a balm to the breaking heart!What! the loved companion of our youth, the friend of our age, the solace of our life, with whom we took sweet counsel, with whom we went to the house of God as friends, will Christ bring with him? Shall the bliss of our suspended intercourse be restored, unalloyed by the mutual infirmities which here rendered it imperfect, undiminished by the dread of another separation?

Well then might the angel say to Mary at the forsaken tomb, "Woman, why weepest thou?" Well might Jesus himself repeat the question, "Woman, "why weepest thou?" Tears are wiped from all eyes. "The voice of joy and thanksgiving is in the tabernacles of "the righteous." "The right hand of

"the

the Lord bringeth mighty things to "pass." The resurrection of Christians is indissolubly involved in that of Christ : "because I live, ye shall live also." What are the splendid triumphs of earthly heroes, to His triumph over the grave? What are the most signal victories over a world of enemies, to HIS victory over this last enemy? "Blessed be the God "and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, "who, according to his abundant mercy, "hath begotten us again to a lively hope

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by the resurrection of Jesus Christ "from the dead."

CHAP. XIX.

SAINT PAUL ON PRAYER, THANKSGIVING, AND RELIGIOUS JOY.

PRAYER is an act which seems to be so prepared in the frame of our na

ture, to be so congenial to our dependent. condition, so suited to our exigencies, so adapted to every man's known wants; and to his possibilities of wants unknown, so full of relief to the soul, and of peace to the mind, and of gladness to the heart; so productive of confidence in God, and so reciprocally proceeding from that confidence, that we should think, if we did not know the contrary, that it is a duty which scarcely required to be enjoined; that he who had once found out his necessities, and that there was no other redress for them, would spontaneously