suffering brethren, that they also may escape their present awful peril of being cast away and of perishing at a distance from God. Persuade them to enter the ark into which you have entered, and find peace. Persuade them to accompany you to the Lord's sanctuary, that they may learn the extent of their danger and the way of escape. Say to them in affectionate earnestness, whilst you constrain them to come in,-" Come with us, and we will do you good!" So shall the encouragements before us be satisfactorily fulfilled, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, so the Lord will not only save you, but make you a blessing!

DISCOURSE VI.

ON THE RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGMENT.

REVELATION XX. 12-15.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

ST. JOHN, the beloved disciple of our Lord,— originally a humble fisherman of Bethsaida, in Galilee, was the distinguished individual who saw this wonderful sight, "the dead, small and

great, stand before God." He saw by the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, the things not that were then performing on the stage of life-but events as yet ungenerated, which should shortly come to pass. He saw, as it were, the heavens opened, and the wonders of future ages and of a future state plainly exhibited before his eyes. He "saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:" "and they were judged every man according to their works." "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Brethren; these awful and wonderful things, foreseen by St. John, declare we now in part unto you. And as each of us must participate in these grand and terrific events, may we all be deeply in earnest to prepare to meet them; yea, may God give me grace to speak with spirit and with power, and you a heart to feel, as well as an ear to hear, whilst from the words I have read, I preach to you the doctrine " of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

I. OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.

To every one acquainted with the contents of the New Testament, "the resurrection of the dead" must be a familiar doctrine. Yet, but few persons

reflect on its wonders and importance, though they acknowledge its certainty and reality. For if the doctrine be not certainly true; "if," as saith St. Paul, "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." "But," he adds, "now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man (Adam) came death, by man (the man Christ Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." As sure, therefore, as in consequence of Adam's weakness and sin all mankind shall die -so surely, through the power and righteousness of Christ shall all be raised from the dead. is, indeed, a great mystery; hence some men, not believing the scriptures, will cavil at the truth, and say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Or they will sceptically put the question,-" Can the dead decayed body live? Can the body that has become food for the worms of the earth-or has been eaten up by the fishes of the sea-or wasted in the depths of the ocean-be restored and live? Can the bones that have been consumed in the flames -and the ashes that have been scattered to the winds of heaven, be gathered together and made to live?" St. Paul shall answer. "Thou fool,

This

that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die." As if he had said-Thoughtless, foolish man; because thou understandest not the mighty and infinite power of Jehovah, thou wouldst deny the resurrection-or thou wouldst think to bring an objection to the doctrine that cannot be answered. Thy objection and thy denial are alike weak, and can be proved to be foolish. "That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die." But the grain thou sowest, though it die, is quickened and raised a living seed. Canst thou explain this? No! Why then doubt that the same almighty power, which thou knowest bringeth a new and living body out of the rotting grain, should raise the wasted carcass of man alive from the dead?

But argument, brethren, is needless. The word of God plainly declares the resurrection from the dead, "For the dead, small and great, shall stand before God." "There shall be a resurrection, both of the just and the unjust." None shall be excepted, and none shall be missed. The depths of the sea shall be no concealment-for the sea shall give up the dead which are in it. The grave will be no hiding place-for "the hour is coming," said our Lord, "in the which all that are in the graves shall hear my voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil,