not by sin those bodies, which are "the temples of the Holy Ghost" on earth, and are destined hereafter to shine in the likeness of the body of your glorified Redeemer. Let no pleasures allure you, no temptations seduce you from that faith in your Saviour, that holy devotion to his service, which only can assure to you the hope of a resurrection to glory. Let this hope be an "anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast". Bound to it, you shall defy the tempests of the world. "Set your affection on things above," and have your conversation in heaven. Look thence for your Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: he shall "change your vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according unto the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself"." Finally, let this blessed hope of a resurrection to glory console the righteous under all the sorrows of life. The infirmities, the pains, the diseases, which now distress and convulse our bodies, shall all be done away in that blessed state where there shall be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears. Through the griefs and temptations of this troublesome world, the afflicted children of a 1 Cor. iii. 17.-vi. 19. b Heb. vi. 19. d Philip. iii. 21. God shall pass to a haven where they shall be at rest. Death, their last enemy, is disarmed by their Redeemer: he hath promised to lead them to a joyful resurrection. place of darkness, is illumined The grave, that by the Saviour's grace. To the eye of faith, it appears the entrance to a state of undisturbed tranquillity, everlasting joy. "Blessed are the dead," says a voice from heaven, "blessed are the dead that die in the Lord!" Oh! what comfort does this assurance shed through the chamber of affliction! what joy does it light up in the bosom of woe! The Christian friends, whose loved bodies worms and corruption have disfigured, we shall see again, glorious as the glorified Redeemer, blessed in his presence for evermore. We shall be "before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among us. We shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on us, nor any heat: for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed us, and shall lead us unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes f;" and we shall for eyes*; ever sing that joyful song of praise-" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to e Rev. xiv. 13. f Rev. vii. 15-17. 2 God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen "." g Wherefore, my 66 beloved brethren, comfort one another with these words " 5 Rev. i. 5, 6. h 1 Thess. iv. 18. END OF VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED BY R. GILBERT, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE. |