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197 And to the end persisting,

. But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But, when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another; for verily, I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the son of man be come. Matt. x. 22, 23.

209 He, with his whole posterity, must die,

215

The important principle, that the future state is a state of retribution, according to the spiritual condition and conduct of men in this world, was little understood, till our Saviour arose and threw the light of certainty upon the awful subject. He not only taught the immortality of the soul; but the doctrine of the resurrection and final judgment, when all the dead shall appear at the tribunal of the Almighty, to be judged every man according to his works.

and just the unjust to save?

Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. 1 Peter, iii. 18.

218 And silence was in heaven.

What an inimitable beauty lies in the representation that such an innumerable multitude of compassionate beings should be so struck with terror and surprise, at the mention of the deadly ransom set! What language could surpass or be so expressive as this idea of silence. Words, in so emphatical a manner, could not have expressed the inability of all creatures to execute the task. 236 Behold me then;

Then, said he, Lo, I come to thy will, O God. Could nothing short of this satisfy the demands of infinite justice: nothing less than this sacrifice

240

save a guilty race from destruction, and open to them the gates of everlasting life! Heb. x. 9. The golden key

That opes the palace of eternity.

and for him lastly die.

Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him; or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalms, viii. 3, 4.

When we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans, v. 6. 241 On me let death wreck all his rage.

Therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man takethit from me; but I lay it down of myself, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my father. John, x. 17, 18.

244 Life in myself, for ever;

250

Though he appeared under the form of a servant, and, as man and mediator, confessed a holy subjection to his Father and his God: yet is he his own, his only begotten son, whom he loves, whom he honours, whom he commands all men to honour even as himself, and to whom such power and authority are committed, that he is the principle of life, and the administrator of judgment; for as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. John, v. 26. and subdue

My vanquisher,

Death: one enemy then still remains to be subdued, a dreadful enemy, if we meet him unprepared; an easy conquest, if we have set God constantly before us, and have reason to believe

him at our right hand. What is there so terrible in death, that should make the good man afraid to face it? Can he regret that he is to be taken away from a scene of cares and disappointments, and removed into a better country? He, who, at the last sad moment, finds himself unable to call back one good action to his remembrance; who, having lost all sense of virtuous pleasures, has disqualified himself for any future society but that of the wretched, may, and must be afraid to meet his judge. But the humble sinner, who has endeavoured to conform himself to Christ's example; and hath loved much, because much has been forgiven him: he, supported in his last hour by that faith which has been the principle of his life, will obey the summons without fear. He is assured, that he who made us frail and imperfect, will not expect perfection at our hands; that he hath provided a satisfaction for our imperfections. Already he sees the heavens open; angels hover round his bed, and wait to carry him to the mansions prepared for him by the Lord: he hears the comfortable voice of the Judge who died to save him: "Come, thou blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." MATY.

253 Of his mortal sting disarm'd.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. xv. 56, 57

254 I through the ample air in triumph high

At the dawn of the sun of righteousness, when

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he was beginning to rise with healing in his wings, the morning stars sung together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. And shall man, whom this gracious dispensation principally respects,shall man, who is the centre of all these gladdening rays; shall have no heart to adore, no anthem to celebrate this

"Love without end, and without measure

grace?"

HERVEY.

260 Then with the multitude of my redeem'd

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He who raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also Jesus, and shall present us with you. 2 Cor. iv. 14.

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For through him we have an access to the Spirit unto the Father. Eph. ii. 18. Then let us join the heavenly multitude in praising God, who, in the sacred person of our Redeemer, hath sent peace upon earth; not merely the peace which is maintained betwixt man and man, subject to the fluctuations of opinion and accident; but that heaven-born "peace which passeth all understanding," which is within the reach of all who seek it in sincerity of heart, but which abides only where reigns a true fervent love, and fear of God.

283 And be thyself man among men on earth,

And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John, i. 14. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke, xix. 20. Many did he rescue from the dominion of sin and Satan; and still may we all, in like manner, be preserved, if, when suffering under that alienation from God, we seek our heavenly phy

285

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sician, and trust our present and eternal welfare in his hands.

though Adam's son,

As in him perish all men, so in thee,

For as in Adam all are dead, and a sentence of inevitable death is come upon us all, as descended from him, so we Christians have a joyful persuasion, for ourselves and for our brethren, that in Christ we shall also be made alive. 1 Cor. xv.

293 And live in thee transplanted.

317

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John, xv. 5.

all power

I give thee; reign for ever

He is the key that unlocks the sacred treasure, and opens to us what was before mysterious in the Word of God. BICKERSTETH.

323 When thou attended gloriously from heaven

329

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him; then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall he gathered all nations. Matt. xxviii. 18.

such a peal shall rouse their sleep. The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. 1 Cor. xv. 52.

Hence, ye profane !

Ask not, how this can be? Sure the same power
Who rear'd the piece at first, and took it down,
Can re-assemble the loose, scattered parts,
And put them as they were. Almighty God

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