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These persons returned to life, in health and soundness, and their acquaintance knew that they were raised from the dead.

This power of Christ was still more forcibly exhibited in his own resurrection from the dead. It is evident to every attentive reader of the gospels, that his death was voluntary. He could have escaped from his enemies, with infinite ease, had he been so disposed. He knew all their designs, before they made any attempts to put them into execution; for he repeatedly assured his disciples that he must die, and pointed out many of the circumstanees of his death. He even assured them of an event, than which nothing could be more unexpected, that, by one of their own number he should be betrayed into the hands of his enemies: and singled out the wretched individual. On several preceding occasions the wicked sought to take his life, but he escaped out of their hands, because he knew that his time was not yet come. He had not finished the work that was given him to do. He did not die till he saw that every thing was accomplished,-till he could say, "It is finished." Then, he bowed his head, and "yielded up the 'Ghost."

The scriptures describe the death of no other person like that of Christ. All others,-died. He, gave up the ghost: he dismissed his spirit; implying, he did it, entirely, of his own free will. In accordance with this sentiment,

is his own declaration concerning himself.→ "Therefore doth my Father love me because 'I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 'No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down 'of myself: I have power to lay it down, and 'have power to take it again."—It is evident that the merit of the Saviour's death, as a sacrifice for sin, as an offering for the honour of God, must consist, in a great measure, in its being a voluntary offering. Thus he says, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because 'I lay down my life." And God says by the prophet, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the 'spoil with the strong; because he hath poured 'his soul unto death."

As the Lord Jesus voluntarily laid down his life, he took it again, at his own pleasure. As he says in the words already noticed, "I lay 'down my life that I might take it again." Thus he told his disciples, some time before the event, "The Son of Man shall be betrayed 'unto the chief-priests, and unto the scribes, 'and they shall condemn him to death. And 'shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and 'to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third 'day he shall rise again." This event depended on his own purpose, to will and to perform. In conformity with this declaration, he rose from the tomb, on the third day after his crucifixion, and appeared unto many. His power over death is forcibly described by the apostle

Peter. "Whom God hath raised up, having 'loosed the pains of death: because it was not 'possible that he should be holden of it."

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But the most wonderful display of the power of Christ in raising the dead, is yet to be made. This is, indeed, foretold in the scriptures, but it is yet to take place, and all of us, as well as all our fellow-men, are to be witnesses of the scene. This is the general resurrection of the last day. That will be the work of Christ. this event, he says, "And this is the will of him 'that sent me, that every one that seeth the 'Son, and believeth on him, may have ever'lasting life and I will raise him up at the last 'day." And again, "Whoso eateth my flesh, 'and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and 'I will raise him up at the last day." He says again respecting the Son of man, John v. "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, 'in the which all that are in their graves shall 'hear his voice, and shall come forth; they 'that have done good unto the resurrection of 'life; and they that have done evil unto the 'resurrection of damnation." They are to hear the voice of the Son of man, like Lazarus they are to come forth at his call, even all that are in their graves, whether of the just or the unjust. The raising of the dead is a necessary part of the work of the final judgment, which, it is well known, is to be performed by Christ Jesus.

The power of the Saviour, in healing the

sick, was manifested so often while he was on earth, that it would seem superfluous to cite any examples. A few A few cases, however, may be properly noticed. Mark v. "And a certain 'woman, which had an issue of blood twelve 'years, and had suffered many things of many 'physicians, and had spent all that she had, and 'was nothing better but rather grew worse: 'when she had heard of Jesus, came in the 'press behind, and touched his garment.-And 'straightway the fountain of her blood was 'dried up; and she felt in her body that she 'was healed of that plague." It is said in another case, "And whithersoever he entered, 'into villages, or cities, or country, they laid 'the sick in the streets, and besought him that 'they might touch, if it were, but the hem of 'his garment, and as many as touched him were 'made whole."

When John the Baptist sent from his prison to Jesus, to know whether he were the Christ, he replies, "Go and shew John again those 'things which ye do hear and see: the blind 'receive their sight, and the lame walk: the 'lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the 'dead are raised up. and the poor have the 'pel preached unto them." He then adds, with peculiar tenderness and solemnity, "And bless'ed is he whosoever shall not be offended in 'me."

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IN attempting to point out some of the works of Christ which show him to be a divine person, we shall next observe,

5. The Lord Jesus has the power of forgiving sin. I do not know that we can name any work that belongs, more exclusively, to God, than this. Sin is a transgression of his law. He alone can fully know the extent and claims of his own law, and the evils of a violation. Then, none but himself can dispense with the execution of its penalties. None other can release the transgressor from the condemnation to which he is exposed. If the forgiveness of sin could be granted by any other than the true God, it is evident that the government of the world would be taken out of his hands.

We shall now see that this work belongs to Christ. God says, Ex. xx111.20, 21. “Behold, I 'send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the 'way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him and obey his voice, provoke him not: for he will not pardon 'your transgressions; for my name is in him."

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