let us notice some of the privileges connected with true faith in his person: and, then, improve the subject. Oh that this life-giving Saviour would grant us a fresh proof of his Almighty power and grace, by raising the dead in sin to newness of life, and causing those who are risen with him "to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God."

"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE life." Our Lord appears to unite these two things to meet the case of Lazarus; who required one who could both give life to his dead body, and also raise that body from the grave; and when thus quickened, preserve it in full vigour.

These names are justly united in him, as he is seen in the natural world: for here our Lord may say, "I am the resurrection and the life." For thus it is declared in the first verse of the first chapter of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Yes, by Him God created all things. He is the Author of life. There is not a breath drawn by any one living creature under the sun, or any one movement of vegetable life, from "the hyssop that grows upon the wall" to the lofty cedar that lifts its head to heaven, but He who spake to Martha is the cause of it all. Not only so, but that which in the spring season has obtained the name of a resurrection in nature proceeds from Him.

In this respect there is a delightful harmony between the natural and spiritual world. That at the very time the church is celebrating the resurrection of her risen Lord, the trees, the flowers, the various orders of insects, and of animals which have for a season suffered a temporary death, are rising again with fresh life and vigour.

We need not be surprised that Easter is, to a lively Christian, a joyful festival: for generally speaking, at that season, instead of frost and snow binding up the earth, as in the prison-house of death, the eye is regaled with the sight of green fields, and budding trees, and opening flowers. That glorious

Person whose resurrection is then celebrated, appears again to repeat to his church his most pleasing invitation, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away: for lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth: the time of the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: the fig tree putteth forth her green figs; and the vines, with the tender grape, give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."

But I do not dwell upon this view of his character, although I would not altogether omit it, when considering Him as the resurrection and the life. That it is to Him that we are indebted for the resurrection we behold in the animal and vegetable world at each returning spring; and that as we are impressed with a sense of his goodness, the delightful change which then occurs becomes still more cheering, as wrought by his Divine power who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification:-yes, as the Rose of Sharon meets the spiritual sense, this chief Flower in the garden of God will give an addi

tional fragrance to every other herb; and this fragrance will be still increased by the remembrance that we are indebted for it to him who is "the resurrection and the life."

But, more particularly, our Lord Jesus Christ with great propriety takes these titles -as He is the procurer and maintainer of spiritual life in the soul, by the action of the Holy Spirit. For it is in connection with our Saviour's rising from the dead that the Spirit of God is given to us, who, as the children of fallen Adam, are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins." Hence that beautiful doxology of St. Peter, at the commencement of his first Epistle: "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, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." For it is in consequence of the full discharge of the penalty incurred by sin, as proved by the resurrection of Christ from the dead as our Surety, that, as the Head of his Church, the Spirit of God was given to him

without measure: and that He, by the action of the Holy Spirit, raises the soul, naturally dead in sin, to a life of righteousness. This is one reason wherefore our Reformers offered up this solemn but beautiful prayer in our Burial Service: "O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom, whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally. We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness:"-connecting, you observe, our spiritual resurrection from a death of sin unto a life of righteousness, with the Lord Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Yes, here is our only sure hope of the gift of spiritual life: that He who has already given himself for us, and by his full atonement made a way for the Holy Spirit again to dwell with us-that he will put forth his Almighty power, and as "the resurrection and the life," thus raise our dead souls. Oh may He do it for his blessed name's sake!

Once more, our Lord Jesus Christ "is the