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 Ithrough the ample air in triumph high

At the dawn of the sun of righteousness, when

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

274

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

the only peace

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

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

Has done much more: nor is his arm impair'd
Through length of days; and what he can, he will:
His faithfulness stands bound to see it done.
When the dread trumpet sounds, the slumb'ring
dust,

Not unattentive to the call, shall wake

And every joint possess its proper place,
With a new elegance of form unknown

To its first state. Nor shall the conscious soul)
Mistake its partner; but amidst the crowd,
Singling its other half, into its arms

Shall rush, with all the impatience of a man

That's new come home, who, having long been absent,

With haste runs over every different room,

In pain to see the whole. Thrice happy meeting! Nor time, nor death, shall ever part them more. 'Tis but a night, a long and moonless night, We make the grave our bed, and then are gone. 334 The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter, iii. 13.

The Light himself shall shine

Reveal'd, and God's eternal day be thine!
The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay;
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fix'd his word. His saving power remains,
Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns.
POPE.

341 God shall be all in all.

And, when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him, that put all things under him, that God

may be all in all. 1 Cor. xv. 28.

But when the Father shall have fulfilled his promise, in its utmost extent, and all things shall be subjected to him, so that it shall appear to every eye, that he is indeed Lord of all; then shall the Son, also, himself, amidst all the glories of that triumph, be, and declare himself to be, subject to him, subjected all things to him, by a public act in the midst of this most august assembly; giving up, as it were, his commission to preside as universal Lord, in the mediatorial kingdom to him ; às having answered the end for which it was given him, in the complete salvation of all his people, whom he shall then introduce into a state of the greatest nearness to God, and most intimate converse with him; that God may be, and that God may appear to be, all in all; that they may enjoy complete and everlasting happiness, in the full communication of divine favour to them, for ever, in a world where they shall no longer need a mediator to introduce them to it. Such are our views and hopes as Christians. DODDRIDGE.

343 Adore the Son, and honour him as me.

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. He that, in such a circumstance, and on such a discovery, honoureth not the Son, as worthy the highest veneration honoureth not the Father that sent him; but, affronting him, in the person of so dear and so great an ambassador, must expect to be treated as an enemy and a rebel.