his own hand," and perhaps reveals it to none but his Son Jesus, who is exalted to be the governor and judge of the world. There are millions of souls waiting in that separate state for the accomplishment of these last and best promises, ready to shout and rejoice when they shall see and feel that bright morning dawning upon them.

Wait therefore, O my soul, as becomes a child of God in the wilderness among many trials, darknesses, and distresses. He has stripped thee perhaps of one comfort after another, and thy friends and dear relatives in succession are called down to the dust; they are released from their conflicts, and are placed far out of the reach of every temptation; and it is not thy business to prescribe to God at what hour he shall release thee also. Whensoever he is pleased to call thee to lay down thy flesh in the dust, and to enter into God's hiding-place, meet thou the summons with holy courage, satisfaction and joy, enter into the chamber of rest till all the days of sin, sorrow and wretchedness are overpast: Lie down there in a waiting frame, and commit thy flesh to his care and keeping till the hour in which he has appointed thy glorious change.

Obs. IV. The lively view of a happy resurrection, and a well grounded hope of this blessed change, is a solid and divine comfort to the saints of God, under all trials of every kind, both in life and death.' The faith and hope of a joyful rising-day has supported the children of God under long distresses and huge agonies of sorrow which they sus

tain here. It is the expectation of this desirable day that animates the soul with vigour and life to fulfil every painful and dangerous duty. It is for this we expose ourselves co the bitter reproaches and persecutions of the wicked world; it is for this that we conflict with all our adversaries on earth, and all the powers of darkness that are sent from hell to annoy us; it is this joyful expectation that bears up our spirits under every present burden and calamity of life.

What could we do in such a painful and dying world, or how could we bear with patience the long fatigues of such a wretched life, if we had no hope of rising again from the dead? Surely "we are the most miserable of all men" in days of public persecution, "if we had hope only in this life," 1 Cor. xv. 19. It is for this that we labour, and suffer, and endure whatsoever our heavenly Father is pleased to lay upon us. It is this confirms our fortitude, and makes "u$ steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord," 1 Cor. xv. 58. It is this that enables us to bear the loss of our dearest friends with patience and hope, and assuages the smart of our sharpest sorrows: For since we believe that "Jesus died and rose again," so we rejoice in hope that "they which sleep in Jesus shall be brought with him" at his return, and shall appear in brighter and more glorious circumstances than ever our eyes were blessed with here on earth, 1 Thes. iv. 13. This teaches us to triumph over death and the grave

in divine language, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

Reflection. What are thy chief burdens, O my soul? Whence are all thy sighs and thy daily groanings? What are thy distresses of flesh or spirit? Summon them all in one view, and see whether there be not power and glory enough in a resurrection to conquer and silence them all, and to put thy present sorrows to flight?

Dost thou dwell in a vexing and persecuting world,' amongst oppressions and reproaches? But those who reproach and oppress are but mortal creatures, who shall shortly go down to the dust, and then they shall tyrannize and afflict thee no more: The great rising-day shall change the scene from oppression and reproach to dominion and glory. When they lie down in the grave like" beasts of slaughter, "death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, when God shall redeem thy soul from the power of the grave." Thy God shall hide thy body from their rage in his own appointed resting-place, and he shall receive thy soul, and keep it secure in his own presence, till that blessed morning break upon this lower creation; then shalt thou "arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

Do the calamities which thou sufferest proceed from the hand of God?' Art thou disquieted with daily pain, with sicknesses and anguish in thy flesh? Or art thou surrounded with crosses and disappointments in thy outward circumstances? Are thy spirits

sunk with many loads of care and pressing perplexities? Canst thou not forget them all in the vision that faith can give thee of the great rising-day? Canst thou not say in the language of faith, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us?" Then the head and the heart shall ake no more, and every circumstance around thee shall be pleasing and joy, ful for ever.

Or art thou tenderly affected with the loss of pious friends,' who have been very dear and desirable? Perhaps thy sensibilities here are too great and painful: They are such indeed as nature is ready to indulge, but are they not more than God requires, or the gospel allows? Do not thy thoughts dwell too much on the gloom and darkness of the grave? O think of that bright hour when every saint shall rise from the dark retreats of death with more complete characters of beauty, holiness and pleasure than ever this world could shew them in! They are not perished, but sent a little before us into God's hidingplace,' where though they lie in dust and darkness, yet they are safe from the dangers and vexations of life; but they shall spring up in the happy moment into immortality, and shall join with thee in a mutual surprise at each other's divine change.

Or dost thou feel the corruptions of thy heart' working within thee, and the sins of thy nature restless in their endeavours to bring defilement upon thy soul, and guilt upon thy conscience: Go on and maintain the holy warfare against all these rising ini

quities: This thy warfare shall not continue long: Thou shalt find every one of these sins buried with thee in the grave, but they shall rise to assault thee no more. The saint shall leave every sin behind him. when he breaks out of the dust at the summons of Christ, and thou shalt find no seeds of iniquity in thy body when it is raised from the grave. "Holiness to the Lord" shall be inscribed upon all thy powers for ever.

Or art thou perplexed, O my soul, at the near prospect of death,' and all the terrors and dismal appearances that surround it? Art thou afraid to lie down in the cold and noisome grave? Does thy nature shudder at it as a gloomy place of horror? These indeed are the prejudices of sense; but the language of faith will tell thee, it is only God's hiding-place,' where he secures his saints till all the ages of sin and sorrow are overpast. Look forward to the glorious morning when thou shalt rise from the dust among ten thousand of thy fellows, every one in the image of the Son of God, with their bodies formed after the likeness of his glorious body," and rejoicing together with divine satisfaction in the pleasure of this heavenly change. Try whether the meditation of these glories, and the distant prospect of this illustrious day, will scatter all the gloom that hovers round the grave, and vanquish the fiercest appearances of the king of

terrors.

16

What is there, O my soul, among all the miseries thou hast felt, or all that thou fearest, that can sink thy courage, if the faith of a resurrection be but alive and wakeful? But this leads me to the