32 THE PREPARATIVES [Chap. 2. ing. If to be turned out of doors be the thing thou fearest, remember that, when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, thou hast abuilding of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Lay down cheerfully this lump of corruption ; thou shalt undoubtedly receive it again in incorruption. Lay down freely this terrestrial, this natural body; thou shalt receive it again a celestial, a spiritual body. Though thou lay it down with great dishonor, thou shalt receive it in glory. Though thou art separated from it through weakness, it shall be raised again in mighty power; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump ; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. " The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then they who are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." Triumph now, O Christian, in these promises; thou shalt shortly triumph in their performance. This is. the day which the Lord will make; we shall rejoice and be glad in it. The grave that could not keep our Lord, cannot keep us. He arose for us, and by the same power will cause us to arise. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also who sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. Let us never look at the grave, but let us see the resurrection beyond it. Yea, let us be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we know our labor is not in vain in the Lord, 3. Part of this prologue to the saints' rest, is the public and solemn process at their judgment, where they shall first themselves be acquitted and justified, and then with Christ judge the world. Young and old, of all estates and nations, that ever were from the creation to that day, must here come, and receive their doom. O terrible! 0 joyful day! Terrible to those that have forgotten the coming of their Lord ! joyful to the saints, whose waiting and hope was to see this day ! Then shall the world behold the goodness and severity of God; on them who perish, severity; but to his chosen, goodness. Every one must give an account of his stewardship. Every talent of time, health, wit, mer- cies, afflictions, means, warnings, must be reckoned for. The sins of youth, those which they had forgotten, and their secret sins, shall all be laid open before angels and
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