DISC. X1.] AND JOY AT THE RESURRECTION. 56.E mops with holy courage, satisfaction and joy, enter into the chamber of rest till all the days of sin, sorrow"and wretchedness are overpassed : Lie down there in a wait- ing frame, and commit thy flesh to his care and keeping, till the hour in which he has appointed thy glorious change." Observation IV. " The lively view of a happy resur- rection, and a well-grounded hopeof 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 hopeof joyful rising-day has supported the children of God under long distresses and huge agonies of sorrow which they sustain here. It is the expectation of this de. sirable day that animates the soul with vigour and life to fulfil every painful and dangerous duty. It is for this we expose ourselves to the bitter reproaches and persecu- tions 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 weare the most miserable of all men in the days of public persecution, if we had hope only in this life," i 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 " us stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of theLord, for àsmuch 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 pa- tience 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 andmore glorious circumstances than ever our eyes were blessed with here on earth," 1 Thesc. iv. 13, 14. 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." 1 Con xv. 55. Reflexion. " What are thy chief burdens, O my Mo3
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