566 SAFETY IN THE GRAVE, DISC. XII. 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 themall, 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 ;" Psal. xlix. 14, 15. 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 pre- sence, 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 ;" Isa. lx. i. " 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 re- vealed in us ;" Rom. viii. 18. Then the head and the heart shall ache no more, and every circumstance around thee shall be pleasing and joyful for ever. " Or art thou tenderly affected with the loss of pious friends; who have beenvery 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 dark- ness of the. grave ? O think of that bright hour when everysaint shall rise from the dark retreats of death with more complete characters of beauty, holiness and plea-
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