53 CHRIST EXALTED AND THE SPIRtT GIVEN. [SEEM. IV. ture to trust him, in our most important interests of hea- ven and eternity. Does he assure us, that " they who believe on him shall never perish :?" John vi. 40. Then we may rejoice with. St. Paul, " I' know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him till the great day." 2Tim. i. 12. Does he promise his followers, that he will raise them from the dead, and give, them eternal life ? John vi. 54. Then we may safely commit our bodies to the grave under his care, for these dead bodies " shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live :" The grave shall resign its prisoners at his command : He has the keys of death, and the gates of eternal life are in his keeping. And as his promises are worthy of our trust, so are his laws of our obedience : for in this exalted state, he can enforce them powerfully with temporal and eternal rewards, with temporal and eternal punishments. Hea- ven, earth, and hell, with all that belong to them, being placed in his power, the blessings and the vengeance are within the reach of his hand, he shall distribute eternal recompences to men and angels, as the righteous and mighty Judge of all. Ps. ii. 11, 12. " Serve, the Lord with fear, kiss the Son, or adore him with love, lest you perish upon the spot, if his wrath be kindled but a little: But blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Remark III. Is Christ exalted, then " his faithful fol- lowers have a pledge and pattern of their own exalta- tion, though not .to equal degrees of pleasure, honour or power." It is as their forerunner he is entered within the veil, and is dignified wit.h,many glories, as their great representative. Is his body of flesh and blood by some glorious change made fitter for the heavenly world, and better suited to be the mansion or instrúment of aglori- fied Spirit? Such shall be the bodies of all his people, for they must be like him : " He will change their vile bodies till they are made like his own glorious body ;" Phil. iii. 21. Is his holy soul filled with all joy and blessedness in the presence of God, and in the review of his past labours and sufferings? Such shall be the felicity of their souls, for " theymust be like him when they shall see him as he his :" 1 John iii. 2. They shall rejoice for ever, and their joy shall ho man talte from them ;"
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