where their Shepherd has led the way, and is waiting to receive them? Guided by his rod, and supported by his staff, may they not triumphantly exclaim, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of deadly shade, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me!" Their bodies must die, but are they to be for ever under the power of death? No! the meanest particle of their dust is the property of their Lord, and he may not lose one iota of his redeemed, purchased possession. They shall not always remain in the hands of death, for Jesus here engages to reclaim them from his power-nay, to annihilate the existence, and the very name of death, as by a burning plague, or a series of devouring pestilences. For he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. My dead men shall live. I will raise them up at the last day." No stranger hand shall be allowed to interfere with these scattered and sleeping ashes. The Redeemer of the soul shall be the Saviour of the body. The author of their salvation shall be its finisher. He himself shall change the evil body, and fashion it like unto his own glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. And then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Mortality is swallowed up of life-death is swallowed up of victory." The text speaks of all this as future, but an apostle represents it as if "already past." He hath abolished death-because all the results of his death are as fully secured as if they had been actually realized. With him who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, purpose and execution are the same; and it was when looking forward through the long vista of future ages to the last day of time-when the souls of his ransomed people shall be found quickened, purified, perfected, and their bodies shall be raised, transformed, glorified, and as the immortal Saviour he shall reign over an immortal church, that foreseeing the travail of his spirit, he was satisfied, and anticipating the full extent of his triumphs, he exclaimed, "O death, I will be thy plagues! O grave, I will be thy destruction." Well may the dwellers on earth respond in grateful accents: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Dying sinners! death is your plagueye know it! If a messenger from God were at this moment to intimate to you, that you are to die within the next twentyfour hours, the stoutest heart here would quail, the boldest face would gather blackness. But let me plainly ask you, What security have you, that such shall not be your fate? Is not God telling you, by the often repeated and long continued visitations of a deadly plague, that the case supposed may peradventure arise to any one of us? You cannot be surer of life to-day, than was he who died yesterday. And, O my friends! treat our Gospel now as you may, when death shall come near to you in conscious reality, nothing will then be able to afford you solid comfort or satisfying rest, save a believing interest in Christ's death, and a good hope through grace from Christ's resurrection. Christians! ye who yesterday, at his table, professed to seek above all things to know Him in the power of his resur rection, and in the fellowship of his sufferings, and in conformity to his deathbe it still, through life, your blessed employment, out of the depths of this world's desolations, to seek unto Him who can heal your every plague, soothe your every sorrow, be your light and defence in the darkest times, and turn the very shadow of death into the morning of gladsome day. Make Jehovah Jesus your refuge, even the most high Redeemer your Mediator, and if He cover you with his feathers, and if under his wings you trust, you need not be afraid of the noisome pestilence of darkness, nor the wasting destruction of noon. For while he will permit no real evil to baffle you in this world, with long life in his own happy Heaven will he satisfy you, and shew you his salvation. Amen. Reflection on the Massacre of Ephraim's Children-1 Chron. 27 320-25 BROWN, Rev. JOHN, D.D. Edinburgh. The Prevention of Sin a Great Blessing-1 Sam. xxv. 32. CARSWELL, Rev. WILLIAM, Eaglesham. The Love of God to Man-John, iii. 16. CHALMERS, Rev. THOMAS, D.D. Edinburgh. CHALMERS, Rev. THOMAS, D.D. Edinburgh. CRAIG, Rev. EDWARD, A.M. Edinburgh. The Lot of Man's Inheritance on Earth-Job, xiv. 22. DEWAR, Rev. DANIEL, D.D. Glasgow, (now of Aberdeen.) 35 416 The Duty and Reward of Christian Fidelity-Rev. ii. 9. DICK, Rev. JOHN, D.D. Glasgow. Reconciliation to God-2 Cor. v. 19. 18 207 DICKSON, Rev. DAVID, D.D. Edinburgh. The Dangers to which the Young are Exposed, and their 29 343-49 DICKSON, Rev, DAVID, D.D. Edinburgh. The Character and Blessedness of those who Die in the Lord EWING, REV. GREVILLE, Glasgow. On the Death and Burial of Stephen-Acts, viii. 1, 2. FINLAY, Rev. JOHN, Perth. Christian Obedience-Philip. i. 27. FORBES, Rev. JOHN, Glasgow. The Sin of Overcarefulness concerning Temporal Objects— GEDDES, Rev. JOHN, D.D. Glasgow. The Excellency of the Word of God—Psalms, cxxxviii. 2. GORDON, Rev. ROBERT, D.D. Edinburgh. The Danger of Formal Worship-Isaiah, xxix. 13, 14. . 37 GRANT, REV. JAMES, South Leith. The Duty and Nature of the Love of God-1 John, iv. 19. GRANT, REV. JAMES, South Leith. Reasons why Good Men may look forward with desire to the GREY, Rev. HENRY, A. M. Edinburgh. The Character of the Gospel, and the Character and Blessed- GREY, Rev. HENRY, A. M. Edinburgh. Celebration of the Sacrament in St Mary's Church, Edinburgh GUN, Rev. ADAM, A. M. Glasgow. The Final Judgment and Ground of Acquittal—Job, xxxi. 14. HARVEY, Rev. ALEXANDER, Glasgow. The Judgments of God Improved-Isaiah, xxvi. 9. HUNTER, Rev. JOHN, Edinburgh. The Infinite Importance of Salvation-Romans, x. 1. HUNTER, Rev. JOHN, Edinburgh. On the Dangers to which the Young are Exposed from the INGLIS, REV. JOHN, D. D. Edinburgh. The Beneficial Tendency of Affliction—Psalms, cxix. 71. JOHNSTON, Rev. JOHN, A. M. Glasgow. The Purposes which the Transfiguration of Christ was cal- JOHNSTON, Rev. JOHN, Edinburgh. The Duty of Observing the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper- LORIMER, Rev. J. G. Glasgow. The Difficulties of the Priestly Office-2 Cor. ii. 16. LORIMER, Rev. J. G. Glasgow. On the Restoration of the Jews to their own Land, and Con- MARSHALL, Rev. JAMES, A. M. Edinburgh. MARR, REV. DAVID, Edinburgh. On the Miraculous Cure of the Leprosy-Luke, v. 12—15. The Duties of Christians under the Present Dispensation of MARSDEN, Rev. G. London. Christ the Hope of Glory-Colos. i. 27, 28. MARSHALL, Rev. JAMES, A. M. Edinburgh. Scriptural Encouragement to Prayer-Luke, xi. 9. God's Hatred of Sin-Psalms, v. 4, 5. MITCHELL, Rev. JOHN, D. D. and S. S. T. P. Glasgow. MITCHELL, Rev. JOHN, D. D. and S. S. T. P. Glasgow. The Defective Amiabilities of the Young-Mark, x. 21. MITCHELL, Rev. GRAHAM, A. M. Whitburn. The Ascension of Christ, and its Glorious Results - Psalms, MORREN, Rev. N. A. M. Greenock. Death the Plague of Sinners, and Christ the Plague of Death— MUIRHEAD, Rev. GEORGE, D. D. Cramond. On near Intercourse with God—Psalms, lxxxi. 10. MUTER, Rev. ROBERT, Glasgow. The Unchangeable Nature of the Love of God to Man- M'CRIE, REV. THOMAS, D. D. Edinburgh. "The Sufferings of Christ-Mark xv. 25. M'FARLANE, the very Rev. DUNCAN, D. D. Glasgow. M'NAUGHTON, Rev. J. Paisley. The Glad Tidings of the Word of God-Rev. xiv. 6. 9 97 The Opening Prospects of the Church-1 Cor. xvi. 9. NAPIER, Rev. PETER, Glasgow. Character of the Followers of Christ-Acts iv. 13. PAUL, Rev. JOHN, Edinburgh. The Reign of the Lord, a Source of Consolation-Rev. xix. 6. PEDDIE, REV. JAMES, D. D. Edinburgh. Lecture-Jonah i. 15.-ii. 7. PEDDIE, REV. JAMES, D. D. Edinburgh. PURDIE, Rev. WILLIAM, Libberton. Peace with God-Romans v. 1. PURDIE, Rev. WILLIAM, Libberton. Charge to the Pastor and Congregation, on the Induction of RITCHIE, REV. DAVID, D. D. Edinburgh. Love to Christ-John xv. 9. 10 109 RENWICK, Rev. ROBERT, Edinburgh. The Duty of Commemorating the Death of Christ-1 Cor. xi. 24. On the Character of the Friends of Christ-John xv. 14. RUSSELL, Rev. MICHAEL, LL. D. Leith. The Gain of the World the Loss of the Soul-Mark viii. 36, 37. 28 SINCLAIR, Rev. JOHN, A. M. Edinburgh. On Moral Discipline, or the Analogies between Youth, con- 330 38 445 SMITH, REV. JAMES, A. M. Glasgow. The Perpetuity and Imperishable Nature of the Religion of The Duty of following Peace with all Men-Heb. xii. 14. The Glory of God in the Mission of Christ-John xii. 28. 22 2353 WARDLAW, Rev. RALPH, D. D. Glasgow. On the Agency of God in Human Calamities-Amos iii. 6. 1 WILLIS, Rev. MICHAEL, A. M. Glasgow. The Peculiar Privileges of Believers in Christ-2 Cor i. 21, 22. 33 385 END OF VOLUME FIRST. EDINBURGH: Printed by ANDREW SHORTREDE, Thistle Lane, For WILLIAM STUART; and Published by JOHN HAMILTON, St Andrew Street; and SIMPKIN and MARSHALL, London; and W. R. MPHUN, Glasgow. |