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observation, and experience, proclaim, that "there is no health in us."

It also gives an implied character of himself. He is every thing that fallen, perishing creatures can need: and he stands in the same relation to them, as a physician to his patients. "I am the Lord that healeth thee," is a proclamation that well becomes his lips. Job disclaimed his friends, as "physicians of no value." But this can never be applied to the Lord Jesus. In all things, in this office, he has the pre-eminence. Yea, he not only stands without comparison, but alone-there is salvation in none other. But he heals every complaint. No case, however difficult, baffles his skill. No case, however desperate, resists the power of his applications. He is always at home. Always accessible. Always delighted to attend. He only requires our submission to his management. He cures, without money and without price.

It also describes those who disregard, and those who value him. They who reject him, are "the whole." None are really whole for there is none righteous; no, not one. But they are so, as to ap prehension and experience. And such have always been awfully numerous. Such was Paul, "while alive without the law once." Such was the Pharisee that went up into the temple to pray. Such were all the Pharisees, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Such were the Laodiceans, who said, We are all rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Such were Solomon's generation, who were pure in their own eyes, and not washed from their filthiness. Such, also, are they who, though they make no pretensions to self-righteousness, are satisfied with themselves; the careless; the worldly, who live without one serious thought of their souls and eternity. Yea, such, too, are they who receive the charge in theory, and acknowledge it, as they do any other Bible sentiment;

but there rest-not impressed with the truth, so as to urge them to the Saviour-and so he will profit them nothing.

-They who value him, are "the sick." They are sensible of their malady. They have a clear and deep conviction of their guilt, and depravity, and helplessness. They are thrown into the consternation persons would feel, if they discovered they had taken the plague. They feel pain. They forebode death. They exclaim, What must I do to be saved! They no longer relish their former pursuits and pleasures. They loathe sin, and can never be reconciled to it again. Their cure engages all their solicitude. And, finding that there is a Saviour, and a great one, they are soon at his feet, crying, "Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee." How infinitely desirable and delightful does the Physician now appear! Who, but He? They cheerfully put themselves under his care. They implicitly follow his orders. Their motto is, "If by any means." Their inquiry, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" With what eagerness do they enquire after symptoms of cure! With what pleasure do they perceive and feel signs of returning health! “I bless God I have a little appetite for the bread of life-I have a little strength for spiritual exercisesPerfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever-Forsake not the work of thine own hands."

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Nov. 10.—“ I am the resurrection, and the life.
John xi. 25.

THERE is a spiritual resurrection and life, which all the subjects of Divine grace derive from him. But here the sense is determined by the connexion. "Thy

brother," said he to Martha, "shall rise again." But as he did not specify the time, she feared to apply the assurance to her present distress, or supposed that the consolation was to be drawn from the general resurrection. "Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." To excite her immediate hope, he reminds her of his own character and resources; and says, "I am the resurrection and the life." There must be a very peculiar relation between him and the resurrection to life, to justify the strength of this language. It may be exemplified in various illustrations.

He is the resurrection and the life, as he is the announcer of the doctrine. For it is a truth of pure revelation. Reason could never have discovered it. The men of wisdom at Athens, the Stoical and the Epicurean philosophers, however widely they differed from each other, agreed in deriding this sentiment; and deemed Paul a babbler for preaching it.-How inexplicable the re-union, and re-animation of our scattered dust!-Where now are the bodies that trod the earth before the Flood! But even these bodies, through whatever changes they have passed, shall be restored and revived! Even Adam and Eve in their flesh shall see God, and be clothed in higher perfection than Eden ever knew! But who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel? It is true that David, and even Job, rejoiced in the expectation of this glorious event; and many allusions and expressions in the Old Testament shew, that the Jewish Church not only be lieved in a future state, but in the redemption of the body from the grave. But the Book in which they are contained, is called, "the Word of Christ;" and the Spirit that testifieth these things, is called, "the Spirit of Christ." For as the sun scatters some light before his rising; so the Saviour commenced his discoveries before his incarnation: he rejoiced in 3 E

VOL. II.

the habitable parts of the earth, and his delights were with the sons of men. But by-and-by he came in person, and preached the kingdom of heaven. How simple and sublime were his discourses! And with what an awful motive did he commend his doctrine to every man's conscience in the sight of God. He drew back the veil that hid the future, and presented the elements on fire, the opening tombs, and the dead rising to meet their Judge-" Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." He also ordered his apostles to go forth and publish, and also record it; and they did so, the Lord working with them, and confirming their word with signs following.

In

He is the resurrection and the life, as he affords the pledge. Under each of the three distinguishing periods of the world, the body, as well as the soul, had been received up into glory. Before the Flood, Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not, for God took him. The Law beheld Elijah elevated to heaven in a chariot of fire. the days of the Gospel, Jesus Christ passed through the regions of the dead, and reached the crown he now wears. And there is a union between him and his people. He is the head, and they are the members; and because he lives, they shall live also. Yea, says the Apostle, "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

He is the resurrection and the life, as he procures the privilege. To him we meritoriously owe all the blessings we possess. Are we justified and sanc

tified? In the Lord we have righteousness and strength. And are we raised from the dead? "Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." He has redeemed our whole nature; and the body being ransomed, as well as the spirit, by no less a price than his own blood, shall be equally claimed, and renewed, and glorified.

"This living hope we owe

"To Jesus' dying love;
"We would adore his grace below,
"And sing his power above."

He is the resurrection and the life, as he is the pattern. For we shall rise, not like Adam, but like him. "The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." In his rising from the dead, we see the model of our own resurrection; and the grandeur of our own destiny. We imagine, says Paul, whatever is admirable and splendid in his glorified humanity; and we look for nothing less in ourselves-"We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." At present the body is vile not as the workmanship of God; but as defiled by sin, as degraded by disease, and especially as the spoil of worms, and in the corruption of the grave. What a hindrance! what a burden! what a loathsomeness is the body of this death! But then, by

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