resemble that of their LORD. It is promised that they too shall shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their FATHER, when that which was sown in dishonour shall be raised in glory.' When CHRIST, who is our life, shall appear,' (writes St. Paul,) then shall

ye also appear with Him in glory.' And to the same effect, the text; which means, literally, 'We expect the SAVIOUR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who shall ransfigure our body of humiliation, that it may be fashioned like unto His body of glory!'

This then is the sum of the matter, beyond which we cannot venture. It is surely enough for us to know that we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.' When, to all this, the intimation is added that we shall share eternally the Resurrection glories of the firstborn among many Brethren,' the first-begotten of the dead','—we must surely confess that GOD hath pledged Himself to bestow upon us more

e St. Matth. xiii. 43. f Col. iii. 4. g 1 Cor. xv. 51-53. h Rom. viii. 29.

i Rev. i. 5.

:

than we could ever have asked or thought that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither could it have entered into the heart of man to conceive for himself such overwhelming Blessedness. Verily, He hath prepared for them that love Him such good things as pass man's understanding.

We have spoken hitherto, and in what remains, we shall continue to speak, of the Resurrection of the Just only. We will, at this time, comfort,—not terrify ourselves by the recollection of the dreadful destiny which is in store for the wicked.

What, then, is the effect which this glorious doctrine should produce on the heart and in the life of man? The great result is found in two places of Scripture, hinted at as flowing directly from the contemplation of it. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth,'—are St. Paul's first words, after promising that when CHRIST shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory *.' The beloved Disciple even more distinctly,-after declaring that, when CHRIST shall appear, we shall be like Him,—adds immediately: And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure'.' In truth, it must be the first thought of every

k Col. iii. 5.

1 St. John iii. 3.

believer, that if these things be true, then, ' what manner of men ought we to be!' Let it be more than a thought with us; for we know that there shall in no wise enter into the heavenly City anything that defileth".'

Next, we are of opinion that this doctrine should lead us not only to think and speak respectfully of our Bodies, and to cherish them; but to respect one another, and to honour all men, if only because they inhabit a tabernacle. framed just as mysteriously as our own, and for whom just as glorious a destiny is in store. How can we suffer that body to go uncared for, which is destined hereafter to shine forth like the Sun in the Kingdom of the FATHER"?' How can we look scornfully on aged, withered, wasted frames, as if we did not know that they will hereafter be changed,' and irradiated through and through with heavenly glory?-How shall ugliness, or deformity, or even loathsome disease, awaken any feelings but sympathy and sorrow; seeing that these are but the accidents, not the essentials of being? all, doubtless, to be wholly overcome at last when He shall reign supreme whose enemy hath done these things;-seeking to deface the work which he cannot destroy and

m Rev. xxi. 27.

" St. Matthew xiii. 43.

at least to mar in Time what GOD has made for Eternity!

In the last place, the prospect of what will be hereafter, will surely be a comfort under the effects of age, and the inroads of accident, and the ravages of disease. Not only in our own persons, but in others, these invaders of the body's sanctity discompose the spirits, and put our patience, faith, hope, love, to a sore trial. Shall it be no consolation to think of renewed vigour, repaired blemishes, health recovered eternally? Yea, it should cheer us to the very last; support our fainting spirits; comfort us in the very hour of nature's greatest agony. 'I should utterly have fainted,' (said the Psalmist,) 'but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.' And when he had been surveying the blessings enjoyed by those who have their portion in this life, he uttered an exclamation which shewed that the Resurrection of the Body brought him all the comfort we have been claiming, as its lawful consequence to ourselves :-" As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Thy likeness"."

• Ps. xxvii. 13.

P Ps. xvii. 15.

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.

REALITY IN PRAYER.

ST. LUKE viii. 45, 46.

JESUS said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee, and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And JESUS said, Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.

IN bringing before you the miraculous cure of the Woman with an issue of blood, we do but request your attention to one circumstance: namely this, that although, upon a certain occasion, there were hundreds of persons thronging and pressing upon her LORD and ours, yet that she was the only one who touched Him. Or rather, though all touched Him, she was the only one who gave Him that peculiar kind of touch which caused virtue, healing virtue, to go out of Him. This is so very important a matter, so full of deep and instructive teaching, that we shall beg for your best attention to it.

You are invited, then, to observe that once,