XXXVII. THE RESURRECTION.

Proof and certainty of-Circumstances of Christ's resurrection and its connexion with ours- -Happiness of Christ's people at.

1. How did Moses prove that there would be a resurrection of the dead?

That the dead are raised even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; for he is not a God of the dead but of the living, for all live unto him. (20 Lk. 37, 38.)

2. How did Job assert it?

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. (19 Job, 25, 26.)

3. How does Daniel refer to the resurrection?

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. (12 Dan. 2, 3.)

4. What did St. Paul assert before Felix?

There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. (24 Acts 15.)

5. Will every one of the human race be interested in this solemn event?

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. (5 Jn. 28, 29.)

6. How does Christ allude to the resurrection of the children of God?

They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (20 Lk. 35, 36.) 7. What will take place at the time of the resurrection?

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. (I. Cor. 15. 51, 52, 53.)

8. What did Christ say to encourage every believer

in him?

I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (11 John 25.)

9. Did any of the saints arise from their graves after the resurrection of Christ?

Many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (27 Mt. 52, 53.)

10. How did St. Peter and the other Apostles announce the resurrection of Christ to the Jews?

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree, Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (5 Acts 30, 31, 32.)

11. How does St. Paul refer to Christ's resurrection?

How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (I, Cor. 15. 3, 4.)

12. Who were the witnesses of this event?

He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. (I. Cor. 15. 5, 6.) 13. Is the resurrection of Christ a pledge of our rising again?

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. (I. Cor. 15. 20.)

14. Will the saints of Christ be blessed at the resurrection?

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.-The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I. Thess. 4. 14, 16, 17.)

15. What contrast will there be between the body of the saint when committed to the grave, and when it is raised from the dead?

It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption :—it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory:- it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power:-it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (I. Cor. 15. 42, 43, 44.) 16. Will death be then abolished?

When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (I. Cor. 15. 54.)

17. How do Christians triumph over death and the

grave?

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I. Cor. 15, 55, 56, 57.)

XXXVIII. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

The Judge-The circumstances of the day-All will be judged-The judgment of the righteous and the wicked.

1. Are righteousness and judgment essential to the character of God?

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. (97 P. 2.)

2. Who is our Judge?

The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. (5 Jn. 22.)

God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. (2 Ro. 16.)

3. What assurance have we that God has appointed Christ to judge the world?

He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (17 Ac. 31.)

4. How will Christ proceed to judgment?

When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. (25 Mt. 31 to 33.)

5. What did Enoch prophecy?

Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgment upon all. (Jd. 14, 15.)

6. What did Solomon say?

God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (12 Ec. 14.)

7. How does Daniel describe the day of judgment?

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. (7 Dan. 9, 10.)

8. How does St. John describe the solemn day?

I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (20 Rev. 11 to 15.)

9. How does St. Peter describe the day of judg

ment?

The heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.-The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto

O