almighty power, he new creates the soul after the image of God, and, what is here principally intended, he repairs ail the evils which death had inflicted. He restores us to that state. and even to more than that state, from which sin had cast us down. He rescues our bodies from the grave, and fashions them like unto his glorious body, even by that power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself, Phil. 3, 21. Had it not been for Christ, death would have reigned for ever over our fallen race ; but thanks be to God, Christ hath given us the victory ; so that the behever may even now say, O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ?
58. Therefore, my beloved brethreii, be ye stead- fast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Such being the truth and importance of the doctrine of the resurrection. Christians should be firm in their adherence to it, not suffering themselves to be moved by the specious objections of philosophy falsely so called. They should re- member that if the dead rise not, then is Christ not risen ; and if Christ be not risen, their faith is vain, and they are yet in the power of sin. But as Christ has risen, and as his resur- rection illustrates and renders certain that of his people, what more natural and proper than that they should abound in the work of the Lord. The work of the Lord is either that work in which the Lord is engaged, the destruction of death by de- stroying sin ; or, it is the work which the Lord has given us to do, as parents and children, as husbands and wives, as min- isters and Christians. Li this work we should aboimd, i. e. be abundant. As Paul says, 2 Cor. 11, 23, "In labours more abundant." Forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. This with Paul was more than faith ; it was knowledge. He knew that labour in the work of the Lord would not be in vain. The reward secured for it by the grace of God and merit of Christ is participation of the glories of a blessed resurrection.
i: CORINTHIANS 16. 361