no season of suspense, no purgatory, between his death and a state of reward. In the day that he breathes his last he goes to Paradise. In the hour that he departs he is with Christ. (Phil, i 23.)
Let us remember these things, when our believing friends fall asleep in Christ. We must not sorrow for them as those who have no hope. While we are sorrow- ing they are rejoicing. , While we are putting on our mourning, and weeping at their funerals, they are safe and happy with their Lord. — Above all, let us remember these things, if we are true Christians, in looking forward to our own deaths. To die is a solemn thing. But if we die in the Lord, we need not doubt that our death will be gain.
Notes. Luke XXni. 39—43.
39. — [One of the malefactors.,, railed. ..dc] The question naturally arises, How are we to reconcile St. Luke's account of the con- duct of the thieves with the account given by Matthew and Mark ? They distinctly say that both the thieves railed. St. Luke says, " one of them."
1. Some think that only one thief railed, and that Matthew and Mark use the plural number, in the general way that people sometimes use it, when describing a transaction. They adduce as instances Psalm ii. 2 ; Heb. xi 33, 34, 37. This, acccording to Maldonatus, is the opinion of Cyprian, Cyril of Jerusalem, Augustine, Ambrose, Jerome, Gregory, and Leo. It is also held by Scott and Doddridge.
2. Some think that both the thieves railed at first, but that one of them afterwards repented, ceased to rail, and began to
• pray. This is the opinion of Athanasius, Origen, Hilary, Chiy- sostom, Theophylact, and Euthymius. It seems far the most probable opinion.
Let it be noted that the impenitent thief is a striking proof that pain, suffering, and the approach of death, are not sufficient without grace, to convert a soul. The followers of the impenitent thief are unhappily far more numerous than those of the penitent thief ^
40. — [Tlte other answering, rebuked himJl Who this malefactor was.