to create in his mind desponding fears : but his confidence in an almighty Protector kept him steadfast ''; and determined him to preserve an undaunted spirit, however great or multi- plied his trials might be'. Paul also, in the view of certain and accumulated troubles, covdd say, " None of these things move me'^." Thus may every believer triumph. The man who trusts in God is in an impregnable fortress, that has salva- tion for walls and bulwarks ^ If only our eyes be opened to see clearly, we may behold om'selves, like Elisha, encompassed with chariots of fire and horses of fire ; and may laugh at the impotent attempts of men or devils ^.^
The more immediate scope of the prophecy is to declare,
II. His comfort in death —
Our blessed Lord submitted cheerfully to his death in a certain expectation of a speedy resurrection —
[Greatly as he was oppressed and overwhelmed with sorrow, he yet restrained not his tongue" from joyful acknow- ledgments. His last discourses, and his intercessory prayer, abundantly testify the composure of his spirit, and the elevation of his mind. Look we for the ground of his consolation ? we shall find it in those repeated expressions, " I go to my Father;" " Father, I come to thee°." He knew that his flesh, that holy thing formed in the virgin's wombP, and which he gave for the life of the worlds, should never become an abomination "■, but that, though immured in the silent tomb, it should be raised thence, before it could corrupt : and that his soul, though separate from it for a season, should soon be re-united to it, to be a joint partaker of the same kingdom and glory.]
Such consolation too have all his members in a dying hour —
[Christ rose, not as a private individual, but as " the first- fruits of them that slept ^" And every one that beheves in him may consider death as a sleep, and the grave as a bed whereon he is to rest* till the morning of the resurrection. The bodies of the saints are indeed doomed to death and cor- ruption on account of sin": but they shall be raised again, and
^ Ps. xi. 1 — 4. i Ps. xxvii. 1,3. ^ Acts xx. 23, 24.
1 Isai. xxvi. 1. Ps. cxxv. 1,2. ^ 2 Kings vi. 16, 17.
" This is meant by " my glory" rejoiceth.
0 John xvi. 28. and xvii. 11. P Luke i. 35.
1 John vi. 51.
"■ Christ's resurrection on the third day was typified by that ordi- nance of the law. Lev. vii. 17, 18.
ii 1 Cor. XV. 20. t Acts vii. 60. Isai. Ivii. 2. " Rom. viii. 10.
514.1 Christ's resurrection and clory. 81
fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body-'^: this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immor- tality y. In expectation of this, the martyrs of old would not accept deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrec- tion^: and, in the hope of it, we also may put off this taber- nacle with joy, knowing that it shall be reared anew in a far better form^"]
Connected with this hope in his death, we behold, III. His prospect in eternity —
The state to which Jesus was to rise was a state of inconceivable and endless glory —
[No sooner were death and the grave vanquished by Jesus in the resurrection, and he was thereby " declared to be the Son of God with power," than the way to the regions of glory was opened to him ; that way, which, with myriads of attendant angels, he trod soon afterwards, that he might receive all the fruits of his victorious death. Then sat he down at the right hand of his Father, not any more to taste a cup of sorrow, but to possess a fulness and perpetuity of unutterable joy. Blessed prospect ! well might he be animated by it in the midst of all his trials; and, for the joy set before him, endure the cross, and despise the shame''.]