are not wanting many strong intimations of itc and in
the New, it is declared in every paged ]
2. The power of God to effect it —
[See what God has done : look at the whole creation ; and then ask, Whether He who formed the universe out of nothing, cannot as easily re-unite our scattered atoms (whatever changes they may have undergone), and restore to every one his own body ? Yes ; it was the voice of Jesus that spake the universe into existence ; and that same voice will call forth into renewed existence all that are mouldered in their graves. See, more- over, what our God is doing. We forbear to notice the succession of day and night, and summer and winter ; or the reviviscency of birds and insects after long intervals of sus- pended animation. We call your attention rather to the changes wrought upon the seed that is cast into the earth : it dies, and rises again, in appearance different, in reality the same. What more striking image of the resurrection could be presented before our eyes? Surely in this we have a pattern of the change that shall be accomplished in us at the last day ; and a pledge that " our bodies, which are sown in corruption, weak- ness, and dishonour, shall be raised in incorruption, power, and glory."]
As no doubt can remain upon our minds respect- ing the certainty of the resurrection, let us next consider,
II. The issue of it —
There will be an immense difference between the states of different men —
[Who can conceive all that is implied in " a resurrection to life ? " If in some respects we may borrow images from the present life in order to illustrate it, in other respects that new and heavenly life will form a perfect contrast to all that we now experience. It is true, that all the faculties of our bodies shall be employed in the service of our God : but it is also true, that they shall never clog the soul in its operations ; their capacities shall be exceedingly enlarged ; they shall never be subject to weariness or want of any kind; they shall be as full of activity and blessedness as the soul itself
On the other hand, Who shall declare what is the full im- port of " a resurrection to damnation?" We are shocked at the very sound of the word " damnation :" how much more
c Exod. iii. G. with Mark xii. 2(>, 27. Isai. xxvi. 19. Hos. xiii. 14. with 1 Cor. xv. 54, 55. and especially Job xix. 25 — 27. d passim. See 1 Cor. xv.