[If he were still dead, it would be in vain to look to him for help. But, when he has raised up himself f, and spoiled all the principalities and powers of hellg, and been exalted on purpose that he might be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sinsh, what may we not expect at his hands ? Surely he is declared thereby to be the Son of God with power1, and to be able to save us to the uttermost k. Let us only seek to know him in the power of his resurrection1, and nothing shall be impossible unto usm.]
3. The certainty of our own resurrection to dwell with him —
[Our resurrection depended altogether upon his: if he had not risen, neither should we have risen : but because he rose, we shall rise also. Christ is the first-fruits, which, while it sanctified, assured also, the whole harvest". He is our fore- runner, who is gone to heaven to prepare places for us, and will come again to raise us to the possession of them0. We therefore may consider death and the grave as vanquished for us, and look forward to the complete triumph which we ourselves shall have over them in the last dayp. Because he liveth, we may be sure that we shall live alsoq.]
As a further improvement of this passage, permit me to observe,
1. How deeply are we interested in the writings of the Old Testament !
[In them are promises of which we receive the accom- plishment. The word of God is not of private interpretation1, as though it belonged only to this or that individual. Many parts doubtless had a peculiar reference to those to whom they were spoken ; but none an exclusive reference. Let us then embrace the promises as spoken to ourselves s, and expect the fulfilment of them to our own souls.]
2. How thankful should we be for a preached Gospel !
[Many, when the Gospel is preached to them, are ready to exclaim, " We beseech thee, torment us not1." Yes, they look on faithful ministers as " the troublers of Israel"." But
f John x. 17, 18. s Col. ii. 15. " Acts v. 31.
' Rom. i. 4. k Heb. vii. 25. » Phil. iii. 10.
m Mark ix. 23. n 1 Cor. xv. 20.
0 Ileb. vi. 20. John xiv. 2, .3. p 1 Cor. xv. 53 — 55.
n John xiv. 19. r 2 Pet. i. 20.
s Compare Josh. i. 5. with Heb. xiii. 5, 6. • Matt. viii. 29. and Luke viii. 28. u 1 Kin"s xviii. 17.