child of man, " The soul that sinneth, it shall die." And this law cannot be set aside: it is as immutable as God himself: and hence it is that sin is itself so powerful, and invests death also with such power over our fallen race.]
But the Lord Jesus Christ has taken away our sin —
[He has put himself in our place and stead, and, as our Surety, has satisfied all the demands of the law. Did the law require the death of the offender ? He has put himself in the place of sinners, and has borne the penalty for them. Would sin yet prevail to destroy the soul ? He has expiated its guilt, and put " away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Must every one have a perfect righteousness before he can appear in the presence of a holy God? Christ has not only " made an end of sin, but by his obedience unto death has brought in an ever- lasting righteousness P," which " he imputes to all them that believe 1." Thus is death disarmed of its sting: for sin, which was its sting, is cancelled ; and the law, from which sin derived its strength, is fulfilled : and the sentence denounced against us is reversed, so far at least as it is penal; insomuch that " God may now be just, and yet the justifier of sinful men^"]
Thus is death disarmed of its power —
[Death, no longer envenomed by sin, is to be regarded only as a sleep, " a falling asleep in Jesus," This " enemy," this " king of terrors," is turned into a friend, and may now be numbered amongst the richest treasures of the Christian^. If we view it aright, it is only a friend who comes to draiv aside the veil that hides the Saviour and all his glory from our eyes. What a blessed thought ! O Christian, what joy should this thought impart unto thy soul ! with what transport shouldest thou exclaim, " Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ !" Come forward. Christian ; put thy foot upon the neck of this conquered enemy : exult over him, as God himself instructs thee, " O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Where are now thy boasted triumphs ? Instead of swallowing up me, thou shalt be swallowed up ; and instead of casting me into the lake of fire, thou thyself shalt have that for thine only and unchange- able abode*.]
Such is the victory that awaits thee. Think then, TIL What exertions the prospect of it should call forth—
P Dan. ix. 24. i Rom. iii. 22. «• Rom. iii. 26,
=^ I Cor. iii. 22. » Rev. xx. 14,