the sting of death is taken away, and they are " delivered from their bondage to the fear of death."]
Hereafter —
[Terrible indeed must be the apprehensions of an unbe- liever, when first dismissed from the body and carried into the presence of a holy God; and at the day of judgment how will he stand appalled! But the believer will go as a child into the presence of his Father, with love, and joy, and confidence. He will not be confounded at the glory of the Divine Majesty, because he is washed in the Redeemer's blood, and clothed in his righteousness. Even Mary Magdalen, or the dying thief, know no terror in the presence of their God, because they are " complete in Christ :" it is on this account that they shall have confidence before him at his coming, and great boldness in the day of judgment0. Nor is this the privilege of a few only, who are strong in faith, but of " all that believe," whether their faith be strong or weak.]
Infer —
1. How great is the difference between believers and unbelievers !
[The world perhaps may not in some instances discern much difference ; but God, who sees the heart, gives this glo- rious promise to the one, while there is no such promise in all the sacred oracles to the other. Let us then believe on Christ ; and make him " all our salvation and all our desire."]
2. How unreasonable is the unbelief of sinful men !
[God has laid his Son for a chief corner-stone in Sion, and declared him to be precious to himself in that view: why then should he not be "elect and precious" unto us also? Have we found a better foundation, or a surer bond of union? Or can we produce one instance wherein any person that believed in him was finally confounded? O let us consider what confusion will probably seize us here, and certainly here- after, if we continue to reject him. And let us without delay " flee for refuge to the hope set before us."]
c 1 John ii. 28. and iv. 17.