impossible for them to have believed, if he had not really risen. Further, neither their faith nor their preaching would have availed, had not the living Christ fulfilled his promises (Matt. xxviii. 20; Acts i. 4, 5). 2. Christ's resurrection is the a.5surance. As he has been one with us in death, we are to be one with him in life. llis resur- rection is the seal both of his power and of his faithfulness; and both are pledged (John x. 28-30; xiv. 19). True, this flesh must "see corruption;" this "earthly house be dissolved." But for the humblest believer, as much as for an apostle, "to depart," is" to be with Christ;" "Absent from the body, at home with the Lord" (Phil. i. 23; 2 Cor. v. 8). And the body is to be "raised incorruptible;" not fleshly, but spiritual (Phil. iiL 20, 21; 1 Cor. xv. 50-53; John v. 28, 29; vi. 39). Because he lives, where he lives, as he lives, we shall live also. CoNoLUSION, All this turns on one simple, infinitely significant question-Lire we his 1 Ver. 11.-" The path of life." The attractiveness and ease, or the reverse, of any path may depend on many conditions. Smooth or rough, steep or level, plain or confused with turns and windings; bright with sunshine or dark with tempest. But the main question is-Whither will it lead? We speak often of human life as a journey -a path along which, like pilgrims, we are travelling. Whither does it lead? Apart from "Christ and his gospel, the only answer is-to the grave. Our Saviour's death and resurrection have changed all this; made both life and death something quito other than before. He lived in order to die; died in order to live again; lives again, to make us partakers of his life. I. JESUS LIVED THAT BE MiaBT DIE. In quite another sense from what is true of all men, or of any other, his life was the path of death. In the prime of life and unrivalled usefulness, he thirsted for death ; not tho rest of the gra.ve, bnt the conflict of the cross (Luke xii. 50). As the purpose of his coming (Matt. xx. 28). The ful- filment of prophecy (Luke ix. 31). 'l'he commission of the Father (John x. 17, 18). 'l'he pain of his joy (Heb. xii. 2). II. JESUS DIED THAT RE MIGHT LIVE AGAIN. Life saw for him the path of death; death, the path of life. To this the text points, as interpreted by the Holy Spirit (Acts ii. 24-82). His resurrection has changed our whole view of death, and therefore of life (Heb. ii. 14, 16). What seemed the mountain barrier against which the last waves of life break, proves to be but the narrow strait loading into the bound- less ocean of lifo indeed. III. JESUS LIVES TO MAKE UB PARTAKERS OF BIS LIFE. (John xiv. 3, 19; x. 28.) CONCLUSION. It is a poor, mean view of Christianity which speaks of it as pre- paration for death. It is preparation for life. It is more-it is the beginning, the first stage, the infancy and childhood, of eternal life (1 John v. 11, 12; Col. Iii. 1-4).
Ver. 11.-" Fulness nf joy." The natural effect of sin is to quench all desire after God, deaden all sense of his presence; to make the thought of him unwelcome, eveu terrible. "I heard thy voice, ... and was afraid." The beginning of spiritual life is turning to God. Its highest attainments, joy in God. The supreme hnppiness to which it looks forward, fulness of joy in his prosenco. I. God has bestowed on human nature A WONDERFUL 0APACITY FOR JOY. 'l'be sunshine of the heart, in which "all the flowers of life unfold." Look at the child with a birthday gift, a game, a holiday. Joy shines in his eyes, sets him singing and dancing. As our nature expands, and life's varied experience gathers strength, such simple exuberance of joy becomrs impossible; but its sources are deeper, more manifold. No longer a dancing brook, but a. deep well, sometimes brimming over. As the Bible is fuller than all other books of human life, so you can nowhere match the fulness and variety of its images of joy. Beside its warm Eastern pictures, our Western modern life looks bleak and sad. But above the whole range of common life, it opens the rnnge of spiritual joy-the joy of forgiveness, of Ralvation, of knowledge, of trust, peace, security; of fellowship with God in Christ (John xv. 11; xvi. 20, 22). Higher still the Scripture lifts our thoughts-to the joy of angels j to God's own joy (Luko xv. 7, 10, 32; Zcph. iii. 17). 100 TIIE BOOK OF PS.ALMS. [I'll. XVI. 1-11,
JI. Goo Is TIIE Sour.CE OF ALL JOY. Even the gladness of the frisking lambs, of the gnats dancing in the sunshine, of the lark singing in the sky, is his gift; even as the momentary twinkle on the breaking spray is the sun's image. All pure joy is from God. There are impure joys-" the pleasures of sin." But as the mountain stream is pure at its source, thongh in its courso through plains and cities it becomes foul and tainted; so the original desires and affections of our nature are pure, Sin nlone corrupts. Ill. Joy UNKNOWN BEFORE, AND ELSE UNATTAINABLE, comes into human life through faith in the Saviour--our crucified, risen, glorified Lord. "Then were the disciples glad" (John xx. 30). Well they might be; for the heaviest grief human hearts ever suffered was in a moment rolled away, and "life and immortality brought to liaht." 1. The joy of forgivcness--of knowing we are right with God (Rom. v. 11). 2. Of strength, safety, courage, comfort, in fellowship with Christ (John xiv. 18). 3. The joy of hope (1 Pet. i. 8). IV. "Fur.NESS OF JOY." Joy unalloyed, complete, enduring, is not for this world. Not possible where all fairest flowers fade, fruits wither, brightest days have their ~unset, fountains run dry. "In thy presence," etc. There will be many sources of " e1·erlasting joy" (Isa. xxxv. 10) in the heavenly life: society, deliverance from pain, grief, sin, conflict, etc. (Rev. vii. 15-17). But the source of all," the fountain of living waters" (Jer. ii. 13), will be God's presence (Rev. xxi. 22, 23). CoNcLUSION. Is this the heaven we desire; for which we are preparing? There fa no other prepared for us. In that measure in which the presence of God, realized by faith, love, prayer, is a source of joy here and now, we have the earnest and pledge of " fulness of joy " for ever.