mysterious question, "Where is he?" Be the locality of Hades what and where it may, we know that the existence of the disembodied soul is one glow of extatic transport under the approving light of God's countenance, or one thrill of unutterable horror and anguish beneath His frown-each a part of, each a prelude to, that which will be unchangeably fixed at the day of judgment-nay, rather, which has been unchangeably fixed from the moment of dissolution; though it will not be consummated till all shall rise with their own bodies, and give account of their own works, and "they that have done good shall go into life eternal, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire."

Obviously, therefore, in the case of every departed immortal, the question is of the most grave importance and most startling interest. WHERE IS HE? And how much might our own souls be profited, did we propose it as we ought, concerning those whom we ourselves have loved and lost. Rightly asked, it would

tinge the whole current of life, rightly answered, it might change the complexion and character of death. Should we hesitate with the answer, were it asked concerning Paul? Should we not answer -He is with Christ-with Christ consciously, intelligently, rapturously-with Christ above, the manifested presence of Christ in heaven? And if we know not the locality or place of his present abode, this we know, that he is now just as much as he ever was, and we believe. that he is now, and ever will continue to be, like to Christ, one with Christ, through eternity a glorious body, and already a glorified soul.

Would we then be where Paul is, in heaven? Let us seek to be one with Paul on earth, let "us follow him, even as he followed Christ." Let us come as he came, not only as sinners, but as "the chief of sinners," to the feet of Christ, and we shall come, as he has come, through the only Saviour, to the attainment of the crown!

HO

XXVI.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ.

HEN St. Paul declares, that "as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive," he first states a fact which is undeniable by any, and then founds upon it a conclusion which must be interesting to us all. But in stating the fact, he connects with it the cause of death, pronouncing that IN ADAM all die; and whoever, therefore, inherits from the first Adam the fatal legacy of death, is concerned above all things to determine whether, and in what sense, and to what extent, and for what purse, he is made ALIVE IN CHRIST. And

vill be effectually done, if we inate the nature of that quickening,

or life-imparting power, which is there said to abide or to be inherent in Christ.

None, it is manifest, who believe in the essential Deity of the Lord Jesus, could deny to Him the possession of this power as God. It would be unavoidably inferred, even if it were not, as it is, expressly declared. But when it is said, that "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," it is added, that “in Him was life;" while not only " was He before all things, but by Him," said the Apostle Paul, "do all things subsist. By Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible or invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him." In order to continue the chain, however, by links which even the struggling hand of Infidelity cannot loosen, we must be certified, farther, that there is Life also in the Word made Flesh. For by the voluntary abasement of His

Incarnation, the Lord, though continuing equal to the Father in essence, became subordinate to the Father in relation; "equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, but inferior to the Father as touching His manhood." The change of relation, however, between Him and the Father does not affect his sovereignty and supremacy over man: for the Father communicates to Him as man what was already His as God. Or to express this Mystery in the preferable because unerring words of Holy Writ, "As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;" and this, that "all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father." And again, "As the Father quickeneth, so the Son quickeneth whom He will;" and, once more, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that