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die is solemn,-as sinners, it is tremendous. On the other hand, to all the people of God, the Gospel of Jehovah's grace gilds with precious promises the valley of declining mortal existence; it turns the shadow of death, to all who are in Christ, into the morning of a cloudless day, in which the words of the Spirit of prophecy will be gloriously illustrated: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. lx. 19, 20.)

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In all the deep lamentation of incalculable loss to ourselves, to the Church, and to the world, which of necessity accompanies the removal of our dear brother in Christ, who has for so many years gone in and out amongst us, and has had fellowship with us in all divine ordinances, and was so dearly and deservedly beloved by us;—we feel truly thankful to affirm, that this glory, the anticipation of which ran through all the long series of his unwearied acts of benevolence of every description, illuminated his closing scene with that peace of God which passeth all understanding,

keeping his heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

In connexion with the tribute of this memorial, as affording a remarkable illustration of the words of my text, it is purposed, as ability is given, to notice—

I. The union described,-" In the Lord." II. The declaration annexed,-" Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth.

III. The end assigned," That they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." And,

IV. The witness of the whole,-" Yea, saith the Spirit, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

Your attention is requested to

I. The union described,-"In the Lord." "The Lord," here doubtless signifies the Lord Jesus Christ, who is, I trust, precious to many now present. The expression, "In the Lord," signifies a covenant union with him; it involves within its compass the causes of thanksgiving, which are so confessed,-"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the

foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Eph. i. 3-6.) The blessedness of this union is the gain of godliness; being in Christ, blessed in him; and so chosen in him, and so accepted in him, God beholds the whole multitude of his people in Christ; they are covered with Christ. All men by nature are in a contrary state, far from God, they are not in Christ, but in their sins. Sin is the cause of their distance; it brings them under the curse of the law, of which it is the transgression; it alienates them from the life of God, they being dead in their apostasy, according to that word," Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isa. lix. 2.) Indeed, in this our natural state there is no desire, no drawing forth of the heart towards God, or the remembrance of his name, to worship him in spirit and in truth: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) But, the description of persons, "in the Lord," is that of those who have received the atonement,

who are constituted "The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts xx. 28.) These "were by nature the children of wrath, even as others;" (Eph. ii. 3;) equally dark in their understandings, alienated in their affections, and far in their thoughts from God but through the infinite love and mercy of the Lord to them, while they were dead in sins, a gracious change was wrought in their case and character, and from hence they may be so addressed," Now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (ver. 13.) And again,"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (1922.)

This union of the Church redeemed from among men, whereby they are said to be "in the Lord," is by the faith of the operation, and standing in the power, of God. This faith is wrought in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, according to the eternal purpose and grace con

cerning them personally and individually: while their continual attitude is that of expectation and experience," Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith." (Heb. xii. 2.) And hereby it may be known, who, among you, have the faith of God's elect : if ye are deriving life, and nourishment, and all the riches of grace from him, as the branches, their fruit-bearing support from the parent vine. It moves the receivers with fear of things not seen as yet, to flee from the wrath to come; and to lay hold of Christ, and to desire him, as the only hope set before them. And from hence arises their individual confession with an apostle,—“That I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Phil. iii. 8, 9.) This precious faith sets before its subjects eternal things, and chiefly the King eternal, immortal, and invisible. It sets their affections, as risen with Christ, on things above. It works by love, purifying the heart; and brings forth abundantly the fruits of the mercy received in its participation, causing believers, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; so that they become living and legible epistles of Christ. And it is a victo

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