September 27

requires it. Let us give ourselves into his hand; and let us do this three ways or for three purposes—First, to be saved. Secondly, to be employed. And Thirdly, to be governed by him.

Then we may be joyful in him; and rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, exulting in the thought that he who is infinitely dear to us is so exalted, and that he on whom we entirely depend is so mighty. Then we shall have nothing to fear, but every thing to expect. Our welfare is involved in his advancement: and because he lives we shall live also. We are the followers, the friends, the children, the bride, the members of him who is higher than the highest—HE IS LORD OF ALL.

SEPTEMBER 27.—“We would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”—2 Corinthians 5:4.

HERE we see that it was not death they desired, but the result of it. They wished to resemble those who will be found alive at the last day, who will not sleep, but be changed: or to be privileged like Enoch and Elias, who went to heaven without dissolution, and were glorified soul and body together. They longed to be clothed, without being found naked—to be clothed upon—that this corruptible might put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality—that their mortality, instead of being lodged in the grave and devoured by worms, might be swallowed up of life, as the rivulet is swallowed up of the river, and the outline is swallowed up of the finished picture, and the dawn is swallowed up of the day, and the child of the man. That is, they wished, if it were possible and allowable, to reach their completeness gently and insensibly, without such a disruption and tearing to pieces as death. Three things may be remarked from hence.

First. The primitive Christians were not, as we sometimes imagine, peculiar beings, and strangers to many of our feelings. They were men of like passions with us, and encompassed with infirmities. They had nature in them as well as grace. They were holy, but human: spiritual, but not divine.

Secondly. A dislike of death is no proof of the want of religion. The forerunners and the accompaniments, “the pains, the groans, the dying strife,” may sometimes deeply affect a pious mind. No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it. No creature can like its own dissolution. We see this in the animals; though they have no dread of futurity, they yet struggle for life. The fear of death is as naturally inherent in us as hunger, thirst, and sleep; and only requires to be governed. Adam had it in the state of innocence, otherwise the words, “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” would have been no threatening. Our Saviour, though his humanity was sinless, feared it, and prayed to him who was able to save him from death with strong cryings and tears, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. We may covet a thing, and not like the mode in which it is to be obtained. The husband and the father longs to see and embrace his family on the American shore, yet shrinks back at the thought of the Atlantic which he has to cross. A man is confined with a diseased mem-