September 20

John xi. 38 — 45.

THE resurrection of Lazarus presents us with a striking representation of the restoration of dead sinners to the life and faith of the gospel. In this state of spiritual death are all men involved. Every man is in a prostrated, degraded, and loath-

2 F some condition. "Dead in trespasses and sins," is a sentence applicable to all men. Christ by the power of his almighty word, can raise men from this death, and impart spiritual life to the soul. Hence we read of being "born again, of the incorruptible seed of the word of God." Now it is only by the power of this almighty word that the soul can be quickened, and raised from the grave of pollution and guilt, and come forth to live to him who is truly the resurrection and the life. Reader, have you felt this power—have you heard this voice—and do you now live a life of faith on the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you? The resurrection of Lazarus also directs our attention to the resurrection of believers in the morning of the Saviour's second advent into our world. What a glorious morning will that be, when Christ, with glory infinitely brighter than the sun at noonday, shall appear again without a sin offering for the eternal redemption of his people. Then the mighty harvest of his sleeping saints will be gathered in, of whom he was the glorious first-fruits. He will not then stand at the confines of one tomb, to raise one beloved friend; but in the air, he will give one mighty, omnific shout, and all his sleeping dead shall hear his voice, and live, and come forth, as loyal subjects, to hail with rapture their descending king. In what beauty will they be arrayed!—possessing bodies like unto Christ's glorious body, spiritual, undying even as the body of their exalted head. Him they shall behold, and shall be transformed unto his celestial likeness, and as they have borne the image of the earthy, so now shall they bear the image of the heavenly, and shall be kings and priests to God and the Lamb for ever. Let this subject reconcile us to the loss of friends, and let it cheer the Christian in the hour of nature's decay, and in the article of death itself. Yes, Jesus, who raised Lazarus, lives, and because he liveth, all his saints shall live also.