an expiring race. There is the only hope which anxious parents can have for their perishing offspring, and dying sinners for their own souls. There is the only hope for saints on earth, and the only security for saints in heaven. And there is hope enough. How many times every day do christians lift their eyes to Jesus, and with every hope centering in him, call him their Resurrection and their Life. And how eminently will he thus appear when he shall display before his throne, in one vast assembly, the immense columns of human beings who were once the heirs of hell, but were raised to life eternal by his mediation and power. Will not heaven forever ring with the music of these delightful words, "I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live."

3. Jesus is, "the Resurrection and the Life" by eventually raising the bodies of his people from the grave. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The apostle, in proof of the resurrection, quotes a verse from the 110th Psalm, purporting that Christ must hold the mediatorial government until all his enemies are put under his feet; and then alleging death to be an enemy, he brings his argument for the resurrection to a point by saying, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

How precious is our Redeemer, viewed, in this sense, as "the Resurrection and the Life." What a joyous hope is this when we stand around the dying beds of our friends,-when we commit them

to the grave, when we contemplate those whom we tenderly loved, as masses of putrefaction or entirely dissolved. Jesus is "the Resurrection and the Life," and we shall see our friends again. And what a hope is this when we ourselves are entering the region of the shadow of death. We are not to be lost in eternal oblivion, but may look through the dark region to the light of a glorious resurrection. Jesus has shed a cheerful ray on the precincts of the tomb and diffused a light through the womb of the grave. He will recover all his sleeping saints from the dust. In that glorious morning when the trump shall sound, they shall spring to light from every grave yard, and find death, their last enemy, destroyed. And when they shall awake and find this last foe dead at their feet, and themselves recovered to immortal life; when they shall look up and see the glorious retinue of their descending Saviour and mark the strange commotions in heaven and earth; then, as they are caught up to meet their Lord in the air, with what raptures will they sing as they ascend, "I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live."

In that day the whole fabric of the universe,the earth and the visible heavens,-will be dissolved, and fall into that utter ruin to which they were consigned for the sin of man. There, then, will be the last opportunity for Christ to appear "the Resurrection," though he will always be “the Life.” Out of the ashes of the old, his power will raise new heavens and a new earth, while he pronounces,

“Behold I make all things new." And while the saints and angels come out to view the new worlds which the great Restorer has reared, every harp in heaven will sound, and angels and men will fill the new heavens and earth with the hallowed song, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."

And shall those lips which will then be vocal, now be sealed in silence? No, let us now begin the praise. Saviour of men, let us delight to triumph in thee, who art to us "the Resurrection and the Life." O let his name and his love be forever on our lips. Let our tongue cleave to the roof of our mouth ere we forget him who restores our souls,— who renovates a world. Amen.

SERMON VIII.

THE ASCENSION AND DOMINION OF CHRIST.*

LUKE, XXIV. 50, 51.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

We have often, when assembled round the sacramental table, remembered him who died; let us now remember him who rose again, who "ascended on high" leading "captivity captive," who sat down on the right hand of God, who lives and reigns in heaven. This sacred institution was intended to make us more intimately acquainted with our blessed Saviour in his whole character; to awaken a stronger faith in him, not only as a Priest, but as a Prophet and King. No time is more proper than the present to enter deeply into the glorious plan of salvation, and to search the wonders which fill it in all its infinite length and breadth.

When one has labored long to obtain a clear conception of the priesthood of Christ, and is filled

* Preached at the administration of the Lord's Supper.