Page images
PDF
EPUB

disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus (after his resurrection) and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, 'Peace be unto you.' And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

3

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.'

"And after eight days again the disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace be unto you.' Then said he to Thomas, 'Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.' Jesus saith unto him, 'Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.""

6

1 John xx, 19, 20. 2 Mark xvi, 14. 3 John xx, 20, 24-29.

Exhortation to believe the promises, &c. "Having therefore these exceeding great and precious promises, let us draw near with a

true heart, in full assurance of faith; and let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised.

4" For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named), that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

12 Cor, vii, 1. 22 Pet. i, 4. 3 Heb. x, 22, 23. 4 Eph. iii, 14-21.

[ocr errors]

Chapter Fifth.

THE CHRISTIAN DYING.

Consoling truths.

1" PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 2 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: 'Yea,' saith the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.'

3" Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, what God hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces: for the Lord hath spoken it. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

1 Ps. cxvi, 15. 2 Rev. xiv, 13. 3 Is. lxiv, 4. 4 Is. xxv, 8.
5 Rev. xxi, 4. 6 Matt. xiii, 43. 71 John ii, 25.

Promises of Divine support.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

D

2 As thy days, so shall thy strength be. My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel-thy Saviour. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. 6I will ransom thee from the power of the grave; I will redeem thee from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction."

1 Is. xli, 10. 2 Deut. xxxiii, 25. 3 Ex. xxxiii, 14. 5 Deut. xxxiii, 27. 6 Hos. xiii, 14.

Triumphant faith.

4 Is. xliii, 1-3.

"All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 2 Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. 3 And I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. For God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; and he shall receive me.- 5The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I

4

have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

1 Job xiv, 14. Phil. i, 20-23. 3 Job xix, 25-27. 4 Ps. xlix, 15. 52 Tim. iv, 6-8.

Resignation to the Divine will.

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

3"Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 6 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

1 Luke ii, 29. 2 Job xxx, 23. 3 Ps. xxxi, 5. 4 Ps. xvii, 15.
5 Ps. xvi, 11. 6 Ps. lxxiii, 25, 26.

Victory through the risen Saviour.

1" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be

« PreviousContinue »