LECTURE XC.

REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE RESURRECTION.

1 COR. XV. 29-34.

29. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

The whole fabric of the Gospel rested upon the resurrection of the dead. Our Lord began his chief discourse by pronouncing those blessed, whose blessedness must depend in great measure upon a future world. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the pure in

all

heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; for great is your reward in heaven." And he enforced his reproof of worldliness and covetousness by inquiring, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"2

This, therefore, was one of the truths which the Christians confessed at baptism. They were instructed to say, "I believe in the resurrection of the dead:" and in this faith they were baptized. And what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, baptized

1 Matt. v. 3—11.

2 Matt. xvi. 26.

in confidence of the rising of the dead, if in this they are deceived ?”3

30. And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31. I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

Such would be the natural conclusion, if we deny the resurrection. It is the language of those who believe their time is short, and desire to make the most of it, because they have no hope beyond. "Behold," as the prophet says, "behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."6

And yet, alas! how many live according to this sentiment, with less excuse, because they do not acknowledge the principle which leads to it! How many confess that they look for the resurrection of the dead and

3 Such is the interpretation of a much disputed passage in which all the early commentators concur, except Tertullian, who is refuted by Chrysostom. They see no difficulty in eliciting this meaning from the elliptical phrase, uneρ veкowr, which, indeed, is not more elliptical than many of St. Paul's phrases.

4 By your rejoicing; i.e. by your spiritual advancement, which is my rejoicing.

5 To expose criminals to wild beasts was no unusual punishment. The earlier commentators suppose that St. Paul was so exposed at Ephesus, and preserved; though, because this is not recorded in the Acts, others interpret the words metaphorically, as referring to the tumult raised by Demetrius and his craftsmen, Acts xix. 24.

Isa. xxii. 13.

the life of the world to come, and yet so give themselves to the concerns or the pleasures of this world, as if convinced that men, when they go hence, are no more seen!

33. Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good

manners.

34. Awake to righteousness, and sin' not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

To deny the resurrection, was to be without the true and proper knowledge of God. The evil communications, the dangerous reasonings of those who would corrupt the good manners of the Christians, by undermining the faith which alone can lead to a holy method of living, proceeded on this want of knowledge. And it was to the shame of those who had been better taught, that such evil communications were made or listened to.

To doubt that God could raise the body, was to be without the knowledge of his Power. The Lord God had formed man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul. The Lord also ordained that man, when his breath was taken away, should return to his dust again. But could not the same almighty hand which had formed man originally, and so curiously fashioned him, clothe his soul again with a body, which should be to him as his own body? Why should it be thought a thing incredible" with any "that God should raise the dead?"9 He, who had once spoken the word, and the world was made;

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7

* úμapravere. It may signify error, as well as sin.

8 Gen. ii. 7.

9 Acts xxvi. 8.

who had commanded, and it was created? thing too hard for the Lord?"

"Is any

Then, further, to deny that God would raise the dead, was to be without knowledge of his GOODNESS. His goodness would not allow those who have loved and served him, to spend their lives in a vain expectation of a recompense which is to fail them after all. "Ye are they, said our Lord, who have continued with me in my temptations ;" who have left all, to follow me; who have "forsaken houses, and brethren, and sisters, and father, and wife, and children, and lands," for my sake and the gospel's. Yet what advantageth it them, if the dead rise not?

1

From the day of Pentecost until the present hour, there has always been a class,-sometimes larger sometimes smaller in the world, still there has been a class of persons wherever the gospel has been made known, who, instead of seeking their portion in this world, have "sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness:" have "set their affections on things above;" and "walked, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Like Paul himself, they have always risked, and sometimes endured, "the loss of all things," rather than forfeit the favour of God. If they have not been able to say like the apostle, in the literal sense, I die daily; in another sense they have been "dead," and their life has been "hid with Christ in God," whilst they have "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." If they have not

fought with beasts at Ephesus, they have contended against Satan, and resisted their own evil passions.

1 Luke xxii. 28.

2 Matt. xix. 28.

They have not made it the business of their lives "to eat and drink," and take their ease, as those who look for nothing beyond: but knowing that "the fashion of this world passeth away," they have "wept as those who wept not, rejoiced as those who rejoiced not, used the world as not abusing it."

And this, not of themselves, not by any natural power or will, but by the grace of God that is with them. They could not have been thus led, to overcome the inclination of their nature, and the temptations which surround them, unless they were "drawn of God:" unless they were filled by his Spirit, making them "new creatures," who "seek the things which are above," and whose conversation is not on earth, but in heaven.

Yet to what purpose, if the dead rise not at all? Is it consistent with the wisdom of God, to put into men's hearts this love of him, this desire of his glory, which love is never to be satisfied, which glory is never to be enjoyed?

Therefore, be not deceived. To doubt the resurrection of the dead, would be to have no knowledge of God and might justly be spoken to the shame of men to whom his word has been revealed: assuring them, that "Verily there is a reward for the righteous, doubtless there is a God which judgeth the earth.”3

3 Ps. lviii. 11.