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XXXVI. DEATH AND THE GRAVE.

Entrance of death- -Circumstances attending-Certainty of -Preparation for—Christian's hopes in death—Christ's dominion over death.

1. How did God pass the sentence of death on man when he sinned?

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Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (3 Gn. 19.) 2. Does sin deserve death?

The wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6 Ro. 23.)

3. Are the circumstances of death various?

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.-Another dieth in the bitterness of his soul.-They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. (21 Job, 23, 25, 26.)

4. Does death often come unexpectedly?

Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (24 Matt. 42 to 44.)

5. Does the grave await us all?

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him. (21 Job, 32, 33.)

The worm shall feed sweetly on him. (24 Job, 20.)

6. Is death certain?

We must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. (II. Sam. 14. 14.)

7. How did David express the nearness of death? There is but a step between me and death. (I. Sam. 20. 3.)

8. How did Job declare the certainty of death? Behold he taketh away, who can hinder him? Who will' say unto him, What doest thou? (9 Job, 12.)

I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. (30 Job, 23.)

9. Will death be universal?

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? (89 P. 48.) The living know that they shall die. (9 Ec. 5.)

10. How did Job express his hope?

All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come. (14 Job, 14.)

11. How did the Psalmist rejoice?

This God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death. (48 P. 14.)

God will redeem my soul from the power of the

he shall receive me. (49 P. 15.)

12. What death did wicked Balaam desire?

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Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. (23 Numb. 10.)

13. How did Job in the season of his distress allude to death?

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together: they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. (3 Job, 17, 18, 19.)

14. How did the Psalmist express his confidence in God? Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod, and thy staff, they comfort me. (23 P. 4.)

15. What is the end of the good man?

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace. (37 P. 37.)

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16. How did the Psalmist exult in God when his strength declined?

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 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. (73 P. 24 to 26.)

17. What is the difference between the death of the wicked and the righteous?

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath hope in his death. (14 Pr. 32.)

18. Has God promised to ransom his people from death? I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. (13 Hosea 14.)

19. What is the last enemy?

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (I. Cor. 15. 26.)

20. How did the Apostle Paul triumph over death?

We know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.-That mortality might be swallowed up of life.-Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.-We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (II. Cor. 5. 1, 4, 6, 8.)

21. Does God bless his saints in their death?

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (116 P. 15.)

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. (14 Rev. 13.)

22. How did Christ declare his power over death and the unseen world?

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (1 Rev. 18.)

23. To whom are we indebted for life and immortality ? Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (II. Tim. 1. 10.)

24. Should the death of Christ deliver his saints from the fear of dying?

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage. (2 Heb. 14, 15.)

25. Was St. Paul constantly mindful of Christ's death? Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (II. Cor. 4. 10.)

26. What was Stephen's dying prayer?

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (7 Acts 59.)

27. How does Christ encourage each of his followers ? Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (2 Rev. 10.)

28. Are true Christians very anxious to glorify God both in life and death?

Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's: for to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. (14 Rom. 8, 9.)

XXXVII. THE RESURRECTION.

Proof and certainty of—Circumstances of Christ's resurrection, and its connexion with ours- Happiness of Christ's people at.

1. How did Moses prove that there would be a resurrection of the dead?

That the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; for he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him. (20 Lk. 37, 38.)

2. How did Job rejoice in the resurrection?

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. (19 Job, 25, 26.)

3. How does Daniel refer to the resurrection?

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. (12 Dan. 2, 3.) 4. What did St. Paul assert before Felix?

There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. (24 Acts 15.)

5. Will every one of the human race be interested in this solemn event?

The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (5 Jn. 28, 29.)

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