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Godliness has power to sustain in death. When the heart and flesh are failing, then God is felt to be the strength of our heart and our portion for ever. This is the last illustration we shall notice this morning. For many true reasons death has justly been named the king of terrors. This momentous event dissolves the human body, and breaks asunder all those tender and affectionate bonds, which unite us to earth. Our love of family and friends, is painfully interrupted, and the conviction steals over us that these sweet relationships are about to end, or at least that precise form of them, in which some of our holiest earthly affections, and interests have been embodied. The familiar walks of daily life, and daily duty, are about to be forsaken for ever, with all those pleasant scenes and circumstances of our present being, which the change of seasons, and the sweet interchange of day and night, produce. Our Sabbath-day work, and worship, have been a delight, but they are now all over and past. The body, which we have nursed so long, is soon to be borne away to "the land of darkness, and the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." The spirit must return to God who gave it, where it is awaited by a new and untried state of existence. To make light of so great a change as this, with all its solemn circumstances, is not creditable, either to the head or heart of any man, much less to affect indifference about the continuance of his being at all in another world

"Annihilation is a monstrous wish,
Unborn, till virtue dies.

But great and tremendous as the change is, godliness has power to support the Christian, even in prospect of death. The Holy Scriptures contain clear and direct statements respecting the safety of the righteous, in, and their eternal happiness after death. "I give unto them eternal life," said the great Shepherd of the sheep, "and they shall never perish." Not only are life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel, but this life and immortality, are secured to every godly man, by the immutable promise of Him who cannot lie. On this promise the good man confidently relies amid the silence and gloom of his sick chamber, the sorrow, and tears, and painful partings from friends and family, and the dissolution of the earthly house of this tabernacle. He descends into the grave with the assurance that his flesh shall rest in hope, and that God will redeem his life from the power of the grave, and will receive him. Whether the good man is sustained in "his final hour," by the power of his religion, is not a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact. Thousands of the most prudent, thoughtful, and intelligent, of our race, in many ages and countries have been so sustained. Individuals who could not be charged with ignorant credulity, or unreasoning fanaticism, have calmly and thoughtfully, in the solemn silence of a dying hour, commended their spirits into the hands of the Lord Jesus. And not unfreqently, has this been attended with a holy joy, exceeding in fulness all their past experience. And we most devoutly thank God,

that such experience of the power of godliness to comfort, at a time when all earthly comforts must inevitably fail, is not confined to any age, country, or condition of life. It may be realized by the young disciples of Christ, dying in the morning of their days; it reaches the poor Christian, dying in his poverty, as did Lazarus; or the aged servant of God, who has borne the burden and heat of the day, and who may be sinking into the grave under the weight of years, like Simeon of old, whose words, in many respects, are expressive of his condition; "Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

In confirmation of these things, many facts are now frequently occurring in connection with the death of Christians in almost every condition,-facts which have constrained many thoughtless and irreligious persons, to desire for themselves the death of the righteous, and that their last end may be like his.

My dear friends, how many of you are found this morning, destitute of the power of godliness? You have the form only. But what does this avail you in the midst of the sober and stern duties of everyday life, with its difficulties and dangers? But it will avail you less, if possible, in the hour of death, and in the day of eternity. Think, I beseech you, think of the delusive nature of your state and prospects. The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power; you are not, therefore, the subjects of that kingdom. And whatever advantages you may suppose you now gain by your fair show in the flesh, the time is coming when nothing less than the power of godliness will serve you, when you must utterly perish without it. You who now possess true religion, hold fast this pearl of great price, and you shall shortly prove its inestimable value in the hour of death, and reap its fulness of blessing in the world to come.

THE CHRISTIAN'S GREAT WORK.

"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you. NEHEMIAH iv. 3.

THE above manly and spirited declaration was once made by a patriotic and pious Jewish worker, to a company of mocking and crafty foes, who sought to seduce him from his work, of repairing the desolations of his beloved and sacred home. But for an extended detail of the circumstances we must refer the reader to the scriptural narrative.

In looking at this verse as the adopted language of every Christian, we may observe

I. The Christian has a great work to accomplish.

Our Divine Lord and Master, during his career upon the earth, seemed ever to be possessed and burdened with the one idea-" I have a great work to do." Similar to this was the conviction cherished by the early disciples of the Lord, and one which was ever exhibited in their devout lives, and fervent, burning zeal, and similar also must be the true avowal of every redeemed child of God. This work may be said to be twofold; both internal and external, personal and relative. As Christians, we are called to "work out"

under God, our own personal salvation, as well as the enlargement of the Church of Christ. This double work we may well designate "great," as we shall hereafter attempt to show.

First, it is "great," in the sphere of its operation. This we find to be the mind and soul, man's highest and noblest nature. And where, we would ask, can you find so sublime, so important a field to cultivate as this? In contrast with this, the fairest spot on God's earth, or the noblest work of human form, would be miserably vain and contemptible. The soul of man has no less than Deity for its author, and a whole eternity to its appointed life-time. Amid the exuberant wealth of the vast creation, there is nothing upon which the Almighty has set so great a value, as upon the human soul! Which then commands our strongest sympathies, our souls or our bodies? About which are we concerned the most, our inward or our outward life? Which business are we driving with the greatest energy, our secular or our spiritual? Alas! brethren, we do not belie the state of things when we aver that many are pushing a terrible trade for future woe; and would, oh, would to God, that they might now ponder the path of their feet, and consider the perils which are impending; for "what shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul." Our first and our greatest work, then is to save our own souls, and in this may Heaven help us. then let our “great work,” external to ourselves, be found ever in relation to the souls of men. Whatever of bodily good we may now be doing, or attempting to do, for our needy neighbour, and this is not to be neglected, yet ever let it be our first, our deepest, our absorbing concern, to secure the highest well-being, the salvation of his soul, and thus be ever standing ready to say to the wily seducer who would decoy us from our duty, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down, &c."

And

Secondly. The Christian's work is " great," inasmuch as the merely human is totally inadequate for its performance.

If in proportion to the skill and strength necessary for any human achievement, be the value and importance of the work when performed, then what must be the worth and interest of that work, in the effecting of which we are compelled to call down the wisdom and strength of Heaven. Bring your most erudite scholarship, with the most extensive literary attainments, the keenest and shrewdest acquaintance with human nature, with the most potent and persuasive powers of oratory; add to these every other conceivable excellence and perfection of human thought and action, and you shall find not the faintest voice, or motion respond to your efforts, for it is "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” In the great heart-work of our own personal salvation, our best and most devoted efforts will be sickly and impotent, except as we are moved and sustained by the mind and heart of Heaven. And dare we say other than this, with reference to the "great work" before us? Men are dying in thousands by our very side, and within our sight and sphere of action, without a knowledge of the blessed Gospel of Christ. Now we are possessed of the instrumental means for their salvation; but except as we enlist the aid of Heaven, these means will only be "clouds without water, and wells without life," and our efforts a mockery, a delusion and a sham. Commit yourselves anew then, my dear brethren, to this great" and commanding "work," while with hearts reinflamed and energies restrung, you forget not to invoke from "the four winds of Heaven,” the divine and saving breath.

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Thirdly. The Christian's work is seen to be "great," in the potency of the instrumentalities it wields.

"My kingdom," said the Saviour, "is not of this world." And an Apostle could say, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but

mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." And what is more mighty, we would ask, than is truth?

Before its omnific and resistless progress, hoary and mammoth institutions have been rased to the ground, and giant errors been smitten with sickness and death. And then as to value, a single grain of truth is worth infinitely more than whole tons of error. But in the large and extensive realm of truth, what is more powerful than moral truth? Other truths have a value, and one not to be despised, but what is there to compare with those truths which are concerned in the moral state and relation of men and things, and their accountable relation to the Author of all? And then of moral truths, what is there mightier than the divine and mysterious truth of Christ crucified? Of all the potencies in the moral world, not one is so eminent as that generated by the cross of Christ; this alone is "the power of God unto salvation." It is this truth, this power, that we are called to use in the great work to which we are called. However feeble and poor may be the worker, yet with this instrument, and the divine strength, "the worm Jacob shall thresh the mountains, and make the hills as chaff."

Fourthly. The greatness of the Christian's work is reflected in the formidable opposition it enlists.

Whether attempting to work out his own salvation, or seeking the salvation of others, the work is deemed of sufficient moment by the evil prince of this world, to awaken the most malignant and deadly hate, and call forth the vast resources of His dark empire in opposition to it. Not a day nor moment is there that passes, but our great enemy "goeth forth as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; so that were there no other illustration than this, the fell enmity of hell to the "work" of the Christian, would alone proclaim its character to be important and "great."

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Fifthly. The Christian's work is seen to be "great," in the amazing cost of the arrangement, by which he is furnished with the needed strength for his work, and possessed of the assurance that eternal felicity shall crown his labours.

Not an effort could man make, not a single step could he take, but for Christ having paid down as the ransom-price, his own most precious blood. That costly donation of his own life was rendered absolutely necessary, ere a single soul could be saved. Who then will dare to be indifferent to the "great work" of salvation, in the light which streams from such a sacrifice? Who can be unconcerned in the salvation of men, as he views the scenes and hears the sounds of Calvary's tragic scene? The work must indeed be "great," to have thus commanded the bestowment of so costly and transcendent a gift, as that of our blessed and Eternal Lord. For this let the Lord be ever praised.

Sixthly. The greatness of the Christian's work is further seen in the unspeakable bliss it insures.

After all the eloquent and inspiring descriptions of the felicities of true religion that have ever been given to man, its bliss is yet untold, its joys still unconceived: it is "the peace that passeth understanding, and a joy unspeakable and full of glory."

The Christian, whether keeping his own heart, and maturing his own personal growth in grace, or whether labouring to extend the cause of Christ around him, is equally helping to swell the tide of human bliss below, and enlarge upon the earth the harmony of heaven. Who is there, in confidence and authority, we would ask, that serves the best interests of his fellows, so widely and so thoroughly as does the Christian? Disarm, unnerve, yea, extinguish the despised band of Christian workers in the world, and what would be the issue? What? why you would at once destroy the small remnant of peace and true happiness which it possesses, and place in their stead discord and woe.

But on the other hand, augment and strengthen this illustrious but slender army, and let it engage with a burning devotion in the great and divine work to which the Lord hath specially called it, and soon shall the calm and purity of the earlier Eden be restored, and humanity be relieved of its weight of sin and sorrow, and woe. This "work" is therefore the greatest possible to all human effort, inasmuch as it yields a peace and joy, that transcends all else below.

Seventhly. The Christian's work is "great," in the permanence of its results.

The works of man in the material world, however stupendous in size, and durable in character, are nevertheless all doomed to an eventual decay; and should any continue to survive when Time itself shall die, even such shall witness a sure destruction in that great and awful day of the world's conflagration. But the special and peculiar work of the Christian, having to do with the immortal mind, shall ever continue to survive, long as that mind itself shall live. The one single word spoken to the sinner about Christ, may touch a chord whose vibrations in distant ages shall be unspent, but be heard in the exultant song of a saint, before the throne of the Lamb.

Do you, my dear brother, want the fame of accomplishing a work like this? Would you have your name engraven upon an enduring tablet, the tablet of a renewed spirit? Then give up your entire, your undivided self, to this "great" and enduring work. Gird you anew with all the earnest might of Heaven ;-be you inflamed with a consuming zeal for souls, and " never stand still till the Master appear."

II. The Christian is not without inducements to withdraw from its performance.

Look at Nehemiah and his work. This pious Hebrew worker, was beset and tempted by Sanballat and others, who were extremely desirous to draw him away from the work he had so nobly set himself to accomplish. And so it is with every soul that is determined to do God's will, for he is

"Surrounded by a host of foes,

Stormed by a host of foes within."

The great enemy of our souls will summon to his aid a host of agencies, in order to weaken our hands and drive us from our work. The flesh will plead its claim, with its desire for sensual gratification, whilst the love of indulgence and ease may ensnare us, except as we be watchful against the crouching and waiting foe. Many of the strong and devout have nibbled at this bait, and, alas, have been caught in the treacherous snare. Even a saintly David was once thus wounded to his bitter and painful cost. How many thousands of Christian professors have been slain by that curse and bane of the church, the love of strong drink? They have dared to launch upon this mighty rapid, nor have they stayed in their fleshly and fatal course until their whole man has been plunged in an abyss of infamy and woe. Their loathsome breath, with a stench like rottenness itself, has proclaimed aloud to their brethren, their diseased taste, and their incipient woe. Not only thus, but in many other ways, will the flesh attempt the seduction of our souls from our work.

Sometimes an inflated sense of self-sufficiency will aspire to our control, and thus restrain and render powerless our efforts, by withdrawing our reliance from our only source of strength; for we are only strong, just in proportion as we realise the aid of the Divine arm. Let us but fail here, and we shall assuredly fail in doing our "great work," both in reference to our own salvation, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom.

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