we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are unseen are eternal. Now, no chastening, for the present, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 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.

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. Now, if

Christ be preached, that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God, that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came, also, the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The

last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

P. Thus saith the Scriptures; and thus full of comfort, and rich in the blessedness of hope, is God's holy word. It teaches us, that although there are sor

rows through which we must all pass; and affliction, disease, and death, are the ills that unavoidably attend us, on earth; yet, they come not unbidden of God. They are not the accidental evils of a world of confusion and anarchy; neither are they the ungracious inflictions of a vindictive enemy. But they come forth from the hand of the Lord, and are the wise, salutary, and merciful ordinances of a kind and benevolent Father. His ways may appear dark and inscrutable to us, but they are light with him, and in them, he is continually carrying out the gracious plans of his government, by means which his infinite wisdom sees to be best. The same Almighty Being, who made the sun to shine upon the evil and the good, sends also the tempest, and is equally good in the sunshine and the storm. This world was not made for the dwelling-place of uninterrupted felicity, neither was it intended for man's permanent and final home. Hence, the pages of our experience here, are wet with

many tears; and the same wisdom and goodness which ordained us to be born, has also decreed that we must die. Happy is it for us, if our tears are shed in meek and humble submission to the will of God, who rules all things well; thrice happy, if, in the strength of an unfaltering faith, we can look upon death as the door of entrance to that "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"-as the gate through which we go to that blessed country, where "the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." With such a faith,

death is disrobed of his terrors, for he becomes the messenger of a Father's love, kindly sent to take us to our final home; and we can leave the time, and the manner of our departure, with God, knowing, that as he appoints, so it is best.

Let the mourners remember the words of the Saviour: "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted;" and let them not mourn as those that have no

hope. Let them remember, that death is