XXXV.

THE GENERAL RESURRECTION.

JOHN, v. 28, 29.

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.

THESE words are so important, that if Jesus Christ had never delivered any other, if he had come into the world and pronounced only this simple declaration, and proved the truth and certainty of it by the miracles which he wrought, he would have left enough to have guided his followers to everlasting happiness: he would have done more towards making mankind virtuous and happy than all the teachers and all the wisdom, that ever appeared upon earth, had done before him. We should each and every one of us have owed more to him, for this single piece of intelligence, than we owe to our parents, our dearest friend, or the best benefactor we have. This text is the poor man's creed. It is his religion: it is imprinted upon his memory and upon his heart: it is what the most simple can understand: it is what, when understood and believed, excels all the knowledge and learning in the universe: it is what we are to carry about with us in our thoughts: daily remember and daily reflect upon: remember not only at

church, not only in our devotions, or in our set meditations; but in our business, our pleasures, in whatever we intend, plan, or execute, whatever we think about, or whatever we set about; remember, that

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they that have done good shall come unto the resurrection of life: they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation."

Reflect what great things this short sentence contains. It teaches us, beyond contradiction, that all does not end here: that our happiness or misery is not over at our death: that a new state of things will begin with every one of us, and that in a short time. This point, I say, our Saviour proves beyond contradiction: and how does he prove it? by healing the sick, by restoring sight to the blind, by raising the dead, by various astonishing and incontestable miracles; and above all, by coming himself to life again after being three days dead and buried, he proved that God Almighty was with him; that he came from God; that he knew what passed in the other world; that he had God's own authority to say and promise this to mankind. Upon the faith and trust of this promise, we know that we shall rise again: all are equally assured of it, from the highest to the lowest. Wise and learned men thought indeed the same thing before: they concluded it to be so from probable argument and reasonings; but this was not like having it, as we have it from God himself; or, what is just the same thing, from the mouth of a person to whom God gave witness by signs and wonders and mighty deeds. They were far short of our certainty who did study it the deepest. There were but few who could study or comprehend it at all. Blessed be God, we

are all informed, we are all, from the most learned to the most ignorant, made sure and certain of it.

Having then this great doctrine secured, that we shall all come again into a new world and a new life, the next great point which every serious mind will turn to, the second grand question to be asked, is, who are to be happy and who will be miserable in that other state? The text satisfies us completely upon this head. You ask, who shall come to the resurrection of life? The text replies, they that have done good. Observe well, and never forget this answer. It is not the wise, the learned, the great, the honoured, the professor of this or that doctrine, the member of this church, or the maintainer of that article of faith, but he that doeth good; he, of whatever quality or condition, who strives honestly to make his life of service to those about him; to be useful in his calling, and to his generation; to his family, to his neighbourhood, and, according to his ability, to his country and to mankind; "he that doeth good." All the rest, without this, goes for nothing, though he understand the things of religion ever so well; or believe ever so rightly; though he cry, Lord, Lord: be he ever so constant and devout in his prayers; or talk ever so much or so well or so earnestly for religion: unless he do good: unless his actions and dealings and behaviour come up to his knowledge and his discourse, correspond with his outward profession and belief, it will avail him nothing; he is not the man to whom Jesus Christ hath promised in the text, that he shall come to the resurrection of life. The issue of life and death is put upon our conduct and behaviour; that is made the test we are to be tried by.

Again, When we read in Scripture, when we know from positive and undoubted authority, that misery and destruction, ruin, torment, and damnation are reserved for some, it is surely the most natural, the most interesting of all inquiries to know for whom. The text tells us, " for them that have done evil."

Here, let the timorous conscience take courage. It is not any man's errors or ignorance; his want of understanding or education or ability that will be laid to his charge at the day of judgment; or that will bring him into danger of the damnation which the gospel threatens; it is having done evil; having wilfully gone about to disobey what he knew to be the will and command of his Creator, by committing mischief, and doing wrong and injury to his fellow

creatures.

Let the bold and presumptuous sinner hear this text with fear and trembling. Let him who cares not what misery he occasions, what evil and harm he does, if he can but compass his purpose, carry his own end, or serve his wicked lusts and pleasures; let him, I say, be given to understand what he has to look for; "he that doeth evil shall come to the resurrection of damnation;" this is absolute, final, and peremptory; here is no exception, no excuse, no respect of person or condition.

They that have done good shall come again unto the resurrection of life. But, alas! I hear you say, What good can I do? my means and my opportunities are too small and straitened to think of doing good. You do not sufficiently reflect, what doing good is. You are apt to confine the notion of it to giving to others, and giving liberally. This, no doubt, is right

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and meritorious; but it is certainly not in every man's power; comparatively speaking, it is indeed in the power of very few. But doing good is of a much more general nature; and is in a greater and less degree practicable by all; for, whenever we make one human creature happier, or better, than he would have been without our help, then we do good; and when we do this from a proper motive, that is, with a sense and desire of pleasing God by doing it, then we do good in the true sense of the text, and of God's gracious promise. Now let every one, in particular, reflect, whether, in this sense, he has not some good in his power; some within his own doors, to his family, his children, his kindred; by his labour, his authority, his example, by bringing them up, and keeping them in the way of passing their lives honestly, and quietly, and usefully. What good more important, more practicable, than this is? Again, something may be done beyond our own household: by acts of tenderness, kindness, of help and compassion to our neighbours. Not a particle of this will be lost. It is all set down in the book of life; and happy are they who have much there! And again, if any of us be really sorry, that we have not so much in our power as we would desire, let us remember this short rule, that since we can do little good, to take care that we do no harm. Let us show our sincerity by our innocence: that, at least, is always in our power.

Finally, let us reflect that in the habitations of life are many mansions; rewards of various orders and degrees, proportioned to our various degrees of virtue and exertion here. "He that soweth plenteously shall reap plenteously." We can never do too much;