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THE VICTORY.

BY THE REV. W. BURTON.*

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Cor. xv. 57.

IN one view, my brethren, our emotions to-day may be of the saddest description, in another they may be calm and even joyous. It depends very much on the direction in which our thoughts turn, whether we shall be overwhelmed with distress, or whether our minds be filled with comfort and consolation. Whatever be the relation we sustained to him whom God has recently taken to himself—that of family tie, or connection with him in Christian friendship and church fellowship-if we permit ourselves to dwell exclusively on our great loss, if we think of his place being vacant, his active living influence as come to an end, if we reflect that his many services for the cause of God amongst us have all come to a termination, that his accustomed form our eyes shall never more behold in the earthly sanctuary, and the familiar tones of his voice we can never hear again-if we dwell on these things, grief will possess our hearts, we cannot but feel sad, and the deep shadows of sorrow falling on us will darken our souls and oppress our spirits. But there is light in the midst of this trial-the light of life, the light of hope, the light of joy; so that we need not to sit desolate in "the shadow of death." There is another, an altogether different aspect in which we may look on this event; there is another side to the picture, a side that has brighter, more glowing, more lasting colours; and the effect of contemplating this more lightsome view will certainly be more cheering, more animating, more strengthening, and I think one may say more elevating and sanctifying to our soul.

Yes, dear friends, we may think of our brother as living now "before the throne," as having done with all the cares and sorrows of this mortal state, "compassed about with songs of deliverance." We may dwell with delight and thankfulness on his life of faith and well-doing-on the termination to that life so calm and peaceful and untroubled his passing away without severe protracted suffering into the glory of heaven, into the presence of his Lord and ours, emancipated from all the ills that

belong to this world, enjoying the realiza tion of the words he so frequently quoted

"There shall we see his face, and never, never sin;

There from the rivers of his grace drink endles
pleasures in."

If we let our minds go out in this d
rection, and contemplate those high real
ties that are apprehended by faith, surel
there will be, to say the least, a feeling
calm, quiet joy-and may it not be c
exulting joy P-when we think of him a
actually in the midst of those glories;
to him to live was Christ, and to die wa
gain.

Now, my brethren, I prefer on this or
casion the more joyous aspect; I woul
rather give prominence to the glorio
truths brought to light in the Gosp
which bear upon the future, and which at
so well adapted to encourage our hearts i
time of affliction and days of bereavement
I would try to lead out your mind in thi
nobler heavenward direction, instead
confining your thoughts to things presen
and seen; for there, beyond us, there is
wide and glorious expanse of things unsee
and eternal, in which we ourselves and a
who have fallen asleep in Jesus are deepl
and joyfully interested. And surely ther
is something in the removal of a belove
friend to that unseen world of glory, whic
should act as a powerful attraction
drawing our thoughts upwards, whic
should beckon us away from earthly thing
to the bright future. Surely heaven seen
nigher when we think of one with who
we were intimate, one who was amongst
as one of ourselves a short time ago, bein
really there, and that at this moment h
is becoming consciously familiar with the
highest life, as familiar as he was with lif
on earth. Shall we not "follow and as
pire"? And the thought occurs, that a
those for whom we mourn, who have gon
to be for ever with the Lord, could com
municate with us and influence us, the
would chide us, gently chide us, if we sor
rowed as those might who have no hope
if we allowed our own grief so to absor

* In this sermon there are some allusions to the recent death, after a short illness, of Mr. H. Coombs the senior deacon of the church at Badcox Lane, Frome.

our attention that we should forget their joy; if we permitted the earthward view to draw away our thoughts from the blissful immortality that is theirs.

When through the mercy and grace of God we can rejoice that those taken from our side are safe, not only safe but happy, we ought not to indulge in a spirit of morbid grieving or repining, which, besides weakening and depressing our spirits, goes far to deprive us of the blessed results of sanctified affliction. It is true that nature shrinks from death, and we feel it painful to be separated from those we love; it is true that ties of fond affection are snapt, and deeply-rooted attachments violently uptorn by the hand of death; and we cannot, nor does God expect us to, repress the loving tear of sorrow; but, oh! how it mitigates our grief, and sweetens the bitterest cup of affliction, to know there is a glorious hereafter, that the separation is but for a short time, that death is a necessary part of the process that conducts to perfect joy, one of the links in the chain of the Almighty's purposes with regard to his saints. Men who know nothing of Christianity, nothing of Him who is the Resurrection and the Life," nothing of the joy of hope that cheers the heart, nothing of the inheritance of the saints in light-they may confine their view to the earthly and the seen, and with unavailing sorrow, in unalleviated darkness, mourn as if death Was the end of all. But we who know that death is the entrance to all that is desirable and glorious, may strike a higher note, a more gladsome strain; we may rejoice in the salvation of our God; and even now, in the vacancy and loss which death has wrought, we may say, "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."

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Our text you will observe forms the climax of a glorious burst of praise with which the Apostle concludes his elaborate argument on the doctrine of the resurrection. It is a high strain of triumph, a song we may sing over every one who falls leep in Jesus-Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." In discoursing on these words let us think first of THE VICTORY, and what is comprehended in it; then, view this victory as won for us and given to 15; and lastly, the emotions that should

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I. FIRST, then, as to the Victory and what is comprehended in it. There is something that is overcome, and the overcoming is nothing less than victory. It is not escape or deliverance only from threatening evils; it is not eluding the grasp of an adversary and seeking refuge in flight; though even such a blessing might make us glad, might fill our minds with tranquillity in looking into the future, and calm all apprehensive fears in prospect of death. But it is far more-it is the destruction of foes, a complete triumph over opponents; it is a victory. It is victory over death. Death is swallowed up in victory; death is destroyed; and so complete is the destruction, so glorious the victory, that the gloom of death vanishes and is lost in the glory of the triumph, as the darkness of night disappears before the light of day. Death is the great destroyer, the conqueror of all men. They may employ death as their minister in conquering and destroying each other; but they who use death as their servant, and make a league with him against their enemies, are in the end mastered by him. The mightiest and the lowliest of men must succumb to him. "None are humble enough to be over. looked and pitied; none are good enough to be revered and spared; none are high enough to have the right to bid him stand at bay." Oh, what a ruthless conqueror is death! To no appeal of beauty, or youth, or affection, or moral worth, will he give heed. He is the universal destroyer; and when he fastens his grasp on one of Christ's, one whom he cannot really harm, still, though the believer is safe from the full force of his deadly power, yet in one view death is a terrible destroyer and conqueror. As you look on the sickly, diseased frame wearing down to the grave; as you mark the unmistakable signs of approaching dissolution-the sinking strength, the laboured breathing, the altered look, and then last of all, the motionless, inanimate body; -as you behold all this, you feel death has a victory and has cruelly triumphed. But, oh, it is a short and seeming triumph at the most. True, the heart beats no more, and living thought and emotion beam no longer in the face; the eye is dimmed, and every bodily power is motionless; but the spirit, the soul, is untouched and unharmed. Amidst the decay and downfall of the house, the tenant is liberated, and

no longer has to contend with an uncongenial companionship, no longer is held down to this earth by a body of sin, no longer is thwarted by a partner that was possessed and ruled by a law contrary to the law of the spirit; the emancipated soul is freed from the body, vile through sin. And even in the midst of death's havoc upon the body, while the frail tenement is crumbling into ruin, is there not something of triumph in the soul of the Christian, an exulting joy within the breast? Have we not beheld, in the tranquil, placid expression of the dying befiever, in the beaming countenance lit up with Divine light, a victorious joy glancing forth? Is there not a victory even in death? and while the body succumbs to the power of the tyrant, the soul rises triumphant, and calmly rejoices in her superiority. Death is indeed a servant to the believer, and is made to do the needful work to advance the final, complete glory; so that the Apostle Paul, in enumerating the various and rich treasures of the Christian's heritage, says, amongst other things that are subordinated to his good, "death is yours;' not meaning thereby you shall die, not you are death's; but "death is yours;" yours to subserve your highest interest; yours to minister to your well-being; yours to work for your glorification; yours to open the portal of immortality, and to usher you into the mansions of light. But what a different thing is it if you are death's; if death, as the messenger of justice, can come, and with authority of law claim you for his own, taking you as a culprit to trial and condemnation! So death will come to every one out of Christ.

But what is the secret of the victory over death? It is connected with and springs out of another victory, namely, victory over sin. "O death, where is thy sting ?" A triumphant challenge this, as much as to tell us (as indeed it does tell us in the most forcible way) there is no sting in death; for the sting is sin, and that has been taken away in the death of Jesus Christ. The sting is sin. This is the deadly, poisonous, harmful thing in death; this it is which gives him power to hurt and destroy; and this gone, the power to destroy is gone; and in this sense, death is "abolished," is harmless, powerless for evil. It is no longer the same thing now that the sting is gone. Yes, it is a victory over sin in the first place; and because it

is

$0, it is a victory over death. What is it that makes death terrible? It is chiefly sin. What is it makes death hurtful? Nothing but sin. It is true that nature shrinks from dissolution, shrinks from the strangeness of leaving this old familial world and from taking part in the scenes o another; shrinks from the thought of the body being laid in the cold, corrupt grave but it is a sense of sin that fills the mine with anxious foreboding, with dread and terror. Assure me, then, that sin is take away, that the blood of Jesus Christ is a all-sufficient atonement; let me believe thi and accept it as the truth of God, then i the prospect of death my heart is at rest and a holy quiet reigns within. Thus th humblest believer is enabled to "triump o'er the monster death and all his frightfu powers; " and entering the last valley h finds it lighted up with the presence of hi Lord, and songs of victory burst fort! from his dying lips.

And beyond all this there will be con plete victory over sin, death, and the grav when in the resurrection morn the bodi of the saints shall rise again, when the which was sown in corruption shall b raised in incorruption, that sown in dit honour shall be raised in glory, that sow in weakness shall be raised in power, tha Sown a natural body shall be raised i spiritual body. Then, indeed, shall th great destroyer be fully vanquished, and th precious dust of those who slept the slee of death shall be raised up. Then the con mand to the earth shall be, "Give up," an to the sea, "Keep not back," and precious treasure God is keeping securely in his world shall be surrendere Strange and glorious mystery! in whic we for ourselves and for those who ha died in the Lord, are so interested. O what triumph shall that be! for unt the resurrection day the full victory wi not be achieved. "For this corruptibl must put on incorruption, and thi mortal must put on immortality; when this corruptible shall have put o incorruption, and this mortal shall hav put on immortality, then shall be brough to pass the saying that is writter Death is swallowed up in victory." An we, brethren, have the pledge and assur ance in Christ's triumph that this victor shall be ours. "But now is Christ riser from the dead, and become the first-fruit of them that slept;" because he has riset we too shall rise-because he lives we shal

live also. Then shall be the happy reunion of soul and body; then these two, formerly at variance, shall be well mated, harmonized to each other, and ruled by the same holy principles, a pure, glorified body for a pure glorified soul. No longer shall they be found inclining in contrary directions, and warring with each other, but the body will be the willing helper and handmaid of the soul.

We might include as elements of this victory all the joys that shall follow the resurrection:-the full fruition of glory; the marriage supper of the Lamb; the banquet of pure endless bliss; the company where death shall not be found among the assembled guests, where there will be nothing to suggest his presence, nothing to remind one of the desolation he wrought on earth; there shall be no more death, for death shall then have been swallowed up in victory, and throughout eternity the victory which is yours, through Jesus Christ our ། ་ Lord, shall be celebrated and prolonged.

II. It is a victory won for us, and given to us. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is won for us by Him who loved us. He has undertaken, on our behalf, to deal with our foes, sin and death, and for us he has vanquished them. For this very purpose he "was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil;" and sin and death are the two great destructive powers of the devil. And not only was he manifested to destroy the work, but to paralyze and crush the worker-him that had the power of death. And how did Jesus, the mighty conqueror, win the victory for us? How did he struggle through all our foes and defeat our great adversary? It was through death-by dying for us. And this is a wondrous thing, that he conquered death by death. He came as the substitute of the guilty, bearing the load of our sin, and with that load of sin resting on him, and because of it, he died the death, and that death is accepted as an all-sufficient atonement. He could die-lay down his life as a ransom for many, yet he could not be holden of death. He died, and this was the expiation of our guilt; but he could rise again, free himself from the grasp of death; and when he rose it was without the load of our sin, which had erewhile rested on him; that was left behind in the grave, buried never more to rise. He rises as one who has life in himself, and is possessed of

all power. Sin, our sin, did its worst; death did its worst; they could do no more-their power was spent and exhausted on him; and if we are in him, if by faith we accept of him as our substitute, then our foes are overcome-we triumph over them in him. All who believe in him shall reap the blessed benefits of his death. You sce

But

Thus the victory was won. how the victory was his; for the plain reason that in fair and open conflict he achieved it. To redeem us he died, yet he could not be held in bondage to death; he had life in himself; he put forth the power of his Godhead, and the bands of death must yield before that power. how does this victory become ours? It is one of the things freely given to us of God. He "hath given us the victory." It is a gift; it comes to us without money and without price. We have not to work for this glorious privilege-have not to fight in our own strength for this victory: it is not won by merit or any goodness of our own. If it were offered on any other terms than as a free gift it could never be ours. It is like any other of the distinguishing privileges of the children of God; it costs us nothing to procure it. But, oh, think of what it cost HIM, the Lord of Glory! He had to fight for it, to agonize for it; as our champion he had to enter the lists and contend with our enemy. And at the cost of humiliation, shame, suffering, death-his precious blood being shed-he vanquished the adversary and obtained for us the victory. And being so won, it is held out to us as a gift. Through faith in Jesus Christ you have this glorious blessing; you receive Christ in all his fulness. "He that hath the Son hath life," hath the resurrection, hath immortality, hath an inheritance, hath a crown of glory and a palm of victory. United

to him by faith, you are henceforth bound up together with him-your fortune throughout eternity linked to his, and through every stage of the future you experience the blessedness of this union. "God, who is rich in mercy,

hath

raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

III. With what emotions of fervent gratitude ought we to anticipate this complete victory! "Thanks be to God." It is very

evident the Apostle rejoiced in the prospect; his thankfulness was a present emotion, although the full realization of this victory was yet in the future. He was, as we are now, in the midst of the battle, when he wrote these triumphant words. It is true we have foes yet to overcome-we have yet to grapple with death; but even though it be so, may we not in the grace already bestowed as an earnest, say, with grateful hearts, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ"? Yes, we learn the song of triumph even now; and in the deliverances God hath wrought already, we have the pledge of that glorious time of never-ending victory. We have the victory in its commencement now; for "if sin be pardoned, I'm secure, death hath no sting beside." You know, fellow-Christian, sin is taken away, and you are no longer under the law but under grace. "There is, therefore,

now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," and that is the first note of the song of victory that rises to this, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Even now you may rejoice; "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." You feel within your heart a delightful sense of peace, liberty, joy, in our Lord Jesus Christ, and these inward blessings are but the beginning of what will yet, in its consummation, be full eternal victory. And as you press on in your Christian course, it is ever brightening in your view. The joy of it is more felt within your heart, and the blessedness of it more realized as you advance. But the full burst and prolonged shout of triumph are reserved for another day, when the Frome.

body and soul shall be gloriously united. "When the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible," then shall break forth the full-toned song of the redeemed," Blessing, and glory, and wis dom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

And, dear friends, when you have accom panied a Christian to the gates of death, when he has entered with his Saviour the dark valley, and you have stood on the high ground of life and health, and fol lowed with the eye of fond affection the departing friend-when you have whis pered to his receding spirit the last fare well, and then watched the failing breath and heard the last expiring sigh, you do well to say with all your heart, "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And so we say of our beloved friend who has been taken from us. His is a victory over all the ills to which we are exposed in this life-he is away beyond the reach of all evil, sin, temptation, care, sickness, pain, death-free from the "strife of tongues," at rest in the rest of God, "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." So we take this as the expression of our gratitude with regard to our departed brother; and oh, when we think of the glory that is his through the abounding grace of God, with what emphasis, as if the whole heart were com pressed into the brief utterance, ought we say, "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

to

NOTES OF AN ADDRESS TO A SUNDAY SCHOOL AT STAPLETON, JANUARY, 1830.*

BY THE REV. JOHN FOSTER.

MY YOUNG FRIENDS,-I am glad to see you. It is a good thing you are here; that you don't wish to be let loose without restraint. Sometimes, indeed, almost every time I am going to Bristol, I am perfectly shocked to see what a number of young persons are going along the road and lanes, and to hear how they are talking, using all manner of bad language, and impelling another to go on in bad conduct. Now, when I see this, I think what a good thing it would be if those young persons were here, or anywhere where they

* Communicated by J. E. Ryland, Esq.

one

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