them struggle with some fatal disease, until they could struggle no longer. We feel that death has won the battle, and has secured another trophy. Still our case is not hopeless; death has the victory now, but it is only temporary, and death itself is doomed to die. This brings us to observe

II. The victory. He will swallow up death in victory. This victory, as the conflict, may be considered to be twofold; the victory of Christ and the victory of the Christian. The victory of Christ over death was decisive and complete. Truly, to answer the designs of infinite wisdom He allowed. Himself to be temporarily vanquished, but not permanently. Death had no power to detain the Lord of life long in his custody. No, He only retired from the contest to renew the attack at bis pleasure. Like a skilful general He only retreated from the field to reorganize His forces, that He might return with a more deadly result. When He entered the list against death, it was with the spirit of no vain boast He made the declaration, "O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." Death recognised the reality of this challenge, for whenever he came in contact with the Redeemer he recoiled at his presence. When Jesus touched the bier of the son of the widow of Nain, and commanded the men to stand still, the prisoner was immediately released. When at the tomb of Lazarus He wept from sympathy with the bereaved sisters, and "cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth," the grave could no longer retain its tenant. As in the case of others, so in His own, He conquered death in his own domain.

He was firmly wrapped in His grave clothes, the sepulchre was carefully secured-the huge stone was rolled to the door, made fast with the public seal-the watch was set to secure the safety of the Captive. But notwithstanding the watch, the stone, and the seal, He returned to life. Bursting asunder the barriers of the grave, casting aside the grave clothes, and

bidding defiance to death, He came up victoriously, having chained the enemy to the wheels of His triumphant car. Yes, the victory of Christ over death was a most wonderful achievement. Wonderful for its calmness and serenity. Wonderful for the absence of almost all those signs of terror which threw such awfulness around the scene of crucifixion. The quiet of the sepulchre stands out in beautiful contrast with the confusion of the cross. There was no shrouded sun, no sky in sackcloth, no loud salute of heaven's artillery accompanying the Saviour's resurrection; all was calm, all quiet, all serene. Not a footstep heard. Nothing to break the silence of that early morn, showing the ease with which the victory was won over death. "He swallowed up death in victory."

There is another victory hinging upon this; Christ not only conquered death in His own person, but will conquer him yet in the persons of His saints. If Christ be risen, then we shall arise through Him, and it is shewn that death shall be swallowed up in victory. When Christ conquered death, He conquered it for you, for me, for every one who will but trust in Him as the Friend and Saviour of the world. Believing this great truth, we can meet death without alarm. Though he be an enemy, still he is an enemy that can prevail only over the body; he cannot touch the soul. Even now while the body falls a victim to his insatiable voracity, the fear of death is conquered, and we are no longer in bondage. It is to the resurrection, however, we must look for the complete triumph over death. It is then we shall be fully freed from the fetters of corruption. It is then the dark prison-house shall be quitted, never more to be re-entered. It is then the adamantine gates shall be unlocked. It is then the body as well as the soul shall be for ever released. Then, "That which is sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption, that which is sown in weakness shall be raised in power, that which is sown in dishonour shall be raised in glory." Then will be brought to pass the saying which is written, "Death

is swallowed up in victory." Then death shall be completely vanquished by Him who is the resurrection and the life. "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We come to observe,

III. The result of this victory over death.

"And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces," &c.

What a heart-cheering expression is this to the people of God. We can all understand and appreciate the force and beauty of it. "The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." We all know what it is to weep, for we all know what it is to wander from God. Sin is the cause of sorrow. Since sin has found a place in every heart, sorrow also has become its inmate. Tears are sorrow's language, the outward expression of inward grief, the visible effect of an invisible cause. The secondary cause is sorrow, the primary cause is sin. Sin opened the floodgates to let in the overwhelming flood of evil that presses upon the mind. In consequence of this we can all adopt the language of David, "All the night long make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." This is true of one. It is true of all. It is true especially of God's people, who "through much tribulation" are to "enter into the kingdom of God." How sweet then the prospect that in consequence of Christ's victory over death, the cause shall be for ever removed, when the effects shall for ever cease. How blessed to be told of one who shall wipe away our tears, and that one God Himself! Lord God shall wipe away tears from off all faces." What a depth of condescending grace! What a stoop for the great and glorious God, who occupies the throne of eternity! It seems more than mind can grasp. But it is true; for it is declared by the prophet under God's own instruction. And to make assurance doubly sure, it is repeated twice over in the Book of St. John's Revelations. In the seventh chapter we are told, "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence

D

"And the

came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." And in the twenty-first chapter, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." When God speaks comfortably to His people He gives them line upon line, and precept upon precept. "No more pain." What a blessed thought to those among you who scarcely know what it is to be free from bodily suffering. Jesus is preparing a place for you, where not one of the inhabitants says "I am sick," where every pain shall be soothed, and every groan of anguish shall be for ever relieved. "And no more crying." Happy prospects to those among you whom God "feeds with the bread of sorrow, and to whom he gives plenteousness of tears to drink," whose hearts are wrung with perpetual grief, and whose eyes are red with weeping. No more sorrow and no more death. In the victory over death, all its gloomy train shall be vanquished and annihilated. Then will be the opening of every grave, the resurrection of every form of love, the assuagement of every pain, the hushing of every grief, the drying of every tear. "The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." Such, brethren, is the picture of the happiness of God's people hereafter. "Blessed," indeed, then, "are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." If, like Lazarus, they receive their "evil things" in their lifetime, whilst the wicked, like Dives, receive their "good things," hereafter the former shall be comforted" when the latter shall be "tormented."

Let us ask ourselves whether we be among the number. If so, we may be encouraged amid all the trials, and among all the "changes and chances of this mortal life." Knowing that though we must for a time suffer, we shall ultimately reign; though we must fall temporary victims to death, we shall finally be conquerors "through him that loves us."