because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies, by His Spirit that dwelleth in you!" There is a
blessed promise! that in that, as in every thing, we shall be made
like Christ our Master, the new Adam, who is a life-giving Spirit,
that as He was brought to life again by the Spirit of God, so we
shall be. And so will be fulfilled in us the glorious rule which
the text lays down, "Thou, O God, sendest forth Thy Spirit, and they
are created, and Thou dost renew the face of the earth."
Fulfilled?--yes, but far more gloriously than ever the old Psalmist
expected. Read the Revelations of St. John, chapters xxi. and xxii.
for the glory of the renewed earth read the first Epistle of Paul to
the Thessalonians, chap. iv. 16-18, for the glorious resurrection
and ascension of those who have died trusting in the blessed Lord,
who died for them; and then see what a glorious future lies before
us--see how death is but the gate of life--see how what holds true
of every thing on this earth, down to the flint beneath our feet,
holds true ten thousand times of men that to die and to decay is
only to pass into a nobler state of life. But remember, that just
as we are better than the stone, we may be also worse than the
stone. It cannot disobey God's laws, therefore it can enjoy no
reward, any more than suffer any punishment. We can disobey--we can
fall from our calling--we can cast God's law behind us--we can
refuse to do His will, to work out our own salvation; and just
because our reward in the life to come will be so glorious, if we
fulfil our life and law, the life of faith and the law of love,
therefore will our punishment be so horrible, if we neglect the life
of faith and trample under foot the law of love. Oh, my friends,
choose! Death is before you all. Shall it be the gate of