on, and commences his argument in proof of this fact, and
against those christians, who had not been eye-witnesses, but who had
professed faith in his resurrection _merely_ on the testimony of the
apostles. These christians were suffering persecution, and were, of
all men most "miserable" if Christ were not risen from the dead; as in
such case, their future deliverance and exaltation at his predicted
coming, were but a visionary dream. And as their Lord seemed to delay
his coming, "some among them (being discouraged) began to say, there
was no resurrection of the dead." The great evidence, to which they
were looking for the final proof of his being the true Messiah was the
fulfillment of all which the prophets had written of "the daily
sacrifice being taken away, the holy people being scattered" and of
the glory of the Messiah's kingdom and reign, and of all, which Jesus
himself had predicted of his coming to destroy their persecutors, to
put an end to the Mosaic dispensation, and to raise them to a state of
exaltation in his kingdom. They had not seen Jesus alive from the dead
as had the apostles; and however much they might be inclined to credit
their testimony, yet their severe persecutions and sufferings, and the
protracted period of his coming would, very naturally, create, in
their hearts many doubts and fears as to its truth.

These are the persons, whom Paul addresses in our context, and labors
to keep them in the faith by presenting the _whole weight_ of
testimony in favor of the resurrection of Christ, on which he hinged
the resurrection of man. He summons before them more than five hundred
eye-witnesses, of whom himself was one, to satisfy them of the fact,
and summons all the powers of philosophy in nature. He refers them to
grain sown in the earth, and its coming forth in a new body. He refers
them to all the various species of flesh, of men, beasts and birds on
the earth, and to the glory of the sun, moon and stars in the heavens
--all differing from one another--to prove that God is able to prepare
an immortal body, differing from all these, and raise man immortal! As
he passes on, reveling in the greatness of his strength, and absorbed
in the immensity of his theme, his argument gathers force, till earth
and heaven appear to be in motion before him! He ranges the universe,
summons to his aid the power of God, lays his masterly hand upon every
fact, gathers them in his grasp, condenses them before his hear