ernal, makes manifest another
fact, that the redeemed are not unconscious, virtually out of
existence, from death till the resurrection. The new life is eternal;
it continues without cessation or intermission. Their bodies fall
asleep; but their souls are still in conscious existence; it is
_eternal life_. Paul makes this fact clear: "Whilst present in the
body, we are absent from the Lord." "We are confident, I say, and well
pleased rather to be absent from the body, and present with the
Lord."--2 Cor. 5:6, 8. The same conscious life continues; it is
eternal life. Again he makes it clear: "I am in a strait betwixt the
two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far
better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful on your
account."--Phil. 1:23, 24. The same conscious life continues, the
eternal life. To depart and to be with Christ he says "_is far
better_." But even this is not the perfect state. It is the soul
without the body, enjoying eternal life with Christ. But God's
perfect being is a being of redeemed soul and redeemed body enjoying
the reward of its labor. The body will not be redeemed until the
resurrection (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:42); and the soul, though enjoying
eternal life and with Christ (Phil. 1:23) will receive no reward until
the resurrection,--"Thou shalt be _recompensed at the resurrection of
the just_."--Luke 14:14.

Paul further makes clear the distinction between the body sleeping and
the soul not sleeping, because it has eternal life and is with Christ:
"If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that
sleep in Jesus _will God bring with him_."--1 Thess. 4:14. Their
bodies are asleep; their souls are "absent from the body and present
with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8); but at the resurrection of their bodies,
these "will God bring with him." Then, "at the resurrection of the
just" (Luke 14:14) will "each man receive his own reward according to
his own labor."--1 Cor. 3:8. Let this blessed teaching be a comfort to
some hearts: the redeemed loved ones who have died are "present with
the Lord" which "is far better." Then it is cruel selfishness to wish
them back.

X

DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER IN THE REDEEMED

"_The God of Jacob_ is our refuge."--Ps. 46:7.

"Happy is he that hath _the God of Jacob_ for his help."--Ps.
146:5.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it b