ince the creation, with two exceptions, have
died. Of the two who were excepted, neither of them was his only
begotten Son. Those whom God has loved peculiarly have not been exempted
from the stroke of death. Shall we ask exemption from that which, all
the good and great have suffered? Let me die the death of the righteous.
If he must find the grave, there will I be buried. We would not go to
heaven but in the way which prophets, apostles, martyrs trod. The
footsteps of the flock lead through the valley; we will seek no other,
no easier, way.

* * * * *

Surely we should be willing to follow our great Forerunner. He tasted
death for every man; and he could enter into his triumph only by dying.
We should be more than resigned to follow our blessed Lord into the
tomb. Christ conquered death by dying; we shall be more than conquerors
in the same way. If we suffer great pain, we cannot suffer more than
Christ suffered on our account. Sufferings borne in the spirit of Christ
are counted as sufferings borne for Christ. "If we suffer, we shall also
reign with him." "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together."

* * * * *

Death is a part of the penalty of sin. We should, therefore, submit to
it, giving up our bodies to be destroyed, in fulfilment of that sentence
which we have so justly incurred--"and unto dust shalt thou return." He
who hates sin, and condemns himself for it, and is willing to have
fellowship with Christ in his sufferings for it, as it is most
graciously represented that we may, will bear the execution of God's
righteous sentence with a willing mind.

* * * * *

Death is the perfecting of our redemption. It is the last act of
redeeming grace. When the Saviour, who says, "I have the keys
of--death," (i.e., no one can die but at the time and manner prescribed
by me,) takes us out of the world, it is to finish the work of our
personal salvation. All the circumstances attending it will be as
deliberately appointed, and as carefully watched and directed, as the
first great act of grace towards us in our regeneration. He, too, who
has provided such pastures and streams for us here, in removing us to
living pastures and to living streams, will, of course, see that we go
safely through the valley which must be passed to reach them. It will
not be a new thing to Christ to see us die. He has