The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. This is a poor and spiritless translation, or rather mistranslation of the apostle's spirited and triumphant language. If all enemies are to be destroyed, it is comparatively of little consequenee in what order of time they are destined to perish. But the apostle's words express an important proposition; they are a peremptory and triumphant declaration that death, the last enemy, shall be abolished and utterly exterminated. Death is now a formidable enemy to mankind in general, to individuals in particular, and to the cause and kingdom of Christ himself. Death is the last enemy. Death retains its dominion when all other enemies are subdued. tyrant may boast his irresistible arm; his universal conquest; and may bid defiance to every attempt to rescue his prisoners from his grasp. But let not the virtuous heart tremble: let not the humble Christian be disquieted. That boast is vain. The hour is advancing, to the eye of faith it is near, when the oppressor shall be over

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thrown; when the sceptre shall be wrested from his hand; when all the captives shall be released; when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the son of God, and shall come forth; when death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed, and for ever exterminated from the works of God. This is a truth of unspeakable importance; blessed be God, it is a truth upon which we may rely with the greatest confidence, as of the highest certainty.

1. Death shall be destroyed as the enemy of mankind.

This is the clear, explicit, leading doctrine of the Christian revelation. All that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. This is the express language of our Lord himself; and his apostles uniformly teach the same glorious doctrine, in terms the most distinct and unambiguous. And this doctrine, so interesting, so dear to the virtuous mind, is confirmed by the miracles of Christ and his apostles, and most of all, by that splendid and most incontestable miracle, the resurrection of

Jesus from the dead; a fact supported by evidence more direct, more various, and more satisfactory, than any upon historical record, and which cannot be denied without discrediting the truth of all history. But if this fact be admitted, it follows, with indubitable certainty, that the dead will rise, and that the empire of death will be overthrown. For if Jesus died and rose again, them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, and because he lives we shall live also.

2. Death will be destroyed, as he is the enemy of Christ and his kingdom.

At the final consummation of all things, when the dispensations of God to mankind are finished, an end will be put to the dominion of death, and he will no longer be suffered to detain captive the heirs of the promises. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the

clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Behold, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. In this simple, but sublime language does the gospel of Christ describe the final triumph of Christ and his true disciples over death and the grave. Blessed and happy is he who hath a part in the first resurrection; over such the second death hath no power.

But I have no doubt that the apostle had something further in view when he announces, with such an air of triumph, that the last enemy, even death, shall be destroyed.

Every attentive reader of this celebrated chapter must be struck with the universality of the apostle's language. As in Adam all, without exception, die, so in Christ all, without exception, shall be made alive. But the resurrection treated of by the apostle is unquestionably represented as a bles

sing to all who are interested in it. Not however immediately to all mankind. If there be wisdom in the divine government, and truth in the divine declarations, the wicked will rise to condign punishment. The righteous only will be admitted immediately, and at once, into the kingdom of their Father. But the wicked ultimately, and after having passed through an intervening process of discipline, of longer or shorter duration, of greater or less intensity, as the case may require, till they are purified from all evil affections and habits, and are prepared and qualified to enjoy the gratification of virtue, and the bliss that is in reserve for them.

To this successive introduction to ultimate felicity the apostle alludes in the twenty-third verse; where, after having observed, that as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive, he adds, but every man in his own order. Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end; a third period, more glorious still, when