"He is Faithful that Promised."
"I have the keys of hell and of death."--REV. i. 18.
Dying Grace.
And from whom could dying grace come so welcome, as from Thee, O
blessed Jesus? Not only is Thy name, "The Abolisher of Death;" but Thou
didst thyself _die_! Thou hast sanctified the grave by Thine own
presence, and divested it of all its terrors. My soul! art thou at times
afraid of this, thy last enemy? If the rest of thy pilgrimage-way be
peaceful and unclouded, rests there a dark and portentous shadow over
the terminating portals? Fear not! When that dismal entrance is reached,
He who has "the keys of the grave and of death" suspended at His golden
girdle, will impart grace to bear thee through. It is the messenger of
peace. Thy Saviour calls thee! The promptings of nature, when, at first,
thou seest the darkening waves, may be that of the affrighted disciples,
when they said, "It is a spirit, and cried out for fear!" But a gentle
voice will be heard high above the storm, "It is I! Be not afraid!"
Death, indeed, as the wages of sin, must, even by the believer, be
regarded as an enemy. But, oh! blessed thought, it is thy _last_
enemy--the cause of thy last tear. In a few brief moments after that
tear is shed, thy God will be wiping every vestige of it away? "O Death!
where is thy sting? O Grave! where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God,
who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" Welcome,
vanquished foe!--Birthday of heaven!--"to die is gain!"
"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"