Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-07-21
sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON.

This, among the most remarkable
chapters of the New Testament discusses
the resurrection of the dead, basing a
future life upon this doctrine, and this,
again, upon the resurrection of Christ.
The apostle has illustrated the spiritual
character of the resurrection body, and
crowns this discussion by adding. "And
l affirm this, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God" That is.
human nature, as at present constituted
of flesh and blood, cannot inherit the
kingdom of God. The apostle does not
deny the corporal element in the resur-
rection life. That is uniformly taken
for granted; there will be real body,
but not. like the present one, Of perisha-
BILE flesh and blood. 1t will be spirit
ual body, thoroughly adjusted to its
spiritual occupant.
From the resurrection the writer passes
to complete the subject, by declaring the
destiny of those who survive to the Sec
ond coming. "Behold. I declare you a
mystery" a secret. such as no human
reasoning or knowledge could attain, but
only God can reveal. He speaks with
assured inspiration. "We shall all of US
not Sleep" sleep put euphemistically
for dying. The precise relation of the
two clauses seems doubtful. 1t may be
either, ave shall not all die: the sphere
of death will be restricted by the fact
that those who survive to the second
coming will be changed without under
going DEATH or, eve shall all of us,
who are living at that time, not die, but,
instead of dying, shall all be transformed
without death"
'1n an Instant" without perceptible
lapse of time. "At the last trump" the
last trumpet known to time, that which
heralds in the end of the present order
of things. In accordance with the his
torical character of the events of the day,
there will be what to human ears will
seem literal trumpet peal, startling and
shaking the creation. Sand the dead
will be raised" In rapid succession,
under the same trumpet peal, will be
first, the raising of the dead, then the
transformation of the living. eve"
The apostle speaks in the first person,
because it was uncertain whether he and
his readers might not then be living on
this point he had no revelation, and be-
cause, at all events, they now stand as
representatives of that class.
Verses So and "a reiterate with en-
phasis the preceding thoughts. at is
necessary" to the carrying out of the re-
deeming work of the gospel. The process
of change both for the dead and living
is the putting on of a garment, the being
clothed with Immortality. When this
clothing is accomplished, redemption
will be complete. Death will be swal-
lowed up in victory, strong figure. ex-
pressive of its complete overthrow, in
that the dead are wrested from its do
minion, and the living will die no more.
"Where, o death. is thy sting p
Triumphant interrogation of the apostle
apostrophizing death as in Hosea 10: IA
30 death. I will be thy plague"
"The sting of DEATH" Death is CON
ceived as monster, perhaps scorpion
with poisonous and deadly sting. j
is sin that arms death with this sting
: remove sin. and death has lost its power
"The power of sin is the law" Thi!
subject is fully discussed in Romans 7
"But thanks be to God" Triumphan
declaration of the victory of grace. Goo
is its ultimate author. "Who giveth: ,
+. that which he assuredly will do, he i
conceived as doing already. The redemp
ton begun with the incarnation and ex
piatory death of Christ, which atoneC
/ for sin, was carried forward by hi
resurrection, and will be finished in tn
resurrection of his people.
: Therefore: :" literally, $50 that.
. The apostle draws encouragement ant
= grounds of exortation from the certaint,
of the victory. "My beloved brethren :
his heart is moved toward them in viey
of their common interest in these grea
truths and destinies. "Steadfast: :" firm
ly seated. "Unmovable climactic
not to be seduced or withdrawn fror
;. your Christian integrity. galway
!, abounding." He passes from the mega
: tive to the positive side. They are nc
only to be firm, but to be "actively bt
: nefcent' in their Christian profession
+. The reason: "knowing.-inasmuch q
:. ye know" He has taught them, b
!, divine authority, their glorious futur
"Your labor" the work of the Lore
. the work which the Lord, that is. Jesu
\ lays upon you. ''Is not in vain" witt
out results. 1t will have its full r
:. wards in the Messiah's kingdom, and
i that glorious resurrection life to whit
you are authorized to look forward. 81
\ the Lord" The connection is not, "yo
- labor in the Lord" but, sis not in va
in the Lord" In him your labor is n