He has proved His love towards us by 〃bearing our manners〃 for
thirty…three years in this world； by a thousand acts of kindness； and
ten thousand words of consolation； and by finally dying for us on the
cross。 And He took care before He left the world to say such golden
sayings as these； 〃Let not your heart be troubled： ye believe in God；
believe also in Me。〃 〃I will not leave you fortless； I will e to
you。〃 〃Ask； and ye shall receive； that your joy may be full〃 （John
14：1； 18； 16：24）。 I can imagine no truth more suited to man's wants
than this。 Rules； and principles； and prescriptions； and instructions
in times of sorrow are all very well in their way； but what the human
heart craves is a personal friend to go to； to talk to； to lean back
upon； and mune with。 The risen Christ； living and interceding for us
at God's right hand； is precisely the Person that we need。 If St。 Paul
had not proclaimed Him to the Corinthians； he would have left one of
man's greatest wants unsatisfied。 No religion will ever satisfy man
which does not meet the legitimate wants of his nature。 Teachers who
give no place to a living risen Christ in their system； must never be
surprised if their weary hearers seek rest at the feet of human priests
in the Romish Confessional。
（c） Let us consider； lastly； the certainty of death and its
consequences； which every child of Adam must make up his mind to face
one day。
To say that death is a serious thing； is to utter a very bald and
monplace truism。 Yet it is a strange fact that the familiarity of
6000 years does not abate one jot of its seriousness。 The end of each
individual is still a very momentous circumstance in his history； and
most men honestly confess it。 To leave the world and shut our eyes on
all among whom we have played our part；to surrender our bodies；
whether we like it or not； to the humiliation of disease； decay； and
the grave into be obliged to drop all our schemes and plans and
intentions mall this is serious enough。 But when to this you add the
overwhelming thought that there is something beyond the grave； an
undiscovered and unknown world； and an account of some sort to be
rendered of our life on earth； the death of any man or woman bees a
tremendously serious event。 Well may our great poet Shakespeare speak
of 〃the dread of something after death。〃 It is a dread which many feel
far more than they would like to confess。 Few are ever satisfied with
Mohamedan fatalism。 Not one in a thousand will ever be found to believe
the doctrine of annihilation。
Now at no point do the uninspired religions of the ancients； or the
systems of modern philosophy； break down so pletely as in the
article of death。 To dwell for ever in Elysian fields； amidst shadowy；
immaterial ghosts； was a consummation little valued even by Homeric
heroes。 The vague； rootless theory of some undefined state of rest
after death； where； somehow and in some way； the souls of the good and
the just； separate from their bodies； are to spend an objectless；
endless existence is a miserable forter。 Homer； and Plato； and
Bolingbroke； and Voltaire； and Paine are all alike cheerless and silent
when they look down into an open grave。
But just at the point where all man…made systems are weakest； and fail
to satisfy the wants of human nature； there the gospel which St。 Paul
proclaimed at Corinth is strongest。 For it shows us an Almighty Saviour
who not only died for our sins； and went down to the grave； but also
rose again from the grave with His body； and proved that He had gained
a victory over death。 〃Now is Christ risen from the dead； and bee
the first…fruits of them that slept。〃…〃 He has abolished death； and
brought life and immortality to light。〃〃 Through death He has
destroyed death； and delivered them that through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage〃 （1 Cor。 15：20； 2 Tim。 1：10； Heb。
2：15）。
And thanks be to God； this blessed victory over death and the grave has
not been won by Christ for Himself alone。 For eighteen centuries He has
enabled thousands of Christian men and women； believing and trusting
themselves to Him； to face the king of terrors without fear； and to go
down the valley of the shadow of death in the sure and certain hope
that they will yet e forth victorious； and in the flesh see God。
Read the story of the deaths of the early Christians under heathen
persecutions。 Mark the dying experience of those who suffered at Oxford
and Smithfield； under Queen Mary； for Protestantism。 Find； if you can；
in the whole range of biography any death…beds of non…Christians which
will bear parison with the death…beds of Christians in the matter of
peace； and hope； and strong consolation。 You may search for ever and
not find them。 You will find yourself shut up to the conclusion that
the old Scriptural truth of Christ dying and rising again is exactly
the truth that fits human nature； and must have e down from God。
This； and this only； will enable natural man to meet the last enemy
without fear； and to say； 〃O death； where is thy sting？ O grave； where
is thy victory？〃 （1 Cor。 15：55）。
What shall we say to these things？ I know well that the human heart and
its necessities are a deep and intricate subject。 But； after studying
men's hearts attentively for many years； I have e to one decided
conviction。 That conviction is； that the true reason why St。 Paul
preached first and foremost what he preached at Corinth； is to be found
in his right knowledge of the nature； moral condition； and position of
man。 He was taught of God the Holy Ghost that it was the only medicine
that was suited to the disease。 What human nature requires is a
religion for dying sinners； a mighty remedial system and a personal
Redeemer； and the work of Christ is marvellously fitted to meet its
requirements。 We are sick of a deadly sickness； and our first want is a
living physician。
It would have been worse than useless if St。 Paul had begun his work at
Corinth by telling men to be virtuous and moral； while he kept back
Christ。 It is just as useless now。 It even does positive harm。 To
awaken human nature； and then not show it God's spiritual prescription；
may lead to most mischievous consequences。 I know no case so pitiable
as that of the man who sees clearly sin； sorrow； and death on one side；
and does not see clearly Christ dying for sins； and rising again for
sinners； on the other。 Such a man is just the person to sink into flat
despair； or to take refuge in the delusive theology of the Church of
Rome。 No doubt we may sleep the sleep of unconversion for many years；
and feel nothing of spiritual doubts and fears。 But once let a man's
conscience bee uneasy； and crave peace； and I know no medicine which
can cure him； and keep him from soul…ruining error； except the 〃first
things〃 which St。 Paul delivered at Corinth；I mean the two doctrines
of Christ's atoning death and resurrection。
And now let me wind up this paper with some words of advice to all who
read it。 It is advice which the times appear to me to demand。 Who can
tell but to some one it may be a word in season？
（a） Let me； then； advise you most strongly not to be ashamed of holding
decided views about the first things； the foundation truths of
religion。 Your lot is cast in a day of free thought； free handling； and
free inquiry。 There is a widespread dislike to doctrinal decision and
what is called dogmatism； and none perhaps are so exposed to its
influence as the yoking。 The natural generosity； unsuspiciousness； and
love of fair play； of a young man's heart； make him shrink from taking
up very positive theological views； and holding opinions which may even
seem to be narrow； party…spirited； or illiberal。 The temptation of the
present day is to be content with a vague earnestness； to abstain from
all sharply cut and distinct views； to be an honorary member of all
schools of thought； and to maintain that no man can be unsound in the
faith if he exhibits zeal and works hard。
（b） But； after all； your religion must have roots； if it is to live and
bear fruit in this cold world。 〃Earnestness；〃 and 〃zeal；〃 and 〃work〃
are brave words； but； like cut flowers stuck in a garden； they have no
power of continuance； if they have no hidden roots below。 Admitting to
the full that there are secondary things in religion； about which those
who are young may fairly suspend their judgment and wait for light； I
charge you to remember that there are first things about which you must
be decided and make up your minds。 You must； I say； if you want peace
within； and desire to be useful。 And among these first things stand
forth like mountains in a plain； the two great truths which are laid
down in the text which heads this paper； Christ's death for our sins；
and Christ's miraculous resurrection。 Grasp tightly these two great
truths。 Plant your feet firmly on them。 Feed your own soul on them。
Live on them。 Die on them。 Never let them go。 Strive to be able to say；
〃I know whom I believe；〃not what； but whom。 I live by faith in One
who died for me； and rose again。 Be decided about this at any cost； and
in due time all other truths shall be added to you。
（c） Some； it may be； into whose hands this paper may have fallen are
going forth from the quiet haven of a happy home into the battle and
conflict of busy life。 But wherever your lot may be cast； whether in
town or in country； whether among rich or poor； I hope you will try to
do good。 And remember one chief problem you will have to be continually
solving is how to help souls who are labouring under the burden of sin；
crushed down with sorrow； or oppressed with the fear of death。 And when
that time es； remember the word that I speak to you this day。The
only way to do good is to walk in St。 Paul's steps； a