aking their disputes before the heathen courts to be
settled, he says, "_Know ye not that the saints shall judge the
world?_" and again, "_Know ye not that we shall judge angels?_" Such
expressions as these can bear but one meaning, and that is that the
saints of Christ are actually to bear part in the judgment, as His
assessors. Further than this we now not. It is not our duty to be wise
above that which is written; but it is our duty to be wise up to that
which is written: otherwise it was written in vain. What, then, are we
to say respecting this apparent discrepancy in the statements of Holy
Scripture concerning the dead in Christ? If it be true that it is
appointed unto all men once to die, but after that the judgment; if it
be true that we all, including even the apostles themselves, shall be
manifested, laid open, before the judgment-seat of Christ, how can it
be also true that the believer in Christ has already passed from death
into life, and therefore cometh not into judgment at all? How can it
be true that while others shall rise to a resurrection of judgment, he
shall rise to a resurrection of life? How can those descriptions be
correct which we have been quoting, of these living and reigning with
Christ long before the general judgment, and even taking part in it
with Him?

I believe the answer is not difficult, and perhaps may best be found
by remembering another variety of expression in Scripture respecting a
kindred matter; I mean the way in which the saints of God are spoken
of in relation to death itself. On the one hand we know that it is
appointed unto all men to die; and that the faith and service of the
Lord bring with them no exemption from the common lot of all mankind.
Not only is this proved every day before our eyes, but Scripture gives
us its most direct testimony that those who believe in Christ must
expect it. The very expressions, "_the dead in Christ_," "_those who
through Jesus have fallen asleep_," show that this is so. Yet again,
on the other hand, some passages would almost look as if death itself
for the Christian man did not exist. Christ is said to have abolished
death; we learn from His own lips that "if a man keep His word he
shall never taste of death;" He has said again, "He that liveth and
believeth in Me shall never die." Now in this case there is no
practical difficulty, yet the variety of expression is very
instructive. We all know what lies beneath it; namely, the fact, th