ted into the likeness of Christ's resurrection, must, like the corn
of wheat, be first planted into the likeness of His death, and die to sin
and self, that he may live to righteousness and to God; and, like the
corn of wheat, become truly living, truly strong, truly rich, truly
useful, and develop the hidden capabilities of his being, fulfilling the
mind and will of God concerning him. Again, I say, this is a great
mystery. But again, I say, this is the law, not Moses' law, but the
Gospel law;--the law of liberty, by which a man becomes truly free,
because he has trampled under foot the passions of his own selfish flesh,
till his immortal spirit can ascend free into the light of God, and into
the love of God, and into the beneficence of God. My dear friends,
remember these words, for they are true. Remember that St Paul always
couples with the resurrection and ascension of our bodies in the next
life the resurrection and ascension of our souls in this life; for
without that, the resurrection of our bodies would be but a resurrection
to fresh sin, and therefore to fresh misery and ruin. Remember his great
words about that moral resurrection and ascension of our wills, our
hearts, our characters, our actions. "God," he says, "who is rich in
mercy, for His great love, wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead
in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;)
and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus."

And what are those heavenly places? And what is our duty in them? Let
St Paul himself answer. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God."

And what are they? Let St Paul answer once more; who should know better
than he, save Christ alone? "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, of good report. If there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things."

Yes, think of these things,--and, thinking of them, ask the Holy Spirit
of God to inspire you, and make a Whitsuntide in your hearts, even as He
has made, I trust, a Good Friday and an Eastertide and an Ascension Day;
that so, knowing these things, you may be blessed in doing them; that so-
-and so only--may be fulfilled in you and me or any rational being, those
blessed promises which were fulfilled in Christ our Lord. "They that sow
in tears shall