Questions on Chapter 40.

But when we open the New Testament, and read the history of the apostles and first Christians, we find the resurrection of the dead their constant inspiring theme. They “preached Jesus and the resurrection” as the ground of their own consolation, and the only hope of a ruined world. Sustained and comforted by this doctrine, “they counted not their own lives dear unto them,” but, with undaunted heroism, faced the frowns and scoffs of an ungodly world; and many of them fell martyrs to the holy cause. From the apostles’ days to the present time, in all the successive ages of the Church, this glorious doctrine has animated the Christian’s heart in the darkest hour of his pilgrimage, and in the extremity of death enabled him to shout: “O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?” In conclusion, we would ask, What brighter hope can we, as Christians, desire, than this doctrine inspires? It lifts to our believing eyes the veil of futurity; it lights up the smile of joy on the lip of death; it pours a heavenly radiance on the dark and lonely tomb; and, in accents sweet as angelic voices can pronounce, whispers in the ear of the disconsolate mourner, as he closes the eyes, or follows to the grave the pale remains of the most beloved one on earth: “Thy brother shall rise again!” Erase the pleasing hope of the resurrection from the Christian’s heart and you blot the sun from his moral firmament, and darkness — thick, impenetrable darkness — enshrouds the life, and settles upon the tomb. But let this hope bloom with the freshness of immortality in the believer’s soul, and he can smile amid the storms of life, and triumph in the hour of dissolution, exclaiming with the apostle: “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 40.

QUESTION 1. On what does the doctrine of the resurrection depend for its support?

2. What philosophical objection is made to it?

3. What is the reply?

4. What Scripture proofs are brought from the Old Testament?

5. What from the New Testament?

6. How is it proved that the same body laid in the grave is to be raised?

7. What is implied in the spirituality of the resurrection body?

8. What is said of its resemblance to the glorified body of our Lord?

9. How is it shown that both the just and the unjust shall be raised, and what is said of the bodies of the latter?

10. Are the whole human family to be raised?

11. Are all to be raised at the same time?

12. What is the proof?

13.How is it shown that this doctrine encouraged the hopes of the Old Testament saints?

14. How is it shown that it animated the apostles and first Christians?

15. What should be its influence on Christians in all ages?

16. What would be the effect if the doctrine were renounced?