Through death to life. By the first Adam
came death; by the second Adam comes the
resurrection from the dead. Sayest thou, O
my soul, with Martha: I know I shall rise
in the resurrection at the last day? Jesus
answers: I am the resurrection, and the
life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever
liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die.

As my eternal life begins in Thee, O Thou
Conqueror of death and the grave, so in that
life begins my resurrection. I have been
buried with Thee by Baptism into death,
wherein also I am risen in the likeness of
Thy resurrection. If Christ be in me, the
body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit
is life because of righteousness. But if the
Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the
dead dwell in me, He that raised up Christ
from the dead, shall also quicken my mortal
body by His Spirit that dwelleth in me.

Thy life in me, Lord Jesus, is the resur-
rection life. I die daily; I rise daily. What
Thou hast begun in me Thou wilt complete.
To this end. Thou dost nourish in me that
eternal life which at last shall triumph over
the grave. With unspeakable joy I hear
Thy words: Whoso eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day. In Thy
flesh and blood I have the medicine of im-
mortality. By Thy life-giving flesh I am
nourished in the life eternal. The life that
is nourished in me by the true meat and
drink, is the earnest and first-fruits of the
resurrection.

I am risen with Christ, and seek those
things which are above, where Christ sitteth
at the hand of God. In myself I am dead,
but my life is hid with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is my life, shall appear, then
shall I also appear with Him in glory. Now
I count all things but loss for the excellency
of Jesus Christ my Lord; that I may be
found in Him, and know Him, and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellow-
ship of His sufferings, being made conform-
able unto His death; if by any means I
might attain unto the resurrection of the
dead.

Merciful God and Father, be pleased, I
beseech Thee, in this Holy Supper, in which
I commemorate the bitter death of Thy dear
son, Jesus Christ, to work in my heart, by
Thy Holy Spirit, that by a true faith I may
devote myself more and more to Thee, and
that my weary and broken heart may be fed
and quickened by His true body and blood,
even by Him who is true God and man, the
only eternal bread from heaven; so that I
may no more live in my sins, but that He
may live in me and I in Him; and that I
may be so truly a partaker in the new and
everlasting testament and covenant of grace,
that I shall not doubt that Thou art for ever
my gracious Father, who wilt no more re-
member my sins against me, but wilt in all
things provide for my soul and body, as for
Thine own dear children and heirs. Be-
stow upon me also Thy grace, that I may
meekly bear my cross, deny myself, confess
my Saviour, and in all tribulation, with up-
lifted head, look for my Lord Jesus Christ
from heaven, who shall change my vile
body, that it may be fashioned like unto His
glorious body, and take me to Himself in
everlasting joy and felicity; to whom, with
Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and
glory, world without end. Amen.