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fallible proofs. They could not be deceived themselves, nor could they have any temptation to deceive others. They declared his refurrection, to the very people who put him to death; and they confirmed it by many indifputable miracles, which they performed in his name. They perfevered in this testimony, in defiance of the malice of the Jews, and the fcorn of the heathens. And by this doctrine of a crucified rifen Saviour, though unfupported by the patronage of human power, yea, though opposed by it in every place, they effected that change, in the moral world, wherever they went, which the philofophers had not been able to produce, by all their inftructions, in a fingle inftance; turning men, whom they found under the strongest prejudices of education and habit, from darkness to light, and from the worship of dumb idols to ferve the living and the true God *.

But there are proofs of this point which depend not upon arguments or history, which require neither learning, genius, nor study to comprehend; but are equally adapted to perfons, of all capacities, and in all circumftances. These are, the effects which this

I Theff. i. 9.

doctrine produces, on the hearts of thofe, who truly receive it upon the authority of scripture, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, whofe office it is to open the eyes of the mind, to take of the things of Jefus, (what the scripture reveals of his perfon, offices, and glory) and to prefent them, with infallible light and evidence, to those who humbly yield themfelves to his teaching. These are made partakers of the power of his refurrection*. It delivers them from guilt and fear, animates them with confidence towards God, weans them from the love and fpirit of this evil world, infpires them with great and glorious hopes, and delivers them from the fear of death. They are rifen with Christ, by faith, and feek the things which are above †, where they know their Lord and Saviour is seated in glory.

I do but touch upon these particulars at prefent, because the subject will come under our confideration again, from a subsequent paffage in the Oratorio. Yet I would not wholly omit leading your reflections to them, though what I briefly offer now, may make, what I shall then offer, (if my life is prolonged to

* Phil, iii. 10. .

† Çol, iii. 1.

proceed

hear me.

proceed fo far) appear under the disadvantage of a repetition of the fame thoughts. Indeed, I know not how to place the proof of this capital doctrine in a light entirely new. The most fatisfactory proofs are the most obvious; and it would be folly to fubftitute weaker in their place, for the fake of novelty. But if I should live to resume the fubject, fome of you, who are now prefent, may not live to So far as concerns the fact, I may hope, that the moft, or all of you, are believers, and that you are already perfuaded in your minds, that the Lord is rifen indeed *! I am not preaching to Jews, or Mahometans, but to profeffed Chriftians. But permit me to aík, What influence this truth has upon your hopes, your tempers, and your conduct? The powers of darkness know that Chrift is rifen. They believe, they feel, they tremble. I hope none of you will be content with fuch a faith as may be found in the fallen angels. As furely as he is rifen, he will at length return to judge the world. Behold he cometh in the clouds, and every eye shall fee bim! They who are prepared to meet him, who are waiting for him, and who long for his appear

* Luke xxiv. 34.

ance,

ance, have reason to rejoice that he once died, and rose again!

Many are the advantages which true Chriftians derive, from a spiritual and enlightened knowledge of this doctrine. I will mention a few.

1. AS MESSIAH was delivered, that is delivered up, as a hoftage to the demands of justice, for our offences, fo they know, that be was raised again for our juflification*. By virtue of that union, which subsists between MESSIAH, as the head of his body the church, and all his members; that is, all in the fucceffive ages of the world, who believe in him by a faith of divine operation: he is their legal representative; he and they are confidered as one. His fufferings, his whole humiliation and obedience unto death, is fo imputed to them, that they, thereby, are exempted from condemnation; and though not from all fufferings, yet, from all that is properly penal, or, strictly, a punishment. What they fuffer, is only in a way of discipline or chastisement; and to them a token, not of wrath, but of love. On the other hand, as he by his refurrection, was vindicated, justi

*Rom. v. 25.

fied from the reproaches of his enemies, declared to be the Son of God, with power,

and raised to glory; they have fellowship with him herein. God exalted him to glory, and gave him a name above every name, that their faith and hope might be in God *. They are not only pardoned, but accepted in the Beloved. And after this ftate of difcipline is ended, they shall be treated as if they had never finned. For if their fins are fought for, in that day, they shall not be found. If any charge should be brought against them, it fhall be overruled by this comprehenfive unanswerable plea-Chrift that died, yea, rather, that is rifen again, appears in the prefence of God, acknowledges them as his own, and makes interceffion for them. Among men, a criminal may obtain a pardon, may escape the sentence he has deferved, and yet be left in a destitute and miferable condition. But juftification, is, God's manner of pardoning finners, according to the fovereignty and riches of his grace, in the Son of his love. Those, whom he pardons, he also justifies; and whom he justifies, he also glorifies. And even now in this life, though it doth not yet + Rom. viii. 33, 34.

* 1 Pet. i. 21.

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