like kind of reafoning, our Saviour concludes, that Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob were ftill alive, and that their bodies will rife again; "because God," fays he, "is their "God: now he is not the God of the dead, "but the God of the living; for all live to "him." And the fame conclufion we may draw from the unlimited promises of God. For, when he is called the God and rewarder of the faithful, fince he is eternal, he must always be their God, and, confequently, they must abide for ever. So true, then, is that, which is declared in the book of wifdom; "God created man to be immortal, and “made him an image of his own eternity." And again, we may draw the fame conclufion from what the fcripture fays of the word of God; that it is an incorruptible feed, and abideth for ever: which serves to affure us, that the righteous will abide for ever. For the word is the feed by which they are regenerated and quickened. If, therefore, the feed be immortal, they who are quickened by it, will be immortal too: for such as the feed is, fuch is the plant; and fuch as the principle of exiftence is, fuch is the life: from corruptible principles, fuch as flesh and blood, blood, can proceed only a corruptible life; but from immortal and incorruptible principles, fuch as the word and the fpirit, proceeds immortal life: Now the Gospel is fuch a principle of life: for it exprefsly tells us, that "God fo loved the world, that he gave "his only begotten Son, that whofoever "believeth in him fhould not perish, but "have everlasting life." These are the express terms of the new covenant, which cannot be broken or difannulled: for Chrift hath fealed them with his blood, and God himself has ratified them to us, by three most undoubted miracles, the refurrection of Chrift, his ascension into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit from Heaven. These are the great earnefts of our own refurrec tion. If, therefore, the fpirit of him, that raised up Jefus from the dead, dwell in us, we can have no doubt, but that he, who raised up Jefus from the dead, will also quicken our mortal bodies, and make them like unto his glorious body, and that, if we do the will of God, we shall abide for ever. You You fee then, my brethren, that the prefent life is no more than the paffage to a better, to an eternal and more enduring one. What then remains, but that we learn, from this great and important truth, the just value we ought to affign to each. We are placed for a fhort space of time, in this vale of affliction, by the hands of a wife and just God. Let us, therefore, do our feveral duties in it chearfully, and agreeably to the gracious defigns of his providence: Let us endeavour, by an honest induftry, to provide for our felves, and those who look up to us for fupport, the comforts and conveniences of life: and let us enjoy them, too, with a chearful and contented heart; knowing, that every creature of God is good, if it be received with thankfulness. But, amidst all our comforts and beft enjoyments, let us remember withal, that we have, here, no abiding city: A few fhort moments, and not one stone shall be left upon another, of all that we poffefs or admire. Let us not, therefore, make them the final objects of our happiness. Our bodies must remain upon earth, till our appointed time come, but our hearts and nobler faculties fhould be in heaven. Thi ther, ther, therefore, let all our thoughts and affections ultimately tend. The span of life bears but a small proportion to the great circle of eternity; the pleasures of vice are utterly inadequate to the rewards of virtue. The one may give us a few fhort and tranfient glimpfes of joy, but the other will give us unchangeable and eternal happiness: "For "he that doeth the will of God, abideth for "ever." May we, therefore, do his will on earth, as it is done in heaven! May all the nations of the world hear and obey his awful voice; that when the trumpet of God fhall fummon the quick and the dead, they may give up their accounts with joy, and having done his bleffed will on earth, may abide with him, in heaven! for ever, SER |