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in opposing the Gospel, they perpetrated more outrageous acts of falsehood, injustice and cruelty, than men had ever done upon any other principle before.

Did the world ever hear of two such shameless lies, as those of the Jews? That Christ cast out devils by the power of Belzebub: and that when he was raised from the dead he was stolen away by his disciples? and when one wicked wretch has invented a lie, the rest of his party fall into it, and spread it abroad. Thus you find, that when one assembly had invented the lie which the soldiers were to publish, the whole body of the Jews afterwards took up the story and held to it: for the Evangelist adds, "and "this saying is commonly reported among the Jews

to this day." God deliver us therefore from pride, malice, and ignorance, which when united together form what we call religious bigotry. No falsehood can be too absurd for this bigotry to propagate; no action can be too unjust or cruel for it to perpetrate.

When we think on these things, we cannot but lament that the hearts of men are so miserably di vided by false opinions. Hence we shall be led to set a greater value upon truth; which never fails to unite them. But best of all it is, to look with pity and compassion upon those who are in error, and to pray for them; that their pride may be humbled, their ignorance informed, and their hearts turned to peace and charity; for so long as we can pray for men, we shall never be angry with them, how great soever may be their errors and offences. We must expect, that some for malice, as the priests; and some for interest, as the soldiers; will go on lying to the end of the world: and the appearance of an angel from heaven would not cure them: for the more the truth is manifested, the more will some

people hate it. Disaffection is a deaf adder which hears no reason; a blind mole which sees no evidence: and obstinacy instead of being softened, is only hardened the more by the labour you bestow upon it, like iron under the hammer: which is only beaten closer into its own body. How common is it for one man to hate and rail at another, only because he has injured him. The priests and rulers of the Jews having despised and opposed our Saviour's doctrine, and finding it all confirmed by his resurrection, were brought to the tremendous dilemma, either of being converted, or of denying the resurrection : and you see which part they took. As bad people go on from bad to worse, it is wonderful to see what trouble those Jews gave themselves in running about the world, to poison the minds of men with their lying reports, and hinder the spreading of the Gospel; as if the best thing that ever came from heaven had been the worst of all! And the more it prevailed, the more were they disappointed and enraged. They preserved their influence with the Heathens against the Christians, till the time when their city was destroyed and their temple burned; and from thence they became vagabonds and slaves, contemptible to all the world.

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In their conduct relating to the resurrection of Christ, one circumstance more is observable. We are frequently informed in the Gospel how covetous these Jews were, and how devoted to the world. But one bad passion is frequently overcome by another, as the wild beast will sometimes fall upon and devour his fellow, if he is the stronger and the more hungry of the two. Thus did the malice of the Jews get the better of their covetousness; for well as they loved their money, they could readily part with it

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for the gratification of their malice. The elders large money to the soldiers to say as they were bid, and deny their senses. No small sum must have been requisite to quiet those men, whose minds were big, and ready to burst, with so great and terrible a secret. Covetousness is a vice which lays fast hold upon the mind, and forces men upon many unjust and mean, and even cruel actions: but pride and malice are of more force: so they who devoured widows houses, and could sell the children of them to make a little profit, could part with their money freely when their pride and their malice were in danger. Such contrarieties are not peculiar to Jews; the case is the same with Christians, when their passions have drawn them into a snare: they are engaged, and must go on whatever it costs.

I have now gone through the peculiar circumstances of our Saviour's resurrection. Very instructive they are when we rightly consider and apply them therefore every Christian, at this season of the year, should visit in heart and mind the tomb of Jesus Christ, to see where he was laid, and how he was raised, and what are the consequences upon ourselves and others; that is, upon believers and unbelievers.

To make a right use of this occasion, and store our minds with such reflexions as arise from it, may be of service to us through the whole year, till the season comes about to us, if it shall please God to let us see the return of it. On Good-Friday we commemorate the sorrows and sufferings of Christ; his death and burial. On this day we celebrate the glory of his resurrection. In these two memorable days we find the example of the whole Christian life and character. All of it is compounded as it were of Good Friday and Easter Day; that is, of sorrow

and joy, of abasement and exaltation. With Christ, such as he was at his passion, we must expect to be opposed, and clamoured against, afflicted, persecuted, tried by the searchings of divine visitations, and bereft of all present support from heaven. With Christ, as he was on this day, we are more than conquerors, rejoicing in the possession of life, and in the hope of glory. Sometimes we are even buried, and a stone of despair is rolled to the door of our sepulchre; but God doth not leave our soul in hell, nor suffer the spiritual life that is within us to see corruption. Before this happens, his Angel is sent down to restore us to life and liberty.

This inequality, or contrariety, in the Christian character, is finely painted by the Apostle." We are troubled, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed-we are delivered unto death, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” We are, in short, a composition of death and life; of death through sin; and of life through the God and the power of Christ's resurrection.

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As the commemoration of Christ's sufferings and resurrection shews us the forms and changes of our present state; so according to the state we are in, our minds should be turned toward Good Friday or Easter Day. Is any under persecution or affliction? let him look to Jesus, as the wounded Israelites looked up to the serpent in the wilderness; remembering that he was lifted up, to draw unto him all that are tried, oppressed and afflicted. Is any in joy and prosperity? let him remember in his mirth, that as there is no enjoyment of the world without health, there can be no prosperity in the soul of a Christian, but in virtue of Christ's resurrection.

Therefore when the Christians anciently gave to one another the salutation of friendship and chearfulness, it was their custom to say, "The Lord is risen."

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And now, lastly, you will take me right, if I venture to give you one, admonition at this season, which relates more immediately to ourselves and our affairs. You will have notice that we are to meet to-morrow morning, for the election of proper persons to serve the church and the parish. Give me leave, my brethren, to remind you, that this congregation was unanimous last year; and that we have enjoyed many comforts and blessings in consequence of it ever since. Your church is in a flourishing state: the duties of divine worship are regularly performed: the children of the poor are instructed; not a few of them are clothed and many of them are greatly improved. Your minister can do little without your kind encouragement and assistance: but with it, he may do much and your church, which is now a praise in the neighbourhood, may possibly become an example to a considerable part of this kingdom. It is therefore your duty, as members of the church, to act for the good of the church; as citizens and subjects, to act for the preservation of peace; as Christians to act for the praise and glory of God; and, as Englishmen, to act for the security of your own religious rights and liberties; without listening to, and without fearing, any persons, who may feel themselves inclined to deprive you of them.

Follow then your own happiness with wisdom and resolution; but not without that spirit of peace and brotherly love, which will always be attended with the blessing of God,

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