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CLXXXIV, · 66

SERM. fidering what follows after the text: "For this we by the word of the LORD," that is, by fpecial revelation, that we that are alive, and remain at the coming of the LORD, shall not prevent "them that are afleep," that is, we fhall not be taken up into heaven before the faints who are already dead fhall be raised: but thus it fhall be," the "LORD himself fhall defcend from heaven with a

fhout, and the voice of an archangel, and with "the trump of GoD, and the dead in CHRIST "fhall rife firft; then we which are alive and re“main, shall be caught up together with them in "the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air." The plain meaning of all which is, that firft" the dead

in CHRIST" fhall be raised, and taken up to him in the air, to accompany him at his coming, and thus "he fhall bring them with him;" and then "those who are alive at his coming" fhall be changed and taken up likewise, "to meet the "LORD in the air." And the fame account the fame apostle gives us, 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. " Behold,

fays he, I fhew you a mystery," (which is the fame he had faid before in the former text, " this "we fay unto you by the word of the LORD) I "fhew you a mystery" (fo he calls that which was not revealed to all by our SAVIOUR, but to himfelf particularly) "we fhall not all fleep, but "we shall be changed;" that is, all shall not die, but at the coming of CHRIST many fhall be found alive and changed; but these shall have no advantage of those who are dead in CHRIST before: for in a moment, in the twinkling of "an eye, at the laft trump, the dead fhall be raised "incorruptible," that is, with fpiritual bodies

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which will be no more liable to corruption; " and SERM. "we," that is, thofe that remain then alive, "fhall also be changed." From all which it appears, that the meaning of this expreffion, "thofe "that fleep in JESUS fhall GOD bring with him," is this, that the LORD JESUS fhall come "in "the clouds of heaven, in the glory of his FA"THER," and by the found" of the trump of

GOD fhall raife the dead in CHRIST." And our SAVIOUR tells us more particularly, that this fhall be done by the miniftry of angels, Matth. xxiv. 30, 31. "When the SON of man comes

"with power and great glory, that the angels fhall "with the great found of the trumpet, gather the "elect from the four winds;" and when they are thus gathered, " Gop fhall bring them with him."

And here I cannot but obferve, that the title of GOD is given to our SAVIOUR, who is to be judge of the world. "Them that fleep in JESUS, "fhall GOD bring with him." And elsewhere our apostle speaking of this glorious appearance and coming of CHRIST to judgment, calls him "the "great GOD," Tit. ii. 13. " Looking for the bles

fed hope, and glorious appearance of the great

GOD and our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST." Which cannot be understood of the appearance of two perfons, viz. Gon, the FATHER, and his SON JESUS CHRIST Our SAVIOUR; for then the article would have been added to diftinguifh them, and it would not have been wrpos &μar, but a to owτnpes nv, as if he had faid, "the “appearance of the great GoD, and of JESUS CHRIST Our SAVIOUR;" when as according to the propriety of the Greek, the article being want

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SERM. ing, it ought to be render'd thus, "looking for "the appearing of JESUS CHRIST the great GOD " and our SAVIOUR." This is very much confirmed, in that the fame apoftle here in the text, fpeaking of CHRIST'S coming to judgment, calls him GOD; "them fhall GoD bring with him."

The words thus explained, give us this obfervation; that it is a firm principle of the chriftian religion, that those who die in the faith of CHRIST, that is, in the state of true chriftianity, fhall have a bleffed refurrection. "If we believe, faith the apo

ftle, that JESUS died, and rofe again; even fo "them also that fleep in him, fhall GoD bring "with him." The apostle to the Hebrews reckons the refurrection of the dead among "the principles "of the doctrine of CHRIST," Heb. vi. 2.

In fpeaking to this obfervation, I fhall do these three things:

First, I fhall fhew what it is to die in the faith of CHRIST, or in the state of a true christian, which is here called, fleeping in JESUS."

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Secondly, I fhall fhew how the death and refurrection of CHRIST are an argument and proof of our refurrection from the dead.

And,

Thirdly, wherein the bleffedness of the refurrection. of the just doth confist.

Firft, what it is to die in the faith of CHRIST, or in the state of a true christian, which is here call'd, fleeping in JESUS." And this imports one of these two things; either,

1. That we die in fuch a belief of the doctrine of CHRIST, as hath been accompanied with a holy obedience of life, to the commands and precepts of the gofpel; that our profeffion of the christian re

ligion hath evidenced itself in the virtues of a good SERM, life, in the conftant course and tenor of an holy and CLXXXIV. unblameable converfation. This affurance the chriftian religion gives us, that "if we have our fruit "unto holiness, our end fhall be everlasting life."

Or elfe, 2. that we exercife fuch a fincere and unfeigned repentance before death for the errors and mifcarriages of our lives, as produceth a firm purpofe and refolution of amending our lives, if GOD should be pleased to prolong and continue them. For only fuch a belief and profeffion of the chriftian religion, as produceth one of these effects, doth put us into a state of grace, and give us hope of a bleffed refurrection to eternal life.

The first of these effects is much to be preferr'd, viz. the general courfe and tenor of a holy life; the latter being infinitely more hazardous, by reafon of the deceitfulness of our hearts, and the infinite uncertainty of a death-bed repentance.

Secondly, I fhall fhew how the death and refurrection of CHRIST are an argument and proof of our refurrection from the dead. "If we be"lieve," &c.

I fhall fhew by and by, how the refurrection of CHRIST is an argument and proof of our refurrection. But why is his death here mentioned as part of the argument?" If we believe that CHRIST "died." The reafon is obvious: because the truth of the miracle of his refurrection depends upon the reality of his death; for if CHRIST was not really dead, then he could not rife from the dead, and the pretence of his refurrection was a delufion and imposture: but if he was really dead, and rofe again from the dead, then have we a firm ground for the

SERM. belief of a future refurrection. Now this chriCLXXXIV. ftians do believe, that CHRIST was really dead, and rofe again from the dead, and that upon very good grounds. We need not doubt but that the malice of the Jews took care to kill him; and the story makes it evident, because blood and water came out of his fide, which is a certain proof that his heart was pierced; and it could not be a deliquium, or a fainting fit, because after his blood was exhaufted, he could not naturally return to life again. But we need not contend much about this, fince the heathens who are unconcern'd confels this. Tacitus, in the 15th book of his annals, tells us, "that JESUS was put to death by cruci"fixion under Pontius Pilate." And Jofephus, who was a Jew both by his birth and religion, and lived prefently after our SAVIOUR's time, in the xviiith book of his Jewish antiquities tells us, "that "CHRIST was crucified, and that he appeared "to his followers the third day, rifen from the "dead."

Now this cannot in reason be said to be done only in appearance, and to be a mere illufion of mens fenfes, as fome ancient hereticks pretended; because that which may be an evafion in any cafe, is to be admitted in none. For what greater evidence is poffible of any one's rifing from the dead, than the circumstances of our SAVIOUR'S refurrection? That there was a great earthquake, and that the stone was rolled away from the grave and the graveclothes found there, and his body gone; and that after this he appeared, and convers'd fo often with so many, to whom he was well known when alive, and entertained long difcourfes with them, and did

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