IV. raising the Dead, by building up the SER M. Temple of his Body, after it had been diffolved three Days, and has therefore fhewed, that he is a quickening, Lifegiving Spirit. He that has made good his Word in reviving himself, will also in his good Time give fufficient Proof, that he can raife us too: And therefore we do to little purpose remember Chrift's Refurrection, if we forget the Resurrection of ourselves, and of all Mankind. 3. We fhould keep this Feast unto the Lord, by bringing all our Thoughts, and Tongues, and our whole felves, into an entire Subjection and Obedience to this our King and Sovereign. By his Rising again, he is, even in his human Nature, advanced to a royal Dignity, and 'tis to little purpose to pay him an outward Fealty, if at the fame Time our Hearts do ftill remain rebellious. We do but act the Part of Pilate's Soldiers, who bow'd the Knce before him, and faid, Hail King of the Jews: They do no more, who call Chrift Lord, Lord, but do not the Things that he would. If we will indeed give a Demonftration of our Loyalty to this our King and Saviour, we must make our most stubborn Lufts fubmit to his Authority, and make their ftiff Necks bow down under his gentle Yoke; they who call themselves ChriVOL. II. [P] ftians, Mat.xxvii. 29. SER M. ftians, and perform an outward Homage IV. to him, but remain inwardly Enemies to him by their wicked Works, they do but follow the Example of Judas, who betray'd him with a Kiss. 4. And they who have indeed reduced their corrupt Hearts to a fincere Obedience to him, and his moft holy Laws, they take the moft proper Courfe to render the Refurrection of Chrift truly comfortable and reviving to them. To fuch as these, who fear God's Name, this Sun of Righteoufness is rifen, with Healing in his Wings. He imparts a kindly, cheering Warmth, like that of the Sun to young Plants, like that of the Eagle to her Brood. Chrift, by rifing again, is become our Life. God hath raifed all good Epb. ii. 6. Chriftians, and made them fit together in heavenly Places, in Chrift Jefus. By the Ta eπsgάvia, I fhould rather understand. the heavenly Ordinances, or Inftitutions of the Gospel, of which the Church is poffefs'd, and which, by the Refurrection of Chrift, are render'd full of Comfort and Efficacy, and therefore at another Place we are told, that he hath blessed us Eph. i. 3. with all Spiritual Bleffing in heavenly Places, or rather, in the holy Inftitutions which he hath founded; and which derive all their Virtue and Power from his Resurrection, and what was confequent upon IV. upon it, his Afcenfion, and Interceffion SER M. at God's Right-Hand. And to them, who make a right Ufe and Application: of thefe Pledges of his Law and Favour, they are indeed an Earneft and Affus rance of greater Bleffings in reserve at the great Day of Retribution, when Signs and Sacraments fhall be turn'd into Subftance and Reality, and Promises into Performance and Enjoyment; when we fhall no longer fee through a Glass darkly, but Face to Face. And a firm Belief of this will fupport us in the mean Time, and make all the Sufferings and Calamities of this Life, in fome measure tolerable to us; while, on the other Side, they who only make an outward Show of believing and obeying a crucify'd fefus, and do not indeed confider it as a certain Proof of a future Judgment, but rather live as if they believed none; to them, I fay, who do not fo believe the Refurrection as to reverence and obey him that God hath thus raised up to be our Prince and Saviour, neither this, nor any Thing else that Chrift did, can ever afford any real Comfort or Satisfaction. Even the Resurrection of Chrift himself, to fuch as thefe, promifes nothing but eternal Death and Confufion; and that which to fincere Chriftians administers fuch IV. SER M. fuch a Hope, as carries them within the Vail; to Mockers, and Hypocrites, and fuch as will not have Chrift to reign over them, is a certain Proof and Prefage of eternal Mifery and Despair. SER 241 SERMON V. Of God's Extraordinary Grace toward St. Paul. I TIM. FR V. ROM thefe Words I fhall take Oc-SER M. cafion to fhew at large, the very extraordinary Grace toward the Person that wrote them, the glorious Apoftle Paul. And to this End, I shall I. Confider him as he was before his Converfion, a Jewish Infidel, a Perfecutor of Chriftians. II. I fhall confider the Manner of his Converfion. III. I fhall confider him as actually Converted. 1. Before |
