he fo pathetically expreffes, chap. iii. 8--14. and 1 Cor. ix. 27. and elsewhere; that from thenceforth he and his interefts would be in fecurity under the faithful protection of a powerful Saviour. He would be with Chrift in the fame fenfe as Chrift promifed to the penitent thief, that he should be with him that day in paradise, i. e. in the state of thofe dead, who are, as it were, within the enclosure of divine benevolence and power, referved for the accomplishment of divine purposes and promifes. Now furely, to be admitted to fuch a ftate of fecurity, is a proper object of defire to a 'good mind, even preferably to the continuance of an useful life, but exposed to fears, dangers, and sufferings, both from within and without.

This also seems conformable to the apostle's fentiments and expreffions on other occafions, 2 Tim. iv. 6---8. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my

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departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my courfe, I have kept the faith. Henceforth," he does not fay, I fhall be happy with Chrift, but

"there

"there is laid up (drinalai) for me a crown "of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, fhall give me at that

day;" and, chap. i. 12. of the fame Epiftle, "I know whom I have believed, " and I am perfuaded that he is able" (not to make me happy with himfelf immediately, but) "to keep that which I have "committed unto him against that day." I conceive, that the apoftle means to convey the fame fentiment, that the lives and happiness of his difciples are intrufted to the care and protection of Chrift, to be by him reftored and perfected at the last day, in thofe words, Colof. iii. 3, 4. "For ye are "dead," (a figure by no means too strong to denote not only the spiritual profefsions, but the hazardous circumstances of chriftians at that time) "and your life is hid with "Chrift in God. When Chrift, who is

"our life, fhall appear, then shall ye alfo

appear with him in glory." The fame fentiment feems alfo to be couched under, and an attention to it throws a beautiful and ftrong light on, that otherwife obfcure paffage, Theff. iv. 14. "Even fo them

"alfo

"alfo which fleep in Jefus, will God bring "with him;" intimating, that they are already committed to him by God as a depofit or truft, and that God will then bring them with him, that he may accomplish the purposes of the truft.

The apoftle feems to have borrowed these fentiments and modes of expreffion, on the fubject of the fecurity of dead christians, as referved in the hands, and under the protection of Chrift unto a glorious refurrection, from the words of Chrift himself, John vi. 39. "This is the Father's will which hath "fent me, that of all which he hath given

me I fhould lofe nothing, but should "raife it up again at the last day;" and ch. x. 28, 29. I give unto them eternal life, "and they fhall never perifh, neither shall

any pluck them out of my hand. My "Father which gave them me, is greater "than all and none is able to pluck them "out of my Father's hand." Hence we fee the reafon and propriety of dying Stephen's invocation, Acts vii. 59.

Jefus, receive my fpirit."

"Lord

Upon

Upon the whole, by being with Chrift, the apostle seems to me to mean being in a state of fecurity with him, under the protection of divine power, and the fanction of his faithful promife, referved as a truft or depofit committed to him both by God and ourfelves, in order to be restored to life, and made completely happy by him at the refurrection of the juft.

SECTION V.

Of the future condition of the world in general.

HE great events of the refurrection of

TH

the dead, the day of judgment, and a ftate of retribution afterwards, are fuch as all mankind are most nearly interested in, as individuals. But there are, likewife, other intermediate events, which are foretold with fufficient clearness in the fcriptures, in which we are interested as members of civil focieties, or, at leaft, as well-wishers to the

caufe

caufe of chriftianity and virtue in the world. Of these I shall briefly mention a few, that are the moft confiderable.

The power of antichrift, mentioned by different names in feveral parts of the fcriptures, by which almoft all interpreters underfland the ufurpations of the pope of Rome, is to be finally overthrown. Several different fteps are to be taken in order to the reduction of this enormous power, as is moft probably the meaning of the Seven vials, which are faid, in the book of Revelation, to be poured, in fucceffion, upon the beat, which is fynonymous to antichrist. And fince it is evident, from the state of the world, that the papal power has long been upon the decline, we may conclude, that feveral of these vials are already poured out.

But the utter deftruction of antichrift feems to be referved for a more remarkable: period, which is often denominated in the fcriptures by the coming of Christ, as was also perhaps the period in which Jerufalem was deftroyed; fo that probably this coming alfo