SERM. Truth, was the Name by which he proVIII. claimed and made known himfelf under the Jewish Difpenfation (z): But the fulnefs and freeness of his Grace and Mercy offered to the very chief of Sinners, and the way wherein it is confiftent with the wisdom, honour, and holiness of his nature and law, is a discovery peculiar to the chriftian Scheme. Which Doctrine, whilst it provides for the comfort and hope of all humble and penitent Sinners, is an effectual Bar to all prefumption and vain confidence. 7. The gracious and effectual Operations of the holy Spirit on the Heart of Man, may be confidered as another peculiar Doctrine of Christianity; because it was never revealed in that extent, or with so much perfpicuity in any former Dispensation, as it is in ours. The miniftry of the Spirit is a no lefs effential part of the Gospel constitution, than the mediation of Chrift; and equally neceffary to compleat our Redemption. The holy Spirit fits us by his Grace for that happiness, which Chrift hath purchased for us by his Blood; and we are no lefs dependant (x) Ex. xxxiv. 6. pendant on the former for our Sanctification, SERM. VIII. than on the latter for our Juftification. And as Chrift, under the title of our Redeemer, fuftains the various characters of Prophet, Prieft and King; fo the Spirit, in the capacity of our Sanctifier, is represented under the characters of our Helper, Guide and Comforter. Hence we are commanded to walk by the Spirit (a); who is faid to to help our Infirmities (b), and guide us into all Truth (c). 8. Another new discovery of the Gofpel is the Resurrection of the Body, that is, that at the day of the general Resurrection every human Soul fhall be reunited to it's own proper Body; the feveral particles of which, where-ever difperfed, shall be collected, restored, and recompacted, fo as to form the self fame Body, which the Soul animated, when it was an Inhabitant of Earth. And particularly, that the Bodies of the Righteous, fhall be glorioufly beautified, and become not only commodious, but splendid, manfions for the refidence of their immortal Spirits. Behold (fays the Apostle) I fhew you a Mystery (a Truth never before 04 made (a) Gal. v. 16. (b) Rom. viii. 26. (c) John xvi. 13. SER M. made known to the World) we shall not all VIII. fleep, but we shall all be changed. THIS Corruptible must put on Incorruption. It is fown in difhonour, it is raised in glory; it is fown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is fown a natural body, it is raised a fpiritual body (d). 9. Several particular circumstances relating to the final Judgment are the peculiar Discoveries of the Christian Revelation, e. g. That Chrift will be the Judge (e); that he shall descend from Heaven with a glorious retinue of Angels (f); that he will then appear in our own nature (g); that Devils, as well as all the Sons of Men, fhall take their trial at that grand Affize (b); that the righteous fhall then in a distinguishing manner be feparated from the wicked, and be called to Judgment first (i); that being acquitted themselves, they fhall in some manner be employed in judging others; and approve and applaud the righteous Sentence pronounced upon wicked Men and Angels (k); that every Man fhall be judged according (d) 1 Cor. xv. 43, 44, 51, 53. (e) Acts xvii. 31. 2 Cor. v. 10. (f) Matt. xxv. 31. 2 Theff. i. 7. (g) A&ts i. 11. (b) 1 Cor. vi. 3. (i) Matt. xxv. 32, 33, 34. (k) 1 Cor. vi. 1, 2, 3. cording to his works (7); that works of Charity SERM. towards poor Saints shall then be particularly VIII. brought into account (m); that, Judgment being finished, the final and irreversible Sentence shall be pronounced on the righteous and the wicked, which fhall determine their respective states for ever (n). Most of these' particulars, relating to the folemn Process of that great Day, we learn from the Mouth of Him who is then to be our Judge (0). Laftly, the undoubted certainty of a future ftate of Rewards and Punishments may be confidered as another peculiar Discovery of the Gospel. Not that this Doctrine was altogether unknown to the world, till the chriftian Difpenfation took place; for it was revealed to the Jews, especially in the times of the Prophets, and feveral of the wifer men among the Heathens feemed to believe it. But the Gospel has thrown a light upon it, which it never before received; representing the recompence of the righteous to consist in pleasures chiefly intellectual and spiritual, in the vifion and fruition of the ever blessed GOD; and the future punish ment (m) Matt. xxv. 35, 36, (0) Matt. xxv. 31, 46. (4) Matt. xvi. 27. 2 Cor. v. 10, (2) Matt. xv. 34, 41. 46. SERM. ment of the wicked to confift, not only in VIII. external Sufferings, which will be " very exquifite, but in the inward anguish of a guilty and upbraiding Confcience, called the Worm which never dies (p); and both the one, and the other, intenfe and interminable; for (faith our Saviour) thefe, (i. e. the wicked) fhall go away into everlasting Punishment, but the righteous into Life eternal (q). These are the chief of those great and important Doctrines of Faith, which may be confidered as the peculiar difcoveries of the christian Revelation, as they were, either intirely unknown, or only obfcurely revealed, under any former Difpenfation: and may be fuppofed to be comprehended in the words of the text, where the Prophet, fpeaking of those who should have the happiness to live under the Meffiah's Reign, faith, that which hath not been told them, skall they fee, and that, which they have not heard, Shall they confider. I fhall now conclude all with a few practical Reflections. And 1. From what hath been delivered on this Subject we may draw a very confiderable argument Mark ix. 43, 44. (q) Matt. xxv. ult. |