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abfurd, than to hefitate a moment concerning the propriety of this delightful truth?

Moreover, fitting down with the patriarchs and prophets, is an intimation that Gentile converts fhall be raised to a level with the most eminent faints in the Jewish church. They fhall be in the fame state, of the fame family, at the fame table,--and have all their immunities fecured by the fame divine perfections. Have the patriarchs and prophets the feal of God in their foreheads? Rev. vii. 3.-they shall have the name of God written upon theirs, Rev. iii. 12. Are thofe arrayed in the uniforms of Emmanuel's land?-fo fhall thefe. Do the former make effential parts of the heavenly,--the triumphant commonwealth? fo fhall the lat

ter.

A difference indeed may take place between the glory of one faint and another, in refpect of degrees; but each of them fhall be as glorious as they are capable of,—as glorious as it is possible for them to be. Though, like fo many veffels, redeemed fouls may be more or lefs capacious, they fhall all be filled to the brim, -confequently, according to their different measures, intirely upon a level *

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* We cannot with precision now judge of the rank which different faints may bear in the church of God above, from the places they occupy in the church of God on earth; for it is not only poffible, but beyond doubt, that fome bearing office in the church, and in that view fuperior to those whom the exercise of their office refpecteth, are not the holiest of the community; and therefore, in as far as the degrees of future glory may be inferred from the degrees of present grace, it must follow, that those who are greatest in the church here, may be least in the church hereafter; while these

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We fhall finish this argument with obferving a few things more particularly, concerning the fociety with whom Gentile converts fhall mingle in the better world, which have the most direct tendency to promote the special happiness of each,-the common blifs of all.

As creatures, the patriarchs and prophets are all derived from the fame common stock with Gentile converts, who fhall likewife fit down in the kingdom of heaven: for, in the language of Paul to the Athenians, "God hath made of one blood "all the nations of men, to dwell on all the face "of the earth,” Acts xvii. 26.

However these fages of Ifrael might excel-in knowlege or wifdom, in courage or ftrength, confidered as men ;-with whatever honours they might be clothed, and to whatever ftations raised above others who fhall meet and fit with them in glory; yet, when they are traced back to their common original, every fuch diftinction evaporates, and all fuch circumftances totally disappear.

As new creatures, the patriarchs and prophets owe the change-produced, promoted, and perfected in them, to the fame cause that other faints owe their converfion and falvation, "the grace," namely, "of our Lord Jefus Chrift," 2 Cor. viii. 9. There was no previous excellency, no forefeen beauty in the former, more than there is in the latter, to recommend them unto God:-the one as well as the other were laid, and must lie under everlasting obligations to him, for every part of their redemption, whether viewed in a negative or pofitive light, conferred in time, or enjoyed through eternity.

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who make the least appearance upon earth, may cut the Inoft fhining figure in heaven.

As creatures and new creatures, both the patriarchs and prophets had the fame probationary state to go through, the fame enemies to encounter, and the fame warfare to accomplish, that other faints either had or have. Sin, Satan, and the world, were no less fources of trial and distress to those, than they have been, or must be, to thefe. Nay, the circumstances are fo fimilar, that an infpired writer exhorts after-faints to keep the fame tract, in order to reach the fame goal: "Be not flothful,

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(fays he) but followers of them, who through "faith and patience inherit the promifes," Heb.

vi. 12.

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The patriarchs and prophets entered into the world of fpirits by the very door through which all the after-heirs of glory have paffed, do, and will pafs to the poffeffion of their kingdom *. The decree against the common head, Duft thou art, “and unto dust thou shalt return,” had a virtual refpect to his whole offspring, as appears from the New Teftament interpretations of it. "It is ap pointed (fays the author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews) unto men once to die :" Heb ix. 27.and that we might labour under, no uncertainty, with respect to the extent of that appointment, it is declared elsewhere, that, "as by one man fin "entered into the world, and death by fin; death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned:" Rom. v. 12. All men without distinction or excep tion,

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* "The grave itfelf and all the doleful fcenes of "mortality are rendered by far the lefs formidable, "fince it is but our dwelling a little while with fuch "facred duft, in obfcurity and filence, to arife toge. "ther at laft in glory, to be for ever with the Lord "

The Rev. Mr. Sam Bury's dedication to the Account of his lady's life.

tion, the ancient patriarchs and celebrated prophets, as well as the most inconfiderable heirs of falvation *.

The uniformity of the whole ranfomed family, is the only other circumftance we fhall condefcend upon, as vaftly conducive toward the perfection of future happiness †.

The want of this in the militant church, is one conftant fpring of trial to the travellers of hope. Unholy perfons lurking under a profeffion of Chriftianity, or their brethren in Chrift themfelves influenced by illiberal and devious principles, marr much of the believers joy, and manifeftly impede the communion of faints: but, in all that fociety, there thall not be an unholy person, nor one faint otherwife minded than the reft. Their views, feelings, and whole exercises fhall all bend one way, and meet in the fame point without variation or feceffion for ever. To this happy ftate of things, the words of the prophet may well be applied, that

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Jerufalem fhall be holy, and no ftranger shall pafs through her any more;" Joel iii. 17. and the ftill more expreffive words of ths Apostle can. be applied to no other state: "There fhall in no

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wife enter into" the city, "any thing that de

* Enoch, indeed, and Elijah were exceptions from this general rule; but, when all the friends of Jefus fhall meet on the morning of the refurrection, it will appear that the fpirit of the law was fulfilled in them, and that their bodies underwent the fame change by tranflation, that the bodies of other faints do by means of their reduction to duft

Tully's beautiful aphorifm will apply, in its utmoft extent, only to the heavenly ftate.--- Sed, omnium focietatum, nulla præftantior eft, nulla firmior, quam, cum viri boni, moribus fimiles, funt familia"ritate conjuncti."--CICER. De offic, lib. 1. cap. 17. fileth,

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"fileth, neither whatfoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in "the Lamb's book of life," Rev. xxi. 47.

IMPROVEMENT.

Is it fo that God our Saviour hath gracious defigns upon the nations? Then fee

What praife is due to him upon that account. His love in prompting, his wifdom in devifing, his justice in approving. his faithfulnets in tecuring, his power in executing, and his holinefs as running through the whole amazing plan of grace, should be noticed, admired, and adored by us; and our gratitude for redemption expreffed in all the ways, by all the means of his own appointment. If all his works praite him, fhould not his faints blefs him for this, the chief of his works and ways?

That the converfion of Gentile finuers in general, and of any among ourfelves in particular, may be confidered as a partial accomplishment of our Lord's promife in the text, an immediate ground of praife to him for being mindful of his grace and truth, and a foundation of hope, that he will do as he hath faid, till the converfion of all the heirs of promile be effected: for he being a rock, his work must be perfect.

That Gentile converts of us fhould be concerned to pray much for the farther accomplishment of this promife: The great numbers of unconverted perfons, evident from abounding infidelity and wickedness; the restraints which feem to lie upon the effufion of converting grace; together with the general indifference about the accomplishment of this promise which preTails, are not the only arguments: Their prefent incapacity

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