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perceive that the evidence is com-ish, or Pagan historians; we might be pletely satisfactory, provided it can confident, that the writings in quesbe made clear, that these books tion were extant, and well known were published at the time to which in the church, from the very period they refer. To obviate therefore in which they are said to have been every doubt on that head, without published, even had we no other engaging in an argument far too evidence. But no impartial man complicated for this occasion, I of learning can be imposed upon by would inquire, at what subsequent pretences of this kind; having time it could have been possible access to proofs of another nature to obtain credit to writings of this in abundance: and this argument description? If a manuscript, said is principally adduced for the beneto have been long concealed in some fit of those who have neither leisure library, be produced or published, as or advantages, for these investigathe work of an eminent author, who tions.

flourished two or three centuries We should also remember, that ago; it immediately is subjected to on the day of Pentecost, immedia severe scrutiny, and imposture in ately following the resurrection of such cases seldom escapes detec-Christ, the Holy Spirit was poured tion. But writings which contain a out on the assembled apostles, with circumstantial narrative of "things such extraordinary circumstances, not done in a corner," but in the as drew together vast multitudes open view of mankind during seve- who then resided at Jesusalem. In ral years; and connected with an the presence of all these witnesses, epistolary correspondence resulting they spoke fluently and correctly in from them; could never have ob- the languages of the several countained the least credit in the world; tries from which their hearers were if published after the times referred collected, though it was certainly to, with an express appeal to man- known that they had not had the kind, that they all along had been opportunity of learning them: and familiarly acquainted with them. this stupendous miracle, together Such an insolent attempt, to per- with Peter's sermon on the occasion, suade whole nations out of their was made effectual to the conversion senses and understandings, must of three thousand persons. The have excited universal astonish-gifts of tongues, and of working ment and indignation; or, had it miracles in the name of Jesus, were been possible to convince a few ever after continued to them, and individuals that they had received were frequently exercised in the these books from their ancestors, most public and undeniable manand been taught from infancy to ner, before numerous witnesses, enerevere them as the writings of the mies as well as friends. The same apostles, when in fact neither they powers were likewise communicated nor any other persons had ever be- to many others, by the laying on of fore seen or heard of them; the the apostles' hands. The time, effrontry of the deceivers and the place, occasion, and circumstances credulity of the deceived must have of these extraordinary transactions constituted an unprecedented event, are frequently specified in their and marked the age in which it writings. Thus the inhabitants of occurred. As therefore no time many cities and countries were ap can be mentioned, when any at-pealed to; and the enemies of tempt of this kind is so much as Christianity were challenged to hinted at, by either Christian, Jew-disprove their pretensions if they

were able. But none ever attempted | have thus confirmed the testimony to do it for the Jews themselves of impostors? And does not this do not deny that many extraordinary prophecy, thus wonderfully accomworks were performed by Jesus and plished, demonstrate the resurrechis disciples: and the way in which tion of Christ, and the truth of they try to account for them, de- Christianity? The coming of the monstrates that, from the first, their man of sin, with lying miracles, docancestors had nothing plausible to trines of demons, worshiping of object. In this manner the wit- angels, prohibitions of marriage, nesses and proofs of our Lord's and commands to abstain from resurrection were multiplied, in al- meat; the impositions, usurpations, most every part of the vast Roman and persecutions of the Roman antiempire: yea, "God also bare them christ; with various other particuwitness, both with signs, and won- lars, were most exactly and circumders, and with divers miracles, and stantially predicted by the several gifts of the Holy Ghost." And can witnesses of our Lord's resurrecany reasonable man suppose, that tion: and the undeniable accoma general belief could ever have plishments of them are so many prevailed, through whole nations, divine attestations to their testiof such public and extraordinary mony, for the satisfaction of all sucevents without any person attempt- ceeding generations.

ing to deny them; if they had not The Jewish ritual, or the pagan actually happened, and been so no-theology, was intimately connected torious as to be incontrovertible? with the foundations of the several The chosen witnesses of our governments then existing in the Lord's resurrection were likewise world: and all the learning, ingethe principal penmen of the New nuity, and authority on earth were Testament, and the whole was engaged in their support. Yet a doubtless written under their in- few unarmed, obscure, unlettered spection. Now in these books pro- men, by preaching a crucified and phecies are inserted, which have risen Saviour, in the midst of perbeen accomplishing ever since to secution and sufferings, established the present day. A sceptic indeed Christianity on an immoveable bamight doubt, whether the predic-sis; and their successors, following tions, concerning the destruction of their example, so wonderfully preJerusalem and the temple, were not vailed, that at length Judaism and penned after the event: but who Paganism fell before them; the can account for other parts of the religion of Jesus was professed by same prophecy, without allowing powerful nations; and, however that the writer was divinely in- corrupted or despised, it subsists spired? "The people shall be led to this day. Whatever men may away captive into all nations, and insinuate concerning the ministers Jerusalem shall be trodden down of of religion, it is an undeniable fact, the Gentiles, until the times of the that plain preaching, fervent prayGentiles be fulfilled." Luke xxi. ers, holy lives, and patient suffer24. Has not this been actually the ings, were the only weapons that case with the Jews and with Jeru- the primitive preachers of the gossalem, during almost eighteen hun-pel opposed to all the authority dred years? Could human sagacity and learning of the world, which have foreseen such an unparalleled were resolutely employed against series of events? Or would God them: and yet they decidedly tri

umphed in a contest apparently so sition, the gospel would have launequal. A wise man will always boured under additional disadvanallow, that every effect is produced tages in other countries, and future by some adequate cause: but what ages could at last have had no other adequate cause of this astonishing human testimony, than that of the effect can be assigned, unless we individuals whose writings should allow that Christianity was of God, have been transmitted to them. In and man could not overthrow it, or short, should the Lord grant the prevent its success and triumph? presumptuous demand of those who I will only add, that every instance, refuse to believe without the testiwhich at this day occurs, of notori-mony of their own senses, and should ously wicked persons, converted by the Saviour appear to every indivithe preaching of the gospel from dual through successive generations, their evil ways, and afterwards how could men be sure that this was walking in newness of life, consti- the identical person crucified on tutes a proof that Christ is risen, Mount Calvary? Or how demonstrate has all power in heaven and earth, that the transient vision was not an and is efficaciously present with his illusion? Universal uncertainty and faithful servants, "always, even to doubt must therefore be the consethe end of the world." quence of rejecting such unanswer

We may now, I trust, confidently able and multiplied evidences as say, that no other past event was the Lord hath mercifully vouchsafed ever proved by such an accumulated us, of that great event which we this body of evidence. Who doubts day commemorate. whether Alexander conquered Da

rius, or Julius Cæsar, Pompey? II. We proceed to show what Yet who can produce the tenth inferences may be deduced from part of the proof in respect of these the subject before us.

events, which hath even at this It would be the grossest incontime been stated of our Lord's re-sistency, and the most absurd trisurrection? But men can believe fling, to contend earnestly that that Alexander conquered Darius, Christ is risen, and then overlook without either parting with their or deny the peculiar doctrines sins, or feeling uneasiness of consci- which his resurrection was intendence: while the truth of the gospel ed to authenticate. We infer thereis very alarming to all that walk ac-fore from our subject, that Jesus is cording to the course of the world, indeed the Son of God, "One, with and neglect the salvation of Christ. the Father," "God manifest in the

It would be difficult to find out flesh." On account of various exany satisfactory method of further pressions which He used in speakattesting the Redeemer's resurrec-ing of himself, he was charged with tion, which could have possibly blasphemy, and of making himself been devised. For had he openly equal with God. For this crime he appeared to the whole Jewish peo- was condemned by Caiaphas and ple, and had they with one accord the Jewish council, who said before embraced Christianity; the Gen- the Roman governor, "We have a tiles would naturally have consi-law, and by our law he ought to die, dered it as a concerted plan to ag- because he made himself the Son of grandize the nation: and had the God." John xix. 7. The centurion Jews, in their pride and prejudice, who attended his crucifixion, could still persisted in unbelief and oppo- not but know for what crime he

suffered when therefore he wit-cates the whole Scripture as divinenessed the miracles which accom-ly inspired. His testimony proves panied his death, he cried, "Truly it in respect of the Old Testament, this was the Son of God." "Cer- and the New was penned by his tainly this was a righteous person!" chosen witnesses, and attested by When incredulous Thomas was at all the miracles they wrought in his length convinced that Christ was name. So that the Lord now speaks risen from the dead, all that he had to us, in every part of Scripture, as before heard, seen, believed, or far as it respects our dispensation, hoped, seems at once to have rushed and suits our case, with as much into his mind, and he exclaimed in authority as he did to Israel from adoration, "My Lord, and my Mount Sinai, but with words of God." Thus was Jesus "declared mercy and grace, instead of terror to be the Son of God with power, and dismay.

by the resurrection from the dead." For if Christ be risen from the He was demonstrated to be the dead, then is his atonement acpromised Messiah, the Seed of the cepted. "He died for our sins, and woman, the Seed of Abraham, the rose again for our justification." He Son of David, Emanuel, the mighty was, as it were, arrested for our God, the everlasting Father, the debt, and cast into the prison of the Prince of Peace, "The Lord our grave: but as full payment had been righteousness;" and whatever the made, he was speedily liberated. prophets from the beginning had Having overcome the sharpness of spoken concerning the expected death, he hath opened the kingdom glorious Redeemer. All that he of heaven to all believers.' The had spoken of himself was likewise foundation of our hope is now surely thus fully proved to be true; it now laid: the way of access to a throne was manifest that he was warrant- of grace is now made manifest; for ed to say, "I and my Father are the risen Saviour is also ascended One:" "He that hath seen me into the heavens to appear in the hath seen the Father:" "Before presence of God for us; and he is Abraham was I AM:" "I am the" able to save to the uttermost all Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh to the Father but by me:""No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the The resurrection of Christ assures Son shall reveal him :" "I am the us, that "all power in heaven and Light of the world:" "I am the re-earth are given to him;" and that surrection and the life." "If any he is made Head over all things to man thirst, let him come unto me his church." He both died, and and drink :" "The Father judgeth rose again, and revived, that he no man, but hath committed all might be the Lord both of the living judgment to the Son; that all men and the dead." Angels, princishould honour the Son, even as they palities, and powers, are made subhonour the Father. He that ho-ject to him;" "he has the keys of noureth not the Son, honoureth not death and hell." He is "King of the Father that sent him." In short, kings and Lord of lords:" all nathe resurrection of Christ not only ture obeys him: all the treasures of demonstrates the truth of Chris- wisdom and knowledge are laid up tianity, but the infallible certainty in him: he has unsearchable riches, of all its doctrines, and authenti- and invincible power: the fulness

them that come to God by him: seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

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of the Spirit resides in him: "All As our risen Redeemer ever the fulness of the Godhead dwells liveth and reigneth in heaven, to in him bodily." He is become manage all the concerns of his peothe Author of eternal salvation to ple, and make all ready for their reall them that obey him :" and he ception; we may adopt with exultmust reign till all his enemies are ing joy the apostle's words: “If made his footstool. It is therefore when we were enemies we were no light matter that we are consi-reconciled to God by the death of dering. "Yet," saith Jehovah, "I his Son; much more being reconhave set my King upon my holy hill ciled, we shall be saved by his life." of Zion. Kiss the Son, lest he be Rom. v. 10. "Who shall lay any angry, and ye perish." Every indi- thing to the charge of God's elect! vidual must either bow to the scep- it is God that justifieth, who is he tre of his grace, or be broken in that condemneth? it is Christ that pieces by the iron rod of his omni- died, yea, rather, is risen again: potent indignation. 2 Thess. i. 8-who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession

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We are also taught that true for us. Who shall separate us from Christians are conformed to Christ, the love of Christ?" Rom. viii. 33 in his death, resurrection, and as--35. Surely our Friend, who died cension. By motives and grace de- and rose again for us, will take care rived from their crucified and risen that none shall pluck us out of his Redeemer, they die to their for-hands, and will come at death to mer hopes, pleasures, and pursuits;" receive us to himself, that where their sensibility to temporal things he is, there we may be also." is deadened; carnal self-love, the Finally, as Christ is risen from main spring of their activity in past the dead, he "is become the firsttimes, is broken: " They are cruci- fruits of them that slept." "The fied with Christ, nevertheless they hour cometh, when all that are in live; yet not they, but Christ liveth the graves shall hear his voice, and in them." They know him and the shall come forth; they that have power of his resurrection; new done good to the resurrection of principles, feelings, and actuating life: and they that have done evil motives, are communicated. "They to the resurrection of damnation." account themselves dead indeed At that awful period, he will asunto sin, but alive unto God." cend his tribunal, finally to sepaThey live no longer to them-rate his people from his enemies: selves, but to him that died for and "these shall go away into everthem and rose again." "They are lasting punishment, but the righte risen with Christ, and seek those ous into life eternal." The bodies of things which are above." "Their the wicked will be rendered incorconversation is in heaven;" and in ruptible, and capable of enduring proportion to the degree of their the vengeance reserved for them, faith and grace, they ascend and" where their worm dieth not, and reign with Christ, in the nature of their fire is not quenched." Mark their joys and the temper of their ix. 48-50. And those of the hearts. Thus they are prepared, righteous will be raised spiritual whenever they leave this world, to and immortal, and fitted to particishare that fulness of joy, and those pate the holy joys of heaven. "The pleasures which are at God's right Saviour, the Lord Jesus, shall hand for evermore. change our vile body, that it may

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