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SERMON II.

Of the future Refurrection.

B 3

SERMON II.

JOB xix. 25, 26, 27.

I KNOW, THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH,

AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE
LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH: AND
THOUGH AFTER MY SKIN WORMS
DESTROY THIS BODY, YET IN MY
FLESH SHALL I SEE GÓD: WHOM I
SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF AND MINE
EYES SHALL BEHOLD AND NOT ANO-
THER.

TH

HAT the bodies of all the dead of all generations, from the beginning to the end of the world, fhould again be organized out of the confufed mafs of matter, into which they are refolved, and appear together in one vaft affembly, to undergo a strict and impartial review

of their former actions; is a conception, not to be formed without amazement. But fuch are the discoveries of revelation. Every one must again in his flesh, as the text expreffes it, fee God. When the purposes of this perishable world are at an end, when matter has ferved the various tranfmutations neceffary to the continuance of this earth for its allotted period; then the fame Divine Power, which originally created matter, and out of it fitted to every foul fuch bodies as were neceffary for our prefent existence, will raise up fpiritual bodies to prepare us for a perfecter ftate.

THOSE men, who deny such a restoration, (to use the words of awful authority) neither know the fcriptures, nor the power of God. Mat. xxii. 29.

Ir was the belief of patriarchs and good men in every age: they confefled themselves (as St. Paul affures us,) to be pilgrims and ftrangers in the earth, and fought a better country. Heb. xi. 13.

Nor

Nor was this belief confined to the Mofaic revelation: it was the religion of the Gentiles, till corruption banished their better notions. Even Job,* the Idumæan, we fee here, profeffes this belief, and fupports his heavy afflictions under its comfortable influence.

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I. AND why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raise the dead? An artist, it is easy to conceive, can fooner reftore a disjointed machine, especially if it be of his own conftruction, than originally design and finish it. The power, which forms man, muft, by parity of reafoning, be equally able to restore his mouldered frame. Nay, it requires: a greater exertion of Divine Power-(though indeed to omnipotence all things are equally easy-but to our apprehenfions it should

*THAT the text means not the venerable fufferer's reftoration to his former profperity (as fome have weakly imagined) but a real and proper refurrection, is folidly proved by Bishop Sherlock. Difc. on Proph. Differt. z.

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