Page images
PDF
EPUB

which was laid in the grave, be restored. But this is a weak fuppofition. The fameness of man lies not in having the fame numerical parts: our bodies, while we live, are in a continual flux: there may be fuch a flux, or lofs of parts in a diffolved state: and yet the rifing bodies ftill be the fame. The fameness of man lies in the consciousness of being the fame person, of having the fame thoughts, inclinations, and habits, under a fimilar mode of union between the two conftituent parts, the foul and body. * Whether the matter, actually belonging to a person in some part of his life, be neceflary to complete the future man; or (what is more probable) whether any

FOR the firft opinion, confult Whitby's preface to i. Cor. Clarke's Def. of Nat. and Rev. Relig. Fol. Vol. 2. p. 690. For the fecond, confult Locke's Effay. B. 2. C, 27. Dr. Watts endeavours to reconcile the difference between both opinions. Effay 8. Bp. Sherlock feems to be for the latter. "Religion," fays he, "is con"cerned only, to preferve the identity or fameness of the "perfon, as the object of future judgment. Sherlock, Vol. 3. Ser. 17.

matter,

matter, joined to the foul, under a par ticular organization, be fufficient to anfwer the purposes of GOD; this is certain, he has power to accomplish his defigns, and the wonderful changes we see in the course of his ordinary Providences leave scepticism totally without excufe.

II. THE purposes of this event are equal to its grandeur and folemnity. The glory of GoD, and the falvation of man are concerned in it.

on.

It would lead us into too wide a field, to take a particular view of the various diforders which the Divine Goodnefs is engaged to rectify in a future difpenfatiIt is fufficient at present to appeal to every man's experience. Who fees nof, or at least hears not, every day, of numbers fuffering under natural evil in fome form or other? What day paffes unpolluted by outrages, either from the tongue of the flanderer, the luft of the libertine, the hand of the oppreffor, or

the

the fraud of the deceiver? How many innocent perfons fuffer fometimes by the corruption of justice, fometimes even undefignedly by the blindness of human judgment, and the darkness of intricate fufpicious circumstances? And who does not, upon fuch a fight, naturally appeal to fome more equitable tribunal, where innocence fhall be cleared, obedience rewarded, and guilt covered with its deserved infamy, reproach and pu

nishment?

WERE We to examine clofely into the feveral states and conditions of mankind, and collect all they fuffer, from poverty, fickness, labour, anxiety, difappointment; were we to look back into hiftory, and bring into one common view the vaft multitudes that have combated with adversity in the different ages of the world; did we imagine the ftill greater number, that have fuffered unnoticed and fallen undistinguished — it would C draw

draw tears from our eyes, and make us almost doubt of a gracious Providence. BUT there are reasons for the present inequality of things. There is order enough in the world to convince us that it is not ungoverned, or left to the sport of accidents, and the caprice of human paffions; and there is diforder enough to fatisfy us that GOD intends us for a more equitable scene, where the majesty of his laws fhall be fupported, and the wisdom of virtue approved in the fight of the whole creation.

THE world is at prefent in a fallen state. The Almighty is, through the mediation of his bleffed Son, raising it by degrees, by a gradual process consistent with our freedom, to its original purity, and happiness. The scene then is difordered at prefent: the purposes of Providence are not fulfilled: the number of the elect is not complete. When this time comes, then this corrupt system shall be done away; the Redeem

Redeemer, who opened falvation to the whole human race, fhall come in glory, to wind up the scene, and to award falvation to the good of all ages, whom he purchased by his blood and fanctified by his fpirit. This is a purpose becoming the majesty of GOD; to bring the perplexed drama of human life to a complete iffue, to clear up the myfteries of fin and mifery, that puzzled and diftreffed us fo much before, and to allot a happiness equal to our highest wishes and capacities to take an univerfal cognizance of all his creatures; of princes and rulers, (the great perverters of justice here below) as well as the poor with an authority, that fhall deftroy all the corrupt fources of present injustice, when power can no longer over-rule, or riches corrupt, or artifice elude, or hypocrify deceive-and that too, in a manner fo public and vifible, as to fupport the majefty of his laws

C 2

« PreviousContinue »