laws in the fight of the whole creation. WE confider things in too narrow and confined a view, if we imagine, that the inhabitants of this earth alone are interested in this important issue. All creatures, however exalted their fpheres and capacities, are dependent, standing only by a voluntary obedience. And who can fay, but that there are innumerable inhabitants of other worlds, who have their eyes fixed upon the transactions of this, whofe happiness and obedience may depend upon a righteous defcrimination between thofe, who obey or disobey the divine will here on earth? The angels are certainly mentioned in scripture as Spectators of this most important folemnity it is to be in the fight of angels as well as menHad the fcene no reference to them, by way of moral motive or example, it is hard to affign any reafon, why they should be witneffes of the tranfaction. As an univerfal judgment is thus ne ceffary ceffary to fupport the authority of the divine laws, so it is neceffary that man should then appear in his full capacity as confifting of body as well as foul. WE fee an obvious and neceffary connexion between these two parts in our present state. * Unbelievers have carried it fo far, as to infer the mortality of the foul from this fingle circumftance. BUT it is demonftrable that matter is incapable of thought and voluntary motion, and that there must be an immaterial principle within us, to actuate this bodily machine. At the fame time, as GOD forms created fpirits more or lefs limited in their powers according to his own good pleasure, so it is plain, from what we fee, that he has formed the human spirit fo far dependent, that a *Prætereà, gigni paritér cum corpore, et uná material inftrument is neceffary to its operations and enjoyments. Its fenfations, we fee, are languid or vigorous, according to the tone of the bodily frame: they grow, decay, and fluctuate, according to its temperament in the different ftages of life. And from this appearance we may juftly infer, that its reunion to the body is necessary to make it capable of exerting its full powers and capacities; and, confequently, if virtue is to be rewarded, and vice punished at all, there must be a restoration of the whole man, that he may receive his allotment. proper In this ftate indeed, the body, through the corruption of the fall, is at once the foul's affiftant and incumbrance. Its parts are at prefent mouldering, grofs, and corruptible. But the fame Being, that originally made both parts neceffary to one another, will prepare hereafter a better body, fuitable fuitable to the grandeur of his defigns in favour of man. FOR when the fouls of the pious are cleansed, by the blood of Christ, from all those smaller stains, which adhere to the best in this ftate of frailty, the body, to heighten their enjoyments, will be raised to a suitable degree of purity and perfection. This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. i. Cor. xv. 53. Then Shall they hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither fhall the fun light upon them, nor any heat: for the lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, fhall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. vii. 16. WHAT a spiritual body is, we cannot indeed conceive; but the power of GOD is able to execute whatever his goodness contrives for the happiness of his creatures. He has given us wondrous proofs of this attribute in the active fwiftnefs of light and the luftre of colours, and in feveral other parts of this material world. He can do as much more as he pleafes, in the future refurrection. He has promised a change, great and glorious, beyond our comprehenfion. Christ has died to bring about this amazing iffue from the present ruined state of this corrupt system. LET us now lay these things together; and we shall (as far as we have a right to look into the ways of GOD) see the reasons and propriety of a future refurrection. MAN, originally created upright and immortal, having fallen from his perfect ftate, the Son of God undertook the office of reftoring him to his former, or rather indeed to a greater degree of happiness. The body, which in the present state is mortal, is a necessary part |