Duties of Morality to fo high a Degree, as to fuperfede, or invalidate, the Neceffity of a divine Faith, is to undermine the strongest Foundation on which it can be placed; as, on the other hand, to carry the Efficacy of a barren Faith so far, as to derogate from our Obligation to good Works, is to make the holy Scriptures contradict themselves, and to flacken our Purfuit after that Holiness which they most strongly enforce. The Son of God, on Whom we depend for our Title to our Inheritance, has declared both neceffary; and, for ought appears to the contrary, equally so, with regard to such as may come to the Knowlege of the Truth; fince He has affured us, that the Unbeliever and the wicked Steward fhall have their Portion together, where there shall be weeping, and gnashing of Teeth. Let us, then, hold fast the Profeffion of our Faith, without wavering; and let us ftedfaftly adhere to the falutary Doctrine of a crucified Saviour, in Whom alone we can hope for Sanctification and Redemption; as well knowing, that other true Foundation for Peace and Happiness can no Man lay, than what is laid, which is Jefus Chrift. THE The Evidence, Advantages, and Influences of our Lord's Refur rection. SERMON II. I COR. xv. 17. If Chrift be not raised, your Faith is vain. F all the Proofs we have of the di vine Authority of our most holy Religion, the plaineft and most obvious to every Understanding is that of Miracles; and of all these the most remarkable and most neceffary was that of our Bleffed Lord's Refurrection from the Dead. This He Himself often foretold; and therefore He could not have appeared to be a true Prophet, if His Predictions had not proved true. To this the Apostles appeal as the Foundation of all their Doctrines, and affirm, that He was declared, or proved to be the Son of God with Power; by this fingle Fact of a Rom. i. 4. the Refurrection from the Dead. He claimed the Appellation of the Son of God as His Due, on account of His Divine Birth and Miffion, and was put to death for that Pretence; and God's raifing Him from the Grave after He had been three Days in it, was therefore undeniably proving to the World that He was that Son of God; and if the Son of God, then an infallible Teacher; and if an infallible Teacher, then must His Doctrines be the Doctrines of God, and His Words the Words of eternal Life. Thus does the Evidence of this important Article extend its Force to all others; and therefore St. Paul in the Text makes all the Hopes and Expectations of the Church of Chrift abfolutely to depend upon it. After having given an Account (in the Beginning of this Chapter) of those infallible Signs and Proofs, whereby it was evident to a Demonstration, that our Lord was rifen; he then fhews the Folly of rejecting this Doctrine, by confidering the fatal Confequences, that must inevitably follow upon the Disbelief of it. Without it, he intimates, that we have no room to hope for Peace or Comfort, either in this Life, or a better: The glorious Promises and |